January 31, 2013

My first thought waking up each day is: "is it the weekend?" Then, "what is the date?" Finally, my brain does a database scan of important events that might have happened on that date. Today is Justin Timberlake's birthday.

Why do I know this? Because I have a stupid knack for recalling important dates and factoids in history. And, I clearly put way too much energy into remembering most of NSYNC's birthdays back in 1999.

Yet, I often jest to myself that I need a poster-sized sticky note to reference important, recurring information I can't seem to retain. This is really neither here nor there, more of a reminder that at the very least I want to do this in a Google doc for my own (and rather embarrassing) benefit.

While I haven't forgotten to recount our activities in the past 31 days, I simply haven't had the gusto. We've lived life--going to the theatre with my parents, trying new restaurants, dates with old friends, celebrated birthdays...it just didn't make it to this little space on the web.

I am challenged to write in my professional life, both full time and a side gig, and lately I've found that sometimes my creative cup has simply been emptied. I've also taken on a new and more public role that's made me question how much information I want to willingly share, and that could also be part of the reason for keeping mum, especially when it comes to ranting.

So, we'll see the direction this 6-year-old public diary takes in 2013. At the very least I should update the header, seeing as I'm fairly sure we've expired our moniker as newlyweds.

Dollar Tree Christmas

Our neighbor held a Christmas party last night (note-more parties should occur Monday nights as it makes the day entirely more bearable) and the gift exchange consisted of five individual gifts purchased from the Dollar Tree or $.99 Store, that everyone randomly selected from.

This was pretty dang fun to shop for, though I'll kick myself of not getting photos of my purchases. Anyway, some lucky people walked away with:

• REO Speedwagon's latest (not greatest) hits album
• A "previously enjoyed" movie from 2007 starring Neve Campbell, touted as Waitress meets Devil Wears Prada. That sounds generous.
• A $1 version of Jennifer Lopez' Glow perfume
• An Angels Baseball garden gnome which I actually re-gifted. Kept the original 2013 kitties calendar for my office.
• Serena Williams autobiography (which the check out girl asked me to "let her know how it was.") Mmmkay.

My treasures included a cooling sweatband, Vienna sausages, magic football that reveals itself as a towel in water, a stained oven mitt with Arabic words, and Fuze iced tea that I promptly switched for a most coveted Bump It.

Happy Christmas!

Friday Musings

...specifically on things I don't understand.

• Why oven mitts are sold individually
• Why women insist on tattooing their decolletage 
• Why when I do specific internet searches the only results are from 2005 Yahoo discussion forums
• Why Ikea refuses to put use English words as their instructions

Fin.

Finding the silver lining

• This is a real time post. Scott's been away at a conference in San Francisco and the commuter flight was delayed three times from it's original 10 p.m. arrival in Orange County to 1:30 a.m. at LAX. Awesome!
• Silver lining: it's Friday night, no work tomorrow, and I'm catching FOX marathon episodes of 30 Rock followed by King of the Hill as I watch the clock not move until I pick him up. In LA.
•  Oliver was borderline tolerant of our new kitty until I took her to the vet and she came back and (presumably) smelled like 17 other animals to him.
• Silver lining: Lessons in patience and washcloth baths of water/vinegar to neutralize those smells and keep a happy home.
• It was pretty hot today, but nowhere near the temps in other parts of the country.
• Silver lining: the new kitty really likes keeping me cool by braiding my hair.

• Unusual circumstances have brought out my inner Gran Tarino in dealings with people.
•  Silver lining: that's not such a bad thing.
•  Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are divorcing.
• Silver lining: I planned a surprise massage for Scott and I on Sunday. Surprise! Sorry that this was at your expense Suri.

Seasonal Friends

Sometimes there are characters on television that I connect with on such a level I have to remind myself that these are not real people--they are emotions and actions channelled through an actors.

After I tell myself that, I immediately forget it and think about how much I want to be friends with Liz Lemon/Tina Fey and Leslie Knope/Amy Poehler.

The problem is a constant struggle of who do I like more*. When the seasons are in full swing, Leslie Knope takes it by a landslide. How can you argue with the woman's insane love of waffles? And the relationship with Ron Mother-effin Swanson?

The Liz Lemon character practically parallels Knope in the food department (junk food addict) and coworker chemistry department (Jack Mother-effin Donaghy.) Currently, I've broken my cardinal rule of rereading a book in less than year when I picked up Bossypants last week and have been cry-snort-laughing in bed each night.

The rationale, one might argue, is that Tina Fey is real and Leslie Knope is a faux Assistant Director of the Parks and Recreation Department. (But her spirit is SO SO real!)

Thus, Amy Poehler needs to take a note from Tina and Kris Jenner and hop on the memoir train to settle this quarterly debate. It really boils down to whom I'd invite to my yet to be planned dinner in the Hamptons with Ina. 

First world problem, I realize.

Jacaranda

Be careful what you wish for you, you might just get it.

While house hunting, Scott and I fell in love with a sweet little place on Jacaranda Place, but due to the property being a short sale and the ever important aspect of timing, it was not to be ours (or anyone else's for another 18 months.)

Hopefully the new owners (who've done wonders to the lawn) don't mind this photo.

Then, we found our current home, bought it, and got a jacaranda along with it.

People who proclaim the love of the jacaranda clearly don't live beneath one. They are gorgeous trees. But messy, sap producing, bee-welcoming arbors as well.

The part my parents probably love is that we have one at the house I grew up in and I loved collecting the sticks that fell from it during the fall and winter. Today, that translates to Shop Vacing the flowers and little buggers off the walkway and sidewalk.

12 hour workday

After a lengthy day, I found two of my favorite things together-the dynamic duo that is Sophia Grace and Rosie, and the Dodgers. Saucy little minxes.

(source)

Oh hey, April

Sometimes there is so much yet so little to say in this little corner of the Internet I call mine. So I'll rely on visual aids.

It was Good Friday for this guy grazing outside. Thou shall not judge me on my weeds.

Bootlegger's 4th Anniversary Party, the evening of apocalyptic rain in Southern California.

The beautiful weekend that followed the storm.

A day in Laguna at the Laguna Beach Culinary Arts Institute wine and cheese tasting.

Driving Miss Daisy.
The day Scott took the keys to both cars and I walked to work and my sister picked me up to take me to my doctor's appointment. I also refreshed my knowledge of Poly Sci 100.

And, "Cat on a skateboard, briefly." YouTube sensation, no?

Tagged

I've never been "tagged" by a blog before and I raise eyebrows at them sometimes, probably because it reminds me of the nonsensical bulletins (remember those!) from MySpace of yesteryear, but Kelly did and I've always enjoyed her blog and then I learned she was on Bug Juice so now I want her to think I'm cool so I decided to participate.

The Random Eleven

The Rules:
Post these rules
You must post 11 random things about yourself
Answer the questions set for you in their post
Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

Random facts:

1. I grew up living in the same house my entire life and my parents still live there.
2. I've never had a cavity and my former dentist used a mold of my mouth to show patients as an example.
3. I went to four colleges and rekindled a high school friendship with a dear friend at one and met one of my now closest friends, who was a bridesmaid in our wedding, at another.
4. I was on TRL in its heyday in 2000, though I had to take of my shirt to get picked. Don't worry though, my mom was there. KIDDING, not like that. It was spring break in high school, we went with the dance team and I was wearing a thermal underneath. I was in one of the pop up videos during Blink 182's "Adam's Song."
5. I live for weddings so I can dance because I don't go clubbing.
6. My dream job would be a food writer/critic.
7. I was homecoming queen my senior year of high school. The way the reveal was done was a 8' x 8' foam board portrait of my head on a royal woman's body as a portrait and it was in my parents' living room for months afterwards, until I threw a Pocahontas beach towel over it.
8. My sister and I are seven years apart and people don't see our resemblance or believe we're from the same parents. We are.
9. After pleading for a perm I finally was allowed to get one in 4th grade. I'm pretty sure it ruined my once thick hair into the fine, thin mop I've got now.
10. I will have been at my first post-college job 5 years this April.
11. I would love to be part of a Civil War reenactment in the South. By no means does this mean I support slavery or seceding from the US though.

Kelly's questions:

• Valentine's Day: Love it or Hate it?

Indifferent, I think I will love it more when there are kids. I associate Valentine's Day with school parties, mailboxes and picking the perfect Valentine for each kid. For example, you got the one on the back of the box that I had to cut out (badly) if you had a nose picking issue.

• Favorite place to shop?

Ultimately, Target. I frequent it the most and as I mentioned to my best friend recently, I go to multiple ones (sometimes per week) and you'd think they'd have different merchandise but it's.all.the.same. It's like there's a homing beacon on every aisle, even if I need nothing on it.

• Social media outlet of choice: Twitter or Facebook or other?

I like them both, but I probably tweet more because there are less people I know. FB is getting a little crowded and too much mixed company for me.

• iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, or Other?

I have enjoyed having my iPhone but my Google Eris was my first smart phone so it will always have a special place.

• Biggest fear: Sinking on a cruise ship or airplane crashing?

Airplane. Never been on a cruise, but my airplane fear has more to do with claustrophobia than crashing.

• Did you go to public school or private school growing up?

Public. Can be such a controversial issue, but my education was just fine. Beaurocratic BS exists in both sectors.

• Coffee, tea, red bull, none of the above?

Coffee.

• Best Spring Break trip?

Never did a spring break trip but I loved our winter break trips to Big Bear in college where we stayed in a cabin for a week and went boarding every day.

• General bathing/showering: at night or morning or choose to go the dirty hippie route?

Depends on when I exercise, but most often night.

• Favorite boy band? NKOTB, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC or one of the others that don't matter?

NYSYNC, even if Lance turned out to prefer boys.

• Dogs or cats?

I became a cat lady after marriage but I love dogs equally.

My questions:

1. Favorite place to live?
2. Perfect meal?
3. Next vacation destination, planned or hoped for?
4. Do you watch reality television? If so, favorite one? If you say The Bachelor don't answer this question.
5. Your drink at the local dive bar?
6. Last really great book you read?
7. Are you friends with your boss on Facebook?
8. Least favorite household chore and why?
9. Do you have an in with a food critic or writer?
10. Favorite trait in your best friend?
11. What are you doing tonight?

I'm not sure a)I have 11 people to tag or b) all of these people read my blog to find out I've tagged them and c) for some it may be their first post in years if they follow through. No pressure!

Andrea

Ashley

Carly

JJ

Kerri

Katie C

Krissy

Kirsten

LeeElle

Melisa

Tess

Love for Target

I was going to write a post about possibly giving up Target for Lent. I go there FAR too often. Sometimes up to 4 times a week. It's always because I forget one little thing, which in reality, I could probably live without. I don't think I am alone in this-women LOVE Target. My neighbor now sends her husband because she does not have the self-restraint. I don't know how people are able to go less than one time per week. Perhaps they shop at Costco and really stock up. Try as I might, I'm not on a schedule of running out of tp, paper towels, razors and toothpaste all at the same time.

It's not like their merchandise changes THAT often. It's the marketing, placement, the fact that you can accomplish so much there. Shredded cheddar-check. A new side table lamp-check. Cardigan-check. Mascara-check. Dollar bin binges-check. Some people are weirded out by a cart with cereal and a tank top in it. I am happy to have one less trip.

At any rate, if I give up my visits (let's be honest, cut down to bi-weekly) it starts tomorrow because they saved my derriere today. A vital daily medication of mine somehow disappeared between yesterday morning and today, and after searching high and low in my purse and truck (which also recently swallowed Scott's driver's license-coincidence?) they were nowhere to be found. I called the pharmacist, who was great. He told me they'd contact my insurance company about filling the gap and no sooner than 2 minutes later he told me it was ready. I went down there lickety split, and the pharmacist-the friendliest I've experienced-told me it was a courtesy prescription. When does that happen?

I <3 you Target, especially your pharmacy today.

I hate "The Bachelor."

Never had I watched an episode of "The Bachelor" until this week. Never again will I watch an episode in the future. It's not even getting a hyperlink because it deserves zero publicity. Though I do realize I'm writing about it. Thankfully I don't know how my SEO ranks for ABC shows.

OH MY GOD who are these women?

I could just be missing the boat here, but do women love this show because it is a hot mess? Or do they really believe these bachelors are looking for a chance at fame meaningful relationship? Dear me I hope it's not that because what is there to like about a guy who a) gets to be with a dozen moderately attractive to good looking women b) has to find his best side for the camera c) is snogging a dozen different women andtheyknowaboutit!!!

It's madness.

I can't wrap my brain around it. Perhaps everyone just has their own train wreck show. I can't get enough of a Toddlers & Tiaras and for others its that gawd awful Jersey Shore.

The thing about The Bachelor is that I see my contemporaries practically graveling to be chosen in a competition for wife. There is nothing rational about that last sentence which is exactly why I am baffled and watched the show with exclamation marks above my head.

These women are disillusioned if they really believe true love is coming from a television show with an outline, if not a script, and beyond realistic "dates" that are more like showcase showdown prizes. Of course sky diving in Costa Rica after swimming with dolphins in your en suite pool is going to be fun--but it's not realistic. Sorry ladies, once the cameras are off and you have been "proposed" to (which is laughable in itself), it's back to Friday night brews at the dive bar--AND THAT'S OK! But, these women are suddenly accustomed to the posh ABC-funded Hollywood Hills loft, jet setting dates, and a man with a Photoshopped sparkle in his smile.

Perhaps I'm harsh and perhaps I am assuming. Either way, I find nothing remotely redeeming about this show. Clearly women love it and watch it or it wouldn't have been on the past 800 years. However, this is the beauty of a blog, I get to air my grievances with tv programming and they continue to budget for a 10 month wedding for tv's latest enamored "it" couple.

What happened to good old fashioned man meeting at baseball games, church, happy hour, or desk sharing in ASB?

The Smog Check Fairy

A few weeks ago, I went to AAA to pay our car registrations (it's the most wonderful time of the year with those due now too!) and it was the first time I actually opened the entire form. Oh look, we both need smog checks. And I'm already here. Curses to one and all. So, I pay, for validating the trip, and get the list for AAA-approved smog check locations.

Fast forward a week and I make my appointment for Wednesday at 12:30, to go during my lunch hour. It should also be noted I'm driving Scott's truck today because we're picking up couches and because the smog check will get done. I arrive, tell them I'm Erin with the 12:30 appointment and am met with,

"Oh yeah, you're the 12:30."

"Yep, that's me."

"The mechanic went to lunch. I guess he forgot you were coming. Well, here let's fill out some forms. I'm not really sure how much it is." WTF? There is a giant sign behind him with posted pricing. Truck smog check reads $65. And why did the mechanic go to lunch?

"Well the sign behind you says $65 and when is he due back?"

"Yes, but we like to quote $100, just in case. And he should be back soon." WTF part II. And famous last words. He's back just as soon as your forgotten about entree is entered into the system at the Macaroni Grill.

"Umm, I'm not okay with that. It's posted as $65, why are you quoting me a $100?"

"It's just what we do."

I should note again I have a tendency in these situations to sometimes lose my grip on the fact that this is wrong, BUT I have certain people I channel, kind like a What Would Scott/Kerri/Krissy/Do. They are my benchmarks for not standing for idiots and idiotic behavior.

So, the little front desk man (I really hope it was his first day) went to the back to find someone and appease me from the back. Said man appears, apologizes for the mechanic's absence and tells me to go see Chuck down the street. Awesome, let's hope I can find Chuck with the directions you just gave me.

By now, I think there is a camera crew following me.

I find Chuck, walk in, he greets me with a smile and I tell him the story above, and he laughs.

"I don't take a lunch." I also notice he's pretty much always open except for the sign posting not so on The Lord's Day.

"Give me ten minutes."

I sit down, expecting him to come back when he's ready to start and when he does, he tell me I pass.

"You're done?!?!"

"Oh yes, all done."

"They told me it would take an hour!"

He smiled at me like Mr. Miyagi and went on to tell me how healthy I was because I smiled so much (well no kidding, he just took 10 minutes, quoted me $10 less than first people, AND gave me a $10 discount. It was the stuff dreams were made of.)

I thanked him, told him I'd be back the next day with my own car, so he gave me a $15 discount coupon. It all seemed to good to be true.

He left me with what could have been an ancient Chinese proverb. "A happy heart is a healthy heart."

God bless Chuck for running his business in a manner that makes sense. If you are local and need a smog check, he stocked me well with those coupons.

Today Show

I'm slightly behind in watching this video, though aware of it, and now that I finally got a chance to see it, I love it! Maybe it's because of the song which reminds me of my best friend's wedding, or maybe it's because of cheesy "choreography" with the lyrics.

I'm pretty naive when it comes to tv production and was rather to surprised to see nearly everyone is a producer of some kind. And where was my friend Stacy London?

Enjoy, if you are like me and about 4 weeks behind popular videos.

Saturday Thoughts

1. I better be earning some massive karma in my next life when it comes to waiting in line at stores. Today would be a double points kind of day, but then I mentally b-slapped the idiot.

2. I saw a woman out walking/running and smoking this morning. Really?

3. This last woman must be the girlfriend of the man with the leaf blower. One should know it's quite windy today.

Perhaps there is a full moon.

Freaky Friday

1. We miss our cat dearly. Atticus brought the Cajun to our salt and pepper spice rack. His personality is already missed around our house.

2. This has been the weirdest week for weather in Orange County. Monday was the hottest day of the year at a record-breaking 112 degrees. There are people who choose to live in the desert and welcome that climate, I however, do not. It felt like the child of Death Valley and Las Vegas. Now, here we are on Friday, where the same city that hit 112 degrees was the center of a crazy thunder and lightening storm. My office lost power for about an hour and half. Lightning touched down in several places, including a palm tree a few blocks away.

3. I titled this post "Freaky Friday" because it's the first of October, been a weird week, and even this girl has been in the news. Girl, get it together.

Hopefully good things are in store this weekend. Like my washing machine and dryer saga can come to an end. That will be a post all on its own.

Craig's List Etiquette

A few weeks ago we sold our tv console because the tv was mounted on the wall. I communicated with a lovely girl via email about coming to see it and she ended up sending her husband, while I was away buying my own CL finds-dining room chairs.

Scott texted me that he had sold the stand-and for a higher price to boot! Like I have said many times before-he is a master negotiator.

Later that night I about died when I actually got an email thank you note from the girl who purchased it. She loved it when her husband brought it home and it's a perfect fit for their gigantic tv. Maybe she read this post?

Weddings Make People Crazy

A friend of mine shared this email with me today--a wedding she is a bridesmaid in. Therapists could really find a niche market in weddings. I decided to highlight what I consider to be the real gems of the email. Grammar and punctuation have not been corrected even though it looks terrible. Names have been removed to protect the innocent bridesmaids.


Hello Bridesmaids 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6:

The Bride's bridal shower is around the corner, so here is a compose list of what everyone should be doing/ bringing the day of the shower. Under your names there will be duties for the bridal party, you can make it or buy it which ever you like, but please make enough for everyone since there will be approximately 50 guest at the Bride's bridal shower. If you don’t like the item(s) you are assigned, feel free to trade with someone else. You can bring all your food on a disposal tray and we will put it on nice platters when you get here. If you have stuff you want to drop by the night before, feel free to do so.

There will be a theme to the Bride's bridal shower, it's gonna be a tea party style shower, color theme will be mainly black and white with a hint of red. Please make your food to as close to the pictures as possible ( I will enclose pics) With that said, the bridal party will be wearing black and White, or Black and the Bride will be wearing white and the all the guest can wear whatever.

Since the bridal shower starts at 12noon, I would like everyone with their food no later than 8am that morning, so we can set up and put everything together.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks everyone, see you guys there early morning on the date of the shower.

Bridal Shower Food List

Bridesmaid 1:

• Beef/chicken lettuce cups
• Seafood bruchetta
• Dynamite w/seaweed
• Shrimp Cocktail
  
• Cake
• Materials for toilet paper dress game
• Materials for Playdo game
• Materials for clothes pin game
  

Bridesmaid 2:

• Turkey wraps on toothpicks
• Asian chicken salad
• Caprese Salad
  
• Plates, knives, spoons, cups, champagne/wine glasses, napkins
• Decorations(Banners, flowers)
• Scrapbook and materials
• Winners gifts
• Jungle juice
  

Bridesmaid 3:

• Egg salad sandwiches (half white/wheat)
• Mini tuna pita sandwiches
• Tomato w/crab mix
• Party favors

Bridesmaid 4:

• Croissants with toothpicks (can get mini ones at smart and final)(turkey/ham, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, (if use regular croissant, cut in thirds w/toothpicks)
• Chocolate(milk chocolate/white) covered strawberries
• Homemade Cresent rolls
  

Bridesmaid 5:

• Spinach strawberry walnut salad
• Creme puff (can buy frozen at costco)
  
• Champagne punch(champagne, fruit punch, sprite)
• Strawberry lemonade, bottled waters, sodas, ice
• Pick up cake at 9am ( will give info)
  

Bridesmaid 5:

• Spinach, guacamole, salsa dips and chips/bread
• Assortments of fruits (grapes, watermelon balls,strawberries, raspberries, cherry, etc). *bring it and we’ll put them in individual cups.
• Vegetable platter ( cucumber, cherry tomatoes, celery, carrots etc. If store bought platters, buy 2 of them..
• Balloons 12 white 12 black, 12 red

Bridesmaid 6:

• Red velvet cupcakes
• Assorted fruit tarts

Wow. And this is not the bride.

A Hodge Podge of LIfe

For being fairly crafty with words, I occasionally struggle with putting some thoughts onto paper and this week, especially when the thoughts are not fully flushed out.

Writing can be cathartic for me, so I've decided just to list the odds and ends that we've been up to things I've been pondering for the past two weeks.

1. I have come to find out that I love "King of the Hill." I simply cannot get enough of it.
Scott likes to play the name-your-favorite-character game and you'd think he was asking me to choose between parents. Well, come to think of it, I am. Anyway, after much comparing, I usually settle on Bobby. Love that kid.

2. I cannot understand some of the decisions our government is making and very often consider what it would take to pack up and fall off the grid. I realize every established country has a government of some kind, but if there are any unincorporated areas of Fiji, I'd like to take a look. I have never taken an interest in politics beyond the local level until buying a home, and as much as I'd like to think candidates run with a true heart and change in mind, the cash suppliers ultimately fund their interests and the corruption begins and grows and they've lost sight of the very matters that ignited their passion. I realize there are probably some gems out there, but ultimately, it's not healthy to have government employees serving on councils and other levels of government from there on up. It's a little too incestuous for me.

3. Back to happy things. Scott and I bought a home brew kit and made a visit to our local home brew supply store and are going to get started on an English brown ale this weekend. Exciting! Hopefully we'll have it perfected by the time we want to do a housewarming party.

4. Our living room is almost complete! Walls are painted, curtains are being made, rug ordered, sent back as it clashed with curtains, new rug ordered. Now I just need to sell our tv stand and purchase some slip covers for our couches that Atticus has decided need grooming. I painted the hallway last weekend the same shade as the living room but it's not working for me. The lack of light makes it feel much darker so it's back to Lowe's. Btw, paint is crazy expensive. I'm a Valspar girl, but had a coupon for some Benjamin Moore pint-sized trial colors and when I looked at the gallon versions I was shocked-$50 bucks! Maybe it really embodies some amazing chemistry in the mix.

5. A vacation is in our very near future and I am stoked to have something like that to look forward to.

6. I had a great reunion with my former coworkers a few weekends ago. I really miss seeing these girls everyday, with country radio on in the background, dealing with the crazies known as stage moms.
And in honor of my gal-pal get together, I'll close with a very memorable quote from the 5:00 whistle from (now RIP) KZLA: "It's finally Friday, let the good times roll."--George Jones.

Spam is funny when you take the time to read it.

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Today only:

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~Our program will help ALL with professional experience get a 100% verified Degree:

~Doctorate

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Kerri any thoughts on a four week PhD? I know some people who are kicking themselves for 7 year BA programs...

- Just think about it...

- You can realize YOUR Dreams! What is my "Dream"??? If it's to rid the world of spammers, where do I start?

- Live a better life by earning or upgrading your degree.

This is a splendid way to make a right move and receive your due benefits... if you are qualified but are lacking that piece of paper. Get one from us in a fraction of the time. I don't think I am due any benefits and again, this can't be ok. Dateline is just a minute away from exposing you!

Call us 24 hours to start improving your life! When I am up at 2 a.m. trying to figure out my Dream I will.

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[insert phone number-these people aren't getting a lick of "business" from me!]

You must leave us a message with your phone number with country code if outside USA and name and we will contact you as soon as possible. Yeah, I bet you will.

The Day My Phone Fell in My Coffee

The day will live forever in infamy, as I chastise myself for stupidly thinking I could carry the mug, phone cradled atop, and my peanut butter English muffin in the other hand. All it took was one movement, and BAM! The phone I did not buy insurance on, my first real "smart" phone and current Internet connection, submerged in a coffee pool garnished with milk and sugar.

The man at Verizon was not very helpful nor amused by my story. Perhaps he feels empowered by the idiots who bring in their now rendered useless electronics that he must try and fix. At least when he was able to open it, more coffee came out. "It's usually toilet water," he informed me.

$200 later, I bought a refurbished phone that was supposed to arrive overnight (Saturday) but notsomuch. Now FedEx is going to try and deliver while I am not home, but at work, and I am guessing I'll finally have it my hot little hands come Wednesday after their three attempts requiring a signature. Mind you this is after he told me overnight delivery as I originally did give my work address since I am there all day and assumed it would be next week. Gah.

Several problems have currently come of this: In the days that will now be known as When I Had a Phone, I made appointments for home repair bids and of course I gave that number out to several professionals: one electrician, one floor installer. I have a feeling there may be a few angry messages come later this week.

In the meantime, if you are a friend reading this, and have texted or called me, assuming I receive your texts and voicemails, I will call you back. In the meantime, I will graciously take advantage of Scott's MacGyvered method of Internet on the weekends, and of course, you can always get me at work.

By the way, this started the day where come 10 a.m. I was quoted $7k to put central heating in. Next Friday is looking really good right about now.