tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88882113090249982702024-03-12T20:49:15.073-04:00The Diary of JaneJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-51806635651649850352012-02-15T21:28:00.000-05:002012-02-15T21:32:24.582-05:00Pinterest Inspired Wednesdays - Valentines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CA0jSNPn0HbNcDwTU9P1kWg77M7JSCViAoBwP98gsy2i4EQyWR0Gdm5m8tRn6i8_gkp7QcHrFLWbfpgZM3HNQhhqcTp6Quha5irzHo8PpZxy28rcDTftLGuUmFbvl6X9C2o8Y_y_WBQ/s1600/Pinterest+Insired+Wednesdays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CA0jSNPn0HbNcDwTU9P1kWg77M7JSCViAoBwP98gsy2i4EQyWR0Gdm5m8tRn6i8_gkp7QcHrFLWbfpgZM3HNQhhqcTp6Quha5irzHo8PpZxy28rcDTftLGuUmFbvl6X9C2o8Y_y_WBQ/s1600/Pinterest+Insired+Wednesdays.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week, I am joining Suz from </span><a href="http://www.ncsuz.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">30 Before 30 List</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for Pinterest Inspired Wednesdays! If you are unfamiliar with Suz's blog, you should definitely check it out. Hers is one of the first blogs I began reading, and I have always found Suz's writing to be both insightful and motivating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week as I was browsing through pins, I came across this depiction of the bible verse Romans 12:9-10.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/homegrown_hospitality/2011/03/thought-for-the-day-1.html">{Source}</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This lead me to what turned out to be a delightful blog called </span><a href="http://homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/homegrown_hospitality/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Homegrown Hospitality</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. The author, Stephanie, had posted a PDF file of a Valentine card to print on cardstock and attach to treat bags. I instantly felt the need to create Valentine treat bags for all of my co-workers, so I started by printing the card on both salmon and white cardstock. Several days later on Monday evening, I visited my sister's house after work and took my nieces to Wal Mart to help me pick out candy for the treat bags. Naturally, I agonized over what to get (it's the perfectionist in me), and I ended up with five bags of candy. Surprisingly, we could not find any treat bags throughout the many isles of Valentine's Day paraphernalia. Just as I was about to admit defeat and simply purchase sandwich bags, we found clear treat bags in the Wilton isle.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Upon returning to my sister's house, my nieces began distributing the candy to each of the treat bags and closing them with the provided twist ties, while I cut out the Valentines. As with any creative project I undertake, this was much more of an ordeal than it needed to be. I obsessed over cutting out the Valentine cards with perfectly straight edges, and about making sure the candy was evenly distributed between the varying types. Luckily my nieces know how to handle me and I was running short on time, so I was able to force myself to go with the flow and not focus on everything being perfect.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sun Chips were for the facility supervisor, <br />
who is diabetic. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this point I needed to head for home, but not before giving each of my nieces and nephews a treat bag, along with my sister, her husband, and my sister's friend that was visiting. The next morning when I arrived at work, I punched a hole in the top of each of the Valentine cards (a hole punch was the crucial tool we were missing the previous evening), and tied a card to each of the treat bags with the hot and light pink curling ribbon with which my oldest niece had provided me. All that was left was to distribute the bags! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Putting together holiday treat bags for family, friends, and co-workers used to be a regular festivity for me, but it is something I have not done in several years. I had forgotten the joy of putting a smile on someone's face and brightening their day through such a simple act. While I do not envision myself assembling treat bags for each holiday as I have in years past, I do plan on making more of a conscious effort to celebrate and honor those people in my life who impact it on a daily basis.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwyDcctETnhG43yiCR-RDWtaHMmYditNd2DNFspBZXfFmyY-zMdA9h2f3dlqTcsnj1RKXLH6FshffyiORfbTweswMHukK0pEfTj86rL2SdpJdTQWZLuUVSyy00So9kgV4wDyDxzJ0js0/s1600/Picture+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwyDcctETnhG43yiCR-RDWtaHMmYditNd2DNFspBZXfFmyY-zMdA9h2f3dlqTcsnj1RKXLH6FshffyiORfbTweswMHukK0pEfTj86rL2SdpJdTQWZLuUVSyy00So9kgV4wDyDxzJ0js0/s320/Picture+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't tell anyone, but I kept all of the Milky<br />
Way Midnights for myself! (They're my favorite.)</td></tr>
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</div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-18064066737314160332012-01-01T21:58:00.003-05:002012-01-09T20:23:03.409-05:00Fab Five Goals for 2012.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9X_I68wBMkk/TwEUNwWWjgI/AAAAAAAAAcA/qchYCf-PvRE/s1600/Happy+New+Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9X_I68wBMkk/TwEUNwWWjgI/AAAAAAAAAcA/qchYCf-PvRE/s320/Happy+New+Year.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the New Year's Eve service at church, members and guests were asked to come with a list of their top five goals for 2012. Below is the list I created.</span><br />
<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>FAB FIVE GOALS FOR 2012</b></span><br />
<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. <b>GOD</b></span><br />
<div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Strengthen my commitment to and my walk with God. Discover His purpose for my life and start living according to His will.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Develop and strengthen my prayer life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take the new members class at <a href="http://www.newlifeindy.org/">New Life Worship Center</a> and begin serving in a ministry.</span></li>
</ul></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FINANCES</b><br />
<div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Educate myself about money management and apply the principles to my life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reduce my personal financial debt by at least 1/4 this year.</span></li>
</ul><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. <b>HEALTH AND WELLNESS</b></span></div></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle, by exercising regularly and making a conscious effort to reduce junk food and eat nutritiously.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get to a healthy weight by the end of 2012.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Develop and strengthen my thought life. Write in a journal regularly.</span></li>
</ul><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. <b>ATTITUDE</b></span></div></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Count it all joy in 2012.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn to live life each day with a spirit of gratitude.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn to respond to disappointment, frustration, and other negative emotions with grace.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fill my heart with love, faith, patience, courage, kindness and joy.</span></li>
</ul><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. <b>RELATIONSHIPS</b></span></div></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Commit to making relationships with family and friends a priority in 2012.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Strengthen existing relationships and actively pursue new relationships.</span></li>
</ul><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What are your goals for 2012?</i></span></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-61673930945949626882011-06-07T19:58:00.003-04:002011-06-13T14:23:03.530-04:0030 Second Shred.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXUkhJo29oKaz9yTDMBdEkicKtpKSu5KkneXiTA6Dr5e229CaJxJc62Dn0ECwhKW45smJGc6uJQKCfLMuPZUFSxMdEfubrz_3mXh7SH0qJQd7Dm3P4FqpaHXFCwAjbdCyogLjv97QeSE/s1600/30+Day+Shred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXUkhJo29oKaz9yTDMBdEkicKtpKSu5KkneXiTA6Dr5e229CaJxJc62Dn0ECwhKW45smJGc6uJQKCfLMuPZUFSxMdEfubrz_3mXh7SH0qJQd7Dm3P4FqpaHXFCwAjbdCyogLjv97QeSE/s200/30+Day+Shred.jpg" t8="true" width="141" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This evening I tried the Level 1 workout of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred for the first time. Almost immediately I was discouraged when the workout began with push ups. I barely squeaked out two (on my knees at that) before I was maxed. I failed to make it through the entire 30 second set of jumping jacks, and when "jumping rope" it was all I could do to bounce let alone have my feet leave the floor. Having only five pound weights, I discovered during several of the other exercises that I had to completely forgo using them, five pounds proving to be too much. During the lunging exercises, I was barely able to lower into a squat. To add insult to injury, I was reminded just how inflexible I am during the cool down. As embarrassing as it is to admit all of this, I am further shamed to reveal that I actually cried once the workout was over (and not out of joy or happiness). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no other way to say this - I am completely disgusted with myself. I have let myself become a lazy, lethargic individual who does not want to exert even the tiniest amount of effort beyond what is absolutely necessary in any given day. How the hell did I let myself get <u><em><strong>THIS</strong></em></u> out of shape? More importantly, how do I get myself back on track?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One thing is clear - this is going to be a much longer, much more difficult journey than I had originally anticipated. I just need to remember that everything in life is a process and I will not be perfect at everything on the first, second, or even the hundredth try. <em><strong>It is okay to fail, as long as I keep getting up, dusting myself off, and trying again.</strong></em> As frustrating as the slow progress may seem, taking baby steps to reach my goals is better than taking no steps at all. </span></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-85795153700464423752011-04-15T18:27:00.001-04:002011-04-15T18:31:11.264-04:00Laughter Wanted.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whenever I am in need of a good laugh, the following commercial never fails to deliver the desired result:</span><br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JhlWddAXSRA?fs=1" width="425"></iframe></center><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This commercial is a close second:</span><br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DjGwusHrOtk?fs=1" width="425"></iframe></center><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is your go-to when you are in need of a good laugh (or two)?</span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-61687420366305806662010-11-01T20:32:00.001-04:002010-11-01T20:34:32.764-04:00City of Wonder.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNv6scInFKKcTctpO-Dn5HRIU1hDAYW5j-rzBVtqK30_mQ9s-SCgkJ_VUeeHg2yta7-T20AgxV7JEGxXcBMeAJSby1sUu8x8xqmzPxLBR_N7bHYKqIrFKhoRjXtxLdsn9CwGeBdl1CFQ/s200/City+of+Wonder.jpg" width="200" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi, my name is Rebecca. And I am addicted to the Facebook game City of Wonder.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Having once been obsessed with the games Mobsters and Mafia Wars (I have found that obsessions are easy to come by when one is bored at work), I am aware of just how easily (and quickly) I fall under the spell of things that for all intents and purposes appear to be competitive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">By golly, I want to win the competition. No matter what it is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It starts out so innocently. You begin to build your civilization. Grow your population. Add allies (that is if you are able to convince any of your Facebook friends that it is absolutely necessary to life that they start playing the game). Then, all of a sudden, your slow and steady progress isn't good enough. You want more.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The creators add items that you can "purchase" for your land only through parting with exorbitant amounts of gold. The only problem is, you earn one bar of gold every time you reach a new level. That insane asylum you want (a special just for Halloween - and something you may very well end up needing in real life) costs 35.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But wait - I can take surveys to earn more gold! Except that 7 times out of 10 you don't qualify for the survey - and you can only attempt to gain gold this way once per day. So, countless time is spent attempting to qualify for and take mind numbing surveys, all for a measly four to ten gold each.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then you start dabbling in other ways to earn gold. Buy a subscription to Shape magazine for 28 gold! Sign up for Netflix for 60 gold! Join Columbia House for 80 gold! When you find yourself starting to consider parting with your hard earned money to straight out purchase gold, you have to ask yourself, "Do I have a problem?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The answer is most likely yes, you do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Funny how a click of the mouse can become so addicting, isn't it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Looks like I might have to quit this one cold turkey.</span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-42044648125094091552010-10-28T19:55:00.000-04:002010-10-28T19:55:33.089-04:00The dark side of getting older.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Metabolism,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I suffered deep and utter embarrassment today when at the university health benefits fair I had to divulge my weight to a petite (and very much skinny) younger woman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(Yes, I am at the age now when suddenly because I work on a college campus most everyone must be younger than I am.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(Except for tenured faculty, of course.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(And perhaps the secretaries of the various departments on campus.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I "volunteered" to tell this woman my weight so that she could tell me:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(a) that I am obese according to my body mass index (of which, by the way, the Wii Fit had already informed me months ago <em>thankyouverymuch</em>) and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(b) that my body fat percentage also lies outside of the healthy range (what a shocker there).</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, my older and increasingly loathed (not to mention much slower) metabolism, would it really be so hard to function at the capacity of my late teens/early twenties?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It sure would make things a whole lot easier on me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(And by that I mean I could continue to eat whatever I want, whenever I want.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(After all, the unhealthy choices just taste so much better.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Begrudgingly yours,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">One Not So Mindful Eater</span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-76298671257130496292010-05-07T23:38:00.008-04:002010-05-08T22:05:41.189-04:00World's Dumbest Employees.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJG_QXN1nf5R_7NVRblUQA1AVOvglyqk-8gp23BwgxIlLONmovx4qtidsOlrvytVdGx0YzZtn3NMSjB2s1JmvHtcrQzCKFGtGkASFXK49MKwWjIJlY5JUXn_PdsbJNu42A36PZhwdd60/s1600/World's+Dumbest+Employees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJG_QXN1nf5R_7NVRblUQA1AVOvglyqk-8gp23BwgxIlLONmovx4qtidsOlrvytVdGx0YzZtn3NMSjB2s1JmvHtcrQzCKFGtGkASFXK49MKwWjIJlY5JUXn_PdsbJNu42A36PZhwdd60/s200/World's+Dumbest+Employees.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You've heard of the television show World's Dumbest Criminals, right? Well, yesterday I could have been on the show World's Dumbest Employees.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It all started with a rocky Monday, followed by an email received Tuesday morning that sent me over the edge in terms of anger towards and complete dislike of my job (not the job itself, but rather certain individuals who have the innate ability to suck any and all joy out of the work environment). Having contemplated looking for alternate employment for quite some time, I finally decided to take the plunge. In addition to searching for open positions at several universities out of state, I applied to four positions posted on the human resources website for the university at which I currently work.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My intentions were never to keep my job search a complete secret from my boss, but rather to wait and see if I landed any job interviews before discussing the matter with him. I saw no need to rock the boat and jeopardize what little comfort I have by prematurely announcing my <strike>hopefully</strike> impending resignation. As fate would have it, however, the public announcement of my job search would not occur at my own discretion. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Can you see where this is heading?)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thursday afternoon, a graduate student from another laboratory randomly said to me, "Oh yeah, you applied to a position that was posted by [your boss]." I can just imagine what the look on my face must have been. Color drained, an expression of utter disbelief followed by an unspoken plea for mercy. Least to say, the next time I crossed paths with my boss, he told me to stop by his office before I left for the day. Talk about <b><i>AWKWARD</i></b>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lesson learned? When searching for a new job, only apply to listings that are clearly in no way even remotely related to my current position. In other words, don't be such a dumbass.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-22878861880132208942010-02-17T17:53:00.017-05:002010-02-20T11:21:38.902-05:00Cruel to be kind?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9APz6iA9S_rdlt0VOmFtyeKmFtB-qssbzQoQmcI-RgOAY1gQhJzvuSosSxA51GWf9_cdLBEL2ZxDTmYzWqaOQeDksOBZCIjEeDGkK64UYIsZryP99UrUd-8BKRFfVDH5ieGO4bH5rKQg/s1600-h/Jack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9APz6iA9S_rdlt0VOmFtyeKmFtB-qssbzQoQmcI-RgOAY1gQhJzvuSosSxA51GWf9_cdLBEL2ZxDTmYzWqaOQeDksOBZCIjEeDGkK64UYIsZryP99UrUd-8BKRFfVDH5ieGO4bH5rKQg/s320/Jack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440341872342383714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">A week ago today, I made a decision that I will be questioning for quite some time.<br /><br />Late Saturday evening, January 23rd, I was startled when I caught a glimpse of something outside on my patio as my two cats, Gabriel an</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">d Juliesan, frantically walked back and forth through the blinds. At first I thought the two were chasing an insect that had found it's way inside my apartment, but upon closer inspection I realized the cause of all the commotion was a stray cat sitting directly outside the sliding glass door.<br /><br />It was cold and rainy that evening, so against my better ju</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">dgment I slid open the door to let the stray cat inside. Not wanting to chance any aggr</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">essive behavior between the stray and my two cats, I coaxed the stray to the second bedroom, which is solely the "cat room." Aside from a couple of instances of hissing, the stray followed me willingly and without hesitation. I worked quickly to set up a clean litter box, food bowl, and water bowl for the stray cat, while also </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">moving Gabriel and J</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">uliesan's things to a different location outside of the room. The stray cat started purring almost immediately, and was extremely affectionate, albeit being obviously malnourished and having been outside for quite some time. After determining the stray cat was a male, I decided I could not in good conscience put him back outside to fend for himself, yet I knew I could not permanently keep him either. Although he appeared to be healthy, to be on the safe side I kept him separated from Gabriel and Juliesan.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Fast forward to Monday. In the morning I called the Humane Society to schedule an appointment to bring the stray cat to the shelter. By t</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">his time I had given him a name - Jack. The earliest appointment the Humane Society had was nearly three weeks away, and I knew I was already in danger of becoming attached to my new furry friend. I went ahead and made the appointment, unsure of what else to do. With the appointment so far away, coupled with having discov</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ered blood in Jack's urine, I scheduled an appointment for him with Gabriel and Juliesan's vet to have him examined. At the vet, Jack was given a physical exam, along with a de-wormer (for precautionary measures) and a urinalysis. Jack's urinalysis came back clean, which meant that although he would not need medication, he would need to be put on a special diet. Armed with samples of food and a hefty bill (even with the disc</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ount the vet gave me), I brought Jack back home and got settled in for the next couple of weeks.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Throughout the days leading up to my appointment at the Humane Society, I continued keeping Jack separated. I would visit him in the morning and after getting home from work, petting him and attempting to play with him. (I say <span style="font-style: italic;">attempting</span> to play with him because without fail after the second or third time I would tease him with a toy, he would unintentionally end up getting my fingers rather than the toy with his claws, and they were <span style="font-weight: bold;">sharp</span>. There was no competing with the speed of his reflexes.) Juliesan did not like being kept ou</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">t of the room knowing I was inside with another cat, so once or twice I let her in to see if she and Jack would get along. While Julie is fairly accepting of new and unfamiliar cats, Jack was not so open t</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">o making a new friend, so least to say his interaction with Juliesan was short lived.<br /><br />I could feel myself growing increasingly attached to Jack as each day passed, and I tried the best I could to find him a new home. Unfortunately, everyone I know currently has all the pets that they want. I even put a desperate plea on Facebook, asking if anyone was willing to take Jack in. My resolve wavered between knowing I could not keep Jack (not only because of the stresses it would bring to my already overburdened finances, but more importantly because there is a two</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> pet limit at my apartment complex, and with biannual inspections coming up I could not risk breaking the rules) and trying to figure out a way I could make keeping </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">him work.<br /><br />On Wednesday, February 10th, it took every ounce of my willpower to walk into the Humane Society for my appointment to surrender Jack. Luckily the process was relatively short, as I spent the entire time struggling to hold</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> back tears. Once Jac</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">k was taken out of the carrier I brought him in and placed in a holding cage, he looked directly at me and let out a sorrowful meow, as if asking me why I was abandoning him in that strange place. I turned to leave, and before I could even get through the door leading outside the tears began to fall, and I proceeded to cry like a baby until w</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ell after I reached home.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Every day since, I have <strike>obsessively</strike></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mXEN45jMzvux0ESYGPSx1WBiRqndopPwp7zPH0CWsTQoDDCYMIkXuMo7MO7VKwVjGHZjz04sYIwW7qk0_IJSuCU1H7xdBkHlSyPZ7XVwFppj6Bkn-EwDp7KPiQXxNA89rtc9RLjx7CI/s1600-h/Jack2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mXEN45jMzvux0ESYGPSx1WBiRqndopPwp7zPH0CWsTQoDDCYMIkXuMo7MO7VKwVjGHZjz04sYIwW7qk0_IJSuCU1H7xdBkHlSyPZ7XVwFppj6Bkn-EwDp7KPiQXxNA89rtc9RLjx7CI/s320/Jack2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440356919581948514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> checked the adoption</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> list</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">in</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">g</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">s on the Humane Society web page to see if Jack has been made available</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">fo</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">r adoption. So far, he has been listed under a separate area for found and stray</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> animals, although I highly doubt anyone will claim him. The vet did say he ha</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">d been neutered, which leads me to believe he did at one time have a home, but </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">he was no</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">t microchipped. Jack's listing was also lacking a photograph, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">and without there being a picture of him it is not likely anyone would recognize </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">he is their missing cat, if he indeed belonged to someone prior to showing u</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">p</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> at my door. I have thought several times about going to the Humane Society and trying to get Jack back, but they would probably think me crazy and would not release him to the person who brought him there in the first place. Last night I</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> had a dream that I did return to the</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Humane Soceity</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">. Jack was sitting on an examination table, and when he saw me he immediately jumped down and came over to me, purring and rubbing up against me as cats do when they want attention. It was all I could do to keep myself from crying all </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">over again.<br /><br />Not a day goes by that I do not miss Jack. Unfortunately I was faced with two equally unappealing choices - either put him back outside, or take him to the Humane Society. I chose to take him to the Humane Society with the hope that although it might be a scary and stressful place at the start, someone will see him and fall in love with him the way I did, and will provide a healthy and happy home for him. I just wish there was a way I could have communicated to Jack that by giving him up I was not abandoning him, but rather I was trying to do what was best for him, regardless of the way I felt.<br /><br />I just hope I made the right choice. </span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-73793178346919789202009-12-29T08:28:00.009-05:002009-12-29T08:34:00.313-05:00A late Christmas wish.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU4uVK17rkWD1yOjKCV6uSZMWLJ_QZHkqMT_ImDfSDO9zZ4ZDVroqosotBuETC-7hDWwuCCaO3UQNczdGlBnxtlCT3lyYTbfuHowwvIGYEFMlm4p6FOZGNpChOyDw3IPsVG-fe7e0oYc/s1600-h/Shooting+Star.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU4uVK17rkWD1yOjKCV6uSZMWLJ_QZHkqMT_ImDfSDO9zZ4ZDVroqosotBuETC-7hDWwuCCaO3UQNczdGlBnxtlCT3lyYTbfuHowwvIGYEFMlm4p6FOZGNpChOyDw3IPsVG-fe7e0oYc/s400/Shooting+Star.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420473075639434114" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."<br />Hebrews 11:1, ESV<br /><br /></span></div><hr /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I read the following through <a href="http://www.clevergirlgoesblog.com/2009/12/late-christmas-wish.html">Clever Girl Goes Blog</a>.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><hr /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>"My name is brandy. And I have a <a href="http://brainyjane22.wordpress.com/">blog</a>.<br /><br />And a plea.<br /><br />I use my blog to showcase the crazy I meet everyday, share the stories of the kids I teach and document my love for tequila, dairy products and the abdominal muscles of Ryan Reynolds. Rarely do I talk about personal issues on my blog- as personal as the dude that I adore (who I actually met through my blog- single ladies, let that be a very good reason to blog, the possibility of meeting someone as wonderful as my man), but I need your help. And it involves my dude.<br /><br />He's a guy who made math comics for my class, so they would love learning about addition. He's the kinda guy who sends my friends gift cards when they are having hard times, who remembers every story I ever told him, who was the first person I celebrated with when I got a teaching job. He's the guy who sent flowers to me at school- dozens of my favourite pink roses just because he loves me. He's a guy who has spent a year patiently explaining (and re-explaining) everything there is to know about football during the important games when silence is preferred. He's made me word puzzles and comics and stayed up late playing Scrabble with me (even though I beat him almost every time). He's listened to me cry about school and family and jobs. He is everything I never knew I needed and everything I always knew I wanted.<br /><br />The holidays have hit us hard. He's recently been told he may have something called multiple myeloma- an incurable cancer, that gives a person an average of five years of continued life. Though this news has came as a shock, he continues to be exactly who has always been- spending his time worrying about me, rather than worrying about himself. He's the most selfless individual I know- (he stayed late on Christmas Eve to work, so his co-workers could leave early) and a post like this would never be something that he would promote or encourage but when I'm overwhelmed and feeling helpless, the blogging community has always given me tremendous support and comfort, two things I desperately need at this time.<br /><br />As I write this, the future is uncertain and we aren't sure what's happening. He'll need to see an oncologist soon, to verify what's going on in his body. My hope is that everyone who reads this think positive thoughts and if you are a person who prays, could you add him to your list? (You can refer to him as 'brandy's hot awesome dude'). If you don't pray, please keep him in your heart.This cancer is only a possibility and I believe that the prayers and positive thoughts of people can make sure it never becomes a reality.<br /><br />I want to give a big thank you to the blog owner who scraped their original blog plans and graciously put this up. My goal is to get as many people as possible to see and read this post. If you are reading this and want to help, copy and paste my plea into your blog or send a link through twitter, so more people can keep him in their thoughts. I would be so very grateful (even more grateful than I am to my friend who first showed me the picture of Ryan Reynolds on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. If you haven't seen it, google it. You. Are. Welcome).<br /><br />I realize this all sounds dramatic, a Lifetime movie in the making- but this is life. Right now. And I'm throwing away any hint of ego and am humbly asking for you to pray or think kind thoughts. If you are able to pass this on, thank you and if you know anything regarding MM- please email me (my email is on my blog). This isn't a call for sympathy or a plea for pity. It's just one girl hoping you can think positive thoughts for the person she adores. If my current heartache provides you with anything, let it be with the reminder that life is short, love is unbending and no one knows what could happen next. Maybe it is silly, but I really do believe that positive thoughts can make a huge difference. Thank you for reading this and if you haven't already? Please tell someone you love them today.<br /><br />I did."</blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><hr />Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-85139060561801976332009-12-28T12:11:00.018-05:002009-12-28T13:57:25.814-05:00To go, or not to go....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy54ElaJCFnFdIPfmuVhlP0ZWKfesyR2U2YRpDIXrZ_irHRgs6lcJzEug3L3ykR6eYRwkNeORezlgDDiZQ_9kS-kV9j_1USMr5HEXgcWecWf3JCCJ53eT5-7379yaZG3Ob8xQbrT_a2A/s1600-h/Happy+2010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy54ElaJCFnFdIPfmuVhlP0ZWKfesyR2U2YRpDIXrZ_irHRgs6lcJzEug3L3ykR6eYRwkNeORezlgDDiZQ_9kS-kV9j_1USMr5HEXgcWecWf3JCCJ53eT5-7379yaZG3Ob8xQbrT_a2A/s400/Happy+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420341766162178850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Recently I was invited to a New Year's Eve party through Facebook by an acquaintance from college, whom I will refer to as Double H. I was both surprised and flattered by the invitation, seeing as how I have not spoken to him in over six years (and before you ask, no, he did not merely invite everyone on his friend list). While it could be fun to go to the party, let's face it - I am not nor have I ever been socially savvy. I am more than a bit nervous about showing up to a party by myself where I know <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">a single</span> person that will be in attendance, and barely at that. To make matters <strike>slightly</strike> worse, I noticed today that one of the invitees is a guy I winked at on match.com, whose response was "thanks for the wink, but I don't think you are a good match for me." Thank goodness he is currently listed as not attending the party, as I can only imagine how awkward it would be to run into him should he recognize me! (I shudder at the thought.)<br /><br />All possible and likely embarrassing catastrophes aside, attending the party could result in several positive scenarios. First and foremost, I would be venturing outside of my comfort zone, which I feel is important for me to do if I am going to continue to grow as an individual. I mean, I could actually have fun! Not only that, but it would provide the potential to cross off the following two items from my <a href="http://whatisonmylist.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-new-and-improved-30-before-30-list.html">30 Before 30 List</a>:<br /><br /> 27. Hold a conversation with a stranger.<br /> 30. Make a new friend (one not connected to someone I already know).<br /><br />Knowing I will most certainly chicken out at the last minute if I plan to go by myself, I have thought about emailing Double H and simply being honest about my apprehensions, and asking if he or anyone else would like to meet up before the party and arrive together. Would this be completely and totally lame? Another option would be there is an Indiana Ice hockey game that evening, so I could ask Double H if he or anyone else would want to catch the game before heading to the party. What do ya'all think? What would you do if you were me? <br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-449070842949416442009-11-17T14:14:00.007-05:002009-11-17T14:53:37.790-05:00....and much hilarity ensued.<span style="font-family:verdana;">I just finished reading one of <span style="font-weight: bold;">the most</span> hilarious blog posts of all time, written by one of my favorite authors, <a href="http://www.jennsylvania.com/">Jen Lancaster</a>. Whether or not you are a fan of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Twilight</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and are anticipating the upcoming release of the movie </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >New Moon</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">, I daresay you will find it as hilarious and gut busting as I did. All you need do is click the link below. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/2009/11/new-new-moon.html"><em>New Moon</em>... the Jennsylvania edition</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Go on.... Do it. (You know you want to.)<br /><br />You can thank me later.<br /></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-23561617930565705372009-07-21T15:28:00.002-04:002009-07-22T15:32:16.041-04:00Only in my dreams....<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" >The new 201</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" >0 Lotus</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" > Evora</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" >.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc_dlyXoigE5UsgEOU3JI5CoupaMfgwtK17WJ3J2Tv3t4WVoAT8dpQWt0Ho7xfu5NB6G427P5kyoiXEzFyfhKj1j3WAZUsIfqB3JzbSXB_GKerZ-8G7H3Lok7548EKHU7QNm_sOAgYYQ/s1600-h/Lotus+Evora.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc_dlyXoigE5UsgEOU3JI5CoupaMfgwtK17WJ3J2Tv3t4WVoAT8dpQWt0Ho7xfu5NB6G427P5kyoiXEzFyfhKj1j3WAZUsIfqB3JzbSXB_GKerZ-8G7H3Lok7548EKHU7QNm_sOAgYYQ/s320/Lotus+Evora.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361368980591214722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes please.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-588662751578976252009-07-16T18:01:00.005-04:002009-07-16T19:36:01.960-04:00Honest Scrap Award.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpemX1p3SlU9PQcHpNCMDdBz-UJxz1voni8MHJmtHgaPoKMyvPH0ZI4rRzhPRFeD8NSqikAF9j94evEv_qJVLjEOrUPtbB946iojCyBLwqlZirGG3_0M49oE0vqyXeeZAaWQE-oSibDg/s1600-h/Honest+Scrap+Award.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359181497708554802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpemX1p3SlU9PQcHpNCMDdBz-UJxz1voni8MHJmtHgaPoKMyvPH0ZI4rRzhPRFeD8NSqikAF9j94evEv_qJVLjEOrUPtbB946iojCyBLwqlZirGG3_0M49oE0vqyXeeZAaWQE-oSibDg/s320/Honest+Scrap+Award.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">A few weeks ago now, I was given the Honest Scrap Award by Steph at </span><a href="http://adventuresofjonandsteph.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Adventures of Jon and Steph</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. The rules for this award are as follows:</span></div><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">List ten honest things about yourself that your blogging friends do not know about you.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Give the award away to seven bloggers.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Let the seven bloggers know they have received the award.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Without further ado, here is my list! :-)</span></p><ol><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Whenever I am driving by myself, I almost always sing along with the music to which I am listening. I can just imagine the things people must have thought when passing me or pulling up next to me at a stoplight. :-D However, I rarely sing when there are other passengers in the car. Despite being in choir for several years while I was growing up, there are few people around whom I am comfortable singing.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">One of the things I am complimented on most often is my handwriting. Believe it or not, I have also been told that my handwriting is <em>so</em> neat it is hard to read. Go figure.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">I often think I should have chosen a career in editing. No matter what I read, I am extremely aware of misspellings and grammatical errors. I have been known to correct such mistakes, even when I am reading a book for pleasure.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">For my 29th birthday this past July 4th, I asked for My Little Ponies. That's right - I said My Little Ponies. (Don't judge.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">It is no secret I loathe Britney Spears and think she is a complete trainwreck. Therefore, it pains me greatly to admit I own her most current CD, <em>Circus</em> - and LOVE it.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">I readily admit my biggest fear is losing a loved one. However, I rarely reveal a second fear that weighs just as heavily on my heart - the fear that I will never meet someone with whom to spend the rest of my life.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Since moving out on my own, I have lived in three different apartments. Not once have I fully unpacked and made my apartment into a home. Currently, my lease is up in less than two months.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">At several different jobs I have been referred to by bosses and coworkers as a machine, not only for the sheer number of hours that I work, but because of the speed with which I am able to get things done. I go back and forth between being proud of this fact and being saddened by it.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">I own an inordinate amount of lipgloss - more than any one girl should own in her lifetime.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">If I had the money to spend on one purely selfish desire, I would get a complete set of veneers. My teeth have always been my least favorite physical trait.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">There you have it! I am giving this award away to the following bloggers:</span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Nicole at </span><a href="http://sleepyjane.wordpress.com/page/2/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sleepyjane</span></a></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Amber at </span><a href="http://girlwiththeredhair.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Girl With The Red Hair</span></a></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Suz at </span><a href="http://ncsuz.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">30 Before 30 List</span></a></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Liam at </span><a href="http://liamsar.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Liam's alternate reality</span></a></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sarah at </span><a href="http://storiesofaphoenix.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Stories of a Phoenix</span></a></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Nici at </span><a href="http://ryandnic.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ryan and Nici</span></a></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tudor City Girl at <a href="http://tudorcitygirl.blogspot.com/">Tudor City Girl</a></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">I look forward to reading everyone's responses!</span></p>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-43685498379551986452009-07-04T11:13:00.003-04:002009-07-04T11:17:36.766-04:00Happy Fourth of July!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_pFjlfNzKRA9qnVLtv6blhrC1kGB289VOfpdkjkAJX2XLHoi1zk_DhHnE1t3O1aL9TPh9Hi8PIjZOQIZ2-5TqaIpnEGW9MXK_ersnhYSTkm6AmCpTg2yRI_wLOGxTqYhAl2JUBSleW4/s1600-h/DC+Fireworks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_pFjlfNzKRA9qnVLtv6blhrC1kGB289VOfpdkjkAJX2XLHoi1zk_DhHnE1t3O1aL9TPh9Hi8PIjZOQIZ2-5TqaIpnEGW9MXK_ersnhYSTkm6AmCpTg2yRI_wLOGxTqYhAl2JUBSleW4/s320/DC+Fireworks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354624344456683826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I just wanted to wish everyone a safe and wonderful Fourth of July holiday! I am in Washington, D.C. celebrating my birthday with my best friend Tory and her husband Warren. Today we are going to do as much sightseeing as possible, and then we are going to end the day by watching the Fourth of July fireworks! Least to say, I am super excited. I will post pictures as soon as I get the chance!<br /></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-69632698172717371492009-06-05T16:11:00.013-04:002009-06-05T16:55:31.672-04:00Playtime.<span style="font-family:verdana;">In light of my recent plunge into singlehood, I</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> have found myself taking more pictures of my cat Gabriel than I care to</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> admit. (I am as of yet unsure whether I find this hilarious or pathetic.) Howe</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ver, I recently purchased two cat toys that made for some extremely amusing pict</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ures</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">.<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB2lcNVZTdJSfmATgNfWA5Kyhj0tpZr8AsiwLdCgy9RJy6QRLb0SCkIduKXQYj5G5JmQ1qRfF7FqdusW_ZNAe6tiEUfFWt2WlFzHQONWiUQ09JQe232B0vhsxTrNiWymdUUD9eYxrmaY/s1600-h/Picture+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB2lcNVZTdJSfmATgNfWA5Kyhj0tpZr8AsiwLdCgy9RJy6QRLb0SCkIduKXQYj5G5JmQ1qRfF7FqdusW_ZNAe6tiEUfFWt2WlFzHQONWiUQ09JQe232B0vhsxTrNiWymdUUD9eYxrmaY/s320/Picture+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343941229031616386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Meet Gabriel. He's a Maine Coon/Tabby mix.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22ywyWrkRjp5dnhEZey4pmNBMPnbBCVbVrhmbGjXCHj5Uix4vvBES3sWU2bmrTynCPKkyE2zJmHrmj5esAw9KXrX0tZqBS6Fh5LMGO0sLxPkvFC7HCAz25pNT109VuOn_DOH0k4YfYQI/s1600-h/Picture+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22ywyWrkRjp5dnhEZey4pmNBMPnbBCVbVrhmbGjXCHj5Uix4vvBES3sWU2bmrTynCPKkyE2zJmHrmj5esAw9KXrX0tZqBS6Fh5LMGO0sLxPkvFC7HCAz25pNT109VuOn_DOH0k4YfYQI/s320/Picture+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343941584122443330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The first toy I bought is called a Playser. It has multiple images<br />for endless hours of playti</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">me entertainment.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEu8XAJZFDT4c0NYM-rdAbGLCltsYlhf-Sv5L_SkWs8CNRaH4l1V7cQusKjSTYuIdsl0GKdlr5JzVIcD12kvfPBRdMHyvqjtFRFHz9e9-XRMcwGLuJ7P4tWAHyll5My7OY5HQrra4Zftc/s1600-h/Picture+034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEu8XAJZFDT4c0NYM-rdAbGLCltsYlhf-Sv5L_SkWs8CNRaH4l1V7cQusKjSTYuIdsl0GKdlr5JzVIcD12kvfPBRdMHyvqjtFRFHz9e9-XRMcwGLuJ7P4tWAHyll5My7OY5HQrra4Zftc/s320/Picture+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343941900163246322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">In this picture, you can just make out</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> the red dot by Gabriel's paw.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq7bKm2xJduGh9XyYrzRYa3hK9j20W0dOG4XooaQcgQs-PQLwn1zDL0Smwmmh9ZU2bUiuQObMyj3XM3ZKdNF0nJa9_p2Y7mHBMkXLB8B4b-QwuhBOgG_y1hPh3crjMQ6F2mNjsBRzATI/s1600-h/Picture+040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtq7bKm2xJduGh9XyYrzRYa3hK9j20W0dOG4XooaQcgQs-PQLwn1zDL0Smwmmh9ZU2bUiuQObMyj3XM3ZKdNF0nJa9_p2Y7mHBMkXLB8B4b-QwuhBOgG_y1hPh3crjMQ6F2mNjsBRzATI/s320/Picture+040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343946705231441426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">My favorite is when Gabriel chases the laser image up the wall.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEr0wWfUJJCyH5t6Aqs1nttqeUt5_-63_sSgIRjYR8u9lRrEuHGwuxX213jGo2sK35KEX86q5zSAQFGn7LGndI5nxNSkpb2oOBx_XNpEUQgr29IAWkOVl-VSZxD16-tYHNlIHwPpdveA/s1600-h/Picture+047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEr0wWfUJJCyH5t6Aqs1nttqeUt5_-63_sSgIRjYR8u9lRrEuHGwuxX213jGo2sK35KEX86q5zSAQFGn7LGndI5nxNSkpb2oOBx_XNpEUQgr29IAWkOVl-VSZxD16-tYHNlIHwPpdveA/s320/Picture+047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343943375754188482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The second toy I bought is a classic doorknob toy.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheZjHniP6T4ihYCXeGCLiT_Yp2en2IG72zbyDLD2i92uEDnRHJUaBM_xXPBoWP_evPQ7JpKQC5eZwKi7B4xO4bU8r7POLjQ5hTqWQh_EJCkGsgZXAKMhM_WZyynOHqf5yHoHtsLQsrq0/s1600-h/Picture+048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheZjHniP6T4ihYCXeGCLiT_Yp2en2IG72zbyDLD2i92uEDnRHJUaBM_xXPBoWP_evPQ7JpKQC5eZwKi7B4xO4bU8r7POLjQ5hTqWQh_EJCkGsgZXAKMhM_WZyynOHqf5yHoHtsLQsrq0/s320/Picture+048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343943851152487138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I think I am going to have to eventually get one of these toys<br />for each of the doorknobs in my apartment.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUbalGK_m5dm6xaDM7bnIJpa0JeX7waJWV3UyQ2TESMNFcDtkAdWt0f344lYk3brBkb1Sv8iA-GqaNPuOUX1xTN0P0Mss3e45qpvZG_anIGu7JgXgU7-rjqUBs0vnCG4w1UM0NJqlAmg/s1600-h/Picture+055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUbalGK_m5dm6xaDM7bnIJpa0JeX7waJWV3UyQ2TESMNFcDtkAdWt0f344lYk3brBkb1Sv8iA-GqaNPuOUX1xTN0P0Mss3e45qpvZG_anIGu7JgXgU7-rjqUBs0vnCG4w1UM0NJqlAmg/s320/Picture+055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343944184703562354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Within minutes, Gabriel had already managed to tear one<br />of the feathers off of the toy.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">It certainly is the simple things in life that make me the most happy and bring a smile to my face.</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-75798325073064651762009-06-01T18:53:00.007-04:002009-06-02T11:18:14.942-04:00A Case of the Mondays.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYEXfFA_l_F37ai7LxLRQ0XEMa9dcpP9l3npq53ZEkkObrWtEbv7EZRNrmzxC35-eQAxmiYXtv3QEE2UfB46Fe2T7UeMeJ6HtFjDUP3KBvkqpBjlANUf-NlHe-KH1RFt0mYYThDqGHxo/s1600-h/case-of-the-mondays.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342497181442171090" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 220px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYEXfFA_l_F37ai7LxLRQ0XEMa9dcpP9l3npq53ZEkkObrWtEbv7EZRNrmzxC35-eQAxmiYXtv3QEE2UfB46Fe2T7UeMeJ6HtFjDUP3KBvkqpBjlANUf-NlHe-KH1RFt0mYYThDqGHxo/s400/case-of-the-mondays.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Today, I definitely had a case of the Mondays.</span><br /><ol><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">I turned my alarm off in my sleep, waking up an hour after my alarm had been set to go off.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;">After already running late for work due to the alarm fiasco, my cat Gabriel had yet another hairball, which I then had to stop getting ready for work to clean up.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Feeling guilty about the hairball and despite the fact I brush Gabriel regularly, I made myself even more late by spending several minutes grooming Gabriel in the hopes that I wouldn't arrive home from work this evening to more hairballs (we shall see - I'm not holding my breath on this one).</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;">While getting in my car so I could <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> be on my way to work, I knocked over my mug in the center console cup holder, spilling orange juice all over the passenger seat.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I found out the house I had my heart set on buying (it is down the street from my sister and her family, and would have been absolutely perfect for me) has been sold, which greatly dampens my enthusiasm towards buying a house. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Late last week my co-worker and I ate lunch at Pizza Hut, where I decided I was in the mood for a stuffed crust pizza (which only comes in large, by the way). After working all weekend and forgetting to take the leftover pizza home, I sat the pizza box by my computer this afternoon so I would surely not once again forget it. Naturally, as I was driving to my second job, I realized I left the pizza sitting on my desk - and am now without dinner for the evening. </span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">All trivial things, I know (except for the house thing - I really am upset about that), but it just doesn't make for a good start to the week. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.</span></p>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-80254441734102257442009-05-27T21:36:00.012-04:002009-05-31T12:03:23.806-04:00The End of a Tradition?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxnTQTr55SpeuDDlRYhyphenhyphenWoJRIIFb_zejJfsJcZ9CqelnacZVxhIRA6Wh44fmYSPnFwhqt4o5W6WD7AC0UKDp7r61xr2FbnKc3-8m2UW3nU8VDwmjODaU87OixUH_y19JEQsyRrBAvtUA/s1600-h/Sky+Concert.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxnTQTr55SpeuDDlRYhyphenhyphenWoJRIIFb_zejJfsJcZ9CqelnacZVxhIRA6Wh44fmYSPnFwhqt4o5W6WD7AC0UKDp7r61xr2FbnKc3-8m2UW3nU8VDwmjODaU87OixUH_y19JEQsyRrBAvtUA/s320/Sky+Concert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340683773115197074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Last night as I was watching the news<span style="font-family:verdana;">, a story aired that caused me great sadness. Emmis Communications, a broadcasting company that for the last 26 years has sponsored one of the greatest traditions in Indianapolis (at least in my opinion), is as of now no longer going to sponsor the event due to a lack of funding resulting from the struggling economy. The event I am speaking of is the annual Labor Day fireworks celebration, Sky Concert.<br /><br />Fireworks have been an integral part of my life since birth (I was, after all, born on the Fourth of July). To this day, my father claims that when I was a child, he had me believing the fireworks that always occurred on the Fourth of July were specifically in celebration of my birthday. While I can offer little insight into the truth or falsity of my father's claim (I can recall no memory of ever believing such a thing), there is no denying the fact that I am extremely fond of any and all displays of fireworks.<br /><br />Even though it has been several years since I last attended Sky Concert, it has always been and will continue to remain one of my favorite fireworks shows. I only hope that the economy rebounds quickly and Sky Concert does not remain in the dark for long. </span></span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-85321664029584365422009-05-26T18:24:00.011-04:002009-05-26T19:51:49.075-04:00Outrun the Sun Race Against Melanoma.<span style="font-family:verdana;">I realize it has been quite a while since I last blogged. I was all set with pictures and stories to recount my vacation in North Carolina, when unexpectedly my world came crashing down around me. The day after I got back from vacation, I found out my now ex-boyfriend Brent wanted to break up with me. The man who told me in the beginning of our relationship that all he wanted was the opportunity to prove to me not all guys are the same and that given the chance he would never be like the guys of my past (many of whom hurt me deeply), gave up and checked out of our relationship just when I needed his love and support the most (which is another story for another day). Not only that, but he kept me hanging for almost a month while he "just didn't know what to do," and I did everything I could think of to show him how much I love him and believe in us as a couple.</span> <div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Least to say, I have not been in much of a blogging mood.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">But, there comes a point where you have to force yourself to get back in the saddle and move on with your life. Step by step. Bit by bit. One day at a time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Part of my method of dealing with emotional heartache is to keep myself as busy as possible, which translates to working every single hour that I possibly can at both of my jobs. This time around, I am also including that to mean being open to and taking advantage of opportunities to which I would normally not give a great deal of thought.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Enter Outrun the Sun Race Against Melanoma.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340276486346086610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 70px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56Osq8NZJ5ZUB_yU2YPSzDqRZvOC1LLfX4iQnzwibX3kneeuabxWgpRAiDtmQAk5ISZaYx9xuk_yY9GdTruDDspZzqc-fCN5qvpEpbzNZeFkz4GGHVNQOFyWZszft50mEFFh1Z0FsfJs/s400/Outrun+the+Sun.gif" border="0" /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">One day I got a text message from my friend Mary, asking if I wanted to be a part of her team and participate in a charity walk/run to raise money for melanoma research. I have participated in similar events before, such as Walktoberfest and Race for the Cure, but not in recent years. It didn't take long for me to decide to join Mary's team. Not only will it give me the opportunity to spend quality time with a friend whom I only see rarely, it will allow me to get involved in a great cause. This year on Saturday, June 6th, our team will be doing the one-mile family walk, but I am hoping in the future to train and do the 5 mile run. If you would like to find out more information on the event or to make a donation, you can do so by clicking <a href="https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=310059&lis=1&kntae310059=29066D7347804998B75BD1591BA730F8&supId=256561441">here</a>. Any and all support is greatly appreciated!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In all of this, I have been greatly inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, Amber at <a href="http://girlwiththeredhair.com/">Girl With The Red Hair</a> (formerly from <a href="http://amric1409-lifeasiknowit.blogspot.com/">Amber Alert</a>). Amber recently completed her first half-marathon, and since then has decided to participate in another race, this time for charity. In doing the Scotiabank half-marathon, she will be raising money for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. This is a cause close to Amber's heart, as heart disease runs in her family and both her grandmother and father have had to have surgery as a result of heart attacks. If you would like to give your support to Amber, you can do so by clicking <a href="https://secure.heartandstroke.ca/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=297951&lis=1&kntae297951=0100DF22A5874C9CBD751D925F1F0D64&supId=256219824">here</a>. At the very least, I highly recommend you check out her blog (both old and new). You won't be disappointed!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I want to say a big thank you to those of you who have not given up on me in my lengthy absence. Although I have not been commenting a great deal lately as well as not blogging, I have still been checking/reading each of your blogs daily. Hopefully, this post will be the beginning of the end of my prolonged silence. </span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-81414326440187095572009-04-16T07:02:00.003-04:002009-04-16T07:07:48.488-04:00Goodbye Indiana, Helllloooo North Carolina!<span style="font-family:verdana;">I am sitting at the airport waiting for the departure of my flight to North Carolina. I will be gone for five glorious days (glorious because it means I won't be at work) visiting my friend Emily. I am super excited, although I will miss everyone back home, especially my best friend Tory who is in town visiting from Delaware. I am hoping for warm weather and to be able to break out my flip flops while I am gone! :-) Unfortunately, the high temperature for Indianapolis when I return Monday evening is 48 degrees. Yuck.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The flight is boarding now, so I better go! </span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-33186834544253662652009-04-15T20:19:00.017-04:002009-04-15T22:27:48.155-04:00My First Blog Award!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXChuTQLoD7EejcjzRuwPWiAJTZFpFlmainsvgi2Qval0XkmcwF7d8yLDC1-yLjiQ7FeL9oxWOwV_o5of3MRaXK4BvHRa0TDTWnG2P9och4M-WjQ5C6ccZHL3a40emrgjqiKCLk_xvxwY/s1600-h/Kreativ+Blogger+Award.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXChuTQLoD7EejcjzRuwPWiAJTZFpFlmainsvgi2Qval0XkmcwF7d8yLDC1-yLjiQ7FeL9oxWOwV_o5of3MRaXK4BvHRa0TDTWnG2P9och4M-WjQ5C6ccZHL3a40emrgjqiKCLk_xvxwY/s200/Kreativ+Blogger+Award.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325107850288778978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Recently I received my very first blog award from Suz at <a href="http://ncsuz.blogspot.com/">30 Before 30 List</a>. Most of the blogs I read have at least one, if not several awards that have been given to them, so when I saw Suz had cho</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">sen my blog as one of her seven favorites for the Kreativ Blogger Award it</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> made my day. Suz's blog was one of the first I started reading on Blogge</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">r, and </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">it has provided me with much inspiration, not only in regards to my blog but also </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">in my personal life.<br /><br />For the award I am supposed to list seven thin</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">gs I love, so here goes!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1. Red Lobster Cheddar Bay </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Biscuits - I am in no way, shape, or form a fan of seafood, but these bisc</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">uits ar</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e more than enough to get me to this restaurant (of course, it doesn't hurt that it is also home to one of my absolute favorite alcoholic beverages, the Suns</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">et Passion Colada.)<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiSYNqCdzAPgtYQJ5hlKjjU5MAfwca4RDaG3W99YL2paxTDgWGKvN4RP-f__aThC9ZdoI0p2L6iyTaL-2K_7hVROhCk6z1CPpU7op_bUhNzDEPZypFqQDGsrd8h1jlmHOVY1EJzmVt7Y/s1600-h/Red+Lobster+Cheddar+Bay+Biscuits.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiSYNqCdzAPgtYQJ5hlKjjU5MAfwca4RDaG3W99YL2paxTDgWGKvN4RP-f__aThC9ZdoI0p2L6iyTaL-2K_7hVROhCk6z1CPpU7op_bUhNzDEPZypFqQDGsrd8h1jlmHOVY1EJzmVt7Y/s200/Red+Lobster+Cheddar+Bay+Biscuits.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325092873099891730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />2. Tulip Magnolia Trees - Each year I look forward to Spring for one specific reason</span>,<span style="font-family:verdana;"> and that is the bloom</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ing of tulip magnolia trees. When I am out driving, every time I pass one of these trees it puts a smile on my face, no matter how I am feeling. I hope to one day live in a house with a huge tulip magnolia tree in the front yard.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh516xbqzpUvJnbhp56hgdO7lzx1E93qmjFlu7GzKz8Ix6xO4SxGn_OWB3l1fAHPzvwJR9ewEkXcG4y-JWjO2ChK2JhPfpw5ln3qbfsX8gzq-fXbggvmYCp5ClvAuJBOfAtPcMmmHlh-5Q/s1600-h/Tulip+Magnolia+Tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh516xbqzpUvJnbhp56hgdO7lzx1E93qmjFlu7GzKz8Ix6xO4SxGn_OWB3l1fAHPzvwJR9ewEkXcG4y-JWjO2ChK2JhPfpw5ln3qbfsX8gzq-fXbggvmYCp5ClvAuJBOfAtPcMmmHlh-5Q/s200/Tulip+Magnolia+Tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325097398757241026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />3. Thunderstorms and Lightning - Even though thunderstorms scare me because they often occur in conjunction with the threat of tornadoes, I always get excited at the prospect of a good thunderstorm. I find it incredibly relaxing to be able to sit outside on the porch (or balcony, or wherever) and listen to the rain and watch the lightning. I would lov</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e to one</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> day experience a thunderstorm in the deserts of Arizona.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjEvVwwoNAvyao62VOBRhLJlznSrXd7mExwxqQtSQfkYFJ1NNQXl1XdJJUYjFkS29_UQRwa_YIG3wIKPknDUZXv_96VD8z004bbcaTuwiQuBAy0IcF6AO_8-vlEIPky1UhZUk2vMN9t4/s1600-h/Thunderstorms+and+Lightning.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjEvVwwoNAvyao62VOBRhLJlznSrXd7mExwxqQtSQfkYFJ1NNQXl1XdJJUYjFkS29_UQRwa_YIG3wIKPknDUZXv_96VD8z004bbcaTuwiQuBAy0IcF6AO_8-vlEIPky1UhZUk2vMN9t4/s200/Thunderstorms+and+Lightning.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325105622143833602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />4. The NHL Playoffs - There's nothing better than a hard fought seven game series in pursuit of Lord Stanley's Cup. Speaking of which - today was the first day in round one of the p</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">layoffs. Let's go Red Wings!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nEVN6oVpY617x5z1Z5MR-2UaZWRy6aAIjgy1rGfz92-iHoG8KQZ2EWKwkTqCh_K5dyQJM0GmA1TpzWRgOK44wSxQ1Yto7i9B4ExEu-v5_m__wd7S3IKGdP36OsKEDV_LQxMlaGsN_HM/s1600-h/Stanley+Cup++Trophy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nEVN6oVpY617x5z1Z5MR-2UaZWRy6aAIjgy1rGfz92-iHoG8KQZ2EWKwkTqCh_K5dyQJM0GmA1TpzWRgOK44wSxQ1Yto7i9B4ExEu-v5_m__wd7S3IKGdP36OsKEDV_LQxMlaGsN_HM/s200/Stanley+Cup++Trophy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325106047689671362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />5. Electric Blankets - Brent keeps his house way too cold for my taste, so when I am at his house I am almost always snuggled up with the electric blanket he bought me for Christmas. Enough said.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEsxiUKszS-SHc5IrK40Em3JUqgb4av_2OEDt6ilVNzoheIiDjKCEPV-cTMpgo9ATllqaOkl-dAOzqJUai878OCpqqV_UNp1SVsEAScwLsoHQTypLhlQA0ePnEYdOtSxQ4ticrObldmc/s1600-h/Sunbeam+Electric+Blanket.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEsxiUKszS-SHc5IrK40Em3JUqgb4av_2OEDt6ilVNzoheIiDjKCEPV-cTMpgo9ATllqaOkl-dAOzqJUai878OCpqqV_UNp1SVsEAScwLsoHQTypLhlQA0ePnEYdOtSxQ4ticrObldmc/s200/Sunbeam+Electric+Blanket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325106422796632882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />6. Chinese Calligraphy - I have always been fascinated by Chinese calligraphy. I think it is incredibly beautiful. I w</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ould love to learn to draw a few characters, so that I could paint them on canv</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ases to hang around my apartment.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i_R9EwcDpGWjzpRHl1yUT4o2TpSqTlzVaYvNNizONZaIWcYHGFLOTMUJoU2fvsfTKE3u1TaZWoTG0kPW5ATD6FBqN6x0_1F3AX0ad4ErBOv7KqxRgNfnvpd1cpYhAE02uZ8LkGFRRNU/s1600-h/Chinese+Calligraphy+-Love.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i_R9EwcDpGWjzpRHl1yUT4o2TpSqTlzVaYvNNizONZaIWcYHGFLOTMUJoU2fvsfTKE3u1TaZWoTG0kPW5ATD6FBqN6x0_1F3AX0ad4ErBOv7KqxRgNfnvpd1cpYhAE02uZ8LkGFRRNU/s200/Chinese+Calligraphy+-Love.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325106866999538306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">7. Spa Days - While I have never actually been to a spa, I can only imagine how much fun a day at the spa with my best girlfriend would be. I am a big fan of manicures and pedicures, so</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> surely I would enjoy indulging in the variety of other ways to be pampered at a spa.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJShnWBNljQ5cZ526I1oAbuxp-5otHEygHU4aABSO6fGVulr-QqPDrT4Wfn0muSzg0EAJMN5Ol0bcUeW_IsTgzsTuMdGzdZPDKtq1h-Dh6mUbXl4BM49nYXFm-pRDU4E8rQOEq14n3Eoo/s1600-h/Spa+Stones.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJShnWBNljQ5cZ526I1oAbuxp-5otHEygHU4aABSO6fGVulr-QqPDrT4Wfn0muSzg0EAJMN5Ol0bcUeW_IsTgzsTuMdGzdZPDKtq1h-Dh6mUbXl4BM49nYXFm-pRDU4E8rQOEq14n3Eoo/s200/Spa+Stones.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325107403251009906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />There you have it! I am also supposed to name seven of my favorite blogs to receive this award, but alas, I enjoy every blog I read so much I cannot choose between them all. So, I am passing this award on to everyone on my blog roll. :-) </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-41997344522103923932009-04-14T13:55:00.001-04:002009-04-14T13:55:35.874-04:00Sleepless in Indiana.<span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:georgia;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dear Insomnia,<br /></span><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana;">I've had it with you. This has to stop. Things were bad enough when you would show up unannounced every once in awhile, but now that you have decided to rear your ugly head repeatedly, night after night? You are driving me crazy. As if waking me up in the middle of the night and not allowing me to fall back asleep wasn't bad enough, now you're also causing me to have trouble falling asleep in the first place. I don't know where you got the idea that I like feeling drowsy all day and barely being able to keep my eyes open at times, but you are sorely mistaken. The truth of the matter is, I value sleep greatly, and would much appreciate being able to sleep soundly so I can quit having to give myself pep talks in the morning just to get out of bed.<span style="font-family: verdana;"> That being said, I am sure you understand why I can no longer have you interrupting my slumber. Although I cannot say you will be missed, I do wish you luck in finding someone better suited for you.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Sleepless in Indiana</span></span></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-81906337505552767592009-03-23T19:58:00.008-04:002009-03-31T19:55:36.082-04:00Kids say the darndest things.<p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Friday evening, I received a phone call from my niece Laura. She started the conversation by asking if I was working the following day (which is never a good sign when it comes to a phone call from one of my nephews or nieces). Apparently, she had forgotten about the ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) choir contest she was required to attend Saturday morning, and needed a ride to and from the contest seeing as both her mom and step-dad were working. My sister's children are notorious for forgetting about events and springing them on you at the last minute. Although I was scheduled to work on Saturday it luckily was not until later in the afternoon, so I told Laura it would be no problem for me to take her to the contest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Afterwards, I decided to run a couple of errands and take my niece to lunch at Steak 'N Shake before taking her home. As we were leaving the school parking lot, my niece gave me what she tells me is the highest compliment you can receive from a teenager. She said, "You're cool to be seen with in public."</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">How about that. I'm cool to be seen with in public. :-D</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></p>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-87795687632923645762009-03-20T15:04:00.012-04:002009-03-20T16:36:35.045-04:00Not a morning person (but not a night owl either).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWayu9dL15Yohanx2GLsXKnUcC76IQcAsts_rzF8-eAEbBxKCsGmFOSy4Xexoq8HyHegqkVssqTv9efUJ6q2SfZX1ycay0XMEYvov80hQyWsnnwDkngWh3Mkxsd2KgVXl2WI7GpZTdkA/s1600-h/Alarm+Clock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWayu9dL15Yohanx2GLsXKnUcC76IQcAsts_rzF8-eAEbBxKCsGmFOSy4Xexoq8HyHegqkVssqTv9efUJ6q2SfZX1ycay0XMEYvov80hQyWsnnwDkngWh3Mkxsd2KgVXl2WI7GpZTdkA/s200/Alarm+Clock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315352296733469074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you asked, I would tell you that I am one hundred percent, completely and totally NOT a morning person. During the week wh</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">en my alarm goes off at 6:00a.m. I find myself hitting snooze repeatedly, and by 6:30a.m. I am having to force my</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">self to get out of bed. I would also tell you that I cannot remember the last time I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day (okay, so I CAN remember - it was exactly </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">eight months and ten days ago).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />(That would be July 10, 2008 for those of you who are wondering.)<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">(I know, it's pathetic that I remember the exact date of the la</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">st time I actually felt like I got a decent night's sleep.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />(Don't judge me.)<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">After my alarm has gone off and I am hitting </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">sn</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">oo</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">z</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e,</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">d</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">s</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">p</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">er</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">a</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">t</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcolT6n8w1i8ky7fvZRPy-Copy6pZFwPK43G2Kir3NTgK3HalImhYF16yVIBVF7cHC5Ti8Nzd5LgzLcA-2pid3_uzcjBCVXYMbbBGKOSyEhOJoRg4GlQ076Oro84nIa0Z1Wm7Mz7BuZg/s1600-h/Bruce+Almighty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcolT6n8w1i8ky7fvZRPy-Copy6pZFwPK43G2Kir3NTgK3HalImhYF16yVIBVF7cHC5Ti8Nzd5LgzLcA-2pid3_uzcjBCVXYMbbBGKOSyEhOJoRg4GlQ076Oro84nIa0Z1Wm7Mz7BuZg/s320/Bruce+Almighty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315357962639513266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">ly</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> t</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">rying to ignore the fact </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">that if I do not get out of bed I am </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">going</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> t</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">o </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">be</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">la</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">t</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">e</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> f</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">or</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> w</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ork</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">o</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">f</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ten think about</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">the movie </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Br</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">uce Almighty</span>, wh</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">en Jim C</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">a</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">rrey</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">'s c</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">har</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">act</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">er Bruce is throwing a temper </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">tantrum when he has to ge</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">t out of bed in the morning.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> I often have to stifle the urge to start kicking and throwing just such a tantrum myself. (Seeing as how I sleep on my futon, without it being folded out so it is like a couch rather than like a bed, the reality of my throwing such a tantrum would most likely end with me falling on the floor.)<br /><br />The funny thing is, I know I am more productive in the morning than I am at any other time of day, and most mornings I naturally wake up around 5:30a.m. On the occasions when I actually get out of bed rather than rolling over and falling back asleep, I feel much better than when I have allowed myself to hit snooze. Either way though, I am still generally tired throughout the entire day, and most nights I am ready to pass out around nine or ten o'clock (yet I usually don't go to bed until almost midnight). I find it nearly impossible to wake up in the morning, yet I also struggle to stay up late at night. So, if I'm neither a morning person nor a night owl, what does that make me?<br /><br />I think it might be time for me to accept the fact that I am meant to be a morning person, and I need to start going to bed earlier. </span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-35303860375719897672009-03-12T12:42:00.005-04:002009-03-12T13:03:50.623-04:00Up in Smoke.<span style="font-family:verdana;">There was a fire that started downtown around three o'clock this morning. This is a picture of the smoke from the fire almost ten hours later, taken from the top floor of the building where I work.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeh7E70NjHyGc6VBlNGlx1QuZGDesYhDthnLJt6-p2EqovStOOhFON4allks8ULzpmrdH3o1JPzeZ7372judQE9jk8QWqlEC3uxzEw35GA2Eza-zcqRTCOktMXNFIygqOJESdAUrYSQY/s1600-h/Picture+043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeh7E70NjHyGc6VBlNGlx1QuZGDesYhDthnLJt6-p2EqovStOOhFON4allks8ULzpmrdH3o1JPzeZ7372judQE9jk8QWqlEC3uxzEw35GA2Eza-zcqRTCOktMXNFIygqOJESdAUrYSQY/s400/Picture+043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312343293609393650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is how I feel right now.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Like everything in my life is going up in smoke.</span><br /></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8888211309024998270.post-31350606780237538002009-02-27T13:17:00.008-05:002009-03-25T12:47:07.462-04:00Anitclimactic.<span style="font-family:verdana;">To expound upon my post from Wednesday regarding my social awkwardness......<br /><br />Last night I was at my middle nephew Mitchell's wrestling meet. While there, I saw one of my favorite teachers from highschool, Mrs. McQuiston. I hadn't seen or spoken to her since my Freshman year of college, when at the last minute I decided to apply for a scholarship and needed a letter of recommendation (with which she happily provided me). At one point, Mrs. McQuiston was talking to someone near where I was sitting in the bleachers (I could have reached out and touched her arm if I wanted to), yet I completely chickened out of saying hello to her.<br /><br />Why, I have no idea.<br /><br />Not only was I an excellent student in Mrs. McQuiston's English class my Junior year, I went on to be her student helper. She wrote an entire two pages in my Senior memory book. She also used to visit me in the evenings where I worked at Dress Barn after graduation when she would take her daughter to The Little Gym, which was in the same plaza. And of course, she wrote me that glowing letter of recommendation my Freshman year of college (which yes, she let me read). So you see, I had absolutely no reason to be nervous about saying hello (other than the fact that I'm - well - me).<br /><br />At the end of the wrestling meet, Mrs. McQuiston walked by where I was sitting once again, and this time I was determined to say hello. I got up from my seat, and the conversation went something like this.<br /><blockquote>Me: Hi!<br />Mrs. McQ: Hey! It's been awhile.<br />Me: Yeah....<br />Mrs. McQ: So what have you been up to?<br />Me: Not much. I work at IUPUI in a laboratory now.<br />Mrs. McQ: That doesn't surprise me. Do you have a brother wrestling tonight?<br />Me: No, my nephew wrestles for Eastwood.<br />Mrs. McQ: Ah....</blockquote>And that was the extent of the conversation.<br /><br />I wonder if she truly recognized me and remembered who I was, or if she was just bluffing.<br /></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04114842370822749591noreply@blogger.com1