Flag Pole Down

This weekend has been a big success with regards to the yard.  Jon was out of town so that helped a bunch.  He typically hurts this (although there have been times when he has done a lot of work when I was working my two jobs and I couldn’t help.  So, I don’t want to be accused of not giving credit where credit is due!) because he works a lot and never wants to do it and I am a wonderful wife and want to spend time with him.  He was out of town helping with some familial obligations so I decided to go out and get some work done.  One of my favorite things is to work on something when he’s not around so when he arrives it’s a surprise.  I think I like doing this because I LOVE surprises so I enjoy making them happen for others, no matter how small.  However, this weekend was not small (albeit not THAT exciting). 

As luck would have it, my mother called me on Saturday morning to ask me about coming to a Labor Day party on Monday.  We got to talking about how Jon was out of town and how my yard is a horrible fricking disaster that I’m sure makes my neighbors secretly hate me.  She said well, I was planning on working on Rebecca’s house today (my sister-in-law still owns a house from her former single life that my mom has been helping to fix up because she is the in-house maintenance lady ha) but I think I’m going to come help you.  She stated that under the guise that it would be more fun but I think she just feels embarrassed that people she knows from church live by me and know we’re related.  Regardless, she headed over with her tools and we were underway ripping out the weed garden section of my yard around the flag pole.  Yes, you read that right, the flag pole.  The previous owner was in the military so I imagine he found it very important to proudly display the American flag.  I, on the other hand, am lazy and don’t have any motivation to do so. Therefore, it is a gigantic, rusty eyesore. Anywho, we worked on it for about 5 hours together less a lunch break and then she headed home.

The following morning I received another early morning call from my mom. Her ambitious self was on the phone asking me what I was doing that day.  She said, want to take out the flag pole?  Let me provide some additional details about this thing.  The pole is screwed into a brace that is cemented into the ground and with rusted screws it has been extra protected from movement.  Jon and I have been dreading this task as we figured we would have to jack hammer it out and somehow keep it from falling on our house.  Also, the pole is about 40 ft. tall and seemingly made of very heavey plumbing pipe. I begrudgingly said ok thinking that this was heading for disaster.  A 65+ year old woman and a weak, lazy 27 year old are going to end up in the hospital and a hole in the roof of the house.  However, I had apparently underestimated the magic materials that my mother would bring with her.  We tried to unscrew the screws but very quickly confirmed that the rust made it impossible.  So, my mom whipped out this spry and voila, the screws twisting out.  Soon, we found ourselves on the last one.  As it loosened I began pushing on the pole and it began to fall… AND in the opposite direction of my house! Success! Until… it hit the tree limb and got stuck. Because I live in a town very similar to Mayberry, a neighbor man who lets us borrow his tools all of the time just happened to be walking by.  He insisted on helping us and after a few short minutes the pole was safely on the ground… sans any personal injuries!  This was a big win when it comes to my morale. Now I’m on the real mission to finish tearing out the flipping yard so that next year we can begin planting and no longer look like we live in an abandoned drug house. I really only have two more sections  left and I think I can get them done in the next week or so.  Hopefully, I will have a fantastic update soon!

Oh, and btw Jon was surprised.  He kept asking how we did it and I think is not-so-secretly happy that he didn’t have to be a part of it. J

Me pretending to hit the pole as it was stuck in the tree (great art direction by mom).

The Awesome '90s

I love ‘90s music.  Today I was driving into work and this new radio station in the city played Third Eye Blind’s “Graduate.”  It made me so happy because not only is it a very old song but it’s not the typical Third Eye Blind choice of “Semi-Charmed Life.”  To note, though, I like that song as well but only if they play the entire version.  The radio version skips an entire section of the album version of the song.

If my husband saw this post he would totes make fun of me.  He had a roomie in college who loved TEB and he always made fun of him.  To note, though, I don’t just love Third Eye Blind.  I also am a big fan of earlier Bare Naked Ladies… like “The Old Apartment,” not “One Week,” and other ‘90s bands. 

I think this music reminds me of growing up and that’s why I like it.  It makes me sad that the new college class was born in 1994 so missed half of the decade of music (I feel like this post is exaggerating my love of this music but that’s ok and also all of the music that I refer to occurred in the late ‘90s so my point is kind of poor). Although, I don’t feel that you have to have lived through the creation of something to appreciate it.  I am a big fan of oldies music (referring to ‘50s – ‘70s, not ‘90s) and I feel that I can appreciate it.  But I don’t have the same feelings associated with it as I do the ‘90s because I don’t have specific experiences related to it. Like how “Everybody in the Club Getting Tips(y)” reminds me of freshman year in college (although I mean I totally was never in the club getting tips(y) my freshman year b/c I was underage and that would have been totally illegal!). Although, that is not a ‘90s example so let me think of one.  Semisonic’s “Closing Time” makes me think of my long-ago friend (except on Facebook, we’re totally Facebook friends), Tara.  We would sit on her deck and talk about what 7^th/8^th grade girls talk about… probably guys and people we didn’t like… so I guess not much different from what we talk about now.  We would always have on Q102 or probably what was KISS107, maybe Channel Z at the time (although that may have been alternative), I can’t remember. OH and get ready for this awesome example.  How Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" reminds me of the first dance I ever had with a boy (awkward! that song is like 27 minutes long and he was really hot and I was a complete nerd. we didn't talk or look at each other the entire time.). True story.

I’m now wasting time youtubing ‘90s music.  Jon is going out of town (again!) so I’m pretty sure that at some point this weekend you will be able to find me blaring some ‘90s and singing very, very badly, very, very loudly. Suggestions for songs to youtube would be appreciated!!

How Louboutin's Changed Me :)

About two years ago I did the dumbest and one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done in my life.  I bought a pair of $700 Christian Louboutin’s.  Now, I don’t feel like I NEED to rationalize this, but I WANT to.  Honestly, fiscally it was a horrible, terrible decision.  And quite honestly, I understand the probably 90 percent of people who see them can’t tell a difference between them and a $30 pair of Steve Maddens.  However, I didn’t do it for everyone else. I do not buy Coach bags and I don’t own any other pair of shoes that is even over $100… I actually cringe at spending $75 on every other pair.  These shoes were something I had dreamed about for years.  I fell in love with the red soles and had a goal that before I died I wanted a pair. I was going on a business trip to LA and knew that there was a Louboutin store there. Long story short, I left LA with a pair of shoes and a high credit card bill. Note that somewhere in there, there was panicking, sweating, stressing, freaking out,etc.

Two years later I don’t regret the decision.  Not only have these shoes brought a joy to my life that realistically no material item should bring, they have also brought along some other unexpected benefits.  One of the smaller benefits is that they have sparked conversations and have helped me relate to at least two people who love them as well.  The weirder benefit, though, is that they have opened my mind and caused me to be less judgmental. I know you’re thinking, ok, crazy lady.  How the hell do a pair of shoes do that to you? Well, let me explain.  When you buy a ridiculously expensive pair of shoes one must understand that other people judge you and feel as though you probably could have spent your money more responsibly.  And sometimes that can get slightly annoying.  Because it is my money, that I have worked my ass off for since I was 15.  I can spend my money on whatever piece of crap I want to.  I am not in debt (besides my house but I’m told that doesn’t count).  I have never needed anyone to pay for anything (except for my parents who let me borrow money to pay for my college tuition which I have since paid back but I also don’t think that counts!). I feel that you don’t have the right to tell me how to spend my money.  Which in turn, has made me feel that I can’t tell anyone else how to spend theirs.  I have been on that Coach-bashing train before.  “Who would spend $300 on a purse??!! That is so dumb.” I can’t say that anymore. I didn’t judge when a co-worker who lives with his parents to save money decided to join an extraordinarily expensive golf club. I don’t judge expensive car purchasers.  I feel more open to the thought that your money is your money and as long as you’re not inconveniencing anyone else with your decision then do what you want… thanks to a pair of shoes.

PS – This morning at work I made some comment about how I don’t like to waste money because I was being made fun of for using a flip phone (I know, I know. So ‘00s!).  The response I received to that was, Really? Red-bottomed shoes? J

Meh, Good Enough

Ok, so I’m going to call this a win and you can’t do anything about it.  One of my list things is to plan a ladies night.  To be perfectly honest, my main group of lady friends and I are kind of growing apart.  It’s not like an I hate you sort of thing, but more like much of our friendships were based on going out.  Between weddings, trying to have babies, and buying houses the going out thing has waned.  With that being said, planning a ladies night with them can be difficult.  So, I am adding two events up to equal me scratching “Plan a Ladies Night” off the list.

The first event is occurring today. I have planned an afternoon happy hour for me and one of my co-workers.  She and I are conducting an interview together and I said that we should calibrate at the bar (Kidding other HR people! Kidding!).  I think we’re going to do something classy like go to a couple of wine bars and maybe eat some fire roasted pizza or whatever it’s called.  I did research to find good places to go in the city, and to find places we’ve never been before.  My work friend is a tryer of new things kind of person.  I am too but she’s a tad bit more adventurous (and single so it makes it easier without this ball-and-chain I call my husband.  I kid! I kid! Sheesh, so sensitive).  Anyway, I had numerous possibilities that I narrowed down and consulted with her to confirm.  The first place that we are going is more uncool because it’s a chain, and is of course the place I picked. The second is a place she suggested and is conveniently 3 minutes away from the first place (or a 30 minute walk, we looked it up because we thought we would be cool and hippy-like and help save the planet without 3 minutes of exhaust but it turns out that we’re lazier than we care about the planet).

This part I consider the bulk of the completion of this line item.  I planned it, with a girl, and it’s in the evening which equals night to me.  However, if I’m being completely honest, my original intention was for this to be one of those crazy party nights.  However, my age is causing my liver to shut down much faster than it used to so crazy party nights are few and far between. BUT! Lucky for me my friend’s bachelorette party is tomorrow night.  It is going to be crazy… at least I think it is (but not really sure how I feel about that. Oy vey).  I think it will mostly be my friends and we will have fun and that really equals a girls night.  So again, I think that my planning of today + the ladies night tomorrow = success.  Scratch!

Bambinos

I want to preface this post with saying that I love babies.  I have 8 adorable nieces and nephews, from 12 years old to just a few weeks. Although it is not exactly the same as what I am about to post about, I remember when the first one was born and I bombarded my friends with stories about her birth and all of the cute things she did.  I understand the excitement and the wanting to share everything (at least as much as an aunt vs. a mommy can).

Lately I've been feeling a little frustrated.  I'm 27 and many of my friends are getting on with the having a baby thing (and I'm beyond perfectly happy that I'm not yet there).  I know that one day I will completely relate but I can't help but sometimes find myself annoyed with it.  I don't mean to be disrespectful, I just want to know about other things going on in your life.  I found this article that I think is nice and kind of helps illustrate how I feel.

http://www.babble.com/baby/baby-care/advice-for-new-mom-obsessed-baby-overload-2/

Crazy Dog Lady

I have excellent news! I can scratch one item off of my list! Drum roll please… On Friday I took Lola to doggy daycare.  My hubs and I were working all day and then he was leaving to go out of town.  I was going to a Reds game so I felt bad that she would be home alone all day, less about 2 hours.  A few months ago I had been told that a guy that works with me takes his dog to daycare a couple of times a week so I asked him about it.  It’s a place a couple of minutes from work that doesn’t kennel them and you can do 24 hour drop-off (which I need since I had to drop her at 6am).  The best part of the place, though, is that there are webcams. I’ve kept this place in mind for a while but never actually pulled the trigger.  When I found out on Thursday that both of us would be gone all day I thought that this was the time to try it. The entire day I pummeled my co-worker with questions about the place: Do they have water? How do they discipline them? How often do they let them out? Etc. etc…etc. etc. I actually called them after work to get my questions answered that he couldn’t.  I started feeling okay about doing it.

The following morning my alarm went off at 5am I got myself and the pup ready and we headed off.  The place was pretty easy to find, minus my bad eyesight and turning onto the wrong street.  I parked, went up to the door and hit the doorbell, which caused lots of barking.  A girl opened the door for me and Lola and I walked in.  The girl took Lola from me immediately and put her in the holding room (which looked like a closet).  She came back to me to do my paperwork.  The entire time I was standing there with the lady Lola was whining and jumping up to see out of the window in the door.  To be completely honest, my heart was breaking a bit.  I mean I knew she would have fun but I felt like I didn’t get to hug her and say goodbye (like she really knows what that means) and that she was whining to get to me.

I drove away a little sad but I was rushing in order to get to my desk and put on the webcam.  I have two monitors at work so all day I worked on one while Lola was on the other (luckily, I have a nice work that doesn’t accuse me of being a slacker by doing this). Everyone in my organization found out about the doggy daycare and the webcams so multiple times that day people stopped by to check on her. Which meant me trying to figure out which dog was her and watching her run around.  She didn’t sit down the entire day (even at naptime, shocker!).

I was relieved when the clock struck 3pm and I was able to run out the door and speed to the daycare.  I told the front desk I was there to pick up Lola so she walk-talkied someone and told her to find Lola.  The lady couldn’t find her.  In their defense there are about 20-30 dogs there and they don’t wear any kind of identification so I’m not sure how they know who is who. Also, the girl who had been there all day was leaving so the person trying to find Lo had just arrived.  It took her about 15 minutes to find her.  While standing there, the girl who had been there all day was clocking out and she said, “Are you picking up Lola?” I said yes and she said, “Just so you know, she has worms.” Talk about feeling like a bad parent.  I was shocked. The girl seemed so judgey about it too it made me feel horrible. 

They finally brought her out and I got to the car and immediately called the vet.  They were pretty casual about it (which made me feel better) and just said we don’t need to see her, just come and pickup some meds.  So, I sped there, thinking that my poor baby was suffering (I know nothing about this).  Also, Lo was acting super weird.  I mean I know she was tired but when she came out she didn’t seem happy to see me and just seemed weird.

After picking her up and heading to the vet, we arrived safely home.  Lo basically ran to the door.  She ran to her water bowl and drank like half of it.  I’m not sure what their water policy is but now I’m worried that they kept her thirsty the entire day but maybe it was just from playing… I have to do more investigation. After that she clumped to the floor.  I gave her the meds and she slept until I left for the Reds game.

The next day I woke up and Lo had slept in. Yay for being tuckered out but she was still acting a little weird. I let her outside and the weird thing was that she was worm-free.  The vet had told me that dead ones would probably be visible even after taking the pill.  So now, I’m thinking that I have overmedicated my already exhausted and weird-acting dog because the daycare got her confused with another dog.  I’m not sure how I feel about this.  I mean, maybe I’m wrong and this pill miraculously solved the problem and she no longer shows signs.  Or maybe, they just honestly mistook her for another dog.  I’m not sure but I don’t know if I should be angry or understanding.  What would a good mother do?  Should I call and complain? Never take her there again? Or just say oh well, she is new, this stuff happens?

Also, I told my mother-in-law last night about how Lola acted weird for a couple of days afterwards.  She said, well she was old enough to remember being at the pound so maybe that’s what she thought was going on.  Again, I feel like a horrible mother! Did she think I was abandoning her?  Then I think maybe I’m crazy and dogs don’t really have thoughts like that, I don’t know.  I’m torn and think I can never handle a child after this traumatic experience. J

 Lola's First Day of School! (Sorry for the bad image quality)

 Lola after her first day of school...

Could Be Worse?

I have to admit that I’m having a bad day - the kind of day when you feel that you should have called in sick and curled up under the covers.  It’s not even one of those kind of funny bad days, like when you wake up late, spill coffee on your shirt and get to work realizing you have on two different colored shoes.  It’s the kind of day that you realize you messed something up and have to pay for it.  I haven’t had one of these days in a very long time. I feel like I could cry at any moment and on top of all of this my hubby is out of town for work. Blargh, no hugs.  Although, this is one time I’m really, really happy I have a puppy who will be unbelievably happy to see me no matter how bad I messed up.

I feel that when I was in grade school I had bad days a lot more.  I’m not sure if it was because someone else was in charge of me so I had less control over my life, if I was just insulted way more (adults learn to do it behind your back), or if I was just kind of a mess as a kid.  I remember being hot all of the time (likely due to being a pudge) until I had the ingenious idea to stop wearing sweatshirts that I couldn’t take off.  Honestly, as I think about it I feel that most of my bad days were a result of being hot.  Man, why did it take me so long to figure that one out? I also remember this one day when my rage got the best of me.  I’m pretty sure some boy had taken a pair of scissors from me or something like that and he refused to give them back.  So, me being calm, cool and collected, I became infuriated and was yelling(ish) at him.  Suddenly, I think I blacked out and hit him on the head as hard as I could.  It was like I had become possessed because I was a good kid and never used physical force (except one time when it was completely warranted but that’s a story for another day). He gave me back the scissors but I immediately started crying because I felt so guilty and honestly never intended to do that. I guess looking at today I can say at least I didn’t inadvertently smack someone on the head. That probably would have been worse.

PS – I was working on the yard again and again have poison ivy rash.  No fear though, I think I got it because I forgot to use the Dawn after and it’s 95% less bad than last time. So working on the yard is no longer a complete fail, just partial. Score!