Getting Older?

It used to be that I would pick up and head off for an adventure at the drop of a hat. I find that I am not traveling as much as I used to.

On one hand I miss it…..

On the other I am happy to stay put…..

An invite to go to NYC Sunday night appears and my first thought is “Oh! It’s a school night”…before even wondering what time the event is…

Maybe I am no longer “running” from things.

Maybe I was bored by my onesie.

Maybe I did not want to be home alone with my thoughts.

Maybe it’s because I get up really early for work.

Maybe I am protecting my finances.

Maybe I am getting older.

Maybe it’s a combination of things.

Who knows…..

Writing Fragments...

For as long as I can remember, I have had the same thoughts when I write:


The smell of the ink...

The feel of the pen as it glides along the paper....

The paper is thirsty....

Deal Hoarding…

When to let go of a deal….

I recently watched the first episode of TLC’s “Extreme Couponing”…take “Hoarders” and combine with an obsession for getting a deal…

It is couponing beyond extreme….hence the name…

One woman has an incredible stock pile…all stuff that she got for free…that is insured for $35,000. (That is no longer free, folks…)

She often blows off plans with her friends and her hubby to go get a deal.

Deals come and go…they even repeat…

Sometimes it is just not worth chasing.

I could have gone out the other night and done a diaper deal that would have resulted in a box of 44 count diapers for $3.50 – talk about a great baby gift!

But I CHOSE to spend time with TGP – CHOSE to have some yummy French onion soup, CHOSE to have a few adult beverages, CHOSE to enjoy the company of others.

The deal was great but I CHOSE to let it go and do something good for my soul.

Yes, I enjoy the deal high…I enjoy the finds at 90% off…

But I CHOSE to do what was important for me….

I’m sure that I will continue to watch the show….but I will not live my life that way.

Cans, Cans...

I went food shopping last night… The people shopping there were nuts…even more nuts than usual….

Besides the “Pre-storm panic – we NEED eggs, bread and milk because we will never be able to dig out and what if we need supplies!!!” shoppers, there were the people shopping Shoprite’s famous Can-Can Sale…aggressively shopping, may I add….

People were SNATCHING cans of Progresso soup off the shelf…..one guy had a shopping cart full of Ronzoni pasta because it was 40 cents a box….(me? I had 3 boxes of another pasta that were free after coupons) It was impossible not to stare…

The jingle was playing every 20 minutes too…I’m already there – no need to remind me!! Of course it got stuck in my head…..was told that if I sang the “Can-Can” song one more time, I would have to walk home. Naturally I waited until we were pulling in the driveway to start up again…tee-hee….

Twenty Eleven…

I have big plans for you….

Paying off the debt.

Maintaining my ability to hike over ten miles.

Seeing my "further-away" friends a bit more.

Snowshoeing.

Continuing the course to a healthier weight range.

Spending quality time with TGP.

Socking away money into the 401K.

Completing my f-ing “To Do” lists without freaking out.

Letting go a bit more...of the fact that I can’t fix everything.

Delete Button...

So the year is winding down…

I have a couple of blog entries that were written quite some time ago and stayed as drafts….

I kept changing their date every month with the thought of publishing them at a later date.….

It was time to publish them or let them go.

This morning I erased them….

They are no longer relevant – whether they were funny, rants or just brain dumps.

The Universe keeps sending me signs of the apocalypse….

I have way too much on my “To Do” list and not enough time….

Scenes From Christmas...

Exreme Balancing...

I want to recap this past weekend but the extremes are only showing up.

The gifts that were so well thought out that they made the recipients smile and cry.

The snowstorm that could not be enjoyed.

The 13 hours of sleep that I needed to be functional.

The people that were missing on Christmas.

The people that surprised us on Christmas.

It was an interesting holiday….let’s leave it at that.

"Light the Manure?"

Years ago, I had started a book about my mall years….anyone in retail knows that you just can’t make this stuff up. I have been removed far enough from it now that I can laugh at most of the things that I had to deal with…

We had a menorah on display….the light switches were accessible to the public. Every morning, I would come in and find the light bulbs lit in different patterns. It got to the point where I would add a bulb on the appropriate nights. And yes, we had a customer seriously ask the question that is the blog entry's title...."When are you going to light the manure?"

The nativity scene was constantly being rearranged…but the year someone stole baby Jesus took the cake. Technically he was not supposed to be out until Christmas Eve at midnight, but I was not going to be in, so he was in place a month ahead of time. And one night he disappeared….no ransom note, nothing. A few days later, he was replaced by a papoose with a note that read that this was a sub since the other one was missing. So, I ordered a new baby Jesus…..rush delivery and everything….Who appears on Christmas Eve back in his cradle? Baby Jesus….bench pressing the papoose….

The following year, I kept the two baby Jesuses (Jesi??) in my office until Christmas Eve….they made great pen holders due to their outstretched hands…..

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Fruitcake Song!

FRUITCAKE

Bass:
Sift the flour and fold in eggs

Alto:
Now you add the lemon peels (I would say a cup or two) Then some raisins, dates and figs. Just how much is up to you.
(repeat Bass and Alto sections together)

Tenor:
Pecans, Walnuts and Hazelnuts Almonds and all other 'crazlenuts'!
(repeat Bass, Alto and Tenor sections together)

2nd Soprano:
Cinnamon! Cinnamon! Don't forget the Cinnamon, other spice is always nice, but don't forget the Cinnamon! Cinnamon! Cinnamon! Don't forget the Cinnamon, other spice is always nice, but don't forget the Cinnamon!
(repeat Bass, Alto, Tenor and 2nd Soprano sections together)

1st Soprano:
Way up high go candied cherries glistening like Christmas berries. Add some rum (but just a drop) Then it's time to *hic* stop!
(repeat Bass, Alto, Tenor, 2nd and 1st Soprano sections together)

All (ending):
Have yourself some fruitcake! *MMMMM*

Jolly Good!!

I found this to be rather adorable…you too can play with the royals…even the Queen's Corgi!

http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/celebs/article.aspx?cp-documentid=26867732

British toy store Early Learning Centre plan to sell a Royal Wedding toy set next year to mark the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Their ‘HappyLand Royal Wedding Set’ is set to go on sale in February 2011 and it costs £15.00 but is available to pre-order now. In its description on the ELC’s website, it says: “Prince William and Kate sit in a gold trimmed horse-drawn carriage while The Queen, Prince Phillip and their favourite Corgi are protected by a Royal Cavalry soldier in full uniform and a foot soldier wearing a smart red jacket and bearskin helmet”.

12 Wrecks of Christmas...

Click the link...

You will laugh....

Do it...

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2010/12/12-wrecks-of-christmas.html

Descriptors...

How can I even begin to describe this past weekend?

A Blast?

Spankalicious?

Dominating?

Cheesy?

Batmany?

Festive?

Grammar-ish?

Beyond silly?

Yummy?

ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!

Since we all have jobs that we would like to keep, I will not elaborate…..good, good times though…

What Did I Get Done Yesterday??

I already knew that yesterday’s list was ambitious…

I got a bunch of things done – including things that were not on the list such as:
Get a Yankee Swap gift for the work party
Spend time with TGP once he got out of work

I also meant to make some phone calls…never made it on the list and did not get done….

But here is the answer to the million dollar question…what did I get done yesterday??

Package Ebay items to ship out
Post office trip
Write out, label, sticker and send 71 Christmas Cards
Wrap presents
Laundry
Call Medicare to figure out why they did not cover grandma’s EKG (and most likely file a claim)
Fill out bank form for Dad
Set up work 401K withdrawls
Shoprite trip
Make meatballs for Mom’s work Christmas party
Lunch with TGP
Follow-up notecards from Latvian sorority meeting
FInd a flight for oldest FL monkey to come visit
Pay bills
Balance checkbook
Bed, Bath & Beyond Trip
Bank trip
CVS dealsmithing
Walgreens dealsmithing
Target trip
WW meeting
Set up desk blotter calendar for home
Pull stuff from storage
Upload pix to Snapfish
Upload pix to Facebook
Find a new blog background
Change emails to Gmail addys
Get rid of more of the "notes to self" (partial)
Dunkin Donuts trip (to buy presents not coffee)
Rite Aid dealsmithing
Play on Facebook
Catch up on Twitter

I Think I Can...

I have a day off…..

Here’s my ambitious “To Do” list…. in no particular order…

Package Ebay items to ship out
Post office trip
Write out, label, sticker and send 71 Christmas Cards
Wrap presents
Laundry
Call Medicare to figure out why they did not cover grandma’s EKG (and most likely file a claim)
Fill out bank form for Dad
Set up work 401K withdrawls
Shoprite trip
Make meatballs for Mom’s work Christmas party
Lunch with TGP
Follow-up notecards from Latvian sorority meeting
FInd a flight for oldest FL monkey to come visit
Pay bills
Balance checkbook
Bed, Bath & Beyond Trip
Bank trip
CVS dealsmithing
Walgreens dealsmithing
Target trip
WW meeting
Set up desk blotter calendar for home
Pull stuff from storage
Upload pix to Snapfish
Upload pix to Facebook
Find a new blog background
Change emails to Gmail addys
Get rid of more of the "notes to self"
Dunkin Donuts trip (to buy presents not coffee)
Rite Aid dealsmithing
Play on Facebook
Catch up on Twitter

Fingers crossed I get most of it done!!

Raining Iguanas…

I have a routine with one of my Floridian friends – she calls bi-weekly to give me a weather update. Some days it is more amusing than others – like when they have a Winter Weather Advisory. (anything below 60 degrees)

People are bundled up and taking days off from work because it is too cold to go outside….in Florida…and it is raining iguanas….these poor cold blooded creatures just slow down and *thunk* out of the tree when you least expect it.

It always amused me to see one run across the road – instead of swerving to avoid a squirrel, it is a prehistoric dragon on the road…I compare it to the girl that I met from from Texas who was fascinated with Canadian Geese….something completely ordinary for us is fascinating if you don’t see it every day…

Note To Self…

Note to self...do not give myself a panic attack by leaving a note to self...

I have too many pieces of paper on my desk at home…they all need to be dealt with….I can’t just throw them away…

I am prone to anxiety attacks if I am not careful…a souvenir from my mall days. The worst it ever got was when I was in the supermarket and I had to decide on a salad dressing flavor. And then I told myself “This is not an earth shattering decision - pick one!” Ever since then I can talk myself down/out of them (most of the time – on occasion I am left feeling ancy).

Last night I was seeing red due to a lack of control over the situation - circumstances tied back to she-who-must-not-be-blogged-about. I was fortunate to have outside help to pull myself back together….but I really never ever want to feel that way again….

Boujolais Nouveau...

I know that this may seem silly but it has been cracking me up all day….

The 2010 Boujolais Nouveau shipments have created a conflict of interest for me…they are interfering with my cargo!! (turns out they get priority on booking cargo space this time of year)

I like the wine and I want it to make it into the country...

But my customers need their products...

But I like the wine...

But the customer’s sales pay my salary….

See…it just cracks me up….

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Even though not much is known about the first Christmas Tree, it was in Riga, Latvija and this year marks the 500th anniversary of the Christmas Tree!!

So Kids, what have we learned today?

I rock at doing my job because I take REALLY good notes. (that and a healthy fear of screwing up things in the almighty computer system helps too)

Even after 5 years, four moves and a lack of artificial sunlight, the lone bamboo stalk survives.

French men are very charming.

I can make even the most stoic people chuckle.

I can decipher most ESL essays when the person with the degree in it is stuck.

It is always better to snuggle on the cold evenings and mornings – whether it be with a person or a furball.

I don’t need to verify on FB what I already know, but it still makes me smile.

Despite some hearing damage due to years of marching band and being in drumline, I can hear what most people are whispering about.

I may be cheesy at times, but I am surrounded by the people that appreciate me and my sparkle.