It's Been a While/Update

I know I haven't posted in forever. Now that Brandi's moving across the country, I'll have to make an effort to keep up with posting.

There's not a whole lot new with me.

I'm going to visit my cousin Melanie (and her husband and baby) this week. I'm leaving Wednesday evening and returning Sunday evening. I'm always a bit nervous when it comes to flying, so keep me in your thoughts and prayers please.

Jon is leaving Petco and will be starting at Barnes and Noble September 8th. He's very excited and can't wait to start. He's visited the store and met everyone.

We've added a new animal to our menagerie. Jon brought home a Senegal Parrot named Mickie. He has picked Jon as his mate.

Magical Sunday

I always think it's magical and special when I see deer in my yard. Today there were two of them grazing in my backyard. I was taking the picture on the other side of my door, so it's not the greatest quality, but I think you get the idea.

Jon says we can get some deer food and put it in the backyard around the tree line so more will come. We live in the city, so it's illegal to shoot a gun. Also, we don't live in a heavily populated honkey area, so I doubt anyone will consider them fair hunting game and shoot them. It's nice having them around. I think it gives our neighborhood something special.

Maybe I can catch one and make it my pet...

Violated/Connection/Wisdom

Violated

Today I found out that my credit card number was stolen. So far I know that it was used at a Ritz Camera store for $928. I dread logging in tomorrow and seeing what else has posted. I’ve canceled my account. I know I don’t have to pay for the fraudulent purchase; my concern is that the beast of burden hole also has other info like my social security number. I keep telling myself this isn’t the end of the world. Hmmm. I’m not believing myself. I’m so careful about paying bills on time and maintaining a good credit score. All of it can be screwed up by some thieving bastard. Eventually it will work itself out, sure. But what about the interim? I feel violated. You can’t be too careful. Watch out.

Connection

I always love to hear stories about my mother. I especially love it when I find out that we liked the same things or shared the same ideas. I have a pair of her earrings that I wear from time to time. They’re green beads and now that I’ve taken up beading, I feel like it’s something else we share.

Wisdom

For the past 7 years, I’ve been focused on my home looking “normal and perfect.” I try to pick complimentary décor and accessorize with tasteful pieces. However, sometimes I want to forget about everything going together and looking “just so” at all times. Today I read this from a list by George Carlin on “How to Stay Young”:

Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family,
pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

Why not decorate how I want? So what if my penguin and teal bird on the mantel go with nothing else? They make me happy. So what that my Bigfoot statue (which I haven’t officially been gifted with yet, but I’m waiting….) doesn’t match? If my midget Bigfoot makes me happy, then that’s all that matters. Slowly but surely, I’m getting over what others think of me and finding myself.

When Did This Happen?

I didn’t realize my self-esteem had dropped so low. I know I’ve been really down on myself lately, but I thought I still had some semblance of self love/admiration.

When I was younger, before I started gaining weight, I never really thought about my body. I knew it was a pretty decent one, but it wasn’t something I dwelled on (aside from wishing I had a bigger butt—well that wish came true in spades).

Over the past 10 years, I’ve put on weight. Not just a pound here or there—I’m talking Fat Bastard sized proportions.

So imagine my surprise when I received a compliment from a stranger.

When leaving a class after giving a presentation, the lone male stopped and asked me about his assignment. After answering his question, I turned to leave and he told me he just had to say one more thing. He told me that in case no one had told me today, that I was gorgeous. I was fabulous. I was a beautiful woman.

I wanted to sob. I literally had to control myself from starting to cry in front of him like some oversized infant.

After thanking him and telling him he had made my day, my month, my year, I left. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for at least 10 minutes.

It probably was nothing for him to tell me that, and he has no way of knowing just how much it affected me. But why do I think I’m such a hideous blob that people should run screaming from me? Although I’m not Gisele, I’m not Quasimodo either. I need to have a little more confidence. I’m working on that.

(PS: This post is not a plea for you to tell me I’m pretty or whatever. I was simply sharing.)

Where's a Secretary or Janitor When You Need One?

Just a lot of randomness today.

What was so offensive about the words "secretary" or "janitor"? Why is it now "administrative assistant" and "custodian"?

Alicia found the most awesome Bigfoot statue in the skymiles catalogue (pictured above obviously). I only wish he didn't look so angry. I've not so subtly hinted to Jon that I need this stunning piece. I would give it a place of prestige in my home. I envision it standing proudly beside the fireplace. Maybe at christmas time I would put a santa hat on it or some festive garland.

I'm done with one of my jobs. The one I didn't like. So that's a great thing. I've said before that I'll never go back there again, but this time I really won't. I don't think Jon and JJ believe me though. Regardless, I'm happy it's over with. I don't need the attitude and laziness from students. Especially adult students. You might think they would be more respectful and responsible than students fresh out of high school. But you'd be wrong. Surprisingly wrong.

Jon and I are looking forward to a long weekend in North Georgia at a Bed and Breakfast. We'll be staying at The Hearthstone Lodge. I'm looking forward to having nothing to do.

Too Much WWE?

Lately I've been so angry. Maybe I've been watching too much WWE, but I doubt that's it. I really think I need to slow down and just not do something for a day or two. I need a break.

I'm stressed out by working 2 jobs with my 3rd beginning next month. I thought I could do it all by staying organized. Well, I'm organized as all get out, and I'm still stressed.

Extra money is good for paying off debt, but I'm beginning to think it's not worth it when the price of your sanity is at stake.

Annoying

Why do people return calls via caller id before checking the message? Don't they realize how stupid they sound saying, "Someone from this number called me"? Listen to your message, idiot, before calling. Then you might actually know what's going on.

Are You Stupid or Something?

I'm not saying the name of any of the schools at which I teach, but I think all of you know the one I'm talking about--if not, e-mail or message me and I'll be happy to tell you.

Why are students so braindead? What is so hard to understand about an assignment that is spelled out for you? How can you be confused when you're given a word number requirement, list of questions to answer about your topic, and told to pick a topic of your choice to analyze? More so, how can you be confused by this when your professor reviewed it in-depth in class with you?

Students' bodies are in class, but their minds are elsewhere. They'll even look at you and shake their heads when you ask a question. But are they listening to a word you're saying? No.

I think from now on after I assign something, I will go around the room and ask each person individually if they were listening and understand what is being asked of them. Yes, I could try that, but I doubt that would work.

Something's Fishy Here

Did anyone else ever find it suspicious that Tigger, an adult male, spent all of his time playing with Roo, a child?

You Don't Deserve It

I just watched a news story about the floods in Iowa and how some people have abandoned their animals. One of the rescuers was saying that “some people just aren’t able to take their pets with them.”

Not being able to take your pets with you is an excuse I don’t buy. They shouldn’t own a pet in the first place. If you can’t provide for it in times of emergency as well as times of enjoyment, you don’t deserve the animals.

Some may counter with all sorts of excuses as to why they couldn’t take their pets with them: not enough room in the vehicle, not sure if the hotel/home they’re staying with will allow pets, or it’s just an animal.

My solutions would be to get rid of some of the crap you’ve got packed in your car. Actually save a LIFE rather than an inanimate object. Find a hotel/home that accepts pets. In times of crisis most places are more accommodating than usual. If all else fails, board your pet (again, accommodations in times of crisis would be reduced rates—if any at all).

This was a problem with Hurricane Katrina as well. People left their animals behind and high tailed it out of town. The animals that were lucky enough to be rescued were adopted out to new homes around the US.

Now, some of the people who left their animals behind are brazen enough to ask for them back. Pardon my French, but there’s no way in Hell I would allow a former owner to regain custody of the animal they abandoned.

These people don’t deserve the unconditional love an animal has to give.

I'm So Gonna Do Ludowici's Next Top Model

New Sofa

As much as I hated to spend the money on a new sofa, I had no choice. We couldn't get the pee out of our current one.

You think it would be fun to buy a new sofa. It's not. Today I spent my lunch break looking for one. Nothing. It didn't help that I was looking for something specific--my current sofa. Well, they don't make it anymore and the ones that were similiar were too shiny or had fancy cords hanging from the arms and the pillows. Not me.

I finally settled on this one from Badcock Furniture. I don't love it like I did my last one, but I think it's nice and suits Jon and my personalities. I guess this is where my stimulus check is going.

I Don't Know Why This Commercial Touches Me

This Isn't Working Out

The new cat has messed all over my couch. She bullies the other animals and my kitten doesn't know how to react. She just sits on my lap growling if the new cat is in the room. She sleeps beside my head and is being unusually clingy. We have to take the new cat back. And get a new couch.

Newest Baby

Jon and I drove down to Kingsland, GA to adopt this beautiful lady.

I found her on Petfinder.com and instantly fell in love. Yes, I fell in love because she looks like Evie. Her profile listed her as "plump" and "quiet and sweet." Well, she's not quiet, but she is sweet and she is plump, and I lovfe my plump kitties.

She's a bit hissy at the other pets right now, but other than that, she's making herself right at home (as you can tell by the pictures). No shy lady here.

I know this puts me one cat closer to being Violet (crazy cat lady from my childhood), but when I saw that she looked like my precious Hen, I couldn't resist.

I haven't picked out a name yet. Her slave name is "Patches," but that's such a boring, generic name that there's no way I can keep it.

Have a Good Weekend!

Allow Me to Introduce.....Numskull

I don’t pretend to be down with the urban beat, but sometimes I hear the name of a rapper and can’t believe that any sane person would choose certain nom-de-plumes. Honestly. Q-Tip? Ice Cube? Ice-T?

Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the best alias of all: Numskull.

Thank You for Being a Friend

Isn't it nice seeing the girls together again? I wish Estelle could have been there.

You Make the Call

JCS Review

Amazing.

JCS last night was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. I memorized the words to all the songs long ago and have seen both film versions, but seeing it in person was incomparable to any other medium. Ted Neely (although twice Jesus’ age) was awesome. He can still wail. And if I do say so myself, his voice has aged to perfection. He sounds even better now than he did when he was younger. That man who played Judas (Cory Glover) was really good too as were the rest of the cast. The band was awesome, too. Hearing the guitar scream made me want to try to learn guitar again. (Sadly, my beautiful, black guitar has sat in my closet for the past 3 years all alone.)

Please, please, please go see it if you get the chance. Don’t believe the haters who say it’s blasphemous or sacrilegious; they don’t know what they’re talking about. Seriously. Even Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber says that was not the intent, and he created the thing, so who would know better? The purpose of the musical was to tell the story of Jesus set to music. What’s wrong with that?