Lazy like Sunday

We have had a very lazy weekend! It was great sometimes you just need that.

Yesterday we just did a few things around here which included me going off on Comcast (they are fuckers) and a nice BBQ at one of the BF's friend's house/

Today we did nothing well not really nothing we ordered our tickets to NY for my brother's wedding, cleaned the office a bit, making pasta sauce, and watched the Diana concert on VH1. I am in awe that it has been 10 years since her untimely death.

But at least this week will be a long slow week with a few highlights like the fourth with friends, the Police at Wigley and I am off on Friday so a three day weekend!

The white shadow

Well the BF is out with a friend, I am at home just finishing school work but I am not alone....it is the White shadow.

Actually, it is the doggy! She has been around me all evening. It is funny how now that the bf and I are living together we are this "pack" to her. She herds us together and when the bf and i are in the office and we hug she nuzzles in to be part of the group lovin'. She adores her new toys and plays with them until they are grimy and falling apart. They are her babies and at times you will either find her sleeping with them or trying to fill all of them in her mouth.

She will keep me company when the BF is out. She will stay by the bedroom door waiting for him and when we are all together then she will go to her bed.

For a lab that is almost 9 she has the stamina of a puppy with a heart that is just full of love.

It was not always that way, the first time she and I met she was so excited she peed, then when I stayed over the first few time she peed but I suspect it was more of the "this is MY territory lady" than excitement. But after that I am approved in the pact.

I want another puppy but the BF won't let me (nor would the landlord) so now I want a bunny...yet that may not happen. I just love having animals around they are just so full of love and excitement, they are what can keep me going!

Chicago repair men...do they exist?

Can you believe that it is Sunday night, damn where did the weekend go. I mean, it felt like moments ago it was Friday night and then WHAM it is Sunday evening.

Well the drama of this past week is that our freaking fridge is acting up. The freezer is fine but the fridge part is at least 60 degrees. We spent the day yesterday waiting for the fridge guy to show up but that did not happen at least officially...

See I was tired and all i wanted to do was sleep at we were woken up at 8 am by a phone call. The BF gets up at 8 by nature so he was up and ready to get the day started. Me not so much. So he went to run a few errands. I feel back asleep. At around 10 I hear in this thick Chicago accent "Its the management company, we're here to look at the fridge". Woke the shit out of me...then I hear "Ohhh yea, I can fix this, Toby put da tools down over there" I was frantically trying to find a sweatshirt and brushing my hair with my fingers saying "I'll be right out". I open the door and there was the BF hysterically pointing at me. He was running out of breath!

Apparently that was to get me back for the allege head butting incident. According to his story, I was nudging his back with my head while sleeping. He apparently did not appreciate this gesture and kind of woke me up to stop. I do not recall doing such a thing...

But we are even...for now....the fridge is still broken!

Happy little clouds

I have painted again for the first time in at least a year in a half. The BF made me do it and I am glad that he did so now I am back in the zone.

I want to pain now...damn homework!

Fun fun fun....

A few blogs ago I whined about not having any girlfriends and had a "woe is me" moment. Well, needsleepbadly sent me a message that we should hang out since we are both relatively local and well, lets faces it....we are awesome chicks (like all of you out there!)

so last night we went out to dinner and had an awesome time. We noshed at Kitch'n and did we chat. laugh and just had so much fun. Before we knew it three hours had passed and it did not seem like that.

So we are definitely going to hang out soon. It was great to meet a really cool, funny and sweet person who is a fun insightful blogger. We had a great time!

I am glad that I met her and it is good to have a new friend.

So if you have a sec check her out at Blog this, baby and say hi!

Word of caution

Don't touch your nose after cutting up a jalpeno for your world famous tomatillo salsa...

I am just saying..................it burns, it burns.

four more..

Classes to go.

that is right my spring quarter is overrrrrrrrrrrrr! So my summer quarter begins next week. No rest for the weary.

But I went to my friends graduation at the U of C and it was beautiful and it has made me think that maybe I will walk in December. Bu I would just rather have a few close friends and family over for dinner where the drinks will flow and I can forget my school debt for a few precious hours!

We'll see, it is less than 5 months and then I am done!!!!

Girlfriends....

I am so missing my girls as of late. They are pretty much all in NY and for some reason I am really missing them, perhaps because it is so hard to make friends when you get older.

The bf has tons of friends and this week he hung out a few nights with them. I am envious because they are within blocks of where we live and most of mine are in a different time zone. So I have been a bit blue. I miss going shopping, out to the movies and just having a girl talk over coffee with my friends. Ther eis just something about having your girls around.

I did not really think that making friends when you got older would be this hard. I am sure my work and travel schedule is no conducive to making friends either. I try do activities where I can meet other people but other than school I don't have the time. Plus I've noticed that you tend to make friends with people you have something in common with...like if you have a newborn you can go to Gymboree and meet other new moms and then start to hang out to talk about baby same if you have a dog and go to the dog park.

It is just really hard and I miss them a lot.

Little miss cranky

That is me.

Yep, I am cranky all because of the lovely crappy job that I am current serving time eh I mean "work" for! here are some of the reasons for today's bought of crankiness:

-commute I get up butt ass early that even the dog does not get out of her bed. In fact she looks at me with pity in her eyes as I get out of bed and wobble to the bathroom.

-commute on the way home which allows me to drive with the masses of stupid Chicagoans who in no particular order...cut you off and almost side swipe you, try to inch their way in front of you when you have only millimeters between you and the car in front of you and those who just can't drive because they are too busy on the phone, reading, applying make up or telling an animated story to his passengers with both hands whist going 50 mph (talk about emphasizing a point)
-my job itself...it is not rocket science but it is different from what I am used to but nobody has the time to train me so I just sit there.
-I found out that they are prorating my vacation so that means that I lost a week! Oh and I did not get paid from my previous employer for that week oh and did I mention that they neglected to tell me this before I signed on the dotted line...so much for going home for the holidays!
-CLA got her full severance despite failing two drug test and having a "secret" felony conviction on her record.

I hate my job!

i need a weekend from my weekend

I can be lazy..I know it but sometimes you just have to be right?

Yesterday, we ran errands went to the BF's dad's house to pick up a package then we went to the mall because I need work appropriate clothes. I was disappointed with the selection and the price of some pants that I only got one pair of pants and a dress but that is not for work. I spent the most at Sephora.

Then last night the BF and I celebrated our anniversary together with dinner at Bistro Campange.
It was so exquisite. We ate like we were royalty. I can't gush enough about not only the food but the service. They had to roll us out of there.

Today was my lazy day. I wanted to sleep in but the realization that I needed to do some online banking woke me up. Then I watched a full marathon of who's wedding is it....in my jammies. Then did some hw in between and now and finishing up some chores

There never is enough time is there?

Ack!

I realised that I haven't blogged in days! I really miss blogging at work it was just my downtime but alas the company Internet usage policy specifically mentions blogs....I wonder what they are afraid of. Anyway, I know what they mean so whatever....

Yukon got her head stuck under the bed yesterday morning. It took us 15 minutes to realise that she was not playing with a toy. She is just a happy dog so if you mention her name her tail wags like a propeller so when I said bye to her in the morning her tail was going a mile a minute. Her daddy rescued her....we are bad doggy parents! But we haven't killed a plant yet so there is hope!

Why work

Three day weekends are good and bad...good that you don't have to face another Monday bad because you eventually have to go back to work.

I started at the new place and It is frustrating. I feel like I know my stuff but I don't know their stuff and although it is similar it is just different. The people are nice but what I've realised is that I don't want to be doing this job anymore. I am tired of it, after 7 long years of doing the same thing for three companies with one joint venture that eventually became a M and A. i no longer want to be apart of it anymore.

I no longer believe that things will "be ok" and that they "listen to the new ideas that the new employees give us". Please, dude this girl has been around the same block...different color of paint but still the same ole block.

I am po'ed that the management team had ideas of who to give some management positions too while discounting the people who would have at least liked to apply for that position. Nope, apparently, positions are bequeathed to people and people are not given a fair short. So those who kiss ass and make it "all about how wonderful I truly am" will get the jobs not those who bust their ass to get the job done.

I guess I am more pissed at myself for not walking. I just need to get the hell outta there!

My morning dose

I admit it, I read blogs at work most importantly my favorite blogs at work. When there is downtime I read your favorite blogs and so on and so on...

I enjoy reading thoughts and opinions and stories with my morning cuppa. Well, that is changing.

Today I worked in the new location. "Officially" as it seems. So I am not too sure how keen they would be on their Internet policies. Plus they put my desk in plain eye site of my teammates so they can "see" what I am doing! And the lone IT guy is a few feet away. Talk about buzz kill!

So alas, I will read your wits when I get home instead of starting my day.

I am going through withdrawal!!!!!

17 years and a week or so

Well all over the news this week is the fact that the 17 year Cicadas are going to emerge from there underground homes to get it on all over Chicago land.

That is right, as you walk down the street you are going to hear bugs going at it with mini bug songs blasting from bug boom boxes. Yep there will be Barry White, Bolero, Marvin Gaye all over the city in bug tones of course.

So they are coming and it will be loud and there will be disgusting crunch sounds as I walk down the street. The BF said something about dog and they are not poisonous (it grossed me out so I blocked it from my memory.)

At least we only go through this every 17 years...which by that time I will have scrapped the last of the bug bodies off of my car.

Did I mention I am not fond of bugs?

Ice water

I am freezing here at work today.

By nature I am almost always cold except when I am in direct sun in the summer and entering a hot car. Lately it seems to have gotten worse and I am cold more often then not. I know that the weather is partly to blame because one day it is in the 80s and the next it dropped 30 degrees. So that may have something to do with it.

The BF is the complete opposite of me. He is warm and toasty. I guess that means we are the perfect match. During the course of an evening he will have his share of covers and by the time I wake up I have most of them as he is sleeping sans sheets!

But he does let me warm myself sometimes, just as long as I don't put my cold nose on his belly. apparently that is not cool...no pun intended.

Anyway, I am going to drink my tea...hopefully that will warm me up...with my gloves and scarf and sweater. No I am not joking

Office set

Well this weekend after the requried errands and nap. We got the offce some what set up. Baby steps....almost there but man I am damn tired of boxes!

I need a hobby!

I need a hobby (or some local friends)

The BF and I were talking about that the other day and that I need to find something interesting and fun to do besides going to school. Yet at the same time school does take up some valuable free time so that in a way is my current hobby.

Nevertheless, I am on a mission to find some thing to do. I have no idea! I used to paint and would love to get back into it. I want to learn to use oils by taking a few classes. But right now that is not in the cards. Time and expense wise, oil painting is a very expensive hobby.

So the next thing I am interested in is photography. I would love how to learn more techniques to take photos, learn h ow to develop print and just improve my technique. Again, time and money are limited.

I would love to take cooking classes too.

I am not interested in sewing or knitting so that is out of the question. I read a lot as is and it is hard to find a good book club like the one that I was in when I lived in NYC.

So I need to find something to do that I can squeeze into my schedule until after school is over and until the expenses have stabilized. Any ideas?

So what kind of cheese should I bring for his whine?

There is this student who is in two of my classes this quarter, in fact he sits next to me in one class. Well, he is apparently not doing so well in the two classes not because he is incapacitated in any form but because he is lazy and then whines about how it is unfair that they give so much work and don't they know we have jobs?

This gets me. I understand that when you are a kid you are forced by your parents and the law to go to school, then many choose to go to college. But grad school is your decision nobody is forcing you. Grad school requires dedication and the expectation that you are not to be spoon fed nor is it going to be "easy". At this point you have the ability to make critical decisions, have opinions and are open to learning new things. But nobody is forcing you. You made that choice, you took the GMAT, you got accepted and you decided to attend.

So therefore, stop the whining!!!!

Yep, see I work too and the days that I have classes I get up at 5:30 and I don't get home until about 10:15. But as I chose to go to school, I have chosen to make some sacrifices to see this challenge through. Additionally, the professor is going to do whatever the hell they want to do. Some are more diplomatic than others but ultimately you are in their hands....if you don't like it drop the class. If you follow the syllabus, keep up with the assignments tests and quizzes and participate you should do okay. Yep, they all count and they are clearly stated in the syllabus. Some professors are less focused on participation but, these two professors are not like that. For one it is 35% of our grade...oh yea that is on the syllabus.

I know that you are young and that this is perhaps your second or third quarter but sitting back with your laptop open as you im your friends then sneak a few text messages in will impede your grade.

So act like an adult...if you don't like the situation that you are in you can get out of it. You are pissing those who work hard to do well and balance some sort of life off!

We have a kitchen

Yep we do. We have managed to unpack numerous boxes, install an pantry and lo and behold we have a kitchen. Ohhh and we can see the dining room windows....it is a Huge step!

Today we did the "who has the better *insert kitchen tool/spice/food item here"? You see we had plenty of duplicates. the BF is a foodie and a gadget guy so we have tons of little tools and gadgets but it is taking shape.

So that means that i can cook. I am tired of eating out so it is good to just think that tonight I can make some nice chicken, rice, salad and a fruit salad. But get back to me in a few weeks and then I will tell you how much I miss restaurants.

You can't have it both ways, can you?

Ps to all the moms (including dog/cat/bird/hamster/pet moms) Happy mother's day....I did call my mom and send her a gift from Sephora. I rock

The Jetsons had it right!

I want my own space car like George had!

I work near O'Hare airport which is one of the busiest airports in the world. Well the esteemed mayor has decided to expand this airport to make it bigger. (which means more delays, congestion and noise but I digress) So in the effort to make it bigger the government bought (aka evicted) businesses and residents from near the airport. The next step is to close one major road.

Why is this an issue, well with the moved my commute time has gone from an average of 40 to 1 hour in the morning and 50 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes in the afternoon. Now granted, I have yet to explore all my options but the one that I prefer will be dramatically impacted once the road is closed.

One thing about working near an airport is the access to the toll expressway. Which itself is not that bad but, that means that around 4-7 pm it is a glorified parking lot. There are taxis everywhere, those who are back from a long trip and are cranky so they cut you off, people who have no idea where they are going and suburbanites going to Chicago for one event. See these are the people who should take mass transit. Now most of the drivers on the Kennedy are decent but the few that piss me off make for one hell of a commute. I've been very cranky lately about it because it is time away from things that I need to get done like, finish unpacking. When the weather gets bad, which it will, my commute will be God knows how long. One time it took me about 4 hours to get home in the snow!

The reason that I don't take the train or the bus is because my commute would them be 3 hours each way as there is no direct route. And there is no way that I am going to get up at 4 to make the train to get to work by 8 I am not a morning person.

So I need a space car...or a new job in the loop. Ohhh should I be greedy and ask for both?

Car commuting sucks!

Last registration...I Hope

So yesterday I registered for the summer and fall quarter of grad school. Which are my LAST two quarters! I can't wait for them to be over, I just want school to end, it is wearing me out.

The only drawback is that my fall quarter will be two 5 week all day Saturday classes! I am none to keen on that idea. When am I going to sleep in? Plus who wants to sit in a class room from 8:30-5. But it is my last quarter and I will be done earlier in November than I originally anticipated.

So this girl has to suck it up and deal!

Tetris

Did you ever play tetris? Well I am living it. We are still in the midst of unpacking and that entails moving some boxes from point A to point D in order to get the box in point B that we have to move to point C. All I need is the mechanical music and I am all set!

Box fort

We are still living our of boxes but we have gotten a few rooms partly done. Our trips to IKEA was a successful we got a new pantry for the kitchen and we are going to build a banquette for our dining room with these pretty doors. Plus some things for our office and cause we wanted them. IKEA knows how to tempt you, it is Satan's store and we always succumb!

Today we went to the BF's niece's christening. It was my first time in sandals and I broke the woman's sandal rule...I had no color on the toes, they looked naked. I am hanging my head in shame!

Do I have to give up a girlie card??

Moved on out

Well we moved...

In cleaning out my old apartment, I realised that it was a great apartment. I loved it and I am going to miss it but this is a new place with new memories to be had. Oak Park was a great town to live in and I will have to go there now and then to visit my haunts.

But here is the lowdown...

-it took 4 men 7 hours to move us
-they came 45 minutes early to my place and thus I was in my pjs and hair looking like God knows what banshee that stepped out of the woods!
-in the midst of the chaos i had to take my mom to the airport
-I attended class that night, tired and sore!
-I had well over 70 boxes not counting furniture
-the BF had less boxes but more storage containers
-we had two bookshelves and one corner cabinet damaged
-the only room that is scaring me is the kitchen, the dishwasher is great but we don't have a lot of storage and we have a ton of kitchen stuff
-we spent over two hundred dollars at Target yesterday
-we are hitting IKEA today

So that is my update.

On the mend

First of all, thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts, prayers and wishes for me this past Wednesday. I truly appreciate it, you guys are superstars!

I am feeling a bit better. Still sore especially at the incision sites. Yep, sites, they opened me up in four areas and that was not fun. Luckily, i was able to come home instead of staying in the hospital so that was a very good thing. (I am sure my insurance appreciated that too).

My surgery was scheduled for 1 but due to an emergency I did not get in until a bit after 3. The recovery room was the worst part because i was extremely nauseous and I did get sick there but the anti-nausea drugs made me sleepy. I was so glad to come home but I could not move on my sides so I felt like a turtle on its back who got beaten up on the stomach. Yesterday was not fun. thankfully today I am doing better.

My mom has actually been a huge help especially with the move. So I am glad that she did come.

We had move drama yesterday. Apparently May 1 is this huge immigration rally so our moving company will not be doing any moves that day. So we were not going to be able to move (AKA we would be homeless for two days) thankfully the current tenant is moving out this weekend and we can move in on Monday. Finally the tables are turning into the good.

Again, thank you all for your kindness!

Out out out

Well tomorrow is cyst removal day. I am starting to get nervous but at least I know the whole hospital procedure so that is half the battle. I just want this thing out of me, it is something that needs to go!

I am trying to multi-task and do the things that must get done but, they won't all be done. I am ahead of the game in one class and on the ball with the other. But my apartment is still in shambles and I want to sell my bed before the movers come. More stress!

At least mom will be here tonight (she got a warning not to piss me off) and she can do the packing while I take the good drugs!

Fingers crossed I will be home comfy tomorrow rather than the hospital.

Blame it on the cyst

So this pain in the abdomen cyst will be out of said body on Wednesday. Due to the size, my dr. is not sure if it can be done laposcopy so that means that they may have to do minor surgery (AKA cutting me open).

I made the BF feel it, you can actually feel it. He was expecting it to jump out of my belly like Aliens. But it did not, athough it did gross him out. Imagine how I feel. It does feel strange knowing that there is this ball of fat, pus and other lovely bodily fluids gathering force in my reproductive organs. Lovely image I know...

This inconvenience has me a bit over stressed. With work, school, and moving, this cyst sure did not pay any attention to the chaos that is my life right now. My mom wants to fly in but I am not sure how I feel about it. The last time she came she came for last years procedure she came with drama and said some really hurtful things to me.

So now she wants me to drop everything to pick up at the airport but she doesn't know when she will fly in on Tuesday. No matter that the boyfriend is helping me out and I was going to stay with him. No matter that I have a 12 page paper due that night as I won't be in class on Wednesday. No matter that I have to pack more things in the apt and was planning on eating grilled cheese. No matter that there will be storms in Chicago which means that O'Hare will be backed up and flights delayed so her flight may not get in until the wee hours of Wednesday morning which is the day of surgery. Well she has gotten wind that I am miffed at this prospect and has not called me to tell me her flight details. So then she will say that I don't want her to come *cue the violins* and all she wanted to do was help (read meddle).

Drama never ceases to take a vacation with her. So I am expecting the ungrateful daughter call soon.

I am surprising calm. Perhaps because the pain has ebbed away but more likely I will be out of work for a week and a half. See the procedure and recovery is approximately 5 days and I had scheduled the last week of April off for the move and I am not changing that so...I am out of the office for a week and a half. So poor, woe is me, nobody matters but me CLA will have to cover. That means she has to stay till 5! Well on the books that is, she leave early no matter what. But regardless this will give me glee. Oh I haven't told her yet about the surgery...I am thinking Tuesday as she walks out the door to go home.

It has to come out

Surgery next Wednesday....

Functioning

I am doing a lot better than I was on Monday. Still it a bit of pain but it is tolerable and not as severe as it has been. Plus I was able to get a decent night of sleep which helps!

So off to the dr this afternoon and see what this bugger is up to.

Then I get to do the dishes, the laundry and pack! The fun never stops, I tell ya!

Kind of like a walnut and an orange

So the cyst in my ovary is the size of a tennis ball approximately 8 cm x 7 cm x 6.2 cm. No wonder I am in pain!

Actually the pain is a bit more manageable, I would rank it at a 2 but that is with Motrin. I was able to come into work today and so that helps. Tomorrow, my gyn will squeeze me in to see what the story is. Amen for that!

So I heard that CLA was bitching that I was gone for two days and left her with soooo much work. I had the small part of a big shipment come in and she had to get the paperwork, which was on my desk! Well next time, I will plan my abdominal plan around her time frame...well at least *I* have a job so at least I will have a next time.

Maybe I can have the cyst removed, bronzed and then throw it at her. It would make me feel a whole lot better in so many ways!

Thanks for your words of encouragement! You all are awesome!

on a scale from 1 to 10

My current state of agony is a 4.

Yesterday was another day in the ER. Yep the ER. I woke up to go to work and had this pain on my right side. I actually thought it was gas but when I went to say bye to the BF, I would not straighten up. It was that bad. I initially thought it was reaction to a prescription that my doctor had me on but then I thought it was appendicitis. So I called another doctor to see if I can see him and sure enough he made time for me.

So the prognosis was either appendicitis or an issue with my ovaries but, if I threw up, got nauseous or had diarrhea I was to go to the ER. So we went to get some soup and apple juice at the supermarket and then i started to dry heave. So off we went

It turns out that i have an ovarian cyst and it is causing the pain. i have another dr, appointment this afternoon so we'll see what can be done. The pain was so bad last night that i could not even cry but rather screamed. The meds did work and I was able to sleep but, the pain is back.

This is not fun.

Taken

My apartment was taken, yep one of the lookie loos decided it was perfect for him and he is going to take possession of it on May 1.

So that means that the lease was not broken which means I get my security deposit back!

Time to do the happy dance or as the BF reminded me the "I told you not to worry about it dance!"

Regardless it is some sort of dance...

1 Year

Well today is my blogger anniversary!

I did not know what a blog would do to me, I just needed an outlet to write and vent and celebrate and ponder. I did not know that I would meet and read a wide range of other blogs filled with creative, interesting, funny, witty, smart, kind, real people. I've have my blogger buddies who I ready religiously and I have been moved by your lives, stories, struggles and adventures. I've laughed with you, cried with you and felt your experiences

So to all those who read my blog and comment, (or don't comment) thank you. I really appreciate your comments, wit and support. Keep them coming!

It costs WHAT?

So I got my new benefits package from the new company yesterday and promptly burst in to tears. I can't believe how fregging expensive they all are, we get to pick from 4 plans one being an HMO and the other three PPOs. I was floored at their costs, one benefit to my previous employer was that they picked a national health care and were able to supplement most of the costs. Not my new one, even with the cheapest bare bones insurance I will be making less....that is right LESS than I did last year.

Is it too late to reconsider this whole prospect?

I am absolutely amazed at how much health care is in America. I am all for socialized medicine like in France, Canada and the UK. Where the government subsidizes that cost of medical care. The reason why prescription drugs are so dirt cheap in Canada as compared to the US is because the government subsidizes the pharmacies so that the cost savings can be passed on to their citizens. That will never happen here, look at medicare and Medicaid. With the new changes in the legislation so many elderly and poverty stricken Americans are struggling to make ends meet. A few months back, NPR had a story about that and they interviewed this elderly woman (I believe that she was in her 80s) saying how she is cutting her medicine in half so that she can afford to eat each month.

It is sicking but, wait....I can't afford to get sick!

April snow storm

It is snowing...yep snowing. I mean snowing!

It is a wet snow so it is packing snow. So it is sticking to everything including my car and the streets and making it very slippery and traffic slow. It is not fun...

They are saying that it will warm up...yeah whatever.

When karma attacks

I believe in karma and the whole, what goes around comes around theory in life. Once you see it happen then you know it exists time and time again.

It struck again, not to me but I was able to witness it.

My colleague CLA (chatty lazy ass) had her offer of employment from the new company rescinded due to some inconclusive drug test results and further investigation into her background.

Her excuse for the inconclusive drug results was that she drank too much water and that upset the results. so they gave her a second chance and it happened again! I am not saying that she did anything illegal (or rather consumed anything illegal) it is just that I have never NEVER seen her drink anything that is not cola. Plus, after the first test, she was bragging and laughing about it. the dumb ass even told what would be her new boss all about it. I was thinking to myself "Do you have any sense of self-pride?"

Well after the second inconclusive result, the company looked deeper in her background check and found her felony conviction. A few years she was convicted of child endangerment and is still on probation. Well, she did put that in her application but after the two failed tests it really started to stand out.

So on Friday, the offer was pulled. Earlier in the week she was joking and laughing that if they don't hire her that will be their loss, she wants to take the summer off anyway. Now it is a scary prospect for her.

I do not feel sorry for her, she did it all herself. She has not exactly been the nicest to me and has on many occasions screwed me over. When I was in my car accident and was out for two days, she complained to my friend that I was inconveniencing her since she had to do more work. Remember this is the woman who had the Anna Nicole smith trail streaming on her computer. She has screw me out of vacation time, leaves early, is just mean spirited, has a sense of entitlement and is downright rude, vindictive and mean.

It will be a tough road for her, working at the company for 18 years, with just an HS diploma, 4 kids and making more than her husband.

here are some of her classic info:
Uneven division of labor
Backwards
Cast of characters

More boxes and a visit from the parental units

So my parents and the dog drove out to visit me. It was a good trip but, we did not really do much. With the move and just the weather (not to mention the drive for them) nobody was in the mood to do much. The gentleman pirate (AKA BF)came over for dinner on Saturday and my parents adore him! I did pack up about 8 more boxes but still have a lot more to do. It does not look like I made much progress until you open one closet and a few drawers in the kitchen.

I did have three apartment showings this weekend and it was a bit weird. I usually try to go out while they are showing but since we had Charlie and he is just nosy and not everyone likes dogs, we stayed. It was hard having people open your cabinets and look in your closets. But I survived and hopefully the place was taken.

I have a new parking idiot who has dinged and scratched my car a total of 3 times already. So they will be getting a nicely crafted note on their windshield today. Don't mess with me buddy!

I am tired....Monday mornings suck!

Billy is the piano man

Ok enough about me stressing out about the apartment and the move. I decided to tell ya all about the time Billy Joel flirted with me in public. Yep, all of this is true and it did happen and to this day I still blush!

When I was in college about 10 years ago (holy shit this happened 10 years ago!) Billy Joel did a speaking tour around the U.S at small colleges. So he came to mine, now I went to college just outside of Albany, NY and a good percentage of students came from Long Island. So when it was announced that he would be coming to speak and play music it was pure excitement. He is, after all, their hometown boy, well that and most of lower NY!

His music was so popular in college, well more of his older stuff was. I mean "Pressure" was the song that you heard a lot around finals time. The first song that I got drunk to was "Good night Saigon". He was popular even among the grunge fans, the same people who owned Nirvana, Pearl Jam and DMB had some Billy in their collection.

So a few friends and I decided that we were going to camp out for tickets. We each had a schedule, I got the 1-4 am shift. Not that bad but the tickets went on sale in January. Yea, I did it. I camped out and got a cold from it but, hey it was Billy.

So when it came time to decide who got what tickets (we got the first three rows). MR was adamant that I get some front row seats because of the camping out I did. So I got front and center tickets!

The concert was off campus and we all took the campus shuttle to Albany for the show. He came out to a standing ovation and started to tell us his tale, answer questions and play a few songs.

He was talking about touring with Elton John and he said that it took him some time to figure out why Elton would get this burst of energy when he would start to play. It turns out that Elton had cute guys strategically placed in his line of vision to give him that extra boost! So Billy then said "It is kind of like having this cute girl (points to me) in the front row of every concert but, I had nothing to do with putting her here". My friend next to me grabs me and says "He is flirting with you!". I went to a relatively small school and I knew a lot of people in the audience and they knew me. I turned pink.

Later, he starts to play some songs and there was the mic stand in my line of vision. It was not huge I could see around it. So he starts to play then stops, he gets up and moves the stand and explains to the audience that my view was blocked! I turned pink again.

The session is over after a sing a long version of "Piano Man" and he gets two standing ovations. On his second time on stage he lingers a bit longer and walks over to me and shakes my hand and winks. Then he shakes a few more hands and leaves the stage but, not before he turns around waves to the crowd and winks at me.

So that my friends is the story of me and Billy.

Posting

I spoke to my landlady and she thinks my apt will go fast but I did post an ad. Anything to help!

Finger's crossed! I really need this to happen.

If anyone has a friend who needs an apartment, let me know

Need more sand...

I was never into soap operas but I remember the tag line for "Days of our lives"

Like sand through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives.

Well this girl here needs more sand.

My super called, they are going to start to show my apartment so, if they get it rented by May 1 then I am in the clear. If not I am responsible until they find a new tenant or when my lease is up in August. So I ran home to clean the apartment even among the boxes and chaos because I need this to happen. I wanted this place to sparkle so that someone wants it.

Fingers crossed...

Packing...the countdown begins...

Well, the packing in earnet has begun, the movers will be at our apartments on April 30. So that gives me plenty of time to pack right? But I must admit that the BF and I have done a lot so far. He is a bit better off than I am but after yesterday we got a few boxes filled and sealed.

On Saturday we celebrated his birthday with a couple's massage at a chic Bucktown salon. Followed by lunch at Feast, then a wander around the neighborhood. We heading back to our stomping ground for ice cream and then we made our first big purchase. We got a mattress! It was decided that the BF's mattress would go to the new apt because it was bigger. But the mattress was old and starting to get uncomfortable. We both woke up on Saturday with lower back issues and then he turned and said "We need a new mattress!"

But buying a new mattress is worse than buying a car. WE were the only two people in the store other than the salesman who, in his defense, left us alone for the first 20 minutes before he started to circle like a vulture. Then came the "deals" the "special offers" etc so we braced ourselves but it wasn't too bad and we got a nice new one that will be delivered to the BF's apt on Saturday!

Saturday night he held court at one of his favorite bars and it was so much fun to hang with his friends. They are really amazing, funny, kind, witty and loyal friends!

Another weeks begins, I already need a nap!

Mr. Chips

Did you ever read the book "Goodbye Mr. Chips"? I did, ages ago and don't remember much except the description of Mr. Chips, an older man with a fondness for tweed jackets.

Well my International management professor is Mr. Chips. He was wearing a tweed jacket and a pull over sweater and herringbone pants. It was just very traditional when you think of the word "professor" if he had a pipe then it would have all fit.

Yet, he was so interesting. He is from Belgium and taught in the Congo for a few years. His philosophy about teaching the class is that it is purely driven by what interests us and as such it is very research based. So it will be a different sort of class, he believes that he is not the keeper of all knowledge as some professors appear to be but he said he can learn from us just as we can learn from him. So participation is encouraged and we will each find our niche. Oh and he said that there may not be a mid-term nor a final because well, he does not like them and we don't like taking them.

So this is going to be a cool class. I love these type of classes because they are just very interesting and I take so much out of them.

Back to school

Today is the first class of my Spring quarter. After this quarter comes the summer quarter...so that basically means that for the next 20 weeks, I will have school! But on the up side I have 6 more classes to go then I am DONE and oh one more thing...I NEVER have to take finance again. Oh happy day!

We are going to move in about a month. Eeek! I hate moving as a general rule because it is stressful, costly and packing sucks. So to stay on top of the game I have started to pack. I figure if I do a box (at least) a day then it will all be okay. So far I have a few boxes done and tonight I will have one done. There seems to be so much to do but we are crossing things off our list. So far we've got the apt, boxes, movers and a move time. Not too bad to say the least.

Although, I have not taped up the boxes just yet. First reason is that I don't have packing tape yet and the second reason is that I like to inventory each of my boxes so that I know what is in each of them. The BF bought color coded stickers for us to use with the movers so that way, the boxes with the red (or whatever) color sticker goes in the kitchen etc. He is so awesome

I have this huge garbage bag in my dining room that is full of things to toss. I've kept some things that I really never used or needed. Most of them are things like expired coupons, GMAT related guides, old yellow pages etc. But I have been tossing them out as I find them and as of last night I could not lift the bag it is that packed with stuff! I've also shredded a lot of old things that I had lingering about. There is no need for me to take some old things with me. I was amazed how much junk I had lingering about.

The worst thing about packing is figuring out what you don't need vs. what you do need. I was speaking with my friend JT last night and he said that he picks out three pairs of pants and about 6 shirts and just does laundry every few days. That way his clothes are packed weeks ahead of time. Sorry darlin', that is so not going to work with me. I need options, yep I know I have a lot of black boots but sometimes it is a ankle boot stiletto day not a calf length boot day. Plus with the new company I can only wear jeans once a week rather than every day so I have to mix the wardrobe up. But the clothes that I wore when I worked in NYC a few years ago are a bit out dated. I have some high waisted dress pants of the 90's that don't fit and make me look dated. AT least I never had a blazer with shoulder pads and I threw out the pearl pink lip gloss last week (I am not kidding but the last time I wore it was well in the 90s). So to sum it up, I need to go pants shopping.

Well my parents are coming to visit next week and my mom is making discreet inquires at to what I will or will not be taking. So far she has called "dibbs" on my George Foreman grill and a few other things. But I am making a mom pile of clothes and items that she can keep or send to my fam in South America.

So, tonight is the first day of class...the fun begins!

Just a service charge....

So yesterday, I purchased two tickets to see The Police for the bf and I. I did not think that I would actually be successful but, I was able to get two tickets. I was so excited because I am very rarely successful, the last success was when Elton John was touring a few years ago and came back to Madison Square Garden after being away for so long. I managed to get tickets, my boss did not...that was the beginning of the end for me at that job!

So, I ordered the two tickets and I am doing my "I got Police tickets" moves in my chair then I get to the last screen the check out area. Those bastards charged a $15.00 service fee for each ticket plus $6.00 to print out the tickets. If I opted to have them mail it via snail mail, it would have just cost me $3.50! Oh and if I did opt for snail mail they would mail me the tickets a few days before the event!

I was so appalled. I mean these ticket sellers can get away with it, they are like legalized scalpers. I have bought tickets to Broadway shows, museums, concerts and events and when I use Ticketmaster or any other ticket agent, I pay so much more. I am more of a going to the box office type of girl, at least I will pay a flat rate! If I use StubHub, I know that the prices may not be face value but depending on the event they are reasonable. (***Disclaimer, for sport events when the teams suck like the Cubs)

It pisses me off...

Out like a lamb

March has not been my month. It was one hell of a roller coaster, to recap:

-signed the lease to the new apt
-got in to a car accident the next day
-not feeling "great" after said accident
-Finance class
-Intl marketing project
-my company was sold
-Found out my company was sold about 15 minutes before my finance final
-My company screwed me out of severance
-New company wanted me pretty badly, they conceded and compromised some key terms!
-Had to buy a new car, added 5 years of new debt

So this weekend was the first weekend in ages that we had nothing, that is right...nada, zero, zilch, to do. And we did that so well. Saturday, the BF and I went to the American Science Surplus store so he could hit their sale. After that we went back to the apt where I took a nap. (I know, a nap) and he played with his head flashlight. Yesterday, we had breakfast, headed to Costco to see if we should join (nope we should not) and then came home. It was so beautiful that we took the dog for a long walk to the new apt and walked around the area. We were all pretty wiped out.

This week starts my wonderful Spring quarter of classes. I have a mid-term the day after I move, how sucky is that!

Taking the plunge

After much consideration, chats with friends and the fam and the all knowing magic 8 ball. I've decided to take the offer of employment.

The new company has been extremely generous and fair. They are going to grandfather in my vacation time permanently, they are going to help more with the insurance and they are very flexible with my hours so I can continue pursuing my MBA. A lot of the other people who were offered jobs, also decided to go so my favorite sales reps will be joining and I will still be working with them.

I just feel survivor guilt because today is the day when the former company is offering the packages and it is not easy.

Well at one time...Atlas shrugged!

Please sir, can I have another?

Here is the update on the past few days drama.

Car
It is a boy! I got a 2007 civic, black and with only a few miles on him. He has the moniker of Bogart and I got a decent deal with the financing. I am now uber-paranoid and I don't want anyone to park near him. I don't trust other drivers but then again, can you blame me?

Finance final:
Done and over with. Too bad that I found out about the M and A about 15 minutes before the final. So one can make a correct guess that my mind was not on WACC and debt and equity financing. I sold the book and in financial terms "incurred a loss". Textbook publishers are such monopolistic bastards!

Job:
Well, I meet with the buying company on Friday and we went on a tour and had a conference call with HR. She was such a bitch, she was expecting us to willingly sign some papers then and there but when I said no, I want to read them all, you could hear her eyes roll and her brain think "Why DON'T you want to work here?" Well the stick was so far up her ass and when we asked her questions she did not know the answers to and would get all uppity about it. It was quite smug and presumptuous of her to assume that we would jump immediately for joy.

If I take the position they will honor my salary but it would be a title demotion. I would also lose a week of vacation, (that is a HUGE deal for me) and they don't have a job description for me. Oh and they want an answer today. If I do not take the offer, my current pathetic rat ass of a company will only give me 4 weeks severance because I spoke to the other company and per my HR person, that was part of the "agreement". If I was not approached, I would get 2 weeks for ever year...I have been here for 7 years!

This is such a poorly planned M and A, the company we would be working here does not have the room for those that they want. They have no clue what to do with us and our new boss (in fairness does seem cool and had gone through this same thing years ago) was caught off guard as to what to do!

So right now, it is as clear as mud. But to put it mildly I am fucking pissed!

M and A

Yep, we were acquired or rather our capital assets were acquired. The staff as a whole, was not. Tomorrow the new company is planning on doing the horse and pony show because "they want me".

I am not so sure I want them....

I want this merry-go-round to stop

Ok, I am going to whine now...it is my blog and I can whine if I want to. So brace yourselves....

The saga began 10 weeks ago when I started finance. I knew that the last class would culminate in a final. So for the past 10 weeks, I have dedicated at least 150 hours of blood sweat and a lot of tears in this class and today is that final. I spent the weekend studying and doing homework (yep the ass gave us hw!). I've spent time since Monday when it is slow at work reviewing, I was up until after midnight studying. Around 10 I realized that I was using an incorrect formula but could not figure out the difference, so I texted JT who was up and helped me out sooooo much. But I kept on keeping on and now I am tired and I just want this torture to be over. (Disclaimer, I know studying for finance is not necessary torture in the true sense of the word but again this is my blog and "torture' is an adequate word...I am sleep deprived and hungry, I forgot to mention, I forgot to eat dinner. Stress will do that to me)

Then it happened, I was told at 12:33 pm yesterday that I HAD to be in the NY office from Wednesday until Friday. Okay, that did not fit my schedule and oh yea I HAVE A FINAL. I am not taking this class EVER again. I am taking this bloody final and then selling my book! So I called the executive assistant who told me to call my VP and I called him and told him that I have a final and that I would not be able to be on a plane this morning at 6! Well he took it all in and said, "I can't argue with that reason, you don't have to come in, we'll figure something out."

Well CLA also got the email and pitched a fit about how she is not going and yammering on and on and on. She has a mouth that can catch rodents and because of her big mouth people ran to see if they had to fly in to the NY office tomorrow and quickly found out we were the only two. So set in panic mode among the office then she fuels the fire and it is all about her, and how dare they ask her to go tomorrow, she can't go, who will watch her kids(she is married and her mother watches her 3 year old twins and semi-weird 14 year old son), who will think of her babies? Well because she heard that I was permitted to stay here she pitched a fit and threw it in when she was speaking to my boss. Just to shut her up, they are letting her stay. Then she calls people inside the company saying how she will be fine she has been here for 18 years and she will get two weeks for every year. I just wanted to hurt her, visions of stapling stuff to her head ensued. But the thing she has not accounted for is that they do not have to offer severance and if they do they will cap it. But I did not want to rain on her "all about me parade". She will find out soon enough.

The reason that we are requested to go to NY is because today is announcement day. Finally senior management is going to tell us what the hell has been going on. Ironically, we all know what the hell is going on...we were either bought out or we will be in a JV. The thing is that the owner or new partner is a huge company and they don't need so many locations. So jobs will be lost or re-located.

After I got the email, I speculate that they want to keep me. I've been through this roller coaster for 7 years here now so I know their MO. However, I am speculating that because they want me, they want me to work in a different office....in the East coast. So I have been formulating my plan and have my answer. But who knows I may be wrong. At least we'll find out

Then last night, the mouse died. I guess I should explain that one. Well last week, after my accident I went into the kitchen and there was a mouse and I screamed and thus set in my crying fit. Well the wonderful BF set up traps and my super put mouse poison in some areas. Well, I had not seen the mouse so I suspected that it had already met its fate but, nope whilst studying it crawled into the middle of my kitchen floor squeaked and then died. I freaked out, it so freaked me out. I am a city girl but not the "sex in the city" type of girl, by no means am I equipped or capable of dealing with a mouse. Well after being calmed down by the bf. I swept it out the door. It was so sad because it was curled up and just looked like he was sleeping. So of course I feel an incredible amount of guilt. I know that they carry diseases and the bubonic plague (granted it has been a few hundred years since the black death) but it was sad to see this little thing whose only crime was trying to survive in my kitchen.

So today, I am racked with guilt about the mouse (thank you years of Catholic school), i will find out if I have a job, have my finance final and in 20 minutes have to hear the CLA complain about one thing or another because we all know...it is all about her.

At least tonight it will be over but I ran out of my favorite Ben and Jerry's ice cream...So rum it is.

But if anyone knows of anybody who has developed a way to fast foward the day, please let me know.

Ok, I am done whining for now. I am going to eat my granola bar.

Dust settling...sorta

Things are starting to calm down in a way. Not great but a wee bit manageable. The BF and I got a lot of errands done this weekend but we also had work to do. I have my final project due tonight and then on Wednesday is my much anticipated finance final. After Wednesday, I think I will be human again.

Next weekend, I have to get a car. I am not looking forward to that. I just have to make it thought the next few days...

Ode to Paulo

It is official my darling Paulo (short for Apollo) can not be saved. He is heading to the great highway in the sky. So I memory of my darling Civic, I just wanted to share my memories...
*cue violins*

-He was my first ever car. When I lived with my parent's I used their car and then when I moved to Brooklyn, I did not need a car yet, moving here, it was a necessary. So I did my research and decided on a Civic and then did the whole car buying issue complete with haggling and a shaky signature when I signed the check. But he was mine!
-He was so shiny and new and I loved driving him. He was safe and secure and I had my radio stations tuned in.
-He was easy to maneuver into Chicago's famous tight parallel parking spots.
-He was small enough to get through traffic
-I bought him a gift when I was in Greece, I got him an evil eye talisman to protect him as well as me from the evil eye. It worked.
-He needed new breaks a few months ago that I was gladly more than willing to pay because well, he needed them
-I got his oil changed diligently and the only issue I had was with the windshield wipers.

Now, I have to go to get my personal effects from the car before he is sent somewhere. It is silly to personify a car but, he was mine. Thank you my friend for bearing the brunt of the impact, according to one of the insurance agents, I am lucky to have walked away from the impact. I am sorry that I have to let you go but thanks for the memories...

Clingy like static cling

I am still a bit shaken up after the accident and have been clingy. I was at my boyfriend's until this morning. Yesterday he worked from home so he was around in case I needed him. Today he went to work and for some reason I started to cry. There was no reason for the tears but they came nonetheless, I guess it is the after affects of it all.

I am okay now but this accident really shook me up!

Premonition

Did you ever have a feeling that something (good or bad) was going to happen and then it did?

Well yesterday afternoon, it happened to me. I was in a car accident. Here is what happened.

I was driving home from work and I decided to take an expressway because the radio said that it had good timing so I went that way thinking I would be able to get home and eat and go to class. So I was in the far left lane, when it happened. A truck from the far right land, cut and hit the car in the middle, he veered to the left and hit me. My car went spinning and rested on the median at the right facing the opposite direction. The first car, speed off.

It was surreal, I remember screaming and then once I stopped I was just in amazement that I was not bleeding. The impact totally damaged my fender (it is no longer on the car) my trunk is smashed in, the impact forced the sunroof divider to open as did my change area which flung coins that got stuck between the window of the driver door so it could not be open. The man who hit me had car damage on both sides of his bumper where he was hit and where he hit me.

He was very kind and was worried about me because I was in shock. A SUV stopped and a man got out to make sure we were okay. It took about 20 minutes before the police and fire came. I got a bump in the back of my head from hitting the headrest and after speaking to my insurance agent and my parents, I went to the ER to get checked out.

The boyfriend came to the hospital and was there when I got released. I was so glad to see him! We went to my apartment to get some clothes and then went to his place.

I am very grateful that I have him and so many others who were worried about me. Now I have a few days or weeks of work ahead of me to figure out what to do with the car.

Here I come to save the day!

My BF is the greatest. I mean it, I am so lucky. He just saved my arse! I was writing an email to my team to attach my portion of our market entry paper for international marketing and when I went to attach it, I could not find it on the desktop. I ran a search and it was not coming up. My head was spinning and I am in panic mode without actually losing it.

I was thinking: "Oh God, it was 10 pages of brilliance. I am not staying up till 2 am to finish it, I am tired. Okay, don't freak out. Nope, don't panic, computers save everything right?" Then the quiet panic set in...

Then I started to mumble "Oh no, oh God no". He and Yukon came running in and I explained my issue (trying not to freak out) and then had to walk away. He found my updated and saved portion of my paper. He saved the day!

Here are some other BF worthy moments of the past few two days

-He got me a plastic tiara at CVS yesterday and he is letting me wear it in the house. It is silver with pink and purple "gems", truly befitting!
-He got me passion fruit tea at Argo's
-He made dinner so I could finish up my paper
-He invented a drink with mango-orange-peach juice, spirit and mango rum that is to die for
-He let me fall asleep on him and then tucked me into bed at 9:30 last night

Now for some exciting news....
We are moving in together. I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I can't wait, we are both going to save a ton of money and we enjoy spending time with each other. It is a good move and we are ready for it. We know that there will be growing pains but we work well together and talk and are honest with each other, so even thought the rough patches we will be okay. The best part, we found a nice apartment and tomorrow we are going to sign the papers.

But shhhh don't tell the parental units...we are going to fill them in tomorrow. Wish us luck

Ta da!

The BF did this on his blog and last night were were talking about it. so I decided to do mine, so hereeeeeeeeeee's Christina...

1. Do you like cheese?
-Yes Brie and Mozzarella are my favs

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?
-Nope

3. Do you own a gun?
-Yes, you fill it with water and shoot

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
-Sometimes, depends on the doctor and how much pain they have inflicted on me in the past

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
-Only will eat Nathan's hot dogs, but Vienna beef are okay. Mustard only!

7. What's your favorite Christmas song?
-I have three "War is Over" and "I'll be home for Christmas" and "Oh Holy Night"

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
-Tea

9. Can you do push ups?
-Only if there is a gun to my head...nah I can do a few alone but why would I want to?

10. Is your bathroom clean?
-It is decent but hey when there are 27 hours in a day it will be spotless

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
-I love my necklaces and the earrings that my parent's gave me when I turned 30 and the earrings the BF gave me for Christmas.

12. What annoys you most?
-People who make decisions that directly affect me without consulting me! Pisses me off!

13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?
-My flirting skills are top secret :)

14. Do you have A.D.D.?
-Not clinically but at times especially when I have a lot of my plate my mind goes all over the place

16. Middle Name?
-Marie (where did 15 go?)

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
-I should be "working"
-Are my feet too warm in these boots?
-God it is only 10:18!

18. Name the last 3 things you have bought?
-Refilled my EL card
-Gas
-Two books on Amazon

19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink
-Tea
-Diet Pepsi
-Water

20. Current worry?
Will I be laid off? This then leads to a bunch of more worries!

21. Current hate?
Finance class

22. Favorite place to be?
-With the BF

23.How did you bring in the New Year?
-Spend the afternoon in the theater watching "Mamma Mia" then the BF and I made steak in a red wine reduction sauce, we talked for hours and then at 11:58 we went to CNN online because the Bf's TV was out of commission about 10 minutes later we were asleep.

24. Where would you like to go?
Italy and Paris (again)

27. Do you own slippers?
-Yep, two pairs, one at my place and one at the BFs

28. What shirt are you wearing?
-Black V neck sweater

29. Do you burn or tan?
-Neither I lather sunscreen on

30. Favorite color?
-Purple

31. Would you be a pirate?
-Depends on the benefits...do they offer a 401(k)?

32. What songs do you sing in the shower?
-Which ever ones are stuck in the head

35. What's in your pocket right now?
-A tissue

36. Last thing that made you laugh?
-My friend when I was on the phone with her this morning

37. Best bed sheets as a child?
-Sesame Street sheets

38. Worst injury you've ever had?
-When I split my forehead open when I tripped on the street...I needed stitches

40. How many TVs do you have in your house?
-One

41. Who is your loudest friend
-JS

42. Who is your most silent friend?
-None of them really

43. Does someone have a crush on you?
-The BF

44. Do you wish on shooting stars?
-Yep, I do

45. What is your favorite book?
-Damn this is a hard one...The Alchemist, To Kill a Mockingbird, House of Spirits, Gone with the Wind, Marley and Me, Winnie the Pooh...I have too many to count

46. What is your favorite candy?
-Chocolate covered almonds, they are the candy crack!

47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding?
-Beautiful night by Sir Paul McCartney

48. What song do you want played at your funeral?
-Prayer of St. Francis and Amazing Grace

49. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Dreaming of being in "Annie Hall" I was and I have no idea why


50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
NOOOOOOOOOOO it can't be the alarm, no it is not fair, I hate the alarm...do I feel sick enough to call in....Damn no I don't...God I have to pee

The match is lit

*Cue Mission Impossible theme song*

I am starting to feel a bit burned out by school. I am tired and I have classes twice a week until Thanksgiving (that includes 10 week classes in the summer). I suppose part of it is that I am taking finance and it is not fun and it seems to drag on and on! Last year it did not seem that bad but then again last year I knew less than I do now.

My quarter is up in two weeks and then I have "spring break" but I will still work my crazy hours. I think that is part of it too. I have to be at work at 7 on the days I have school so that makes for a very early morning and I am not a morning person. Plus the days I have school I don't get home until about 9:30 and that is early. I've gotten home at 10 and then I have my things to do like, make something to eat, make lunch, download the podcasts to the i-pod, talk to the bf, do dishes, and get ready for bed. If I am in bed by 11:30 it is a good thing.

It is just wearing me out.

Frustrating team mates and the better part of the weekend

I just gotta vent...

I am working on a pretty intensive team project for my international marketing class with two teammates. They are male and the only reason I am saying this is that the two of them are in this challenge to be right. So, even though they are polite about it, the two of them make things harder than it needs to be.

At this point we have only a few more weeks to get this project done, written, presentation created and proofed before it is due. Well today I get an email that we have another conference call today. I got it after the fact and nobody called to tell me so they proceeded with the chat and made changes to the plan. In fact it was two steps back!

So now I am pissed off! I send them an email to ask them why they did not call me and why now have they decided to make changes? I am still waiting for an answer. Our professor has told us we can make assumptions so damn it lets make a few assumptions and proceed!

I am getting so tired of this. I mean at this point we have to move forward not backwards. I swear between this nonsense and the crap that is finance, I can not wait for this quarter to be over.

Thankfully, I have a nice Bellini in from of me that the bf made. It is taking the frustration away


On to the weekend update:
-Friday we had dinner at Kitsch'n , where I had a Tang (yep Tang) martini. We really enjoyed our dinner there, it will be a do over place.
-Saturday we and ran errands. I bought jewelry at a trunk sale. Joann was there and she had some beautiful pieces, most were half off and I got some good deals on two necklaces and two pairs of earrings (one is a gift for a friend). There is something about retail therapy.
-the BF went ga ga here and got a few new things
-Last night we went to see a performance at the Chicago Theater where we saw a show called "terracotta warriors". It was okay, I thought the dancing was so beautiful and the soloist had this voice that was out of this world. We braved snow, ice and sleet to see the show and it was nice. There was this one interpretive dance sex scene that you had to know what it was to really understand it from the dancing and then this family grabbed their 7 year old and dragged her out of the theater! Poor kid had no idea why.
-Today we had brunch with a friend at this cafe called the over easy cafe. The strawberry rhubarb French toast was to die for!

Tomorrow is the start of another week. Why do I get the back to school feeling of dread on Sunday nights?

Wishing for blissful ignorance

Ya know the saying "knowledge is power and ignorance is bliss" well it is sure as hell true.

There is some noise on the street about our company is going to be either bought or become another joint venture. Well the rumors are about office closures and job loss abound and the senior management team is not saying a word as to if this is true or not. It is kind of like they are denying the fact that there is a pink elephant in the room as they are feeding it peanuts. Some of us think that if this was all bullshit, it would have been addressed weeks ago when the noise began.

I had a colleague/friend call me almost in tears asking me what could she do if they actually go through this M and A? I don't know what to tell her, I don't know what I will do either, it just sucks because my life is going to be majorly affected b this news but I don't know how or what will happen to me and it is frustrating. I HATE when people make decisions about me that have a major impact on me and my life!

Uneven division of labor

I was wondering why, I seem to be handling more than my half of general duties and why my CLA (cranky lazy ass) has not been answering the door nor pulling her weight. I passed her desk and she is watching the Anna Nicole Trial live on her computer.

I have to put ice on my head after banging it against my desk.

Idle brushes

I paint well it is more along the lines of I used to paint. I used to run home and if it was sunny sit in my sun room with the CDs playing and my brush adding touch ups to my recent paintings. Sometimes, I let unfinished ones sit for a while because I get bored and then frustrated and then inspired to finish them. But there are a few that have been sitting there untouched in over a year. In fact, I have on on my easel as I type this taunting me with

"Come on I know you want to. You want to mix colors don't ya, yea you do. It will only take a second."

But I ignore the calling. Why, you ask. Because I don't have the time with school, homework, work, cleaning and hanging with the BF. Well this weekend, the BF and I went to Blick and I was surrounded by paint colors, brushes, pens, pencils, framing material, canvas. I was itching to buy the store and grab my brushes and go. But I did not...there are some work things that are preventing me from going nuts. Not to mention, the constraints on my time.

After November when I am done with the MBAs, I hope to pick up my brushes, blast some music and just paint until I am exhausted and covered in specks of color. Fingers crossed!

Not again!

I have a cough...again! I got a cold in December and then it reared its ugly head again in January and now I have a cough,

What the bloody hell!

It is pissing me off, I am tired of being sick! But hopefully this will be a minor cold because when I get my hands on those weaselly little germs I am going to rip their heads off and squish them with my boots.

Then wash my hands...to prevent any mutant germs from developing.

Ack!

New age concentration

My dad is very pragmatic and practical. Well, I decided to get two masters instead of one and decided to think of what other concentration should I do. My initial concentration is international business and my functional emphasis in it is management.

Now, I want to be done with school by the end of this year so with that in mind I wanted a management concentration. Well last quarter, I took the coolest class ever called "Creativity in Business". It was so much fun and it was about ideas and how you can use creative tools to garner some really profitable ideas. One of my classes was in the Art Institute! So After that class I decided to get a second concentration in Change and Leadership management.

Last week I finally submitted the additional concentration papers and got the approval on Tuesday. Well I am very excited and that class was cross listed so I will be able to still graduate in November. I was speaking with my dad last night and told him my news and he was quiet and said "I think that is too new agey and you should think of a more practical concentration like economics. You don't want employers to think you are too "out-there" you need to be practical." I gave him my reason why economics is not going to happen and I will keep my two concentrations, thank you very much. After all I (well technically the US government but I have to pay back the loans) am paying for this schooling so it is my decision.

So I was chatting on-line with my friend JT and told him that my dad thought that my additional concentration was too new age and trendy and his response...why don't you consider economics!

Ack, well while business people analyse the past and make predictions, I will use tools to motivate, change and empower businesses now. So there....

The 4th "R"

Ok soapbox time, let me dust it off and get on.

Yesterday on my way to school, there two teenage girls got on. They could not be more than 16 years old. They were chatting and one of them says that this is the first winter in two years that isn't "with no baby". She proceeds to tell her friend that is glad she is not pregnant and that this summer she won't worry about giving birth because she wants to go out with her friends. Her friend mentioned that she should bring the kids to her house so that her mother can watch the babies while the go away for the weekend.

It got me thinking...you are 16 years old with two kids and you are worried that they are cramping your freedom. Well to put it in terms that they can associate with.. Duh!

I often wonder how things like pregnancy can happen to young people. I know that there are many factors and it is hard to pinpoint just one. I am not blaming nor judging them for their actions. But actions have consequences and no matter what age you are, having a baby makes you grow up fast!

Parent's have a certain responsibility but, sometimes the best intention mom or dad can't do anything to prevent it. Schools are afraid to talk about it because they may lose funding. So kids retreat to the famous rumor mill to get info and we all know how the rumor mill is full of false info.

Schools should hand out condoms and should have a honest and frank dialogue about sex. Education is a powerful tool, I mean we all can remember some things that. Should they talk about abstinence...yes just as they would talk about STDs and AIDS. I also think that students should handle a baby, change a stinky diaper, get spit up on, wake up in the middle of the night for a feeding. That teaches one what it is like to have a tiny human to look out for. It is not a doll that can be put away when you are bored, it is a living, breathing, moving tiny person.

I can speak only from my experience. We had sex ed chapter in in Catholic school in 5-8 grade. In high school, my conservative teacher told us, that she knew we had questions so she was going to answer them. So she handed out index cards and we wrote our questions and true to her word she answered each and every one of them honestly and frankly.

So just as our schools teach the 3 Rs, they should add a fourth one...responsibility. Not just about sex and its consequences but about life and its responsibility.

Ok, off my soap box...

I choo choo choose you

This just popped into my head. I was thinking about how when I was in grammar school we used to write valentine's to everyone in the class. It started with selecting the type of cards you wanted to give your classmates, then the difficult decision about what card to give what person ( you did not want to give certain people the wrong impression!). Then you had to write out your name and remember to bring them to school.

At school we would make "mailboxes" for our desks to collect the cards. Then you would distribute them and check to see what you got and from whom. Since I went to Catholic school, you had to give them to everyone. But before that, I went to public school and that was not a huge deal. I remember 2nd grade there was this boy in my class...Leroy. I did not like him, he was mean to me and called me names, plus he smelled. Well my dad forced me to write him one. My dad had an affinity for him because Leroy was the only person to thank my day on my birthday when he handed him a cupcake (memo to me, get a cupcake). So I had to give Leroy a card. I did not see him after that year because I switched schools.

It is funny the things that you remember!

Snow...to love or despise?

Well it snowed yesterday for about 11 hours, then with the wind, you had wind gusts up to 4 feet! My boss was merciful and allowed us to leave at 1, I made it home in less than an hour because the roads were not too crowded and I took a major highway. The local roads were a mess, and many were not plowed!

I got home and defrosted! But I got tons of things done! I read a chapter and half of my finance homework, paid some bills, shredded some paperwork, did some dishes, took an early shower, watched TV and caught up on some of my favorite blogs! It is amazing how much I can get done in the middle of the day in the middle of the week! Tomorrow I hope to read some things for my marketing class and finish the case study!

This morning, it took me 20 minutes to dig out my car and back up. I had to shovel, dig out the wheels, and slowly back up. It was so annoying, I almost gave up and called in. But it would have been a waste of a lazy day that I can use in the future. I was only a half hour late and my boss was cool with that, I don't need to take a short lunch to make up the time. She is very reasonable with things like that!

I don't want to go to class tonight, it is going to be freezing and standing waiting for the EL, is not on my top ten things to do today. Alas, I have no choice but on the upside 3 more finance classes to go before the final! Wooohooo!

Back from the apple back into the snow

Well, we are back from our trek to NY. It was such a great trip and the BF and I had such a great time. Our trip into Laguardia was a bit harrowing due to some fierce winds, it was a bumpy landing. But once we got back on land we hit the ground running. We vegged out at my parent's house and Charlie B was soooo excited to see us, it was so funny, he did not know what to make of the surprise visit. The BF and I caught up with the Independent film channel, we love that channel and my parents have it at their house.

We all went to dinner at a local pizza restaurant and it was as good as always. They have the best mozzarella sticks, hot gooey and cheesy. Then the BF got to try some amazing New York pizza not the "New York" style pizza! He loved it, we got a pie called the four seasons so each quarter has a different topping so mine had meat balls and tomatoes, his had shaved sausage and pepperoni. For dessert he had one of their popular cannolis and I had chocolate covered strawberries.

On Saturday we went to NYC and spent the day walking all over the place. I showed the BF Grand Central station . We wandered around the stores and played in the whispering gallery. Then we wandered around the market in the station and ate the food with our eyes.

Then we headed to the museum where we loved the butterfly exhibit. It was amazing and beautiful. Here are some photos of the butterflies that we saw. This was just a few of the ones that were flying all over the place. I would so love to replicate this in a garden!

After that and a quick lunch, we headed to look at some of the dioramas and the fossils of the dinosaurs and the prehistoric animals.
It is such an amazing museum and we saw most of it.

Afterwards, we went to Soho...the BF bought me a tee shirt that it was based on an old pulp fiction comic book. I bought a bead necklace and then we wandered into Evolution. Where we were greeted by:
We bought some butterflies conserved in glass. the BF wanted a stuffed squirrel but it was not purchased.

Afterwards, we went to dinner with my friends and it was so much fun. The food was so yummy and we ate and drank and laughed! It was a blast.

Sunday was a lazy day and then mom made a great dinner and we had a family dinner. I did not really speak to my brother and his fiance was not chatty. So whatever.

Then yesterday we headed home just before the snow began.

Today it took me 2 hours to get to work then they let me go at 1. So it was a bit of an annoying trip home but I made it in one piece and I am glad to be inside!

Ready to pop a "big apple" cherry

I've been teasing the BF that I will pop his NY cherry this weekend. We are heading to the Big Apple and he has never been to NY so, I am very excited to show him around.

It was actually his idea to head east so that he can meet my dad, my brother and Charlie. So we found a cheap trip to NY. I was really honored and touched that he wanted to meet my family and see where I grew up.

On top of all the visiting, we are going to spend Saturday at the AMNH and then for dinner we are going to meet up with my friends P and her hubby! We are thinking of dinner in Little Italy.
But there are tons of good eats so that may change. It is going to be a balmy 30 degree so we may walk around the village. I can't wait. This will give him a feel and flavor of that city of mine so that we when we go backin the summer, we will have more to see and more to do.

I told him...

Today I got an email from my brother telling me that we should let things go and that he and his fiance want to get brunch with the BF and I over the weekend.

That is all well and good, but I am not at the same place he is at. I am still very hurt and upset over the assumptions that he made and that he did not support me when I responded. So I told him how I felt and that I am still working on "getting over it". I told him that he has to earn my faith again that he will support me and trust my judgement and that takes time.

I finally told him that it sucked that he lacked the courage to tell me either on the phone or in person but rather hid behind an email! That was cowardly of him to do.

So, I finally got it out and off my chest, perhaps now I can let go and move on.

Almost mid-term time

For the past few days, I've been engrossed in finance. Not just the mid-term that will be this evening but also the 18 question assignment that the professor decided to post late Friday. It was due last night at 10! So on top of the 6 1/5 chapters to review, the past assignments to review and the sample mid-term problems to review I had homework. I was so frustrated, it actually brought me to tears because I am a perfectionist that once I started my homework I *needed* to finish it despite my eye fatigue from looking at the spreadsheet. The BF had to calm me down and forced me to turn off my computer, put the books away and get to bed. He was right!

Anyway, so as you can imagine, I am sick and tired of finance. I'll be glad when the exam is over that way it is done and over with. After this class only 4 more to go. Then I am going to lynch my notebook, sell my text book and then use e-bay to sell my financial calculator. Oh and I am going to have a nice expensive drink...and a pedi.

-28 degrees and sunny

That is what the weatherman said on NPR this morning. It is bloody cold and that is an understatement. I want to go back to bed and get nice and cozy instead of getting up, getting in my cold car and driving to the cold office.

This is what sucks about Chicago....the cold and the wind!

Public heartfelt apology...

Also known as I am a little shit!

I owe this to my wonderful, boyfriend who is the sweetest, kindest, silliest and loving person that I have ever had in my life.

This morning we were talking about shoes and I mentioned that I wanted new sneakers. The problem is that I am a size 4 so I have to look in the kids section to find them. So I told him tha tI wanted Pumas. But I was not really happy with the selection, too kiddie for me. So he hopped on the computer to look them up. I was in bed about 10 feet away without my glasses...he pulled up these sneakers. I did not have my glasses on so I thought that they were brown and I said that I was looking for a white pair. "oh shit" he said. I sat up and I said, "Did I just ruin your Valentine's gift?". He nodded his head and said yes.

I felt so horrible. So he goes to his closet and pulls out the shoes. He at least wanted for me to try them on. I loved them when I saw them and I felt so horrible. I tried them on and they fit perfectly and I adored them. But I crushed him and I felt so bad, I hugged and kissed him and told him that I loved them and that I was so so sorry. I just felt so horrible because he though of this all by himself and he was (and should) be proud. I wore them out to breakfast and I do love them. I am already planning outfits!

So to my boyfriend, Honey, I am sorry. I love the shoes! Every time, I look at them I will think of you and your thoughtfulness. You never cease to amaze me!

I love you for who you are, for the laughs, for the support, for the joy that you bring to me each and every moment. You are more than I could ever hope for, and more than I can ever want. You are the one I waited for, my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, my strongest support and my ardent comedian.

I love you!

So, I will fit sleep in when?

I am tired, not just normal tired but sleepy. I have the memory of the Seinfeld episode when George builds a bed under his desk to take naps. I am plotting to do that but the carpet is disgusting!

I've been very tired for the past week of so and I have been sleeping well. I think that part of it is my weird hours because the days I have school I am out of the house from 6:20-9:45 (if I catch the EL right after class). Then the days I don't have school, I have all my errands and running around to do. It has caught up with me. Plus, I rarely see the sun due to my schedule and that may have something to do with it. The BF also suggested I may be low on vitamin C as that helps. So I brought my vitamin C drops with me to work and they may prove useful, I will be the guinea pig and report back.

But here is the kicker, looking ahead I have only one day to sleep in until two weeks. Here is my schedule (I am taking a deeeep breath).

Tonight-errands, finish my section of the group project for international marketing and start to study for my finance mid-term and squeeze in "The Office" and pack for the bf's house during the commercial breaks...oh and shower.

Tomorrow-email project notes to team mates, study at least 2 chapters in Finance but want to hit 3. Drive to BF's apartment, pet dog, cuddle with BF over pizza as we catch up and then fall asleep.

Saturday-Get up earlier (AKA before 10:30) to run errands and grab breakfast with BF, review my teammates project notes, have conference call with said team mates (hopefully less than an hour), whine to BF about how long winded team mates are, pet the dog, make another pie for Sunday. Study finance, fall asleep at around 9 exhausted.

Sunday-Get up early to get some studying done. I Plan on having done all the major studying by this time. Grab pie and other snack foods and head to BF's dad's house with a detour at another "nerd" store on the way. Watch the Super Bowl commercials and pretend to watch the Bears win. (Side note, I find football dull, boring and incomprehensible but, to say that would deny the apple pie and chocolate chip cookies that define this great nation of ours). Head back to Chicago and try not to fall asleep in car.

Monday-Wake up at 5:30, on the road by 6 at work by 7. Go to class and discuss global strategy for 3 hours. Review project with team mate, come home, collapse in bed.

Tuesday-Normal work day. Review notes for mid term tomorrow. Do laundry and review notes again.

Wednesday-At work by 7, go to class...take dreaded mid-term. Brain turns to mush on the ride home. Pack (see below for info) Fall asleep knowing I forgot something.

Thursday-work, attend meeting, head to B's house after work.

Friday-Get up early so we can be at airport for flight to NY. Fall asleep on the plane ride. My weekend with the fam and the BF begins

So you see in the immortal words of the Beastie Boys "No sleep till Brooklyn"....well not Brooklyn this time so I'll rephrase....No Sleep till NY!