Okay, I will...
It's my birthday. Today I turn 27, which seems too old for me. 27 is not old, but I don't feel like I should be that close to 30 already! This is also my first birthday as a mom and my first birthday without my dad, so all in all...kind of a weird one, but also a good one. I went out to dinner with Danny and my mom (and Miss Eleanor, of course) last night and got a new pair of earrings from Mom, which I was really hoping to get. I'm the kind of person who puts in a pair of earrings and continues to wear them everyday, I never take them out. Well, I had a nice pair of studs for that, but Harrison ate them, so I was left only with large, dangly earrings and you can't sleep in those. But now I have another pair of studs, so I'm set! I feel that earrings give my face a much better look in some way.
Tonight Danny has something planned or at least a surprise for me, so I'm not sure what is happening there...guess I'll find out after work!
Tomorrow my sister and nephew are coming to town and she and I are going to dinner and to see Eclipse. We're not quite the fanatics of this series like other people, but we enjoy seeing the movies.
Tomorrow is also my very last day of work! This was sort of a birthday present to myself, I guess. And of course I'm looking forward to my new line of work - stay-at-home-motherhood.
This weekend is the 4th. It was this time last year that I unknowly but thankfully got pregnant (is that too much detail? Oh well, it's no secret). I remember feeling SO bad on the 4th of July, plus is rained all day so that didn't help, but actually I was feeling the early early effects of pregnancy. I didn't find out about it until the 19th. It's hard to believe I've gone through all that and now have a smiling sweet little girl to show for it. It really is a miraculous process!
So, here's goodbye to the last year, year 27, and here's hello to the beginning of my 28th year. Man, thirty is just around the corner!
erin
Showing posts with label the workplace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the workplace. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Working on the Chain Gang (part II)
No longer!
That's right, I officially gave my 2 weeks notice on Monday. I am so excited to be a stay-at-home mom!
I certainly didn't think I would be leaving the job so soon. I really wasn't planning on staying for too long, about 6 weeks or so while Mom watched Eleanor, but circumstances changed and I am leaving now!
Interestingly enough, I will miss some stuff about work...some of the people, some of the events and so on. I'll miss being on the inside of the organization and having a hand in a lot of the goings on here, but the reward of being home with my girl certainly outweighs it all for me. I think things would be different if I was in love with my work, but I'm not, so the decision is pretty easy in that regard, but still, for the last 8 years I've worked in some capacity at this place, so it will be odd to not come here daily (and nightly and on weekends and ALL THE TIME!). Now, instead of running the camps, we'll be the campers, instead of booking the volunteers, we'll be the volunteers (um....maybe). Instead of wearing heels and staying in the building, we'll hike the bike trail and have picnics outside (if the heat index ever goes down, for the love). And who knows, maybe someday I'll work here again (part time, PART TIME), but until then, I'm going to enjoy myself as a mom.
And I have to thank my husband for being the lone breadwinner now. With his last raise we decided this was pretty doable and he works HARD for his money. I really appreciate his willingness to carry the burden of financial support. But let's be honest, I have the real hard job!
On to the next adventure...
erin
That's right, I officially gave my 2 weeks notice on Monday. I am so excited to be a stay-at-home mom!
I certainly didn't think I would be leaving the job so soon. I really wasn't planning on staying for too long, about 6 weeks or so while Mom watched Eleanor, but circumstances changed and I am leaving now!
Interestingly enough, I will miss some stuff about work...some of the people, some of the events and so on. I'll miss being on the inside of the organization and having a hand in a lot of the goings on here, but the reward of being home with my girl certainly outweighs it all for me. I think things would be different if I was in love with my work, but I'm not, so the decision is pretty easy in that regard, but still, for the last 8 years I've worked in some capacity at this place, so it will be odd to not come here daily (and nightly and on weekends and ALL THE TIME!). Now, instead of running the camps, we'll be the campers, instead of booking the volunteers, we'll be the volunteers (um....maybe). Instead of wearing heels and staying in the building, we'll hike the bike trail and have picnics outside (if the heat index ever goes down, for the love). And who knows, maybe someday I'll work here again (part time, PART TIME), but until then, I'm going to enjoy myself as a mom.
And I have to thank my husband for being the lone breadwinner now. With his last raise we decided this was pretty doable and he works HARD for his money. I really appreciate his willingness to carry the burden of financial support. But let's be honest, I have the real hard job!
On to the next adventure...
erin
Monday, June 14, 2010
Working on the Chain Gang
I'm back at work and none too happy about it!
While it helped immensely leaving Eleanor at my mom's house, it still just felt wrong. She was in major "stare at mom" mode today, too, which didn't help the matter. And now I'm back here at work, staring at two pictures of her wondering what she is doing, how she is feeling, if she's napping well, etc.
I can't believe 12 weeks has gone by so fast! Believe me, there were days in there where I thought, this is quite possibly the longest 12 weeks of my life, but the impact of those days have already faded away in my mind. Eleanor and I have really gotten into a good daily routine and I was having a really good time!
I have ideas about where I want to be and how I want to spend my time, so we'll see how it all ends up by the end of the summer, but for now, I will try to get through my work day and get back to "the little" (as I call her) asap!
erin
While it helped immensely leaving Eleanor at my mom's house, it still just felt wrong. She was in major "stare at mom" mode today, too, which didn't help the matter. And now I'm back here at work, staring at two pictures of her wondering what she is doing, how she is feeling, if she's napping well, etc.
I can't believe 12 weeks has gone by so fast! Believe me, there were days in there where I thought, this is quite possibly the longest 12 weeks of my life, but the impact of those days have already faded away in my mind. Eleanor and I have really gotten into a good daily routine and I was having a really good time!
I have ideas about where I want to be and how I want to spend my time, so we'll see how it all ends up by the end of the summer, but for now, I will try to get through my work day and get back to "the little" (as I call her) asap!
erin
Monday, March 1, 2010
That's an Irish Lullaby
A few things are on tap for this month:
-Annual pancake/sausage breakfast at work (joy)
-My mom's birthday
-A nice dinner out with family
-Taxes
-An evening work meeting
-The first Restoration Day of the year (which I will not be attending, thank you)
-St. Patrick's Day
-An all staff communications training (again, joy)
-Harrison's 2nd birthday
-My last scheduled day of work before maternity leave
and hopefully...
-A baby!
Bring on Spring!
-Annual pancake/sausage breakfast at work (joy)
-My mom's birthday
-A nice dinner out with family
-Taxes
-An evening work meeting
-The first Restoration Day of the year (which I will not be attending, thank you)
-St. Patrick's Day
-An all staff communications training (again, joy)
-Harrison's 2nd birthday
-My last scheduled day of work before maternity leave
and hopefully...
-A baby!
Bring on Spring!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head
Seriously!
So much rain this fall. Days of unending rain. Sometimes I can get into the feel of a rainy day, especially when I'm home with a movie to watch or something, but all day for days on end gets depressing. You just end up taking naps at inconvenient times and eating "comfort" (translate = caloric) food. At least, I do.
But in happier news, this is my first weekend in a long time that I have nothing work-related to do! Hooray! Fall is a ridiculous time of special events at the Conservation District, and I'm so done with it. Too bad I can already think of 4 more weekend happenings coming at me in the next 4 weeks. Boo on that. And as a result of all the special events...we have SO MUCH FOOD AROUND HERE! Danish, muffins, chips, pretzels, cheese, crackers, candy, chili, cookies, hot dogs...it's a pregnant woman's fantasy land. Thank goodness I have a lunch meeting today so I will be away for the tremendous (in size) lunch being prepared for us today by a volunteer...6 pies for dessert alone! Ridiculous.
So, I'm just trying to stay dry, avoid massive amounts of food, and find some down time this season. Can't believe we're getting towards the end of October already. Also ridiculous.
erin
So much rain this fall. Days of unending rain. Sometimes I can get into the feel of a rainy day, especially when I'm home with a movie to watch or something, but all day for days on end gets depressing. You just end up taking naps at inconvenient times and eating "comfort" (translate = caloric) food. At least, I do.
But in happier news, this is my first weekend in a long time that I have nothing work-related to do! Hooray! Fall is a ridiculous time of special events at the Conservation District, and I'm so done with it. Too bad I can already think of 4 more weekend happenings coming at me in the next 4 weeks. Boo on that. And as a result of all the special events...we have SO MUCH FOOD AROUND HERE! Danish, muffins, chips, pretzels, cheese, crackers, candy, chili, cookies, hot dogs...it's a pregnant woman's fantasy land. Thank goodness I have a lunch meeting today so I will be away for the tremendous (in size) lunch being prepared for us today by a volunteer...6 pies for dessert alone! Ridiculous.
So, I'm just trying to stay dry, avoid massive amounts of food, and find some down time this season. Can't believe we're getting towards the end of October already. Also ridiculous.
erin
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
We're Moving on Up
My parents have officially moved into their new home and that means, it's time for us to move!
This will be a slower transition that usual, I think, as we have not yet sold our current home. So some of our furniture will have to stay put so as to "stage" the house, while other stuff can be moved over. We are also going to paint before we get too many things over there, which will be great! Way less work when you don't have to manuever around furniture.
As far as our current house, we have a lady coming back for a second look tomorrow. She's single and looking for an older west end home, which is exactly what we're offering! Also, when I purchased the home I was not married and when the girl I bought the home from purchased the home, she was single (I think...), so this house should be right up a single gal's alley! Anyway, I'm hopeful. That way I don't have to end up paying two power bills.
Here's something tragic in my life...
Facebook no longer works at my computer at work! None of us can figure it out! We don't think it was blocked, but what else would be causing the problem? I know we're probably not supposed to technically be on facebook at work, but I don't really care, plus, I've caught the boss on it several times. But now that I don't have it, I realize what a good chunk of my day I devoted to facebook if I had no other real pressing things to accomplish. Not Cool!
erin
This will be a slower transition that usual, I think, as we have not yet sold our current home. So some of our furniture will have to stay put so as to "stage" the house, while other stuff can be moved over. We are also going to paint before we get too many things over there, which will be great! Way less work when you don't have to manuever around furniture.
As far as our current house, we have a lady coming back for a second look tomorrow. She's single and looking for an older west end home, which is exactly what we're offering! Also, when I purchased the home I was not married and when the girl I bought the home from purchased the home, she was single (I think...), so this house should be right up a single gal's alley! Anyway, I'm hopeful. That way I don't have to end up paying two power bills.
Here's something tragic in my life...
Facebook no longer works at my computer at work! None of us can figure it out! We don't think it was blocked, but what else would be causing the problem? I know we're probably not supposed to technically be on facebook at work, but I don't really care, plus, I've caught the boss on it several times. But now that I don't have it, I realize what a good chunk of my day I devoted to facebook if I had no other real pressing things to accomplish. Not Cool!
erin
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
You Say Potato...
I say, "it's Volunteer Quarterly Meeting time!"
I am preparing a baked potato bar and ice cream sundae bar for my meeting this evening, that only 9 people have signed up for. Oh well, at least it will be short and sweet.
So that's what I'll be working on today. Of course I have way too much food, but the staff will just eat it later in the week. I like that I can essentially buy groceries for work, and hey, I'm licensed to do so.
That's pretty much it for now. I'll get back to you with more news later...stay tuned for part II: Storing the Leftovers!
Anyone want a potato?
erin
I am preparing a baked potato bar and ice cream sundae bar for my meeting this evening, that only 9 people have signed up for. Oh well, at least it will be short and sweet.
So that's what I'll be working on today. Of course I have way too much food, but the staff will just eat it later in the week. I like that I can essentially buy groceries for work, and hey, I'm licensed to do so.
That's pretty much it for now. I'll get back to you with more news later...stay tuned for part II: Storing the Leftovers!
Anyone want a potato?
erin
Monday, July 6, 2009
Oh Beautiful for Spacious Skies
Or cloudy, rainy, chilly skies...
So, 4th of July...really? That was it? Independence Day, Land of the Free, and I spent it how?
I woke up at roughly 7am, and it was darkish outside, cloudy. I fell back asleep and awoke later (obviously, but I don't recall the time...9am-ish?) and it was still dark and cloudy. Now something about my house, and I'm going to be bold and post this even though we are in a "state of sale" because I don't think any of the 7 people who read this blog are planning on purchasing my home...well our house, you cannot tell if it's raining. Let me clarify. It's not like there are no windows, quite the contrary, but just the positioning of the neighbors and trees and things of that nature, you have to literally walk up to a window and look out to see if it is raining. So, when I woke up and saw that it was dark and cloudy, I was unsure if anything else was going on. Apparently, it was raining.
And it rained all.day.long.
Happy 4th of July! A day to get outdoors and light sparklers, have block parties, grill out, golf, swim, hang out with friends...not this year! Not at all!
We were invited to a party, initially starting at 6pm. Then, due to forecasted rain, it was changed to 2pm. At 2pm, it was pouring, but our friends were determined to have their party. So it was moved back to 5pm. Danny went. I, however, opted out due to my Sunday plans. I remained bored at home with the dog, continued re-reading my Harry Potter books and watching tv. We got into bed at like 9pm, due to Sunday plans, and listened to fireworks. I saw no fireworks this year. They postponed the official fireworks until Sunday night, but lots of individual Independence day celebrations went ahead with their own and I listened to them while Harrison barked at them for about an hour. Happy 4th of July! We didn't go to the rescheduled fireworks on Sunday because of my Sunday plans.
So the Sunday plans...woke up at 5:30am, tried to get dressed. I put a particular t-shirt into the dryer the night before and only the t-shirt to ensure its dryness for that day. Apparently I did not set the dryer for very long because upon opening it up the next early morning it was more than damp. So I tried to get a few more minutes of dry time in, but ended up donning my uncomfortably damp t-shirt and "still wet from fording through the river that was the Kroger parking lot yesterday" jeans that I thought would be dry as well. Then a co-worker picked me up at 6am and low and behold he had an official event t-shirt for me to wear for the event of the day: The Rodney T. Miller Triathlon. It's Chicago Bears' orange, so Danny feels I can easily sew some kind of Bears logo over the Triathlon logo and wear it this football season! Sure, hon!
Anyhoo, I was one of 12 volunteers for this triathlon, who would be in "safety canoes" out on the lake for the 1 mile swimming portion of the race for tired swimmers to hang onto during the course. We had 5 people stop by our canoe and almost tip us, and we had to maintain our position for 1 hour before the race actually began in the cold, drizzly, windy weather. My back it sore today, but all in all, it was a decent time. However, after spending roughly 5 hours down at the lake and getting up oh-so-early on the last day of my vacation and working for free led me to not want to return to the Lake and sit and watch fireworks with Decatur's finest and get bug bites. Also, Danny golfed that day, all day, and he was too tired for fireworks. All fireworks. Instead, we got Pizza Factory calzones (of which I only ate half, whereas a few months ago I would have eaten the entire thing...portion control, it's essential) and ordered the movie Notorious off our On Demand. It's the movie about the rapper Notorious B.I.G. It was pretty good, entertaining anyway.
And so today, Monday, July 6th, I find myself back at work after a week of a fantastic vacation and great 26th birthday, which I will blog about next time. What was waiting for me when I returned? Well, here's a short list:
-Lots of mail
-Lots of email
-1 potential new volunteer
-1 potential new volunteer clean up event
-My CPR/First Aid cards made out to "Erin Moyes"
-An article deadline that I was assigned WHILE ON VACATION (what?!)
-Missed co-workers
-Not missed co-workers
-Lunch hour phone duty
-No voicemails! Hard to believe, but appreciated.
-A new calendar of events
-A "typo" pointed out to me on a flyer I created
-A "typo" on an already-created pamphlet I used to create my flyer, therefore negating a "typo" on my part. I pointed this out with a smile.
-Chips in the kitchen. There are ALWAYS chips in the kitchen. I ate none.
Sad to be back, yet okay with being back. And what's really getting me through the day is the rest of my calzone waiting for me at home. I even texted Danny to remind him not to eat or let anything happen to it because I AM GOING TO EAT TO TONIGHT AND I CAN'T WAIT! Portion control also makes you manical about leftovers, apparently.
erin
So, 4th of July...really? That was it? Independence Day, Land of the Free, and I spent it how?
I woke up at roughly 7am, and it was darkish outside, cloudy. I fell back asleep and awoke later (obviously, but I don't recall the time...9am-ish?) and it was still dark and cloudy. Now something about my house, and I'm going to be bold and post this even though we are in a "state of sale" because I don't think any of the 7 people who read this blog are planning on purchasing my home...well our house, you cannot tell if it's raining. Let me clarify. It's not like there are no windows, quite the contrary, but just the positioning of the neighbors and trees and things of that nature, you have to literally walk up to a window and look out to see if it is raining. So, when I woke up and saw that it was dark and cloudy, I was unsure if anything else was going on. Apparently, it was raining.
And it rained all.day.long.
Happy 4th of July! A day to get outdoors and light sparklers, have block parties, grill out, golf, swim, hang out with friends...not this year! Not at all!
We were invited to a party, initially starting at 6pm. Then, due to forecasted rain, it was changed to 2pm. At 2pm, it was pouring, but our friends were determined to have their party. So it was moved back to 5pm. Danny went. I, however, opted out due to my Sunday plans. I remained bored at home with the dog, continued re-reading my Harry Potter books and watching tv. We got into bed at like 9pm, due to Sunday plans, and listened to fireworks. I saw no fireworks this year. They postponed the official fireworks until Sunday night, but lots of individual Independence day celebrations went ahead with their own and I listened to them while Harrison barked at them for about an hour. Happy 4th of July! We didn't go to the rescheduled fireworks on Sunday because of my Sunday plans.
So the Sunday plans...woke up at 5:30am, tried to get dressed. I put a particular t-shirt into the dryer the night before and only the t-shirt to ensure its dryness for that day. Apparently I did not set the dryer for very long because upon opening it up the next early morning it was more than damp. So I tried to get a few more minutes of dry time in, but ended up donning my uncomfortably damp t-shirt and "still wet from fording through the river that was the Kroger parking lot yesterday" jeans that I thought would be dry as well. Then a co-worker picked me up at 6am and low and behold he had an official event t-shirt for me to wear for the event of the day: The Rodney T. Miller Triathlon. It's Chicago Bears' orange, so Danny feels I can easily sew some kind of Bears logo over the Triathlon logo and wear it this football season! Sure, hon!
Anyhoo, I was one of 12 volunteers for this triathlon, who would be in "safety canoes" out on the lake for the 1 mile swimming portion of the race for tired swimmers to hang onto during the course. We had 5 people stop by our canoe and almost tip us, and we had to maintain our position for 1 hour before the race actually began in the cold, drizzly, windy weather. My back it sore today, but all in all, it was a decent time. However, after spending roughly 5 hours down at the lake and getting up oh-so-early on the last day of my vacation and working for free led me to not want to return to the Lake and sit and watch fireworks with Decatur's finest and get bug bites. Also, Danny golfed that day, all day, and he was too tired for fireworks. All fireworks. Instead, we got Pizza Factory calzones (of which I only ate half, whereas a few months ago I would have eaten the entire thing...portion control, it's essential) and ordered the movie Notorious off our On Demand. It's the movie about the rapper Notorious B.I.G. It was pretty good, entertaining anyway.
And so today, Monday, July 6th, I find myself back at work after a week of a fantastic vacation and great 26th birthday, which I will blog about next time. What was waiting for me when I returned? Well, here's a short list:
-Lots of mail
-Lots of email
-1 potential new volunteer
-1 potential new volunteer clean up event
-My CPR/First Aid cards made out to "Erin Moyes"
-An article deadline that I was assigned WHILE ON VACATION (what?!)
-Missed co-workers
-Not missed co-workers
-Lunch hour phone duty
-No voicemails! Hard to believe, but appreciated.
-A new calendar of events
-A "typo" pointed out to me on a flyer I created
-A "typo" on an already-created pamphlet I used to create my flyer, therefore negating a "typo" on my part. I pointed this out with a smile.
-Chips in the kitchen. There are ALWAYS chips in the kitchen. I ate none.
Sad to be back, yet okay with being back. And what's really getting me through the day is the rest of my calzone waiting for me at home. I even texted Danny to remind him not to eat or let anything happen to it because I AM GOING TO EAT TO TONIGHT AND I CAN'T WAIT! Portion control also makes you manical about leftovers, apparently.
erin
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Rock Lobster.
I am meeting the husband at Red Lobster for dinner tonight, thanks to a gift card and a couple of meetings we both have after the work day. So date night: quick little dinner, followed by a quick trip to Menards to pick out a new front door (swoon!) and then back to work!
But...I'm excited to see him! And very excited for either apple chicken walnut salad, or a pasta dish....you see, I am in no way a seafood fan, but I still get included in the gift card usage!
Also, I had to run to Kroger for foodstuff for this meeting of mine tonight (food handlers unite!) and I parked right next to my Dad in the parking lot! But, I never saw him inside the store and by the time I got to the checkout, I could see he was already gone! Mysterious!
So, mystery day, red lobster night...it's the little things, I suppose.
But...I'm excited to see him! And very excited for either apple chicken walnut salad, or a pasta dish....you see, I am in no way a seafood fan, but I still get included in the gift card usage!
Also, I had to run to Kroger for foodstuff for this meeting of mine tonight (food handlers unite!) and I parked right next to my Dad in the parking lot! But, I never saw him inside the store and by the time I got to the checkout, I could see he was already gone! Mysterious!
So, mystery day, red lobster night...it's the little things, I suppose.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Saturday In the Park
Good news! I no longer have to work this Saturday! Hooray for rain!
Now, if only Harrison would learn how to sleep past 6:30am, I could actually sleep in for once.
What I am doing this weekend is going up to Chicago with my sister-in-law for her brother's dance show. He's a dancer/pilates instructer (aka in very good shape) and I've never seen any of his shows, so when she invited me to go up with her, I agreed. Should be a fun time!
And on Sunday, Danny's mom is making lasagna for dinner! Looking forward to that for sure.
Yesterday I had the day off from working last Saturday, so my mom came over and we FINALLY painted the dining room baseboards and other woodwork. Wow, that was only a year in the making? Then we did a little house cleaning and rearranging, trying to stage the house for when it goes on the market, hopefully in the next couple of weeks...please...I'm typing this to you husband...let's do this thing.
Danny finished his last class for this year of his apprenticeship. 4 years down, 1 to go! When we started dating, he was almost done with his first year and I was told that he would NOT be moving in/getting married until he was COMPLETELY finished with his schooling. And I just needed to understand that this was his LIFE PLAN and he would NOT alter his plans...it was the first time he really had definate life GOALS and no matter what, I just needed to get on board with THE PLAN. So, now that we've been living together for over 2 years and married for almost 1, I say...GOOD PLAN! This just goes to show us all, sometimes plans work themselves out the exact way they are supposed to, without us having to help them along. Also, if my dear hubby has any regrets about his wayward plan (which I'm sure he does NOT) I point out to him that this year's tax return was far better than his last year. Chalk one up for marriage.
Wow, isn't it weird how my blogs end up. I start out with one thought process, and then all this "stuff" just comes spilling out onto the page and you get an amalgamation of news and stories. I guess you can't have fun blog themes all the time.
erin
ps...I have seen the clock today at 11:11, 1:11, and now, 2:22. Told you!
Now, if only Harrison would learn how to sleep past 6:30am, I could actually sleep in for once.
What I am doing this weekend is going up to Chicago with my sister-in-law for her brother's dance show. He's a dancer/pilates instructer (aka in very good shape) and I've never seen any of his shows, so when she invited me to go up with her, I agreed. Should be a fun time!
And on Sunday, Danny's mom is making lasagna for dinner! Looking forward to that for sure.
Yesterday I had the day off from working last Saturday, so my mom came over and we FINALLY painted the dining room baseboards and other woodwork. Wow, that was only a year in the making? Then we did a little house cleaning and rearranging, trying to stage the house for when it goes on the market, hopefully in the next couple of weeks...please...I'm typing this to you husband...let's do this thing.
Danny finished his last class for this year of his apprenticeship. 4 years down, 1 to go! When we started dating, he was almost done with his first year and I was told that he would NOT be moving in/getting married until he was COMPLETELY finished with his schooling. And I just needed to understand that this was his LIFE PLAN and he would NOT alter his plans...it was the first time he really had definate life GOALS and no matter what, I just needed to get on board with THE PLAN. So, now that we've been living together for over 2 years and married for almost 1, I say...GOOD PLAN! This just goes to show us all, sometimes plans work themselves out the exact way they are supposed to, without us having to help them along. Also, if my dear hubby has any regrets about his wayward plan (which I'm sure he does NOT) I point out to him that this year's tax return was far better than his last year. Chalk one up for marriage.
Wow, isn't it weird how my blogs end up. I start out with one thought process, and then all this "stuff" just comes spilling out onto the page and you get an amalgamation of news and stories. I guess you can't have fun blog themes all the time.
erin
ps...I have seen the clock today at 11:11, 1:11, and now, 2:22. Told you!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Boom Boom Pow
I've got a new song obsession!
It's been awhile since the last one I blogged about.
This new one, Boom Boom Pow, is a Black Eyed Peas tune and at first, I was not impressed. Way too techno-sounding for me and what is "boom boom pow" anyway? Nevertheless, I found myself bopping about my office. So, the next time I hear it, I discover that in fact, I LOVE this song! I can't not dance to it when it comes on the radio, which is of course, 1100 times a day. So I encourage you to seek this song out if you haven't and give it 2 listens. You'll love it by the second time through. BOOM BOOM POW (stupid, but catchy)!
Speaking of boom boom pow, we were supposed to have all kinds of thunderstorm activity today and while it did rain pretty hard for like 8 minutes, I'm seeing no lightening, hearing no thunder. I am ready for our spring storms! Nothing major, I don't need to have my home relocated or anything, but a little lightening and thunder? Is that too much to ask? I'm sick of this wimpy drizzly business. Let's just do this thing and move on to sunny skies.
Segue to Festival of Spring...very sunny and warm, I even got my first sunburn of the season, though very mild. We had roughly 700 people out that day and I ran around like a crazy person, per usual. After the event, I dragged myself home, showered, saw my husband for the first time in 2 days (in his new glasses no less - he's so cute!), suffered through watching the NFL draft (seriously, that is boring) and headed to my brother and sister-in-law's house for a "wine and wigs party." I wore a wig for the obligatory picture of all of us in our wigs and then I took it off for the rest of the party. Also, I drank no wine or alcoholic beverage of any kind, so I guess I didn't really participate in the theme so well. But, I did eat food, drink water, and rock out on Rock Band, and leave promptly at 11pm...which was way longer than I thought I would make it being tired and sunburned. It was fun! Who doesn't love a good theme party?
Sunday I had to address our laundry situation. Let's just say I was minus pants without ridiculous holes in them and underwear. It was a weird clothing day for me. But I managed to get some stuff clean so I can sit here at work with underwear and a complete pair of pants.
Also, as a side note, while I appreciated the beautiful weekend weather we had, I'm going to have to "tsk tsk" at the humidity in April. I will not be bullied into turning on my AC in April, so mother nature can just take her humidity elsewhere until at least mid-June. And our octogenarian of a house just doesn't cool down well, especially when only like 4 windows open. So, I realize I've spent a good portion of this blog as a weather stickler, but darn it, that's just how I feel!
How do you feel?
erin
It's been awhile since the last one I blogged about.
This new one, Boom Boom Pow, is a Black Eyed Peas tune and at first, I was not impressed. Way too techno-sounding for me and what is "boom boom pow" anyway? Nevertheless, I found myself bopping about my office. So, the next time I hear it, I discover that in fact, I LOVE this song! I can't not dance to it when it comes on the radio, which is of course, 1100 times a day. So I encourage you to seek this song out if you haven't and give it 2 listens. You'll love it by the second time through. BOOM BOOM POW (stupid, but catchy)!
Speaking of boom boom pow, we were supposed to have all kinds of thunderstorm activity today and while it did rain pretty hard for like 8 minutes, I'm seeing no lightening, hearing no thunder. I am ready for our spring storms! Nothing major, I don't need to have my home relocated or anything, but a little lightening and thunder? Is that too much to ask? I'm sick of this wimpy drizzly business. Let's just do this thing and move on to sunny skies.
Segue to Festival of Spring...very sunny and warm, I even got my first sunburn of the season, though very mild. We had roughly 700 people out that day and I ran around like a crazy person, per usual. After the event, I dragged myself home, showered, saw my husband for the first time in 2 days (in his new glasses no less - he's so cute!), suffered through watching the NFL draft (seriously, that is boring) and headed to my brother and sister-in-law's house for a "wine and wigs party." I wore a wig for the obligatory picture of all of us in our wigs and then I took it off for the rest of the party. Also, I drank no wine or alcoholic beverage of any kind, so I guess I didn't really participate in the theme so well. But, I did eat food, drink water, and rock out on Rock Band, and leave promptly at 11pm...which was way longer than I thought I would make it being tired and sunburned. It was fun! Who doesn't love a good theme party?
Sunday I had to address our laundry situation. Let's just say I was minus pants without ridiculous holes in them and underwear. It was a weird clothing day for me. But I managed to get some stuff clean so I can sit here at work with underwear and a complete pair of pants.
Also, as a side note, while I appreciated the beautiful weekend weather we had, I'm going to have to "tsk tsk" at the humidity in April. I will not be bullied into turning on my AC in April, so mother nature can just take her humidity elsewhere until at least mid-June. And our octogenarian of a house just doesn't cool down well, especially when only like 4 windows open. So, I realize I've spent a good portion of this blog as a weather stickler, but darn it, that's just how I feel!
How do you feel?
erin
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Poison Ivy
Yep, I've got that.
Do you recall all the "outdoorsy" things I did last weekend? Well let's add contract poison ivy on my hands and waistline to that list. Fantastic. Now, I will say that at this point, I'm not to the state of misery that usually accompanies poison ivy. At least this is what I'm told. In all my 25 1/2 years, I've never had the stuff. I've worked here at the Conservation District going on 7 years on and off the trails and nope, never had it. So now that I have a nice cushy indoor office (where I've also gained weight from sitting in a chair most of the day) I get poison ivy. Bonus plus 2. I'd rather go back to the outdoor work when I never was blessed with such an attractive affliction. So, perhaps the unberable itchiness will kick in just in time for the Saturday event that I can in no way miss. That would be perfect timing. "Sure, I can come into work, but I just can't use my hands or wear pants...shouldn't be a problem." But I'll be here! And my husband, who is severely susceptable to this stuff refuses to touch me in any way. Enough said.
Now for my Public Service Announcement on Poison Ivy:
Rest assured for those of you under the wrong impression, poison ivy cannot be spread by scratching or touching someone's rash unless they still have the active oil from the plant on their person. You can in fact get the rash from your clothes if the oil hasn't been washed away, or you pet's fur, but if you have washed yourself, clothes, animals (in cold water with soap) then you should be fine. Sure, you might have already been exposed enough to contract the rash and will break out in a few days, but you have stopped any further exposure due to washing away the oil (Urushiol).
See, I've learned a couple things from work...
Anyway...stupid poison ivy!
erin
Do you recall all the "outdoorsy" things I did last weekend? Well let's add contract poison ivy on my hands and waistline to that list. Fantastic. Now, I will say that at this point, I'm not to the state of misery that usually accompanies poison ivy. At least this is what I'm told. In all my 25 1/2 years, I've never had the stuff. I've worked here at the Conservation District going on 7 years on and off the trails and nope, never had it. So now that I have a nice cushy indoor office (where I've also gained weight from sitting in a chair most of the day) I get poison ivy. Bonus plus 2. I'd rather go back to the outdoor work when I never was blessed with such an attractive affliction. So, perhaps the unberable itchiness will kick in just in time for the Saturday event that I can in no way miss. That would be perfect timing. "Sure, I can come into work, but I just can't use my hands or wear pants...shouldn't be a problem." But I'll be here! And my husband, who is severely susceptable to this stuff refuses to touch me in any way. Enough said.
Now for my Public Service Announcement on Poison Ivy:
Rest assured for those of you under the wrong impression, poison ivy cannot be spread by scratching or touching someone's rash unless they still have the active oil from the plant on their person. You can in fact get the rash from your clothes if the oil hasn't been washed away, or you pet's fur, but if you have washed yourself, clothes, animals (in cold water with soap) then you should be fine. Sure, you might have already been exposed enough to contract the rash and will break out in a few days, but you have stopped any further exposure due to washing away the oil (Urushiol).
See, I've learned a couple things from work...
Anyway...stupid poison ivy!
erin
I Wish to go to the Festival!
It's that time again! Time for another event at the old workplace!
The Festival of Spring is this Saturday. Wagon rides, kids' games, fishing derby, canoe rodeo, river clean up, bird shows, storyteller, food, face painting, and sign up for summer camp to boot!
Whew, I'm going to be exhausted.
Another Saturday of work. This makes 2 in a row, with the 3rd next weekend. Can't wait until this little stretch is over. I'm a big fan of Saturdays, mainly because they don't include work. Oh well.
I really have no other news to share. Harrison killed a baby bunny last night at my parent's house. She was pretty proud of herself on that one and put up a bit of a fight when Mom tried to get it from her. Bunnies beware that yard! They've had a good run at it the last few years with no dog around, but now that she's officially moving in there, word better spread that she means business! The squirrels still manage to torture her from up in the trees, but the bunnies and the neighbor cat better watch it.
The weather is finally shaping up after all that rain and cold, so I fully intend to enjoy that! More yard work to commence on Sunday!
That is all.
erin
ps...what is the title of this post from? What song? What place? What entity? Anyone?
The Festival of Spring is this Saturday. Wagon rides, kids' games, fishing derby, canoe rodeo, river clean up, bird shows, storyteller, food, face painting, and sign up for summer camp to boot!
Whew, I'm going to be exhausted.
Another Saturday of work. This makes 2 in a row, with the 3rd next weekend. Can't wait until this little stretch is over. I'm a big fan of Saturdays, mainly because they don't include work. Oh well.
I really have no other news to share. Harrison killed a baby bunny last night at my parent's house. She was pretty proud of herself on that one and put up a bit of a fight when Mom tried to get it from her. Bunnies beware that yard! They've had a good run at it the last few years with no dog around, but now that she's officially moving in there, word better spread that she means business! The squirrels still manage to torture her from up in the trees, but the bunnies and the neighbor cat better watch it.
The weather is finally shaping up after all that rain and cold, so I fully intend to enjoy that! More yard work to commence on Sunday!
That is all.
erin
ps...what is the title of this post from? What song? What place? What entity? Anyone?
Monday, April 20, 2009
It's raining on Sunday
My arms are sore.
And my hands.
I did a whole load of "outdoorsy" stuff this weekend.
On Saturday morning, I got up bright and early and went to work! Love that. I had to participate in a volunteer Restoration Day at one of our sites. Only like 4 hours of my day, but I did manage to work up a sweat chopping down invasive plants out in the woods. I also had to provide food and take pictures. I'm a multi-tasker, apparently. That reminds me, I still have the company digital camera out in my car...let's try to remember to get that out of there before something bad happens to it.
After all that choppin' n' sweatin', I ran home, took a shower, and Danny and I headed off to Bloomington for our nephew's 2nd birthday party. Not only did I partially, somewhat, kind of climb a tiny bit up a fireman pole (I've never been able to do that, and I really still can't), chase bubbles, and climb through a oh-so-slippery and somewhat small playground tube, I also took my turn on a giant teeter-totter you stand on, and got into a water gun fight with my husband, though not by choice. After all that outside business, I was tired! We drove home and I promptly fell asleep on the couch. I'm pretty sure I was in bed by 8pm that night.
On Sunday, I again got up bright and early and my mom came over and we did yard work. I dug holes (until I made Danny finish the job), trimmed hedges, pulled dead things, and eventually worked carefully to cut back a very thorny hedge! Why anyone would ever choose to plant such a deathtrap of a shrub is beyond me. It's hardly decorative either. However, we prevailed over said thornbush. We spend a good 3 hours working that day, in the rain even, and I did end up taking another nap that day, but not before I visited a friend for a bit while Danny did a side job for a friend of his.
So tonight, unless it's raining again, Mom will return with electric hedge trimmers and I will go to town at my house! It's all an effort to pretty it up so someone will decide to buy it! We've got to get in on the market soon. Danny's done a ton of work in the back yard, we have a whole newly landscaped portion with mulch and plants and all that. Harrison LOVES hauling ass through the new mulch. She also enjoys the fact, I'm sure, that it turns her feet red, especially when it's rainy and she's outside assisting with home projects. I know I do! But anyway, soon Danny will start on the few projects we have inside and then, hopefully, someone will be charmed by our house's unique qualities as we were, and buy the damn thing!
And my hands.
I did a whole load of "outdoorsy" stuff this weekend.
On Saturday morning, I got up bright and early and went to work! Love that. I had to participate in a volunteer Restoration Day at one of our sites. Only like 4 hours of my day, but I did manage to work up a sweat chopping down invasive plants out in the woods. I also had to provide food and take pictures. I'm a multi-tasker, apparently. That reminds me, I still have the company digital camera out in my car...let's try to remember to get that out of there before something bad happens to it.
After all that choppin' n' sweatin', I ran home, took a shower, and Danny and I headed off to Bloomington for our nephew's 2nd birthday party. Not only did I partially, somewhat, kind of climb a tiny bit up a fireman pole (I've never been able to do that, and I really still can't), chase bubbles, and climb through a oh-so-slippery and somewhat small playground tube, I also took my turn on a giant teeter-totter you stand on, and got into a water gun fight with my husband, though not by choice. After all that outside business, I was tired! We drove home and I promptly fell asleep on the couch. I'm pretty sure I was in bed by 8pm that night.
On Sunday, I again got up bright and early and my mom came over and we did yard work. I dug holes (until I made Danny finish the job), trimmed hedges, pulled dead things, and eventually worked carefully to cut back a very thorny hedge! Why anyone would ever choose to plant such a deathtrap of a shrub is beyond me. It's hardly decorative either. However, we prevailed over said thornbush. We spend a good 3 hours working that day, in the rain even, and I did end up taking another nap that day, but not before I visited a friend for a bit while Danny did a side job for a friend of his.
So tonight, unless it's raining again, Mom will return with electric hedge trimmers and I will go to town at my house! It's all an effort to pretty it up so someone will decide to buy it! We've got to get in on the market soon. Danny's done a ton of work in the back yard, we have a whole newly landscaped portion with mulch and plants and all that. Harrison LOVES hauling ass through the new mulch. She also enjoys the fact, I'm sure, that it turns her feet red, especially when it's rainy and she's outside assisting with home projects. I know I do! But anyway, soon Danny will start on the few projects we have inside and then, hopefully, someone will be charmed by our house's unique qualities as we were, and buy the damn thing!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Call Me On the Line
Oh my goodness! What happened to my blogging?
Well, I'll tell ya what happened...my pesky job got in the way! Darn job.
Last week, I held the biggest event in my department...the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner. I changed the venue this year, I scaled back on some things, I upgraded some things, I took heat for some things, and I disregarded opinions of those higher up than I on some things. It was a whirlwind! However, it came and went without incident, I got rave reviews from the volunteers, and now, it's over for a year! The next day I attended an all day volunteer conference away from my work and that was nice. I took Thursday off and Friday was a holiday, so I've had a lovely little break from crazytown, U.S.A. aka the conservation district. Don't worry though, I'm right back in the middle of ridiculous today. Seriously, this is a place where deer walk around like nothing and eat grass and squirrels prance around...what happened to all that serenity? It's like an ER around here and I refuse to participate in the absurdity of that.
Whoa...end rant.
Easter weekend wasn't too bad. I took many good walks with Harrison and my mom, I took naps, I made ham, and then ate ham, and then ate more ham. We had a big dinner at Danny's parents house with, ham, and lot's of other good food. All the kids (ages 25-30) got their annual easter baskets and we were pestered for not producing grandchildren fast enough yet again. But aside from the guilt trip, I had a lovely time.
I realize I have posted absolutely no pictures from various events I've experienced and I'm going to have to confess something here to blogland: I suck at documenting my life in photographs. If I don't forget the camera in the first place, then I forget to take pictures or, quite frankly, just don't enjoy taking them. I have a few from Harrison's birthday way back when that I could share and I completely didn't take any camera to the New Kids concert! Oh well, guess it lives in my memory!
The other big news of my time away...I have a new phone! Yes, I've upgraded from the old phone I've had for the past 3 years. I'm also not one of those people who gets a new phone every other week. I feel that my phone is sufficient and I don't need it play music or do my banking. However, I left the phone charger in Bloomington after the concert and after my phone died a mere 8 days before I could get my phone back, I faced a dilemma. So where did I turn? My technology-friendly, money-spending, loves-to-buy-new-stuff hubby. I altered him to my situation. He volunteered to go buy me a new charger. I agreed to that. I'd been putting him off for months on the "let's go get you an upgraded phone" front. I was just never in the mood to go get a new one. I think I have an unrealistic assumption that it is a way more undesirable process then it really is. So while I was out with Mom on Thursday, he went out and upgraded my phone for me! I didn't even have to go! I love that! After we send in the rebate, the phone (which is really nifty, by the way) will end up being less expensive than a charger for the old phone. I was presented with my upgrade after I got home. It had all my numbers and pictures all in there waiting for me! I have been tinkering with it ever since. It even plays music! But I don't use that feature. Again, I don't need my phone to entertain me.
So, right now I'm about to leave work and go home to eat dinner (ham) and fold laundry. One of these days I will realize that my house will need to be clean because one of these days, we're going to sell it, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Have a good one!
erin
Well, I'll tell ya what happened...my pesky job got in the way! Darn job.
Last week, I held the biggest event in my department...the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner. I changed the venue this year, I scaled back on some things, I upgraded some things, I took heat for some things, and I disregarded opinions of those higher up than I on some things. It was a whirlwind! However, it came and went without incident, I got rave reviews from the volunteers, and now, it's over for a year! The next day I attended an all day volunteer conference away from my work and that was nice. I took Thursday off and Friday was a holiday, so I've had a lovely little break from crazytown, U.S.A. aka the conservation district. Don't worry though, I'm right back in the middle of ridiculous today. Seriously, this is a place where deer walk around like nothing and eat grass and squirrels prance around...what happened to all that serenity? It's like an ER around here and I refuse to participate in the absurdity of that.
Whoa...end rant.
Easter weekend wasn't too bad. I took many good walks with Harrison and my mom, I took naps, I made ham, and then ate ham, and then ate more ham. We had a big dinner at Danny's parents house with, ham, and lot's of other good food. All the kids (ages 25-30) got their annual easter baskets and we were pestered for not producing grandchildren fast enough yet again. But aside from the guilt trip, I had a lovely time.
I realize I have posted absolutely no pictures from various events I've experienced and I'm going to have to confess something here to blogland: I suck at documenting my life in photographs. If I don't forget the camera in the first place, then I forget to take pictures or, quite frankly, just don't enjoy taking them. I have a few from Harrison's birthday way back when that I could share and I completely didn't take any camera to the New Kids concert! Oh well, guess it lives in my memory!
The other big news of my time away...I have a new phone! Yes, I've upgraded from the old phone I've had for the past 3 years. I'm also not one of those people who gets a new phone every other week. I feel that my phone is sufficient and I don't need it play music or do my banking. However, I left the phone charger in Bloomington after the concert and after my phone died a mere 8 days before I could get my phone back, I faced a dilemma. So where did I turn? My technology-friendly, money-spending, loves-to-buy-new-stuff hubby. I altered him to my situation. He volunteered to go buy me a new charger. I agreed to that. I'd been putting him off for months on the "let's go get you an upgraded phone" front. I was just never in the mood to go get a new one. I think I have an unrealistic assumption that it is a way more undesirable process then it really is. So while I was out with Mom on Thursday, he went out and upgraded my phone for me! I didn't even have to go! I love that! After we send in the rebate, the phone (which is really nifty, by the way) will end up being less expensive than a charger for the old phone. I was presented with my upgrade after I got home. It had all my numbers and pictures all in there waiting for me! I have been tinkering with it ever since. It even plays music! But I don't use that feature. Again, I don't need my phone to entertain me.
So, right now I'm about to leave work and go home to eat dinner (ham) and fold laundry. One of these days I will realize that my house will need to be clean because one of these days, we're going to sell it, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Have a good one!
erin
Friday, March 20, 2009
Gallon of Gas
So...interesting day...
Apparently, we're having some kind of gas leak here at work today.
Earlier this morning we all started smelling something really bad, seeming to come out of the elevator shaft. It got worse and really smelled like natural gas. So about 30 minutes later, we were given the word to evacuate and the fire department was called and we all stood outside for a good 40 minutes while the fire department ruled that whatever it was "wouldn't kill us" and we could all go back in.
Well, we (we being not so much me) are trying to figure out what exactly is leaking and until we do and figure out how to stop it, I have to sit at the front door of the Nature Center and tell the public they cannot come in. We have all the doors and windows wide open, letting the leaking substance out, but in the meantime, it's been decided we cannot have public in the building. We, however, remain.
So, this is quite a way to end the week if I do say so myself! What's your Friday been like?
erin
Apparently, we're having some kind of gas leak here at work today.
Earlier this morning we all started smelling something really bad, seeming to come out of the elevator shaft. It got worse and really smelled like natural gas. So about 30 minutes later, we were given the word to evacuate and the fire department was called and we all stood outside for a good 40 minutes while the fire department ruled that whatever it was "wouldn't kill us" and we could all go back in.
Well, we (we being not so much me) are trying to figure out what exactly is leaking and until we do and figure out how to stop it, I have to sit at the front door of the Nature Center and tell the public they cannot come in. We have all the doors and windows wide open, letting the leaking substance out, but in the meantime, it's been decided we cannot have public in the building. We, however, remain.
So, this is quite a way to end the week if I do say so myself! What's your Friday been like?
erin
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Let's Get It Started
Why is today not Friday?!
Here I sit, in my office, thinking "yay, it's Friday!"
But...
It's THURSDAY!
I never enjoy that. Boo.
I have done literally nothing here at work today, besides getting a cup of coffee and taking a walk over lunch. And now, there is no more coffee and I'm hungry. I did eat a salad and some craisins and almonds, but my body says, I would like some more...and there is frozen Pepperidge Farm cake in the freezer here and left over lasagna and chicken alfredo. And it's THURSDAY!
It seems like Friday because many people are gone today. I also have this overwhelming feeling like you get on the last day of school...great anticipation...but for what? I don't know! We have no plans tonight, no weekend plans, except for a funeral for a good friend's father, who was a friend himself, which I'm 100% not looking forward to. And it's THURSDAY! I still have to come back here tomorrow...I certainly am not anticipating that!
I guess there's just something in me today with a "let's get it started" attitude. Let's get the weekend started? Let's get some fun times started? Apparently, something needs to start soon. Let's get something started.
Now the word "started" is weird to me.
PS...It's THURSDAY!
erin
Here I sit, in my office, thinking "yay, it's Friday!"
But...
It's THURSDAY!
I never enjoy that. Boo.
I have done literally nothing here at work today, besides getting a cup of coffee and taking a walk over lunch. And now, there is no more coffee and I'm hungry. I did eat a salad and some craisins and almonds, but my body says, I would like some more...and there is frozen Pepperidge Farm cake in the freezer here and left over lasagna and chicken alfredo. And it's THURSDAY!
It seems like Friday because many people are gone today. I also have this overwhelming feeling like you get on the last day of school...great anticipation...but for what? I don't know! We have no plans tonight, no weekend plans, except for a funeral for a good friend's father, who was a friend himself, which I'm 100% not looking forward to. And it's THURSDAY! I still have to come back here tomorrow...I certainly am not anticipating that!
I guess there's just something in me today with a "let's get it started" attitude. Let's get the weekend started? Let's get some fun times started? Apparently, something needs to start soon. Let's get something started.
Now the word "started" is weird to me.
PS...It's THURSDAY!
erin
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
It's All About the Benjamins, Baby
Doing stuff to win money is fun!
This Saturday is a culmination of events. My mother's XXth birthday, our annual pancake breakfast here at work and the Meridian High School Trivia Night back at my old high school.
We will be celebrating the birthday at the pancake breakfast and then again the next day and then again the next weekend (man she really knows how to have a birthday, that Mom) when my sister and family come down for that weekend...we've also got a paying band show that weekend!
The trivia night, that is the social event of the season! This will be my fourth year competing and hopefully my third consecutive year winning that bad boy! And you win money! Like $250! However, you have a team of 10 people...and then you always donate it back to the school...so it's really just for the prestige. Even so, my team has won the last 2 years in a row, beating like 12 other teams made up of teachers, writers from the paper, other former students, etc. Our team consists of myself, my brother-in-law Ross and sister-in-law Susannah, my mother and father-in-law, Susannah's parents and 2 aunts, and another friend from said high school. We all have our specialty areas. Other friend is all sports and history, Ross takes care of obscure facts, math, music, and movies, I handle pop culture (I watch the most tv, apparently), a bit of history (it was my major) and music. I could name everyone's specialty, but just know, we cover a broad spectrum! We also have a good range of ages on our team to know random trivia from different decades and past and present "current" events. It's a pretty fun time and hey, it's how I give back to my school, because I certainly don't plan on writing them a check anytime soon! So even if it's not "all about the benjamins" it's still a really fun evening with friends!
I'll let you know how we do...I'm so accustomed to winning, I feel it won't be near as much fun if we don't!
erin
This Saturday is a culmination of events. My mother's XXth birthday, our annual pancake breakfast here at work and the Meridian High School Trivia Night back at my old high school.
We will be celebrating the birthday at the pancake breakfast and then again the next day and then again the next weekend (man she really knows how to have a birthday, that Mom) when my sister and family come down for that weekend...we've also got a paying band show that weekend!
The trivia night, that is the social event of the season! This will be my fourth year competing and hopefully my third consecutive year winning that bad boy! And you win money! Like $250! However, you have a team of 10 people...and then you always donate it back to the school...so it's really just for the prestige. Even so, my team has won the last 2 years in a row, beating like 12 other teams made up of teachers, writers from the paper, other former students, etc. Our team consists of myself, my brother-in-law Ross and sister-in-law Susannah, my mother and father-in-law, Susannah's parents and 2 aunts, and another friend from said high school. We all have our specialty areas. Other friend is all sports and history, Ross takes care of obscure facts, math, music, and movies, I handle pop culture (I watch the most tv, apparently), a bit of history (it was my major) and music. I could name everyone's specialty, but just know, we cover a broad spectrum! We also have a good range of ages on our team to know random trivia from different decades and past and present "current" events. It's a pretty fun time and hey, it's how I give back to my school, because I certainly don't plan on writing them a check anytime soon! So even if it's not "all about the benjamins" it's still a really fun evening with friends!
I'll let you know how we do...I'm so accustomed to winning, I feel it won't be near as much fun if we don't!
erin
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
North To Alaska
Well, more like North to Almost Wisconsin...
I'm going on a road trip!
Hang on, don't get too excited...it's a work road trip. I am going with 5 other people, all men. Needless to say, I get my own room! I think it will be fun due to the people going. I went on a similar work road trip last year and it SUCKED HARD due to the people who went. Sorry, I hate the phrase "sucked hard" but feel it clearly illustrates the amount of horridness that was that work road trip, so if you also hate the phrase, you can suffer to some extent as I did those 2 days I will never get back in my life.
On a completely different note...here is some useless info about me I just posted on facebook that I will now share here. Is that blog cheating? Too bad if it is!
1. I was always one of the shortest people in my class.
2. In high school I dated this kid named Danny Moyer and figured it wouldn't last, which is didn't. But, 6 years later I married him.
3. I require veg-out time. I need to just sit and do nothing but watch tv for a good chunk of time.
4. I was a member of the Elwin Stamp Club and am proud of it! Those were some good times!
5. Before I got married, my initials were all E's and everyone felt the need to point this out to me like I wasn't aware.
6. I am not teaching like I went to college for. I am okay with that and wish people would stop asking me why I'm not a teacher.
7. I strive to know the words to songs because I had some pretty embarrassing mis-heard lyrics in my youth that I am still made fun of for.
8. I will probably never move out of the Decatur/Elwin area and I'm okay with that too.
9. I used to always want press-on nails after seeing the commercial for Lee press-on nails. Press-on nails brought to you by the Lee company. So I thought all press-on nails were called "Lee Press-on nails" and I asked for them all the time. I was finally set straight years later and I did eventually purchase press-on nails only to be let down by their level of quality.
10. I am so ready for motherhood, it's not even funny.
11. I sing in a band...it's a dream come true from the days I used to pretend to sing in a band in my basement.
12. I have the cutest dog around!
13. I have 2 tattoos. Got the first one, a sun, before high school graduation, got the second one, danny's initials, right before I got married.
14. I am extremely close to my family. (I stole this one from my sister's, but it is very true)
15. I never really dated all that much. I found it way more fun to just hang out with a bunch of guys, therefore by-passing all the guy/girl drama for the most part.
16. I used to be a hotel maid...those were certainly not the days!
17. I have a fear of bridges and drowning. I think that a bridge will collapse while I'm on it and I will then drown in my car in the river below.
18. I was absolutely terrified of Malificent, the villian from Sleeping Beauty, for months after I saw the movie. I was convinced she was waiting for me in the hallway that led to my bedroom. 19. I made my family participate in a fire drill at our home during fire safety week during my grade school years. I appreciate them going along with it. We all met in the driveway, though I'm pretty sure I enacted it at dinner when we were all in one place.
20. Along with teaching, as a Naturalist at Rock Springs, I took care of all the reptiles and amphibians and can now handle snakes with the best of 'em!
21. I miss riding my bike everyday of the summer like I did as a kid, but would never do it again.
22. I hate all hot tea and rarely drink cold tea.
23. I learned to like coffee at Theater Fest my sophomore year of high school in the U of I student Union. I remember it so clearly.
24. I cannot sleep if someone is snoring. It just doesn't happen.
25. I couldn't swallow pills until I was like 15 years old. I always thought I would choke on them.
Other things I didn't put on this list but could have:
In addition to being a maid, I have also been a dishwasher, bean walker, and corn roguer. Man I had some fabulous jobs!
Even though I'm not a teacher, I was KICK ASS at teaching. And I hope to teach in some capacity, be it as a Naturalist again or just for my own kids (though I am not a fan of home-schooling unless you have no other means of education).
I was a pretty good clarinet player, though I haven't touched my instrument (try not to make that dirty like I am doing right now in my head) for years!
I taught myself to play the piano. It kind of shows.
I think that's all for now.
I'm going on a road trip!
Hang on, don't get too excited...it's a work road trip. I am going with 5 other people, all men. Needless to say, I get my own room! I think it will be fun due to the people going. I went on a similar work road trip last year and it SUCKED HARD due to the people who went. Sorry, I hate the phrase "sucked hard" but feel it clearly illustrates the amount of horridness that was that work road trip, so if you also hate the phrase, you can suffer to some extent as I did those 2 days I will never get back in my life.
On a completely different note...here is some useless info about me I just posted on facebook that I will now share here. Is that blog cheating? Too bad if it is!
1. I was always one of the shortest people in my class.
2. In high school I dated this kid named Danny Moyer and figured it wouldn't last, which is didn't. But, 6 years later I married him.
3. I require veg-out time. I need to just sit and do nothing but watch tv for a good chunk of time.
4. I was a member of the Elwin Stamp Club and am proud of it! Those were some good times!
5. Before I got married, my initials were all E's and everyone felt the need to point this out to me like I wasn't aware.
6. I am not teaching like I went to college for. I am okay with that and wish people would stop asking me why I'm not a teacher.
7. I strive to know the words to songs because I had some pretty embarrassing mis-heard lyrics in my youth that I am still made fun of for.
8. I will probably never move out of the Decatur/Elwin area and I'm okay with that too.
9. I used to always want press-on nails after seeing the commercial for Lee press-on nails. Press-on nails brought to you by the Lee company. So I thought all press-on nails were called "Lee Press-on nails" and I asked for them all the time. I was finally set straight years later and I did eventually purchase press-on nails only to be let down by their level of quality.
10. I am so ready for motherhood, it's not even funny.
11. I sing in a band...it's a dream come true from the days I used to pretend to sing in a band in my basement.
12. I have the cutest dog around!
13. I have 2 tattoos. Got the first one, a sun, before high school graduation, got the second one, danny's initials, right before I got married.
14. I am extremely close to my family. (I stole this one from my sister's, but it is very true)
15. I never really dated all that much. I found it way more fun to just hang out with a bunch of guys, therefore by-passing all the guy/girl drama for the most part.
16. I used to be a hotel maid...those were certainly not the days!
17. I have a fear of bridges and drowning. I think that a bridge will collapse while I'm on it and I will then drown in my car in the river below.
18. I was absolutely terrified of Malificent, the villian from Sleeping Beauty, for months after I saw the movie. I was convinced she was waiting for me in the hallway that led to my bedroom. 19. I made my family participate in a fire drill at our home during fire safety week during my grade school years. I appreciate them going along with it. We all met in the driveway, though I'm pretty sure I enacted it at dinner when we were all in one place.
20. Along with teaching, as a Naturalist at Rock Springs, I took care of all the reptiles and amphibians and can now handle snakes with the best of 'em!
21. I miss riding my bike everyday of the summer like I did as a kid, but would never do it again.
22. I hate all hot tea and rarely drink cold tea.
23. I learned to like coffee at Theater Fest my sophomore year of high school in the U of I student Union. I remember it so clearly.
24. I cannot sleep if someone is snoring. It just doesn't happen.
25. I couldn't swallow pills until I was like 15 years old. I always thought I would choke on them.
Other things I didn't put on this list but could have:
In addition to being a maid, I have also been a dishwasher, bean walker, and corn roguer. Man I had some fabulous jobs!
Even though I'm not a teacher, I was KICK ASS at teaching. And I hope to teach in some capacity, be it as a Naturalist again or just for my own kids (though I am not a fan of home-schooling unless you have no other means of education).
I was a pretty good clarinet player, though I haven't touched my instrument (try not to make that dirty like I am doing right now in my head) for years!
I taught myself to play the piano. It kind of shows.
I think that's all for now.
Monday, January 19, 2009
O'er the Land of the Free...
Well you had to know this blog would be of a certain theme...
Who isn't excited for tomorrow?!? I hope my boss doesn't mind me doing nothing but watching the inauguration...I think the world of volunteers will wait for one day.
I had work off today for Martin Luther King Jr. Day...I did a WHOLE LOT OF LAUNDRY and watched Harrison bark at the neighbors shoveling snow. I did manage to shower, however I did not manage to change out of my pajamas.
This weekend wasn't all that eventful as I assumed after my jinx of a last blog.
Friday night, wow I can't even remember what happened that day! Oh, Danny was sickish but still managed to go to poker. I spent my last night with Nick the dog (he's gone) and did not much. Seriously, I have got to get a few more exciting Friday nights lined up in the next few months. My last entries have included lots of "well, I did absolutely nothing this past Friday!"
Saturday I pack up Nick and Danny left to help his brother move and spend the night up there. I hung out with my parents all day (with Harrison) and had a really nice time with them. After a recent health scare with my Dad, it was nice to just hang out. He's doing just fine now and even has a more positive outlook on life and all the colorful people in it.
Sunday I went walking at the country club with Mom and Harrison...it was a nice workout, up and down those hills, in the cold! Danny got home soon after that and we had a nice afternoon together watching football.
Today, like I said, is laundry and pajamas. As of right now, pretty much all of our clothes are nicely put away so we can start that whole process over again.
What's coming up? Well, this next weekend I'll be in a wedding for my good friend Juli...she was in my wedding too. So we'll be off to Peoria Friday. We were going to have to spend about $250 on a hotel room for 2 nights (remember when I blogged about that?), but thanks to good friends of my parents who have a weekend home in Peoria (he works at CAT, but they live in WI), we get to stay with them for free! I'll take it! So I'm trying to get things packed for that and lose a couple more pounds (of many). Also, we'll be stopping through Bloomington on the way home on Sunday to have lunch with my sister, who's 31st birthday is that day. So I have to remember to bring gifts and clothes and my dress...I'll need a list.
Everyone tune in to INAUGURATION DAY tomorrow! History in the making!
erin
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