Anyone who knows me knows that I love Oprah. Oprah had an interesting show on today, at what age are your kids old enough? The topic of allowing your teenage kids drink while the parents supervised was a heated discussion. This show really made me think about my father and the way I was brought up. My father never locked the liquor cabinet, he never had to. He always told me that if I wanted to drink that he would prefer that I drink at home where I was safe. I always tought of it as reverse psychology, I mean really, what teenage kid wants to sit at home and drink with their old man? I never did, and I really did not start drinking until I was 19. This is one debate that I'm not so sure I would know what do when I have kids.
The next topic was, at what age is ok to leave your kids alone? Now I know that I had a very unique situtation with my mother being mentally ill. My dad really couldn't afford daycare, and my grandparents were traveling, so my sister and I were left alone at home while my father was at work all day during the summers. I remember when my dad did take us to daycare for the first time, I was 7, the minute he was out of sight, I would runaway. And guess where I ran to? Home. My sister is two years younger than me, and my dad left me in charge. Looking back on it now I wish that I had a stable parent there, because it forced me to grow up before I was ready, but I don't blame my father for doing what he did. My sister and I started staying home alone when I was about 8 years old. We made our own meals, bathed ourselves, bandaged our boo-boos etc...it was no big deal back then. Now parents can get arrested for stuff like that.
I don't regret my childhood one bit. I'm a latch key kid and I like to believe that I came out with only minor bumps and bruises. Nothing that a good Shrink can't fix.
Last Thursday my work fired my friend JR. Today was my first day back since he left and I was really sad to not see him at his desk when I walked in. I know JR and I had our rough moments, but I honestly cared for him, and I only wanted good things for him. I know that he was very unhappy, we all are at this point, but it still sucks that he's not there. No more 'What up G?' conversations, and no more Diet Cokes missing from my desk. He's a very cool dude and I will sincerely miss him.
Good-bye JR...I still got your back man.
Still has not been shipped. I'm working on a deadline here people. Put the damn thing on a truck and send it out west ASAFP!!!
So I've been one this mad redecorating kick. I sanded my walls, primered them, and painted 1/4 of the room today. Courtney had to leave for work at 3 today, so I did most of it myself. Man! Am I tired! And my feet hurt from standing on chairs all day..
Courtney is home, let's see what he thinks of my work.
So I got this $100 Amex Gift Cheque from work a few weeks ago, so I decide that I wanted to re-finish my floors with the free cash. I'm on this home improvement kick. Courtney and I have been saving for a new couch, and we just ordered that yesterday from Pottery Barn. That was $1500.00 spent in less than 2 minutes....Anyway, it only makes sense to do the floor and repaint before the couch gets here. I have 1-3 weeks.
So after talking to Jack about it, he tells me that it would make more sense to paint first then do the floors. So last night we got all the material together to paint. My plan for the living room is to paint and put up crown molding. I think that it would give the room a really nice finished look. Carrie suggested that we paint the room in a light sand color. We choose 'cozy cottage', and I found the crown molding at Lowes, $8 for 16'...not a terribly bad price.
After getting everthing home, we look at the walls and I knew that sanding the walls was going to be needed. We have to put this fast-fix stuff all over the walls to help even out the rough spots, then do the sanding. Needless to say that we didn't get anything done last night, and maybe I've bitten off more than I can chew...
I'll put before and after shots soon.
The gods must have heard me when I asked them to bring back Lollapalooza. I am so stoked! I can't wait! Phoenix date is Aug 15th, sounds like a four day weekend for me!!!!!!!
Here is the link for information and the line-up:
LOLLAPALOOZA
So I think it's something like 22hrs before we go to war with Iraq. I don't like the idea of war, but the dude has had so many chances to cooperate. Let's just get rid of him and his sons and move on...I'm so over it.
Today, I met the girls from the 'East Side' for girly girl day...it was Monique's and Melissa's birthday breakfast. It was fun...I never get the chance to see them. I call them the 'East Side' girls cause that's where they all live. They're a great bunch of girls. So we spent the day have pedicures and manicures. I got my nails done...and yesterday I got my eyebrows waxed...I'm such a girl this weekend...I even did my hair! I was impressed.
It got me thinking, well anyone who knows me well knows that I don't just think about things...I OBSESS over them. I have two things to obsess over this weekend: 1.) where and when did my hair be come curly; 2.) when did I become such a girl? I think the girly thing has just been dorment since I was eight years old. I remember going to Lowes with my Daddy, and he let my sister and I pick out whatever color we wanted for our bedrooms. That's was when he was building our bedroom sets, canopy beds, etc. My sister picked out this awful mint green color, and green gingham sheet sets. Me, I pick out pale pink paint and red gingham sheets. What I remember most is how much I loved my bedroom. I would spend hours in there all by myself. I used to love reading Seventeen magazine alone in my room. I think I have issues going back to 1979. What also sticks out in my mind is how none of my friends ever saw my room after I painted it pink. Especially my guy friends. It was like I was trying to surpress my girly-girl side....The way I see it now is that i surpressed it so much that it all came bursting out of me around the age of 27.
Very strange behavior...something to tell the shrink next time :)
A news article came out yesterday about budget cuts at my office. They want to cut about $40 million per quarter until the market turns around. I found out today that the cut that will effect me the most will be no more 401K matching for 2003. They say that will cut about $12 million per quarter. It's really lame if you ask me, but I suppose it's better than another layoff. If layoff's did happen it would have to be huge for me to get laid off. I figure that I am amongst the top 15%-20% performers. and I'm pretty sure that the bottom 20% would get cut before I did. I just hate the anxiety of going through layoff's. I may bitch and moan about my job, but I am very greatful to have a job right now, and I get paid very well for what I do. I suppose on some level I do enjoy the job. (Just don't tell anyone!)
I work a 4 by 10 hour schedule, Sunday through Wednesday 800am-630pm. One would think that after 4 long gruling days in front of a computer talking to idiot after idiot that I would run away from my computer at home. No, not me. I'm up til 3am farting around with stuff on my website.
This has become a somewhat normal routine for me. Which I guess is ok if I slept in on Thrusdays. But of course I have to go against the norm and this morning I was up and back in front of the computer at 730am. It's now 930am, and I'm not the least bit tired.
I know I'm not alone in doing this. I know that Chad is doing the same thing. His parents just got a new computer and I can bet that he was over there all night, and may still be there right now. So Chad if you're online right now, you better be checking out my work!
Hey! I've just added forums to my website. Be sure to stop by and check it out. FORUMS
To leave a message, you must register. If you're worried about your info, don't be. There isn't much I can do with it. I'm not that much of a genius.
So post a message for me in the forums. Let me know what you think!
If you haven't had the chance to check out Clone High you must do it NOW.
Last night's show about smoking rasins was the most haliarious things I've seen since the first season of South Park! If you have TIVO, you must TIVO it! Throughout the show there are subliminal images that you can only see if you slow it down fast enough.
Totally funny stuff!
Daddy you were there
For every softball, for every soccer game.
For every swim meet since I was eight years old.
For my first father/daughter overnight camping trip,
we laid awake snickering at the bodily functions of other fathers.
For my first penance, and then my first communion.
For the time I got in trouble in the fifth grade for calling the fire department on the walkie talkies I got for Christmas.
For my first boy/girl dance in seventh grade,
you made my costume, my blue poodle skirt.
And then for my high school graduation, you made the dress I couldn't find in any store.
For my first crush, and then for my first heartbreak.
I thought that my life was over,
You told me that I was special and if he didn't see that then he wasn't worth my time.
And now you're gone.
I can't pick up the phone to hear your voice.
You told me that you weren't here for me when you were alive, but daddy
You're so wrong.
So today we had my department Spring Fling event. I'm not sure how I get roped into these things, but I usually end up planning a big portion of the event. This time I had help, which made things so much easier. it was a good turn out. I was really surprised. Only three of us showed up from my team, which sucked...my team really does suck when it comes to these types of events. Ther are so lame...which is why I don't go to the events that they plan. The way I see it, it works both ways...come support me and I'll support you...
Courtney and I have added our recipe book to this website. We're hoping to add new recipes at least once a week. All the recipes have been tried and tested, so we feel very confident that there are no bugs. (ha ha bugs...I made a funny)
We chose to the Mac and Cheese recipe our first entry. It's one of my favorites. Homestyle and comfort foods are our favorite dishes. Since I grew up in the South, these are especially close to my heart.
Take a look, try a dish, and let us know what you think!
RECIPES
As many of my friends may know, I love 80's alternative and nu-wave music. Especially Depeche Mode and Erasure. I've been to 10 Depeche Mode shows, but I have only had the opportunity to see Erasure once.
Well they have a new album out "other people's songs", and I'm so bummed that they are not coming to Phoenix on this leg of their tour. LA and NY shows are already sold out. There is still tickets available for Las Vegas, which I would totally jump at the chance of going, but what sucks is that it's during NCCA Final Four and all the rooms are almost double the normal price. What's poor Erasure fan supposed to do?
It's 1am and I and finally happy with the new design. I think I got everything just the way I want it.
I've added a section for my recipes, so look for those soon. I'll upload them as fast as I can.
good night!
I've spent all day on this computer trying to get this site perfect. I hate it when I obsess over crap.
Now Courtney is home and he's going to be upset that I didn't do the laundry...
So what do you think? I've moved my site from Blogger to Movable Type. Movable Type is a great web blog system. Easy to install, and easy to use. Try it out for yourself.
I'm tyring to design something simple and easy, and hopefully I won't get bored of it right away. This design should be good for awhile, or until something inspires me to spend a whole day in front of the computer.
what are your thoughts?
