Every blog on my reader today has been talking about how it's snowing like crazy where they are. So I thought I might add my two cents to the mix and talk about the weather where I live.
It's cold and not snowing.
And when I say cold I mean that with the wind chill, we're talking temperatures in the negative numbers. Right now it's 17 degrees outside (with the windchill it feels like it's 6 degrees) at 1:45 pm; when I woke up this morning, it was -1. I know there are places in the world where it's colder (like Canada or Russia) but when you have to take the dogs out every morning so that they can do their business ... it might as well be Russia because it feels like it's -1,000,000 degrees out.
It's so cold in the mornings that I layer like I would if I was going snow shoeing through the Alaskan wilderness. I wear leggings, under fleece pajama pants, under snow pants, with a shirt and a sweatshirt and my heaviest winter coat. Then add on my faux-fur hat with the ear flaps, gloves so thick I can barely zip myself in my coat and a scarf to try and shield my face from the wind. The wind that blows right into your face and is so cold that it feels like you're being poked in the face with a million tiny, freezing cold needles.
I hate to be cold, but if it's going to be so cold out, I would at least like it to snow. Then it would be pretty at least. As it is now, everything is frozen. Including people who have to be outside for more than ten minutes at a time. But at least the black ice is mostly gone.
I hope things are prettier where you are.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
25 cents For Your Sanity
This is a new tag that you will probably be seeing more and more frequently on my posts. As you may or may not (or may have guessed) I am sort of going through what some people would call a quarter life crisis. Writing about it makes me feel better and I like to try and work through my problems in a way that might help someone else.
Anyway ... I was toying with the idea of starting a new blog called 25 cents For Your Sanity (you know, like a penny for your thoughts. Only I thought that sanity might be worth a little more than a thought), but as I am thinking about becoming a joint author in a green blog project, I decided that I would just label the posts as what they are and include them in here. It'll be good for boosting my archives and I won't have to go like a million different places to blog.
Although I read the blogs of many brilliant people who do that. But honestly, they are better people than I and I'm not sure that I could handle having 4 different blogs to maintain and try to post to on a fairly regular basis.
So that's what that label means. You know, just in case someone starts reading something and doesn't understand why these posts tend to be angst ridden and depressing. Don't worry, I don't stay that way for very long.
Anyway ... I was toying with the idea of starting a new blog called 25 cents For Your Sanity (you know, like a penny for your thoughts. Only I thought that sanity might be worth a little more than a thought), but as I am thinking about becoming a joint author in a green blog project, I decided that I would just label the posts as what they are and include them in here. It'll be good for boosting my archives and I won't have to go like a million different places to blog.
Although I read the blogs of many brilliant people who do that. But honestly, they are better people than I and I'm not sure that I could handle having 4 different blogs to maintain and try to post to on a fairly regular basis.
So that's what that label means. You know, just in case someone starts reading something and doesn't understand why these posts tend to be angst ridden and depressing. Don't worry, I don't stay that way for very long.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
There are (s)no(w) rules when it snows
It snows here every year. I live in the Midwest, so you expect it to snow a little. And when I say a little, I mean several inches that won't melt until the middle of spring. Which is to say, usually it snows quite a bit during the winter months. And sometimes a little bit during the autumn months. Which is to say that people in the Midwest are not new to driving in snow. However, this year I have seen so many people act like they have never even seen snow before this winter let alone driven in it.
He might be cute, but he has no idea how to drive in snow.
It reminds me of the movie Gremlins. You know, when the cute little guy gets wet and spawns a race of a-hole, not cute gremlins. Only in this case the snow causes drivers who are normally perfectly responsible and safe drivers to suddenly forget everything they ever learned about driving ever and morph into a-hole drivers that run red lights and drive like speed racer on streets that are likely to be coated in black ice.
Please people, when it is snowing or sleeting or when it's freezing rain outside, please for the love of God drive under the speed limit. When you spin out on black ice because you were going 50 MPH to get home in time for dinner, you will be home WAY LATER than if you had driven like a sensible person and made it home a little later than normal minus the whole spinning out thing. Also, JUST BECAUSE there is snow on the ground does not mean that you get to run a red light due to the fact that the people in front of you are going slow. If you are out in the intersection when it turns yellow, fine. But if you are still turning left when the light for the straight people turns green that is NOT OK. And you do not need to keep rolling forward so that you are in the middle of the intersection when the light turns, ok? Sitting at the line like the rest of us while we wait for the other drivers to take their turns will not kill you and will not cause you to be so late to where ever you are going that the world will end. The roads are crappy - no one will fault you for driving slowly and carefully. I am pretty sure that the person you are going to see would rather you get there alive than have you spin out into a ditch and die.
And ... end rant. I just wish people would use their brains when they drive in bad weather. It makes me so sad to listen to the news and hear about all the car accidents that happen on the highway because some idiot decided to drive way too fast.
On a lighter note, CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE! How is your shopping coming? I have a lot I still have to do (which is weird because usually I am totally done at the beginning of November) but I am going on a mass shopping trip on Thursday. Unless we get hit with the ice storm that we are supposed to be hit with. Because if that happens I will be staying home, working from the recliner in front of the fire and drinking obscene amounts of hot chocolate.
He might be cute, but he has no idea how to drive in snow.
It reminds me of the movie Gremlins. You know, when the cute little guy gets wet and spawns a race of a-hole, not cute gremlins. Only in this case the snow causes drivers who are normally perfectly responsible and safe drivers to suddenly forget everything they ever learned about driving ever and morph into a-hole drivers that run red lights and drive like speed racer on streets that are likely to be coated in black ice.
Please people, when it is snowing or sleeting or when it's freezing rain outside, please for the love of God drive under the speed limit. When you spin out on black ice because you were going 50 MPH to get home in time for dinner, you will be home WAY LATER than if you had driven like a sensible person and made it home a little later than normal minus the whole spinning out thing. Also, JUST BECAUSE there is snow on the ground does not mean that you get to run a red light due to the fact that the people in front of you are going slow. If you are out in the intersection when it turns yellow, fine. But if you are still turning left when the light for the straight people turns green that is NOT OK. And you do not need to keep rolling forward so that you are in the middle of the intersection when the light turns, ok? Sitting at the line like the rest of us while we wait for the other drivers to take their turns will not kill you and will not cause you to be so late to where ever you are going that the world will end. The roads are crappy - no one will fault you for driving slowly and carefully. I am pretty sure that the person you are going to see would rather you get there alive than have you spin out into a ditch and die.
And ... end rant. I just wish people would use their brains when they drive in bad weather. It makes me so sad to listen to the news and hear about all the car accidents that happen on the highway because some idiot decided to drive way too fast.
On a lighter note, CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE! How is your shopping coming? I have a lot I still have to do (which is weird because usually I am totally done at the beginning of November) but I am going on a mass shopping trip on Thursday. Unless we get hit with the ice storm that we are supposed to be hit with. Because if that happens I will be staying home, working from the recliner in front of the fire and drinking obscene amounts of hot chocolate.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Happy Birth-a-Versary Bing!
Dearest Binglehopper -
A year ago today, I thought that Boyfriend and I were going to break up for sure. We weren't talking (which really is the whole reason that you are part of my life in the first place) and I was so sad and lonely. And then BFF called me from the Humane Society and told me about you and I went to visit you. And you sat there all cool and composed like you didn't have a care in the world and didn't really mind that you were in a tiny kennel with a super hyper blonde poodle who almost licked my fingers off my hand before I could get you to come over and say hello. You were so new that they didn't even have any information on you up yet, I didn't know how old you were (although to be fair, I still don't really and never will) or what your name was or why you were in the Humane Society in the first place.
One year ago today I got to meet you outside of a kennel for the very first time. It was in the conference room in the Humane Society. Do you remember seeing me through the glass while the volunteer carried you in there? Do you remember when you met Tim for the first time? Did you know that you were going to come home with us and join our family for all the rest of your days? Probably not ... I mean, you are just a dog. I'm pretty sure that you didn't understand what the heck was going on. But you did seem pretty excited to be out of your kennel.
You and me on your first afternoon home
A year ago today, I thought that Boyfriend and I were going to break up for sure. We weren't talking (which really is the whole reason that you are part of my life in the first place) and I was so sad and lonely. And then BFF called me from the Humane Society and told me about you and I went to visit you. And you sat there all cool and composed like you didn't have a care in the world and didn't really mind that you were in a tiny kennel with a super hyper blonde poodle who almost licked my fingers off my hand before I could get you to come over and say hello. You were so new that they didn't even have any information on you up yet, I didn't know how old you were (although to be fair, I still don't really and never will) or what your name was or why you were in the Humane Society in the first place.
Such a handsome little bugger
I will never forget getting the call that I had been approved to adopt you but I couldn't meet you, or pet you, because you hadn't been temperament tested yet. I thought that was pretty funny. But I will never forget how wiggly and happy you were when we met, or how you completely ignored Tim and lazer-beam-locked onto me with your eyes and your energy and how cute I thought your build in trick where you beg by standing up on your back legs and flailing your front legs around in front of you like a crazy person. And then - I took you home. Where you promptly peed on the floor. But that's ok, it's part of parenthood.
Cutie pa-tootie
I will never forget getting the call that I had been approved to adopt you but I couldn't meet you, or pet you, because you hadn't been temperament tested yet. I thought that was pretty funny. But I will never forget how wiggly and happy you were when we met, or how you completely ignored Tim and lazer-beam-locked onto me with your eyes and your energy and how cute I thought your build in trick where you beg by standing up on your back legs and flailing your front legs around in front of you like a crazy person. And then - I took you home. Where you promptly peed on the floor. But that's ok, it's part of parenthood.
Cutie pa-tootieSo the long and the short of it is: I love you. And even though the first few months that we lived together were real hard I am so glad that we met and that we have each other and I am very excited for us to spend many more happy and healthy years together. And I mean healthy - I can't be taking you to the vet every other week ... ok? But really I love you. And for all those times I talked about finding you a new family because I was feeling overwhelmed, I'm sorry. And I love you lots you little snuggle muffin you.
Love,
Your Mom
Love,
Your Mom
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Moving
Don't worry ... not the blog. Just me.
Boyfriend and I talked about how I was feeling, then I talked to my parents about how they were feeling and then all four of us talked to each other about feeling in general. An hour and a very detailed budget later, everyone was starting to feel better about the whole "living in sin" thing that Boyfriend and I are getting ready to do together.
We went apartment hunting on Saturday and ended up giving our application to rent to the last place we went to check out (and almost didn't end up going to). I would tell you where but since I don't know you and there is a chance that you are some crazy serial murderer type person (just for the record: I give you the benefit of the doubt) I'm not going to. You will just have to settle for pictures after we move in.
It's an older complex, but the floor plans and are nice and big and open which means that we get a bigger apartment for less cash. We are going to be living in a downstairs apartment which means that we will have a tiny patio, which is fenced in, for small dogs to scamper around in when I am just toolazy tired to take them out on a long walk. We also will have a wood burning fireplace to have delightful fires in while we wait out the rest of the winter. I am 90% sure that we will also be having plenty of smores parties over the old open flame. Call me Email me if you are in or around Kansas and I will hook you up (provided, or course, that you are not a creepy serial murderer type person whose true intention is to roast me over the open flames).
We were informed by the very sweet office lady that we would probably know this week if we get the ok to move in or not. Keep your fingers crossed that we do ... otherwise I think that Boyfriend will lose his mind. If we do we will be moving in on January 10! It's so exciting! And now I have to start packing ... again (boo).
Boyfriend and I talked about how I was feeling, then I talked to my parents about how they were feeling and then all four of us talked to each other about feeling in general. An hour and a very detailed budget later, everyone was starting to feel better about the whole "living in sin" thing that Boyfriend and I are getting ready to do together.
We went apartment hunting on Saturday and ended up giving our application to rent to the last place we went to check out (and almost didn't end up going to). I would tell you where but since I don't know you and there is a chance that you are some crazy serial murderer type person (just for the record: I give you the benefit of the doubt) I'm not going to. You will just have to settle for pictures after we move in.
It's an older complex, but the floor plans and are nice and big and open which means that we get a bigger apartment for less cash. We are going to be living in a downstairs apartment which means that we will have a tiny patio, which is fenced in, for small dogs to scamper around in when I am just too
We were informed by the very sweet office lady that we would probably know this week if we get the ok to move in or not. Keep your fingers crossed that we do ... otherwise I think that Boyfriend will lose his mind. If we do we will be moving in on January 10! It's so exciting! And now I have to start packing ... again (boo).
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
*twitch
Over the last two weeks, I have developed a twitch. Boyfriend likes to call it my "crazy eye". I would like to think that having a twitch doesn't necessarily mean that I'm crazy ... but the fact that my eye has been twitching for almost three weeks makes me wonder if he is right about the crazy thing after all.
Usually it goes crazy at work, but I don't feel like I'm under a tremendous amount of pressure. In fact, I like the amount of work I have to do at work. It means that I spend my whole day working (which makes me feel good and the managers happy) instead of looking around for new blogs to add to my Google reader (but if you know of a totally fabulous blog you should totally share it with me because I love adding blogs to my Google reader). So I'm not sure why I developed the damn thing in the first place.
However, I have noticed (yes - I have had the twitch so long that I have noticed when it gets worse) that it gets worse when people talk about the economy and all the super-depressing/totally-scary things that are going on in the world. Mom told me last night that I am no longer allowed to watch the news and/or read the newspaper in order to make said twitch go away. But when I'm at work and I get frustrated with something, like today when Photoshop would not do what I wanted it to, it goes NUTS. I mean ... come on!
How am I supposed to function in life if all I do is try to avoid the things that make my "crazy eye" go crazy? I just can't live that way! Unless that way of life involved a lot of vodka and sprites. Then I think I might be able to handle it. There you go - I'll just start bringing vodka to work in my water bottle instead of water (and if you found this blog and work with me: I am just kidding about that whole bringing alcohol to work thing. Seriously.)
You know what else I hate about this stupid twitch? When it starts going off in front of someone and I put my hand up to my eye to try and get it to stop and then I have to explain to them that I have a twitch. ARGH! And as a result, I can't stop talking about the damn twitch, which I'm sure makes it twitch even more.
And last night I got another twitch - in my butt. All day long ... eye twitch - butt twitch. I am going to go crazy if I can't find out how to make this stop short of checking myself into a 5-star resort/spa for a weekend. Or a week. Or maybe a month. Or maybe until the economy stops its downward spiral into a black abyss.
Ok - I'm done whining now. Thanks for listening blog - you are SUCH a good friend.
Usually it goes crazy at work, but I don't feel like I'm under a tremendous amount of pressure. In fact, I like the amount of work I have to do at work. It means that I spend my whole day working (which makes me feel good and the managers happy) instead of looking around for new blogs to add to my Google reader (but if you know of a totally fabulous blog you should totally share it with me because I love adding blogs to my Google reader). So I'm not sure why I developed the damn thing in the first place.
However, I have noticed (yes - I have had the twitch so long that I have noticed when it gets worse) that it gets worse when people talk about the economy and all the super-depressing/totally-scary things that are going on in the world. Mom told me last night that I am no longer allowed to watch the news and/or read the newspaper in order to make said twitch go away. But when I'm at work and I get frustrated with something, like today when Photoshop would not do what I wanted it to, it goes NUTS. I mean ... come on!
How am I supposed to function in life if all I do is try to avoid the things that make my "crazy eye" go crazy? I just can't live that way! Unless that way of life involved a lot of vodka and sprites. Then I think I might be able to handle it. There you go - I'll just start bringing vodka to work in my water bottle instead of water (and if you found this blog and work with me: I am just kidding about that whole bringing alcohol to work thing. Seriously.)
You know what else I hate about this stupid twitch? When it starts going off in front of someone and I put my hand up to my eye to try and get it to stop and then I have to explain to them that I have a twitch. ARGH! And as a result, I can't stop talking about the damn twitch, which I'm sure makes it twitch even more.
And last night I got another twitch - in my butt. All day long ... eye twitch - butt twitch. I am going to go crazy if I can't find out how to make this stop short of checking myself into a 5-star resort/spa for a weekend. Or a week. Or maybe a month. Or maybe until the economy stops its downward spiral into a black abyss.
Ok - I'm done whining now. Thanks for listening blog - you are SUCH a good friend.
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