My Wish List. :-)

Currently, I am doing what I do best, and that is procrastinating. :-D In an effort to find ANYTHING to do but actual work (and inspired by Suz), I have been creating my ultimate wish list. I gave myself no rules for making this list - it doesn't matter how much or how little the item costs (or if the item is even available for purchase) - if I want the item, it is going on the list, whether or not I would ever actually buy it. (While I would not be unhappy if any of these items were to find their way into my possession, I do recognize my current budgetary restrictions.)

If you would like to make your own wish list, you can do so by clicking the following link:


The wish list is created by amazon.com, but you can add things to the list from any website you choose. (How cool is that?!?!)

And of course, if you would like to see what I have added to my list so far, you can do so by clicking here:

Happy virtual shopping! :-)

Bipartisan Efforts.

Earlier this week, in a fit of boredom and nostalgia, my co-worker Kat and I were discussing our glorious childhood memories of Hi-C Ecto Cooler. After doing some research into the matter (and discovering that as recent as 2007, unbeknownst to us, Ecto Cooler had been available under a different name), we decided to take action. Kat called Minute Maid to lodge our complaint about the discontinuation of this wonderfully deceiving drink (it was green in color, but tasted of oranges and tangerines). Feeling that simply calling Minute Maid wasn't enough, we decided to take further action by composing an email to President-elect Obama through his website, http://www.change.gov, which encourages everyone to share their hopes for the new government. Despite having voted differently in the election and not seeing eye to eye on politics, Kat and I were able to unite in our common desire to see the return of Ecto Cooler to grocery store shelves. The following was our letter.

I would like to congratulate President-elect Obama on his recent victory. I admired the way the campaign united the country in an atmosphere of hope. That being said, I would like to share my hope for the country.

I would like to see the return of one of the most celebrated drink flavors of all time, Hi-C Ecto Cooler. I have done some research into this matter and found that in 2001, Ecto Cooler had been renamed to Shoutin' Orange Tangergreen and was renamed again in 2006 to Crazy Citrus Cooler, only to be tragically discontinued in 2007. I believe that with the return of this product, the subsequent buying surge would contribute greatly to the economic stimulus this country so despeartely needs. This would be a change for Main Street rather than Wall Street, and its effects would be felt immediately in the hearts and minds of Americans. People from all over the country would be reunited in their joy of the return of this beloved boxed drink. This is change the average American can believe in.

Thank you for taking the time to give a voice to my dream and the dream of countless others.

To answer your question, yes, we get that bored at work.

And yes, we sent the email.

Today is not your day, Murphy!

It is no secret that I often find myself plagued by Murphy's Law, much more often than the majority of people I know (at least from my point of view). Sure, I have what you could describe as mundane days where nothing of particular interest occurs, but most days in my life follow the rule of anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

Today seemingly started off as one of those days, when after waking up at the wee hour of four thirty in the morning, I arrived at my polling location promplty at six o'clock to discover that the line to vote was already enormous. In years past, I have always gone to vote when the polls first open, and I have never had any problems getting quickly in and out. My heart sank as I parked my car and joined the que standing outside in the chilly morning air. I was certain that despite my efforts, I was going to be late to work, which in turn was going to throw off my entire morning.

Surprisingly, the line seemed to move relatively quickly as I steadily grew closer to the door of the building and to the warmth radiating out from inside, and after standing outside for about twenty minutes, I had finally entered the building. At this point, things seemed to slow down dramatically, and I figured I was still in for a substantial wait. Not long after I was inside, a poll worker came down the line asking for anyone with a last name starting with the letters N through Z. Even though I was still standing relatively close to the door of the building, NO ONE in front of me moved, so I was able to walk straight up to the table at the other side of the room to show my driver's license and receive my ballot. All in all, voting took me about thirty-five minutes.

Murphy 0, Me 1

On my way to stop back by my apartment briefly before heading to work, I realized that the poll worker could have challenged my eligibility to vote since the address on my driver's license did not match the address on my voter registration. (What a catastrophe that would have been!) Thankfully, the poll worker simply asked me about the discrepancy in my address, and let me go on my merry way (it probably helped that I live on the same road - I had simply moved into a bigger apartment in the same building).

Murphy 0, Me 2

Since I was now going to be early to work, and I had spent twenty minutes standing outside in the cold, I rationalized stopping at Starbucks to get a peppermint hot chocolate and a protein plate for breakfast (the protein plate includes a hard boiled egg, crisp apple slices, seedless red grapes, a whole wheat mini bagel, cheddar cheese, and peanut butter). Upon opening my wallet to pay for my purchase, I realized I had forgotten to put my driver's license back in my wallet (I had stuck it in my back pocket after showing it to the poll worker). I immediately checked my back pocket for my license, only to discover that it was missing. I momentarily panicked, as normally this would be the time the Starbucks cashier would ask to see my driver's license since the back of my check card isn't signed. Amazingly, the cashier simply swiped my card and handed it back to me.

Murphy 0, Me 4 (One point for the cashier not asking to see my driver's license, and one point for me losing my driver's license AFTER I voted.)

Of course, there was still the matter of WHERE I lost my driver's license. The worst case scenario was I dropped it at my polling location, and someone picked it up and was running rampant around the city using my driver's license to cast multiple votes, for which I would then be arrested on account of voter fraud. Retracing my steps in my mind, I remembered when I stopped back at my apartment I used the restroom. That had to be it - I was certain my driver's license was laying on my bathroom floor. Unfortunately, the Starbucks I stopped at was down the street from where I work, and I couldn't go back to my apartment to see if my theory was correct.

To make an otherwise already long story short, after completing the morning work I took my lunch break to go back to my apartment, and you guessed it, I found my driver's license laying on my bathroom floor.

Murphy 0, Me 5 (In your face Murphy!)

Naturally, the rest of the day has been one of mundanity.

A Penny for Your Thoughts.

Earlier this week, I emptied all of the pennies from my wallet into the Harry Plopper piggy bank that sits by my computer monitor at work (I had AT LEAST twenty cents worth of pennies weighing down my wallet). This morning as I was driving to work, I was going to be extremely early and decided to stop at McDonald's for a fruit and walnut salad and small orange juice, despite having woken up with a severe headache that was making me nauseous and causing me to have no desire whatsoever to eat. (What better way to kill time than by idling in a busy drive thru, right?) After placing my order, the drive thru attendee told me my total was $4.01. As I pulled forward and got my wallet out of my purse to retrieve my money (there is a sign at the drive thru that CLEARLY tells you to have your money ready), I was reminded of my aforementioned penny dumping. It figures after weeks of pennies accumulating in my wallet, the moment I get rid of them is the exact moment I need one. (It is Murphy's Law, after all, which seems to be the predominate law governing my life.) Once I pulled up to the first drive-thru window (I think McDonald's is the only fast food establishment that actually uses both of their drive-thru windows), I handed the drive-thru attendee $10.10. As she entered my tender into the register and was about to hand me my change, she looked over at me and said, "You do know you gave me ten dollars and ten cents, right?" My reply was to chuckle slightly and say, "Yes, I know - I didn't have a penny." A light suddenly came on in her head, as apparently she thought I was trying to engage in some sort of trickery by handing her a dime rather than a penny, when I was simply trying to avoid getting ninety-nine cents in change. Perhaps drive thru attendees are often on the receiving end of pranks, and her mind was on high alert what with today being Halloween and all. You never can tell in this day and age.

My Happy Life List.

My Happy Life List

Every Day, I Would Like To....

1. Set a good example for my nephews and nieces.
2. Write in a journal.
3. Take time out to read.
4. Exercise.
   

Every Week, I Would Like To....

1. Spend quality time with my nephews and nieces.
2. Maintain my close relationships with my family and friends.
3. Do something active.
4. Put money into a savings account.
   

In 3 Months, I Would Like To....

1. Unpack and have my apartment looking the way I want it to.
2. Develop a budget and stick to it.
3. Learn about photography and how to properly use my digital camera.
4. Pack my lunch at least four days a week so that I can save money and eat healthier by not eating fast food for lunch every day.

Before This Time Next Year, I Would Like To....

1. Lose 20 pounds.
2. Rent a chalet in the Smoky Mountains for a weekend getaway.
3. Reconnect with old friends with whom I have lost contact over the years.
4. Find the serenity for which I have been so desperately searching.
   

In 3 to 5 Years, I Would Like To....

1. Pay off all of my debt.
2. Get married.
3. Start a family.
4. Go to graduate school and further my education.

Before I Die, I Would Like To....

1. Visit all 30 NHL arenas.
2. Travel to a foreign country to experience the beauty and culture there.
3. Own a horse.
   
4. Discover and fulfill my life's purpose.
   

What Color Glasses Do You See The World Through?

You See the World Through Blue Colored Glasses

You live your life with tranquility. You have faith that things will work themselves out with time. You judge all your interactions through the lens of hope. You try to get all the facts before forming your opinion. You face challenges with wisdom. You know that all bad things pass, and you have the confidence to see problems through. You see love as the utmost expression of trust. Your relationships tend to be peaceful and stable. At your worst, you can be cool, melancholy, and detached. You sometimes have to step back from emotionally charged situations. You are at your happiest when you are able to reflect and relax.

What Color Glasses Do You See the World Through?

Which of the Five Senses Are You?

You are the Sense of Touch

You are a highly sensitive and easily moved person. You love to get as close to other people as possible. Human connection is very important to you. You are also likely to be an animal lover who loves animals as much as humans. In fact, you like almost anything soft! You have expensive taste in clothes and furniture. It's all about the fabric.

Which of the Five Senses Are You?