The Wheels on the Bike

Cycling Update: I'm not riding today.

Yesterday my sis and I set out to go riding and our goal was 24 miles and to do it quickly so we'd still make Happy Hour at Sonic (my new rule is happy hour diet cokes only because they charge way to much for a drink there - when I can go to my local 7-11 and get a huge gallon for 99 cents or something). When we pulled up to the lake we saw that you could surf on those waves. Waves mean wind and LOTS of it! Determined, we geared up and headed out. OMG! At times you had to put 100% of your body weight to one side or another to keep yourself upright. If you didn't, the wind would knock the bike out from underneath you and you'd be out flat on the pavement.

We pushed along and about 1/2 way through we decided we're not doing 24 miles! lol We did finish with about 12 and 1/2. Not too bad considering the elements. Later in the evening, we found out the the boys in the bike club didn't go riding yesterday because of the wind. There were 40mph wind gusts and it was too much for them!

HA! The girls made it! We rode and the boys didn't. hahahahah

Money In Your Pocket

This afternoon I was listening to the guy on the radio bitch about gas prices and food prices and how he made some beans this weekend (because its cheap) and it cost him $20. That's not cheap.

So... it made me think and I googled some info. A few ways to cut your grocery bill!

Stop eating out -- This one is a no-brainer and doesn't really need an explanation.

Don't buy frozen meals -- Do you realize you are paying $300 a pound for that tiny bit of veggies on the side?

Don't buy pre-cut meats -- Doing the cutting yourself will save you about $1 per pound or $223 per year for the average family of four.

Compare supermarkets --

Buy generic -- Generic and store-brand products are often processed at the same plants as name brand products, but they are much cheaper because they aren't advertised.

Buy day-old bread -- The bread at the day-old bakery is almost as good as the bread in the supermarket, yet it is half the price of fresh.

Buy in season -- There are times when the supermarket is practically giving away fruits and vegetables and other times when they cost a fortune.

Use more nonfat dry milk -- Nonfat dry milk is cheaper than regular milk.

Pick your own fruits and vegetables -- Find out if there is a food co-op in your area at www.localharvest.org and pick your own fruits and vegetables, which can be purchased at a fraction of what you pay at the supermarket.

Don't eat meat every night -- Fixing vegetarian casseroles and such several times a week can save the typical family of four about $3.00 per meal or $15.00 per week or about $800 a year.

Brown bag it at work -- This is one of the easiest ways to save money, as brown bagging it is about one-third the cost of eating lunch at an inexpensive restaurant.

Don't buy what you don't really need -- There are many products we buy because we love them, but don't really need them. Good examples are soft drinks, sugary snacks and other sweets. Giving them up will improve your health, reduce your medical and dental-related expenses and fatten your wallet.

Avoid vending machines and bring your own snacks/drinks to work: You pay significantly less for the candy bars and soda pop you buy at the grocery store than from a vending machine.

Use coupons -- Coupons can save you money, but too many people buy products they don't really need or use just because they have a coupon. Good coupon websites: CoolSavings.com -- Coupons.com -- StartSampling.com.

Leave the kids at home -- Caving in to pressure from crying children begging for certain cereals, snacks and toys adds, on average $6 to $20 to the weekly grocery bill. Leave them at home and buy only what your family needs.

Helpfully Yours

For those not in the loop and living in a hole, today is Administrative Professionals Day and so far I've received a pretty green candle and holder from my secret pal, an adorable pink lounging outfit from my boss, a funny singing card from the IT gang, and a gorgeous bouquet of pink carnations from my dearest work bud, "L". I love it! Last year I bought a similar loungy outfit in turquoise and even packed it for the Jamaica trip this past February. No word yet on if or when we’ll be having our annual staff luncheon but with all the events currently going on, I’m sure it won’t be until May at the earliest.

On the other hand, Cowgirl didn’t last even a year with our crazy IT department as she heads out the door for greener pastures after this Friday. (No, I didn’t run her off, I swear.) She will be settling in the neighboring state of Arkanslaw and hopes to sell homemade wagon wheels to the Amish. She even brought one of her ‘creations’ to work today to show to fellow employees. I don’t make these things up. Honest. Ever the professional, she has a new food joint’s menu tacked up to her door. Wtf? Are they paying her for this free promotion? This seems out of line but I do admit that some hungry techs and I were salivating reading the list of offerings. IT will be hosting a small going away party for her in the lounge Friday and boss is providing the refreshments including cake. Guess the least I can do is scrounge up a Buh Bye card.

Also in the news, our six-month old adopted wild child, Cami, is getting ‘tutored’ today. This surgery was scheduled just in the nick of time as she went into heat yesterday with kitty grrl hormones making their presence known as they took over her adolescent body. She’s been suffering a case of funky eyes and the vet suspected leukemia but it came back negative. After plunking down the bucks for shots and neutering, what usually happens next is they run out in the road and become kitty pancakes.


This past Sunday I attended the dreaded Premier jewelry party and altogether dropped almost $100 bucks on glittery ornamentation I had no intention of purchasing. Damn those shiny, flashy irresistible earbobs! (One can tell I’ve been reading Scarlett O’Hara again). Normally wild horses cannot drag me to these pressure parties but my preshus niece pulled the begging puppy dog eyes and I knew I’d capitulate for her. The small crowd consisted of mostly female relatives and no less than three had their arm twisted to book future parties that I will no doubt be invited to. *slaps forehead* Will this vicious, never-ending cycle ever run out of steam?! Two are pooling time and resources by going in together for their bash but I will fortunately be out of town on vacation on the day chosen. Oh darn! The other isn’t until September and who knows what previous engagement may run interference and give me a much need break. ;)

Occifer I Promise I'm Innocent!

OMG! HAHAH

I sat down to check my emails this morning and I got a sweet little message from a friend who is still at Chaos College.

"I was going thru old pics for Dr K retirement party and I found these. LOL"

LOL is right! I'd totally forgotten that while I was there I had been "arrested" and spent time in the pokey!




OMG! HAHAH

I got disciplined before I was hauled off.

It was all in fun *giggle*. The students were raising money by having people arrested and someone had to bail us out. It was Drug Awareness week or SADD or something of that nature. Gosh those were fun times!

Green Giant

Baby Z is enjoying her green beans! We spent a week on greens... now we're trying carrots and so far, so good. She likes them best when C feeds them to her though. lol

She's also sportin a new high chair at the dinner table. We broke down and bought her a new 7 position reclining high chair. The thing might as well have heated leather seats. She loves to sit with us and if we're eating... you bet your sweet bippy you better have something for her to eat!

Nothing For Today

UGH. F'n Blogger. I've tried all afternoon to get some pictures uploaded and it keeps erroring out!

I hate the "try again later" comment.

*pissed off pouting action*

Lost & Found

I walked in the lounge first thing this morning to wash out my coffee mug and lo and behold, guess what was sitting on the counter next to the sink holding out its widdle cuppy hands for me? Mmm, yeah. And the odd thing is it wasn't there before and it was washed! My my! Sure wish drinking utensils could talk and I'd love to know where my little wanderer has been this past week. The stories this one might tell me. Methinks I smell a rat.

Cubed

Now that the ole IT gang is bunched up together in our temp quarters, we are discovering the undeniable joys of cubiclicity. This is a pleasure I have never experienced in all my years as a working gal and I’m so channeling Dilbert and Office Space. We’ve already initiated our new cubicleness by sending paper airplanes flying and now that GFR is back from Vegas I fully expect to feel spitballs raining down upon my unsuspecting back. I can lock eyeballs with no less than two of my colleagues with just a slight tilt of my head. We are already overhearing personal conversations and detecting minor quirks and pesky flaws we were blissfully unaware of in our former autonomous state. More that likely these quirky peccadilloes will become major bones of contention by the time we make our graceful exit. Right now I am staring at ten huge printer boxes slated for shipment to a far site and stacked in front of me for lack of storage while they do double duty as a tricky obstacle course. Oh, and the fruit flies that were bothering us before have managed to track us down and return to pestering the living daylights out of us. Some things never change.

What Will His Friends Say?

Cate Blanchett named her new baby... Ignatius.

Why? What kind of name is that? I thought that was something we only heard of in the movies... bad movies.

If I Only Had a Brain

It’s official. I have lost my befuddled, confused mind. The last two weeks have been crazy busy here at work and yesterday the IT dept made the big move (about 30 ft) across the hall to a temporary sanctuary while our area gets its facelift. This former conference room has morphed over the years from its original purpose to an ITV classroom, back to a conference room, then chopped up and vastly shrunk to make room for offices on the other side and now into alternate cubicle offices for those in transition. (That was one long sentence.) So yesterday was our turn to shuffle and I have misplaced a few things that I normally can get my hands on immediately. At any rate, my credenza is now behind me and this is where I’ve always set my coffee mug and water glass. Now I know it was a chaotic madhouse yesterday and I was quite distracted but I was indeed drinking out of that glass all yesterday afternoon and am absolutely positive it never budged. Surely it wasn’t swiped by some nefarious personage masquerading as a benign colleague? And if they were going to filch a mug, why couldn’t they at least have picked the cheap Dollar General coffee mug that I bought here in town for a whopping dollar? "S" suggested maybe my secret pal took it and they are going to give it back to me as a present because they are cheap. Or possibly they borrowed it temporarily with plans of returning it filled with candy. That’s putting a positive spin on things but I’m not so optimistic.

Anyway, I walk in this morning and it has vanished into thin air. Poof! So I’m frantically scratching my head as to where it possibly could have gone. I checked the obvious places but to no avail. After wandering back to our old area in search of this special OBX glass I discover to my horror three Fedex envelopes from last Thursday that were processed but never picked up for distribution! OMG!! How did I blank out and drop the ball so badly on this one??? I can’t remember what happened yesterday let alone what occurred a solid week ago. And they were tests to far sites meant to be taken this past Tuesday. Yikes! I’m very surprised the instructor hadn’t called me demanding to know their whereabouts but she hasn’t so I’ve bitten the bullet and left a VM to discuss making amends. I’d say the day can only get better but we’re expecting severe storms this afternoon so I cannot envision that happening. In conclusion, has anyone seen my brain?

Bicycle Built for Speed

I got a new road bike for my birthday and yesterday I broke it in. First of all, let me explain that a bike used for racing and those huge, mammoth bike rides are not like the bikes we ride as kids nor are they the bike you run up to Wal-mart and get for a little ride around the neighborhood. They are specifically for your height and inseam and they are designed so that you have to reach as faaaaar as your little arms will go to get to the brakes and gear shifts! Not only that, but they expect you to wear shoes with cleats to lock in your feet!

What the heck is that all about!?

My first attempt to get on the bike was just that. An attempt. I failed to get my leg thrown over the thing because the seat was too high. Got that adjusted and then I have to attempt to get a foot on the pedal, and locked in, and take off. Easier said than done. When you're standing on the ground, your seat comes to just right above your butt crack so it's not like you can just sit down and take off. Nope. You have to get one foot on and stand up to get on your seat (gotta get rolling too or you will fall and keep in mind your foot is locked in and if you start to fall you have to not forget to snap your shoe out of the pedal to catch yourself) and throw the other foot into locked position. Start pedaling!

I walked my bike to a safe area to get started. You know, the area on the bottom of the hill, past the poles (so I wont hit them), where hopefully no one can see me try to take a ride. Monday's at 6pm are busy on the trails! I managed to take off and with only a little struggle on the second cleat, I was off and riding!

I rode 12 miles on my first day with no accidents. I didn't wreck or run over anyone or get run over. I did a little off-roading by accident, but nothing major. I managed to maintain control of the vehicle at all times!

Today, I rode another 12 miles in horrid wind... and my butt bone hurts like no other! It was sore from yesterday, but today its major sore. Is there a treatment for that? Bike Butt!

A Little R & R

I don't specifically adore Rachel Ray, but I don't dislike her either. She is a cute girl that has this raspy voice like she just left a smokey bar (all night long). But have you noticed how fluffy her arms are? She's not fat by any means... but her arms are huge!

Most girls gain weight in their arse. I think her yummy dishes go straight to her arms!

You Make Me Sick

For the past few months, I've sat at my computer desk with my back to the District Manager's office and I hear every little conversation that takes place. Whether I like it or not. I've grown more and more irritated with his immaturity and lack of direction and irresponsibility.

He is constantly picking up the phone and calling someone to see if they want to go get drunk. He calls other DM's or agents and calls them dirty names and then giggles. Today, he called someone and told them about an agent (female obviously) that made X amount of sales and won an award and "damn she had this low cut blouse on that made her, well they, it was low cut and blah blah" *cleared his throat*... was probably sportin' a woody just talking about it.

He's a grandpa for God's sakes. Plus we're supposed to be professional and who knows who's listening!?!? There might be a place and time for that kind of thing but not all the time. And its all the time with him. I grow more and more tired of it.

Whether Weather

Ok, this severe weather nonsense is getting old fast. It’s only April 9^th and I think we’ve had five or six tornado watches in the last few weeks and we haven’t even hit the big twister month (May) yet. This is not boding well. It’s especially entertaining when the fronts move through during the early morning hours and all that crashing and booming wakes you up from a dead sleep debating whether to head for the storm shelter (aka wine cellar) or not. Last month, I finally broke down and purchased a weather radio so I’ll know how things stand should the power go off. Several more rounds are expected today and tomorrow with the likeliest chance of terrible twisters predicted to hit during the *shocked look* early morning hours. Oh joy! Kerbear is under a severe thunderstorm watch as I type and I’m certain I’ll come under it later today. I sure hope this extensive renovation on Chaos College isn’t all for naught.

The Topfive.com's 16 Signs Your Website Is Not Very 2.0

16. Yours in the only Website where communities can get
communicable diseases.

15. "This site best viewed with Mosaic Browser."

14. Your source code contains the statement: "Charles
Babbage 1830"

13. Your "social networking" site is nothing but a single
page with a long list of phone numbers.

12. Your hamsters are doing the minuet.

11. Instead of streaming video, your site sends someone
to the user's location with a slide projector.

10. You had to suspend your blog when your blanket caught
fire on the hot smoke.

9. Your highest browser penetration: WebTV 1.0.

8. The "Order now!" link next to merchandise brings up
a simple text page displaying a phone number.

7. “CDIV Fyle Nae Founde."

6. Your site just sits there yelling at the Web 2.0 sites
to GET THE HELL OFF ITS INTERNET!

5. The only thing that's user-generated: cease-and-desist
letters.

4. Instead of uploading an avatar, the user is asked to
approximate his or her look in "ASCII art" using a 30x30
matrix of Courier New characters.

3. Language options are limited to Latin and Sanskrit.

2. The sample MP3s on the site are skipping.

1. Your corporate blog's editorial this week rails at
"Congreff."

Coweringly,
Circe

My Surprise Birthday!

OHHHH!!!! Guess what I got for my birthday!!?!??!?! A road bike! I'm so excited!

Richard and my sis and my parents got me a bike (and intend on me using it)... PLUS I'm registered for RAGBRAI. It's a 500 mile, 7 day bike ride across the state of Iowa.

I'm officially in the "in" bike rider group here and start training this next week I hope! This means long, treacherous rides several times a week. Plus, wearing pants with butt pads. HAHAHAH

My Name Is...

I really love our daycare lady that keeps Z. She's got flare and sparkling personality and her husband is a jewel too. The kids she keeps are all such good kids... hilarious and very well mannered. Last week I walked in the front door of daycare and I heard "Header, can we have a snack!?"

Header: NO! The kitchen is closed.

Two little boys running around at her feet... each about 3 years old.

Boys: No it's not Header! Can we have a snack?!

Header: NO boys! The kitchen is closed. Go in the other room i'm cleaning up.

Boys: Its not closed Header, cuz we're in it.

Me: LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY Did they call you Header!?

Header: Yep. I get called Header, Ma, Hannah, or Hey and I answer to all of it.

Her name is Heather! LMAO

Make Me Feel Better

Richard and I went to our sunday school social tonight. We've only been to two in two years and for some reason I felt like we needed to go to this one.

I'm glad we did! I've been toying with issues at my new job and not sure what to do or which way to go and tonight I had three people come and ask me about work and "how is it going" and all three of them told me things that confirmed how I was feeling and what direction I needed to take all this.

Funny how things work out like that. I needed to be there to hear what my fellow classmates had to say.

Surely You Jest

Let’s see. March ended and April began much like an angry, ferocious lion by throwing tornados at us. This was followed by April Fool’s Day but my merry band of IT warriors were too busy getting ready for the academic contest we hosted on Wednesday to do much about it. And even though I’ve been minus parts of my group on various days, things have managed to stay hectic this entire workweek. Throw in Chaos College electing a new prez (though this won't take effect until July) to replace our departing Grand Poobah, and you can understand why busy is an understatement around here. Ch-ch-ch-changes, eh? Things are picking up speed as many events preface the grand finale better known as Commencement. And this culmination of educated toil and sweat arrives about a week early this semester.

I’m totally hooked on http://www.cracked.com/ and if you hear loud peals of laughter emanating from my end of the building, this is the reason why. Happy weekend! :)

Errbody in Da House Gettin Tipsy

It's rainy and cold today! Isn't it April and supposed to be spring!?!??

I just left the dermatologists office. I've had this funky itchy rash on my hands the past month or so and he's been treating it so today was my checkup.

He told me that I had to destress. He said stress is hurting me and if my hands are showing signs, that means my entire body is having problems. He then asked what could be causing me stress. Well... I have a new baby and a new job. I can't destress that stuff. lol He said "do you have an Au Pair" *insert hysterical laughter here*

No. I do it myself.

He said "you need to talk to hubby and tell him it's time to get an Au Pair"

Again hysterical laughter to myself.

Then he followed with I probably need to make a job change.

This job change IS my job change! So change from my change!?!? That might be possible. Heck it might be necessary. After today, I was considering it anyways.

Then he asked if he could help by giving me Prozac. As lovely as the thought is... I declined. I need to learn to relax and help myself... myself! I dont want to depend on a pill. Even though its a tiny dose, I dont want to become dependant. I'll just drink myself silly instead. I think I'll enjoy that treatment more.

Margarita's anyone!?!?

Twister

A tornado hit our area last night. Not too far from my house. So close I could almost spit on it and not one time did the sirens go off. We stayed up pretty late last night watching the weather and seeing what was expected. The storms were pretty brutal but it was going to swing around us and we'd probably only get some wind and rain.. maybe a little hail but nothing super major.

We headed off to bed and about an 1 1/2 hours later, Richard got up and flipped on the weather again. Nothing. The weather guy had nothing catastrophic to talk about and seemed the worst was over.

This morning we got up and as part of our normal routine we turn on the news and see what we're faced with for the day and I'll be darn if a tornado didn't wipe out a house and tear up a few other houses less than a mile from us! Seriously!! Its just right over there! *pointing* In fact, two major roads within a mile from our house were shut down today due to storm damage and OG&E was working on it all day.

I asked Richard if the sirens had gone off. He didn't hear them. I didn't hear them. All day long I'd bump into people and they'd ask "did you hear sirens?" Nope. Not one. Neither did anyone else. We grew pissed at our city for not warning us! We figured they spent all their siren fund in testing and couldn't actually blow them in the event of a real situation because we've spent our wad testing every saturday at noon!

Tonight on the news the little weather guy explained. The storm was right over and us and out of nowhere (obviously) a tornado drops on those houses. No warning... nothing. The families all hid in bathrooms and closets. No one was hurt, thankfully.

It occured at the exact time Richard hopped out of bed to watch the weather. Weird!!!