The dog just farted

Ok I could not really think of a title but man did she let one loose and it is lethal. I swear you can bottle the stench up and it would be more potent than any nuclear bomb!

Anyway, yesterday stated my Saturday classes, I have a total of 9 so one down and 8 to go. I must admit it was not that bad but I do feel cheated because my Saturday is lost for errands and chores abound the house. Today we spent a few hours at the laundry mat and did a few loads but they needed to be done.

I feel like I need a day to get it all do that I wanted to but alas tomorrow is Monday and I have to head to work.

So I have "acquired" a new sales rep, well new for me. My college is going to have a baby any day soon so one of her reps was turned over to me. This woman, (who shall be called "cousin it") is going to drive me fucking nuts. She is honestly a pain in the ass. On a given day, I get at least 20 yep that is right 20 emails a day. She is demanding, whiny, has to get the last word and treats me like I am an idiot. She came in to the office before and paid no attention to me but now that she has to deal with me she came in and was super nice to me....I am very cautious of people like that. I am not looking forward to dealing with her. At least my boss is aware of her tricks so if I am about to lose it I can always go to my boss.

I am not in the mood for her at all tomorrow!

New career

I should have been a vet! Seriously they make the dough and it is hand over fist. I picked up the little beast today and got the bill, and out of pure numbness handed them my credit card and it cost more than our plane tickets to NYC! I mean they charged us for everything! I swear and there were tons of people. But then again, you would have to put little ones to sleep and I think that it would get to me very quickly.

Meanwhile, I am back at work and it sucks. One ops manger told me that he had a lot of questions for me and could not contact me and there were some delays. I was thinking:

-If you called me you would have still fucked it up
-You did not call me and you fucked it up
-I left some instructions and it was fucked up

So basically, don't mess with my vacation because they still fuck it up the jobs...away or not!

Casa sweet casa

We are home after a world wind trip home. It was so busy and we had a super duper dose of the family and then some.

We were fortunate to have an perfect flight without any drama and we even 15 minutes early! So how did it all go down...well here is the break down:

Wednesday:
We got up at the ass crack of dawn and headed to the airport and we got to NY a little after ten and we were at my parent's house by noon. We had a lunch and then we headed out to the dress maker to get my dress hemmed. We then just hung out afterwards and then we went to Queens for dinner at my aunt and uncle's house. Where we ate such a great dinner, my aunt is a great cook, it makes up for the nagging. She was too busy to comment on my hair,weight outfit etc. My other aunt brought her medicine to the table and offered it to the bf as it helped her lose weight. Talk about insulting! I was so not happy with that comment! My dad was so excited to get the hell out of there but we had to wait for my brother and fiancee to get there and eat as they were late. But he was like a bullet out of a gun when we got the permission to leave.

Thursday
This was "our" day to spend time in NYC. But when I woke up I found a list of things that I was suppose to do. So I had to talk with my mom because that was the only day we had to do things we wanted to do. So she relented...So we headed into NYC and we went to the Museum of Sex
and then had a good lunch at BOLO. We just walked around the neighborhoods and then headed back to the parent's house for dinner.

Friday:
I went to take my aunt to get her nails done, got the hair run through, checked into the hotel and headed to the rehearsal. The priest never showed up and so there was a lot of confusion as who does what. Then we went to dinner and ate so much, it was a really good meal and we ate well.

Saturday:
The wedding, it was a pretty day and they lucked out with the weather. Everything went well as could be expected. I was very helpful and was in the bridal suite to get the bride ready (I did what I was told). The priest was awful, he could not get the names straight and did not do some things that they wanted him to do. But they were okay with it. The photos were at the Pepsico gardens. The photographer was a bit annoying but took some amazing shots. The bf and I got a few formal photos done too, it was my mom's doing. At the reception MR was there and I was so excited to see her. I had such a good time hanging out with her, her hubby and my bf. I danced a lot and got to see some people that I have not seen in ages. However, my dad's family treated me poorly (as to be expected). But My bf and MR got to meet the obnoxious wife of my cousin who is just a totally pretentious bitch so now they have a face to the stories. She did not even say a word to me.

I heard "so when are you getting married" at least 5 times but, we are sure it was muttered more than that! It got old really fast....we started to come up with snide remarks but we did not get to use them. At least it is over and I no longer have to hear about it. I did piss me off that my mom did a lot of work more than the bride. She did the programs, the pew flowers, driving all over the place to run errands and was just stressed. Plus my parents paid for so much and it was just weird to know that. Not to mention, I still feel like the odd one out with my dad's family and it is very uncomfortable. No wonder why I am glad to be spending Christmas here!

Sunday:
We checked out of the hotel and hung out at the parent's house. We got to the airport a few hours early and we made it home to Chicago. We are so glad to be home.

The BF was such a support and he kept me laughing, supported me when I was getting stressed out, and he was and is just so awesome. Now we know what we have to do to top this party!

I am just so glad to be home!

"waiting to die"~ the drama has begun

So tomorrow the BF and I are heading out to the big apple for my brother's wedding.

I have been lucky to be over 700 miles away so I have been spared witnessing most of the drama but I have heard my fair share. So this week it has really ramped up. My mother is a ball of nerves and stress, my dad is stress by default and tomorrow morning I get to be in the midst of the craziness. Here are some highlights:

-My elderly aunt and uncle are on again-off again coming to the rehearsal dinner/the wedding. As of today he told my aunt he is not going because he is waiting to die. My aunt is looking forward to meeting my BF so we HAVE to go to their house for dinner tomorrow. How should I introduce the BF to the uncle..."Here is my uncle but don't bother him, he is waiting to die"? Talk about drama! During the dinner, she will criticize me in a thick accent, "What you no eat, you no like my food, I cook all day for you and you no eat, you and you're too skinny. I cook all
day and you don't eat!" then mutter to herself in Spanish basically criticizing me.

-said uncle and aunt were going to tailor my bridesmaid dress (they were both professional tailors in their heyday) but they have a doctor appt tomorrow and it is a huge deal as it takes them forever to get there and back. So fine, my mom found another tailor near the house but we have to go there as soon as I get to my moms house! I mean as soon as possible.

-I am getting my hair done for the wedding but since I am not sure what I want, my mom insists that I get a trial run before the rehearsal dinner. So God forbid if I don't go, all hell will break loose.

-I have two aunts in from South America and they have been doing some shopping. According to my dad "I've nerve seen so many bags from the Christmas tree shop in my life! And the shoes, they have bought so many shoes! Gawd almighty!" One of my aunts has to get a dress for the wedding and according to my mom, has no concept of a time crunch. So poor mom has been all over the place to find a dress that has to be fuchsia or deep purple, my aunt has the concept of "we'll do it tomorrow" down much to my mom's last nerve

-The bride's mother has decided not to attend, the bride is coping but I suspect not well

-I told my mom to seat me near the bar....

Welcome to the loony bin!

Three day weekends are never long enough!

Yessireee bob I had a hee day weekend by default due to the fact that the electricity was not working at the job.

Do you think I was productive...go on make a guess....

Well if you said yes, you are partly right:
-I weeded out one closet
-I worked on the list of things for NY
-I cleaned and scrubbed the hardwood floors and the tile floor in the bathroom
-I swept and dusted

If you said no, you are partly right:
-I went to Sephora, Lush and Bare Essecentuals and purchased items in each
In fact I went to Lush twice one yesterday for moi and one today for a friend of the BF
-I did not clean my part of the office
-I have not got my pedi yet
-I have not packed

So, hopefully the lights will be out tomorrow too!

Rain rain go away...on second though

In case you didn't hear the news, there was a major rain storm in the Chicago region yesterday. I mean it came out of no where and it poured. I was at work where it hit like you wouldn't believe, the wind was clocked at 74 mph. Our lights started to flicker then they went out at around 3:30.

I had to head to class so I left at 3:40 and made my way home it took a little long than normal but there was no traffic on the highway! But there were tornado warnings in the loop and all over parts of Chicago. There was a lot of wind damager, windows broken, and tree limbs all over the street.

So I went to work as normal today and the electricity was still out with the power coming on within 72 hours! So about 20 minutes later we were all sent home by our managers and i was home by 9 am. So let the fun things that I have to do this weekend get started....

If you are in the Midwest be safe and careful....there is more rain coming!

Dear Chicago Public works...

Dear CPW,

Thanks so much for finally deciding to pave the street in which we live in. It will be a pleasure driving down it without hitting pot holes, weird bumps and asphalt irregularities.

However, if you are going to close the street from 6-3:30 for almost a week, it would be kind if you give us more than a 12 hour notice. I understand the cost of paper can be quite expensive but considering that you put a huge bright orange posted on every other tree, lamppost, and tall stationary object, would it kill you to put a sign a few days ago on the apartment/house doors. I know that the budget cuts are killing you guys so I hope that the street will be done quickly without much overtime that you are famous for. Well a girl can dream anyway.

While we are at it, why the hell do you have to start at 6 am? Is it because it is cool or because you say you will start at 6 am so that you can tow the stragglers, sit around and watch and then really start at 9 or 10 but claim an 8 hour work day?

Glad to see my tax dollars at work...will the workers who sit around lazy have to pay for the bottle water tax too or is that a perk?

Toodles,
Christina

GF may I

The BF has a new video game toy. I was not too keen on it actually because I see them as wastes of time and they just don't make any sense to me. But it was his money and his time so he did get it. After much debate, my fears were that he would spend hours trying to defend the Lego warlock pinata against the evil dragon goddess superball (or whatever) that the house chores would end up being my responsibility. Now to be fair, he does do a fair share of chores around the house but there was a few occasions when I came home late from school after a hellishly long commute and there was a bunch of chores to be done so it made for a long night for me (and added to my crankiness).

But we talked about it and he knows where I stand in regards to his gaming and I know how it fits into his life (as a stress relief, get your mind off of work scenario). So he got the game and its components over the weekend.

He has been very good with the chores especially yesterday! He did so much that was a huge help.
Now that school is winding down, I can also contribute a bit more each day so that they can be split a bit more evenly and he can go defend the alternate universe galaxy space war craft or whatever....

My chore for tonight, go through the clothes that made the closet bar fall down oh and study for my final....fun

Two days my ass!

Who decided that when there are weekend that it should be just 2 days. I mean seriously, just as you get your groove on and your stress level has decreased, i tis Sunday and you have to go back to work so the stress starts to rise.

It seems that I sleep so well on Friday nights but when Sunday nights come around, I just sleep so poorly. either I have weird dreams, or I toss and turn or I wake up every hour to see what time it is. It is annoying.

This weekend it poured and I mean poured. There was no sun and just grey skies all over the place. On top of that it was the Air and Water show, which is a nice summer even in Chicago. Basically, they have speedboats, water skiers, jet ski stunts on the lake in the morning. In the afternoon they have an air show which fighter planes, and biplanes. The fighter planes basically fly at maximum speed in some areas so that means that it is loud, the sound barrier is broken and no matter where you are you can hear them. So the weather apparently put a damper on the events. Not that we went but we were privy to the noise and an occasional plane sighting. We heard them more than we saw them

I was so lazy this weekend. I have a final on Thursday and did not prepare. So now I have to hussle...just two more classes!

Blurrrrr

This week has been somewhat of a blur with so much things going on for the two of us. I am already pooped and we have not gotten to our weekend plans yet!

I have a group presentation for class tonight and the prof is a stickler for time so we had to review what we prepared on Tuesday after calss. After watching the first group it was imperative that we make sure we are on the top of our game. so I did not leave DU until 10:30. then the Red line was not running north bound so I had to take the Brown line which took forever. But the BF was sweet and met me at the EL stop so we can walk home together.

The BF has been attending an off site meeting so he has been schlepping up further north and then the meetings run overtime. So yesterday he got home much later than he wanted. But, his friend was dowm from WI visiting so I entertained him and plied him with booze until the BF came home. We then went out to eat and hit a bar for their friend's birthday. I bowed out early because I had to get my ass here at 7.

Tomorrow is another b'day party as is Saturday (pending confirmation).

This girl needs her sleep and to study and to clean the apt and to go shopping and to get a pedi and to get the eyebrows waxed.

I need a clone

Cake

We went out to West bumblefuck in the burbs to my bf's niece's birthday party. So pretty much it was a bunch of kids and their suburban parents. Here are just some snippets of conversations:

Mom-So my kids teacher called me in to tel me that she suspects that my child is dyslexic. I told her that it is because she can't teach!
Other Parent-God I hate when they blame their own failures on our kids

G-So the neighbor died, had a heart attack at his grandson's birthday party. I saw his daughter today and offered to give her the obituary that was in the paper, she did not want it for some reason.

Parent-If you don't eat your pizza you can only have the cake no ice cream!

All the parents at one point-Hey did anyone see my kid? (then the mad search begins)

When the birthday girl was blowing out her candles:
Her father-Wish for a baby brother!
(side note he does this all the time! He has 3 girls but wants a son)

Let's just say...I am glad to be back in civilization!

Auntie Em, Auntie Em....

Yep, there was yet another tornado spotted today but it was dangerously close to the office. So apparently the siren rang and we were all herded into the interior lunch room. We all sat there mumbling about how stupid this is because there are no windows in the area where we work, it was an hour and half before quitting time, we had stuff to do and the obligatory because we can.

We were out of there 5 minutes later.

I am not used to tornadoes, they were extremely rare when I was a wee lass. Yet, we did have one a few years ago, it knocked a big branch from a teen in the back yard to the middle of the front yard. but other than knocking out a few traffic lines it was relatively minor.

Here it is not taken so lightly, it is a real source of fear and panic.

I am not used to that....

Plus if it hits, and I see a house on a pair of ruby red shoes...they are probably not in my size anyway

UPDATE: the tornado that hit NYC in Brooklyn was just blocks away from my old apartment!

just tired

I was so tired this past weekend. I took two naps on Saturday and I still was exhausted. I could not fall asleep at night because I was too tired and when I did I was out cold. I am not sure why I was so tired. Frankly, it does have me worried because in the fall I will be taking classes on Saturdays all day and I am not sure how I will physically be able to manage it.

Yesterday, I was feeling better but some damage was done. I tried to salvage what I could but I am not sure if it was enough. Sometimes it is never enough.

On Friday, I hung out with my blog buddy. It was so much fun, we went to a local haunt called Andies and we just had such a blast. She is hysterical and we just laughed our way throughout dinner. We will get together in a few weeks to catch up and hang out with the drag queens!


Just a seemly long week ahead...

taking back the night

I meant to write about this last week but did not get the time....

Last week NPR had a two part series about Native American women. Native American women have a greater percentage of being raped than any other type of women in the U.S. want to know why, because if the rape happens outside of Indian territory, the Native American police can't arrest the perpetrator. So men rape women when they know that they are out of the territory. As such many women don't even report the rape because they know that the "white" police hesitate to get involved with the Indian Nations partly because of skepticism and partly due to the federal laws with regards to Indian territory.

They interviewed the police chief in a native community and he was saying how hard it is for them because they want to help their community but they feel so helpless. In one case the woman called the police telling them that she was raped and the guy was hiding in her closet. The Indian police department and the "White" police were outside her home arguing over where the territory line was and was the man who raped her on the "white" side or native side. They had to let the motherfucker go!

I was so enraged! Every time I hear about how women get sexually assaulted it just breaks my heart. I lost count of how many women I know who were sexually assaulted. I believe that the count is 1 in 3.

I just don't know what to think! Females in this country and world are living their lives and are assaulted as a means of violence. Those are women who had a part of them taken away from them in so many ways. It just upsets me...my heart goes out to all women (and men out there) who have had to go through a horrible crime.

Tonight when you look at the stars, the sun and the moon~part of the religion for many native American societies~please send them a message of hope and sisterhood.

Seven things You don't know about me

OK I've been tagged by Another bad hair day

1-I don't admit to it much but I watch reality shows but not the ones like Survivor but more like the ones on VH1. Scott Baio is 45 and single is my newest train wreck of a reality show!

2-I used to live in London. I lived there for a semester in college where I worked and went to class. I lived in Camden town which is and expensive trendy part of London. It is where the Kate Winslet Amex commercial was filmed.

3-I love pasta. Especially when I make my red sauce yum!

4-I have been thinking that the dog needs a pet. Specifically a bunny rabbit, the BF says no....yet! I taunt him with bunny's who need to be adopted emails

5-I decided that i won't be getting the shoes I've been drooling over. My car insurance is due and August gets to be a bit tight money wise for me.

6-I bumped into Yoko Ono , literally. In Strawberry fields in Central Park years ago. she and Sean were walking their dogs

7-I want to spend a month in Italy and just linger and eat throughout the country.

Gosh this was fun!

More shoes saga

I resisted for one day...i don't know how much longer...

They come in black, grey and brown!

Big ole tease...

Nordstrom's semi annual sale...the shoe department....I want a cute pair *sigh* but the credit card is resisting.

Who will win shoes or my will power? Take yer bets!

At least I can have will power and a cute pair of shoes.

Oh who am I kidding we have no storage space for more shoes.

*sigh*

Indifferent

I think that word sums up the way I feel about the job-o!

I could care less about my job, my boss, my clients and my sales reps (with the exception of two). I just got so fed up with the work that I just turned of all emotion. I feel a bit like a robot, I do what I have to do and don't give a crap about it. I am so out of there mentally that I might as well be working somewhere else.

It is a dangerous place to be when I am indifferent because I just don't care

Smoke

I nearly had a bout of PTS (post traumatic stress) this evening. i was along the lake with my class (my professor wanted to make a point) and we were walking to a covered venue because it was starting to rain and my phone rang.

It was a friend telling me about the explosion in NYC. I used to work near there, I would take the train to my parent's house at Grand Central. I was in the city during 9/11 and so when I first heard what happened I froze.

My annoying bother his finance are OK. I located some friends and left messages for others.

So far CNN is reporting one death and a few serious injuries. It is astonishing how one event can alter life...

Getting ready to give them a beat down

I am talking about Comcast. They fucking SUCK.

Here is our history with them:
-The first guy they sent to get us up on cable was here for 4 hours and he chained smoked in the alley and was not able to get us all set up. We had to do the Internet ourselves, he could not give us the proper cable box for the tivo.
-The second team of men gave us the same box that the first guy did and it worked. They told us that it would work
-Then our cable went out for a day. They remotely fixed it
-Then our Tivo was not working, so they told me to disconnect it after the cell died.
-The woman who I spoke to decided to send a repair person but did not tell us that he would be coming!
-the Internet died last weekend, our Tivo was acting up again
-They sent someone to work on the Internet and it was working
-Tivo is still acting up

We have had it. i am afraid to go to call Comcast because i will go off on them.

We are calling RCN!

Words from an invisible mouth or hear no evil?

Well work has gone from bad to worse. It is not the job per se it is the lack of respect that I am given. Now they are not outright rude to me but when it comes to my customers, I have a certain sense of knowledge, experience and expectations. so when I email a department it is to advise them. But of course the assumption (key word there) is that they will read it and then include me on anything that I need to know about.

do they....nope. Case in point, I sent out this message using the KISS method (which means "keep it simple stupid") and asked for some job to be out the door today. do they do that? nope they send it on Saturday. another case in point, we had this huge test that had to be out and I asked them when if it arrived. Oh no, we don't have it....well we did have it for 10 days, nobody knew where it was or what it was for.

I am at the point where I question every email asking myself how can I make it any more easier than i had.

Then I have this prick of an ass hole who claims that I said something which I never did. I know that product so well that I would NEVER say what he claimed I said. So now, every conversation that I have with regards to that product, I send him an email, cc my boss and his boss.

I mean really people! They are so working my last nerve.

the kicker I got a call from a recruiter yesterday but the job is 40 miles away!

I just can't win!

Don't stand to close to me

The other day, the BF and I went to the Police concert at Wrigley field. That place was packed with people of all ages. The concert was fun, we had a good time and they opened with my favorite song..."Message in a bottle". It was a lot of fun and all the way home I kept humming Police tunes!

So of course I had Friday off and I did something that I have not done in a long time....I took a nap. That is right people I crawled into bed and slept for almost 2 hours in the afternoon! It was weird but soooo nice. But I did spend most of the day cleaning the apartment so it was well deserved.

Today feels like Sunday but it is not (hooray) and we braved 90 degree heat to go to the Taste of Chicago. It is in Grant Park and they have restaurants from all over the city with some of their popular offerings. It was so yummy...I had a Billygoat cheeseburger (From the Saturate night live fame), Italian fries, chocolate covered strawberries, sweet potato salad, a Spanish sandwich that used fried plantains instead of bread, a bite of a pizza and a mojito. It was soooo good. Plus they had special "taste" items that you could try so that is how I ate around the fest. It was hot though and it is good to be in AC!

The fourth

Have a happy and safe 4th everyone!

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