Damn You Thin Mints!

Why must you be so tasty? Now I must purchase a box of caramel delights so I can curse them as well. I find it interesting that the girl scouts sell very fattening cookies when women are notorious dieters. I would like to say that they should offer something healthier. Technically, they do have a few options that are better than thin mints and caramel delights. But thin mints and caramel delights are 6000 times better tasting and I must eat at least one entire box once a year. Sorry Weight Watchers. There is no way to have a smaller portion of girl scout cookies. Last year when I still attended meetings, we all raised our fists in the air and cursed the girl scouts and then went home and ate our one box of cookies in one sitting. The difference now is that I only purchase one box and eat the entire thing in one sitting. I don't purchase 3 or 4 boxes like I used to. The only way I can sort of restrain myself at work is to only take two at a time so I have to get up and walk over there everytime I have more. I'm very slowly racking up activity points to slightly counteract tasty cookies.

Excuse me while I go inhale more thin mints.

So Many Channels I Can't Even Count Them

Ok, I could but everytime I tried to last night I was distracted by an episode of something on some channel. The cable guy wasn't hot, but he was nice and had his dog in the truck that he rescued on one of his cable jobs a few weeks ago. I must like anyone who has a soft spot for dogs. Lily thought he was great, but she likes all people who enter my house. Including burglers I'm sure. I sort of felt bad when he left because I was in the midst of making the "best black bean soup ever" while he was there and he said it smelled a lot better than the Taco Bell he was going to pick up on the way home. I was half tempted to tell him to come back in an hour when it was finished and I would send some home with him, but that seemed too wierd. A little too "I'm a desparate woman who cooks for cable guys" for me. I just wish I had thought of it when male model cable guy came. I'm always a day late and a dollar short.

I couldn't help but tell current cable guy of the last cable guy stepping on a rake in the basement and he thought it was as funny as I did. Man, I think I will laugh about that for the rest of my life. When I'm old and demented I will start laughing and mutter "cable guy" and "rake" and my family will start looking into euthanasia.

Essential

If I were still at the bank I would have bought this for sure.

The Return of the Dead Grandpa Pan

YAY! Joe had the pan from when I brought him brownies and he returned it when I visited he and Viv on Monday on my way home from Chicago. The pan is now safe and sound in my cupboard and I'm still determined to acquire some additional covered cake pans. There is a lovely one at Williams Sonoma if you want to buy me one because I am nice. I would usually make a joke about my last name, but I don't want the INTERNET to know that much about me. It's enough to offer daily thoughts and personal insight but last names are off limits.

Joe also gave me a bag of Tootsie Pops and I have been enjoying at least one if not three every day. Joe is the nicest great uncle ever. AND, his wife Viv, just turned 90 yesterday. Happy Birthday Viv! Hope you had a great day! Not that she would read this post, but sometimes Joe does and I'm pretty sure he will tell her.

Hot or Not?

Tonight I'm getting basic cable for my t.v. which means a cable guy is coming to my house. For a long time I was only getting attractive cable guys. In fact, each time the cable guy got hotter. It got to the point where I sort of looked forward to my cable modem going out just to see if the cable guy was even cuter than the last one. Well, last time the modem went out I told all of my friends that the cable guys were totally hot and I was so lucky. On the appointed day the cable guy arrived at my house and was not hot at all. I had totally jinxed myself. This was what I would consider a "typical cable guy" with the butt crack and gut. However the visit was redeemed. I don't like to think of myself as a mean person, but I do tend to laugh when someone gets injured in an amusing way. So we're walking in the basement and he is looking up for the cable when he steps on a rake and it smacks him in the face. I just about peed my pants I was laughing so hard. I did try to see if he was ok but I don't think he took me seriously because I was also laughing right in his face. When I finally got myself under control he makes the comment "That really hurt" and I have to look away because I can't stop the laughter. Each time during the remainder of his visit I would have spontaneous bursts of laughter that I couldn't control and tried desperately to hide from him. He also tried to tell me that Macs were pieces of crap and I should get a PC. Ummmm... Macs rule and what do you know "guy who stepped on a rake and hit himself in the face?"

So if I get a cable guy that is not hot nor provides comic relief I will be sorely disappointed. And if it's the same guy that stepped on the rake last time, I'm going to have a difficult time maintaining a straight face.

My Work Blankie

I used to have a blankie when I was a little kid. I didn't need it to survive, nor did I love it to shreds like my brother did (sorry Damon, now the INTERNET knows), I just used it to make my music when I was going to sleep. I scratched my fingers on the ribbon and said I was making music. I think my mom replaced the ribbon at least twice.

So why a work blankie? Well, those of you who have worked with me, I get cold very easily. Other people can be sweating like crazy and I am sitting on my hands and drinking hot chocolate to keep warm. When I worked at the bank they did not allow heaters, so I brought in a "radio" that emitted heat and no sound. At my current job, if two people have a heater going it will shut down the computers. So I crocheted a work blankie. I got the idea when I was crocheting a wrap for my dad's girlfriend for Christmas. It was big and warm and pretty and I had yarn leftover. If I were to bring the work blankie to SD when I visit we could be wrap twins out on the town. Except I love having the blankie at work. It's perfect to wrap around my shoulders and rest the ends in my lap to keep the legs warm. And no one will complain about my "radio" even when I don't have it on.

I should trim it in ribbon so I can play my music again. No wait, it would probably put me right to sleep.

After Lunch Coma

Can't...function...must...start...coffee...IV....

67 Cardboard Boxes Recycled

I finally recycled all the cardboard boxes that have been piling up since last summer. I thought I had done it this fall but then I saw the salad spinner box and that was from my birthday. I nearly added it to the life goals list because I thought that once I finally did recycle everything it would feel like a life goal accomplished. I'm not actually sure if it was 67 boxes, but it sure felt like it. I brokedown the last couple boxes this morning, tied twine around it all, chased the dog to retrieve the twine and then hauled it all out to the recycle area. I'm not actually sure if they are coming today or next week, but I hope it's today. I also hope I met their stringent requirements for box disposal. Which I can't figure out. The recycling literature assures me that twine is enough, but sometimes they leave it. Sometimes I do nothing and they take it the next time. Other times they don't and I have to re-tie the twine and then they take it. It's so confusing and plus I am not awake that early in the morning so even if I did ask the recycle guys, I wouldn't be able to comprehend what they were telling me. But at least the boxes are outside and ready to be recycled. And I can check a life goal off my list.

I

I tried to update WIne to be Wine twice, but blogger hates me. So I'm not stupid! I just give up.

Chicago, Friends, Kitties, Blinds, WIne and Chocolate

That's right.

I may be starting to like dark chocolate.

I'm not sure when it happened.

Ok, that's not true. It happened when we got dove dark chocolate squares at work and for lack of other chocolate, I sort of liked it. But I still don't like beef. Just in case you're concerned that I'm flip flopping.

I also went to Chicago this weekend to visit Wendy and David and their kitties. The first night we drank lots of wine. I got there at 8:30pm and still had time to drink a few glasses and tell Wendy and David that I was drunk. Over and over again until I stumbled off to bed.

They just moved into a swank new place even though I thought they would never be able to top their last place. This place is bigger, has more closet space and...a rooftop deck with a kick@ss view of the city. I viewed it for one minute until I was certain I would freeze to death and was eager to commence the wine drinking.

Saturday Wendy and I headed out to the fabric store to get materials for two windows in her swank new place. I told Wendy I would make her something for her new place for her birthday. She decided on window blinds made out of the most beautiful orange fabric I was tempted to lick repeatedly because it looked so tasty. We also stopped at the bead shop and picked out some cool beads to run along the bottom of the shade. Then was lunch, then dinner, then a walk through millenium park, then home to drink more wine.

Sunday Wendy's friend, Stephanie came over for brunch and we had a very awesome frittata, fruit and dutch pancakes. After Stephanie left we got to work on the shade. I think I have learned that with Fusi-shade is that sometimes I need to buy thinner interfacing and it's really hard to hide bubbles, etc. in plain fabric. I've decided to blame the fusi-shade fabric for the bubbles. I couldn't get it smooth. It drove me so nuts that I brought one of the shades home with me to fix.

And then there was the chocolate. Chantico from Starbucks. BEST DRINKING CHOCOLATE EVER! I'm not sure whether to be happy or angry that I love it so. I've already addicted two women I work with to it. I think it may be the perfect medicine for PMS. I told the coffee person today they should market it that way.

Continuing on the Sunday bent:
David made the best squash and apple bisque and salmon for dinner. I made a flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce for dessert. And then we drank wine. Shocker.

Not much touring, but lots of wine drinking and catching up which was just fine with me.

Oh wait I forgot to mention the kittles. They act like doggies sometimes and prefer to train for the kitty olympics at night while we are sleeping. It was very amusing.

Yesterday I drove home. Long drive and I ended up taking 94 up to Milwaukee before heading toward the twin cities. Oh well. It didn't take much longer and I paid about 1/2 as much in tolls. Which they doubled. Stupid Chicago. I did get a chance to listen to Wisconsin Public Radio where they called the thank you gifts "freemiums." What sort of word is "freemiums?" That's the stupidest word I've ever heard.

Today I'm having a hard time staying awake. Oh and I spilled hot tea on my keyboard so the space bar stopped working. My coordination skills are awesome.

This post probably reads like poo. Oh well. I'm still waiting for the coffee to kick in so I can get some more actual work accomplished.

I am a Winner!

Not a wiener, a winner! We just played Texas Hold'em over lunch and I won $20! Being pretty clueless about poker it was a nice surprise and I was a much better sport about playing because I would only potentially lose $5. It was very exciting. A perfect way to start the weekend.

I've decided to hate Ken Tucker

I'm listening to him trash PBS on Fresh Air right now. He says they don't have any new programming? Is Ken Tucker blind, deaf or just stupid. Oh yes, stupid. I shake my fist at you Ken Tucker!

Book Club Exploits

We actually had a really great discussion last night about Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. I heartily recommend it. Not only will it scare the crap out of you, it's an interesting history of the beginnings of the mormon faith which scared the crap out of me. We discussed what we would say the next time the mormons come to the door. I've never had mormons at the door, so obviously I must have "Hopeless" in invisible mormon ink on my door. But I have considered putting a list of questions together in case I'm at a friend's house when the mormons are visiting.

Next we're reading Wicked and watching the Wizard of Oz to get both sides of the story. Should be an interesting evening. I haven't seen Wizard of Oz for years and after finishing Wicked, I'm sort of on the side of the wicked witch. Plus, it's at Tammy's house and she is the BEST COOK EVER. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.

Weeping with Joy

Ok, not really. But I could. Ok, not really. It takes a sappy commercial or someone else crying or me being very, very sad, scared or happy to weep. Mostly I'm just happy most of the time and not weepy. But I am in a wonderful mood now that I'm listening to the Garden State Soundtrack. It's so good! I ordered myself a box of goodies from Amazon when the tax return came in and this was one of them. He had the best selection of artists I have never heard of before and now I will have to look them all up on iTunes. Pointless Nostalgic by Jamie Cullum. Not as good as his later album, but still good. I also got a book for a friend's birthday and I must admit that last night I very carefully started reading it. I usually do that with books I buy other people. I can't seem to help myself. Obviously I'm a horrible person and I have just admitted it to the INTERNET.

Don't Panic!

But I may have lost the dead grandpa covered cake pan. I went to make lasagna last night for book club tonight and it wasn't in the cupboard. I'm pretty sure I must have made something and taken it somewhere but who, what and when escapes me right now. I'm really bummed because I love this pan. Plus, I inherited it when we were cleaning out my grandfather's apartment - yes, that is how it received it's name. I did not cook grandpa in the pan, I just inherited it...along with dead grandpa blender. I named it that because I have an inappropriate sense of humor and was grieving at the time and I will say anything to make myself laugh. Far better than weeping uncontrollably. Plus, grandpa seemed to like the inappropriate sense of humor, so it is also a homage to him. He was crass, smoked like a chimney, had little use for sappy language - but he let me hold his hand and give him 72,000 hugs, wrote me one the funniest letters I have ever received and made me feel loved. You would think that the memories, photos and other momentoes would be enough. But I am attached to that dang pan. Not only did it belong to Grandpa and Grammie, it is a fine covered cake pan. No annoying teflon to flake off. I don't think I would feel the same about the blender as it doesn't actually work that well. My frou frou mixed drinks usually have bigger chunks of ice in them regardless of how long I blend it. Plus, I'm not sure why my grandfather owned a blender. He never made frou frou mixed drinks. He liked his liquor on the rocks. But I did see the covered cake pan in use many times because that man loved his baked goods. So hopefully one of my friends reading this will realize they have the pan and bring it to me and I will be so happy. It will be the best day ever...until the next best day ever.

And....

I also forgot to write a glowing birthday message to my friend, Wendy who became one year older yesterday. Just call me the "one day late" girl because that seems to be my record.

Happy Birthday, Wendy! I'm so glad we met. I miss working on public radio fun with you but now I live vicariously through your pledge drive stories. One day I will show up in Chicago during a membership drive and have cute t-shirts made that say "pledge goddess" and answer phones during my vacation because I miss working with you so much. However, it is not only your ability to make pledge drives fun as it is to make daily life fun. You moved away to Chicago and I have been forced to research my own interesting stuff around the twin cities. I have re-used a few great ideas, but was always amazed at how you found the coolest places to hang out on a Friday night and could convince everyone to leave their homes. I do not have that power.

I sure wish you lived in Minneapolis, but I am thankful that Chicago is not so very far away. Happy Birthday and I will see you on Friday!

Best Valentine's Day Present Ever!

Was the payment I scheduled to pay off my car! That's right! It's all mine! I was so excited that I hugged the steering wheel and patted the dash this morning. I don't think my car was quite as excited. It will be so nice to re-direct the money I spent on car payments to the house fund. Plus, the snot in my nose cleared up. I'm still coughing, but that's no where near as bad. I'm pretty sure this week is bound to be super fabulous wonderful. So many adjectives make it so.

Could it Be?

Could I have downloaded the pictures from Sarah's Wedding already? Yes I did. But only because Megan (a former coworker from Target and wedding attendee) was kind enough to send me her copies yesterday and that reminded me to get my rear in gear. So check out the pictures including the fur wraps Sarah and I made in December. It was such a great day.

Dog Goes From Shaggy to Short

I took Lily to the groomer yesterday and thought it would be interesting to take before and after pictures. People think she is so cute when she's shaggy and are usually bummed when I say I'm getting her shaved. But then they see her shaved and think she's so cute shaved. It may just be that she's cute regardless.

Before Sunday and Monday - Best Saturday in a Long Time

Because Sarah got hitched! She married the sweetest guy on the nicest day. The wedding went really well - with the exception that Catholic ceremonies always make me nervous. Stand up...sit down...wait for a little bit to finish the prayer...don't take communion! I was a little tempted to take communion just because Catholics say I can't. Apparently I'm not going to heaven either because I'm not Catholic. But imagine if I would have gone up there and then yelled "HA HA! Methodist eating the body and blood of Christ! SUCKERS!"

I'm thinking it may have taken away from Sarah's special day. And, since I like her so well I thought I would let her have all the attention. But it was very hard to restrain myself and I did giggle a little bit to myself during the ceremony picturing it.

I must say also that the wedding cake was the very best wedding cake that I have had in a long, long time. Our table was trying to figure out how to steal additional pieces of it. The waitress caught on and started watching us like a hawk. Then punished us with no coffee until I said "Can we have coffee, please?" Every other table received coffee, cream and sugar. But when the waitress returned it was only with a carafe of coffee. So then I had to ask for cream. She brought only cream. Someone else at the table wanted sugar and I gave up and asked a nearby table if we could have some sugar. Sigh. I think they hated us. And all for trying to cop some extra cake. I bet there was cake leftover in the back and they were hogging it for themselves. Bitches. I shake my fist at them.

Then the dancing started. I have to say the wedding party were enthusiastic dancers which is how it should be. The songs started out a little slow but eventually revved up to disco fun. I danced until I could dance no more. Then I came home and went to bed. Weddings can be so much fun!

A Good Monday and Before That, A Good Sunday

Is one where I wake up with less snot (wooooo hooooo!) and the snow is so beautiful it makes you want to run outside and make 72 snow angels in your neighborhood. My neighbors are going to be so bummed when I use up all their beautiful snow. I think I may need to purchase snow pants just for the occasion.

Sunday was good because I had knitting and then some of the knitting crew came over to help me assemble my new television armoire and bring Payton and Remi over to play with Lily. Payton is a Great Dane and Remi is a Golden Retriever. A little bit bigger than Lily. Actually, comparing a Great Dane and a Shih Tzu is a little like comparing a semi-truck and a Geo Metro. Payton played hide and seek with Lily while she played escape from this wild beast that is scaring the crap out of me. When she finally got used to Payton she barked at him repeatedly while wagging her tail and then ran under the table where he couldn't really go. A very fun evening. I was going to take a picture of the two side by side, but totally forgot. Which means we'll have to get them together again. I tried to keep Payton, but Danielle wouldn't let me. She is so mean. He is such a sweet dog. And Scott and Andy assembled the armoire without any help from me. I think it's the first time I haven't assembled my own furniture. It looks awesome and and I love being able to hide the t.v.! Best Sunday night ever!

Oh Yeah. I Hate Shopping.

I told myself I could buy a new outfit for the wedding I am attending on Saturday. I sort of thought I should just order something online and that would be fine. Then I thought I should really go shopping because then I could see fabric textures, etc. Then I could try stuff on to make sure it fit so I wouldn't have to return anything later. I actually think that occasionally I convince myself that I don't mind shopping so much and go out shopping. I spend hours of time looking for the perfect item and never finding it. By the end of the experience I would like to slam my head in a door for being so stupid. Last night not only did I go shopping, I went to the Mall of America (aka Satan's Playground). I spent two and a half hours roaming the stores and being perpetually disappointed. If I would have just ordered something online I could have ordered a tall. Instead I spent the evening trying on cuffed pants thinking I could take the cuff down so I can wear heels. I finally gave up and came home. I must remember that I hate shopping in future and just order everything online. What a waste of an evening!

I Just Ate the Grossest Apple Ever

It was old, and not crunchy and the skin was rubbery. Why did I finish it? Because apples are good for you. Even if they taste awful. I had to chase it with some red licorace.

My Teeth Stopped Hurting

Could the snot be disbursing? My week just started to get better.

Spicy Food is my Best Friend

Not only is it good, but it's all I can taste right now. We have our company lunch today and I'm hoping I can convince the crew to go to Sawatdee so I can order some spicy food. I was supposed to have book club last night, but it was delayed because a lot of people couldn't come. So Tammy and I headed over the the Wilde Roast Cafe. A great coffee shop/wine bar with a bunch of gay men and us. The atmosphere is great. Everybody is either chatting, playing cards or working on their laptops. And the food is good as well. We tried to have knitting there a couple of times but the place is just too popular. We can never find enough seats. It's pretty amazing.

I Forgot to Take my Steroids this Morning

It is amazing how well that nose spray worked and how sad I am without it today. But my teeth don't hurt as much, so maybe it was just holding onto my snot and creating pressure. But I think i am more annoyed with plugged up nostrils than with teeth that hurt. Mostly I love whining. And chocolate. And iTunes.

Snot, week three

I am getting awfully tired of this snot business. And, it seems to be progressing from allergies to a sinus infection. My teeth hurt because there is so much sinus pressure. I have tried blowing my nose over and over and over to get all snot out. More snot returned. Still coughing up snot. Still choking on snot. SNOT! SNOT! SNOT! I hate you, snot. I have already been to the doctor and am hyped up on medication. Why must the snot remain? WHY! Stupid snot. And that concludes this rant.

I'm Pretty Sure the Personal Trainer was Trying to Kill Me

I joined a gym last month and a part of joining the gym was a free consultation with a personal trainer. Last night I met with her and she went through my goals, gave me some tips for motivation and then showed me the machines. My warm up was on the elliptical machine which nearly killed me. I've never had five minutes go so slowly in my whole life. Then she took me around to a bunch of different machines where she recorded the weight I could lift and showed me free weight stuff. I didn't feel too bad when I left until I tried going down the stairs. I seriously considered sitting on my butt and sliding down the stairs. My legs were that wobbly. Today I feel like she tried to kill me. My legs are so sore it takes me a good 5 minutes of walking before the pain slightly subsides. I can only assume that tomorrow it will be even worse if I don't work out again. This getting in shape business may kill me yet.

The Rodeo Purse Strikes Again!

I still have rodeo fabric left and wanted to make a purse for my hairstylist for Christmas. So this was what I came up with. It turned out pretty cute. She said she liked it, but you just never know when people are just being nice.

I like the rodeo purse and that's all that counts.

Dirtiest Car Ever!

I actually took the picture the end of January when I let my car get gross. I couldn't wash it the weekend before because it was too cold, but then the weather got warm and my car was even dirtier. I had to post the picture on the INTERNET because I knew it would drive my brother crazy. He has a thing about dirty cars rusting away in winter time. I can almost hear him screaming.

Liar!

That codeine cough medicine didn't work. I took it with the expectation that I would have a lovely nights rest to spend most of the night waking up to blow my nose. I thought codeine was supposed to knock you out? I feel cheated. I spent most of the weekend pretty low key. I went out with friends on Friday night and took a friend out for a birthday brunch Saturday. I babysat Silja on Saturday night which was really fun. We watched Monsters, Inc. three times in a row. I like the movie, but now I pretty much have it memorized. We built a fort, ate pizza and donuts and did our hair. We also did the dog's hair. It was hysterical. I don't think Lily found it as amusing as I did, but she suffered through it just fine. Otherwise I watched movies, cut out my quilt and ran a few errands. The only drawback of my weekend was that I think the allergies are turning into a sinus infection. My molars are starting to hurt, my ears are starting to hurt and the snot is a light yellow as of this morning. Awesome. Just what I need right now.

Medicated Goodness

I went to the minute clinic at Target over lunch today and asked the physician's assistant if there was any way we cut open my head and remove my snot glands. She prescribed nose spray (ick, but I'll do anything to obliterate the tremendous amount of snot in my head) and codeine cough syrup. I'm very excited about the codeine cough syrup. The only drawback will be waking up from a drug induced sleep to find dried snot on my face. But at least I will be able to sleep at night.

The other plus was that I finally bought part of my friend, Sarah's wedding gift today. I have this package I thought up and this item from her registry fit perfectly. Problem was, it was not stocked in the last three Target's I've been in. Until today. I danced down the aisle in delight. Then I found two cute spring sweaters for 50% off and I danced again. I do love dancing. Plus, now I have cough medicine with codeine. Life is beautiful. Or at least it will be.

Snot

I'm full of it. This allergy business has gone on long enough. Yesterday I actually stayed home from work because I was up most of the night coughing and woke up feeling ill from all the snot in my otherwise empty stomach. I know. I'm gross. Very gross. I like to complain and I whine. But INTERNET, I get to whine because when I hit "Publish Post" people are forced to read about my snot. I would laugh maniacally, but it would induce a coughing fit. Yesterday was the most beautiful day and I got to enjoy it when I let the dog out, or when I have to walk the block yelling the dog's name because for the first time ever when I wasn't outside with her she left the backyard. I nearly had a heart attack. Lily will never go outside again without being on her tie out. It used to be that right after she was done eating I could let her out, leave the back door open and she would quickly go to the bathroom and run inside to get a treat. Those days are over now. I walked around the block looking for her and discovered her barking at the back door when I got around the block. I was so relieved (and exhausted because I spent the day sleeping or laying on the couch) I starting crying. Which doubled the already large quantity of snot in my body. Then I realized she had been eating something because her beard was all black with mud. Thank goodness I can't smell because I can only guess that it was cat or rabbit poop. Those are her favorites. Today I'm back at work (I did sleep a bit better last night) and headed to the minute clinic over lunch to see if there is anything else they can give me to drain this stupid snot from my body. I thought I started allergy shots to alleviate this crap. They say it takes six to eight months to feel some relief. It's been only four. If I don't start to feel some relief by May there is going to be hell to pay.

Using Tutoring Night for my own Evil Purpose

It's true. Once we finished her science homework (where I learned all about alleles) we went to work on figuring out the pattern for the quilt I want to start making. I made her figure out how wide each strip is going to be with seam allowances and also how long each strip was. I told her this was a practical usage of math and she needs it for her future sewing projects. That's ok, right? I mean, it was math. Fractions and everything!

I am evil.

Caffeine usage returns

Actually, it returned last week with the advent of an insane work week. I had a couple days where I was the smartest caffeinated person ever! And now I have resumed my "caffeine needed to haul rear end out of bed." One day I will have a coffeepot with a timer and each morning will greet me with the lovely smell of freshly brewed coffee. What a perfect world that would be.

That Guy Standing on my Chest

The pollution in Minneapolis has really been affecting me. It feels like someone is standing on my chest and I can't draw a full breath. It would almost be nice to just have cold weather so I wouldn't be attacked by allergies, breathing issues and slushy snow. Can't it be April already? If I'm going to have allergies it should at least look nice outside.

More Vegas Baby!

These are the pictures my aunt Carolyn took at Christmas. I finally have them posted. Two months later.

Death and Taxes

I did my taxes last night and it nearly killed me. First I was determined to file for FREE. Not spending money like I have the last two years to file electronically, but file for FREE. So, I went to the IRS website to find myself a free service. First, I tried to file for free with H&R Block, but it wasn't logging on, so I tried Turbo tax instead. While I thought their instructions were easier to understand, they certainly did not make it clear that I was going to be charged for filing my state taxes whether I sent them electronically or not. I was disappointed. So really, I only saved $20. But, I guess $20 is $20. It took forever, but I am getting a hefty refund, so I did spend a good half hour repeating the amount out loud and dreaming about all the material possessions I could buy with it. Then, reality hit. First I pay off my car, then get the window fixed, then get new tires, then get the dog's teeth cleaned. The money should pretty much be gone by then. Maybe I can buy a new shirt for myself. That would be nice.