Monday, January 28, 2008

Two GREAT Ways to Make the World a Better Place!


It's that time of year... you know, the second (or maybe third) sweetest time of year... It's GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME! So, you can help build the female leaders of tomorrow and munch yummy cookies today. Our troop is selling now. There are lots of great flavors - many returning favorites and some new ones too. (Including sugar free chocolate chip!)

If you'd like to buy some, drop me an email, give me a phone call, leave a comment, whatever works. I'll trust you to get me the money. But I got the paper work late so let me know pretty quickly (due to a mix-up back at headquarters - I just love being able to blame headquarters because for once it's not me!)

On another note, Elizabeth is doing the American Heart Association Jump for Heart event again. If you would like to pledge some pennies or even a few dollars to help her meet her giving goal... that would be SUPER DUPER! You can give directly via Elizabeth's private web site.

WOW! Two great chances to make the world a better place and you don't even have to leave the comfort of you computer screen!

(edited to fix a link)

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Let's Tango

Elizabeth and I were doing the Tango using office chairs. After humming the music for a while we decided we need real Tango music. I gotta say this is a lot cooler than our office chair version.

Just Shoot Me Now!

I'm not kidding. Would someone just come over and shoot me in the head. Have you ever noticed that some days the bad things seem even worse than they really are? Well, today was one of those days.

Today we had an all hands meeting with the real big-wigs at work. They spent the day meeting with various lines of business to confirm that 1000 people will be laid off. Yes, that's one thousand people out of three thousand five hundred. Not very good odds, if you ask me. The good news is that my area is not slated to be included in the initial wave of 1000. But when they're making those kinds of cuts its hard to feel safe anywhere.

I'm trying to refinance my house because I have one of those predatory loans that you keep hearing about. But with this news should I do it? I don't know.... It feels really scary. You know, there are no guarantees anywhere?

After work I went to pick up Elizabeth at her after school program (they call it SACC.) Tomorrow is a Teacher Work Day so the kids don't have classes but SACC is open because it's not a school holiday. The SACC leaders decided to have the kids put on a little play tomorrow. They invited the parents. That sounds cool, doesn't it? It sounds like a creative, fun, event that teaches kids life skills and helps to build their self-confidence. Cool, right? Wrong. They're having the show from 2-2:45PM. What friggin' parent can get to the school for a play from 2-2:45PM? I mean let's be real.

Elizabeth asked me if I were going to go and when I said no she proceeded to have a 20 minute hysterical fit about how I don't love her, I never go to her school events, and my job is more important than she is. After she calmed down and went away I called SACC. I asked that they reconsider their policy/ program/ whatever of having plays in the middle of the day (this is the SECOND time they've done this.)

The lady went on to give me a lecture about how kids are resilient and I'm not scaring her for life and why should I ruin it for all the other kids and I was just being too soft hearted with Elizabeth and letting her manipulate me. I needed to be a firmer parent, she said. Gesh!

Well, I showed her... I proceed to cry in her ear for a good 15 minutes. And I don't mean whimper - no this was big bawling sobs of crying. "It's more complicaaaated than that" I wailed, "you don't understand what my job is like." Sniffle. Sniffle. Sniffle. "This isn't about being re-re-resilient or ten-en-ender hearted. And why-y-y did you set i-i-it up to make work-ing-ing-ing moms the bad guy." Sniffle. "Doooon't you think I-I-I waaant to be there?" Ha! I think it will be a long time before she tries to lecture another parent. Although, I'm really not looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.

So after that fun, I went in the house and started to prepare dinner. I got the chicken out, seasoned it, and put it in the pan to cook. I heard a huge bang, saw a bright flash of light, and sparks started to spew out of my burner. Then the stove died. Hmm, that was fun. Hey, I know, let's do it again tomorrow.

Oh, and does anyone have any good recommendations for electric stoves?

Monday, January 21, 2008

Wonder