Shopping Show

I am addicted. Have you ever been so addicted to a TV show that you plan your entire week around it? Well I am that way with the KADI Shopping Show. I listen every weekday and I plan my OT on Saturdays around the hours of the Shopping Show. What do they sell? They sell certificates for all sorts of things. Oil Changes, Food, Branson stuff, and much more. Today, they had a hotel room at the Sheridan Suites in KC at the Plaza. Ok, here is the deal, it is a $280 value for one night in a suite with free sit down breakfast and free parking for $180. Now, normally I am all about the cheaper the better when it comes to a hotel/motel. I don't care if you enter from the outside or inside. Breakfast? Doesn't matter whether it is a donut or a box of cereal. As long as there is a bed and a toilet, I am good. And I have stayed at some doozies. If I can find a room for $25, I am in heaven. But for some reason today, I had a NEED for a $280 room. I don't really have any reason to go to KC. I cant afford to shop at the Plaza. I have no time off to take a trip. But I NEEDED that room. I called my sister to see if she had reason to go to KC. I asked Gary if he wanted to go spend the weekend in KC. NO. I listen to the shopping show so that I can save money on places we go normally or save money on things we have to have done like oil changes. But today, it is all about a hotel suite that i really really don't need. I have the phone as close to my hand as I can get it without holding it. I have my redial set just in case she knocks a couple dollars off of it. Does anyone want to go to billings with me to pick up some cupcakes? Sassy's had great cupcakes and the certs of half off. Pizza in Fairgrove? Come on, we can eat pizza and cupcakes on our way to KC.

Internet Dating

who would have guessed that I would meet a husband on the internet. We chatted a couple of times on the internet and then he didnt want to mess around anymore. After two conversations, we decided to meet for dinner. Nakoto's. I told him what I looked like and what I would be wearing and he told me the same. We were to meet outside at 7pm. It was cold that night so i waited inside. The Host asked if I had a reservation. Yes, we had a reservation. It is under Bill. That was all I knew. His name was Bill. The host looked at me a bit odd and i said I would just wait to be seated when Bill arrived. I waited and waited, with the host glancing my way several different times. 7pm came and went. I decided he wasn't coming and so I decided to leave and as I walked out the door, there he was. He thought I wasn't coming also, after all, we were suppose to meet outside. We walked in, the host looking at me oddly again, he asked about our reservation again. Yes, we have a reservation. GARY BAUGH. What? You told me your name was Bill. So now the Host at Nakato's thinks I am a food hooker and will just eat dinner with anyone. We go sit down at our table. We are on our first date and we are sitting with six strangers. Those who don't know me .. I am a huge people watcher. First date, sitting at a table with 7 people I don't know, not the best idea. I think I ignored Gary the entire time. I was so busy trying to keep up with all that was going on with the others at our table. To my surprise, Gary, not Bill, called the next day and we scheduled our second date.

BINGO!

Last night I went to play Bingo with my aunt. It starts at 630pm and gets over around 930pm depending on how slow the caller is. We went to win the $5700 pot. If you have never been to play Bingo before, it is serious business. There is no messing around, no laughing and definitely NO HAVING FUN. We were in trouble all night long. First we sat at an empty table only to find out that a mean old lady usually sits there and she was just running a little late and "everyone knows I sit here" is what she told us. Every night she plays bingo and every night she sits in the same place. We moved. My aunt had to go to the bathroom in the middle of a game, so I was playing her electronic Bingo machine. The Bingo monitor came and took it out of my hand, "it is against state law to play two electronic machines at one time". Every one around me started mouthing me "i knew she wasn't suppose to be doing that'" "it has always been against the law" "have they never used the machines before?" I was hoping to win a Bingo game just in case we needed bail money. We got to laughing so hard that people told us to keep quiet. This of course just made us laugh harder. By the time the last Bingo number was called, people were glaring at us and pointing at us. Who knew there were so many uptight people at the Bingo Hall. We didn't win, but we had fun.

Shaving your legs

Is it really necessary to shave your legs if no one is going to be seeing them? Once you stop wearing shorts, can you stop shaving your legs? What if you are going to just be wearing capri's? Can you just shave the part of your leg that is going to show? When you start to only wear long pants and jeans, why shave at all? Once the hair gets long enough it is softer than your actual leg anyway. The biggest problem is when it comes spring time again ... you have to buy a couple of new razors to get all of that hair off of your legs. I will let you know how it works out this winter ... i bet my legs stay warmer than yours.

What is on your Christmas List?

I have started my shopping for Christmas. We make lists. I make a list for who I am buying for and my ideas for what I might get them. I make a list of what I want. Do you have those people in your family that HAVE to have a list from you and then they either don't buy what is on your list or they change your list to suit themselves? They change your list because they think you need something better than you have asked for. You ask for a set of towels, you tell them exactly what brand and color you want. You ask for big bath towels that are very soft and you want them in dark colors. What you open up your gift on Christmas .... you got towels ... but they are white and pink, scratchy towels, the ones that leave marks on your skin when you use them. You look at the person who gave them to you and they are so excited because you could get more for the money than the ones you asked for. Do you have those people in your family who buy presents all year long, they get in on all of the bargains and just put them in their closet until Thanksgiving and then they get them out and decide who to give them to instead of buying gifts for specific people, they buy a bunch of crap with no one at all in mind. It is the thought that counts ... this doesn't apply to these people because they didn't think of you at all when they bought it. OMG! Am I a spoiled brat or what? Is it wrong to want a gift that had some thought put into it? I would much rather you get me something at the dollar store and have actually thought about me when buying it than spending $100 on something for me that I will have to wait in line after Christmas to return. Oh, yes, I have no problem returning Christmas gifts. I have also been known to sell a few birthday and Christmas gifts in a garage sale. OMG! I am a horrible receiver. I guess that is why we all love to give more than receive.

Brain Dead .... or just empty

I have nothing. I am organizing the Christmas presents that I have bought and I thought that I would share a couple of Christmas stories .... the one where I was given a Christmas present on Tuesday and told I could open it on Saturday when my "friend" came over. I opened it, wore the boots for three days and then rewrapped them to open them again on Saturday and I was so surprised to see that I had been given a great pair of boots. Or the one about how I made up
Christmas Elves so that my husband would let me open gifts early. Or the time Gary put those pop up snakes in my presents so when I opened them early I would freak out. But for some reason these stories just arent very interesting today. I am so boring today. Nothing. Maybe tomorrow will be a brighter day.

The Princess Hikes Her Leg

Did you ever wonder how that kitten knows to go potty in the litter box. You bring them home, show them where the litter is and when they need to pee ... they go to the box, pee and cover it up. Same with the puppies ... how do the girls know to squat and the boys hike their leg? I mean it is the mom's who takes the little girls to the restroom and shows them how to cover the seat perfectly with toilet paper (before the fancy toilet seat covers) so that they dont have to sit on the toilet or how to stand over the toilet to pee without actually sitting down. It is the dad's who teach the little boys how to stand in front of the urinal and dont look down or around at others. So, who teaches those puppies and kittens? Well at our house it was Ranger. The strong willed Corgi who taught his little sister Roxy to pee ... by hiking her leg instead of squatting. I think it was just another way for him to continuously let me know that he was and will always be ... the boss at this house. I can only imagine what the neighbor dogs are saying .....

Potted Meat

When I was at the store a couple of weeks ago I saw a can of "potted meat." I had remembered my dad eating this on a sandwich when I was young. I remember having a sandwich with him, potted meat on white bread and a glass of milk. My dad died in 2004 and I love that I can go to the grocery store and many other places and find things that make me think of him. I bought the can of potted meat. Today I am feeling a bit weepy. I miss my dad, my grandkids and Ranger. I went to the kitchen for some breakfast and decided on a glass of milk and a potted meat sandwich. I went back to my office and after one bite ... i still miss my dad ... but not the potted meat sandwich. Once again, a memory of my dad has made me laugh as i spit the sandwich into the trash.

Ladies Room

For those of you that know me, you know that I drink a lot of water and have a small bladder. I have probably seen the inside of every restroom between Springfield and Columbia. This weekend we ran around alot and as the day went on, I had a couple of questions come to mind as I sit and stare at the messages scratched into the stall doors. These questions have been asked by many women I am sure ... but here they are again. Have you ever noticed that for some reason the locks in the ladies room are always broken? What is it about a round lever that you push through a round hook that is so difficult that it doesnt last? Is there that many women who cant hold it that they come running full force into the bathroom and just push the first door open, occupied or not, busting the round lever and exposing the little old lady trying to pee. How much could the levers cost that Walmart or JCPenneys cant afford to have a couple extra on hand? Have you ever tried to pee with your leg up on the door to stop if from opening. This brings me to my next question ... have you ever been to one of those restrooms that there is only about 6 inches between the door and the toilet? You have to crawl up and around the toilet to even get into the stall. Then you have to turn around and hope that the auto flush doesnt go off and spray you with water. The good news is that when you sit down, your knees are pressed up agains the door so it really doesnt matter that the round lever is completely gone in the stall you have chosen. All this talk .... I gotta go pee.

Wonder Women

Did you ever wonder how your mom did it? How is it that the entire time I was growing up, my Mom always had the house clean, dinner on the table, laundry caught up, gave us girls everything we needed and had a full time job. Not to mention in the summer time, she tended to the garden. Canning green beans, tomatoes, pickles and corn. I do not remember a day coming home from school to a messy house. i don't remember a day when my dad came home and there wasn't dinner on the table and by dinner I don't mean a frozen meal or a hamburger helper. What is it about today that makes this almost impossible? Or are we just lazy complainers. My laundry is not caught up. It is a rare day that Gary comes home to a home cooked meal. What do I do with all of my time that I cant do a load of laundry everyday or take 30 minutes to make a Rachel Ray meal. Was life more simple then? Maybe my priorities are all jacked up. Either way, Thanks Mom for all you did and do for us.

What is reality?

I am a reality tv junkie. Big Brother. America's Next Top Model. Project Runway. Shear Genius. The Biggest Loser. The Amazing Race. But what is up with the shows that are just about people and their every day lives? Jon & Kate plus 8, this is about a couple who had twins and then sextuplets. It is shows just about them ... living their life. They go to church. They go on vacations. This week I watched as they took their kids to the store to buy tents and sleeping bags for a backyard camp out. Little People Big World. This show is about a family of 6 with both average size and little people. Again, just living their lives. Going to the grocery store or a soccer game. Kids by the Dozen. This one showcases different families with 12 plus kids. I watched one this week about the Heppners they had 16 kids from age 25 years old to 3 or something crazy like that. It showed them going to the grocery store and the one thing on their list that I remembered was 30 apples. Who buys 30 apples ... plant an apple tree. The husband and older boys work away from the home to make more money so that they can support all of those kids. You would not see me letting Gary leave me home alone for months with 12 kids so he could "work" away from home. I just dont get it ... what is it that I can do in my life to get my own show. I completely believe that I could be entertaining. I have a crazy family and Gary has an even crazier family, however, me sitting alone at home in my office working for 12 hours is something that we would have to change. Maybe I could work naked ... we could call it a horror show. What could I call my show? Gary and the fat naked lady that works at home? Maybe I could be on Oprah too? How boring must I actually be if I spend my time watching other people live ... OMG!

is it silly to feel so lonely?

Today Roxy is spending the day at the "Spa". She is going to have a bath and get her nails trimmed. She has been gone for about 10 minutes and I am feeling a bit lonely. She will be gone all day. Our normal schedule is that I stay in my office and work and she either lays on the couch and watches QVC or lays in the bedroom on her bed and watches Hallmark Channel. Today, she lays somewhere else. Everytime I get up from my chair, she comes running to see if I am going anywhere she may want to go. The bathroom or the kitchen. Today, I go alone. She sometimes lays under my desk and everytime I move my feet, she barks at me just to remind me that she is under there and trying to get a nap in. Today, I nap alone. It is very evident that the princess we call Roxy is gone today and I miss her. Who is going to tell me when the mail comes and when the UPS lady gets here.



When she arrives home, she will be a very happy big ball of hair with a pink bandana around her neck. I cant wait .....

Beautiful place to live

Yesterday I visited Cabool. I had a great time. I went to visit a friend's mom (my second mom). We went for corn from their garden and I got so much more. Just sitting at the dining room table and looking out the window to watch the hummingbirds enjoy the beautiful flowers was just so relaxing. I walked through the garden and was filled with envy. Although the rains of last week did a number on some of the corn, it was still wonderful. Sunflowers, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers. Luckily there were nice size rows ... everything was so tall, you wouldnt have been able to find me. Cantelope or Mushmelon? We talked about my childhood on the farm. Canning veggies and picking potatoes. We had Bacon and Tomato Sandwiches for lunch .. the ultimate summer sandwich. We talked about everything that we wanted to make ... scrapbooking, quilts ... we looked at collectibles, some worth lots of money and some close to the heart. Lady, the dog, kissed some of us when we got there and kissed all of us when we left. We didnt have time to go to the Creek, which I was glad because it gives me an excuse to go back. As we were leaving, phred became sad. I was surprised to find that I also was sad. I had had a great time. I had received more than just corn and other veggies. I received a sense of peacefulness, a sense of happiness. As we drove home, with my "step daughter" singing very loudly in my ear, I realized what a special life I have and how blessed I am to be able to share my life with my family as well as the family of friends. Thank you Betty and Eddie for a wonderful day in Cabool. Oh, and phred ... sorry you didnt get any relish.

Work at home ... are you serious?

I got an email today from someone wanting a part time job, work at home, where there is a lot of flexibility "make my own hours" i believe were the words used. She has a busy life with husband, kids and just needs a little extra money. So, she thinks of me and my job? I dont know how many times I have heard things like ... since you are at home can you go do this for me ... what do you mean you dont have time for lunch, what are you doing ... my kids are at a friends this afternoon, lets go see a movie ... you have training or a conference call for what ... or people just stop by the house to hang out for hours just chatting away without a care in the world, after all, it is their day off and since I am at home anyway .... What part of the phrase "WORK at home" is so confusing? Just because i am at home ... I still work 60 plus hours a week. I still have meetings and conference calls I have to attend. I am not just doing laundry and watching soap operas ... I HAVE A JOB Yes, some days are no brainer days just like everyone has but most days, it is stressful, and I actually have to think about what I am doing. Yes, there is a lot of flexibility .. I can go to lunch some days and I can some days go shopping in the middle of the afternoon ... but if I am out running around in the middle of the day .. chances are that I got up and worked 3-4 hours before your alarm ever went off and I will still be working way after you go to bed. So, yes, I seriously WORK at home.

I have nothing ....

It is Thursday. Two more days of work. It is time to Blog ... and I have nothing. Not a thought in my head. It is just another day ... working ... tired ... grouchy. That is it. Serena Williams beat her sister in the quarterfinals of the US Open. Sarah Palin gave a great speech last night. Big Brother 10 is on tonight and I think that Renny is going home. But still nothing in my head ...

Granny?!?

What do you think of when you hear "Granny"? Old lady with her gray hair up in a bun on top of her head. A cane? Some people would say that it is a bad word. Well, I would have to disagree. This morning, there is not a word I would like to hear more. With a small hand up to her mouth, she yells "Graaaanny". In August, our 3 year old granddaughter Jamie came down and spent three weeks with us. We had a great time ! Bike riding, bowling, jump mania and just hanging out with family and friends. She has such a cheery personality, very similar to what I use to have. My favorite together time was in the mornings, laying in bed watching (and singing along of course) Handy Manny. I am missing her ALOT today. The UPS lady just dropped off some DVDs that I ordered for her the next time she comes down ... My Bed Bugs. They are silly non animated characters that she just loved to watch in the evenings to help her settle down from a busy day. "Granny, lets watch those bugs before we go to bed". Well what does a Granny say to that?

looking at the past

This week has been an odd one for me. This has been a working Holiday for me so I havent gotten far from my computer, which has brought me back in contact with three people from my past. A friend, a "boyfriend" in the loses sense of the word and the daughter of a friend. I know that people go in different directions in their lives, move on, move away but when looking back ... do you ever wonder why you lost touch with those of your past? There are two things that happened in my life in 2000 that changed my relationship with most of the people I called friends. I met my husband and I moved to Columbia Missouri. When you think about today, the people in your life right now ... what will your relationship be like in 5 years. Will those you spend your time with right now become those of your past? For those you dont keep in touch with, is it because you werent that close of friends? Did one move forward and the other remain the same? Did you just run your course with those people? In this day and time, moving away is no excuse to not keep in touch. Cell phones with unlimited texting and free long distance. Email and blogs. So why are those friends no longer in your address book?

did this really happen ....

I am sitting on the couch watching some of the us open and all of a sudden Roxy sits up stiff as a board from a nap and barks at me from across the room. She sits still a minute and then starts running 90 miles an hour through the house and then ..... nothing. She is gone. I get up and go look for her and she is sound asleep on her blanket in the bedroom. Makes you wonder ... am i crazy or is it the dog.