It's Monday - after a LONG weekend..

And this weekend included, I think, all 7 of the deadly sins, sloth, gluttony, greed, sneezy, dopey and doc... yeesh - I'm too old for all this.

As you know we left Tuesday - partied hard all flipping weekend and to cap it off... we arise at 0-6AM and Bubba drove back to DC like a man running from the law or his father-in-law's gun. Now I don't have any indication that either is true - simply an analogy. (go look it up) A bit of a family spat as I was tired, as was Bubba, and he apparently hurt his back sometime during the weekend... lifting leftovers out of the fridge-- it was a bit tense for a bit... then hung around the house trying to figure out if I was too tired to care or just didn't care about (insert topic here).

Managed to get myself up, dressed, and packed up to head to the Steeler-Raven game - in Baltimore. Yeah I took a lot of "foolishness" and of course it went into OT, and of course they freaking lost... FOURTH DOWN AND FIVE YARDS AND HE RUNS UP THE FIELD... who is this defense? Some relation to the Detroit Lions???!!!! Yeesh - that game had all seven deadly sins too, third string QB, beat up defense, crappy play, OT, field goals, drunk fans - (wait that was me) a LONG drive home (I was happy before the game and sober as a church mouse by halftime - should have kept drinking...)

Got home at 1:30 AM - yeah - was greeted by puppies, one went to bed, one puked on the carpet which delayed said bedtime but another 30 minutes... slept like the dead only to have attempts made to raise me from my dead position... it was punctuated by this witty exchange...

"HEY! What happened to the carpet down here?"

"Uh?"

"The carpet - this stain"

"uh - dog puke"

"You're going to need to hit this spot with some stain remover"

"No! Really Captain Obvious? Thanks for the update...zzzzz"

Insert door slam and the perky Today Show banter... and that boys and girls was a literal translation of the morning... only I don't think I was speaking clearly until we get to the Captain part.

So, up showered, dressed, at work, conference call after conference call, sudden influx of stuff to do and it's almost time to go home - but I have things to finish and I'm going to be here a while. Oh and I've got to go to the store to get something besides turkey for dinner and then go home and cook it...

On the up side I did manage to make a list of what is done and not done for Christmas gifts - and part of that list I can get close to work which will make life easy - and my to do list has just gotten longer. I need a day off... (yeah I know - just had 5 but I was too busy to get other stuff done) cripes.

More later - probably tomorrow the morning of conference calls... zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Is it time to go home yet??

On one hand parts of me are saying that on the other - why leave Mom's cooking and now play time with Baby M? Spent Black Friday with the in-laws and now I know why they call it Black Friday... (joke people laugh)

Didn't do any shopping - but I should have all we did is hang around the house, eat and play cards - not a bad day until you find out that you have been completely cut from the in-law family gossip circle. I know when Bubba knows something he never tells - for reasons of his own; like his complete embarrassment of his family's decision making abilities and well because he hates it when I gossip to my side of the family... frankly we gossip about our own so what the heck is the difference? I mean really - and remember I'm a woman and if we don't tell someone we'll explode - literally it's been written up in medical journals - go look it up.

The gossip? You expect me to tell you? People please - let me put it this way... God hates me. Now I have it on good authority that my ticket to the fire-y depths has been punched for a number of years- yeah mostly due to the gossip factor and the restrained need to commit murder of my fellow man on occasion - but hey I haven't acted on it yet... YET. I have a misguided belief that I am generally a good person - I help young people and old people I'm working on my sailor like language and I'm good to my animals - any gooder and they will take over - but that's another story. (and yes I know gooder isn't a word - it worked here - deal with it)

My mother-in-law was surprised that I didn't know the big news in the family - apparently she has forgotten who she married and to whom she gave birth. Tell either her husband or her son any national security secret and unless you force either one of them to spend more than 2 days with their family - they won't tell... screw that they won't tell regardless... they don't talk - to ANYONE. Most particularly their family!! It's a Bubba male family secret in each house there is a trap door, when one's wife is nagging-calling-generally attempting to engage said spouse they hit the secret panel and slide inside to their secret man-cave. I have searched my house, and my mother-in-law's for this panel, the button, anything but have not yet been able to crack the code of the disappearing Bubba (and father - he's much better at it!).

Any-who...so when the other niece spilled the beans on they way to lunch - which was probably a good thing so I had time to compose my face, my feelings and the urge to smack my mother-in-law upside her head it was all good. And when the niece came in that evening I didn't blurt out something touching and sensitive like, "Putting on a few pounds aren't you dear?" and then would have been hit with the baby news... (I just let that out didn't I?--- saucer of milk table for one)

Oh and to you residents of PA - keep working you are now supporting 3 -- more to come I'm sure as apparently birth control is entirely too complicated for this particular member of the family to figure out... (sorry that milk has gone a bit sour hasn't it?)


BUT!!! On the upside - get to see the nieces that are still fun today - as they are ages 6 and under and it's all good... we're going to eat Chicken wings and drink beer tonight and then Bubba is going to roll my fanny out of bed at o-dark-30 to beat the Thanksgiving and hunting traffic on the way to the woods and back to DC...

Today will be a good day whether it wants to be or not - it has no choice. I have decided. Off to enjoy my day dammit - enjoy yours and we'll chat when I get home - and pre-football... look for me at the Raven's game - wearing Black and Gold of course.

Happy Thanksgiving...

Or in the immortal words of Auntie Mame (played by Rosiland Russel) - pipe down kid your Auntie is hung... sort of. ;-)

First - the non-official reunion of Kiski Area Class of 1985 - OMG 1985?!!? Yeah well that said I wondered why I drank! (NOT) LOL Met up with lots of friends and spouses talked, laughed, and generally remembered things best forgotten. But it was super-fab to see everyone - and learned more folks that just my Mom and my friends in DC read these words on a regular basis... (yikes) I have pictures on my new digital camera... but currently no way to get from camera to computer... I will deal with it when I get home. Hey - if it isn't technology I make I don't deal well with it - but take heart I will figure out a way to put my mug up on my Facebook page.

So enjoy your family and their singular ability to know that one button they can push over and over again that just makes you nuts - and for the fact they are there to push that button.

Hug a loved one, eat too much and remember all the blessings you have - as we all have them in abundance.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and family I love you all.

We're here....

Ok technically we were here last night and will begin our first tale... the trip to PA - part one known as the ride...

First a quote, "I will be home about 6:00 which should get us on the road by 7:30 and we should beat some traffic." -Bubba.

Actual arrival time home last night - 8:40 PM.

Oh we're still beating traffic but it might be a push for the Wednesday morning folks... we'll get to that.

So, I left work at the time I spoke that morning, (and maybe a bit earlier) went to the post office and mailed my book, and in a moment of complete selfishness went and had a manicure. Tuesday evenings are quiet - I will have to remember that one. And I've wandered... So, said manicure is done - nice fall color to show off the anniversary bling, and homeward bound. Let the dogs out, marked the book I mailed as mailed, and packed myself, the dogs, cleaned the kitchen and sat down to wait... and wait... and wait... got hungry, microwaved a bit of dinner, fielded 6 phone calls for the girls group, and still I waited...

He finally called. 45 minutes later he arrived home, I had half the car packed, his sandwich made and I was ready to GO! 40 minutes after his arrive home, he had managed to eat, pack, and get his fanny into the car.

I drove - why? Because I knew if I didn't drive we wouldn't have left last night but o-dark-30 this morning I don't like o-dark-30. So I drove. OK so we're on the road, we have snacks, but we need liquid refreshment... I should have known better but I let Bubba go into the store alone and get what he wanted. Me? Diet Coke, with caffeine - simple.

Now let me pause - how long would it take you to go into your local convenience store select two items to drink, pay and get out. 5 minutes? 10 with a wait at the checkout? Try 15 minutes... now we could shave a few minutes off because of the line at the cashier - BUT if you hadn't PUTZED AROUND FOR 10 MINUTES the line would not have formed and you would have been in and out in under 5 minutes.

No, Bubba with his wounded foot and slow moving person, took - 10 minutes to buy - one bottle of diet coke and one bottle of water. When asked upon his return to the car what the heck took soo long for said purchase - "I was looking for something they didn't have."

Now ponder this - it's a gas station convenience store - with a wall of glass doored drink displays - 10 minutes to walk back and forth SERIOUSLY?

So in the time he pondered what they didn't have he finally made a decision, had to stand in a line that wasn't there 5 minutes ago THEN finally pay and get on our way... but wait!

There was a discussion as to whether or not we would indeed head north last night or o-dark-30 Wednesday morning. As I was driving - off we went - plus, me the dogs and the car was packed - we were leaving.

And so the trip has begun boys and girls and it's already fun fun fun. Old people with hearing going speaking past, around, and under each other then looking at you for some sort of confirmation... is 9AM too early to start drinking?

So - we're off to shop or wonder at the marvels of K-mart and the dollar store. Will the fun never end... and is there any way I can drop 50 pounds by tonight? (Meeting high school friends tonight... yikes!) Yeah didn't think so... screw it love me for me and get over it.

Back later with news from the family front... it's a party!

Story Time!!

Ok boys and girls gather 'round because this little tale came from the weekend of surprises, prizes and other such fun things. Now this tale is intertwined with the events of Saturday which were to say the least stressful and unhappy - but this tale is just proof positive of the little joys life can bring you - if you just look close enough...

Now let us begin with the scene - the front yard of our home, where as leaves are want to do this time of year they are turning colors then falling from the perch - on to the LAWN. As the lawnmower has been giving the death rattle of all things mechanical basically all summer 'we' simply cannot ask it to do it's fall job - that of mulching the leaves for dumping into the compost pit or into the environmentally friendly brown paper bags used for said compost... Oh no boys and girls in this era of high tech and mechanical everything Bubba and family go old school... the rake -- BUT wait! Bubba decided while I was off dropping off the sliced turkey for dinner Saturday night - he would break out the underpowered leaf blower and blow all the leaves off the lawn and into the street right in front of the house. So then when Bubba's wife comes home (that would be me - please pay attention) SHE can stand in the middle of the street with the rake and the big brown bags and scoop up all these leaves and pack them down so we only use 2 bags when 4 would have done the job quite well. ...

Yes - let me repeat that in slow and simple words, Bubba in his wisdom MOVED the leaves from one space to another - so that they can then be bagged up by ME and set out for the County to pick up. NOT thinking of his darling wife of 20 years who must stand out IN the street and bend and scrape all this mess up while cars go whizzing by - BLOWING THE LEAVES BACK ALL OVER HECK'S HALF ACRE!

I won't even begin to document the overwhelming joy I felt about having to deal with the wet, soggy, nasty, rotting leaves underneath it all that were already on the street, been rained on, washed over, and driven over -- repeatedly -- that he now insisted must be dealt with. Seriously? Deal yourself.

Now I can only explain this behavior as 'man-thinking' because no woman in her right mind would have pulled this kind of stupidity. We would have made piles on the lawn, scooped into said composting bags and dealt with things on the lawn - NOT in the street - and been done without the risk to bodily injury and dealing with mucky-mucky and icky mess already present on the street. We don't do icky mucky-muck. Ever.

Now needless to say, I had several pressing issues that kept me going back into the house to deal with - laundry, soup on the stove, had to pee, needed water, my hair needed combed... you get the idea. Bubba did complete the mucky-mucky parts and we finished in plenty of time to make the dinner.

Now the lesson here boys and girls? Think before you blow-- leaves. Into the street as cars go driving by at a non-sedate pace is NOT a good idea - also asking your wife to stand in said street to clean up the bigger mess you made? Also not kosher.

Welcome to my daily life of little joys and moments not to miss... also known as - I can't believe I haven't conked him on the head with a frying pan yet.

I will post when I can over the weekend, we'll see what time I make, and what family fun I can stir up. Frankly I don't think it will take much... we'll start with the trip to PA...

Oh what a weekend...

First it was Oh - so - busy... There was yard work, turkey to carve, cart, and consume, more yard work, shopping for a rare Sunday meeting, laundry and of course the every-now-and-again major martial spat.

Fun? No. Basically none of it. Oh the dinner was nice, a lot of work but I have at least 1 dinner out of the deal, and a gallon of turkey soup. But per usual - Bubba was a butthead but then lately anything dealing with these organized groups he's cranky. I enjoy it. I like doing with others and enjoy other people's company - but he doesn't - and he says it is a the expense of things getting done at home. Now this was part of the 'disagreement' that ensued this past weekend, but for every point Bubba made I had a counter point of things done. And yet - he persisted. Logic does not enter into martial spats - it's a fact of life.

For a list of things that didn't get done .... Friday, up, drove to work, for meeting that didn't happen, drove home, turkey in oven, dining room table, cleared, covered and dressed, spots on carpet tended to, put living room together, tucked away paper work lying about because Bubba won't put it away, cleaned kitchen, cooked dinner for husband, loaded, washed dishes, continue to check work email and produce a paper for work, kept memorizing my story for Friday night, took care of the dog's dinner, dressed for the meeting, drove to my friends then went to a meeting. And that boys and girls was Friday.... oh and did I mention the fight with my brother? Who at the time was sporting post-op pain sans the good drugs? AND put together a family on-line calendar? - which was scoffed by said Bubba... and have received NO reply from any family member-- like I expected one.

Saturday saw yard work, a fight, carving a turkey, slicing open a hunk of my finger, Bubba 'helping' with slicing of the turkey, went to Lodge, dropped off turkey helped get things set up, came home, made myself presentable, went back to Lodge with Bubba, helped get dinner ready, served, ate, helped clean up came home and died. Got up Sunday, tended to the pups (as I do every morning) more yard work, including doggie back yard clean up, we went our separate ways shopping, I shopped for good coffee, some nosh for the Sunday meeting and a few things we needed to complete turkey soup, dropped those by the house, met Bubba, had lunch watched the first half of the Steelers game, (more on THAT later) came home, got the kitchen squared away, got two kinds of coffee cooked, made ice tea, set out the nosh, and Bubba was the last one home for the meeting. Cleaned up from the meeting, finished the laundry, the turkey soup for dinner--- now a pause in our litany to say that Bubba did go to the store because he wanted biscuits with his soup, came home with said biscuits, and dessert and GRUMPED at me because I don't use coupons (and of course he did) --- now back to finish soup, cleaned up, cooked dessert, and fell into bed... which was another issue as apparently I snore and Bubba found it necessary to wake me up repeatedly to fix the issue.

Yeah this past weekend pretty much sucked. And have you looked in the bottom of that ARK?

sorry needed a little comic relief.

And now it's Monday - staff meeting Monday - raining Monday - meeting Monday -- but I'm working two days this week - so there is a light at the end of the tunnel just not real sure if it's a train coming or not...

Speaking of train wrecks.......OMG WE LOST TO THE FLIPPING KC CHIEFS -- who have managed to win - oh 2 games all year previously? Seriously? WTF? Sorry Mom - must use the football words.... Ok so the playoffs - BWAAA HA HA HA PLAYOFFS? Please people...

Now boys and girls we have a problem - I've been invited to go to the Ravens-Steelers game next Sunday night... do I dare wear Black and Gold... you know I will - after all I don't own things queer purple (yeah it was a Ravens dig.. hee hee hee)

Will do my best to check in during the weekend - with all that family time - we're going to need it.

You can pick your friends...

But you have no input as to the people your siblings marry.... oh you might try but with hot tempered stubborn Italians that just tends to make said sibling think it's the right choice...

As previously documented my sister-in-law has put a giant poo grenade in the middle of thanksgiving but as now her family dinner at home is now 10 people in her tiny house Aunt Ing, Uncle Bubba and the parental units will enjoy a quiet family dinner - with wine.

So this day has basically sucked eggs it started with a zip into work - yeah the usual 'zip' aka crawl down the interstate and then stop and start at the lights then to to work - then waited and waiting for a meeting that didn't happen -- so grumpy and resigned I packed up and headed out, picked up the second load of dry cleaning for the week for Bubba, headed home, cleaned the kitchen, started the dishwasher and got that turkey in the oven. It is still in the oven, happily cooking away and with any luck will be done before I have to head north for the ladies group meeting. I will also have to have dinner ready for Bubba that way he won't be cranky about me being gone for another night...

And speaking of cranky - who gets grumpy over a dinner? Bubba and I were discussing the plans for the weekend, and he actually got grumpy about a thanksgiving dinner at the Lodge. What? All you have to do is show up, eat, and help move tables when we are done... I'm cooking a turkey the size of a small car and showing up early to deal with stuff - of course in Bubba-world that means I am not home deal with things at home that need to be done. Did I mentioned I cleaned off the dining room table and have that all ready to go? I don't have the spots on the carpet tended to yet either - but I will get to it... not that Bubba won't continue to point it out - and do nothing about it.

Someday when I figure out how to take it I am going to leave said issue and wonder what will happen when I do... oh - wait no great mystery to that answer - he will complain to high holy heck until I am tired of being nagged and just deal with it to shut him up.... THAT is the issue I have to figure out how to deal with!! Not the mess. Definitely going to have work on that one.

Now I put this out - when someone tells you that communication is an issue - shouldn't you try to solve the problem? So I have done that I created a family on line calendar so that folks can see important dates and locations - no questions no muss no fuss and no hurt feelings. It's on the calendar - sister-in-law. (yeah still a bit cranky at that one -but getting over it) Bubba thinks this is a waste of time and no man will deal with it - well Duh!! I didn't expect the men to deal with it - this is for the women of the family who control the family schedules. I am not stupid.

Ok so busy night, busy weekend, busy couple of days then home to PA for more busy then back to work - I will need the rest. I need sugar. Oh and Ma - we will need to go shopping for Christmas - can't order what I want on line for the nieces... hopefully more later with some happiness... there should be more happiness.

Wake-y -- Wake-y

Aunt Ing is going to do something drastic - if her work life gets any more exciting... like nod off. The boss and the money people are stuck in the conference room - and they are welcome to it - but there is nothing going out the door - and they just pulled a deadline back a week - on the up side it will probably stay there as - if they push is back again it will be Christmas Day - and Aunt Ing does not work on Christmas day - it's a thing I have.

So - Bubba made it home last night - the hardest part of his day was getting from the airport to home- ah DC Traffic. Welcome home lumpkin - dinner is on the stove. And it was! I cooked, served, covered, inhaled (my dinner) and made it up to practice. Then choked like a baseball player at bat the night before a drug test... Now I will admit there were parts of that story that were still giving me trouble - but I had most of it. Until PITA lady kept trying to 'fix' me in the middle of my speech - I find that incredibly frustrating and it gets you out of the rhythm of your story... toward the end I snapped. "Tell me when I'm done - you're not helping" direct quote after I fumbled through my story. I was not happy. This morning standing in the shower - I did it darn near perfect. Friday she won't be able to do that and I'll fumble along all on my own.

And after I heard everyone else - I will be just fine.

Now on to stupidity of me! Practice last night, meeting Friday night, dinner Saturday in which I am cooking a 22 pound turkey - and a forgotten thing Thursday night. Screwed? you bet. Now I figure I had it solved when I planned to work at home again Friday - I was planning on finishing my day early at home anyway - why waste the gas? But then I looked at my calendar I have to be in the office Friday at 10 AM - so groovy. Up early get in leave right after the 10 AM thing, get home put the turkey in the oven and pray it's done by the time I have to leave for the meeting. That should work. If not I'm up REALLY early Saturday finishing that turkey. I can sleep in Sunday. Oh and did I mention I've got folks coming over Sunday for a meeting?

What the heck was I smoking when I did this? Really have to remember the word NO. Or quit this working crap-o-la. Well in my defense I forgot about Thursday night - so had I remembered I probably would have skipped Wednesday. I'm not a complete nut - well most days.

And the comment I got yesterday about puppies bothering a frozen turkey in the sink, I am spoiled, the hound is no worry as frozen has no smell - she's not that interested, the dog with springs? She didn't see it - it isn't moving, it doesn't smell like anything yet - also not interested. Now once that sucker is cooked - Aunt Ing will be careful, aware of completed turkey-counter location and practice my elbow bumping away doggies sniffs and licks. That is mostly an issue when attempting to get something in or out of the fridge.

Like they won't get a little taste when I carve that sucker up... and they know it. Wadda ya mean spoiled? No --my pampered pups? ;-) Beside - they aren't happy Bubba is home, and they have to sleep in their beds instead of mine...

Ok back to desk cleaning - I should be down to plywood soon.

Um Hello?

Is anyone out there? Large Nameless Corporation - and it's numerous big-brother like servers - hello tapping screen - what do you mean cannot connect of for crying out loud - we do this every week... rebooting, check, recheck, connection - hello!?!?!?

And that boys and girls was my morning. Until I went and got breakfast, the grocery store and got home, made one more valiant attempt at connecting then called Large Nameless Corporation IT support and let her be frustrated for 20 more minutes - then we succeeded. With elevated accounts and tricking my computer into doing what it was supposed to do. And will someone please let me why the "experts" can't figure out what the heck is going on? I mean you ask me these questions and you type my responses and then you are stupid enough to say something like "yep that appears to be what everyone else is getting - we're not sure why".

It's statements like that - that make normal people snap. Someday someone will develop the technology to push a button and zap the person on the other end - just for stupid --it like that. Sorry no other word was going to work there.

On the up side I have 3/4 of my story learned for tonight, been finishing up some work, saving it to the network just in case and got my turkey for Saturday. I think I pulled something I might need later in life lifting this frozen sucker but hey - we'll have turkey this weekend -and again on Thursday but with a MUCH smaller crowd and at least 2 bottles of wine. At least - more if the in-laws actually show up. (see yesterday's post for that saga) No word from Aunt Ing's parental units regarding what I am now calling the Wendy F-up. or WFU for short. Close to Sanfu - but with something else - like a W - which stands for--- and I've just wandered off into musical theater.

As previously mentioned Bubba is due home this evening, unsure if he will arrive in time for me to see him as I've got to head out to practice tonight. But I promised him dinner and I've got the makings all ready to go. Now we'll just see if he likes it. On the other hand, it's food, you didn't have to pick up, deal with or think about. It's made, on a plate you CAN work the microwave, and way-la dinner. With choice of salad dressings. My word what more could a man want.... Don't answer -- so not going there.

For now we have peace, turkey in sink defrosting, Shelby WAS sleeping on the deck in the sun (she just barked) Violet sleeping inside on a blanket - now perfectly arranged for her comfort, the sun is shining and I didn't have to drive into work this morning or home tonight. Now if I could just arrange for a good massage, cook and bottle washer my life would be complete... Perhaps I should have picked up a lottery ticket too... ah well.

Stay tuned for more tales from crazy-ville or aren't you glad you aren't related to THESE people? :-D

Day two of my capitivity...

OH wait - wrong post... ;-) Its Meeting Tuesday! yeah. I slept in - shouldn't have but listening to my dog lick her paw into the night I was tired, and lazy. Mostly lazy but I was up dressed and out the door in time to dial into my 9AM meeting only to sit in my car frowning as the lead company played spin-the-bottle-of-due-dates. My head hurts already. Called the co-worker that I was not alone in my assessment of rotating and changing due dates... I wasn't. Boss is stuck away in the conference room, we are not permitted to enter unless invited and frankly I don't want to be... they are in there working way to long and hard. We simply can't have it. Right now I'm in 'leave me alone mode' - I don't know why perhaps a left over from yesterday.

Thankfully I think my 3rd meeting of the day is cancelled so we only have to suffer through two telecons versus the usual three... never look a gift horse in the mouth. There is a phrase you have to think about - why would you look a horse in the mouth to begin with - then a gift horse, if you're looking in it's mouth for something are you insulting the person who gave you this 'gift'... frankly I wouldn't want a horse to begin with.... the phrase I heard somewhere was "horses eat money and poo work" sounds like a good time to me... NOT. And I wondered off the path again didn't I... yeah caffeine need it in a rapid infuser... hey there is an idea!!

Set up a coffee drip in your car, load it up each morning and have a sippy straw like the water packs Bubba uses with his bike rides. You have an auto shut off so you don't drip warm (hot would be hard to sip) coffee on your clothes, hands free - and then you can arrive at work with that first cup or two already dancing in your system and you can greet co-workers a much happier camper... or maybe that's just me. Yeah probably is just me...

So, I've forgotten my ladies group book of stories and I've got to have my story memorized for Wednesday practice and Friday meeting... it's Tuesday. I'm in big trouble. I'll start working on it tonight, plus I'm working from home tomorrow so I'll make some time to practice. I hate when I do stupid things like this. Bubba is due home tomorrow - which should make the rest of the week entertaining. Plus all the extra stuff I have signed up for this week should make him such a happy camper. Toss in a trip to PA and the planning for that and we've got a Cranky Bubba mix in a box.

I'll find a cookie recipe and make him happy... or at least keep his jaw moving in a productive manner and not grumping at me. :-D Stay tuned this day or week could turn on a dime.

Final thought as I was watching the Food Network last night - how much fun and how many pants sizes would you grow if you planned a vacation to go visit the diners highlighted on that show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives... all the stuff looks so very good. Hum... hey Bubba how about a food tour of the East Coast? LOL We'll keep that in our back pocket eh?

It's sunny outside -- so - what?

Its a Monday boys and girls and get ready because Aunt Ing ain't happy. First let us start with the idiot person who found it necessary to hit a freaking utility pole EARLY this morning, causing my limited sleep to be more limited by the never ending sounds of sirens and trucks what one didn't notice at the bleary hour is I HAD NO POWER - and therefore overslept... AND I have no hair dryer... NO it's not a good look and THANKS so very much for asking... (and yes Sally that is sarcasm - deal with it)

Second that - that Football team - or junior varsity team that apparently kidnapped the paid freaking professionals who then managed to play rockette football they were either kicking it through the uprights or punting away and watching the guy as he ran by... OH! And another thing - will someone on that team please teach Jeff Reed how to freaking tackle someone! Yeah yeah I know he's a kicker - but dude - you're on a football team - just learn to dive at his freaking feet - slow him up enough so a real player can catch him and avoid those 6 points. Oh and to the offense -- If I wanted to see the Rockettes I'd go to New York - not Heinz Field. Its called a goal line - you have to cross it to win a game - look that up in your new copy of football for dummies it will be delivered via Amazon this afternoon-- you're welcome.

Then the cherry on the sundae of my Monday - no not traffic it was there it was dealt with it was lost in the noise of the rest of the swirling poo-mess of my morning -- call from Mom. Apparently Aunt Ing's brother's wife (aka my sister-in-law) has determined without forethought or consideration to ANYONE else but her own pampered fanny what the Thanksgiving schedule will be. Really cupcake? I so don't think so. One, you see your dysfunctional band of misfits on a VERY regular basis and please don't tell me you don't... two, we alternate years to avoid these arguments, hurt feelings and family beatings, and third, I'd like to see my brother for more than 15 minutes per year and to see my nieces then too... like it not toosty-pop they are my family too... My brother needs to see his own band of dysfunctional misfits too just to ensure he's not going completely crazy... of course he lives with her... and I live with Bubba I guess it's your own slice of crazy. You're own brand of crazy is comforting outside sources are just - strange.

Then I spoke my Dad, caught him almost pre-coffee so he wasn't as quick as he normally would have been. But we talked, vented feelings about Thanksgiving, football, life in general, and he's going to "have a chat with his son". Screw that pop- tell him to find the jar where his wife has his 'spine' and go insert it. Heaven knows Bubba always manages to find his... he must find it when he's hiding dirty glasses for the clean sink - I digress.

Going to be a fattening lunch - just because. Did I mention the boss was here too? Screw fattening I may just drink lunch and keep going through my Monday meeting. That should keep life interesting no?

Back to the giant cog in the wheel of Nameless Corporation... *sigh*

70 degrees in November...life ain't bad...

And it's Sunday - always a good thing - I've got football radio up on the computer as Bubba isn't home and I am so not going to a sports bar alone. For several reasons, first loud chubby chick alone at the bar not my thing, chicken wings are a social food and who wants to eat them alone, and third it's a nice day and the girls deserve to be outside and running out all that energy. ;-) Go outside girls... go!

And mostly because I can say home, sans makeup and in comfy clothes. I have my Steeler shirt on, and will do lunch later...

My neighbor's party was a great success last night, she was very happy -- until about 4AM I'm told but hey if you aren't hung over after a party in your honor what was the point? The young man who lives next door apparently didn't check in and stayed out all night - then got into a minor whoops driving home... there isn't much happiness next to Aunt Ing's house today... but hey it ain't me or mine...

Mine is still on the West Coast and he has to get up to watch football at 10 AM... lol hey he planned this mess... or had it planned for him. I'm never sure...

Short one today - have a good day and GO STEELERS.

The time to remember an appointment...

Is not 5 minutes past your appointment time... I slept in a bit took my time then remembered in the middle of the hair drying routine that I had a car appointment - and it was in 10 minutes. Since the car place is near work -- wasn't going to quite make that one on time... luckily they were cool, dropped it off 45 (yes!) minutes later and got a ride to work... life is good!

Traffic as noted above was a super breeze... ride home will be less than but its Friday!! And my neighbor's party is Saturday and I've got some cooking to do... but that will be fun. Wanna try out a new recipe -Paula Deen generally I can figure hers out without too much trouble. After all how much trouble can butter and heavy cream be? ;-) Actually this one is fairly simple cream cheese sugar, and strawberries and nuts. Gee I'm making two dishes make of stuff I don't like, strawberries and mushrooms. (The mushrooms are another dish - really people)

Next week is personally going to be busy - first Bubba is home Wednesday which instantly means a more complicated week; I've got stuff every night except Tuesday including cooking a turkey for the dinner Saturday night. I don't mind I enjoy doing stuff I just have to make sure Bubba is tended to... he gets cranky if he's not fed regular.

But a busy life is a good thing. At least I think so - Bubba and family -well they are busy with what I have no clue but they don't include other people as a rule. I won't get into my in-laws I need a trip home for the full effect and to accurately describe the brain mushing things that occur in the course of a daily life that are the Bubbas. We'll talk after Thanksgiving I'm sure.

I have noticed how uneventful posts are when Bubba isn't home... perhaps I should clue him in... no that will result in "because you don't do anything" and he's partially right I don't cook, I do clean the kitchen which magically stays clean, I don't do much shopping, no need to do laundry - actually I will have to this weekend because I need clean clothes. Crud - I'll have to do laundry mid-week when he gets home... add that to the list. Busy week...

All right back to work... zzzzzz -- ah yeah back to work. Have a good day - stay dry and warm... here in DC easier said than done. (nope not going to do it... yeah I am-- Remains of Ida churning off shore..." snicker

Boy is Mom ticked...

She's been blowing and raining and generally making it pretty ugly for folks around here... 11:15 last night "Nor'easter Ida packing a punch!" Now Mom is an Nor'easter' - which could be cool after all Billy Joel wrote a song about one... it was very nice and named after his daughter - not bad company eh ma?

Oh the very up side I missed the traffic mess that was this morning as I am working from home, pups are tucked in and not doing much - actually at this moment Shelby is grumping as Violet is standing over her, now there is not toy involved (usually there is) it must be the blanket - oh good now Violet is getting into the act and is making noise too... so you redirect - Shebly the big baby moves, Violet will take her spot - Shelby will settle on the other blanket and peace will reign again... it's a life isn't it?

Not much planned for today work or home wise but will keep busy as I am working from home and feel the guilty need to make sure to show "look I'm busy - please don't make me drive into work 5 days a week." I did get some Ladies and kid group stuff done, I do have a few errands to run today - do that later post lunch - SO much faster. Who knows maybe I'll get lucky and it will be a yucky winter and I can do a lot of working from home :-D Not that I want a yucky winter... right now not looking too positive.

AND I've got to call the Mother-in-law with our Christmas list - I feel for her shopping for Bubba is an act of frustration - he's picky and difficult - I have learned. Bubba - sweetie - shop, buy and bring home what you want for Christmas and I will wrap it. Last year was even easier - he bought his new TV it was shipped to the house and he installed it. Hey - I did stick a bow on it... more than he did for my new TV stand. I will say he was patient as we went store to store as I couldn't find anything I liked I started with one idea - then things changed I wanted something else -- then I found it. Bought it, delivered and done! This year I fear Bubba may point to my new living room and say Merry Christmas. Butt head.

Also will someone with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization go find the voodoo witch doctor that has put the whammy on this team and fix it? A bucket of chicken a shot of rum - something! (If you've seen the movie Major League - you'll get that) Cripes those boys are dropping like flies; broken this, strained that, boo-boo this of course in Hockey you never get the actual injury you get "upper body injury" which means this player could have anything from a hang-nail to a puck stuck in his forehead... always fun.

We'll see what channel they are on tonight and how much Tivo-ing I'm going to be doing... man what would I do without that - and hulu. Need to kill 30 minutes? hulu is totally the way to go. -- probably shouldn't mention that in public. Ah - it's not something I do regular. Didn't you see the stats? US worker productivity is WAY up - that is because we are all worried about our jobs... look I'm so busy - you need me please don't lay me off... ;-)

All right back to work - stay warm stay dry -- and can't blame all the rain on Ida, apparently we're socked in until at least Sunday its coming up the coast more cranky southerners... LOL (yeah I am one too)

Everyday should be a Federal Holiday...

First it's Veteran's Day - so thank a Vet like my Dad who quietly did what they had to do to serve our country and didn't come home to a parade and hardy welcome. I'm lucky in the fact that my job serves those folks on a regular and continuous basis - plus I see them daily and they are working hard here to support their fellow soldiers not at home... Do something special over the next couple of months to remember them and their families - and then do something extraordinary in January and February as well...

Ok - enough soap box... ;-)

Now Federal Holidays - that I have to work... oh such a nice nice day. Why? A number of reasons, the first, you don't have to dress for work so blue jeans and sneakers it is... second Traffic-- there is NONE! Super fab and No HOV so I can take the zipper road and miss any number of stop lights... so very very nice.. then parking... ah parking another zippy-do-dah. Lunch - will be slim pickings but hey no biggie. And - I'm heading home early today - just because... (there is nothing going on!) Do the happy dance with me... (see dancing fool in small beige box... but hey I'm happy!)

It took Mom exactly one day to get me back.. and didn't she just jump on the phone with this little diddie... "Hey Honey did you know Sesame Street is 40 years old? You're older than Sesame Street! Remember you were watching it when the episode numbers were single digits..." Har dee har har Ida Sue... Hey what goes around comes around... Al Roker is talking about Ida soaking North Carolina - and she's causing coastal flooding. I told you not to tick off Mom... you were warned! LOL And the local weather guy is now in on the act "Remains of Ida will give us gusty winds and rain today, watch for low level flooding... Ok this joke has seriously run it's course.

And now I'm off to finish the one thing I have planned for today then figure out how to kill the remaining 6.75 hours of my day; well there is lunch, and a visit with co-workers - the odd potential phone call who knows what the day will bring?

Oh - and Versus? sub of Comcast - you scum sucking money grubbers... make a flipping deal with Direct TV already so I can SEE the Penguins lose? I paid good money for the Hockey package in HD no less and because you're greedy so-and-sos I don't get to see the games on Versus.... grrrrrrrrrrrrr - but they did lose - again so on the other hand... no great loss right?

Made it into work...

And on time for the 9:00 AM meeting - not so much for the 8:30 one - but that wasn't mandatory so while I did give it the old college try - the slow people in front of me made it a bit difficult... life goes on...

As you may note - a certain, dare I say, cheeriness to this AM? Why yes - yes there is in spite of the fact that I went to bed late, and woke early this morning - there is a stupid grin on my face... yes HOW 'BOUT THEM STILLERS? AND I caved and went to be with 2 minutes left in the game and still missed a touchdown and another interception - how 'bout that! So rolling out of bed and facing traffic - you can deal with it with stupid people and traffic... and the infernal question "What the heck is going on up there and why can we go?!!??" -- all can be handled with the fact that we won, and now get to enjoy 15 minutes of way to go - before we start hammering on - gotta beat the Bungles!!

Sports talk radio should be fun today! Work today... not so much. Meetings meetings and more meetings - ah Tuesdays. Hey you can't play hooky everyday.

We are now on day 2 and probably the last one of Tropical Depression Ida... not nearly as funny as Hurricane Ida but the titles at the bottom of the screen... they were killer this morning... started very simple with "Tropical Storm Ida" then we moved to "Ida's winds still packing a punch" - now I'm not sure about my mom's winds - but hey I was laughing then the kicker that was enjoyed by all this AM? "Weakened Ida still reeking havoc" LOL - sorry Mom still too freaking funny at 6:30 AM...

I know a few people who know Ida and do not find her weakened and quite capable to of reeking havoc. (we won't mention any names - in-laws) ;-)

OK now I've got to go pretend to be working hard... well I won't be pretending I didn't do much yesterday so I've got to make up for it today...

Have a great day and perhaps we'll chat later - who knows Tropical Storm Ida could do something funny... well to me anyway...

still can't believe Dad hasn't picked up on this? Mom must have hidden the remote.


UPDATE: Sorry Mom - just saw another one... from the Washington Post(.com) "Ida roars ashore in Alabama..." hit Huntsville just a little harder will ya ma? Thanks giggle giggle - I'm a bad girl...

Shhh... playing hookie...

Sort of... I woke up this AM with the cast and crew of "Stomp" inside my head and I didn't make the effort to get to work... so I popped a couple of aspirin, rolled over and went back to sleep... until very late (9:30!). I did manage to tend to the pups and managed to get up and moving to make the dreaded Monday staff meeting (From home).

So with that done, I'm taking care of me today... we'll call this a mental health day. The kitchen is cleaned I want to tend to my living room, and I've got a meeting tonight so there are still somethings to deal with but it ain't at work... plus the sun is shining the pups are in and out and enjoying life and frankly -I haven't taken a mental health day in a very very long time... dangers of having a bit of extra time off... ;-)

Plus within the next two weeks I am going to try and wedge myself onto a project that will suck up a great deal of time so I might as well take a day when I can - plus Bubba is on the west coast so it will really be quiet... :-D

Now I'm about to reveal my very strange sense of humor - and my mother's name... because when I woke up after the 5:30 Stomp conference (aka the headache) I let the pups out at 7:00 AM and sat and watched the beginning of the Today Show - you would have heard me laughing in Pittsburgh if my head hadn't hurt so bad; the source of my mirth? Hurricane Ida... LOL just those two words together make me laugh - now guess Mom's name... you got it... I darn near feel off the couch as I sat there listening to Al Roker telling me Ida was packing winds that could cause damage and she's expected to dump a lot of water on the south (something the real Ida would NEVER do). It got worse... the guy from the weather channel saying Ida still packs a punch (LOL) and all sorts of chortling things - that one generally doesn't associate with a hurricane report - but hey it's me and my Mom... although I'm sure several sons-in-law are thinking similar without the full belly laughs I've been enjoying. Take the laugh where you can get it boys and girls - and I just may tune in the Weather Channel for more comedy to lighten my day... (sorry Mom) (like my father isn't doing the same darn thing - I KNOW it)

Now Monday night football -and I've got to get up and moving Tuesday morning... never a good mix - AND if the Steelers lose tonight it will not make for happy morning come Tuesday - note to anyone local - just get out of my way and you'll be fine... especially while I am driving a large SUV. Deal with it people. Now off to enjoy my mental health day... (just don't tell the boss - or tell him I've got nothing due.) ;-)

Can you just smell it?

It's the smell of peace and quiet for 12 - count them - 12 days... Bubba is jetting west... not before griping about $$ spent yesterday or working me out in the yard today before he left. It was needed so minimal whining about yard work - besides its BEAUTIFUL day here in the wild suburbs and we took advantage of it...

Then Bubba cleaned up I fed him a bit of this and that and out the door he went... and I have peace... SHELBY - QUIT BARKING AT THOSE LEAVES... almost peace and quiet... but she's been outside all day - she'll tucker out soon better yet I'll just kick her butt outside - go bark at the neighbors - they LOVE it. ;-)

So, now he's gone and managed to leave another load of laundry for me to do... which is in progress and I've got the bills staring at me in the face... and the kitchen needs tended - and I'm getting to it sooner or later - hey I picked up the bedroom, moved the bed in the guest room back, and tended to a few things... I'll get to the rest of it - before he gets home. ;-)

An entire Sunday afternoon sans Bubba with sun, without a deadline and we're also facing what should be a quiet week... life ain't so bad boys and girls. Good time to get some minor things done, those little errands you put off until later - this week just might be the time to do them... we'll see how the dreaded Monday morning staff meeting goes.

Oh there is that football game Monday night - I should probably warn co-workers of impending moods come Tuesday morning - not to mention the late hour... but without the 0-dark-30 wake up call shouldn't be an issue. I'll just stay in my office if they muck i t up in Denver - they better not.

And now... with dogs barking, sun shining and Bubba jetting west we shall part company as I bask in the glow of peace for an entire 12 days... warning posts may become mundane... until Bubba calls home for something stupid... stay tuned.

Welcome to Saturday

I can't believe I didn't post yesterday - apparently I hit mellow and that was that; actually I got started, interrupted, started, decided that was crap and signed off for the day.

And not a bad day if I do say so myself. I didn't have to get up at o-dark-30, it was Friday so nice commute in, boss was there -- in a good mood and left at lunch, I didn't have much in the way of stuff to get done, I was only scheduled to work a 5 hour day and I had a manicure planned...
Yeah good day.

Thursday was also not bad, up early completed the customer audit, in which I thought said auditor was about to rake us over the coals big time - warned the boss... and she didn't mention it. Ah - you just got done hammering us and the code jockeys about this issue and when you get to the final report you say NOTHING? Hey super-fine by me... perhaps it dawned on her that we didn't have control over that piece and holding us to that standard simply was asking a bit much... So final report given, things look good, minor issues - bam and done. QA guy from California took a few of us out to lunch and then we sat around talking for a bit... then the boss... flushed and hurried asked QA 1 and 2 (me and my partner in crime) to stick around he needed to talk to us... (this is not good news). All week anyone called into the 'office' has had their fannies handed back to them... not a good thing. We were worried, after all we've just had a successful audit - what the devil did we do? Crud... so we sat then the email arrived... please report to my office... we did (oh-we-oh) sing it you'll get it we sit we talk about the audit the final findings briefing, there is laughing, it is good, then! Then! he pulls out to envelops and hand them off - HEY!!! $100 gift cards Very cool!! And SO very unexpected. Bonus.

So I made a date with the hub-ster for Friday night... because Thursday I was too pooped to pop and he didn't manage to get home until after 8PM. So my big 20th anniversary dinner... left overs. LOL yes boys and girls that is the strength of a good marriage you can have left overs on your anniversary and still have stars in your eyes - well it's more of a blinding pang when you wake up from nodding off on the couch at 9:30 that night. It really was a long week.

But last night Bubba got home on time, we enjoyed a seafood dinner, came home and basically vegged out. Again all good things for those married for so very long. I can say on the up side there was a great deal of talking - mostly from me of course but there was some back and forth - yes folks effort was made to be part of the conversation. Unbelievable.

So today -- up way to early for a Saturday but on the up side I'm not driving Rainbow girls 3 plus hours to sit around all day then drive them home. I hate that ride. No today I'm heading to the ladies group luncheon, I was up early under the mistaken thought that things had to get done this morning - apparently not. So I got up early and dressed (in a skirt no less-- with hose) to get coffee and drop off my stuff at an empty lodge. Its my life - hey I would have known the time change had I stopped by the lodge last night and checked in... I didn't. Shame on me. I was shellfish and went out to dinner with the Bubba.

Now I'm heading out again if no one is there I'm bringing a book.

Bubba is off to get a hair cut, then I suckered him into helping out at the luncheon - needless to say he's not really happy with me. He'll get over it. But then he's got a massage scheduled - so at least this one - I figure - he's earned. (yeah I'm a stinker)

That is about it for today - stay warm and do something fun. You know like me - laundry, dishes or general - stuff. Or curl up with your favorite four legged creature and read a good book.

Didn't post yesterday...

Too much day - just too much of flipping everything... up WAY to freaking early, got bagels, brought them to work, and suffered all day - ALL day long with the customer auditing every piece of my working life... AND tossing in a few extra wrinkles of foolishness just for fun!

THEN -- Then... a 1 hour and 50 minute commute home... at 7:20 PM!!!! I was up before the rooster, worked a 10 hour day and still at this time of night - you people can't figure out how to drive in your own lane? Again - no rain, no snow - oh wait -- it's dark!!! Headlights people figure out how to use them... yeesh.

So now facing day 2 of said raking over the electronic coals of my working existence... I must sign off... I will post more later...

Remind me to tell you all what a charmed life Bubba leads- and how much I dislike him for it.

Drugs - send me drugs...

I might just make it through the week... I don't know what it is about my Tuesday mornings that I have to fight my way to work on Tuesdays only to miss the 9AM meeting by anywhere from 2-10 minutes. Of course I was driving on fumes and HAD to stop and get gas... at the SLOWEST pump ever invented I swear there was some little guy either pumping the gas directly from the middle east or was holding the hose 9/10ths closed just to screw with people first thing in the morning... I'm voting for the second - just because. And now... the sign on the front of my truck has made a reappearance... it must flash "pull out in front of me and slow down - she LOVES it"

For the record - I do not. Really. At all... especially when I need to get to work. Oh sure you can bather on about safety, traffic, courtesy to other drivers... bla bla bla - I AM NICE dang-nabbit. I let people in, I don't cut people off (intentionally) -- hey sometimes you don't see those little bitty cars... I'm wandering again. But... But... for those "persons" who wait until I'm 30 seconds from their bumpers then pull out - then SLOW DOWN even more! Well I should be permitted to pull you over and beat you until your brains leak out. Ok that's a bit much but I should be able to shoot your car with my hood mounted laser with the word, "IDIOT DRIVER" just so everyone else has been warned. What road rage? Please...

Then after that oh so gentle ride into work... the poo party from yesterday just gets more fun! Now instead of just the internal scrubble we've got the customer telling us "it's my right" to do something stupid that makes you guys look bad and not us! Nah nah nah... now thankfully the boss man was on the call and he basically took the reigns blustered back and used QA as the bad guy stick... *sigh* We're used to it. But it makes for better software and hanging on to the shreds of our reputation. They will blame us anyway...

Tomorrow is D-Day or more like A-Day Audit day - I will be up WAY too early, stress all day then with any luck it will be Friday and all will be well... shoot me now.

Ok rant over for now... Aunt Ing needs a nap.

Did anyone hear the gun shot?

It was the starting gun to my week; which will be a sprinted marathon, I've got a major to-do at work Wednesday and Thursday and I've got the next 2 days to get things all wrapped up in a pretty bow and hope like heck that our visitor doesn't have a 'curious' nature... meaning she sticks to the script she sent and does not get creative...

I have to say a Sunday without football is like a Sunday without sunshine - which is was... rainy dreary - damp - and so so very quiet... and frankly very nice. No stress, no screaming, no promises to a higher power to remove your quarterback's head from his nether regions... very stress free. Next Monday night - well let's just say Tuesday morning will have a direct bearing on the outcome - you know this deal with it skippy.

And now just found out that a friend at work is leaving to go to another project *sigh* I hate losing people I like - but I SO understand why she wants out. Thankfully its not my partner in crime... she's still here. Just another brick on the pile of poo that is working life this week...

All this BEFORE the weekly staff meeting - this week is so not shaping up to be a good one - and I won't even begin to mention no day working from home. Oh and did I mention the boss is here this week? Oh yeah the lemons are piling up and my juicer is at the shop.

Ok Staff Meeting over - the week is not getting any better - what is it with code jockeys who become managers? Do you suddenly have a freaking lobotomy? Grumble grumble... and I see in glaring clarity just how little managerial support I have coming this week... do the words "this is your thing" give you a hint? Cripes.

I'm going to get lunch, then I'm going to hide in my office for the rest of the day... this post wasn't fun :-( Bubba was left - actually he was up and moving when I left, the puppies were fed, watered and empty when I left, and traffic - well was traffic. Stay tuned this week does not look promising - who knows I may kill a co-worker this week. Nah... I don't do well is small spaces.. but I am not above a little computer bombing... just a little one. :-D