Had enough
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: REO Speedwagon -- Take it on the run
Topic: Work
I've been here less than half a day and I am ready for the week to be over! My filing basket is overflowing and I really don't feel like looking at it. I've been catching up on some other stuff today and looking at that pile just tells me that as soon as I'm done one project, another one is already long overdue. Ugh.

My lovely pseudo-boss has his door shut and is on a conference call. Praise the LORD!

Come on FRIDAY! It's supposed to be pretty warm on Friday from what I understand. I hope that the weekend is nice, too... we talked about going to Easton to see the PRS exhibit and it would be great to have nice weather. I was thinking that we could see the exhibit, go to St. Michael's and wander around, have dinner somewhere nice and then go to Chez Lafitte afterwards for wine/dessert and to see my dad play.

I'm going hunting for chocolate now, I hope that my search is not in vain!

LOTR SWEEPS OSCARS!!
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Lord of the Rings
11 freaking Oscars! Wow, I'm sure glad that I was wrong on my count... I actually can't believe how many they won. They tied Titanic and Ben-Hurr (sp?) for most won of all time. I'm trying to get ready now to go to work... I have to open my big mouth two days ago and say that I hadn't gotten a migraine since that one after snowtubing. Oh well! Feeling better now, though.

More later if I get a chance.

quick post
Mood:  rushed
Topic: Miscellaneous goings-on
I guess I've been really busy, right? Well, I finally got pictures of my Jetta, thanks to Kurtis today... I took it to the car wash this morning... Pasadena car wash, btw who did a kickass job so I gave them a big tip. I felt really bad for those poor people, it was pretty dirty!

Time for the Academy Awards now -- I predict that LOTR ROTK will take home 7 Oscars!

lack of blogging
Mood:  lazy
Topic: Miscellaneous goings-on
I've really slacked on my blogging this week, sorry! Work's been pretty busy and people have been annoying, so I haven't had much of a chance to write.

Roxy is out of the shop and fabulous as ever... switching from the EX back to her though is taking some adjustment! I actually stalled out at a traffic light on the way home, how embarrassing! I can't even remember the last time that I stalled out due to my lack of driving ability.

Work has been crappy as usual, I really need to start looking elsewhere for employment before I lose my mind. I guess the thing that concerns me most is health insurance...I finally have something halfway decent even though it costs a lot in premiums. I'm looking on monster.com right now, thank you so I'm taking the first step. ;-) I was talking to Kurt and Rich today at lunch -- they were talking about the PRS exhibit that's in Easton right now and I told them that I had applied for a position to be Paul Reed Smith's admin/personal assistant, but didn't get called for an interview. Probably because I had no admin training! But man would that be the perfect job. Hehe, how backwards would that be -- me going over the bridge to the eastern shore to work!!

Tomorrow is Friday and I couldn't be happier.

Well, I'm going to do some laundry and think about dinner. (if I just thought about it and didn't eat it, maybe I could lose some weight!)

Post for yesterday and weekend
Mood:  not sure
Now Playing: Sports Junkies
Topic: Miscellaneous goings-on
I tried to post this yesterday, but tripod was acting weird and I couldn't put it up. Following is my post for the weekend and yesterday!


I apologize for my lack of posting the last few days... the weekend was incredibly busy and I feel like I didn't get any rest whatsoever!

First I'll briefly bring up to date the hellish work conditions that I had last week. Everyone needed everything at once and they all wanted it done immediately. Needless to say, I was not happy and neither was Brenda. All of the PM's overloaded Bonnie and myself on Friday, and Teddra was out which compounded our problems, since we were each stuck on the phone for half a day. I literally completed about two week's worth of work on Thursday and Friday. We also had Happy Hour scheduled for after work on Friday, but I got there late because I was stuck on phones until 5 and then I had to wrap up some of the stuff that I couldn't do on phones like process timesheets. I ended up getting to DuClaw at almost 6 o'clock! C'est la vie. Anyway, last week at work just plain sucked and I was pissed off at everyone. All pseudo-boss does is stare out the window... and when he isn't staring out the window, he's jumping out of his chair (which sends it rolling behind him and knocking into furniture) and speed walking back and forth past my desk. Oh, and how could I forget the sound effects!

On to the weekend... like I said, it was incredibly busy. Friday evening, we went to Happy Hour at DuClaw (Kurtis, Dan, Mike, Kamala, Kathy & me) and also ate while we were there. Around 7:30 or 8, we decided to go to Starbuck's...from there, our group split up (we had already lost Dan and Mike by that time) to Kurtis searching for an espresso machine and me, Kathy and Kamala went to Eddie Bauer, Liz Claiborne and the Gap. I bought some black socks, two tops and a cute reversible bag at Eddie Bauer (all for about $40) and I bought another bag at Liz Claiborne ($15). Kamala and I walked Kathy to her car and then I dropped Kamala off at her car... Mills becomes a little shady at night these days and none of us ever walk to our cars alone. I ended up getting home around 10 pm, pretty late!

Saturday morning I woke up around 8:30 or 9, checked my email for a response from Tiffer on what time she'd be coming over... I was thinking she'd be here around 2 at the earliest, but she said that she'd be here at noon. So Kurtis and I busted our asses getting the house clean, he vacuumed (which I am so grateful for, I hate vacuuming) while I cleaned my bathroom and straightened up the kitchen some. Around 11:30, I jumped in the shower and he continued cleaning. Tiffer was a little late getting here, but I was glad because I actually had time to get ready. :-P~ She and I went to Mills & got something to eat before we started our shopping spree. And a spree it certainly was! It started out a little slow, but towards the end we ended up buying a lot of stuff! Or at least I did. :-P~ But it was all stuff that I needed... jeans (mine have been getting preeeetty tight as of late), 3 pairs of work pants (got a pair of super-comfy grey slacks from Docker's, they feel like swear pants) and 2 cute blouses. By the time we left, I think that we'd walked about 2 miles and my arms felt like they were going to fall off because my bags were so freaking heavy!! I had a great time with her, though... she really knew all the good places to hit and we had fun trying on clothes. We got back to the house around 7 and watched a little tv (the ozbornes and til death do us part, more specifically). Then we got ready for the LC show... Kurt wasn't feeling well and I tried to convince him to stay home if he was sick - but he said that he wouldn't hear the end of it if he didn't go (hehe). So we stopped at Bella Napoli (Italian joint right next to our house) for dinner and then headed to Towson.

Driving past the Recher, we saw that there was a pretty long line out the front door...on the airwaves, it was mentioned that there was a possibility that the show would sell out, but I didn't think that there was any chance that would happen. Well, I was wrong - it did sell out. Fortunately for us, they sold out about 10 people behind us... we got there barely in time. They told the people behind us that they should go wait in the bar next door and if people left from the opening band (Voodoo Blue), they would let more people in. When we walked in, it was packed like I had never seen the Recher... it was hot, humid, and incredibly smoky. Just gross. Fortunately, it did clear out some after Voodoo blue... there was a lot less smoke, thank god... after leaving that night, I still felt like I'd smoked 3 packs of Marlboro reds!!! Anyway, as soon as we walked in, I saw Bonnie and Hallie... hadn't seen Hallie in close to 2 years and it had been about a year and a half since I'd seen Bonnie. After them, I saw Big Joe & Anne, Mel & her guy (Eric, I think?), Trishy & her new man, Ray, Steve and his sister (sara, I think), Marcus (JB's friend), George, Big Bob & Jen (she still acts nasty to me, I have no idea what I did to her), Donna (ran into her in the bathroom, she's getting married in less than a month), Meghan, Karen (who I was probably the most excited about seeing), Muff (minus the tigger suit), Pete & Cybil (who got married since the last time I saw them - they weren't even engaged!!), Patty (who I saw at DuClaw earlier in the day - she hasn't changed much), Amber (who I didn't talk to), Rob L. (aka Ween) and of course the band. I think that's everyone, I hope! It really felt like "coming home"... it was nice to see everyone again. I'm planning on going to more shows from now on, and I think that Kurt is more comfortable going now (and me going, for that matter) that he's met everyone he has a better understanding of why I love going to LC shows so much.

The drive home was thankfully uneventful and we arrived at around 2:00 a.m. (AHHH!!) I think that's the latest that I've been up in a loooooong time. Actually, come to think of it, that would have been during my trip to Atlanta and/or during the audition process.

Sunday I was exhausted, but Kurtis and Tiffany were up, so I had to get up, too. Tiff and I went out to breakfast - tried going down to Cookie's, but it was packed, so we decided to try IHOP, which was a big mistake. The atmosphere sucked, as did the food - not to mention they sat us in the family/kid section where we got all sorts of things thrown at us by a 2 year old. The kid was cute, but there comes a time when the parents should really control their child, you know? It was funny the first two or even three times that he did it, but it got old after a while. By the time we got home, we pretty much had to leave again. We were supposed to see a co-worker's band play at the Clipper which is closing next week. So we went down to Eastport and saw them play. The set-up was a bit of an inconvenience, they couldn't get the sound to work and some of the people there were really weird. I didn't really care for the first band that came on, but maybe I'm too critical. I think the woman's name was Deanna Dove...I thought that her voice was mediocre. After her, our coworker's band came on and they were pretty good! One of their vocalists was excellent... her name was Sonny (or Sunny?) and she was fantastic. The other female vocalist was our co-worker's girlfriend and she was okay, but nothing to write home about.

The food at the clipper was awful, so we drove down to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse... YUM! I wasn't sure if they were going to let us in since we were both wearing jeans, but they did and we had a very tasty meal - although our waitress tried to serve us someone else's food, lol! After the meal, Kurt wanted to stop at City Dock caf? for coffee. So I drove down to the docks and proceeded to almost get broadsided by some jerk in a caddy that was speeding through -- I mean, it was close, tires screeching and everything. Everything went in slow motion, too... I thought for sure that he was going to hit me. I was pretty freaked out and it pretty much ruined my night. Kurt told me to stop worrying about it, because everything was fine and we didn't get hit, but I was pretty shaky for the next half hour or so.

That's about it and I appear to be out of time...

Finale of My Big Fat obnoxious Fiance is tonight - I can't wait!

not a good week
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Weekend happenings
happy day now, though since it's 5pm friday!!!!!!!

Details tomorrow, hopefully....... it's been two crappy days... yesterday didn't end too great, i was at work until 6:20..

(I sent out $1.2 million in proposals today)

going to happy hour now, though... yay for DuClaw!!

The Chili Champ has fallen into shadow
Mood:  hug me
Now Playing: Pink Floyd -- In the Flesh
Topic: Work
Results

1st place -- Kurt
2nd place -- Rich
3rd place -- Me

3rd is better than nothing, but I can't tell you how pissed I am that Taylor got second place.

I've gotten really stressed out in the last hour or so, two out of my top four annoying people have been harrassing me. Everyone needs something done and they all needed it yesterday.

No word from anyone at the dealer, I'm hoping that "no noose is good noose". Ugh. Please make today over with quickly!!!

Chili Champion tries for second win
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Picture -- Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow
Topic: Work
Today we had our 3rd annual chili cook-off... which isn't really accurate, because our first two cookoffs were held during May or June, I can't remember which.

The winner of the first cook-off (I think that was May 2002) was me in first place, Kurtis in second place and John in third.

Last year I didn't enter and Kurtis came in first place...I can't remember who came in second and third. Part of the reason that I didn't enter was that we only had one crock-pot in the house and I didn't feel like buying another one or borrowing one from somebody.

This year however, I bit the bullet and spent a measly $13 on a crock-pot. I also made my chili differently from the first year; instead of using ground turkey or beef, I used Rancher's Reserve Angus beef. ;) It was the london broil cut, I figured that would be the best to absorb the flavor and be tender but firm at the same time... if that makes sense!

Kurtis tallied the votes, but we are using a new system where first place gets 3 points and second place gets 2 points... apparently it's pretty close, because he's having C.J. do a recount and make sure that he comes up with the same numbers. Me, Kurt and Rich are in the top 3... so I'm happy, really. I'd like to get 1st place again, but I'll settle for 2nd or 3rd, since the competition is so close.

I predict that Kurt will come in 1st, me in 2nd and Rich in 3rd. We'll see if I'm right.

Is it Friday yet??
Mood:  hug me
Now Playing: Pete Yorn
I wrote this in Word throughout the day bit by bit, so hopefully it will paste the way that I want it to.



Jonny Lang was a huge bust. I had springs from the seat digging into my butt, the guy sitting beside me was taking up more than his share of space.. those seats must have been made for people under 5', because my knees were hitting the back of the chair in front of me. It was sweltering in there, I was wearing a silk shirt which was quite warm. To make matters worse, no food or drink was allowed in the auditorium and I grew more parched through the show. During Lang's set, they had a smoke machine going, which bothered my eyes and made my mouth dry...we were sitting in the balcony seats, which was probably why it was worse up there. The guy could not play guitar well at all, and sang about as well as he played. He sounded like a cross between a screaming baby and a 13-year-old going through puberty. It was that bad. And what made it worse was that he actually thought he was good. I told Kurtis that he could have gotten up onstage and played scales and he would have sounded better! They also had a light show of sorts going, I think it was supposed to hypnotize you and distract you from the awful din they were making with their instruments. Ugh.

On to the fun today.. the finance guy from Honda City called me today and told me that if I get something in the mail from Honda Financing saying that I've been rejected to ignore it. He said that the first time he put me through the system, they rejected me, but he got me in the second time - however that was. So THEN he tells me "Oh, by the way, can you fax me a copy of a utility bill in your name." I told him that nothing is in my name, but I can send him a bank statement, credit card statement, etc... he then says, "What about a cell phone bill." I told him that I don't HAVE a cell phone.. he kind of had an attitude with me, too. Like it's MY FAULT that he didn't ask me for all this to begin with?!? I brought them a paystub when I bought the car, and that is all they asked for! How come it was so easy (besides signing all the forms) to buy the car, drive home with it that night, have all the assurances in the world that we were all set and then a WEEK LATER all of a sudden they need more information. HELLO?!? I was at the dealership for 3 hours, don't you think that you would have told me everything that you needed then?? In the end he told me to send him a bank statement or anything else that I can find. Argh. So now I get to go home at lunch to find that stuff.

Speaking of bank statements, my bank called me today to verify that I'd written the check for the down payment on my car. I thought that was nice! That's the first time that I've gotten a call like that. (probably because I don't write checks for $5,000 every day, haha)

Ahh... so we're having another chili cook-off tomorrow. So now I get to buy an extra crock-pot. :-P~ I think that I'm going to try something different this time...I'm going to use cubed meat instead of ground beef or turkey. Asko made his like that last time and I thought that it tasted really good. So Kurt and I can have our own mini cookoff tonight, haha. I wonder how we're going to have time, though...because we have food in the fridge that needs to be eaten and he has his guitar lesson tonight. Not to mention that 24 is on and we have to watch My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance which was on last night. We made a tape since Jonny Lang made us miss it.

BTW, I got the crock-pot at lunch, on sale at K-Mart for $12.99! Not too shabby. ;-)

Yet another chapter in my fun dealings with the finance people at Brown's, now a guy named Felix calls me when I'm filling out the fax to send Fernando and tells me that I need two more references! That's in addition to the 4 references that are already on my form. I couldn't believe it! So they needed 6 freaking references. Crazy. BUT, they asked for it, so I sent it to them. I really hope that they have all they need now.

I think that's all for today... hopefully tomorrow will be better.

definitely a monday
Mood:  incredulous
Now Playing: Jonny Lang (trying to study up before the show tonight)
Just got back from the dealer/body shop. Some asshole in a Chrysler minivan tried to sideswipe me on the way back. Fortunately for me and Roxy, their attempt was unsuccessful. That could only happen to me while on the way back from getting the estimate on my hood. Go figure! Nah, knowing my luck it would happen AFTER I got the hood fixed. I can see it now; I'll have a rock hit my hood the same day that it's fixed.

They aren't going to do it this week like they said they would of course... now they're doing it next week. It doesn't bother me that much, I guess...especially since I'm getting a loaner and I can just drop it off Monday night. *shrug*

Heheh...I mentioned something to Fuzz about Mick A's nametag and apparently he said something in the Monday meeting about it. Fortunately my name didn't come up. ;) Mickey-A is reported to have said that if it bothered everyone that he would take it down, lol!!! Maybe he'll at least consider how pompous he looks. On second thought, he's probably oblivious to that...he has the real engineer's mentality after all.

Well, I have to finish up my work for some of the people that I actually like who work here. Good-bye for now!