Friday List

** meeting at 7:30 this morning.  mandatory.  i'm not sure why.  don't get me wrong, it these meetings are interesting, and on a normal day i really enjoy going.  but since i was gone yesterday, i didn't feel like i could afford those 2 hours.  


** once i got into my office, i tried to work on claims all day.  however, you know how it is!  as soon as you have something you NEED to get done, everyone & their brother has stuff THEY need done.  *laugh*  on top of answering questions & whatnot for my trainee.  and new claims coming in... i stayed until 6:30 & still didn't get everything done that i'd wanted to.  but i'm okay with that.  i have to be, i guess!  lol


** mongolian grill for lunch.  mmmmm!  trish told me not to eat the eggs (??  did you guys know there was an egg recall?) but matt & i both did and PTL i'm fine.  i assume matt is, too.  *laugh*  they wouldn't put it out there if it wasn't safe, right?  : )  


** met mom at the theatre at 7 & we saw The Switch.  jennifer aniston & jason bateman.  i don't really feel one way or another about JA, but i *heart* JB and he did not disappoint!  also, JG (jeff goldblum - did they cast this movie for all J's? lol) plays JB's bff, quite well!  oh, and JL (juliet lewis) plays JA's bff!  oh my goodness, they really did all have j's!  haha!  anyway, i can recommend this movie, i really enjoyed it!  JB has aged really well, and his smile makes me giddy.  which is really weird, because i've always liked him, but never particularly LIKED him.  heh.  


** popcorn.  mmmm.  oh yes!  


** picked up my mail on my way home & had People & a postcard from Finland!  yay!  

** when i got home, my new neighbors were just getting home, too.  they're chatty and friendly.  possibly a little TOO friendly, and should tone it down a notch.  mike is the one who mowed my lawn - which was cool except for the grass everywhere, but for all i know that would have happened w/ phil, too, so it's alright.  (i'm much less mad when i know who did something rather than just having a random situation, ya know?  idk why!)  mike also informed me that he knew where i worked, which was a little disconcerting - he'd asked the park manager about his neighbors, and she mentioned it.  then he asked me what day i was born in august, and i was like, "uhhh, i wasn't born in august."  he'd seen my LP tag.  heh.  anyway, just a couple of things that i'm not sure i would have mentioned while talking to the new neighbor in the dark, right when they've arrived home and have their hands full.  but that's just me!  like i said, sweet ppl, AND they have a chloe (her daughter).  : )  that was fun!  

** sometimes i am anti-social, but almost never when confronted.  i LIKE ppl, and i like to be social, but after an 11 hour work day & a movie, i just wanted to come inside & jammie up & watch white collar... so mike mentioned that he could mow my lawn, and his gf/wife/gal who lives w/ him said, "oh, he'd be happy to do your yard work."  which, again, very nice and neighborly, and thank you very much.  but i can't pay you.  phil does my yardwork because he's my brother & has a kind and helpful heart, just as i do toward him when he needs $$ or a sitter or something!!  so, then, i felt kinda awkward, because i didn't WANT to be anti-social, and i didn't want to negate their offers or anything, but i was very upfront about not being able to pay them.  

** when i did get inside & the computer up... no new white collar on hulu yet!  booo!  *laugh*  but royal pains was up, so i started to watch that, and then my computer went "phhhhhtttt" at me twice and i gave up til tomorrow!  the beginning of the show was nifty, tho.  : )  


** i need to get up by 10:30 tomorrow to get to the PO, and i really am exhausted.  so, have a great night/day and i'll ttyl!  ttfn!  : )  

dubuque the remix

today was a FUN day out of the office.  we took 2 vans & went to dubuque for a ride & drive (getting to play w/ the construction & forrestry equipment) and factory tour.  i chose not to drive anything, but i had so much fun anyway!  i really wish my camera charger hadn't broken, tho, there were sooooo many fun pictures i missed!  


the ride up was hilarious & fun, i talked with ppl i don't get to socialize with very often & got to know them more, which was cool.  when we got to the site, they had water (and safety equipment) waiting for us, and a couple of the guys moved a bench to the shade for me, which was sweet!  it was interesting to see the four vehicles (a skid steer, articulated dump truck, crawler dozer and backhoe) up close & personal, and in action by different ppl!  some ppl weren't sure about it, and so the machine's movements were slower and more deliberate.  others took to it like they'd been at it for years, and spent a lot of time moving dirt around!  heh.  

the other group met us at the test site for lunch, which was yummy and fun!  and i got extra cookies because someone didn't want theirs.  i'm always happy to have something in my purse for those times when i need an energy boost - even if cookies aren't the best, ya know?  : )  after lunch, group 2 stayed at the site for their turn w/ the machines, and our group headed to the factory.


i seriously love visiting the factories, but would totally NOT want to work there.  the office portions are all A/C'd & everything, but the facilities are just so BIG.  we didn't have to walk it, thank God, we rode around on a trolley of sorts, and it still was an hour & a half tour!  a lot of things i noticed and liked or found interesting - there are a ton of american flags hanging.  i even saw an iowa flag as well!  i love the patriotism!  it was a very clean facility, all the safety stuff appeared to be in order, the break areas were rather big and appeared to have many soda/food choices.  


it was a beautiful day, and there were some nice breezes coming through, but i know on the miserable days it was/is even more so for these workers.  i admire them so much, for the jobs that they do!!  it's nice to be reminded of where it all takes place!  


we opted not to visit the gift shop, which i was disappointed with but didn't argue about or let them know i wanted to visit.  i wasn't feeling very well after the ride around the plant, which i think had several causes, none of which were major - the air was very dry, the trolley, while comfortable for te most part, didn't have shocks at all, so when we went outside to see the waste treatment area (if the fishies are still swimmin, then we're fine) i got a little motion sickness.  and i don't usually get that!  i can ride the spinny rides w/ the best of them... or, i could a few years ago, anyway... LOL   in retrospect it was good we didn't go in, as i'd just want to buy something, and i didn't have checks or cash in my purse!  whoopsies!  someone wasn't thinking when she packed it... heh.  


the guys DID, however, take us to Dairy Queen on the way outta town.  the other group met us there & we had ice cream galore!  : )  yummmmmy!  


we got back to the office at 4:30-ish, and i'd planned to stay for an hour, but i needed to get the camera to brenna & i just didn't have time to stay!  so i left at quarter til & headed to the bank, brenna's (she wasn't there, so i delivered the camera to her mom) & then mom's.  : )  we got to keep our safety goggles, so i gave mine to leyton & he was so excited!  and he looked SOOO CUTE!  i wanted a picture!!  heh.  


the three of us went to IHOP for dinner, and had a delicious meal & a good time.  also, i think next time we go, leyton should get french toast since he seemed to like mine so much.  *laugh*  after dinner, we had to pick up phil's car from somewhere, so mom dropped me off at it & i headed back to her place.  i beat her by 10 minutes.  LOL  that was fun!  hung out there for another hour or so, cuddled w/ leyton & played w/ cars, and then headed home to chat w/ april for a bit.


have a 7:30 meeting at HQ tomorrow, so i'd better get to bed.  (marz, i'm glad i'm not the only one who does the staying up thing - i think i found a cure for it, at least for tonight - pack the day so full it's all you can do to keep your eyes open!  (haha, sometimes that doesn't even work, but i think it will tonight!))  : )  


goodnight & ttfn!  hope your friday goes FABULOUSLY!  : )  

AGH!  Why do I fight sleep when I have to get up early?!?!  What is my damage?  It's one a.m. and I'm not even tired, and I have to be up in 6 1/2 hours, and that just makes me MORE not tired when it should make me want to sleep.

What's the deal?

Anyone else like this, or is it just me?

ttfn.

emotions

well, i guess this will be short, because it's nearly 12:30 & i need to get up early.  do i say that every day??  i feel like it!  there's just so much to DO that i never get to the writing portion til the end of the night!  *laugh*  


i put out a call the other day on FB to borrow a 35mm film camera for my cousin brenna.  nick answered my call & today i got the camera in the post.  or, rather, phil did.  you see, silly, ditzy me asked nick to overnight it so i could get it to brenna a.s.a.p.  however, i did not think of the fact that at 3 o'clock on wednesdays i am generally NOT at home because i am at work!  lol  God was looking out for me, tho, as always - phil stopped by to use my computer & the mail carrier arrived just after he got here!  yay!  : )  i was supposed to bring the camera to breanna tonight, but she didn't get home from youth group til after 9 & i wasn't feeling that great when i got home.  


speaking of - after work (LATE) i met becks at texas roadhouse for dinner.  i had a gin & tonic (it reminds me of dad & i've come to really enjoy it!), and becca had a coupon for a free appetizer so we ordered fried pickle chips, which i'd never had before.  they're GOOD!!  i was going to order a ribeye, because i've never had one before, and you know i like to try new foods!  however, when it came time to order, i went w/ my usual sirloin.  and a sweet potato, loaded w/ cinnamon & marshmallows.  MMMM!  it was the right choice!  *laugh*  as always, it was great to hang out!!  : )  


i didn't get home til late, tho, as i said.  and once i got home, i realized i'd forgotten to pick up TP!  i ran down to mom's to get some, because she had my envelope for stephen's gift & my umbrella.  i almost ran out to brenna's, but my tummy was really not feeling well.  (along w/ my dinner, i ordered a salad as a side, and i picked out most of the iceberg & only ate the romaine lettuce, but i mustn't've gotten it all out!  seriously, ppl, i am telling you that iceberg lettuce = PURE EVIL.  there's no nutritional value, it tastes like musty water, and it messes up my stomach!)  


april & i got to chat for awhile tonight, which was nice!  we talked about dad a bit.  she really helped me work thru tonight's doldrums.  that's not the right word, but it's close.  i miss him, and working on this project for the book is awesome, but also making it harder.  idk.  but i'm going to continue to do it because i like it & i think it's important to make this!!!  plus, i LOVE hearing (reading) uncle gene's stories about dad when they were  younger and he has some amazing pictures!  love love love, focusing on the love!  : )  


oh, trish tried to help w/ my own camera situation, by bringing in her charger, but my camera battery is too big for it.  d'oh!  guess i'll be looking up a new charger this weekend.  


okay, gotta get going!  tomorrow i WANT to get up at 6:30 & go in early to get a couple things done before we leave for dubuque.  but we'll see what actually happens!!  either way i have to be up by 7, so ... goodnight!!  : )  ttfn!

ummm... i don't even know!  i'm tired, and as usual, heading to bed!  : )  


today was a good day for the most part.  BUSY still.  and a couple slight annoyances that were enought to annoy me but not enough to write any details about.  other than to say ppl better start behaving better or i'm gonna hafta scream at them.  in as polite a tone as possible.  LOL  


i got to chat w/ april tonight, which was nice.  and matthew called, so we talked for awhile!  yay!  i was beginning to really worry about him because we hadn't talked in so long!  


mail was good to me today.  post cards from my friend annapeach & a postcrossing from Brazil.  : )  

cute, yes?  : )  


i talked to a very polite & helpful gentleman at the credit card place.  we set up a payment schedule that is slightly more do-able than $400/mo.  and he let me know that the dude who was so rude to me previously was no longer employed w/ them.  hallelujah!!!  maybe he figured out that customer service isn't for him & found something else he was better suited towards!  i hope!  


here's to a sterling wednesday!  take care & ttfn!  i'm off to slumberland!  (no, not the mattress outlet...)  ; ) 

unexpected finds

oh my goodness, today was INSANE!!!  i'd checked my email last night because i wanted to make sure everything was still okay for my taking 4 hours off today.  everything looked normal & easy & like stuff i could handle when i came in at 1.  


so i slept til 9:30 & spent the morning doing bills & writing postcards & letters & the like.  : )  it was mostly a nice morning!  


then i got to work at 1 & it was still nice, but oh my heck the floodgates had opened up!!  slightly uncomfortable.  the email was fast & furious w/ 60 some emails that had come in out of nowhere (well, 1/2 of those were from my other mailbox, which i can't check from home and had forgotten about!).  i was answering questions & investigating and putting out "fires" left and right!  it was exciting and fast paced and maybe a little crazy.  *laugh*  i postponed dinner w/ michelle because i needed to stay til a little after 6.  i might be staying late all week, because there are some things that need to be done!  goodness me!  *laugh*  


anywhoo!  so, since dinner w/ michelle was off, i ordered take out from exotic thai & had pumpkin curry while i watched America's Got Talent (youtube edition) and talked w/ april about her good news (yay april!!!!).  : )  also, my cousin brenna asked if i had a 35mm film camera, and i used to but idk what happened to it!  while i was searching for it, i came across some cuuuuute Keroppi postcards: 

and some st. louis postcards: 

and my favorite find of the evening... this postcard i sent to myself from a daddy-daughter trip, ironically in August of 2002: 

oh, the memories that card invoked!  especially being so close on the heels of our adventureland adventure... : )  


of course daddy is always on my mind, but this being august... yeah.  i need to get going on my emails & letters out to the family who don't have FB, to gather my dad stories and pictures and get crackalackin on my storybook for leyton.  i have the whole layout in my head, i just need to dooooo iiiittttt!  *laugh*  i think i can, i think i can...!  


also, on the camera front - my friend nick volunteered to send me his because he doesn't use it anymore!  way to be generous, nick!!  go nick!  nick's the man!  we <3 nick!!  : )  


for now, blog buddies, i must bid you goodnight.  i hope your mondays were magical, and that your tuesdays are tubular.  (hahaha, sorry, 80's surfer flashback!)  : )  


t
t
f
n
! 
<3

Adventure - Part 2!!!

hello!  well, this has been a fun weekend!  and a little stressful, of course, because i was with family!  LOL    we witnessed the aftermath (traffic/cops/ambulance/fire) of two accidents.  thank God we made it there & back safely!  

if in trouble, use this, aunt carrie!  : ) 


we also got into a bit of a storm.  thankfully no tornado, tho the clouds looked swirly & angry enough for one!  

the car ride to des moines was lots of fun.  and mom got a new toy, which helped show us the way to our hotel, and later, target & other eating establishments, back to adventureland, etc.  it's an awesome investment for mom!!  : )  

our hotel room was smaller than we like, but since it was one of the last weekends for adventureland to be open AND fair weekend, we were blessed to have a room at all!  *laugh*  we went to work straight away making it a home away from homes for leytonbug.  : )  

Mr. Bear enjoys the comforts of every hotel I travel to, of course!  : ) 

Ack, too dark, but he was having fun being spun around in the office chair.  

and then almost immediately went down to the pool for a couple hours!  mom & leyton played & i read my book & took a couple pictures.  thankfully it was an open enough area that i couldn't even smell the chlorine fumes.  i got out of there w/o so much as a headache!  praise Jesus!!!!

we had dinner at bennigan's & then started the bedtime routine.  at what turned out to be 8pm.  lol  apparently whomever was in the room before us had turned the clock ahead an hour, and the cleaning crew didn't notice, and WE didn't notice, and so mom thought it was 9 & started to get leyton ready for bed.  i went down to the hotel computer for a few minutes & outside & when i came back i thought it was 10.  i read for a bit & then went to bed early, at 10:30 or so.  mom figured leyton would be up by 7, which is why she wanted to get to bed early.  we all woke up/got up around 9:30, and thought we were running late & were adjusting the day's plans... then mom turned on the tv & that clock said 9:01.  so, we "gained" an hour!  LOL  it was not the last time time would play a part in our vacation... 


we went to perkins for brunch & then headed to Adventureland.  the Lord blessed us w/ a parking space RIGHT IN FRONT of the entrance!  it was awesome!  : ) leyton rode the carrousel, airplanes, leap frogger, trucks, bumper cars... i only got a few pictures because my camera battery was dying, and of course the first thing i did when we got to the room on friday was try to charge it - and my charger broke!  : (   (right this minute, the battery is completely dead, and apparently you can't buy a charger in the store, you have to order online, so... yeah.)  so, i do have a few cute ones to share, but most of the pictures/video i took with mom's camera, and then i didn't take as many as i normally do because idk how she is about cleaning hers up!!  *laugh*  

Oh yeah - when we got to Perkins, there was a 15 minute wait.  Two older boys (like, college age, maybe) were playing the Grabber game & trying to get this bear.  Guess who actually got the bear??  *grin*  

Oh yeah, and Leyton got an Adventureland hat.  I took a better picture w/ mom's camera, tho... 

leyton started to get hungry and tired, and i was getting hungry and tired, but mom kept saying, "just another hour or so."  finally found out why while waiting for the train - her watch had stopped at 1 & so all afternoon, she thought it was 1!!!  LOL  so, when she finally found out it was about 4:30, we rode the train & then headed back to the hotel for naps.  only, leyton was past his tired point & back to his "boundless energy" point!  so, after 1/2 an hour of fruitless laying down (for them - i got a good cat nap in!), we headed back out.  went to target for some stuff (and found out the charger thing) & then back to adventureland for funnel cake & more rides.  : )  


we got back to the room about 10:30, and i was TUCKERED OUT!  *laugh*  and hot.  i sat right in front of the a/c for an hour to cool down before showering!  oye.  of course, then i got to reading, and didn't take one before bed, but in the morning it was a nice wake-up!  *laugh*  let me tell you, tho, the bathroom... i should have taken a picture!  whoever designed it must've been tripping on something.  the toilet is so close to the sink that you can't even lift the lid if there's a full roll of TP on the side!  seriously, idk what they were thinking.  oye!  and i wonder if they're all like that or if it was just a fluke... LOL  

the trip back on sunday was a little more hectic, just because mom was tired & ready to be HOME.  however, we DID stop at bass pro shops for an hour or so, and that was fun!  i love stores like that, even though i'm by no means an ourdoor sports kinda girl!  i don't enjoy fishing or hunting or camping or any of that at all!  but i love the stores.  there's usually awesome aquariums, and i love the displays. leyton enjoyed riding on the 4wheelers & boats on the display floor.  : )  


i took a few hours of vacation today to sleep in & go to the post office to mail stephen's gift.  unfortunately, mom was in such a hurry last night to drop me off that she forgot to unload my mailer for the game!!  ugh!  so, i'll pick that up tonight and then mail it.  she also forgot to unload one of my bags... hmmm.  


anywhoo!  i must get ready for work now.  wow, this morning went fast!  oh, when i picked up my mail last night, i had my People, of course, and also two lovely postcards, one from the netherlands & one from micaela!  : )  

so this morning i got busy writing back & registering & paying bills & the like.  : )  and trying to catch up on the BB stuff, but oh my heck so much happened over the weekend!!!  


i hope your weekend went well & that we ALL have a fabulous monday!  : )  TTFN!!!