Quizzes Post Quickly

I snagged this one from Dagny's site. It was fun...I'm curious to see how other people score (I'm so nosy...must be that 36%)

You Are 64% Grown Up, 36% Kid

Congratulations, you are definitely quite emotionally mature. Although you have your moments of moodiness, you're usually stable and level headed.

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

Weekend Worker

This was a busy weekend. Some fun...some stress...

Due to the really heavy workload we've had recently at work, I decided to go in for a few hours on Saturday. Yes Christyn, I know. I am certifiably insane. But, I did get some pressing tasks finished. A bit less for me to stress about when I got in this morning. (Don't worry, there was still plenty to stress over.)

After finishing up at work, I drove up to Christyn's and we headed out to dinner. I love The Olive Garden, but don't they always have the longest wait time? After that, we rented a few movies, and had our co-worker and her sister come by. We ended up watching Date Movie, which had some good laughs, but was really pretty mindless.


Sunday was laundry day. I swear that the next place I live will have a washer/dryer in it!! I walked down to the mailboxes to get the mail I had been neglecting for the past 3 days. And guess what was waiting for me there...

Go ahead...

Guess...

NOPE! You're wrong. It was a notice from the collection agency stating that my failure to respond to their previous notice (as ranted about here) had resulted in a judgment being placed against me. Even though I really had responded within the required timeframe. In person. At the court. Within the 10 day period. So, I immediately called the collection agency, though I fully expected to get a recording telling me to call back during office hours. Surprisingly enough, they have people manning the 800 number on the weekends. They were not much help though. All she said was that she'd make a notation of what I said. Which to me sounded rather patronizing. And after getting off the phone with her I was really upset and called my Mom to vent. Apparently it was really bad timing, and I actually got in a fight with my mother and hung up on her (which I think I've only ever done once before). It's okay now though, she called back, I had my say, and we are good again. She was really stressing out too and felt helpless when I called. I told her I just needed her to listen, not to actually solve anything. See - bad day...

And I called the collection agency again today (and asked specificallly for the person the court had referred me to originally, last month), to make sure they did have a record of my court date, and the fact that I responded with the specified timeframe. She was actually helpful. She said the system does show that I responded by showing up in person and setting a court date. The person that input that information had not updated the account status correctly (seems like a trend there, doesn't it?). So, while I was on the phone with her, she updated the account to put a stop to the collection process until after the court decision. And this time I took notes on our conversation, and marked the date and time of the call. I hung up and felt immediately better.

In other news, I've been getting a lot of crochet done lately. Here's a cupcake pincushion I attempted. (Didn't have any fiberfill, so used old pantyhose, cut up into small pieces, for stuffing.) My gauge was a little large, so it's slightly bigger than it should be. But, since I'm not putting it into a muffin tin or anything, I figured it didn't matter. (Oh, and I need to give props to Gloria, who's blog I found these on to begin with. Hers came out cuter though.)

Below is the 2nd square I finished for the Grandmother Purl knitalong, in the blocking process.
And, here are both squares ready for mailing. They went out Saturday, and hopefully Kristy will have them soon.
You know, I kind of like making little projects I can finish in a day. Instant gratification definitely has its benefits!

Like an open book...

You Have Your PhD in Men

You understand men almost better than anyone. You accept that guys are very different, and you read signals well. Work what you know about men, and your relationships will be blissful.

How Well Do You Understand Men?

Now...if I truly know so much about men, why am I perpetually single? Answer that, Blogthings!

In other news, I finished a second square for CAP's grandmother, and am ready to ship them off. Made it to the grocery store tonight, picked up the shipping envelopes (um, and a whole bunch of groceries too, since I was there anyway), and forgot to get a Benicia postcard to include with the squares! Oops! So, I'll be running back over there in the morning to pick one up (they're to include in the scrapbook).

Crochet for a Cause

As many of you know, one of the blogs I most frequently visit is Crazy Aunt Purl. Well, Laurie (CAP herself) has a grandmother that has just recently been settled into a convalescent hospital. Laurie has been visiting her grandma and also visiting grandma's neighbor's (at least, Mr. Hakim) in the home. So, Kristy, another faithful CAP stalker, uh, I mean reader, came up with the idea for everyone to combine our efforts and make a comforting afghan for Laurie's grandma. She set up a knitalong site for this project, asking for donations of 8" squares, that she will collect and combine into an afghan.

So far, the response has been astounding. As of right now (10:39pm on Tuesday night) there are 160 people signed up, with many of them contributing multiple squares. It looks like Kristy will be able to assemble afghans for half the residents at the home!

If you are interested in making up a square or two for this project, or helping Kristy join the squares into the finished afghans, please visit this site for details and to sign up.

As for me, I've signed up for 2 squares, but might do more. I bought some cozy yarn today, and whipped this square up when I got home. The yarn is actually more pastel than it appears in this shot. And it will look better when the pins are out. It's mid-block at this point. (Grandma Purl should be touched. I almost NEVER block any projects! Actually, it sounds like GP is already touched, according to Laurie's account of her reaction when she was told we were doing this.)

Kitty-Capades

Gracie had a ball last night. My little guardian cat was trying to attack a horrible green monster through the window, which was threatening to attack. (Or at least that's what I imagine she thought she was doing.)

I turned around to see her jumping up and attacking the sliding glass doors in the living room. At first I thought she was attacking her reflection, which she hasn't done before. (Not even in front of my mirrored closet doors.) I got closer, and saw the enemy. A cute little praying mantis, scurrying between the glass door and the screen. (Good thing it was on the outside, or it would have been Gracie's dinner for sure. As if I don't feed her enough!)

Funny that she will attack a praying mantis...now, had it been a person at the back window, she probably would have been anxious to purr around their ankles and drool in their lap. (She's really a very friendly kitty! So...it's probably a good thing I live on the 2nd floor! Harder for burglers to burgle me.)

And, because I'm such a dork, I stood there at my back door snapping picture after picture until I could a good one of the praying mantis without a reflection of the flash in the window. Isn't it cute? (And now that you know how I spent my Sunday night...isn't my life oh so exciting?)

Season 31 Continued

The birthday season continued this weekend. I spoke to my mother Thursday night and had the following conversation (or something similar):

Mom: You still coming up this weekend?

Me: Yeah, that was the plan. When is brunch?

Mom: Sunday at 1pm. What kind of cake do you want?

Me: Can I request something I used to have a lot when I was younger?

Mom: Pie?

Me: Yes!

Ah....my mother knows me so well! I went through a long period when I was younger when I didn't like cake (or pizza, for that matter), so for a few years, I had pies for my birthday instead. And honestly, I could still live without cake. Don't get me wrong, I'll eat it if it's in front of me, but it's really not my preferred dessert. So I was lookin forward to having birthday pie again!

On Saturday, I drove up to Sacramento and hung out with my friend Kerri. We hit the mall and went on a shopping spree. It would have been more of a spree if either of us actually had much money... And, the first thing we did was buy identical sweaters at The Gap. This is not unusual - we have very similar taste in clothing. But, they had this great kelly green sweater, and it's a really good color on both of us. And was on sale. (Nothing else in the store really appealed to either of us.) And I finally used that Nordstrom gift certificate that I got for my birthday last year!

Then, dinner at California Pizza Kitchen - yum! After that, we headed back to her house and vegged out watching The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. I hadn't seen it before. Different from the book, but still good.

Sunday it was off to Mom's for family time and food. It was my stepbrother's birthday last week, so this was a combined celebration. Dinner was good, presents were good (aren't they always?), and the pie - excellent! My mother makes the best pies! And no, it's not bias speaking. It's true! Her crusts are the best. Light and flaky. It's possibly the only thing my mother is truly vain about. But they really are excellent.

I should have taken some of it home! But, it wouldn't have lasted the car ride up...especially since traffic was stop and go...

So instead of pie, I stopped at In-N-Out in Fairfield. A total madhouse! But worth it. I don't go there very often.

So, all in all, it was a good weekend. :)

A question for the ages

Thursday and Friday this week I had good hair days. Yep, that's right. 2 whole days in a row! (Believe me, it's rare!) I got lots of compliments on that and my new shirt on Thursday, and was feeling rather self-confident for once (also quite rare...very much so!). So, the question is...when I'm looking pretty good, and feeling good about myself, why do I never run into any attractive eligible men? They only seem to appear when I'm feeling and/or looking like crap.

It's a curse!

Happy Birthday to me!

All in all, it was a good day. I got to work on time this morning (totally unprecedented!) and my desk was all decorated with streamers. Quite nicely too (would have taken a picture, but for once, I didn't have my camera on me). The file cart was set up behind my cubicle, covered with phase 1 of the surprise potluck food (non-perishables and breakfasty things). I had a nice card and a little giftie from one of my co-workers waiting on my chair.

More food came out later - fruits, barbecue meatballs, salads...it was an all day food-fest. (I doubt I'll be getting to goal at Weight Watcher's this week! I'm weak, you know...)

My boss told me to prepare to head out early (but I ended up staying anyway...there was enough socializing throughout the day that I don't feel cheated). And I actually managed to get some work done, which was also good. Another co-worker did a Starbucks run in my honor (and treated everyone), so that we all had caffiene with our cake in the afternoon. Chocolate chip ice cream cake - yum!!

After work, I went out shopping with Christyn (she was going to take me out for dinner, but after stuffing our faces all day, we just weren't hungry). We ran to the mall and tried on dresses at Macy's. Christyn is actually looking for a dress for an upcoming wedding. I only tried stuff on because she made me! We had fun.

When I got home there was a package waiting for me from my Aunt Fran (quite a surprise for me, actually!) She sent me hand-made earrings (cute - cats and little blue beads), 2 cookbooks and a wooden cat & fish figurine. :)

And now, the sun has gone down on yet another birthday, and it is past my old-lady bedtime. Thank you everyone for your happy birthday wishes!!

Birthday Memories

Well, today was my last day as a 30 year old. But when I left the office, my boss, who is out tomorrow, wished me an early birthday and thought I was turning 26. I don't know if she was serious, but she certainly seemed surprised that I was turning 31. I'll take that as a compliment.

And so far this birthday is better than last year. This time last year (the night before my actual birthday), I was feeling like death warmed over. My friend Kristin threw me a party that Saturday (my birthday was on a Monday), which was great - I really hadn't had an actual birthday party in years - so don't take this to mean I didn't appreciate and enjoy that. I did!

The sucky part started later. Saturday night my boyfriend became violently ill. (Come to find out he hadn't felt well all day.) I didn't sleep much that night, because he was in and out of bed all night running to the bathroom and being ill...and I am a hypochondriac (or at least I definitely have tendencies), and kept telling myself I felt fine, and was just off because of Fred and my worry that something Kristin served at the party was undercooked and we were all going to die...(yes, sometimes my mind works that way, sadly).

Nope! Sunday morning was my turn for violent illness. It was awful. I hadn't been that sick in years. Not even when I had the flu the year before. So, Sunday I feel like death, and we were supposed to go to breakfast with my friend Kerri before taking her to the train station to head back to Sacramento. Fred was feeling a bit better by then, but I was not in good shape. So, he drove my car and when we picked up Kerri at her hotel, Fred went to go get her, and I went into the ladies room to lay down (luckily there was a couch in there). Needless to say, Kerri took one look at me and volunteered to nix breakfast and take an earlier train.

The rest of Sunday was spent on the couch, sleeping, running to the bathroom, and swilling Pepto Bismol. By Monday I still felt pretty bad, but at least food (what tiny tiny amounts of saltine crackers I had managed to eat) was staying down. So, I ended up calling in sick to work on my 30th birthday. And not even to play hooky... :( They (at work) had decorated my desk and had planned a surprise potluck for me. I felt bad calling in, because I knew they would do something. But, I also knew that I couldn't be around the scent of any foods and make it through the day. I did get flowers delivered to the office, but they were picked up by a co-worker. They were still pretty and fresh when I got in on Tuesday. And I wasn't back to eating normally for almost a week. So that's the exciting story of my 30th...

On the flip side, half of my life ago (wow that makes me feel old!), my older sister threw me a surprise party. It was 1990, a few weeks before I turned 15, and maybe a week or so before my family moved from Gilroy to Folsom. My parents took me shopping, just me, and I didn't think anything of it at the time, even though it was pretty rare for them to take just one out of us four kids clothes shopping... We were out a while, and I still remember a couple of the things that we bought. (This is sad...I got a pair of pink and blue flowered overall shorts with a wide navy cloth belt and a navy blue t-shirt. Sound like '91?)

We get home, open the door, and there's my sister and all my friends lined up the stairs throwing confetti and yelling surprise. I had no clue. And I didn't get jumpy and screamy to show my surprise - I couldn't believe anyone would do something like that for me, and I got all quiet and incredulous. Until the day she died, my sister always said I wasn't surprised then, and never let me forget it (obviously, I haven't). But I really was surprised, and happy about it. Especially since I figured that my birthday would suck that year, since I'd be in a new school and know no one.

It was a slumber party, and my sister planned it for me. I remember specifically that someone (actually, it might have been Terri's) had the Young Guns II soundtrack, and my sister kept playing "Blaze of Glory" by Bon Jovi. I always did like that song. Anyway, we all went swimming for a while out in the backyard pool, and then came in hung out. I don't remember too many details, but it was fun and the only one of my childhood birthday parties that had a significant number of guests show up. (Didn't help that my birthday was always the first week of school.) Ah...happy memories.

:)

You can't deny your past...

what decade does your personality live in?


quiz brought to you by lady interference, ltd

Senseless Babbling

The English language is full of odd sayings and phrases that have remained in use over the years. Some of these make sense...(like smooth as a baby's bottom, squeaky clean, etc.)

Some phrases are used so often that you don't really think about where they may have come from... So today, while sitting at work trying to find a way to keep my eyes open while staring at my computer, a certain phrase popped randomly into my head. "Clean as a whistle." For some odd reason, I actually thought to myself that that makes no sense...Are whistles really clean? They're in someone's mouth half the time, and fill up with saliva. Does anyone ever wash a whistle? Where did this bizarre phrase come from?

Um, yeah, so I looked it up, and found this. (You'll have to scroll down the page a bit to get to it.) Nice to know I'm not the only one who has wasted time thinking about this! And to prove that even more people have pondered this whistle issue, I found this too. (Just to clarify, I actually didn't look this up at work, but did start thinking about it there...)

Anyway, obviously, work is stressing me out, and my mind is beginning to wander...

Final Goody Package!

I got my finished project from my One Skein Pal on Friday night! It's a very cute little clutch purse with 3 little black cat buttons.

And the booklet is a reprint of crochet patterns/lessons from 1915. It has some cute little items in it. How did she know I was into the vintage stuff? :)

Now...I need to get out to the post office and mail my package to MY secret pal!

Saturday Night Quizzes

What Your Sleeping Position Says

You are calm and rational. You are also giving and kind - a great friend. You are easy going and trusting. However, you are too sensible to fall for mind games.

What Does Your Sleeping Position Say About You?

Hmm...for once, this one actually sounds about right.

You Are Spider-Man

Quick and agile, you have killer instincts (literally). And that kind of makes up for the whole creepy spider thing.

What Superhero Are You?

Not sure about the Spiderman thing...

Your Seduction Style: The Charmer

You're a master at intimate conversation and verbal enticement. You seduce with words, by getting people to open up to you. By establishing this deep connection quickly, people feel under your power. And then you've got them exactly where you want them!

What Is Your Seduction Style?

Me? Charming? Ha!