tipping

I would like to take this time to reflect on something that has popped up a lot over the last week of our vacation: tipping. It's everywhere. I want to know what you think about tipping. How did it start? Why does it continue?

I don't really get it. Aren't people getting paid? Why should I pay them more? Because I thought they did a good job? Shouldn't they do a good job because it's their job?! I understand that a lot of jobs don't pay very well, and that a lot of waitresses and stuff like that make much of their living from tips. But then, why don't you just charge me a little more for the service so you can pay your employees more, instead of involving me in this intricate game of how to tip, when to tip, and how much!?

So I mentioned I got my nose pierced the other day. They guy who did it was very nice, and very clean, and did a good job, so thumbs up. But all over his parlor there were signs about tipping--tip me! tip me!!! But um...they guy owned the place. Doesn't he get all the money anyway? If you want 5 more dollars for your service, charge me five more dollars.

I know I'm not the most business savvy person in the world, so by all means if someone has more insight to this feel free to let me in on it. And please don't think I'm a miserly tipper. I tip well when I eat out and when I get my hair cut or my nails done. But some other stuff just bugs me.

Like at the airport. Some guy took our bags for us and loaded them up on the x-ray belt. And stood there.

"I'm with [name of company]." he says.

"OK." we say. "Thanks."

"I'm with [name of company]." he says, smiling, and still standing there.

Hubby finally reaches in his pocket and hands him an indecipherable amount of cash. I wanted to puke. Because in my opinion, that was just nutty. Because as far as I could tell, all this guy's job consisted of was taking people's bags and putting them on the belt one at a time. So that is what he is getting paid to do. And that's what he did. So...what am I tipping him for? Not tossing the bags through the air or stomping on them before loading them?

Don't. get. it.

Any thoughts?

p.s. I would, however, totally like to give $1,000 to the pilot who successfully landed our plane that day. The turbulence on the way down had me gripping the seat in front of me with one hand and the frame of the window with the other. We were see-sawing back and forth, descending more steeply than I can ever remember doing in any plane before, and all I could say was "well, at least we don't have far to fall from here..." If I'm never on another flight that ends in applause, that will be just fine with me. ;)

things about florida (or at least orlando) that are really weird but that i love anyway, with the exception of exit only lanes and stripper joints

1. The animals are crazy. If they want a piece of food on the ground and there are people all over the place, they totally don't care. They just march on up, look you in the eye, and say "step off my food, beeyatch!" and then run away with it.
2. There are lizards everywhere. Prior to this little trip I was under the impression that lizards came from the pet store. And if you wanted to find one in the wild you had to go to, like, Brazil. But at SeaWorld the other day there were little anoles all over the place! The people trying to catch them to bring home included a 12-year-old boy, his 9-year-old little sister, and me. ;) Well, OK, I didn't actually try to catch any, but I might have yelled out "Run, little lizards, or you're coming home with me!!" And they were sunning themselves on the curb between the sidewalk and the bushes, and as you walked by they'd scoot into the bushes, then as you walked and looked back, you'd see them pop out again to continue their sunbathing.
3. The signs here are all in English AND Spanish. I have 5 different Spanish radio and five different Spanish TV stations to choose from (love my Spanish radio!!). Everyone everywhere speaks Spanish.This would be fine, except I'm under the mistaken belief that I can speak Spanish too. So I make a fool out of myself trying to, say, order breakfast in Espanol. (I'm sorry, ma'am, we don't serve bald monkey fritters.)
4. I think I mentioned this in my last post but they let you just walk around with your alcohol. Now, for someone who has lived in Massachusetts all her life, this is just nutty. I mean, you can get arrested for walking around with a beer in your hand, can't you? Or at least sent home? I mean, we just started being able to buy liquor on Sunday. But only between noon and 6. And you can't get it just anywhere; you have to go to a liquor store. Otherwise known as a packie. But here we were, walking around Disney MGM studios and people were just walking around with it! And on the CityWalk at Universal, there are just stands where you walk up and get alcohol to go. Freakin nutty. So we went to a reception and a show at SeaWorld the other day and since we had some time to kill between the two, we thought we'd try out this crazy idea. We walked toward the entrance of the park with drinks in our hands, and we were sure they were going to stop us at the gate, right? Nope! Did not even look twice at whatever we were carrying. Craziness!
5. Friggin "Exit Only" lanes. They're everywhere. I hate them.
6. Stipper joints. Even more abundant than the exit only lanes. And anything else in that category: escort services, adult "!!!XXX!!!" entertainment, you name it. Gotta keep those traveling businessmen happy. (Ew ewewew ew skeeve ew ew ewww)
7. This hotel we're staying in? Doesn't let you park yourself. It's required valet. Which isn't bad or anything, just kind of a pain, and pretty unexpected since it's not exactly a fancy place. It just cracks me up though cuz here I am, here for over a week, coming and going as I please, running the valet boys ragged. Go get my car! Now put it away! Now get it again! Now put it back! Oops, forgot my coffee in there, go get it! Now! Now! Noowowww! :)
8. The speed limit signs, at least the ones in I-4, are digital, and they change. So, the speed limit today might be 50, then tomorrow it might be 55. They just change it. Kooky! Does that make it easy to fight speeding tickets? "Well officer, it was 65 when I passed it."
9. Another thing that's everywhere that is a lot more difficult to find in MA because it just became legal like, yesterday: tattoo and piercing parlors. The major thing keeping me from getting something stuck in some part of my body was the scarcity of parlors. We don't have any near my house--I'd have to drive pretty far away to get one. Here? They're everywhere. I know part of that is probably because I live in a suburb and I'm staying here in a major city, but still. So by the time I passed the 10th parlor I was like, "Heck! Why not?!" and went in and got my nose pierced. (The verdict? I love it. Hubby? Not so much. His approximate quote: "So, is this like a phase thing, or do I need to get used to it being permanent?" I said I didn't know.)
10. There's a big excitement over the fact that Blue Man Group has arrived. Their show just started this month over at Universal. The signs are everywhere, the radio keeps playing the ads, the whole thing. This cracks me up, because BMG has been in Boston for what? 10 years? I'm hoping we get to see the show here though. Love those guys. :) My brother wants to be a BMG. Maybe he could move to Orlando?

OK that's it for me. I have big plans for today: gym, shower, nap, pool, read, write, coffee, email the kids (my kids! I miss my kids! But not enough to come home yet...). Big day. ;)

de vaccaciones

Hey people, long time no blog. Guess where I am? No really guess. I'm in F-L-O-R-I-D-A!

We've been here since Friday and (apart from the missing of the kids and the worrying of the mom) I'm totally loving it. I just dropped hubby off at his conference and now I'm sitting in BadAss coffee house, sipping a BadAss Mocha which is a very, very tasty mix of hot dark and white chocolate. Yum. So much for my light, lowfat breakfast. ;)

Hubby and I spent all Sunday at Disney-MGM studios. That was fun. I've never been to Orlando before so everything's totally new to me. We saw an Indiana Jones stunt show which was really nifty cuz they reenacted scenes from the movies with the actual stunt doubles (so...how long have you been doing this show, exactly?!) to show how they do everything. It was pretty cool. I was bummed we didn't get to go on any rides--these crazy summer t-storms kept washing through, which made for prime time to browse the streets while everyone else ran for cover but closed the roller coaster and big drop ride--but we shopped and saw shows and had a good time.

Yesterday we went to see Shamu Rocks at SeaWorld. I didn't get to go on that rollercoaster--the Kraken, which just tickled my little PotC-loving heart--either, because we were there with a group and didn't have much time, but the show was fun. Hubby and I sat in the very front row and got completely drenched by the whales. Fun stuff! I'm going to have to replace the library book that was in my bag though...

What else...we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe which I was afraid was going to be lame because aren't most things that all tourists do lame? But they play excellent music (I seriously thought "Hard Rock" was just a catchy name...I don't get out much, OK?) and there is rock memorabilia all over the walls--it was just cool. And my drinks were excellent and the food was really tasty and hot and we got to shop in the store afterwards...what more could I want? Oh yeah. Dessert. I was too full. :( So tragic. :)

I got an email from the kids yesterday, which thrilled the heck out of me so I replied with a total book on what daddy and mommy have been doing so far. I know my in-laws will get a kick out of that.

After my mocha and my blogging I'm heading back to the hotel to grab my art stuff then I'm headed to college park, the local bohemian hangout so I can release my inner artist. :) I'm hoping to have something to show you by the time I get back.

Themes of the week so far:

1. being led around in groups like cattle
2. please exit the ride through the gift shop
3. it's getting dark but the temperature hasn't dropped
4. please oh please let me try to speak to you in your native Spanish so I can feel cool and don't laugh at my American accent?!?!

**later.

Pst...guess who got her nose pierced?!

On a more serious note: Please click on the link under the new graphic on the side of the page. One of my biggest fears is that while I'm here in Florida, one of my kids will drown in the in-laws' pool. This blogger just lost his son to that exact fate. If you can help the family by donating $5 please do. And please pray for healing for the family in this terrible time.

My first troll, yay!

Hey, I had to change some stuff on the blog because I started getting nasty stupid comments from nasty stupid people. So now you can only comment if you are registered with Blogger, and there is a word verification form too, which I hate, but I thought I'd get that in there while I was at it.

So I'm sorry if you want to comment, but can't because you don't use blogger. If we're cool, you can always email me! ;)

OK, back to packing for Florida. And cleaning. And packing and cleaning and cleaning and packing and cleaning...

Tag!

I was tagged by KB and thought I would share, since y'all know I love memes.

Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so:

Maggie at CoffeeShopMofia
Slacker-Moms-R-Us
Big Dreams and Pixie Dust
K.B. Squared
Tragically Unhip

Next select 5 people to tag: (that means you have to post this on your blog!)
Connie
Hilly
and um...you. and you and you. I don't have too many blogging friends. :)

What was I doing 10 years ago?

Let's see, 10 years ago I was 18. So that was a little before kids. I was just finishing my first year at college, trying not to fail too much but not really succeeding because I liked skipping class better than I liked going. I was starting practice for my second season as an apprentice actor in the local rennaisance faire (dork!). I played a pirate, and I totally totally loved it. I was living in an apartment with my family--we'd just moved out of the house I grew up in. I was working too many hours at Blockbuster as assistant manager.

What was I doing 1 year ago?

One year ago I was just finishing breastfeeding and was NONE too happy about it--it was all Bek's decision. She was only 3 months old but I'd been back to work for a month and a half and she liked the bottle she got while I was at work better than she liked my boob, I guess. So about one year ago is when hubby came in from work to me, rocking Bek, feeding her a bottle, crying, saying "Why doesn't she want me?!!" :) Ah, hormones.

5 snacks I enjoy

1. Nachos. Loaded. And if there is a margarita to go with? Even better!


2. Brownies


3. Ice cream


4. Blue tortilla chips and red pepper hummus


5. Peanut-butter-covered pretzels

5 songs that I know all the lyrics to…

1. Barenaked Ladies--If I had $1000000


2. Barlow Girl--On My Own


3. 10,000 Maniacs--What's the Matter Here?


4. Panic! at the Disco--I Write Sins Not Tragedies


5. Ani DiFranco--Untouchable Face

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire

1. Give give give


2. buy a house!


3. go on vacation


4. open a coffeehouse


5. go shopping

5 bad habits

1. I'm bad at keeping in touch with my friends


2. I pick the nail polish off my nails as soon as it's dry


3. I eat too much junk food


4. I sleep too late


5. I swear too much

5 things I like to do

1. Hike


2. Camp


3. Be creative


4. Write


5. Act

5 things I will never wear again

1. Two pairs of socks in two colors in a check pattern


2. crocheted sweaters


3. tapered leg jeans


4. my wedding dress


5. anything in navy blue

5 favorite toys

1. Laptop


2. My art stuff


3. face paint


4. roller blades/skates


5. my Dance Dance Revolution game

Well that was fun. Oh! Here's a drawing I did a while ago, before Bek was born, that I thought I'd share. It's supposed to be Jo and Devy, all dressed up:

to do

So...I've been slacking big-time on my blogging. I vaguely remember a New Year's Resolution about blogging every day.

Oh well, resolutions are made to be broken, right? ;)

Well look. I've been busy, ok? Trying to get to the gym, spend time with my kids, actually clean the house and keep it clean... I have a to-do list a mile long, and my computer time is the first thing to go when the rest of my day is packed.

I can't help but think how much more I'd get done if I didn't have to sleep, y'know?!

Here's just a little sample of the stuff I have to do:

1. go to the gym
2. email so-and-so about guitar lessons
3. finish mother & son drawing
4. find the next local Zumba certification class
5. bring books back to the library
6. print new schedule, nametags for nursery and toddler rooms at church and bring them there
7. blog
8. work
9. clean
10. pray
11. suck it up and call the damn dentist before teeth fall out
12. find presents for fathers' day, sister's birthday
13. look up that word my coworker called me
14. take kids to playground
15. buy milk. look into cow--landlord doesn't allow pets
16. groceries--plan menu, make list, actually go sometime this month
17. eyebrows--threatening to take over face
18. call mom
19. Halofest @ brother's apt
20. find brother's apt?
21. visit Jo's biography fair at school--look interested
22. write, print, distribute survey for employee club @ work
23. put together mailing list for MOPS* newsletter and send the damn thing out before the preschoolers are in high school
24. stop swearing so much--kids notice?
25. register Devy for Kindergarten--get name change paperwork back?**
26. pelvic floor squeeeeeeeze***
27. fix blogroll
28. transfer old blog stuff to this one
29. update dvd queue on blockbuster.com
30. pass out biz cards for MOPS promo
31. sell MOPS newsletter advertising
32. email old boss to say hi--send letter instead?
33. buy art
34. sell stuff on ebay
35. post free stuff on freecycle
36. teach Jo how to ride her bike--kid's 8, cryin out loud
37. swim lessons for girls
38. find out how to get paid for something I'm good at--writing? drawing? sex? kidding...?
39. get bloody organized--why 3 planners for same year, nothing in them?
40. email all the friends I haven't talked to lately. playdates? *cringe*

Wow, when I type it all out like that it seems...massively overwhelming. I swear to you, bloggy buddies, the next time I pop in, I'll have crossed half this list off.

Or...a third.

A quarter for sure.

What're you up to?

* MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, and is a great organization for mothers of kids aged birth through Kindergarten. Check it out here.

**When I was pregnant with Devy I had this great idea of how I wanted to spell her full name. She was born, I filled in the great new name spelling on the birth certificate form, we took her home, and I promptly realized I was a hormonal idiot who totally misspelled our daughter's name. We're finally just getting it changed now, in time for her to go to Kindergarten. Seriously...change one stinkin letter and you'd think we were trying to smuggle her in from another country or something with the paperwork and lawyers and fees...

***If you haven't read I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson? You should. It will give stay at home moms a huge respect for working moms, and will make working moms laugh at their own crazy lives while being proud of what they do for their families. And when I'm a huge famous writer I'm totally denying ever reading chick lit. So there.

all done

Here's my guitar drawing, all done. I know it's nothing spectacular, but I'm proud of it anyway. ;)

guitar

Just some art I'm working on. I sketched it out at work last night, and then this morning I started experimenting with painting it in Photoshop. I've never done that before; it's kinda neat! :)

art in me*

I'm so excited to tell you about this blog that I came across through this other blog. I just got the girl's zine in the mail and it's titled, get this: The Artist in the Office: Living the Dream with a Day Job.

If you know me, and especially if you work with me, you'll know why this is so thrilling to me. I am all about the art in the workplace--the inserting of my creative bits into an otherwise dull, lifeless job. And this zine I got (which was free when I asked for it but now costs a small bit, sorry) has all these little tidbits on how to own up to your creative side.

When someone asks me what I do I tell them I'm a mom, and I work at ***bleeeeeeep*** but what I should say is that I'm a mom and an artist. Well, that's the idea, anyway...I don't have the nerve to do that yet since I really don't produce much art. But that's ok because the zine addresses that too. How to actually stop feeling guilty, sit down, and produce! Forget "I'm too tired!" Lots and lots and lots of famous, creative people have or had "real," day jobs and just because I don't sit around producing art full time and just because I collect a paycheck from the man doesn't preclude me from being an arteest. ;)

The other thing that is so exciting about this is I have two friends I am dying to pass the zine on to. I might even suck it up and pay money for them each to have a copy. Because while it is very tempting to just photocopy the dang thing a couple-a times, that would totally go against the whole artist-community vibe.

I have no idea when I became so bohemian. :) hee

*a song by Jars of Clay

Oh and by they way--I'm working on preparing this blog to take over from my BlogCharm account as main blog, because I'm sick of not being able to log onto BC. So I may be changing things around. Here's hoping I don't erase my entire blog in the process! Hang with me, k?

bleach me baby

Hey, remember when I tried to dye my hair purple?! Good times, good times.

Well, a few days ago I tried again, this time with some funky bleach-out highlighter. My goal was big, fat, funky, artfully-arranged chunks of highlights.

I followed all the directions. I even cracked a window in the bathroom because Dang! that stuff could kill ya with the stink. I painted the stuff on and didn't even get the bathroom looking like someone killed a bleach bottle in there. I sat there, reading a book, shaving my legs, drinking hot cocoa, for an hour and fifteen minutes.

Then I washed the stuff out, went to bed, and woke up thinking "Yes! When I go downstairs and take off this towel I'm going to have funky, artfully-arranged chunky highlights! Supercool!"

So I went downstairs and took off the towel and? Nuthin (you've probably guessed that already, right?). Not a single spot of anything that would indicate I'd spend over an hour with bleach in my hair.

I'm just about convinced that my head is undyeable.

But! I have CVS Extrabucks or whatever the heck they're called and as soon as I get some more mo-nay I'm going to hike on over there, buy another box of Super FX bleach-out highlighter or whatever it's called, sit in the bathroom and soak my head in the stuff (not my whole head, just artfully-arranged pieces of it) for as long as the directions say I can.

And maybe a little longer!

Then, I'm going to the nearest Hot Topic and getting me some more Manic Panic Purple Hair Dye and throwing it on some of the bleached-out parts. Cuz dangit, I'm determined to get this hair some color other than red some time before I'm old.

And by that, I do not mean gray!! Gray is not a hair color! And all you hairs better be listening because I see what you do in the middle of the night, don't think I don't notice!!

It's pronounced "meeeeeeeem"

THE MOVIE MEME (stolen from snackiepoo)

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
Clerks. Disney's Robin Hood. The Princess Bride. Muppet Treasure Island. Muppet Christmas Carol. Nightmare Before Christmas. Chocolat. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Benny & Joon. Oh, I'm sorry, did you say a movie? As in, one?
2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.
Titanic --yeah, I know. I can't even remember why I saw it twice in the theater. Must've been lots to see. :) Plus hubby and I were dating, we were all mushy romantic...
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Two words: Johnny Depp. I will see any movie he makes. Then there are actors I'll go to see in movies that I wouldn't otherwise watch like Wil Smith. I really like him and will pretty much see a movie just cuz he's in it.
4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Who was that guy in the Deuce Bigelow movies? See, I can't even remember his name. And pretty much anyone who has ever been on SNL. I don't know why; I love funny movies but SNL alumni bug me.
5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Breakfast Club, Princess Bride, Pulp Fiction, any of the movies in #1, a bunch of other Disney movies...and I say I'm not a big Disney fan...Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail because I'm a closet (OK not so closet) dork...lots more.
6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
Guys and Dolls, in addition to any musicals already mentioned.
7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
Oh please. Anything I've already mentioned? I sing to it.
8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
I've got two: Amelie, because it is such a sweet sweet movie, and The Prestige, which I just rented and have been telling everyone about. :)
9. Name a movie that you own.
Just one? Do you want a cool movie I own, a movie I have to have for the kids, a movie I'd rather not admit to...what? OK, one movie I own is Much Ado About Nothing, with Kenneth Branagh. Love him. And Emma Thompsen. Love her. Two more actors I'll watch movies for.
10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
I third Justin Timberlake. I didn't listen to him until Sexy Back (another thing I don't admit to many people, so keep that on the DL, got it?) but I actually like him! He's a decent actor!
11. Ever see a movie in a drive-thru? If so, what?
Oh wow, Ghostbusters, like eons ago when I was little. I fell asleep in the back of the car.
12. Ever made out in a movie?
Um, yes. Which is why my girls are not allowed to go to the movies until they're 35.
13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it.
Hrm. Can't think of one right now. That's not to say I watch tons of movies--who's got time to see everything they want to?!--just can't think of one.
14. Ever walked out of a movie?
No but I've come very close. Hannibal made me want SO bad to walk out but I was writing a review for my college newspaper so I had to stay. Then there was a freak snowstorm that caused the paper to not go to print that week, rendering my review useless. I might have cried. Just sayin.
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
Hey, that's not fair, I cry at orange juice commercials. So I cried at Titanic. Lion King. Prince of Egypt (sobbed at the scene where Moses' mom puts him in the basket and sends him down the river. Hey, I was pregnant and hormoney. It was sad!!)
16. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
I don't get out to the theater much. I think the last movie I saw there was Pirates of the Caribbean 2.
17. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Gah, I have no idea. It is either SciFi or Comedy or Romantic Comedy or whatever they make that is not shitty.**
18. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Arachnaphobia, with a bunch of friends in junior high. I still remember the part where the spider came out of the shower. Unfortunately, I remember it while I'm in the shower.
19. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
Final Destination. Total waste of cinema space. Why this movie had two sequels is beyond.
20. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
A Spanish movie called--oh shoot. I can't remember. But it was subtitled and while that isn't usually a problem for me, this movie was so crazy, but fun!
21. What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?
See #18. I'm still afraid of spiders. Stupid spiders.
22. What is the funniest movie you've seen?
Eh, there is probably more than one....Office Space, Clerks,** and I'll add Bruce Almighty, which made me laugh so hard the first time I saw it that I couldn't breathe. :)

**keeping this answer, thanks snackiepoo. ;)

Hey, Bek is getting better, hallelujah and amen, so I should come up with a halfway decent post for you all sometime soon. No complaining, I swear! ;)

moving

OK, I think this is it. I think that I'm moving my blog from blogcharm to here. It was the last straw when I tried logging on to say that I was moving and couldn't log on because they're having some kind of issue.

I've been avoiding moving here because, even though it would be easier for me to have all my blogs in one place, if I put my regular blog here and all my readers (all 2 of them) come here, they'll have easy access to my profile, which leads to my weight-loss blog, which has pictures...it's all scary stuff. :)

But that is actually the other reason for the move. I'm considering giving open access to the weight-loss blog because I really need the accountability and the knowledge that people I know are reading it and following my progress...or lack thereof.

Anyway I didn't want to write about that kind of stuff here. That's why I have the other blog, after all. So here is some randomness that has been floating around in my head since last I posted:

• Has anyone seen The Prestige? That movie rocks! I wanted to see it again as soon as it was done (which, incidentally, is exactly what the movie cover promised I'd want to do)! I think I might even buy it! And I never buy movies anymore!
• Why is it so hard for some men to say "sorry"?!! The last few times I've been mad at my hubby for something or other--nothing big, nothing we needed to talk out or anything like that, just little stuff that kind of pops up sometimes in day-to-day life--he comes home with a rose for me. I like roses and all, but is it so hard to just say sorry that you'd rather spend $2 on a flower than say it? Oh, and this time there was a 4-pack of Starbucks Frappuchino with the rose. Did I mention I'm trying to lose weight?! Good thing he's cute. :)
• I just spent $45 on late fees at the library. $45!!! On late fees!! I could have brought in food-for-fees (they donate the food to the local pantry) but I've been avoiding the library for, like, six months now and Jo needed books for her school project and so I just paid it. There goes my allowance for the next month. Gah.
• I'm slowly coming to the realization that spring is not coming this year. We're just going to go straight into summer, sometime in July. Winter was all late and stuff, not coming until like, February, and now it's all, Oh, you liked that, huh? Well I'm back and I'm not leaving, so there!!
• I ordered some books from one of those buy-6-for-99-cents-each clubs and they're not here yet. I want my books. But that's OK because I just took out books 5 and 6 of the Harry Potter series so I could re-read them before the new one comes out in July.
• Have you ever had a job with a really stupid boss so you think, Oh, man, this boss has to LEAVE and finally one day he does and you get a new boss and at first the new boss seems cool but then as time goes on you realize he's a lying, lazy stupidhead and you realize you were better off with the first boss? Yeah, that blows.
• I need to spend less time on the computer and more time outside. That would be facilitated by spring but like I said, it's still kinda winter.
• Hm, all these points are kind of negative. I blame it all on sleep deprivation brought on by a sick baby. She's sick again and guess who gets to stay up with her in the middle of the night and then gets up early giving her a bath to bring down her fever while she screams and her lips quiver and her body shivers violently and the other person leaves for work? I'll give you a hint! See point number 2! :)

But really, I am sorry this is so negative. I'll come up with something cheerier for next time. :)

a whole big bag of sore

Go me! I have been to the gym, working out hard, for the last three days. Today will make four days in a row. Yay!

The only thing is...I hurt! All weekend I moaned around work like a lame-ass going "Ow. Ow! Oahhh. Wahhh. Ohh. Oww! Oh."

I'm pretty sure everyone there wanted to put me out of my misery.

I swear, I stretched and everything! That's what hubby asks me every time I complain about being sore. "Did you stretch?" And I say, "No," just like that, all condescending because why am I going to take the time out to actually stretch?! But this time I really did and I still hurt everywhere! Why the hell am I going to keep working out if it makes me feel like this afterwards?!

But the good news is I'm really proud of how hard I've been working. I've been, like, jogging and stuff. (Note to self: buy better jogging bra.)

There is a girl at work who is studying sports therapy and I keep bugging her with questions. "Why am I sore? Why does this hurt? What's this? What's that? Blah blah blah?!" I'm pretty sure she's going to start charging me by the hour.

Now if only I can keep this up.

hmm...

I originally deserted my blog here at blogger for a new blog host called blogcharm sometime last october or so. The idea behind blogcharm is that they pay you a little bit every time someone views your page--no ad clicking needed. Sounds great, right?! So I've been there for a while and I am just about to make it up to the $10 minimum required for a payout when I get an email saying, surprise! We're having difficulties and cannot make payouts at this time.

Can you say scam alert?!

So I may be back here soon. Keep an eye out! ;)

chocolate

In case I've never mentioned it here before, my goal is to one day open a coffeehouse. And one of the things I would like to have in said coffeehouse is homemade goodies. And one of the goodies I want to homemake is chocolate. Or should I say choooocolaaate. :)

And last night I was at Target (lurve Target) and I happened to be in their chocolate section (just happened to be, really!) and I saw this new Choxie bar called the hot chocolate bar. Here's the description:

"deep, dark truffled chocolate with chipotle chili heat"

That made me say things like YUM! and OOH! (and maybe drool a little) so I took it home with me and ate it while I made some other chocolates to bring to bible study tomorrow.

(When it comes to chocolate I say let the masses eat the cheap stuff while I eat the pricey mexican-spice-containing stuff.)

Anyway it was SUPER good and HOT! Like, you pop it in your mouth and go, "Mmm, smooth." and then in the next second you're reaching for your Dunkin Donuts Gingerbread Latte (which, while good, is not such a great combo with spicy chocolate, in case you were wondering) because HOT! HOT in your MOUTH!

So yeah, it was so good that I went online and googled the ingredients so I can make my very own delectible chocolates that will make my friends' mouths (and eyes) water. I'm hoping to find smoky chipotle powder in my stocking Christmas morning. :)

grr

Stupid blogcharm won't let me in--it seems to be seriously messed up right now--so I'm fulfilling my blog habit here for the moment...at least enough to say I am locked out of my blogcharm account and they seem to be messed up. :) Hope to be back soon!

my other blog

Oh, I wanted to tell you (last post today, I swear.) if you don't see me here for a while, check out my other blog here. Yeah, I wanted to see if I'd actually get paid to blog. So far I've earned $0.016! Yes!

But really, I plan on that being my "keeping family informed" blog, while this is my "no-holds-barred, venting" blog. I don't always want my family and friends knowing the stuff I don't mind telling total strangers. :)

Postpartum rant

OK people, my birthday is in a week and I want my birthday money NOW because there is a sale on Victoria's Secret stuff and there are some dresses that I hafta have for summer. Cuz in case no one's ever mentioned it before? Dresses are a new mommy's best friend.

They slip right over your head, skim right over bigger bellies, and poof! You instantly look like you showered and are somewhat together!

Get me this in white, please, so the spitup doesn't show too much. :)

Oh and speaking of new mommies. Y'know that period when your baby is a few months old and your prego hormones are wearing off and your hair--all your gorgeous hair that your pregnant head saved up--starts falling out in gigantic clumps?

Yeah, going through that now.

I pull humongous rats out of the drain every day. Well, every day that I get to shower. And then in between showers I can't run my fingers through my hair or take out a ponytailer without huge clumps coming out.

GROSS!

And you know, when you're a redhead it's really hard to blame all-over-the-place hair on other people. It just doesn't work.

And while I'm on the subject, my face is a mess. I'm breaking out like crazy. WTH?! It's a good thing I'm too busy cooing with baby R to notice too much. Until I need to, like, go somewhere. Then it's like, break out the makeup! And guess what that does?! Yeah, it's a vicious cycle! :)

Dang hormones. :)

I hate salespeople

Hehe, second post in 10 minutes. I'm just procrastinating going to the gym and cleaning my house.

Have you heard the commercial on the radio for the "See Clearly" method? It's something about how to improve your eyesight so you don't have to keep getting thicker glasses every year.

I thought I'd call the number, since the fact that I need a new prescription every year kind of freaks me out.

The woman who answered asked me some questions, then declared I'd be an excellent candidate for the see-clearly method (surprise surprise).

She got me all convinced that I needed their free video, then told me it would just be $9.99 for shipping and handling.

I was like, "Whoa, whoa whoa." I've mailed videos before and I know for a fact you can ship it media mail (haha I wrote media male. Can't wait til hubby comes home Friday!) for like 2 bucks. And if the extra is to pay someone to wrap it and ship it? Then it's not a free video! I mean I know ten bucks isn't a lot but it's the principle of the thing.

So then she tells me I can just go to seeclearlymethod dot com and watch the video online. Scammers! Charging me $10 when you're giving it away free! :)

Anyway I'm going to check out the video sometime when I have time to sit and watch it, and I'll tell you what I think.

My 7-year-old daughter, J, has her "celebration of learning" ceremony tomorrow.

Celebration of learning? What the hell is that?

The kids had to bring in stuff to make posters with that shows what they're interested in. That's fine, J likes doing stuff like that. Of course, it's up to me to find all the stuff, but whatever. And they are putting on a play version of Where the Wild Things Are. J is all upset that she's just a tree, and she doesn't even get to say anything. I got to give her the "There are no small parts just small actors" speech so that was good. Maybe she'll go on to follow in her mother's drama-geek footsteps.

But then I got a call from the room mom (if I knew who the room mom was I woulda checked my caller ID and let the machine get it) who wanted to know if I could bring a snack and some juice for tomorrows celebration. *sigh* OK. Then she wanted to know if I could also donate to the fund for a gift for my child's teacher. I said no.

I mean, maybe I'm totally off base here, but why should I give my child's teacher a gift for teaching my kid? Isn't that her JOB? Isn't that why she gets PAID? If I'm not mistaken, teachers get the summer off with pay. I think that's gift enough, don't you?

I just get so irritated when we are constantly asked for stuff. Donations for this, dollars for that, it never ends! And check out Rockstar Mommy's post on today's kids and the constant reaffirming we give them. Bloody celebration of learning. I'm just glad her school doesn't do things like graduation ceremonies for Kindergardeners or something.

I guess I'm kinda being bratty about the celebration of learning thing. J and the other kids will love showing off what they've done all year. I just don't want my kids growinig up thinking they should be celebrated excessively for what is, essentially, their job. I praise J for the stellar report cards she brings home, isn't that good enough? :)

But you know I'm gonna be all, "Wow! You were the best tree ever!" :)