HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
XOXOXO

It's unusually warm today!!

Didn't sleep good, woke up a lot, and was overly aware of my dreams...they were so active that I felt tired just from dreaming!!
Went into work late.
Had a doctor appt, just for a checkup....no worries.
But I guess she was running late, so spent 2 hours there instead of just 1.
I wish the nurses would tell me they are running late.
I REALLY hate sitting on a doctors table in an over-sized paper towel for an hour!!
Tugging and pulling at it...
But she is so nice when she does finally come in, that I instantly get over my bitchiness.
I asked her if any of her patients ever bring their own robes.
She said "Yes!"
YAY!!!!!
Not many...but the ones that do...really pass it on to friends and family.
I think it would make a world of a difference.
I hate being in the doctors office anyway, but sitting in that thing feeling yucky just about gives me a complex!
A nice soft, cuddly, over-sized robe would feel like a security blanket.
Its mine, it fits, and I dont stick to it! :)

Brad has a little bit of a cold, and I think I do too, but he is worse off than me.
We both are all sneezy, snotty, stuffy.
I think I might have some tomato soup and Ritz crackers tonight.

Im tired, so we might not do grocery shopping until tomorrow for our food for New Years...unless Brad wants to twist my arm.....but I am really tired.
I wanna go home and pop some melatonin and go to bed!

At least it will be another nice short work week!

Its nice having Brad back home.
He had a lot to unload from the van.
Lots of gifts!!
He got a New York neighborhood cookbook, bought himself a train catalog (with toy trains he is DYING to buy), some golf shirts, Columbia swimtrunks, windbreaker, a book about chefs, a basket of nuts and candy and the one I am still in shock about......
this special thing from HoneyBaked Ham, kinda like Harry and David's fruit of the month club.
Every other month we get Ham, steaks, cheese, etc. They have it listed out....WOW WOW WOW!!
We get our first package in Feb.

I got a cute purse with matching cell phone holder, Office Space CD soundtrack, a really nice bath pillow (really cushy!), AN ANT FARM!!!!! (Im excited about this), Dr. Seuss wall calander, some Burt's Bees lotion, lip balm and bath stuff, a holder for my curling iron, and really neat magnetized, and framed chalkboard for kitchen notes, a candle topper (very pretty) for my yankee candles around the house.
Also got some neat toy/candy stocking stuffers:
Green soap foam spray for the bath
Orange washable window paint pen
Deer keychain that poops cola candy

Plastic blow bubbles - that dont pop
and mini Silly Putty's!

Today we have just been resting up, gonna have another nice short work week this week!

Cleaned up the house.
Finished watching the 3rd season of Soprano's.
Had Portillo's for dinner and then watched the DVD of The Jerk that Brad got me for Christmas.
Waiting for him to come home form Toledo.

Staying up late again.
Ate leftover Mac & Cheese.
Put away laundry.
Emptied the dishwasher.
Watched a little over 1/2 of the 3rd season of Soprano's.
Goli laid on the sofa next to me having little doggy dreams of chasing bunny rabbits and dancing with pork chops.

Tomorrow I will finish Soprano's before Brad gets home from Toledo.
Can't wait to have him back! :)

IM SOOOO TIRED!!
I need a naptime under my desk.
No work anyway...sitting bored mostly.
Stayed up too late last night finishing Oz.
Tonight its Sopranos.

Oh yeah...and I made my mom's recipe for mac & cheese for myself tonight.
IT WAS YUMMY!! :)

I just watched the entire first season of Oz.
It was good, (no mom....you should not watch it though).
I think most people I know that are upset by it are guys, guys aren't used to that kinda stuff since Deliverance, and that few seconds in Pulp Fiction.

Women deal with the same stuff in movies and TV every night. I kinda like having the tables turned.

Im winding down for bed. stayed up too late.
Brad isnt here and I'm not used to sleeping by myself with at least someone nearby.
Let's see how it goes....I might just leave the hall light on....

Good night.

Happy Birthday Tiko!

Brad left for Toledo this morning to visit family and give them Christmas gifts
I used up my vacation days so I am staying home.

Its quiet at work. HOORAY!!

Brad got me an ornamental grass kit for my desk at work, the peat moss is soaking now.

I'm think about renting the 1st season of Oz to watch while he is away.

I still have clothes I got for Christmas to try on to see if they fit.

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas.

I called Beth yesterday.
Beth update:
Her and Paul are staying in a hotel, they will rent a place for about 6 months while their house is being re-built.
She said she cried yesterday when she woke up, thinking about how they were supposed to have Christmas at their home, with their dog and open gifts.
Her and Paul are still very up and down, but at least able to laugh a little....its a good step.
I re-ordered a christmas gift I sent her that melted in the fire, and ordered her a gift certificate to buy clothes.
I wish I was there to hold her hand and take her to CVS or some drug store to re-stock bathroom, make-up, skincare, shampoo kinda stuff.
She still hasnt done that.
She isnt a materialistic person, and I dont think I am either but I would be upset over the stuff...not like jewelry...but like that sweater I love, and those jeans that are comfy and fit me perfect, some clothes that I love, took forever to find and make me feel good. Also the bathroom skincare stuff that is a part of my daily routine. I like my routine. My sonic care toothbrush, the crest tartar control and whitening toothpaste, floss, toner, the moisturizer that doesnt make my face too greasy, the cleaser that REALLY takes off all my makeup, my favorite shampoo. I feel comfort in these things, like a security blanket.

I plan on going through some of my old pictures of us, and making copies for her.

Website Wednesday

Snow Rush (scavenger hunt game)
Short cool film
Hitman II: Christmas style
Star Wars/Apple parody

oh yeah...the tree was 50% off and only cost us $12.50!!

Brad and I just got in.
We stopped at the video store to pick up some movies, and went to Menards, to get some logs.
While we were there we got a 4.5 foot fake christmas tree, LED lights (so VERY Brad) too.
So now Brad is putting the tree together, and I brought up some red balls to hang on it.

Soon we will be starting our fish fry!

Had a restful weekend.
Laying around with Brad and Goli.
We rented Minority Report, really liked that a lot.
Still finishing Brazil and Mourning Becomes Electra.
Going grocery shopping tonight for Christmas Eve food.
Busy at work today, about 1000 emails to go through!!

Here are the pics from last week.

Had lunch with Chris at Don Pablo's.
He is unix admin that took over for me at Metatech when I moved to Chicago.
We keep in touch, email back and forth, so it was good to see him again.
It had been 2 years just about.
The IT dept (including him) just got laid off.
So I got to catch up on old office gossip too.

I met up with quite a few ex-co-workers this week!
NCS, DFAS, and Metatech!

Tonight we are going over to Sunny's to hang out.
Eat either BBQ or chinese carry-out and watch TV.

Mom takes me to the airport tomorrow to go back to Chicago.

Beth just called me.
Her house burned down on Weds.
Her and Paul are staying at a hotel.
Im stunned.

Had lunch with mom, Sunny, Dylan, Ben and mom's co-worker and friend Shirley at Marshall's on 1st.
Had a blue cheese burger.
Very nice place, they had a really cool fish tank.
The tank was brushed steel kinda thing, that started in one room and went over to the other, with a tunnel for the fish to swim back and forth to either side.
I just loved the tank, it was gorgeous!
Here are some pictures I found.

Stopped at French Loaf on 5th for some chocolate croissants.

Went over to Sunny's and spent time with Dylan and Ben giving her a chance to run some errands.

Met mom at her place, went to pick up pizzas, salad, and bread sticks at Mama Mimi's on Henderson.
They said to put the pizzas in the over for 10 min on 450, and take off the cardboard but leave the paper.
We left the paper on, but cooked both pizza at the same time, with one being on the lower shelf too close to the burner, and the paper caught on fire.
The top of the pizza was very good, just very very charred on the bottom. We got the Soprano's Supremo (charred) and a vegetarian. Both were very good.

Lit moms cake, sang happy birthday. She opened a gift from me, Brad, Sunny, Martin, Ben and Dylan - an inversion table.
Fred got mom, a new TV, VCR, DVD players and a gift certificate for a massage.
Mom did pretty good!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Sunny, Dylan, Ben and I went to pick up mom for lunch today from work.
We ate at Old Bag of Nails Pub.
I got the fish and chips, very yummy.

I fed Ben a bottle in the back of the car on our way to do some shopping afterward.

Mom and I were gonna see Frida at the Arena Grand Theater after she got off work.
But the times were misprinted for that, so we saw Analyze That instead.
Not great, but entertaining. I like Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal.
Still full from lunch to go out for anything so just had a turkey sandwich and Sunny's.

I have been calling Brad about 3 times a day.
I miss him.

TOMORROW IS MOM'S BIRTHDAY!!!!

Website Wednesday

Condiment Packet Museum
JCPenney Catalog Fall/Winter 1980
Ultimate Flash Face
Dubya quotes
Airline Meals
Combovers

I slept in a bit today.
Got up, showered and went to Sunny's.
We all went to Skyline Chili for lunch.
Another place I've missed.
I had the 4-way chili with onions.

We went shopping at Tuttle Mall.
Bought some sweaters.
Found out tonight they have Blue Mountain Coffee there at Gloria Jean's Gourmet Coffees in the mall.
Now I need to go back there and buy some to take home!!!

Went back over to Sunny's for a bit but then left to go change for dinner.

Picked up a Chocolate Mousse Cake from Cheesecake Factory on my way to Tiko's house for dinner.
Also bought him some Nag Champa and an incense box all for his birthday and Christmas.

He made steaks for dinner, with french cut green beans and au gratin potatoes.
His wife, Kim, made sangria. It was wonderful!
Dinner AND the sangria!!!
That cake was really good too.

I got there at 6 and stayed past 11.
Had a GREAT time!
I love Tiko and Kim SO MUCH.
We just sat around, ate, drank, and smoked cigars.
Tiko is really into cigars now.
I like asking him stuff....he isnt a bullshitter like most guys, he really knows his stuff or just says he doesnt know.
Simple enough...but so difficult to find.
He told me about lighting cigars, and cutting them, about his humidor, and his super cool lighter.
I like listening to Tiko, I really respect him, think he is very intelligent in a lot of areas, and he really knows me....and STILL LOVES ME!!! :)

I called Brad on my way home to mom's.
I am still burping up that Emeril's Essence that Tiko uses.....

Got a hot rock massage this morning at The Retreat (they have lame music on their site) in Dublin (Home of Wendy's restaurants)

Aromatherapy LaStone Body Massage:
This specialty massage is very unique and exclusive to our area. Experience the healing energy of silky lava stones, polished by ancient rivers. Gentle kneading with heated volcanic stones, combined with traditional Swedish massage, will melt away the aches, leaving your skin satiny smooth.
My favorite type of massage!! The heat on those things just feels great!!

Went next door for lunch at BW-3's for some buffalo strips.
Met up with Larry and Mike, ex-co-workers of mine from 3-4 years ago at NCS.
It was really great seeing those guys again!!!
It's been too long, and I'm glad we've kept in touch.
That is the job where I stepped over to the Unix side of things and had my first HP admin class.

Called Sunny, to let her know what I was doing.
She had a follow-up therapy appt with Ben this morning.
Went pretty well, he seems to be moving his neck around a little better without minding too much.

Mom & Sunny are going to see Bruce Springsteen tonight.
Not sure what I'm doing.
Might go shopping or go see a movie.....or both.....

*Blasting Andew WK today*

Slept good from the wine and champagne last night.
Sat around in my pj's for awhile.
I woke up just as mom was leaving for church.
When she got back, we went shopping at Easton. A mostly outside mall.
Walked around, there was some German sidewalk thing going on, took some pictures.
Had lunch at Champs. (buffalo chicken)
Went to Media Play, where I bought some CD's for a christmas present for her boyfriend, and Andrew WK for me.
Went over to my sisters house.
We made sugar cookies and all of us sat at the table and frosted and decorated them.
IT WAS REALLY CUTE!!!
I had fun. I thought my angel cut out looked more like a frog, so I made a christmas frog, and Sunny's star was the starfish from Sponge Bob Square Pants, Martin even made a Mr Hanky that had some corn in him.
After that, I took their car, went to moms, got in my pj's and took off my makeup and went back over just in time to watch the Anna Nicole Christmas show and the Celerity Date show.
Back at moms now.

GOOD-NIGHT!!

XOXOXO

I am in Columbus Ohio.
This week is my mom's birthday (a big one!)
So I surprised her by showing up for one of her birthday celebrations last night.
SHE WAS SURPRISED!! :)
I took a few pics, which I will post later when I get home.
Sunny, Dylan and Ben picked me up from the airport and hung out and cleaned up at her place before dinner.

Mom's boyfriend Fred, had a stretch limo pick us up and take us to moms.
Mom got in was was very surprised to see me!
Went to Ruth's Chris for dinner.
It was wonderful.
I over ate, but it was all sooooooo good!!!

It's nice to be back in Columbus for a visit.
I will be here all week, until next Saturday.

I have a massage scheduled Monday.
Dinner with Tiko and his family scheduled Tuesday.
Also gonna have luch with my mom at work a couple times.
And visit and catch up with some ex-co-workers from NCS.

Had lunch with Brad and some people he works with.
Sue, Dan and Polly.
Tomorrow is Polly's birthday.
We went to the Flat Top Grill on Washington.
It was my first time, but they had been there before.
I liked a lot!
Similiar to Mongolian Barbeque but they grill the meat seperately from the rest of the stuff since the meat takes longer to cook than mushrooms would.
At Mongolian...I had too many "char-bits" in my food or leftovers of someones elses mixed in! :(

At Flat Top, they can add bread, shrimp, make it into a soup, make it into a salad all sorts of stuff.

It was nice seeing some of the people Brad works with, I hadn't seen them in awhile.

Now I am full, and tired.....ready to go home and be useless.

HOORAY!!
I GOT MY COMMENTS TO WORK!!!

Busy again today.
Feel like I am getting a little bit of a cold.
I drank some mega vitamin c drink this morning and some asprin.

Brad and I refinanced our house today.
The office of the atty we used was right across the street from Brad's building.
Then we went back over to his building and had lunch in the cafeteria.
I'm glad he twisted my arm into going.
I was thinking about grabbing some McDonalds and going back to work.
But I ate a much better lunch in his cafe.
And probably no one noticed I was gone anyway.

I have my Christmas shopping all done and wrapped!!

Brad and I have been playing with the video camera a lot lately.
New toy!
I need to tape Goli puking.
One of these mornings...I will get it!
He puked this morning outside while I sat with him.

I just read an artice in NY Post saying the "Doe_Eyed Kelly Clarkson" is a phony and a liar.

Website Wednesday

Cheaper than Ikea
Pay For Your Sins
Opera Baby
Kikko-Man
Star Dudes
Only the Aussies!
Click on them to hear them sing
Cool arcade like game
Get the ball in the basket

Been really busy at work these last couple of months.
But happier too.
I am still doing Unix stuff.
Still working with Tivoli (which looks great on resumes)
And now doing much more work in the facilities area.
Also looks great on a resume.

The project managers meet with me and let me know what servers they are gonna order, when they will arrive.
After they arrive, I find shelf space and power space in one of our server rooms, then work with the electricians to install some shelves for me.
I have to give them the measurements and locations of the shelves I need, and which type of shelf. (heavy weight, light-weight, non-slide)
Then I work with the network group to get a network connection drop (cable) done in such and such rack on such and such shelf.
I organize all the groups doing work with this, and then organize the install or load of the box to get done.

I also have this software installed on my desktop that helps me monitor the power levels of our UPS's.
We are running out of power to load on the UPS's so I have been trying to do a balancing act with all the servers.
Getting groups to remove old obsolete boxes and installing more practical boxes to fit their needs.

We have a facilities guy but a getting new server room in another building up and running has been taking up most of his time.
This new server room will solve a lot of the space and power issues we have.

So this kinda work makes me have to get out of hiding from my cube and be a little more visible.
It's been good for me.
It certainly raises my value, and will hopefully keep me from getting laid off.

I had a pretty good weekend.
Watched movies, and still got my chores done.
Wash sheets and put back on, laundry, put away laundry from last week, wrapping th rest of the Christmas gifts, picking up bits of wrapping paper from gifts Goli shredded...., returning a jacket to Galyans, washing the guest towels from Thanksgiving, and bought a new toy!!!
A Sony videocamera.
We want to document things.
Like a scrapbook.
But I might have fun and make stupid movies to crack myself up too....

I've spent more time tweaking, installing stuff and such then actual posting.
I take awhile to settle in....

It doesn't :(
CRAP!!

I just added comments, lets see if it works....

This is what Goli looked like after everyone left this last weekend.

This is my first post here.
I think I will be posting pics, Website Weds...and boring drivel here!