Suffer by comparison

Why do I feel like I'm sick all the dang time lately? I guess it's my body's way of telling me to rest. It's been a long 3 weeks. Work has been crazy (to say the least) . . . But that's a totally different story. I've thought I needed to post something on the blog for a while, but honestly haven't had much positive to say. And I've been told I focus on the negative a little too much. I have to agree in some ways, but I'd also like to give you a little background to this. I guess I "compare" myself to my 5 other siblings. If I look around the fam I see 4 of the 6 of us are in committed relationships, own homes or have places of their own and a few are starting a little Sanfiladialaberto-Shuggallen family in some way or another. I know they all aren't perfect and each one has their own quirks but it's hard not to take a look around and say, "I'm 28, not married, not in a relationship, live with my best friend's mom, still have no house of my own and yet still haven't finished my last 2 stupid classes to actually get my degree in something I will probably never ever use." I've realized lately and thought more and more about the fact that I probably should be seeing a professional that can help me change my outlook in this area. I've tried, really I have, some of you may not agree, but I really have tried to see the silver lining in all situations. Well, I think it takes more than just an effort to change. I think I have underlying "issues" that need to be addressed first. I guess admitting you have a problem is the first step, right? But as I called to get the balance on my Flexible Spending Account last week I realized that may not be in the cards just now. So that brings us back full circle to the, am I seriously sick again, opening line. I have already spent more that $350 in medical co-payments this year. That leaves less than $150 for the remainder of the year. Vacation Blackout lifts June 20th, so hopefully that means I can take some time off and take a break from all the craziness and keep myself healthy for a bit. 

Theme Parties

It's official, my sister, Martha Hitler, throws the best parties. Rockband, some 80's hair bands, mullets and leg warmers. What else do you need? Happy Birthday Meliss. Now, who's next? Someone's gotta try to top her. My birthday is only 2 weeks away, so I don't think it's gonna be me. Hint, Hint, that is a reminder to all of you that have forgotten. Stay tuned for my 30th (in 2 more years) maybe I'll have time to think of a way better theme by then. Doubt it. Melissa did a pretty darn good job. The Hostest with the Mostest.

Not to toot our own horn but take a look at the raddest chicks in town.

Technology

So why is it things that are supposed to make our lives easier make me want to scream?!?!? So yesterday, I had the worst technology day in a really, really long time. I was on the phone with Help Desk at least 3 times yesterday. My computer at work is a piece of you know what. It kept locking up and shutting things down by itself. I understand these machines are pretty smart, but how do they just shut themselves off? It's like they get tired and just don't want to work anymore. I finally turn the stupid thing off and move to another computer. No dice, same crap, different chair. I finally just left. I couldn't handle it anymore. If one more thing decided to take a nap in the middle of my trying to use I was probably going to rip it away from the wall and grab a bat, Office Space style, and beat the living begeezes out of it. Good choice by just leaving. I'd like to keep my job. I left work and went straight to my Jaycees meeting. I felt it was a rather productive meeting for our first real one. We got a lot done and I'm happy to report we came up with some really good causes to support. Go US! Then Jessi, JC and I went to Four Peaks to get a bite and a beer. I find I'm a fan of Kiltlifter. I don't think I've ever had it, but man that stuff it potent.

Today, Travi and I took Dad out for Lunch for his birthday that was Tuesday. It was a nice lunch, just the 3 of us. It's been a long time since the 3 of us went out without the whole fam damily.

I didn't really feel like going home to just sit around the house so I decided to do some shopping. Three hours later I leave Office Depot with a much needed USB cord for my camera. Three hours and all I left with was a dumb cord. Bummer, I was really hoping to find something I didn't need to buy. Shoot! Maybe next time.

Enough about that, back to technology, I come home to use my newly purchased cord to upload some new pics to my computer. As I'm trying to update my Facebook page all hell breaks loose. The coputer locks up, closes down the page I'm working on, won't let me toggle between screens, starts doing some randon software updates and starts beeping at me. What the heck?!?!? I sweat these things have minds of their own. That about brings me current. So now I type about nothing in particular because I realize it's been about a month since I posted anything. I guess that means my life is pretty dang boring. Or maybe it means it's jammed packed with so much excitement I don't have time to talk about all of it. Let's go with that. We can pretend, can't we?

Your condo in the mall

It's just another Sunday afternoon, hanging out with at least one member of my family. As I lay here on the floor of my dad's living room watching the most disturbing reality show I've ever seen I begin to hear a very interesting story. My step mom, out of no where, I might add tells me she had a dream about me. Now brace yourselves . . . Not only do I live in a condo in the mall (the weirdest part of it you may think) oh no, wait there's more, I'm getting married. For all that know me, you know that is more far fetched than the condo in the mall aspect of the story. So supposedly I'm picking out the most hideous dress you've ever seen in my condo in the mall. Instead of telling me my dress is hideous the ladies in my family, thanks girls, somehow let me get this dress. I'm not quite sure of the details here, I kind of lost her at the condo in the mall thing. Here's comes mom to the rescue. So my mom somehow enters the condo in the mall with another dress. This is the dress I'm wearing. The dress my mom has brought me to my condo in the mall.  I may have a slight hangover when she's telling me this story, so I'm not sure if I hear it all correctly. First of all, I live in a condo in the mall. . . then, I'm picking out a wedding dress. Goodness Jean, looks like you get the prize for the most far fetched dream of all. I think there is a higher chance of you and dad winning the lottery than me getting married and living in a condo in the mall. Sweet Dreams.

Guess What? you should really buy some training.

I sit here at work thinking. . . .I just don't want to do anything! I don't know if I'm in 3 day weekend mode or I'm just burnt out. So for the 3rd week in a row I've worked a little over 40 hours in 4 days. Not that I'm complaining, because unlike many others these days, I'm fortunate to have a job at all. I'm forutnate to work for a company that made smart decisions and has reaped the benefits of those wise decisions. It's just one of those days. I was fine this morning and then about 3:30 this afternoon I hit a wall. But that's ok because I get out of here in less than 2 hours and then I have 3 whole days off to spend with my favorite girls (Jess and Lauren) Steve and Dylan will probably be there, too. Not much exactly has happened since my last blog. Not that anything really exciting ever happens because I have NO time to make anything interesting happen. The highlight of my week was going to the gym 4 nights in a row. I've gone every single night this week and I'm beginning to feel it, let me tell you. Shortly after joining the gym a few weeks ago I received a phone call telling me new members receive a complimentary personal training session. Well, of course I said ok, sign me up, knowing I wouldn't do another session after the free one. So I went in almost expecting this voice on the phone to be good looking. Well, to my surprise he wasn't just good looking but he was actually pretty darn gorgeous. So we went through the session, him telling me I'm overweight and I have too much body fat. Well, thanks for making me feel beautiful, right? So after the ass kicking session he runs his schpeal. You know it's only $3 a day. You'd just waste that away on coffeee or Diet Dr Pepper anyway. He was almost convincing. But to no avail, he did not succeed. I gave him the whole "I'm buying a house" excuse, sorry dude. I was strong, I stuck to my guns. So now, every time, all 4 nights in a row I've gone this week, he stops me to tell me how wonderful a client I'd be and how I'd benefit from training. I finally looked at him and said "You forget I'm in the Sales Business, it's just not going to work." So now it's a running joke, in the middle of a sentence he'll just say, "guess what, you should really buy some training." So now I understand the gym secret. Probably not a secret to most of you but, why wouldn't they have a very good looking, pretty well built Training Manager? They have to land the sale. Would you buy training sessions from an ugly, skinny white guy? I know I wouldn't. I guess if nothing else, him telling me I need a trainer because I can't get fit enough on my own is enough motivation to make sure I prove him wrong. Bring It On! That's what I say to Mr. Naysayer.

Do I or Don't I

I cannot put into words how excited I was to see so many family members last weekend I'd never seen or haven't seen for years. I feel so fortunate to have family be close enough away to ONLY drive 8 or 9 hours, depending on who's driving, to get there. Dylan, my wonderful one year old nephew, survived his first road trip. And I barely survived my first road trip with a one year old. Being an aunt is a very important job. Being an aunt  is a dress rehearsal for having a child of your own. Well, I learned a few things about myself after spending over 72 hours straight with a small child. I noticed I really don't have much patient for a whining child. Now don't get me wrong, Dylan is a very good baby. He's happy all day. It's just when the boy gets tired, hungry or is in excruciating teething pain he begins to fuss. And when the boy fusses, he fusses. You can't blame him, he's a little baby. It's not like he can say, "Yo, mom, my teeth hurt give me some tylenol and why don't you grab me a glass of water on your way." As I found myself running through the many different reasons the kid could be crying I realized I really don't know as much about kids as I thought I did. I guess I should probably re-think the having kids of my own. I need to learn how to deal with my patience issues and selfishness too. I guess I should probably work on finding a guy that would actually want to have a kid with me first. So we won't need to worry about preparing to have kids for me anytime in the near future. 

Another Day

Another long day of work and running around. And what do I find out . . .I swear every time things seem to be falling into place, something blows up in my face. I've been saving for a house and have put some offers down on a few things. And it never seems to work out. Well, I guess that's someone's way of telling me it wasn't meant to be. Right? That's what I have to keep reminding myself. So the money's saved, ready to move and then BOOM!?! Hey, guess what, you need at least 2 new tires. And guess what? Oh, right, your tires are a weird size and cost almost $200 each. Really, how the heck can rubber cost so dang much. but it's gotta be done. Not something you can really put off when you're planning on making an 8 hour car trip. So after going to the car dealership and getting a quote there I decided to take a little trek to find out if I can get tires cheaper anywhere else. So I go to Sears and they're $12 bucks cheaper there. Anything is better than nothing, right? By that time everything else was closed. So I guess I'll be making some phone calls in the morning to see if i can save more than $12 each. Guess I can't complain, I've had the car for 6 months and all I've done it get an oil change. So I guess it's holding it's end of the bargain, it's only fair I get the car some new tires for taking such good care of me for the past 6 months. Enough of my vent . . . I know it's life, but it's just irritating that every time I think I'm ahead, Bye bye $500. I hate money! But I guess who doesn't these days?