Yowza. What a week. February 22, 2009

The past week started off innocently enough. Work was barreling along and the weekend was fast approaching. That doesn’t happen often.

Then Wednesday rolled around.

I left work a little earlier than usual to go pick Dan up so we could finally enjoy a home-cooked dinner together. We swung by the store on our way home and bought all the ingredients we needed to make a delicious meal. When we got home, however, the front door was wide open and a certain cat by the name of Slider was missing.

All of our stuff was fine. The front door can be a little tricky to shut properly, and it will blow open if you don’t get it right.

We dropped all our groceries and took off to look for Slider. Three hours later, we came home frozen, empty-handed and exhausted. It was incredibly windy and cold, and every squeaky gate or blowing plastic bag made my heart jump into my throat with hope that it was Slider.

When we got home, I made this:

Thursday morning, Dan and I woke up and hit Kinko’s at about 7 a.m. We spent the next three hours papering the neighborhood/looking for the cat. Then we went to our respective jobs.

We looked for Slider again Thursday night. No luck.

Friday afternoon, I got a call from a guy who said he spotted Slider a few blocks from our house. Dan and I were both at work, so we couldn’t do much about it. We looked for him for another hour or so on Friday night, then went home and did some Tae Bo. Yeah.  A few hours later, Dan was on the phone with his dad in the kitchen and he heard meowing. Sure enough, it was Slider, freaked out, filthy and cold. I don’t think we’ve ever been so releived.

We gave that jerk a bath, fed him and he passed out for the rest of the night. The possibility of losing him forever and not knowing what he was up to was awful. I can’t even imagine what people who are missing a child are going through.

Moral of the story: always check to make sure the door is locked and put collars on your animals.

In other news, work has calmed down for me. We got our product out the door on time and in one piece. Dan’s hours should normalize in the next week or so, so more time together is likely in our future.

Whew!

Today is Valentines Day. February 15, 2009

It’s a pretty sappy idea, really; a marketing ploy to get people to buy even more dumb stuff that they don’t need. Stuff like this.

I do want to take a moment, however, to say how thankful I am for my Valentine.

My life would be so completely different without Dan. Every day that we are together, no matter how bad other things are, is a blessing. He is always there to cheer me up, make me laugh, calm me down when I worry too much, cook me really delicious dinners and bring me Gatorade.

I love him, and I wouldn’t trade our love or friendship for anything.

As if eight-plus hours a day weren’t enough… February 13, 2009

I keep having dreams where I am at work. I am sitting at my desk, in front of my computer, staring at the same software that I test every day.

In my dreams, I’m worried because I can’t think of any new tests to do. I sit there, glaring at the home screen, fretting.

I don’t exactly feel tired when I wake up, but I’m definitely not bringing my A-game. I forget where I’ve put things, I get my words mixed up when I’m trying to talk, I stare off into space…

It wouldn’t be SO bad, except it seems that the nights when I’m not dreaming about work, a certain kitten (Slider) decides it’s time to play and refuses to let me rest.

Tonight, I’m taking Tylenol PM.

Why did those five things cost $96? February 12, 2009

Last week was one of those weeks when you run out of all of your toiletries at the same time. Typically, I only have to buy one or two of these items in one shopping trip, but every so often the cycles line up and it’s all gone at the same at once.

I needed:

-Face lotion

-Mascara

-Some powder

-Conditioner

-Hair serum

And some other stuff. Let me tell you, it made for an expensive trip.

I guess I could cut back on some of the things that I use; I could go all Girl Power and quit using the unnecessary makeup, shampoos, conditioners and hair products that clever marketers tell me I have to use to be beautiful.

But I won’t.

I like being a girl. I like smelling nice and having clear skin and soft hair, so I sigh, swipe my debit card and take my things home.

I would ask that instead of giving me a useless pair of cheap headphones for free with my $15 bottle of lotion,  you just give me…more lotion.

Not that anyone cares, but… February 6, 2009

1. I never liked learning about history as a kid. I thought it was boring and pointless, and am extremely ignorant when it comes to past events as a result. I hate it and I’m trying to fix it. Right now, I’m really into World War II.
2. For some reason, employers see fit to give me ridiculous job opportunities that I’m not qualified for. I’ve never turned one down and it hasn’t failed me yet.
3. Entry #2 has taught me how to teach myself all kinds of things by reading books.
4. I’m constantly cruising the Internet to find cheap airfare to…anywhere, even when I don’t plan on traveling.
5. I like to keep my fingernails cut short and painted dark.
6. I’ve decided that, for 30 days, I’m not going to eat any meat that I wouldn’t kill and clean myself. That leaves me with fish, seafood and, at times, certain people.
7. My family moved from St. Peters to Cape Girardeau the summer before my junior year of high school. I moved with the “get in, get out” mentality because I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be starting over for the 100^th time. I greatly regret this and often wonder what friendships I missed out on as a result of my attitude.
8. Over the course of 12 months I: was hired on at a newspaper for my first job, got engaged, graduated from college, moved 1, 400 miles from home to start said job, got married, got laid off from my first job, moved back to Missouri to live with my mother-in-law, got married again in a traditional capacity, moved out of my mother-in-law’s and got a new job. It was exhausting.
9. I really used to enjoy running, then I tore a disc in my back and had to take a break. It’s never been the same since.
10. I recently started playing videogames and even have my own xbox live account. Look me up: starflablingo.
11. I had lost all of my baby teeth by the time I was 10. I got braces when I was 11.
12. I’ve known my best friend for as long as I’ve known my sister.
13. I’ve been stopped by the cops while riding my bike.
14. I’d like to live in a foreign country at some point in my life, preferably somewhere I would be able to learn a new language.
15. I love, love, LOVE breakfast food. You can make anything that’s considered a breakfast food, mix it with any number of other breakfast foods, and it will never be gross. I could eat breakfast all day.
16. I’ve never lived in a single residence for any longer than three years. We were always switching apartments, houses, cities, states. I feel like all the moving has made me a well-rounded person who knows how to adapt, but it also means that I’ll probably never be truly happy if I’m stationary.
17. I don’t think that I’ll ever want to own a home. The idea of being responsible for a yard, mortgage and all the upkeep has no appeal to me. I’d rather rent. It’s easier to leave that way.
18. Dan and I are thisclose to paying off our credit card debt. I can’t wait.
19. I really don’t like horror movies. I can usually handle the blood and guts, but the supernatural unnerves me and I have no desire to watch movies about it.
20. I’ve gotten one traffic ticket so far in my life and I feel like it’s mostly my brother’s fault.
21. I sleep with a fan pointed toward the every single night, no matter the season, and I always have. I like the way the wind feels on my face, and the noise tunes out the cats, neighbors and traffic. Dan hates it.
22. Sometimes I think about going back to school for a degree in computer programming or to become a lawyer, but I know I don’t have the stamina for it at the moment.
23. If I didn’t have Dan holding me back, I’d probably have four or five cats and a dog. Just a little one…
24. I love orange juice and typically drink it straight out of the carton. So, if you ever come over to my house, you might not want to drink the OJ.
25. I wasn’t going to do this survey, but people I respect and like gave me insight into their lives. I thought I’d do the same.

In which I feel human again. February 1, 2009

Dan and I took the trip down to Cape this weekend to visit my mom and dad. It’s the first time we’ve been down there for no other reason than to simply visit in months.  There was delicious food, higher quality wine than we ever buy for ourselves, shopping and movie watching. So relaxing. I don’t care how old you are, sometimes it just feels good to go to your mom’s, dad’s, grandparents’ or some other caring guardian’s house and forget that you’re supposed to be a responsible adult.

While Dan and I were out in the backyard letting the cats run around for a little while one of our very good friends who lives next door came outside. We chatted things up for a few moments, and then she said “You look really relaxed.” And I realized that for the first time in weeks, I really am. Going back home to charge the batteries for 48 will hopefully get me few another few weeks.

In bad news gone good: I woke up Friday and realized that one of my earrings had fallen out in my sleep. I was pretty upset and looked all over the place to find it, as that pair is irreplaceable. My grandparents had bought rough diamonds during a trip of theirs to Israel in the mid ’80s and had a pair of unique studs made for me. I wear them every day because I love them and the backs screw on, greatly reducing their likelihood of falling out. This afternoon when Dan was cleaning, he found the rogue piece of jewelry and the earrings have been reunited. It’s a great relief.

In news regarding stupid things that happen: It appears as though my iPod made a run through the washer. We’re going to give it a few days to dry out. Hopefully it will recover (ha), but it’s looking like we’ll both be in the market for new mp3 players very soon.

In near freakouts: When we were leaving my parents’ house today, we couldn’t get the Honda to start. We tried jumping it, checking the starter, etc. It was extremely frustrating and we were starting to feel rather upset. After further investigation, I realized we were using a copied key we’d had made at Home Depot to start the car, which we’d never done before. I busted out the original, and all was well (HUGE sigh of relief).

Enter: Adulthood (?)(!)($%$%^&) January 30, 2009

For my entire life, I’ve suffered from an annoying affliction: incredibly fine, straight, thin hair.  When I was younger, I would be envious of girls who could wear their hair in a perfect ponytail, French braid, pigtails or bun. This long-lived envy recently subsided when I finally discovered hairspray. No, not the movie…the actual hair product. I can now do my hair however I want, regardless of its inability to stay put on its own, as long as I use enough hairspray. After all of these years, it was the $1.99 can of Aussie hairspray that finally gave me what I wanted. There’s probably a life lesson in there somewhere.

In other news, the Storys finally have a new(er) car. Anyone who’s known me over the past 5 or 6 years has been subjected to bone-shattering, anxiety-ridden escapades in the Blue Bomb a.k.a The Death Mobile a.k.a. The Mitz. Those days are finally over.

Last week we bought a 2000 Honda Accord, and we’re never looking back. Well, we’ll never look back after we drive The Mitz down to Cape to unload on my parents this weekend and get the paperwork sorted out for the Honda. Minor details.

With this purchase, I’ve come to the realization that my collegiate lifestyle has taken its last gasping breath. No more school, no more studying for tests I’m not interested in taking, no more writing 10-page papers when there’s only four pages of material worth writing about, no more living in flea-infested basement apartments, no more junking around in a car that stalls in the middle of the busiest intersection in the county, no more being incredibly broke (knock on wood).

Dan and I both have full-time jobs, albeit sans benefits and insurance, that are thought-provoking, interesting and challenging. We pay our bills on time. We’re making progress on previous debt. We’ve got a little extra cash. It’s a far cry from where we were a mere six to eight months ago.

Being surrounded by so much relief and goodness is such a new feeling that I sometimes catch myself wondering what catastrophe is lurking around the corner.

I’m working on that.

You never write anymore. December 12, 2008

Dan and I are settled in to our “new” place, which we moved into at the end of October. The furniture is in, the pictures are on the walls and we’ve started making remember-worthy memories in our new home.

Dan brought home a Christmas tree while I was at work yesterday. He walked all the way to Home Depot, picked one out, paid for it, and walked all the way back home hauling it. All so I’d have a surprise when I got home. Love. It’s short and fat and adorable. We have yet to decorate it, but I think that’s on the agenda for tonight after work.

Speaking of work, I am currently working for a small computer consulting company developing some software, proofreading and learning things about XML and other general nerd-dom. I can’t really say much about it, as I’ve signed enough confidentiality agreements to start a small trash can fire, but I really enjoy it. I can say, however, that this product will eventually be found on store shelves for your purchasing pleasure. So that’s cool.

On January 12, Dan and I will have been married for an entire year, if you go by when we exchanged vows the first time. The state of Missouri doesn’t think that happened until the 15th, but what does it know?

I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T, do you know what that mean? October 16, 2008

Well, we’re getting there.

Where is “there,” you ask? “There” is that imaginary place/status called “normalcy.”

Dan and I were approved for our apartment and will begin our move – gasp/sigh – tomorrow. I can’t wait to settle into our new place and have our own space again. It’s always tough to move home after a year at school or whatever the case may be, but it’s even more difficult to move home after you’ve learned to be financially independent and are used to being 1,400 miles away from home. Getting to know Dan’s family better has been a blessing. It would take most people years to gain the perspective I have gotten from this short period, and I couldn’t be happier that I have them in my life. That being said, I’m excited to get my “area” back!

In other great news, the consulting company I work for, The Creative Group, has hooked me up with a project that will 1) be full time, and 2) last for several months. I’ll be doing…something for a textbook publishing company in St. Charles. Details to come. I start Monday, and I am so relieved. This job will nearly double our income and tide me over until something else comes along. Who knows? I might just continue to do consulting work and never work a “real” job again…unless I hear back from one of the places I interviewed last week. Then I’ll drop what I’m doing and work for them :)

SO we’re hoping to have a house-warming type deal some time in November. Obviously, it won’t be until after we get all of our stuff over there and maybe some art on the walls…

This and That October 9, 2008

Phew. There has been a fair bit going on since the last post: Job interviews, apartment searches, family gatherings, etc.

I’ve been interviewing like a maniac over the last week or so, which is a nice departure from wondering if my applications even make it into the HR people’s inboxes. The outcome is pending, but I have a really good feeling about this latest round of meetings. If you’re on my list of references, be prepared for some calls from potential employers.

In other news, Dan and I found an apartment. It’s in the Tower Grove Park area, one bedroom, hardwood floors, new kitchen, fenced-in backyard, and a basement with W/D hookups. We submitted our application and should find out if we’ve been approved by Monday, so says the leasing agency. My mother-in-law has been incredibly generous to let Dan and I live with her, but it’s time to claim our own space and live somewhere that has real walls, not ones made of sheets.

Now, to voice an irritation: I bought a third-gen iPod nano the day they came out, less than a year ago. Now Apple has released another generation, and I feel irritated. Goes to show that it doesn’t matter how soon you get the latest, the expiration date can pop up whenever.