On My Mind This Week

These last couple weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions and craziness.  It feels like every time I get a handle on one thing...another things needs attention.  I suppose that’s just life though.   So here are a few things that have been rolling around in my head the last week or so:

• Work is still hit or miss.  I think I had a pretty decent October; however, somedays my phone barely rings.


• My love affair with Fusion Fitness has taken a little bruising since the remodel (which produced monumental amounts of dust.) I'm super excited for the remodel to be complete and we can get back to taking our shoes off.


• Which brings me to my next topic.  I cheated on Fusion with Crossroads Bootcamp and loved it.  Bootcamp is a closer drive as it’s on the way to/from work so I’m going to use the 12 session Groupon I bought and then make an informed decision as to stick with Fusion or switch to Bootcamp for a while....I can’t (aka refuse) to pay for both.


• Hubs and I had a conversation (well really I talked and Hubs listened) that might have been better had under different circumstances (someone, I'm not pointing fingers here, might have had a little too much wine before said conversation) but the jest of it went like this:  be an active part of our little family (me and our puppies), do some chores once in a while or I’m keeping my townhouse to ensure I will have a place to live when I get tired of cleaning up after him---Sooooo.  Dramatic.  Well, now he’s being super helpful and present and while I love it; I also feel like I might have been a little hard on him...after all, he is my husband and I really didn’t mean to scare him into thinking if he didn’t get over his aversion to loading the dishwasher I was going to leave him.


• (For any boys that read these posts, I apologize in advance)  Earlier this week I was on the receiving end of a Hysterosalpingogram and we found out that all my lady parts are working fine.  (You know, in the baby making department.)  The doctor assured us everything was good and that this particular test had a tendency to raise the likelihood of baby making 10-15 and in some cases 20%....so, with no blockages and a higher likelihood of the baby making stars aligning we have definitely been thinking about what life would be like with a little Bambino in our house.


• Oh, and speaking of babies, I have been hoping for Baby Heide’s delivery this week but the little guy seems to be holding strong inside momma.  So we definitely have something exciting coming up in the next few days!  I cannot wait to meet this little guy!

Only one more day til the weekend. We have a pretty fun few days planned: bday party tomorrow night, game night Saturday, and a quiet Sunday home with Hubs watching football and eating pizza which I’m really looking forward to (the spending the day with Hubs part, not the eating pizza part although pizza is pretty darn yummy and a staple in our household.)

...on my mind right now

• I’m ecstatic that this weekend is Hubs’ Half Ironman.  He’s all trained up and I’m sure he will finish well within his goal.  I know he can do it!  Even more importantly, I’m looking forward to jumping up a spot on Hubs priority list and hopefully I can regenerate some enthusiasm for swim/bike/run in the upcoming off season.  This summer was a lot of waiting around for Hubs….


• Work is a roller coaster of good and bad days.  One day is super busy with tons of orders and the next my phone is lucky to light up with an arrival of another ridiculous twitter by @chunkhandler.  Seriously, that dog is funny.  Thank you Chelsea Handler!  Or should I say @Chelseahandler since hashtags are the new cool.


• I’ve been thinking a lot about my eating habits recently.  I read the book “Food Rules” by Michael Pollen and am in the Middle of “This is Why You’re Fat” by Jackie Warner---these people bring up some valid points about how I’m making the wrong food choices.  Basically, both of their philosophies go a little something like this:  Eat as close to the Earth as possible.  And Jackie has a special emphasis on avoiding sugar (since it’s in practically everything we eat.  She says not to eat any food with more than 5g of sugar except for fresh fruit.)  This is basically the same as eating close to the earth because avoiding processed chemically altered foods only leaves food from the outside isles of the grocery store anyway.  I’m contemplating adapting these food philosophies into my daily eating.  Oh, and Jackie says you get two treat meals on the weekends as long as you eat “clean” for 5 days...I’m still kinda mulling this over a little bit though.  Do you know how much I love Tostitos?


• I’m super excited for one of my girlfriends to get home from her cruise…hopefully engaged or not but either way--we need to talk!


• Tyson has really started to wear on me in a way that makes me want to sew his butt hole closed. What is it with this dog pooping in the house?  Nothing gets your day started off on the wrong foot than a big steaming pile of dog crap in your kitchen morning after morning.  He’s quick too.  I don’t even miss him when he sneaks downstairs during the 15 minutes its takes me to brush my teeth and throw on my clothes.  I don't understand how one dog can be so clueless...or maybe brillant. 

Dr Dentist -- A Bittersweet Tale

So this morning I get up, head to work, and prepare myself for the one thing in life I truly hate doing (besides laundry): getting my teeth cleaned.  I spent the day getting all the things done that needed to be done because after getting my teeth scraped, poked, and prodded I knew I was pretty much done for the day. 

           I got there a little early since I have new insurance (thanks Hubs AND Garmin) and I immediately hit it off with the office staff.  Talk about some fun reception ladies!  After several minutes of giggling and laughing it’s time.  Time for the torture to begin. 

          So, I head back , get settled and the worlds most informative dental hygienist starts with my xrays.  When she opened my mouth she started off by showing me the diet coke stains on the undersides of my teeth—Yikes.  And then the tarter/plaque build-up removal—less than pleasant but not unbearable.  Finally, Dr Dentist comes in and does his thing (I don’t know exactly what his thing is but he was feverishly looking and then checking the computer and then looking again—he finally pulls out my x-ray to show me the faintest little dark spot and says, “See that?  It’s the beginning of a tiny cavity.  We are gonna need to get that filled.”  Great.  But at least, I’m done for today.

          When I’m checking out with reception our conversation goes like this: 

Me:  Hi I’m back.  I’m done but allegedly I have a tiny cavity and need a followup.  (I use the term alledgedly because I don’t actually know what cavities look like so I have no choice but to take Dr. Dentists word for it)

Receptionist:  Hi!  Mrs Dental Hygenist said that since you were “crying” (clearly they use the term crying loosely as only a couple of tears pathetically rolled out of  my eyes during the worlds longest chalkboard scrapping) they switched to the (I can’t exactly remember what she called it so I call it the) “water thingy.”  It cost more than just a regular cleaning. 

Me:  Of course it does. 

Receptionist:  We called your insurance to see what they would cover and we were surprised when they said 100%.  (Reason #1 love my Garmin sponsored insurance) 

Me:  YES!  Score!

Receptionist:  So, when do you wanna do your “filling?”

Me:  Hmmmmmm

Receptionist:  What’s your schedule?

Me:  Weeeeellllll (clearly dragging my feet on committing to a time.  Fillings require needles!)

Receptionist:  Hooooow about now? 

Me:  Now?  As in right now?

Receptionist:  Yep. Let’s do it.

Me: (reluctantly) fiiiiiiinnnne. 

          So instead of rescheduling I started my entire dentist experience over again by sitting in the waiting room waiting to hear my name called so I can be shot in the mouth with the world’s largest needle.  (Btw, I HATE shots.)  

          After I was called and Dr Dentist came back he chuckled a little and said he wrote a special note in my file last time noting how nervous I get (Reason #1 I love my dentist) so he would use the same “shake the lip” technique he used last time.  (And it worked again.)  I barely felt anything (Reason # 2 I love my dentist).  So there I am sitting in the chair watching the clock as he drills, fills, and files my new filling---639 ticks on the clock later he sets me up and sends me on my way. 

So, back to the reception desk I go.  Our conversation goes like this:

Me:  I’m back.  Just slightly less happy than when I was here just 639 seconds ago.

Reception:  We called your insurance company to find out what they would cover on the “white” since it’s not covered at the same % as regular fillings. 

Me:  Yeah, I know.

Reception:  The total is $170

Me:  $170???!?!??!?!?!???!?!?!?!??!!!?!?!?!! OMG!

Reception:  Well, that’s before you’re insurance

Me:  Oh good.  (I was expecting $80ish as that’s what it cost me the last time)

Reception:  $30 (Reason #2 I love Garmin)

Me:  Hallelujah!  I LOVE Garmin  

So, now, since Dr Dentist is a mouth numbing pro I’m seriously drooling.  But I don’t care.  It’s done and now I don’t have to think about it until February---when I have to go back and get some more scraping and prodding (aka a checkup) done…..

Since I Can't Afford Actual Therapy

This blog has been a therapeutic addition to my life.  It has given me an outlet to work out any frustration I have with my marriage, our dogs or work or whatever comes up but recently I’ve noticed I’ve really been censoring myself.  I suppose when I sit down to write and can’t come up with anything lighthearted to say I decide not to post.  And it’s really starting to bother me; Hubs and I have done tons of fun stuff and I wish I could muster up some enthusiasm to write about it.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not actually complaining about my life---my life is actually pretty great, it’s just that the yucky day to day details have been wearing on me in a way that makes me want to throw in the towel...So, in this moment I am going to list a handful of items that are desperately (and successfully I might add) trying to steal the thunder away from all the fun/funny stuff and hopefully we can get back to normal.

• No matter how I calculate our finances, Team Carter can shoot a monthly budget to hell in the matter of moments.  I need to learn to say no.


• I wish my family wouldn’t always blame Hubs for our impending (and by impending I mean months and months and months away) move to Lee’s Summit.  I found the neighborhood.  We picked the house.  And Hubs is in no way, shape, or form trying to pull me away from my family.


• Hubs will say yes to anything—taking the bathroom trash out on trash day, being on time, cleaning the garage, taking the bike rack off the truck, getting his paperwork together to get paid on contracting work, working out after work, following up on misc life issues, and ect ect ect but I still have to nag the crap out him to get results.  I’ve joked around about having him sign a piece of paper every time he says yes, but it’s really starting to wear on me.


• My job has set some ridiculous goals for me (and all the other sales people) that make it hard to believe for one minute those particular numbers are attainable.


• I'm missing my friends.  When I was single they were my lifeline to the world and now I'm starting to notice a major dip in friend time.   I feel like I barely see them.  I can only imagine how much worse its gonna get after we have kids


• Operation 20lbs (aka “Operation:  20lbs Might Have Been A Little Overzealous Buuuut My Clothes Are Fitting So Much Better) is going slow.  And by slow I mean, I’m going to need the rest of the winter to actually lose 20 lbs.  It so frustrating.

Don’t get me wrong, I know there are REAL problems out in the world: hunger, homelessness, work place violence, ozone alerts but somehow in my life these seem like real daily problems that build up and build up and build up until all I want to do is scream and so, I just say nothing.

So, since I can't afford actual therapy, I'm going to start writing about my actual life.  The good, the bad, and the ridiculous.  And while I have no idea where it’s going to go, I’m hoping there will be more good/ridiculous than the yucky posts.

Dear Heat

Dear Heat,

                 I'm gonna need you to cool your jets.  Seriously, I’m being forced out into your uncomfortable temps dozens of times each day and it’s getting kind of old.  I get it--it’s summer and you haven’t had a chance to really rear your head the last couple years---August has been full of 80 degree temps and cool breezes but seriously, you gotta chill…and quick.  I’m about to die of heat exhaustion and tomorrow I have someone riding with me so it would be nice if he wasn’t forced to ride in my car with me smelling like a landscaper (not that I don’t like landscapers; I do, they just smell like they’ve been working in the yard all day and that isn’t exactly an scent you want to bottle…I’m just saying.)

Dying for a break,

Jillian

Welcome to Puppy Detail

So, this morning I was planning on getting up super early and making it to Fusion by 7 so I would have plenty of time to cool down, shower, and stop by the office prior to my 10oclock appointment.  But, then my mommy rained on my parade reminding me of Miss Maggie’s much needed trip to the puppy spa.  (She has to be there between 8-9am and it’s really close to my house (Fusion is really close to my work); so I had to pick one or the other…Fusion or Puppy Spa.)  Then I had a brilliant idea:   Hubs could drop Maggie off at puppy spa on his way to work...sure it a little out of his way but I was certain he wouldn’t mind.  Last night when I explained this plan to Hubs he just looked at me and said this:

Hubs:  I have a 10am meeting.

Me:  Me too.  I wanna go to Fusion in the morning and get my day started off on the right foot. So I was hoping you could drop her off.     

Hubs:  I meant I have a meeting at 9am.

Me:  (looking at him a little suspiciously) Well, ok that’s fine.  You can drop Mags off right at 8 and still make it to your office by 9. 

Hubs:  Can we reschedule it for Thursday?

Me:  NO!  We make these appointments weeks in advance.  Can you please just do it? 

Hubs:  Fine.  I’ll do it.

Well, I wasn’t super confident in his “Fine.  I’ll do it.” So, I decided to take his temperature in the morning before I left and make sure he knew how important getting Maggie to the groomer actually was….for those of you that know Maggie she is NOT suppose to have “Bernstein Bear” feet. 

Fast forward to this morning:

Alarm going off at 6: Hubs snoring. 

Alarm going off at 615:  Hubs still not responsive. 

Me:  Are you going to take Mags?

Hubs:  What?  Take her where?

Me:  Defeatedly resetting the alarm for 730 and falling back asleep.  (Keep in mind I was only moderately annoyed at this point.)

New Plan:  Drop Maggie off at 830.  Make it to work by 915.  And that would give me a few minutes to get some last minute things organized before my meeting. 

730  Snooze

745 Snooze

750  Snooze

755  Hubs gets in the shower

809  Hubs gets out of the shower

Hubs:  Doesn’t look like your morning plans quite worked out how you were hoping…

Me:  Well, I didn’t want to take a chance on you not taking Maggie to the place.

Hubs:  Yeah, that was probably good planning on your part.

Me:  (Steam coming out of my ears)

811 Hubs brushes his teeth – I get out bed

812 Hubs plucking hairs from his face - I’m trying to get to the sink to brush my teeth

Me:  You better hurry if you’re gonna make it to your “9am Meeting”

Hubs:  Yeah

813 I start looking for my work shirt in the laundry area and see Hubs sitting in front of his computer

814 Hubs sitting at his computer

I'm getting more annoyed by the second

815 Hubs sitting at his computer

I'm starting to realize that Hubs getting to work by 9 was not really a high priority

816 Hubs sitting at his computer

817 Hubs starts getting dressed

819 Looking for deodorant

Hubs:  Do you want me to take the dogs?

Me:  Do I want YOU to take the dogs?  No, I wanted you to take MAGGIE so I could make to Pilates this morning before work—I have class tonight.  And you shoveled out ten kinds of attitude because you didn’t want to take Maggie to the place….so, I changed my plans so I could take Maggie.  It’s 820 and you have some ‘alleged’ 9am meeting that obviously isn’t a priority PROVING that you could have taken the dog no problem.  But instead I’m going to do it.  Have a nice day.

Hubs:  I love you

Me:  Goodbye.  Go to work.

Hubs:  (realizing that I’m actually mad at him) I love you.

Me:  I love you.  Go to work.

825 Hubs finally leaves the house.

I always joke around when Tyson poops in the house that he better go get his dad before I murder him but what do you tell your husband when you are about to murder him?

1975-2009 Being Cleansed As We Speak (Twitter sent by Dashaun 2010)

This year has been a world wind of change for Hubs and I....well, mostly Hubs, my life is really the same with a few amazing additions—Hubs and Tyson.  Oh, and a new little niece or nephew on the way but that really has nothing to do with this post about Hubs and I. 

            The only things that have really changed in my life since Hubs:  not being able to sleep in the middle of the bed, my last name, and dad started ringing the doorbell instead of just coming on in (which by the way, I still think is stupid.) 

            Hubs on the other hand has turned his entire world upside-down---something I hadn't really thought about until this week...

            We are dangerously close to closing on his house so we posted several things to sell on Craigslist insisting that everyone MUST  pick up by Tuesday night.  And then, we posted a "FREE Moving Sale" for Wednesday to encourage people to come and take the remaining stuff so we wouldn’t have to pay the "junk" people to haul it all off.  After the 'sale' I think he felt a little violated; which I totally understand as I feel unsettled and a little violated when HUBS moves anything in the house (or garage for that matter.)  And yes, I know it's a little bit of a double standard considering every time he brings something over I say, "where are going to put that!?" in my most annoyed wife voice but I can't imagine how hard it must have been to watch strangers rummage though the treasures of his life.  Anyway, he was clearly  down in the dumps a couple nights this week and I got to thinking about all the things in his life that have changed since we moved in together and how I would feel if the tables were turned (Keep in mind, I don't even like it when HUBS moves my phone charger from one plug in to the next--nevermind STRANGERS rummaging in my stuff (albeit unwanted stuff, but still, MY STUFF.  Yes, I need therapy.) 

          I suppose in all relationships there is a time to purge old relationship stuff, ie. pictures, clothes, keepsakes ect. and make room for the new.  But our union has caused a series of events that has basically transformed his world from what is was a year and a half  year ago. 

           It started immediately, with the prompt removal of a tattoo (seriously, seeing an old girlfriend’s name tattooed on my husband (well, boyfriend at the time) for the rest of my life?  No, thank you!), to selling his motorcycle to help pay for our (perfect) wedding, to trading his truck (and getting rid of those old personalized plates of his x-wife---bonus) for a new truck we bought together, and finally, the cherry on the top of the sundae, selling his house and finally getting to enjoy the spoils of a two income household! 

            I can’t imagine how I would feel if I had to sell my car, house, and most of my belonging to move into a home that requires me park outside in the snow during the winter and crawl into a car as hot as the Sahara Desert in the summer.  But Hubs hasn’t complained once.  He’s gone above and beyond to make sure I feel comfortable and secure in our life and love and I don’t think I tell him enough--I do notice, I have noticed, and I appreciate all he’s done to ensure I feel like the only women in his life (aside from his mother, of course :)

           So, after the aforementioned items are done (closing on his house being the final task at hand) we will be free to enjoy our happy, healthy, and fart filled lives together without anymore 'previous relationship' red tape.  Because really, nothing spoils a party quicker than having to confer with an x-wife on issues that have nothing to do with her....

          Jokes aside?  When you put all the red tape and nail biting (waiting for signatures) up against not being with Hubs at all---there is no comparison.  I would put up with a lifetime of red tape and drama if it meant I could spend the rest of my life lying in bed, giggling, laughing, and sleeping in a pile with Hubs and Maggie and Tyson.  I'm still trying to figure out how I got so lucky...

In Another Life We Might Have Been Friends

I had a conversation with my boss Wednesday that went like this:

Boss:  Hey Jill.  I need you to work a Yarco event tomorrow.  Basically, you’ll man the booth and try generating some new business.    

Me:  Yarco? 

Boss:  Yeah Yarco.  You've heard of them right?

Me (In my head):  Um, yeah, uhhhhh Yarco has like a million properties here in KC and I actually try to stay away from them since my husband’s x-wife is in HR over there.  Maybe you should ask someone else.

Me (Actually):  Sure I would love too!

So, yesterday, I get dressed, give myself a pep talk (about how awesome I am, what else?) and head to work.  11:00 rolls around; I grab Roxie, a load of talking pens, and head over to the Argosy hoping x-wife was treated like some sort of ugly step-child and was forced to stay in the office.  No such luck.  I walk in, there she is, sitting at the Yarco welcome table and it only took her about 2.4 seconds to register who had just walked in.  I smiled a half smile and found our table---a mere 12 ft away!  I wasn't quite sure how the day was going to go considering our table was facing the her table and her table was facing ours (and avoidance is usually my go to.)  So with avoidane out, what are you suppose to do in that situation?  What is proper etiquette?  Are you supposed to talk? 

Hi!  It’s so nice to officially meet you.  I don’t know if you remember, we tried out at KU together but I ultimately decided KU wasn’t for me and moved to South Florida instead.  If you hear of anyone needing flooring please pass my info along; here’s my card.  Oh yeah, my last name is Carter.  Sorry bout that--Hubs and I got married in January.  I’ve been wanting to thank you for whatever happened between you two because now I get to spend the rest of my life with him.   Anyway, let your properties know we have excellent prices and next day service.  Good to see you!

Or not talk?  Completely ignore what was happening?   I basically did nothing.  I gave her an acknowledgement when I walked in, she gave me a wave when I left and the time in-between was peppered with half smiles.   When you really think about it, she’s never done anything to me so why should I even care.  She did me the ultimate favor---suuuuure, life with Hubs (and Tyson) has created a fart/poop cloud around me that might never dissipate but that’s a small price to pay for the happiness that I feel in my life now.  In her defense, she's had more than one occasion to show her distain for his new life but she's always proved more than accommodating and polite. 

And really, who wants to create an unnecessarily awkward situation?  The likelihood of us crossing paths again is fairly high.  We were both cheerleaders, we both work in multi-family, we have the same taste in music (and men), and who knows, in another life we might have been friends…..

So next time I will say hello. 

Another reason I hate being an adult.....

The Unemployment Experiement

It’s over and I did it!  I got my paper turned in, attended the AAKC meeting, spoke in public without peeing my pants and managed to make it through my oral interview in Espanol with only two major sweat attacks, yes, I said sweat attacks!  So, that was awesome!

My days as an unemployed stay at home wife and mother of two (puppies) is coming to an end.  On Monday I start my new position with MC Flooring!  (After I accepted this job, a company from the Apartment Association asked me to interview.  I have good relationships with several of their employees so of course I said, “yes!”  We worked out all the final details last Friday and I start the beginning of May.  It’s basically the exact same thing I was doing before just change pest control to flooring!  I think it should be a pretty seamless transition especially since I managed to stay pretty active in the AAKC during my hiatus.  Also, I have a little break from school after finals so I’ll have a couple months to really focus on work and building a solid base before I start summer classes—sometimes I get so frustrated that I didn’t finish sooner!  (PSA:  Kids, finish school early!  If you find you have no motivation to go to class, then perhaps you should take more classes.  This assessment is based on the unemployment experiment—you know, my life the last 2 months.)

Being home for two months really made me rethink a sarcastic joke my dad always makes when I'm complaining about being busy, he says, “a busy person is a happy person,” and after this little experiment in unemployment---I think that philosophy might prove true.   I’ve already looked at the gym schedule to see when I could fit in working out between work and class—which is sort of ridiculous considering I’ve pretty much taken the last month off from any sort of physical activity that doesn’t involve my husband. (Seriously, being unemployed is a full time job that sucks pretty much every ounce of initiative out of a girl!)  I did go for a bike ride today though...

So, until life starts again on Monday, the schedule is as follows:  Friday, I take Maggie to the puppy spa for her summer spa treatments (aka bath, nail clipping and lion cut), directly following?  A pep talk convincing Maggie that the other shelties made fun of her hair because they’re jealous of her trendsetting cut!  And taking a Spanish final on Saturday.  Stressful, I know!  Oh, and tomorrow night I need to pump Hubs up for his first day at Garmin!  Not that he needs it---he’s super excited and I’m super excited for him!

Yes, this last week of unemployment has taken laziness to a whole other level, but hey, I’m not planning on being unemployed again for a VERY long time;  so I might as well take advantage of the free time while I can!

The Less Responsibility I Have--The Less I Get Done

I’ve been unemployed for a little over 2 months.  The only responsibility I have right now consists of feeding and watering the dogs (which Hubs usually does in the morning as I’m still sleeping) and finishing up this semester.  Today, I had NOTHING on my schedule except preparing for my Spanish Oral Interview and getting a Stats paper written---what did I do?  I checked Facebook, watched Ellen, blogged, ran with Tyson, played fetch with Maggie, and took a shower.  In my defense, sat down in front of my computer about 12 times, but something kept distracting me (seriously, have you seen the internet?  There are all kinds of distracters out there!) 

                In my life, it appears the less responsibility I have, the less I get done.  I noticed this syndrome back in high school when I waited tables too.  If I had 10 tables everyone had full drinks, warm food, and checks sitting in front of them at just the right moment.  If I had 1 table, I was probably slacking off in the back and that poor table had to look around for me and was usually dying of thirst.  Why is that?  When I was working I was always ready for school.  I always had my papers written and reviews completed….what happened to me?

                Tomorrow, I have a statistics paper due and need to speak in Spanish for 5 whole minutes!  Of course, none of that goes down until 5…so I still have time J

Out with the Old - In with the New

This weekend has been the first of many things that are changing in our lives.  First, we traded in Hubs’ Highlander for a new Rav 4—lower payments coupled with less history sounds like a winner to me.  And it looks like we have an offer on Hubs’ house by extremely anxious buyers wanting to move by the middle of May! 

It feels good to see some financial relief in our future.  I’m very much looking forward to finally enjoying the spoils of a two income household---something we’ve definitely been missing out on.  He had his house.  I had mine.  And our money was spent accordingly.  However, the longer we’re married the less tolerant I’m becoming of the past.  I know it’s important to remember everyone has a history but when we pay this bill for that reason and we have to pay this because of that….it drives me bananas.  I love the idea of stepping forward into our own lives--out with the old and in with the new.

For those of you that enjoy reading ridiculous conversation between Hubs and I…this one is a classic:  

Hubs:  Maybe we should just get the base model, you know, and save as much money as possible.

Me:  Seriously?  It barely has any buttons?

Hubs:  I know, but I’ll drive it and we can totally get by with a base model.  

Me:  Are you prepared to roll down the windows by cranking? 

Hubs:  It doesn’t have crank windows….does it?

Me: In a moment like this, there’s only one question that needs to be answered...

Hubs:  Yeah?

Me:  Are we KEY people?  Or KEY FOB people?

Hubs:  Key Fob. 

Me:  That’s what I thought. 

Missouri Taxation Department Hassle List

It's official..I'm off the Missouri Taxation Department's Hassle List.   For some reason Missouri was under the impression I didn't want to pay my taxes in 05/06 and sent me a bill.  And then a final notice.  And then a final final notice.  And finally a final final final notice.  Hey, Missouri, I was living in Illinois those years....keep in mind when I moved back in 07 I paid both you and Illinois.  I suppose a partial file should have tipped them off that I had moved away and then moved back. Whatev. After mailing my information twice and faxing once I'm officially off the list!  It feels good!  I can't imagine what it would be like to be extremely behind on bills, having collection companies calling day after day.  

Anyway, I'm free! Yay!

Throw This...

Maggie has been staying at my parent’s house for a couple weeks.  My mom likes to “borrow” our puppies for weeks at a time; I think makes her feel like she has grandkids....

Anyway, while I was sitting at mom and dad’s waiting for the garage door man to show---Mags and I got into some pretty deep conversation, she said:

Throw this…                      

And then we wrestled around in the backyard---til she got tired and laid down...

Just look at that face...how could you not want her to stay over forever!

The Pressure is Off...

I have a job--starting the 1^st of June!  This means, I have 2 more months of taking it easy.  I’m thinking unemployment might be a little more enjoyable seeing there’s an end in sight!  Two more months of sleeping in, luxuriously focusing on school, and getting my workout on!  Then, it’s back to business!  The new job is very similar to my old job; convincing multi-family communities/management companies to buy from me--I can handle that….

Oh, and I just ate a celebratory Chocolate Easter Bunny (in an effort to prolong the final moments of my rapidly diminishing youth.)  Take that adulthood!

Job Offer Tuesday

Today, I find out if I have a new job.  I’ve interviewed.  I’ve taken all the tests.  I’ve been diligent in company research and now I have a meeting to discuss an offer.  What the offer is….I can’t be sure but I can’t wait to find out! 

More to come on that later! 

Oh, and today is, Tax Return Tuesday--- One more reason being an adult is lame.  Unless I get a huge refund.  If that's the case, Tax Return Tuesday is AWESOME!

Being A Grown Up Is So Lame..

I can’t put my finger on the exact moment but sometime in the last year or two I turned into a full fledged adult.  I still can’t believe it.  It seems like just yesterday I was taking off work every other Friday to go on a fun and totally irresponsible ski trip or fun weekend to the beach.  Where have those days gone?  Today, I did something I never saw myself doing, no matter how old I got…but today, I bought a water heater.   Yeah, I bought a water heater. 

And if that wasn’t enough I had to explain the state of Missouri one more time that I didn’t reside in Missouri in 05/06 and I don’t actually owe the income taxes they so relentlessly insist I pay.  Don’t people move away and move back all the time?  And what?  They send each and every one of those residents hate mail threatening to slap a lien on their property if they don’t pay?  Hey Missouri, before you send me another piece of mail stating this is my final notice, you should check your own mail….I sent you a copy of my Illinois return.  Twice now.  Please give me a break.

How did this happen?  My life used to be so fun and carefree….