Dare I Ask?

The following Twitter post from Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) made my day:

On its way. I want a pic! RT @ClayMatthews52 Hey Ellen, we want to know when we can expect our "Special Ellen Underwear" & my new helmet??

What in the world did I miss on Ellen?!

If Clay Matthews is modeling random Ellen underoos, I want need to see!  

(Shhhh, don't tell my husband...)

;-)

You Can Do It!

Ahhh, another Friday is here at last.  Huzzah!  :-)

Hubby and I are planning another Tropical Night this evening.  Looking forward to bumping up the heat, making some cool drinks, some fun food, and watching Lilo & Stitch.  :-D

I actually had a special request to make this Friday's musical selections about motivation.  Seems fair to me, especially since Friday is one of the hardest days to stay motivated!  I don't know about you, but my mind is already living the weekend life...

Anywhoozles, here are a few songs that help keep me motivated!

1) Rodney Atkins - "If You're Going Through Hell"  Yes, I know not everyone enjoys country, but the message in this song makes it motivational.  When you're in that dark place and the world seems like it's out to get you, lift your head and keep going through.  Stay positive and you'll make it!

2) Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"  Terribly 80s and terribly wonderful.  "Ain't nobody gonna hold me down, oh no, I got to keep on moving!"

3) Queen - "We Will Rock You"  My driver's ed teacher in high school used Queen a lot in his classroom (most notably he'd play "Another One Bites The Dust" anytime someone dropped the class, but I digress).  It doesn't matter if you're about to take a test, play the championship game, or just need to do some laundry, this song will pump you up!

4) Black Eyed Peas - "Let's Get It Started" Especially effective if you just need something with a good beat to get your day/night going.  Maybe "motivational" is a bit of a stretch, but I can't help but include it. 

5) R Kelly - "The World's Greatest"  A bit ego-central, but motivational nonetheless.  Just remember - YOU'RE the world's greatest!  P.S. I don't normally admit that I listen to R Kelly, but I'll make an exception just this once. ;-) 

And a few bonus songs:

6) Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive"  OK, admit it.  You've been known to belt this one out, haven't you?  I have.  This song may be best after a breakup, but really, anytime you need a lift, just remember that you will survive (hey, hey).

7) Timbuk 3 - "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" The title says it all... I mean, if your future is that bright, wouldn't you be motivated to keep going?  

8) Journey - "Don't Stop Believin'" Whether you're a small town girl or a city boy, this song encourages you to not stop believing.  (Of course, there's always Glee if you're not a big Journey fan, but, I'm going with the classics.)  

Have some more songs to add to my list?  Got a beef with one I listed?  Let me know in the Comments!

You ARE Beautiful!

So I was browsing some blogs this morning and came across Operation Beautiful.

This. Is. Genius!

I have always been a fan of leaving notes for people to read (I once stuck a tiny note in my husband's wallet - took him a few days/weeks, but he found it!).  Emails are nice, and it's ALWAYS important to verbalize your feelings, and Hallmark makes some lovely cards...  But every once in awhile it's nice to leave a note.  Notes are something special that someone can take with them (or at least recall with a smile later on) that reminds them that they're special.  And whether you want to admit it or not, everyone needs to be reminded that they're important or good or loved in some way.

So when I read about Op Beautiful this morning, my heart about burst!  This is such an amazing concept!!

My new goal is to leave at least 50 Op Beautiful notes this year.  (Since I work and attend school from home, I don't go out much, but once a week should be reasonable, I think.)  Hopefully that will be 50 lives I can touch or 50 smiles I can make.  :-)   

Frustrated!!!

WARNING: This is long.  I apologize.  I need to rant.

Ok, so, since getting married in September, I have successfully changed my name on my social security card, my bank accounts, my debit and credit cards, my paychecks, my student loans, and at Penn State, ALL without having to go anywhere.  The only time I had to go anywhere to make the change was my driver's license, and that's understandable (I had to get a new mug shot, ya know). 

So why is it that Chase seems to think I need to come into a local office to get my name updated on my mortgage?  That wasn't what they said in November.  Wasn't what they said in December.  But now they seem to think I have to go to the nearest branch (which, of course, I've never been to because they're NOT MY BANK - MY bank was able to handle it all online).

Sure, they were HAPPY to give me a new credit card with my married name without any documentation.  But changing my last name on the mortgage (to MATCH the last name of my husband, who is also on the mortgage, I might add) is apparently too hard for people to handle.

Mostly for documentation purposes, I'd like to post here the emails I've had back and forth with Chase (with some details removed) via THEIR secure message center. 

11/12/10 I sent:

Good afternoon,

I was just married in September of this year and have since changed my last name to my spouse's.

How do I update my name on my accounts and get a new credit card with my married name Erika (Married Name)?

Thank you,
Erika (Maiden Name) (Married Name)

I got a response that same day:

Dear Erika (Married Name),

Congratulations on your recent marriage. Wishing you a
successful life ahead.

I am pleased to inform that I have changed the name on
your account ending in **** as requested. A replacement
card with your new name reflected on it should arrive at
the address listed on your account by 11/19/2010.

Additionally, I have forwarded your inquiry regarding
mortgage account to our Home Mortgage department. You
should receive a response from them within two business
days.

If you need immediate assistance... [boring content removed]

It was a pleasure assisting you today. Have a great day!

If you have any further questions, please reply using the
Secure Message Center.

Thank you,

V*** M***
E-mail Customer Service Representative 

Well that was easy!  And helpful!  Huzzah!!  Just have to wait to hear about the mortgage...

On 11/15/10, I got this response:

Dear Erika:

I am writing in response to your Internet inquiry to Chase
about your home mortgage loan.

I have attached a name change request form. Please fill
it out and send it back to Chase together with the
required documents.

Chase's goal is to provide the highest level of quality
service. If you have questions about your mortgage,
please contact Customer Care at 1-800-848-9136.

We appreciate your business and value our relationship
with you.

Thank you,

L*** T***
Vice President
Customer Care


Fair enough.  On 12/6/10, I sent the requested documentation along with this message:

Good evening! Per the message I received on 11/15/10, I am submitting the requested documentation to update my name on this account from Erika (Maiden Name) to Erika (Married Name).

Please let me know if anything further is needed to make the requested change.

Thank you!
Erika (Married Name)

I got no response.  Waited a month.  Still nothing, so on 1/4/11, I sent this:

Good afternoon!

On 12/6/10, I had submitted documentation as requested via the Secure Message Centre to have my name changed from Erika (Maiden Name) to my married name of Erika (Married Name). To date, it seems this change has not gone through, so I was wondering if there was anything else I needed to do to help implement this change.

Thank you for your assistance!
Erika (Married Name)

I got a response on 1/5/11:

Dear Erika:

I am writing in response to your Internet inquiry to Chase
about your home mortgage loan.

We did not receive the e-mail you previously sent.

I have attached a copy of the name change request form.
Please fill it out and send it back to Chase together with
the required documents.

Chase's goal is to provide the highest level of quality
service. If you have questions about your mortgage,
please contact Customer Care at 1-800-848-9136.

We appreciate your business and value our relationship
with you.

Thank you,

L*** T***
Vice President
Customer Care

Ok...  Annoying much?  Whatever.  I attached the SAME documents and sent a reply:

Ok, I will send the same attachments I sent a month ago. Please let me know that they have been received, as the last attempt shows up in my Sent Messages so I have no way of confirming receipt.

Thanks,
Erika

No response.  Didn't want to wait a month, so I gave it a few weeks instead.  On 1/19/11, I re-sent the SAME documentation with this message:

Good morning,

I have submitted the attached documentation twice to have my name changed on my Chase account I was just married in September and it has not been completed yet.

Could someone please confirm that this is being worked on and/or when I can expect completion?

Thank you,
Erika (Married Name) formerly Erika (Maiden Name)

On 1/20/11, I got this response:

Dear Erika (Maiden Name),

Thank you for contacting Chase.

To process this request, you will need to visit your local
branch with one form of ID and supporting documents to
complete changes that are not minor name corrections.

We recommend that you contact the branch before visiting
to verify additional requirements. You can locate the
nearest branch and its number using your zip code via
Chase.com.

We value you as a Chase customer and appreciate your
business. We apologize for any inconvenience this may
cause you.

If you require further assistance... [More boring stuff removed]

Thank you,

M*** G***
Internet Service Center

Oh HELL no.  I was told I could do this shit online.  Twice.  I'm done with formalities at this point, so on 1/24/11 I sent this:

Why was this not explained to me when I first made the inquiry in November?

I have submitted documentation to get this change processed, per the instruction of 2 other Chase employees (via the Secure Message Center) after 2 separate inquiries. I was told this could be handled online (in fact, I was told it was already changed for the credit card account, just not the mortgage account)...

I was able to make these changes will my primary bank and many other services via fax or internet request and would MUCH prefer to do so in this case as well. If there is any way to do this online, as I was previously told, please let me know.

Respectfully,
Erika (Married Name)

Now, note that I was actually told twice by the same employee (didn't notice that until after I sent it), but the person who told me I could do this online is the VICE PRESIDENT of customer service.  I would have to imagine he knows what's what.

But the response I got today (1/25/11) says differently:

Dear Erika (Maiden Name),

Thank you for contacting the Internet Service Center.
Congratulations on your marriage!

In response to your inquiry, for assistance in changing
your name on your account, please visit a Chase branch
convenient to you. You will need to bring with you legal
proof of name change and two forms of valid
identification; one being a photo ID

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Chase strives to provide excellent service to all of our
customers. It has been our pleasure to be of service to
you. Please be assured that we value you as a customer and
wish for your experience with Chase to be one of
satisfaction and ease.

If you have any questions or require further assistance,
please e-mail us via the Secure Message Center or contact
our Internet Service Center at 1-877-242-7372.

Thank you,

L*** M***
Internet Service Center

At this point, I'm beyond frustrated.  It doesn't seem like a big deal, but let me point out a few things:

1) I've never had to go to the local Chase branch for ANYTHING.  They just happen to have bought our mortgage about a year ago...  

2) I was told TWICE that all I had to do what submit the necessary documentation, which (as you can see), I actually sent THREE times.  

3) I've been trying to get this changed since November!  What the fuck have they been doing?!

4) How did they not get my email if I'm sending it using THEIR message feature?  Sounds like THEIR problem; not mine.

5) Why was it so easy for me to get a new credit card from them?  Why didn't they need anything for that?  But in order to keep taking my money on my mortgage, they not only expect documentation, but think I should come to THEM to provide it?!

6) Best yet, they didn't address ANY of my dissatisfaction or provide any feedback as to why I was told something different in the past.  The last response is almost identical to the response they sent before that.  UGH!!!

7)They keep addressing me by my maiden name when I clearly keep signing things with my married name.  That's just annoying.

Ok, I apologize again for this rant, but I've just HAD it with Chase.  We're now considering refinancing so we can move away from them and their terrible service.  Good riddance, I say. 

The Sky Is NOT Blue

Well, it is.  But it isn't.  Really.  Apparently it's only blue because our brain associates the visible radiation with what we've been taught to call "blue" or "sky blue."  So our brain (not our eyes) sees it as blue.  Weird.

(Forgive me if you already know this and are thinking, "Wow, Erika...  Just catching on, are you?"  It was part of my meteorology reading last night and I thought it was cool.  So nah!)

Anywhoozles, sorry to disappoint, but we ended up not making ANY recipe on Friday night.  Instead, hubby made himself a steak and I got an asparagus and cheese stuffed chicken breast from the meat counter at Pick n Save that I heated up in the toaster oven.  We also grabbed a couple of rolls and had some drinks (mmmm... amaretto stone sour).  Nothing fancy, but still delicious.  :-)

Hubs made dinner last night, so tonight's my turn, I suppose.  I've got a couple chicken boobs thawing, so hopefully I can make something tasty out of them.  We'll see.

Oh, and if you feel like taking a break from the blah-ness of Tuesday, here's a fun quiz to take: Troy McClure Film or Actual Terrible Movie?  This quiz is probably more fun (or at least a bit easier) if you're a Simpsons fan, but even if you aren't, some of the actual terrible movies are still pretty... terrible.  

Enjoy!

Moronic Monday - StupidBearsfansayswhat?

In the spirit of this past weekend, today's Moronic Monday comes from Bears territory.  (This happened before yesterday's game, so they were still delusional at the time.)

A bit of background on this little gem:  Many Packers fans were "upset" with Brett Favre over his retirement charade ("I'm retired!  No I'm not!  Yes I am!  Gimme my job!") and especially unhappy with his decision to join the enemy (The Vikings).  Check out my "Brett Who?" post for some more info.

Anyway, as a result, a fantastic shirt was made.  The shirt, seen here, now has a bit of a cult following.  The idea of the shirt - We'll Never Forget You Brent - is that we have, of course, already forgotten him.  We know his name isn't Brent.  That's the joke.

And while most people who encounter this shirt realize its true genius, the Bear blogger of this idiot post clearly did NOT understand the concept.  "Wow.  They don’t even know Favre’s first name," he notes.  "...How can you forget someone when you don’t even know their name?"

Many, MANY comments were made with essentially the same message: It's sarcasm; you're an idiot.

Even a (presumably) fellow Bears fan points this out: As much as I’d like to make fun of the company who made this shirt, “Brent” isn’t a typo. They’re poking fun at Brett by saying, “We’ll never forget you”, yet we’re already forgetting how to spell your name...

Just goes to show that not only do the Bears still suck, so do their fans.*

Oh yeah, and for the record...  SUPER BOWL, BABY!!!  HELLS YEAH!!!  :-)

*With a few exceptions, of course.  <3

So Much Reading

My Psych class is clearly out to kill me.  I'm 2/3 done with the reading for this unit, and have already spent a total of about 7-8 hours reading.  Ugh.  Technically it isn't due until the end of next week, but I have other things to do, so, you know... Trying to get it done.  Not working.

I have determined, however, that I am going to live in my new pajamas.  They're Jack Skellington pjs from the Disney Store and even though they're too big, they are WAY too comfy.  Perfect lounging pjs.  <3

Tomorrow is the big game, and I'm really getting nervous.  On the one hand, the Packers are an AWESOME team, and I truly believe that we will come out victorious.  On the other hand, if (by some freak chance) the Bears win, the result will be intolerable.  Bears fans everywhere will give us shit for years upon years to come.  At that point, all I can hope is that whoever they play in the Super Bowl will beat them senseless in February. 

It's Frickin' Freezin', Mr. Bigglesworth...

Seriously.  Right now it's -5 degrees F outside, with a windchill of -24.  Today's high is 9.  I really hate when the high is a single digit like that.  Makes me frowny.  :-(

On the up side, it is finally Friday.  Huzzah!  This Friday I'm all anxious because I have lots (and I mean LOTS) of reading to do this weekend for my psych class.  I tried to make it through the first chapter of reading last night...  Of the 22 pages, I made it through 13 of them.  And it took me 2 hours.  I normally LOVE this stuff, but it's still intro reading and, as such, boring as hell.  Boo.

Anywhoozles, today I think I need some more mellow songs to keep me from jumping right out of my skin.  You know, something to sway to, something to sing to...  Things like that.  Nothing too bouncy, but not too sad either.  Here are my choices (links included):

1) Bruno Mars - "The Lazy Song"  I said last week that if you needed a more mellow song, this one would be my suggestion.  I just effing love Bruno Mars, and this song is the perfect chill out song.

2) Incubus - "Are You In?"  Actually, most Incubus songs would fit for a mellow day.  I picked this one because it's mellow-ish while staying fun.

3) Melody Gardot - "Baby I'm A Fool"  OK, so this one's maybe a touch sad, but still nice.  Melody has a great voice and her smooth, jazzy style is just right for today.

4) Plain White T's - "Rhythm of Love"  To counter the previous song, this one is a bit bouncier, but still calms my nerves.

5) UB40 - "Red Red Wine"  If you grew up in the 90's, you should have a soft spot for this one.  Yes, I know it's a remake, but this reggae version is more fun and more chill than the original, if you ask me.

Got any chill songs to share with me?  Leave a comment!

TGIF to you all! <3

Thursday, Thursday

Hmmm, not as catchy as "Monday, Monday" I suppose.  No wonder there's no song about it.

Strange, but true: Today is actually National Cheese Lover's Day.  Now, if you're from Wisco like yours truly, every day is cheese lover's day.  But, it's nice to see the whole nation included in this affair we Sconnies celebrate on a daily basis.  Yay cheese!

On a non-cheese related note, this is also the date that Skeet Ulrich was born and Audrey Hepburn died (in 1970 and 1993 respectively).  Just a few "fun facts" about January 20th.

Moving on...  

Tomorrow, hubby and I plan on having a night in, which is one of my favorite things to do.  We're going to watch a movie ("What About Bob?" for those curious) and make dinner.  The problem is, we're stuck on what to make for dinner.  I found a few yummy-looking recipes, but I'm not sure what to attempt.  When the decision is made, I'll be sure to post.

Have to make it through today first, though.  Here goes nothing... 

For fun - what's your favorite cheese or cheese-related snack/meal/whatever?  I'd have to say cheese curds.  Squeaky, fried, I don't care.  I just love me some cheese curds!

Wed Nes Day

I've been struck with a bit of mid-week malaise.  I just feel like melting into my chair and waiting for the rest of the week to pass.  Sadly, work keeps interfering with that plan.  Boo.

In happier news...  Um...  I'm...  Not dead?  This is good, right?  I'm not actually trying to be a big, whiny, PITA, I promise.  I'm just struggling to find the positive for today.  It's dreary and trying to snow (again).  I have to work.  I have to do laundry.  I have homework to do.  It's just not an exciting day.

Aha!  Positive!  Packers game is only a few days away.  Huzzah!  Looking forward to watching it at hubby's work with some catered food and fun people.  And finger darts.  Never forget finger darts.

OK, so this is probably the lamest blog post ever, but, oh well.  Hopefully I'll have something better to say later.  
 

Do You Mind?

That was the title of last night's psych lesson about the mind-body debate.  Here's how I know I'm in the right field - I was geeking out right and left about some of the stuff being discussed.  No lie.  I am a nerd and a half, kids!  Love it.

Anywhoozles, there was some pretty crazy stuff that came out of the lesson and I figured some of it was interesting enough to share.  Here goes.

• People used to think that "madness" (what we would typically now call mental illness) was caused by, well, the devil.  They thought people were being possessed or that there were demons in the brain.  All sorts of crazy shit, right?  Even crazier was that in the Stone Age, they thought drilling holes into people's heads to let the demons out was a reasonable (and helpful) form of treatment.  Ouch.
• Approx 90% of Americans believe in some form of Heaven, and another 72% believe in Angels.  People tend to believe that the mind and body (brain) are separate entities and that one's mind - spirit - lives on after death.  In fact, some people actually think that within the next decade or so, we'll be able to upload our spirits to a computer once our bodies have expired so that we can later be downloaded to a new vessel.  And that, my friends, creeps me the hell out.
• Hippocrates (you know, the guy we named the Hippocratic Oath after) was kind of out there.  He thought mental illness was caused by an imbalance of what he called "humors" (biological fluids).  So, essentially, if one of our fluids was out of balance (too much, too little, etc), that's when mental illness strikes.  Even weirder is the fact that he related some of these fluids to different elements and personality traits.  For example, Fire = Blood.  This fluid is responsible for traits like confidence and optimism.  Whereas Earth = Black Bile, which causes depression and frustration.  I guess I have a little too much Earth and not enough Fire, then, eh?

These are just a few of the random things I learned last night.  I'm not going to lie...  I'm excited for the rest of this class now!  If we're going to be learning crazy things like this, I am SO in!  :-D

Moronic Monday - If I Could Walk That Way...

"I wouldn't need the talcum powder."

Though, in this gentleman's case, I think he'll need more than talcum powder.  Ice.  Maybe some ibuprofen.  Probably some alcohol to ease the pain and embarrassment.

If you're going to be acting dumb, I suggest you don't do it near exercise machines, especially if they're on.  However, if you decide to do it anyway, make sure someone has a camera so the rest of us can relive it and feel better about ourselves.

It just never gets old.

Brett Who?

As I'm sure any true Packers fan will tell you, last night's game was nothing short of fantastic.  Yes, it started poorly, but we came back strong and didn't back down.  It was beautiful.

My favorite part (aside from the fact that we're headed to the NFC Championship game!) was that during the entire course of the game, I didn't hear the name "Brett Favre" once.  Sure, he got a brief mention during the pre-game and another just after the clock ran out at the end, but during the actual game, there was nothing.

Let me clear up my feelings on this:

• I will always look back and think of Brett Favre fondly as a Packer.  He was an amazing player and a huge part of our Super Bowl XXXI glory, and for that I will always be grateful.  
• Once he decided to screw us over by un-retiring and not wanting to give Aaron Rodgers the chance he'd been promised, I started doubting Brett as a person.  I mean, who does that?  When he went to the Jets, I was disappointed in him, but I vowed to move past it.  It was the beginning of Aaron's era.  Still, every Packers game was riddled with commentary about Brett Favre.
• When he decided to un-retire AGAIN, this time going to the Vikings, I lost all faith in Brett.  It's one thing to go play for another team.  It's another to join the enemy.  Unforgivable.  And yet, there continued to be talk of Favre during Packers games.  It was either comparisons of Rodgers and Favre, or talking about Favre's glory days, or mentions of what the Vikings were up to...  Ugh.  Enough, already!

As I said, I will always look back fondly on Brett as a Packer.  Post-Packers, I refuse to give him ANY credit for ANYTHING he did.  The fact is, he screwed up.  He put himself ahead of the team, and that wasn't something I ever thought he would do.  I thought he was a true Packer, and I'm sad to say I was so horribly wrong.  So yes, it gives me GREAT pleasure that he didn't get a single mention during this Packers game.  Because I'm so over him.  

Brett Favre is like your high school sweetheart (with a few exceptions, of course).  You can look back fondly at the time you were together, because he (or she) was the world to you and he could do no wrong.  You had amazing experiences together and you'll never forget that. 

But once he started screwing around after you went away to college, he lost all credibility.  You two were done and it was time to move on.  Only everyone around you kept mentioning him, and in your mind, you were always comparing other guys to him.

Once you found out he ended up with that popular girl from high school (the bitch everyone hated, who thought she was all that, but was just a classless whore), it was SO done.  She can have your sloppy seconds; you've got a new man.  And he's even MORE amazing.

Brett Who?

That's what I thought.   

S A T-U-R D-A-Y Night!

Ok, not quite there yet, but I'm SO excited for the game tonight!

Even if the Packers lose (which I'm not saying is going to happen, but IF it happens), I think it'll be a great game to watch and I'm just pleased that we're this far into the playoffs.  :-)

I spent this afternoon struggling through the reading for my Psych course (intro readings are always the worst), so now I'm looking forward to a bit of a break.  

Hubby's out on a bar crawl (15 on 15 on the 15th - 15 bars on the 15th of the month along bus route 15, I think), so it should be interesting to see him later (it started at noon).  However, it does make the afternoon less exciting.  I can't help but feel so bored when I have the house to myself.  Even with Miss Maxine here!

Maxine, of course, is napping.  Shocking, I know.  Last night after a quick trip to the grocery store, we came home to find she had torn up a few cardboard boxes laying around.  This wouldn't have been SO bad except that one of the boxes was a Kleenex box that still had tissues in it.  Oh, and the fact that she has a bajillion toys laying around that she could have played with, but no.  Had to destroy boxes.  FCOL.

On that note, I'm off to find something fun to do.  Or clean.  But probably something fun to do. 

Oh Happy (Fri)Day!

TGIF for sure, kids.  This is the first full week of work I've had in almost a month, so Friday feels EXTRA good right about now.

I think, though, that I'll need some good, up-beat music to get me through the day.  What do I recommend?

1) Bruno Mars - "Marry You"  If you haven't jumped on this bandwagon yet, do it now.  Doo-Wops & Hooligans is chock full of awesome songs (if you're in a more mellow mood, allow me to suggest "The Lazy Song").

2) Cee Lo Green - "F*ck You"  Even if you listen to the radio edited version ("Forget You"), it's still one of the catchiest songs ever.  This song never gets old!

3) VV Brown - "Shark In The Water"  Ok, not quite as upbeat as the first two, but still way too much fun to leave out.  The chorus is bound to get stuck in your head (I know it gets stuck in mine AND my hubby's) and you'll find yourself singing along despite your best efforts to ignore it.

4) Wang Chung - "Everybody Have Fun Tonight"  Classic.  Especially for a Friday.  I mean, I'm not sure what exactly I'm encouraging people to do when I sing, "Everybody Wang Chung tonight," but it's gotta be good, right?

5) Aqua - "Lollipop (Candyman)"  Nothing but poppy, fluffy, nothingness to this one, folks.  But listen to it and try not to bounce around a little.  Seriously.  It's really hard.  I suppose if you were in a really crappy mood or hated fun you could probably avoid it.  All others, beware.

Happy Friday and enjoy the weekend!

 

No-So Secret

Everyone has secrets.  Also, everyone has things they think are secrets, but really aren't. 

Of the several I have, the one I feel the need to bring up at the moment is my mental disorders.  Yes, we all know I'm depressed.  I also have major anxiety, occasional panic attacks, and OCD-like tendencies.  Prozac, as I've said, helps greatly.  I no longer find myself curled into a ball on the floor just because I broke a vase.  I'm not afraid to go into low-key social situations (but still prefer to have someone I know by my side).  I don't need to set alarms for weird times (I had this thing about 0's and 5's... don't ask).  It's nice.

But I'm not without issues.  The most notable is the phone phobia.  I cannot call someone I don't know.  Cannot.  The few times in the past year that I've HAD to, I have almost thrown up repeatedly during the course of the calls and often cried before and/or after the call itself.  Suffice it to say, not good.  

But the one that really can be a pain is the complete and utter lack of self esteem or confidence in myself.  It makes some things really difficult and others impossible.  It'd be nice if I could just suck it up and stop caring.  Or if I could, in the words of a friend, "fake it until you make it."  But I just can't.  

I'd love to be confident enough to start my own photography business.  I mean, I'm not good enough to be taking shots for Nat Geo or anything, but I enjoy it and I'm decent at it.  But in reality, I'm not even sure some of my friends really like me, so I'm certainly not confident enough to approach strangers to sell myself (which is what business is all about, right?).  It's a sad reality, but reality nonetheless.

And before you go asking why I don't just go to therapy, trust me.  Been there.  Done that.  Still like this...

Harrumph!

I believe I've decided (or, rather, perhaps the world has decided for me) that Hump Day will no longer be a weekly post.  Instead, it'll probably be more of an "if-Erika-has-time-for-it-and-finds-something-good" post.

On the plus side, the work day is done and it's almost time for quality time with the hubs.  In this case, quality time is dinner at Chili's and shopping at Target for notebooks and other back-to-school items that I totally forgot I needed.  It may not be fancy or sound special, but I'm pretty excited nonetheless. 

Rodeos & Dead-Cat Swinging

There are so many phrases and words out there that go underused in my life.  For example, "You can't swing a dead cat without hitting one."  Or "It's not my first time at the rodeo."

In fact, I think I'm going to start making every effort to use some of these underrated phrases.  Even when it's not appropriate.  Kind of like, "How's it going, Erika?"  "Well, it's not my first time at the rodeo!"

In other news, I am approximately 95% over my cold.  Huzzah!  Well, at least 90%.  Maybe not quite 95%.  After I typed that out, I had a case of the sniffles, so... I don't want to jinx myself, you know?

Also, I am back in classes!  Yes, after a semester off, I'm back on the path to my BA.  And I've already learned something new: there is such a degree as Turfgrass Science.

No, I'm not making that up.  Seriously, I don't even think I could make that up.  It would be awesome if I had, but it's a real thing.  There are at least 5 people in my science class this semester who are working toward this degree.  At least 3 of them work at/run golf courses, so I guess I get it.  But, really?  I didn't know this was a thing.  Never heard it before.  Huh...

Here's to a new semester, full of turfgrass!  

Moronic Monday - Shopping For Morons

It may seem like a weak connection for Moronic Monday, but seriously? Anyone who goes out in public like these people has to be a freakin' idiot.  There's really nothing else to explain most of those looks.

Ok, I suppose some of them could have been doing it on purpose (especially the group wearing newspapers...  God, I can only hope that was supposed to be some kind of message or something).  And some of the butt-flossers could have just been caught at the wrong moment (hey, these things happen).  But I really just believe most of them lack the brain power to realize what they're wearing makes them look like they belong on the special bus and/or the ability to keep track of dates (thus they didn't realize it's not Halloween anymore).

Either way, I could walk into Walmart in my PJs and look more capable than most of these folks.  And that makes me feel good.  Happy Monday, everyone!

For The Record...

GO PACK GO!!!

Yes, that's right.  A post just to celebrate this evening's post-season victory.  And it feels oh-so-good.

<3

Maxine: Protector of... Herself?

So, I have no doubt that our dog loves us.  She enjoys cuddling with us and is always happy when we come home, no matter how long we've been away.  She plays with us and barks at "intruders" (aka friends who have come into the house).  There is much love, and we give as much as we can in return.  (I'm not sure humans are actually capable of the level of love dogs are, which is why I say that we give as much as we can.)

HOWEVER, I have noticed one thing that makes her forget her loyalty to the ones who feed her, walk her, buy her stuff, and love her unconditionally: the vacuum.  

Yes, I know dogs (and cats) are notoriously afraid of this evil monster we use to clean our floors.  They're noisy and they appear seemingly out of nowhere to interrupt the day's events (usually naptime).  I imagine Maxi sitting there wondering why we would align ourselves with such an awful being.  Makes sense, I suppose.  We're the ones hanging out with it, touching it.  We show no mercy when it comes time to vacuum.  Floors beware!

And yet, as horrible as this "creature" must be, when it comes time to fight or flight, the dog inevitably runs like hell.  She doesn't bother trying to protect us from what she clearly sees as Enemy #1.  Hell, after the first time I brought it out, she doesn't even bother barking at the thing anymore.  She sees it and freezes.  Then, as soon as the noise begins, she looks for an escape route.  Every dog for herself!

I suppose people are a lot like that, too.  We all have something that cripples us to the point where we're useless even to the ones we love most.  But it just makes me wonder just how loyal my puppers really is...

Aw, hell.  She's cute.  I'll let it slide.

Oh Dear

I have been so, so busy and so, so sick and tired this week that I completely missed Hump Day.  Yes, my lovelies, I'm terribly sorry.  Hopefully once I kick this cold to the curb, all will be well and I can get back to my normal posting.  Although, I do start school again next week, so...  eh, we'll see.

On the plus side of things, it's almost Friday, which means it's almost the weekend.  Huzzah!  My plan for the weekend?  A whole lot of nothing.  Yup.  Just chilling with the hubs and the puppers (who is currently going to town on a rawhide bone that I got out to keep her busy), watching some TV, playing on the 'puter...  Maybe going to Hooters on Sunday to watch the Packers kick some ass.  Keeping it pretty low key since once school starts up again, my weekends tend to be consumed with homework and studying.  -le sigh-

Who has big plans for the weekend?  Anyone?  Bueller?

Sick.

Yes, lovely readers, this cold/flu/whatever thing has officially kicked my ass.  I was out from work again yesterday and spent more time in bed than out of bed.  It was awful.

As such, there will be no official Moronic Monday post this week.  I'm just not up to it.  Between trying to feel better and playing catch-up with work, I'm pretty drained.  Booooo-urns.

Hope 2011 is starting out better for all of you!