The Joys of Life!

If you remember, I got a promotion a few weeks ago. It's been a learning process, and I've handled it pretty much in stride. I have some tough to handle days, but that is to be expected when you work in PR. And I've also had some easy days. Today was probably 50/50.

One of the most favorite calls was from one of our media contacts asking me if the hospital has had an influx of babies with the name "Barack" or "Obama." Are you kidding me? I checked, and not only is there not an influx; there are none. Shocking, I know. Because everyone gives some good, long thought into naming there son Ethan Barack Smith or Jason Obama Miller. :)

And top top off the stress, I've been rocking some sinus pressure and headache with a side of temporary peripheral vision loss thrown in for good measure. I'm convinced all of the headaches and eye issues are due to stress, because for as long as I can remember, I've never had one on a weekend. Only at work. Go figure. I'm going to give it a few more days before I get it formally checked out. I tend to be a little bit completely over the top about illnesses, and the thought of having a brain tumor has seriously crossed my mind more than one time in the past few days. Let's pray it's just stress.

AND luckily I made it to work today because I was almost in a really bad accident on the way to work. Good thing someone invented anti-lock brakes. I'm just sayin'.

Phew.

But, in fun, completely stress-less news...it's just a little over one week until we take a little weekend trip to see Matt, Erin, and Logan! Seth and I took off the Monday after the Superbowl so we could stay a little longer. We're looking forward to visiting them!

And I'm talking to one of my absolute best friends right now about our spring break trip to Florida in 2005, and I am laughing so hard. She knows how to break the stress. Here we are on the trip:

Now, to really top off the de-stressing, I'm going to curl up with my new book, make some tea, and chill. And not check work e-mail the rest of the night.

Hope your night is stress free! :)

My Thoughts

I'm not really into politics, and I knew I wouldn't be able to watch much inaguration coverage at work. But, my friend and I went to her house over lunch to watch some of it so we felt like Americans, especially since it was an historical election.


Of course, I didn't see nearly all of it, but here are my general thoughts of what I saw (in bulleted form because work has my mind in a whirlwind of craziness and bullets are just easier):

1) Laura Bush is always so "put together." She is as cute as a button and just looks like a first lady. Michelle Obama is also a cute woman, and seems very genuine. But, oh, that outfit. Moving on...

2) George W. Bush seems like such a gracious man. I think I may have gotten a little teary when him and Laura walked up into the helicopter and waved good-bye. My friend and I decided that he probably sat down, cracked his knuckles, and let out a long sigh while saying "So long, suckas..."

3) And the Obamas were standing there waving and thinking "Oh boy, here we go."

4) Obama's speeches are generally really good content-wise. Sometimes, the inflection of his voice when delivering them makes me crazy, but the content is usually great. Imagine my shock when I found out that his speechwriter is basically my age--I believe he is 26. That's so cool...imagine his resume!

5) I missed the oath part, which bothered me. That is what I wanted to see. I'm thinking I'll see it 1,982,983 more times tonight though.

6) The amount of people that were in attendance made me a little crazy, even through the TV. I don't know how those people handled that in such tight quarters. I would probably have a panic attack (or my hands would start itching because that is the weird thing that happens to me in large, germy and crowded areas).

And finally...

7) The benediction. What was up with that weird, racially toned "prayer" for our country? Someone needed to remove him from the stage. I'm just wondering what he was thinking when he wrote that prayer and why, oh why, he thought that would be fitting for a day when we speak of unifying the country. Even though it was based on an old civil rights chant, I'm thinking that many people besides me won't think it was very funny. I figure he'll be the top story tomorrow on the news.

That about wraps up my coverage until 2012. ;)

What were your thoughts??

Wishful Thinking

Boy, when you wake up and it is -1 degrees out there and doesn't get much above 10 degrees or so all day, it really makes me want to take a little vacation to someplace warm. Like, oh, the Caribbean! That was so nice 2 years ago leaving to go somewhere really warm when it was so cold here. I was bored today, and was going through pictures and came across our honeymoon. And now, I'm all nostalgic and want to go back! Let the saving begin! :)

Murphy's Law

Remember when I shared my Murphy's Law baking fiasco? Well, today, Seth and I got to experience the Murphy's Law home ownership fiasco. And only 15 days into the year. Super!

Ever since we got that sleet and freezing rain last week, our heat pump outside has been a little weird. A nice little mix of noise and inefficiency. About 2 days ago, it looked like a big giant block of snow, which was completely inhibiting the air flow through the unit. I knew something wasn't right but I like to live in denial when it comes to home repair.

So Thursday night, when the unit sounded like an army helicopter from inside, I did what any good money saving housewife would do. I bundled up, grabbed a flashlight and wooden spoon and went to work. (Yes, I said wooden spoon. Go-to google said that when scraping the unit, do not use anything sharp. I figured it doesn't get more blunt edged than a wooden spoon). I scraped off what I could but decided that to really clear it off, I would dump hot water on it. (What?! Like you wouldn't try that!?) I was so pumped when I realized it worked and instantly quieted the machine. SUCCESS! ON! MY! OWN!

Too bad that when Seth came home at 10 p.m. and I went to show my handywork, the unit was no longer enclosed by snow, but it was enclosed by a block of 1 inch thick, unscrapable ice. Crap.

Anyway, the home repair man is here right now. He told me I have two options. One, replace the defrost something or other as well as this frickity frack thing for $1040 and two, because the unit was getting old, replace the entire indoor and outdoor unit for the bargain price of $10,000. I may or may not have said "or use an electric blanket for the remainder of the winter." Whatever, I picked option 1. Because at $10,000, that thing better be bedazzled in diamonds.

Now I realize that $1040 for a major heat problem isn't that big of a deal. Except, my friend, that Seth and I decided that we would not renew our home warranty this year because why would we pay $500 a year for something when we didn't even use it last year?

Yeah, you get my point.

The Terrible Twos of Bentley

I think Bentley is in the "terrible two" stage that kids go through. He never used to destroy toys, but has been a lot lately. In the last week, he has eaten two toys and has um, rid himself of them in the middle of the night.

And he's been a little whiney and a little sassy.

On Saturday, he wouldn't stop whining by the back door to go outside.

I started saying things in a funny high pitched voice to get his attention and to get him to come into the living room and step away from the back door for one.single.second.

And I was beyond shocked when, while laying on the couch in the living room saying "where where is is my my bubba?" in a silly voice, Bentley casually and quietly walked into the room, leaped up and sucker punched me in the face with his paws, knocking my glasses off and scratching my face, and casually walked out.

I was absolutely speechless, but a few minutes later secretly cracked up laughing.

I guess he just had to pee and was sick and tired of me tormenting him with a stupid voice.

Oh the joys of puppies. :)

My Not-So-Resolution Resolution

Oh it is so on. And by "on" I mean getting back to the healthier eating, going to the gym multiple times a week, and all around trying to be...better. The holidays were bad, bad, bad, but my co-workers and I decided as a group we would not sabatage each other anymore and would work together to make it happen.

We wanted to start a Biggest Loser competition in the marketing and PR department like HR did, but we know we'd be the only 4 to participate anyway, so we'll do it as a side challenge for ourselves.

I don't make new year's resolutions because I think they're silly, but let's just say if I did, I would totally be cliche and say "my new year's resolution is to lose weight and be healthier this year."

Seth already sort of jumped on the high fructose corn syrup train--ahem, Ran boys :)--so tonight I bought organic ketchup as the first step. I guess someone told Seth that if you want to eliminate HFCS, the biggest culprit is ketchup, and turns out, we needed ketchup. Little steps, people, little steps.

And apparently, everyone in central Pennsylvania also thinks it is a good time to join the gym and work out. I could hardly get a machine at the gym it was so insane. Not to worry, the regulars say they'll quit by February.

I haven't been to the gym in a few days weeks, so it was especially hard tonight. In the words of one of my all-time favorite bloggers, Big Mama, "I spent the first 10 minutes on the elliptical thinking I was going to die, and the last 10 wishing I would."

Amen, sister! Here's to eating fruit and carrots and needing your husband to help you into your pants because you can't move your lower body!

A Short Explanation

I really haven't been the best about posting lately. It was so nice to enjoy some time off from work to get some things done, spend time with Seth and family, and relax. Yesterday, I got back into the swing of things at work and have been super busy.

Plus, now it seems I have come down with some mysterious headache/backache/stomach ache plague. So, in the interest of getting better quickly and not being miserable (or making those around me miserable), I have been doing some major relaxing laying around doing nothing whenever possible.

I am well enough to read other people's blogs right now, just not well enough to write things on mine.

Blahhh.

Awesome giveaway!

The Secret is in the Sauce is giving away one of my new favorite things: the Keurig Platinum Brewing System. I don't really drink that much coffee but my sister-in-law told me they make hot chocolate K-cups and you can just do hot water for tea too! I'd be super, super pumped if I won this.

Enter the giveaway if you want a chance to win one too! :)

First Rule of Puppy Ownership

Like children, if they are too quiet for too long, they are probably getting into something they shouldn't be.

Lucky for him he's cute.

Happy 2009!

I've never really been that into New Year's festivities. To be honest, I sort of think they're overrated. I'd be more than happy to sit at home in my pajamas watching Friends on DVD. Seriously, a person can only deal with so much Kellie Pickler on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (or whatever it's called) before they want to poke their eyes out.

Seth isn't really that into it either, so it works out well.

However, he must have gotten into it a bit more this year because at 3:00 a.m. this morning, he shouted--yes, shouted--in his sleep "GOODBYE 2008!"

I kid you not...we almost had our first ER visit of 2009 because I was thisclose to falling out of bed and hitting my head on the dresser he scared me that bad.

So, goodbye wonderful 2008. Seth will miss you.