Like It's My Job

The other day I was talking to one of my peers, Mike, about our upcoming store manager meeting. It seems like our boss has been all about us doing some kind of team building.... fun fun. I think we're going to Dave and Buster's. Now that's okay, but hasn't it already been done to death? I got this grand idea that we should all go roller skating. Not roller blading...roller skating. Like back in the day. See, most of us are "of a certain age" where we remember how cool it was to go to the skating rink back in the 80s. I told Mike, "Yeah - I used to roller skate like it was my job". Seriously. I loved it that much. In Forrest Gump fashion, if I was goin' somewhere, I was roller skatin'. True, I did break my arm roller skating in 3rd grade, but that's another post for another day.

I was thinking this afternoon about other things I love to do or used to love to do so much that I could do them like they were my job. Here's my list:

1) Rollerskating - as explained above.
2) Reading. I love to read.
3) Taking bubble baths. And, as I posted last week, taking bubble baths can sometimes lead to tragic results.
4) Making mix tapes / cds / playlists. Seriously. I can make them for any occasion. I love love love it. My BFF asked me a while ago to make her a workout mix and I was all over it! My old high school friend and I are taking a road trip this weekend to see some friends we knew when we went to Miami and I am dead set on making the perfect mix tape that will bring us back to the fall of 1990. Mandy, if you're reading this, act surprised.
5) Eating cheese. I'm really, really good at this.
6) Making lists. I am a list freak. I wish the rest of my family would join in on the fun. Because making lists is fun, damn it.
7) Making deviled eggs. I'm not perfect at it yet, but I could probably do it all day. That's how excited I am about my new-ish deviled egg plate and about finding the perfect deviled egg recipe.
8) Playing Guitar Hero. Okay - so I'm not THAT good, but I do know how to rock. When I lived in Erie, I would close all the blinds before I busted out my guitar so that my neighbors couldn't see in. It's not that much of an issue now, because I have no neighbors (yet).

Hmmm....that's all I can come up with. Not a very impressive list, huh? Maybe I should stick with what I'm doing.

Yet Another Vacation

No, not for me.... for my dear parents. I have been recruited once again to dog sit while they go off for a little fun in the sun. They're going to Alabama and then Florida with their friends-that-they've-known-forever Ann and Bob. (Faithful readers may remember Ann. She is the one who drove across the country with mom this summer...) But back to my parents.... Hey, good for them. They're retired and they certainly deserve some R n R. But seriously....how many freakin' vacations do retired people need?? Isn't every day a vacation? This is the 5th time this year I've stayed at their house so that they can go away. They obviously can afford these vacations because they're not paying a crap load of moolah to have Lucy boarded.

So, in an attempt to remain the favorite daughter, I packed up Mollie and drove to the east side of town. Mo loves spending time at his Nana and Papa's house, anyways....so many birds to watch. And it is MUCH closer to work for me, so it will be nice to save on some drive time and some gas. Plus, I may get a good souvenir because Ann is a terrific shopper. And she may feel the need to convince Cheryl to bring me back something cool. (Ann, if you're reading....hint...hint...)

Bath-tastrophie!

Okay. Those of you who know me well know that I love me some bubble baths. Love them. And I especially love them in my new home, because my bathtub kicks ass. There's also a big window above the tub that allows for the sweetest little breeze. (Note - this window will come into play soon.) I also love the ritual of preparing the perfect bubble bath. Lighting my favorite candle (Tocca 007), selecting my favorite bubbles (currently loving Lollia), picking out a book, etc....

The other day was a particular grueling one at work. Primarily because I went in at 4am. And, seriously, that is ridiculous! I had worked 13 hours and literally every muscle ached by the time I reached home. A bubble bath was JUST what I needed. So I poured a big glass of wine and began my bath preparations. Once I was happily enveloped in bubbles....Mollie comes peaking into the bathroom. He looked at me...looked at the glass of wine and book perched on the ledge of the tub...and looked longingly at the window. Now, you all know how cats love windows. And Mo is truly no exception. I explained to Mollie that Mommy needed some alone time and now was not the time to jump into the window. Of course he paid no attention and hopped up anyways.

All was bliss for about 20 minutes. Then Mollie wanted to get down. I could tell he was thinking, "Oh shit, how do I get out of here now???" Just as I said, "Let Mommy help you down", he jumped for it. Jumped on the ledge of the tub, slipped into the tub, taking my still-pretty-full glass of wine with him. So now I have a pissed off cat in my bathtub along with a broken wine glass. Not a safe situation. I managed to get Mo out first, and he immediately retreated into a guest room to hide. Getting me out without getting my booty cut on glass was not so easy! What a bath-tastrophie! I tried to get a picture of Mollie all wet and angry, but he wouldn't let me get near him for a couple of hours. But - oh my - what a sight!

Don't worry, dear friends, I have learned a lesson from all of this. I know put my wine in a plastic cup! Cheeers!

Dear Weight Watchers

Dear Weight Watchers,

Does a grape popsicle count as a fruit? What about 4 of them? I hope so, because otherwise I'm out of points for the day.

Please advise,
Erin

Special Delivery

So I had a rough day today. Things are crazy at work....we're behind on some stuff... I ended up working until nearly 8pm to get the schedule finished...blah blah blah. I get home and I'm exhausted. But I go out to water my plants on the porch b/c my mom yells at me if she comes over and I have wilted plants. By the way, I don't know how she keeps everything looking so green and lush. I kill everything I put on my porch. But I digress.... So I'm tired and a little grouchy and all I want to do is take a bubble bath and go to bed. After plant watering I grab the mail. That's when I see a bright blue envelope poking out from all of the junk mail and bills.

Don't you just love real mail? It makes my day to get a letter or card from someone. I think letter writing is a lost art. But anyways, the envelope is from my BFF's oldest girl, Emma. I sent her a little care package last week.

I think it's great when parents make their kids send thank you notes. Isn't this the cutest thing ever? In case you can't read it all, the important parts are "You Rock" and "You are the best". I'm guessing that the brown haired girl on the left with the big boobs is me. Thank you, Emma, for making me skinny. Don't tell the other kids, but that has secured your position as favorite.

The First Step Is Admiting You Have A Problem

I have a problem. I can't seem to stop turning the corners of pages over in books to mark my place. I've been doing it for years. I do it to library books, I do it to books I borrow, and to books I own. I even did it to this vintage copy of one of my favorite books in the world. (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.) There is no end to my madness. And I hate doing that! I love books. Love. Love. Love them. Always have, always will. But bookmarks annoy me because the come flying out of the book all the time.

Well, I think I have a solution. My friend Shannon gave me these super cute corner markers. I think maybe they are for scrap booking, because they also came with some cute little matching stickers. But look how wonderful they are for holding one's place in a book! AND....they don't fall off when I'm reading. Thank you, Shannon. I think you've cured me of my horrible habit!

So Over It

Okay I need to vent. I am so tired of the construction going on in my neighborhood. To be specific, I am so over the framing of the house and the roofing of the house. After that, it's not so bad. However...I'm in the new section of the neighborhood, and there is no end in sight. These guys work from 6:30am until 10pm most nights!! Isn't that crazy??? And just when I think one house is finished, they start another one. If I am working late or off, there is NOOOOO sleeping in because of the racket. So. Over. It.

But, at least I have a house, right? There are definitely worse things in life!