There are no stupid questions?

I remember in school practically every teacher on the first day encouraged class participation, announcing "There are no stupid questions".  As the years went on I started adding, "just stupid people" in my head.  Then one semester, I had this awesome professor who started off the semester by saying, yes, there are in fact stupid questions, and backed up this statement with his own personal story.  It was raining, and he unfortunately hit a woman in a crosswalk.  He jumped out and asked "Are you OK?".  He stood up in front of the class and smacked himself on the forehead continuing with, "of course she's not ok, idiot. you just hit her!"  That earned him a round of chuckles from the class, and definitely some extra respect.  Everyone knows that at some point or another they ask a stupid question, or get asked a stupid question. Don't lie.


Most of the time, a question is just phrased in a stupid way.  The intention of the inquiry is generally apparent and regardless of the actual words you still understand what the real question is.  Though sometimes, I can't help but balk at those people who still chose to phrase their questions in such a way that I can't help but shake my head.  If I were to take these questions literally, I would have many enemies considering my reply would be very sarcastic and berating.  For instance, my most recent e-mail from a certain contractor who just gets my hackles up every time he comes into the office...a simple one sentence email:

Hi,
What are we going to do about the blizzard?
Kelly 

Oh. My. Gobstoppers.  Of course, I understand the underlying question to be "Is my schedule going to change because of the weather?"  Yes, he works outside.  Yes, a blizzard is coming to town in the next 2-3 days.  Yes, if there's a blizzard then we'll have to reschedule some of the work.  And maybe it's only because this particular person gets on my nerves that I'm picking on him here...but honestly?  My initial reaction was..."Well Mr. P, as I am not God, I can't do jack about the blizzard. What's the problem here?"  I think the problem I have with him is he asks these kinds of questions and complains about things I cannot change almost every time I speak with him.  I swear, the majority of my responses have been to shrug and say "I have no power to change that, but I'll speak to the bosses to see what we can do."

Naturally, I tend to be nicer in person and then rant about the situation to my friends, the husband, and anyone else crazy enough to listen.  And...naturally, I never mention the times I reflect on my own stupidity, though I do have plenty of my own face smacking "doh!" moments....the difference is...I eventually realize I'm being stupid.

Who Knew? - Bubble wrap.

Bubble Wrap....as wallpaper? (o.o )...( o.o)...  "Lightbulb!", a la Gru from Despicable Me.  If only I had some minions of my own to decorate a room with bubble wrap wallpaper.  Now, if you're picturing the same thing I'm picturing, you should be cracking up right now just like me.  If not, here's what I'm picturing: 

hehe... ah. Happy Friday.

Oh, puppy....

God made puppies cute so you don't kill them.  - Me.  

Yesterday I come home to find my baby, who is locked up in his crate during the day, with pieces of curtain in his mouth, the crate tray kicked out, the crate sideways, and half my curtain pulled into his crate.  The futon was pushed into the middle of the room, though I have a feeling the neighbor kid we hire did that to try and push the crate away from the curtains.  I stood there for a moment literally with my mouth agape, too shocked to remember to take a picture as he stood there hunched over in his too wide, too short crate gently wagging his tail.  "Hi, mommy." he joyfully seemed to say, oblivious to the fact that I was about to blow a gasket. One look in his face though, and I melted like butter in the oven.  He was just so happy to see me.  It helped that I really hated those curtains too...

I do exist somewhere in this world!

Thanks to GoofyGirl @ there is grandeur in this view of life, for sending this award.

You know, every once in a while I go to the itty bitty tab up top that says Stats and come to find I've only gotten 1-2 people who've come to visit me in my little corner of the world.  One of whom is probably my husband, thank you dear, I love you too.  So, it's a complete surprise to find someone else who appreciates some of my inner ramblings.  So, I might as well attempt to follow the 'rules' upon which accepting this award requires. 

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award...  (check. I can't explain how glad I am to have randomly stumbled upon GoofyGirl's blog but hooray for me!)

2. Share 7 things about yourself...

Um...erm...hmm...
uno. When put on the spot, my mind usually goes blank.  No matter how witty I may be online, in person I'm as bland as can be.  No funny retorts from this brain within the seconds needed to make up some snarky retort.

dos. I don't like talking on phones in front of people.  I hate talking on phones at work in front of people. Don't ask me why...I don't even know. Even if I have to call a contractor for work I'd much rather not have people around me when I do. If you want to talk to me, message me or email me. That's just how I roll.

tres. In person, I may not say a lot of things but my internal commentary is running its mouth off.  Which kind of contradicts my first point...but if you knew me, you'd get it. I just think a lot.

quatro. I don't do "diets". Not now, not ever. I will however attempt to manage my diet.  You will rarely catch me eating anything claiming to be "low fat" or "diet".  If I do, its because I'm either already used to it (low fat milk), it just tastes better than regular, or I'm starving and there's not much else to eat.  I do eat Healthy Choice (and other 'diet') meals but its because they taste decent and are easy to bring for lunch at work that aren't slobbered in some kind of preservative gravy.

cinco. I hate celery. I only have bumped into 2 other people that have told me they also hate celery. I've tried to like celery...every few years I'll try to eat it for a snack, and in the multiple fashions it comes in, and just shake my head because I still don't like it.  Don't try and convince me that celery has no flavor because that's a lie. If it truly had no flavor, I would like it.

seis.  I get bored of my "look" and change my hairstyle, hair color, eye color (hello contacts), nail color, wardrobe, etc. about once a year.  Mostly in the last 3-4 years it's just been the hair.  (work in an office has kind of limited my wardrobe changes)  I've permed my hair, dyed it black, cut it short, cut bangs into the layers, dyed it 'sangria'...of course, again I've been limited but I still try.

siete. I miss having summer vacation. Or rather, I miss having time off to go travel.  I miss having someone else pay for my addiction to seeing new places around the world.  Boo to getting older and having to work forever to get enough money and time off to do anything.  Unfortunately now instead of being able to join my parents on their trips, I just get to live vicariously through their pictures and stories.  One day, dang it, I will be able to do all of that...one day.


...Rule #3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers. Ok, this is the part where I only attempt to follow the rules.  Since I haven't been discovering any bloggers of note, nor follow many that I read just for the hell of it, I'm going to have to be a party pooper and stop this train right here.  Maybe one day, I'll have found a number of blogs I enjoy enough to mention here, but for now I'll refrain.  I've just come to realize I 'get' something from most of the blogs I follow and don't always read it for the entertainment.

...Rule #4.  Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.  Well, I can't contact them since I've not named any can I?  Feel free to hate me for it. :-P 

Thanks again GoofyGirl for the award! I certainly don't feel like I deserve it...especially since I'm slacking off on the rules here. 

Fabulous Friday

21 days into the new year and I've had 4 people at work insist I have lost weight.  Yet I unfortunately have to insist in return that I have not lost a pound and have in fact gained at least 5 lbs since before the holidays...so says the scale at my doctors office.  Although, I must admit I don't put in that much effort in explaining that there is no possible way I have lost weight after eating the way I did for about 2 and a half months.  (My holiday diet starts mid-October when all the candy starts rollin' in and ends mid-January when I finally get a grip on reality)  Anyway, I suppose I will just have to accept these compliments despite the fact they are false.  Thanks for the ego boost.  It makes me feel better about the piece of cake I cut for myself sitting on my desk tempting me with it's chocolatey goodness.

I have noticed no one has asked me what my new years resolution is this year...and good thing because I  have decided NOT to have a new years resolution this year.  Instead I am attempting a series of short burst health goals that hopefully, with any luck, will eventually turn into longer term habitual activities that will benefit me overall.  For instance, I am trying to get myself to drink less soda.  I went almost a whole week drinking water and kool-aid with my meals.  Unfortunately I'm highly addicted to the fizzy syrup drink and have revised this goal to be a little more flexible.  Clear sodas are unlimited, and colas are for special occasions or when I'm at my parents' where there is an abundant supply of Pepsi, even flat my dad will drink a small glass.  I would do the same, but unlike my father unfortunately, my addiction doesn't allow for just one small glass of soda.  I usually need 2 or 3...or 4... oh just give me the whole 2 liter and a pitcher of ice.  Thanks. Lucky I hardly buy soda for myself anymore so at home it's Kool-aid. Yes, its still a highly sugary drink, far from healthy of course but as someone who religiously drank soda...it's a step in the right direction.


Another goal I have recently in the past 2 weeks began is to take my vitamins at/around/after dinnertime at least twice a week until the end of January.  Fortunately, that one is going well so far.  The past 5 days I have taken my vitamins.  Now, if I keep it up, I'm looking to do this until the end of February...and we'll take it from there. 


Well, after a whole week of seeing gray clouds blanketing the skies, I finally get to see the sun.  If I'm inside tucked snuggly in my sweater, heater blasting, I can almost forget that with wind chill the outside temperature is -13°F.  Almost. The moment I get too close to the window as my body yearns to be outside in the sun, I get a stabbing cold reminder of the time of year.  Oh right, that's why there's still icy snow on the ground.  (o.o )...( o.o). Sigh...

Next week my parents are going on vacation to Costa Rica. Lucky ducks.  They're debating the canopy zipline adventures or the jungle walk and whether or not to wear shorts on their ATV adventure...I'm debating which sweater will keep me warmer and whether or not to wear my long underwear.

In a week and a half my hubby goes to Big Sky on a week long snowboarding adventure...  Now, it's not quite my cup of tea to vacation in a place that has more snow than here, I'm still jealous.  It's a week away from responsibility.  He's been counting down the days I'm sure.  I wish I had a vacation to look forward to.  There has been discussion of Mexico in 2012, so if that happens I'll have something to look forward to...except it'd be a year away!  But if that happens...I'll be ecstatic, which, by the way, is way more than excited. 

Well, time to eat that cake that's been staring at me. :-D Yum.

Freezing...again.

I guess one of the recurring themes I have is to point out how cold it is at work.  And to complain that the men in the office like to keep it that way.  It's rather odd considering we keep our house at a chilly mid-60's which is in fact colder than the temperature setting here at work. I think.  It definitely feels colder but I'm pretty sure the thermostat is set at 72 at work.  Either way I spend a good part of my day (in the winter months that is) freezing my ass off.  Naturally, I would prefer the 'ambient' air to be much more 'ambient'....take me to 78°F and I'm a happy girl.  Of course...that's too hot for almost all of the men around me. 

The other day I was running my space heater because I was just that cold. Even in my sweater.  And 2, count 'em, 2 of my male coworkers complained about it being too hot.  "Man, it's hot in here." ARG.  Maybe it's because I'm sitting at my computer all day and just not really moving around, since technically it is warmer here than it is at home and I don't feel all that cold at home unless I'm sitting in bed before the comforter warms up or the couch watching TV. But still, with it being so cold, and again today, I'm sitting here with my knit sweater and falling asleep.  Going into that hibernation-coma state where if I sit still in my bubble of warmth I will fall asleep, and if I move just slightly out of that bubble, I'm freezing again.

I try not to turn on my space heater, it tends to warm up the whole area back here which is great for me, but then the thermostat sees that it's warmer than it should be and the AC kicks in.  Which means that the air starts blowing at my back, and I'm still cold.

Just. Cold.

A 5 second thought bubble:

A glimpse into my mind in 5 seconds...

"Whoa there bud, nice double lane change right at the intersection.....Hm must be going to Dunkin Donuts...Dunkin would make a killing if they started selling K-cups...Should I stop and get some breakfast?...I don't much care for donuts.  If the world suddenly ran out of donuts I don't think I'd mind....Same with fries. Everyone loves fries, but I just don't have that obsession. I like some kinds of fries though....Wendy's has new fries but they taste just the same and aren't good...Ooh, Wendy's chili."

From crazy drivers to chili. Yep. That's where my brain is this morning.  Normally I am unable to follow my own train of thought as it hops from one random thought to another, but this morning on my drive in that particular thought train stuck with me.