Sad day.....media icon, Marvin Zindler has passed away. I noticed last night when they showed him in his hosptial bed that he didn't look so good but I didn't think he'd be gone this quick. But then I thought the same with mom.

It's as though a member of the family has gone. A sad day indeed. R.I.P. Marvin.

New Toys

Went to Novel Approach hoping to find cute, new artist stamps. No luck though I did pick up a couple of word stamps. And since I was less than five miles away I went to By Design Scrapbook Boutique and picked up some 30% off goodies (everything in the store was on sale). Nothing earth shattering--some paper and ribbon.

The 'fun' toys were a product of my early Sunday morning Walmart run. Naturally I went down the school supply aisle to see what goodies might there might be and there I found them. Elmer's Paintastics. Basically, paint brushes loaded with quick drying watercolor paints, ready to go. No messy paint trays or water cups. A set of five will set you back just under four bucks. There are three color familes--I got the tropical set but forsee purchasing the other two color packs. Now if these would only come in the colors the paint daubbers do...or perhaps Ranger will follow suit and start making some of these with their colors.

Calgon, take me away...

...problem is, it can't take me far enough and then I'd probably still have to come back and face a ton of crap. Oh well. It's been quite a week at the office. The Big Man (boss) has been on vacation so that leaves me to face it all. No prob. Fortunately as of today there have been no major crisis that I've not been able to handle (at least none of which I am aware). A coworker is convinced psychochick has once again run to HR to complain and it's had me a bit on edge but thinking rationally there have been no major infractions (what's happened in psychochick's mind is another issue). It's just been your average, run-of-the-mill mid-summer financial aid issues. Oh and the lender from hell pissing me off--but I'm sure there's more to come there (another story).

So tomorrow is Friday...glorious Friday. Short day and crop night. Yeah--TWO positives! Hopefully I won't be too bushed to enjoy. And hopefully I'll be able to get some 'scrap mojo' going--been lacking in that department lately.

My other goal has been to update my blog...make it 'prettier'(if that's possible) and add things, like links to my buds. I've managed to figure out how to add pictures--thanks to Picasa I cannot however figure out how to add links. Sooooo, any of you web-tech-savy people who can clue me, help a sista out!

Hairspray...

...saw the movie this morning and I may have to go again. It was great. The casting is great and the music draws you in from the start. I loved, loved, loved the stage production so I could hardly wait for the (new) movie. Very much worth the $5.50 (matinee price but would have been worth full price) and time investment. Good Morning Baltimore.....

Almost Friday...

THANK GOODNESS. Even though I was off Wednesday this feels like one of the longest weeks....and they won't get much better from now till the end of August. But the weekend is just around the corner. For the first time in weeks, I have absolutely NO plans for the weekend. Granted there are many things that need attention that I could (and probably should) do but at the moment nothing looms before me. Now to just get through Friday!

Down Time...

That's what today was. I hate when I'm off and yet wake at the crack of dawn and can't seem to get right back to sleep. Why is that? Work days it's all I can do to wake up and crawl out of bed but some days off I'm wide awake with no problem. But I digress. I did wake early...ran to Whataburger (in my jammies like the college kids do) to get a yummy honey butter chicken biscuit-because I'm addicted to the darn things-then sat on the couch watching JAG and munching, sharing with Willy of course. Watched another episode of JAG at 7a then decided I was sleepy again. (Mom got me hooked on JAG and I've been thinking of getting it on DVD.) I slept till after 10a!

I didn't pop right up but took my time and did basically nothing. Watched a little TV-'vintage' Gilmore Girls-read through a few things on the net and chatted online with Robin. Before I realized it was nearly noon. I finally convinced myself to throw on some clothes and 'take myself out to lunch'. There were a few options running through my mind but I settled on Cheesecake Factory--haven't been there in ages. And though I was thinking my ultimate favorite from there, chicken and biscuits, I got the bbq ranch chicken salad. YUMMY. And even the lunch portion was too big. I didn't eat till I was miserable as I have often done there. And I did get some cheesecake to go....that'll be a nice snack--I usually eat it over the course of a few days.

After CF I made a mad dash to OfficeMax for a digital card that they're out of and won't raincheck--darn it. Then it was Garden Ridge cause Rob tipped me off to a big sale. I got some cute baskets for storage for 75% off--now if I'll just use them to organize! I wish I could have found a couple more in one of the styles. After that I met a Wachovia Boy for coffee at Starbucks. He's a great guy and it's fun to just sit and visit, gossip and vent. I'm so lucky to have such good friends.

So now it's nearing 8p and I'm still trying to convince myself to do some scrapping. I think part of my hesitation is that I fear I will get too involved and have to stop to go to bed since I have to be in the office at 7:30a tomorrow.

Most of all I realize how much I have enjoyed having down time today with no set agenda and no real responsibilities. And it has helped me recharge some. It also helps knowing I only have a day and a half to work before having a weekend!

...but who can resist spending time with Willy???

or sitting by the banks of the Beautiful Lake Taneycomo....

Given the choice, I'd rather spend my day off in Branson hanging with 'Da Boys'.

Guilt...

I am good at self-inflicted guilt. So here it is, mid-July and I still have 35 hours of vacation time to take before the end of August. But looking at the calendar and thinking of all the work that comes with the start of a new semester it's more like August 10 as my 'deadline'. Now Aug. 10, is self imposed but I'm fairly certain my immediate supervisor would agree with that date. So in trying to be the 'good employee' I'm trying to take my time by then. The problem is working around others being out and trying to take the time when it will put the least burden on the office--I still recall the stinging words last year when I was told my being out creates a hardship on the office. So I try to accommodate everyone. Where all this leads is that since yesterday I have been kicking around taking some time off this week. My first thought was to take today and considering the whopper of a headache I had this morning that would have been great but I knew I had an appointment this afternoon. So this morning I was thinking I'll take tomorrow and got a verbal approval. However as the day has worn on and various 'fires' have come up I feel guilty about being out. I feel as though I should be there to take care of things. Hell, some questions this morning had me questioning if I knew what I was doing. So yes, I really could use the down time to try some destressing. It's the middle of the week, things will be piling up and I'll feel the need to work twice as hard on Thursday and I really have nothing planned for the day outside of sleeping in.

So what shall I do on my day off besides feel guilty that I actually took the time I had coming??? Maybe I can finally play with some pictures and paper instead of just thinking of all the things I could do. Or maybe I can unpack some more boxes--the ones that have been sitting neglected for the past year. Or more likely I'll end up just wasting a glorious day off.

EXHAUSTED....

Mondays are my L-O-N-G days....first a full day of hell (work) then off to see my 'chiro boyfriend"-to be known from now on as CBF- and top it off with yoga-chick. So this afternoon I'm running my ass off trying to wait the front counter, answer phones, file and process a few problem files. By the time five arrives I literally feel as though someone has taken me outside and beat the crap out of me. Being ever faithful I race home, leave food for the kitty, change into clothes I really shouldn't be seen in public in (stretchy yoga clothes), drive like a bat-out-of-hell to see the CBF who I think takes great pleasure in seeing what he can do to make me wince in agony or curse on any given day, then head for a session with yoga-chick to try to move in ways this body just doesn't want to go.

Today however somewhere between racing home and then to see the CBF I develop a splitting headache predominantly over my left eye. So by the time I begin my first schedule torture-or therapy as CBF calls it-I am in agony, feeling nauseated and praying it doesn't develop into a full blown migraine in which case I would be screwed and CBF would be 'stuck' with me for probably an hour or so. The tens unit is so bad (muscle stimulation--feels like thousands of little needles, but in a good way, if you've never experienced it) and then the ultrasound. Now I can get into ultrasound....lay down (ahhhh, naptime) while someone basically massages the small of my back with warm gel on an ultrasound head. This always seems to end way too soon. Some days this is more relaxing than others--seems CBF has a revolving staff and some of them don't apply pressure and go too fast while others in the words of "Little Bear" are 'just right'. Today ultrasound was particularly peaceful as it was just the right amount of pressure and the girl didn't feel the need to chatter on. But then it seemed to end way too soon and next it was time to see the CBF. Today is a busy day so I actually have to wait to get in. So sitting there my head feels as though it's about to spin off and I fear the slightest motion will result in unpleasant outcome (reading hurling my toenails). Thankfully that soon passes and then it's my turn 'on the table'. I get a nice back massage-that always ends too soon. I can hear CBF in the next room tell one of the girls to tell me he'll be right with me (as though I can't hear him).

So here I am, face down with my fat ass in the air and my head splitting. The next sensation is the CBF rubbing my back. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, if only it would last a bit longer. Next he begins to stretch and twist my spine trying to get it to align as it should. Unlike some days he only made me wince one time with pressure on my tailbone. He always manages to hit it in just the right way to wince and practically come off the table as he reminds me to 'take it easy' to which I always reply that HE'S the one who needs to take it easy. After all that he hits some pressure points on my neck and face trying to ease the headache--which works until I actually leave his office. Another week with the CBF behind me and now it's off to yoga and what I'd really rather be doing is crawling into bed.

But I drag myself over to yoga-chick's place. She only tries a few new things tonight that make me wince and shake my head no way. There are just some things this fat girl's body isn't meant to do. Yoga-chick is very understanding and forgiving. In fact I think others in the class may actually feel neglected because yoga-chick always seems to spend extra time with me to make certain I'm not doing too much or am doing what I should to benefit my 'wreck of a back' (as CBF refers to it). Tonight's workout didn't seem nearly as intense as some of the others. If fact, I wish my first class had been as easy as tonight. Before I know it, yoga is over and it's time to head back to my side of the sticks--exhausted and ready to climb into bed.

So much for another Monday with the CBF and yoga-chick....

Okay so this obvioulsy goes with the Keith Urban post of last week but I wasn't sure how to put it there and I just uploaded Picasa yesterday. SO Keith is up on Sunday the 15th...but that's okay...he's good to look at ANY day!!!!!

Blogtime Baby...

I have got to do better with the blogging...I manage for a few days and then slack off again. If only I could get organized...maybe then I would manage to blog on a regular basis. Hell if I'd get organized I'd probably get quite a few things done on a regular basis!

All weekend I've been trying to motivate myself to do something constructiver around here--maybe unload a few more boxes (yes, I've been here just over a year and still have boxes but the place is the size of a postage stamp), work a little organizing--heaven knows I could use some of that, work with a few of the hundreds of scrapping supplies I have or even just read some of the many books I continue to buy that pile up in a corner of my bedroom. Which brings me to the question...what happened?? I used to read all the time and would finish a book in no time. The last six months it has taken forever for me to finish a book--not good when you a thing for buying two and three a month. Just another thing to add to my 'to do list'.

The back-to-school stuff is starting to pop up in various stores. I'm hoping for some cute things to add to my place. Still looking for a few accent things now that I've finally settled on a color scheme for the spare bedroom/office/scrapspace. Decided on black with purple accents--unless some other color catches my eye. There's just something about 'back-to-school' time other than it makes me crazy at work with everyone waiting till the last minute. Kinda like Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail when she talks of bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils. Sometimes makes me long for the days of shopping for school supplies. Maybe that's why I like new scrap 'pretties' so much...they remind me of sparkly, new school supplies. Hmmmmm

And here it is Sunday night. Betime will be upon me before I know it and I will have accomplished nothing this evening--no reading, no scrapping. And forget accomplishing anything on Monday night--that's my busiest day/night of the week. After a full day at the office it's the mad dash home to change clothes and run to the chiropractor (or to see my 'boyfriend' as we put it at the office) and then yoga class where it's always too warm (something about 'the practice' and it being 'good' but it's too hot for me!) and there are positions I just can't quite seem to get in or hold for all that long. By the time I get home it's time to drop into bed.

If only I could be a kept woman....

Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing...

...that's the name of Keith Urban's current album (?-is that still the proper term?) and his current tour. His show is AWESOME! Two hours of all-out, hard-core rockin. Even the slow songs that really aren't that slow. The only thing I'm kicking myself about is the fact I didn't buy the tickets in the presale--forgot....and didn't get them about a month ago when I could have gotten lower level. Even so the 'nosebleed' seats weren't too bad for twenty bucks. We had a good view and the fact he has a GINORMOUS video screen at the back of the stage was a major plus. Oh and did I mention how HOT he is??? A lot of people wouldn't see that but it's in the scruffy sort of way. And by about the third or fourth song he's drenched in sweat because he really WAILS on the guitar. My only disappointment would be that HE didn't play banjo....just a couple of his band. It's not that I'm a huge banjo fan but it's cool that he includes it in so much of his music. It's a safe bet I'll be going back to see him next time he swings through town. What a night!!! And what a way to kick off what would have been mother's 85th birthday on Friday.

Having lunch with a friend in Kemah most likely to 'toast Jackie'.