Messy Martha; The New Normal

Mom came over this weekend for a day of labor at Maison Du Pu Pu. Things are really coming along.

Yesterday we moved all the boxes and furniture into the new heated storage unit. We got the bedroom cleaned (as good as good gets), the office emptied - QUITE an accomplishment (thank you again Becky, Ali & Janie!), took a truckload of crap to the dump and argued about the pile for goodwill.

The goodwill argument went something like this...

Moms: "You should store all of this in case she comes home."
Me: "She's not coming home."
Moms: "Just in case, you should save this."
Me: "Um no."
Moms: "Fine.
Me: "Fine"

Fast forward one hour

Moms: "I want the (insert name of something like a basket or storage cart.)
Me: "What happened to "what if she comes home."?
Moms: "Give me the keys, I'm putting it in the trunk.
Me: "Fine."
Moms: "Fine."

(I bet you can't wait for the screenplay that I'm writing to come out. I am so good at dialog that it's riveting!)

After our work party (partially enhanced by labor from "Hansen's Helping Hands") we disinfected ourselves, ate a yummy bite at Denny's and headed to the ICU to visit Martha.

I do feel terrible about how long E sits there without visitors and I could give up the entire weekend to come up, do hard labor and then sit with her at the hospital and watch her sleep, but as I'm a shitty niece I don't. We spoke with the ICU nurse who gave us the 411 on her condition - improved!

She does have a slight case of the MRSA the antibiotic resistant infection. "Slight" in the way that some folks describe themselves as a "little" pregnant. Um, you are or you aren't. To visit we had to gown and glove up, but got to skip the face and eye masks. I think if she had a cold or alergies it would be full on coverage.

We woke her up (the nurse said to) and got her to eat some of the "yummy" chicken alfredo. Honestly, she looks like shit - she's retaining water like crazy and is so puffy she looks like a wet sponge.

She said she wanted a surprise so I dug her eye glasses out of my purse and made her day. I then got the nurse to bring her paper and a pen and she was super happy. She's very creative (sample above) and has spent years making quilts, custom cards, writing and then of course there's the music. I certainly didn't get the music gene, or the art gene. My gifts are sarcastic humor, astounding beauty, and humility. (See item number one.)

The visit went well; I'll be checking in with the doctor this week. Once the infection is under control they want to do a procedure to help prop her poor brain back up into the zone where it's supposed to be (which is the theory behind why she is altered.) The ICU RN said she didn't think we were at the heroics phase and indicated that there would be frank discussions if/when we get there.

This is all very new to me and I'm hopeful that we're doing the right thing for her.

What is, was, and could be

www.mvm.com (My virtual Model) allows you to build an avatar at one weight, and then project what weight loss - or gain would look like.

Here's the virtual me at my starting, current, and surgeon identified goal weights.

Um, wow.

We'll see if I can really get to their goal weight. It seems completely unrealistic, but I'm "ONLY" 100 - no... 99 pounds away. However, considering that so far I've dropped 87 pounds maybe it is a possibility.

The thing I'm happiest about this journey, aside from the weight loss, is that I'm thrilled with each new smaller size and that I'm not just waiting for the day I'm a size 2. I'm delighted with the size 18 pants I just bought and even more happy to know that I won't be wearing them come summer time. At this point, focusing all my happiness on being a size 2, 4, or even 14 is like focusing on that day you're going to win the Mega Millions Lottery. It COULD happen, but why not be happy today?

OMG!!!

I just "tooted" in my office (with the walls that don't go up to the ceiling) and it was considerably louder than I anticipated. Normally, my risk assessment process when it comes to this activity is pretty good, but my decibel predictor is off today.

Thankfully both my neighbors are away but the nearby bullpen of Indian contractors is full and there's no way that they didn't hear it.

As soon as I'm done typing, I'll move back under my desk and hide for the rest of the day.

How horrifying!

Decided

I opted not to include the blog address in my e-mail to "Kirkland" and I think it was a smart move.

So far, no reply.

It's good to throw my hat in the ring... any ring.

Look out, Match.com here I come.

Monday night musings

Huge, enormous, and eternal thanks to Becky, Ali and Janie for a Saturday of labor at the Mansion du Pu Pu. How nice of it to snow, so that we didn't have to find a place to store our coats. ( No heat remember?)

Ali is awesome, give her a task and she gets it done. In addition to boxing up the rest of the kitchen she cleaned the fridge, and I have to say that I would put my food in there now.

(Here's Becky and me in the snow, aren't we so cute? I am a hodge podge of purple and pink - colors that unless you're an Easter Bunny don't go together. Becky has that adorable painter pants thing going on. It might be a hold over from the 80's, but I love overalls as a day of labor outfit. Maybe someday after I stop dropping sizes every three weeks.)

Janie cleaned that bathroom like it has never been cleaned before. The toilet looks usable again... but even now, I won't be putting my naked bottom on that seat.

Becky tackled the "craft room" and managed to get every last damn thing packed up. She's a trooper!

Me, I sat in the car and listened to the radio. Kidding... I don't think I did anything other than walk from room to room to declare "toss" or "keep." I did box journals, diaries and more journals. Most of which have been "mined for the memoir." Notes like that are a little disturbing because it makes me wonder if Auntie E expects someone to go through all the journals and publish the account of her life?

I mean, it has been an interesting life, she was an almost Opera singer, played piano in the late 60's with one Barry Manalow, produced a feature length movie 'Dracula's Disciple' - I have possession of the master, married, divorced, she was tortured as a child by being forced to be educated by the "bad piano teacher in town." Mostly though, the journals are a constant inner dialog with lines from movies, schedules of the tv movies to watch, movies that have been watched and corrections of grammatical errors heard or read.

Heard on TV:
"He went through the windshield and impaled himself onto the tree."

No. No. No.
He didn't do this to himself. He wasn't even driving. And you can't impale yourself, or be impaled onto anything.
Since we are in past tense in that sentence, we can only say that he was impaled on the tree - or on a branch of the tree; or that the force of his expulsion caused him to be impaled on [a branch of] the tree.

Oh golly, she must have hated to get my letters. I'm surprised that she was able to hold back the red marker and return my letters with corrections. Who knows, if I go through the journals I might find the letters with the edits. I did find letters from my grandparents - odd to see their handwriting and have it be familiar all these years later.

The letters alone may be reason enough to sort through the journals once she 'passes.' We'll cross that bridge upon when we gets there (that's to give her something to do in case she "reads" me.)

Finally, this evening I am toying with the idea of answering a Craig's List personal ad. Oh, TPgal is thinking about joining the world of people who date and (some day) get IT on. Yikes. Also thinking about dropping my blog address as a way to share the virtual me. What do you think, good idea or bad idea?

What would someone get by reading "me"?
I use !! to much
I've got a problem with comma's
I can't get to the point
I'm mildly funny (so you say)
I'm going to hell for mocking my sick aunt
I may be forgiven for mocking her considering I've picked up and cleaned mountains of "pooh"
I have awesome friends
I have a job - that is mostly ok
I own my own home
I am a pet person - dog friendly, but live with a cat. I'm bi-animal.
I like to travel - Greece is only 7 months away
I'm on a weight loss journey (86 lbs gone as of this morning)
I'm a consumer! Love that sport shopping.
I'm a reader ( I can reads, I are smart)
I'm not a fan of our current "prez" (W not smart. W piss TPgal off. W bad)
I'm either VERY discrete about my dating life, or I haven't dated in ages. (oh you decide... but remember, I blog about pooh, so I'm not sure discretion is the way to go on this one.)
I'm terrible at analogies. "Disanalogic" or "Analogyphobe" - nope that would be fear of analogies - which you might be when you read some of mine.

So, that leads me to another question (clearly, there is NOTHING on TV tonight as I ramble on and on) as I re-enter the dating pool to Blog or Not to Blog? I think you, the current readers who have nothing but my exciting life to carry you through you dark, bleak days would say "Blog." Don't get me wrong, I'm sure your days filled with your husbands, wives and "children" are wonderful, but I know you secretly envy me. I am alone every night choosing what to watch on tv or hanging out in blissful silence while you listen to your family drone on and on about how much they love you. Wait... I'm sad. Ok seriously, if you were a perspective date of TPgal, you would be in the "Not Blog" category - right?

It could be entertaining though, I'm like an alien dropped into the pool of dating after years of self-imposed exile. (A terrible analogy.) My only education is hundreds of hours of pay per view porn. Har, that would be so funny in an online profile. It's NOT true, but it would be funny. I could get a bunch of one night only dates. As soon as the real me showed up and didn't strip naked the illusion would be busted. But I might meet some "interesting" men.

Workin' for free

A quick stop at my retirement summary today has killed my will to live:

Personal Rate of Return from 01/01/2008 to 03/28/2008 is -12.4%

SWEET!  Dog food and Cardboard box in a tornado ravaged mobile home park here I come!

Oh, that's not good

On the Aunt Messy front things are getting much worse. Finding the humor in the situation is a challenge.

She was taken back to the hospital last weekend with low blood sugar 35 where normal is 100 to 150 then released back to the Nursing Home. Yesterday they shipped her back to the hospital and I was finally abe to speak with a nurse who has her history and current condition.

Its bad, we're not just dealing with controlling blood sugars and blood pressure we have not one, not two, but three serious infections in the sinus that have migrated to her brain. The nurse rattled the names off so fast and my medical definitions seminar was so long ago that I had to do some research last night to catch up to what she told me. (What do people without the Internet do when a term like "hydrocephalus" is mentioned? Hydro - water. That's not bad right? Uh, yeah it is when you team it up with methicillin resistant staph aurelia. (That's .MRSA folks)

I'll be speaking to the ICU doctor today and am armed with the secret decoder ring questions to open an honest dialog that isn't clouded by calming words and softened diagnosis'. It helps that we've got some exposure to the inner workings of the medical profession. (And I'm not talking about the 18 years that I've been watching ER.)

I'm in an odd emotional place about this. I want her to be confortable and pain free. I also don't want her to linger with diminished brain activity. I'm feeling guilty that I'm not rushing to her bed side. I honestly wonder if that's more about my need to not appear cold and disinterested to the hospital staff than anything else.

My dad is content to go with my direction about the Do Not Recussitation order. Its nice that he trusts me, not that I ever doubted it, but these are some pretty adult decisions.

In reviewing her tax records for the last few years (in order to work out a return for 2007) I see that in 2005 she took the Hurricane Katrina deduction intended for those displaced, or for those who took in people. I suppose in her mind, watching it on tv counted? Audit away IRS man...she's got nothing! She'll have even less when I sell her car.

What a fun spring I'm having!

Does this qualify as focusing on work?

A slightly modified IM transcript from this morning about a co-worker who has been out all week:

P, T says:  has "Bob" retired?  (yes, I AM evil)
X  says:  lol
X  says: he's so terribly ill…  I really feel bad for him.
P, T says:  oh, that's not good
X  says:  he just can't stay well for long periods of time
X  says: I tease, but I really do care.  This might be a side effect of the horrid gallbladder explosion that almost killed him.

P, T says: But, maybe he's just weak and we should eat him first if our plane goes down in the Andes
X  says:  not sure I'd pick the sickly one to eat..lol
P, T says:  It is a toss up, because if you eat the muscular ones (aka Meaty) you loose the heavy lifters that you may need to build a shelter for your cold cold ass

P, T says:  Disturbing...
X  says: you're so funny!!
P, T says: I'm laughing right now... I think we need to create a 9-12 page strategy around who we should eat first in this scenario.  I'm sure the boss would expend some consulting $$$ to make sure we have a RACI.  (RACI is "corporate" for a document that describes who does what.)

P, T says:  Must focus on work.  Drat; the strategy will have to wait

similie

There's a scene in the movie The Last King of Scotland where the Idi Amin (who had a small habit of killing those who disagreed or displeased him) has a fit over the fact that an issue that he was warned about became an actual problem.

Amin: "Why didn't you tell me to do something about this!?"
Doctor: "But, sir, I told you it was going to be a huge problem."
Amin: "But you did not convince me!"

Lately, my interactions with the big boss have felt like this.

BB: "Why didn't I know about this?"
TPgal: "Sir, I told you on several occasions the facts"
BB: "But I wasn't listening to you"
TPgal: "ok..."
BB: "Sounds like an excuse to me."

The other thing I "love" is the pep talks to stay "Laser focused on A, B and C. Just A, B and C - nothing else! If we don't achieve A, B and C we're all doomed. Oh and D-Z are also important so don't forget those. Failure to achieve A, B and C is not an option, but neither can D-Z. And in the meantime, don't forget to be interesting so that when you tell me something will be an issue that I'll actually pay attention. "

oh golly... BITTER.

I am trying to keep my head down and get my work done but when the senior leaders spend their days trying to kill your spirit it is hard to stay focused. I know this BS happens at every company and as soon as the things that are pissing me off right now are resolved something new will pop up.

I'm pretty confident that I'll be back to happy TPgal tomorrow. Right now, I'm just going to go to bed!

Not like that

In the Senior Staff meeting this week I said something that was taken the wrong way. In attempting to explain that we need to be coordinated about our communications to our business partners I said:

"My team is banging these people six ways from Sunday so we need to be careful..."

I heard a whisper in my ear from the cute techy guy... "banging them?"

Yes people, it's a service we provide!

Touche'

I bought a new top to wear to Easter Dinner at Becky's and thought it was super cute. It was black and pink with a criss cross front that results in a daring but not obscene v-neck. I should have sat in the shirt before I bought it. After dinner as we were sitting on the couches drinking wine and discussing the wonderful dinner I looked down and I was clearly flashing my (also new) black bra to the entire room.

We had a laugh about the ladies and how they didn't want to stay in the shirt. No amount of tucking and pulling seemed to work. Finally, Becky asked, where did you get this shirt?

The RACK, I answered

Tee Hee.

Dinner was awesome by the way. Becky's balsamic vinegar asparagus was to die for and then three days later rise up and eat some more!

Reflections

I'm taking a whole weekend off and am not popping up to Bellingham. I slept in this morning, put on (too big) jeans and have been scanning old family photos for a project I've been mulling over for ages.
In going through E's photo albums I was delighted to find some gems:




This is my dad (the baby) and Aunt E (aka Messy) in the doorway of their home in Seaview, Wa where my dad was born and I ended up going to grade and high school.













This is my dad, my big brother and I in front of our house in Sunnyside. The aurora is too bad, but I think the hand on my little head is cute!













This is my grandfather Eldon aka "Parkey" and the desk he made in his freshman year of high school. I have the desk, it needs a little love, but it's on my list for a summer project.













My goofy brother playing in the back yard at my grandparents house. I just want to squeeze him, I think he was so adorable as a kid.
















Last, but not least here's a pix of my dad at the age of 5 or 6. WWII was just winding down, but as you can see he was dressed to serve. Every family in 1945 needed a Sailor / Aviator!

Too much wine = Talky TPgal

My favorite salesperson came to town today but I seriously don't think of her as a salesperson. I'm not influential in purchasing decisions so we're just connecting on a real level. Having had multiple opportunities to hang out at work things and at security stuff I would say its transended to casual friendship.

Over dinner tonight at the Purple Cafe (I had some cheese and the Chop Chop Salad with Flank Steak - or rather the flank steak with a few bites of salad) we and 4 other folks drank four bottles of wine and a "flight" of whites.

My new plumbing means that the limited amount of alcohol that I do drink goes straight to my head - so my three glasses are swirling around leaving me stranded in the office. I can NOT get in my car right now, but in an hour I should be good to go.

Over dinner we talked wines for ages and then transitioned to books (yeah!) There was a small stop over in the "oh my god you look so great, can I ask you a question about your surgery?" land. I'm ok with that, I don't mind answering questions but didn't want dinner to break down into a TPgal Centric evening. We were there for a bit and then off in a flash.

The excellent news is that this gal mentioned that her company (that she and her husband own) have a corporate apartment in New York and there was a casual offer of use for the proposed gal trip next summer. Believe you me, I won't be shy about following up to see if it was a real offer.

The bummer news, and clearly this is TMI - but I made myself some tea to drink while I sober up and I didn't put the lid on correctly and I poured tea down my shirt so here I sit with a wet bra in my office at 8:05pm. Thankfully it's not a white shirt or there would be a stain.

Silly silly me!

The Martha Update

Mom came up, we headed to Bellingham early Friday and were at the house at 9:30. Barbara the type A friend came at 11 and we hussled all day.

Mom worked in the "dining room" aka the "office" and broke everything down - packed 2 computers, a sewing machine, lots of quilting materials, hundreds of floppy disks (like those can be used anymore) and took down the tables.

Barbara started boxing books and records while I collected cable equipment, stacked boxes, moved furniture, and sorted treasures.

In a day and a half we took a truckload and a half to the dump, a truckload to goodwill and boxed the bedroom, living room, dining room and 80% of the kitchen. The art room is still in need of some time, and the bathroom hasn't been touched - although I threw out the toothbrushes and some unidentifiable things.

We did visit E in the nursing home. She is distinctively better than when I saw her last, she still is content to sleep and let the staff take care of her. She had no inclination to sit up and visit with us, and when I mentioned that I picked up her mail she asked where it was, but was happy with the answer that I have it. She doesn't care about her bills or anything else.

She said she wants to go home, and I didn't see the need at this point to tell her we're moving her out of that house. I reminded her we had talked about assisted living and she said she remembered that. If she "lucids up" and asks directly, mom suggests telling her she got evicted. I don't think a lie is necessary. If she gets well enough to go live alone we'll get her a new place - this one sucks.

I think one or two more trips will do the trick. I'm happy to pay movers to haul the stuff to storage, but I want the house boxed before I get a quote. I don't want to pay more because they can't see through the mess in the "art room."

I rescued the jewelry and the family photos. Mom is storing the crystal and some of the really old family heirlooms. It is a bit strange to have E in such a state of perpetual transition. I have to remember that she might return to a semi-functional state and if she does she will want her jewelry back so its not mine. I am interested if any of the clear white items are actual diamonds. I know my grandmothers ring is, (not that I can wear it, she had the smallest fingers) but some of the earrings are questionable.

The next obvious question is, if any of the items are actually valuable what is my obligation to turn them into cash to cover her bills? The car I will have no problem selling especially if she goes to a nursing home, but family jewelry, that is a harder decision.

In the sorting I did find an old coin collection. Woo Hoo, we're rich! The coins have increased in value a 100 fold - but five Indian Head pennies are not enough for anyone to retire on. Yes, the family coin collection is worth five whole dollars. I'll hang on to them and maybe the next generation will be able to buy a latte AND a scone with the collection.

I think a couple more trips and I'm done! I may be making the post Easter call for friends - but we'll see.

And then there's our governor...

Who signed in to law today a bill that extended domestic parters many of the same legal protections (community property, powers of attorney and other legal mumbo jumbo that MWR will explain over our next lunch and learn) afforded to married couples in the state of Washington.

These aren't special rights, just the same rights which gives these families a more realistic and legal togetherness; rights that our our Man/Woman married couples have enjoyed for years.

Bravo!

From Vice President to this?

Don't Miss Al Gore and John Chambers! VoiceCon Orlando 2008 Starts This Week: Register Today!
Dear Colleague,
We're getting close - VoiceCon Orlando starts this week, and with the addition to the keynote lineup of Nobel Laureate and former Vice President Al Gore along with Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers, space is filling up quickly.

Act Now to reserve your seat at the premier event in enterprise IP Telephony, Unified Communications and Converged Networks. VoiceCon Orlando runs March 17-20 at the Gaylord Palms Hotel.

**********************************
There are a few things that are disturbing to me about this:

1) Al Gore is headlining at a conference focused on TELEPHONES
2) They are referring to this as VoiceCon "Orlando" which implies they hold this "exciting" event in other locations too

3) They sent this to me as if it is something I would be interested in. That's not quite as disturbing as the first two - considering I'm often offered tools and herbs to enlarge my male genitalia.

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Spa Day (AKA - OUCH!)

I decided that after a day in Bellingham sorting through things that only a haz-mat team should have to touch I deserved a little pampering. After lunch I motored over to Formosa Nail, the corner pedicure and acrylic nail salon for a pedicure.

For $15 you get a fabulous foot cleaning, toe nail shaping, painting and a lower leg massage while resting comfortably in a Sharper Image worthy chair that massages your back. It is a complete waste of money and I LOVE it! I usually save the pedicures for summer when people actually see my feet but a late winter clean up can't hurt.

While I was there I decided to get the old eye brows shaped. The Wax Girl and I had a long conversation about how I wanted more than a bizarre line above my eyes. You can take off too much in the eye brow area and look scary. She did a great job and it didn't hurt as badly as I had feared.

While my toes were being painted (blue!) the elder lady at the salon came over to check out my fingernails. I think her role is to talk up the sales, and she's very effective. I agreed to a manicure on my nubby little nails after she said she had some product designed for nails that are soft and split. As she was soaking my fingers she ran her hands over my forearms and looked me in the eye and said... "We wax this for you." It wasn't really a question but more of a statement.

Here's where the TMI part comes in (too much information) I like to pretend that I am not abnormally hairy in the forearm area. The reality is that I am sporting a hair shirt on the lower ends of my arms. "Am" isn't the right word, "Was" is the new term. I caved and in 15 short minutes that were a lot LESS like the scene from The 40 Year Old Virgin than I feared the closer was comparing her arms to mine. "See, you have arms like me now." This I believe is a compliment.

I am liking the hairlessness, but it does feel a little strange. I hope I don't regret it in a week. I did a search on the web for "hairy arms female" and there does seem to be a small group of dudes who like the hairy armed women but the sites are a little creepy. I think I made the right decision. (No photo's of my forearms though...I'm not contributing to the on-line naked arm porn.)

I should run, I'm doing piles and piles of laundry for Aunt Smelly. She claims that she has an allergy to fragrances so I'm being forced to wash these items in detergent with no additives to mask the old lady smell. I am (for the first time ever) washing the clothes in HOT water. I'm only bringing one bag into my house at a time; my tolerance for huge bags of stinky clothes and bedding is actually pretty low. I'm hopeful that once I get through the bedding that I'll be able to do larger loads.

I'm also going through all the bills I collected at her house. I think she hasn't paid bills in months. What fun for me!

Nerves

Tomorrow is my 3 month follow up appointment - but for those of who you can count or are keeping track (tally: 0) it's actually one week shy of 4 months.

I'm a little nervous about the appointment. I'm worried that I'm going to get a lecture about not working out. I have incorporated some stuff into my day - for example I do 20 standing push ups ("push outs" if you will) in the shower each morning and when the weather is good I get off the bus at the first downtown stop and walk the rest of the way in. I still need to do the treadmill more often than I do but I'm hopeful that those small things count too.

The appointment is only an hour and I'm sure it is more about the clinics statistical reporting than it is about me. I do have a full day. I'm doing lunch with a 4 year old and his mom and then popping over to the hospital to see a friend.

This gal is going through hell (baby bed rest) I hope my bag of treats and games I just packed are a fun distraction. I'm really hopeful and eager to have this work out for them. So, let's all send a good word to the man above shall we:

"Mr. Gates,

My friends would be great parents....."

Oops, wrong guy above. Sorry God! Good thing you're very forgiving.

So one last thing and then I've to to finish some laundry. Metro irks me! The bus driver on the way in this morning is extremely tentative about merging back on to the roads after pickups (and we're not talking about 40+ mile an hour roads either...) and then on the freeway - SHE MISSED THE EXIT TO I-90!!!! It's a pretty major intersection on the freeway. So irritating.

Then on the way home tonight I had to chase the bus. We both hit a red light at the same time. The light switched to green and the driver gunned the bus like someone was going to die if she didn't get to the next stop. I was at a full on run to the end of the block where the stop was and made it to the bus as the driver closed the doors and then zipped off. She was stopped for all of 10 seconds. I'm getting healthier but I didn't have it in me to chase the bus for another two blocks. Had she not been driving like a bat out of hell I could have made it or had she checked her mirrors to see if there were runners - which happens all the time I could have made it. I think (because I'm bitter) that she saw me running and left anyway.

I had to stand in the rain for 30 minutes, but at least I got a workout in before heading home.

'Mornin

Happy crisp Thursday to you all! I'm happy to have the week wrapping up. It's been nutty at work.

There are FOUR audits going on that affect my group. If you don't happen to work for a company that does regular audits they are supposed to be short engagements from unbiased folks who assess the controls and effectiveness of the work you do.

The Auditors who are assessing the process I manage keep getting off into tangent areas and it's very irritating. Instead of focusing on whether or not widgets I control are accurate they are intensely focused on the tool I use to track the widgets and can't get off the fact that some of the fields are (seriously) not marked as "required." Never mind that the person who submits the widget request can't know that information and the analyst that processes the request ALWAYS completes it they want the field marked "required." KILL ME NOW!

In addition the other three audits are touching my group too because as they go and assess the 3rd Party Network Hub they are coming to me to see if the non-standard connections have widgets on file (I'm a control point for policy violations.) This doesn't sound to terrible except that that particular auditor wants his information in real-time. He sends an e-mail, then pops up in Instant Messaging and then if I'm doing something else and ignore him the muther-f*cker calls me. Because I'm not listed on his Audit RFI apparently I don't get the standard 24-48 hour turn around window. I guess my entire life is supposed to be dedicated to getting this a-hole who doesn't read the e-mails I send so I have to answer questions twice.

The other audits have been minor annoyances - but I'm still fielding the same questions from different directions. It's good to be organized so you can just forward the same reply over and over again.

Mom is coming up next week and we're going to pop up to Bellingham to do a little boxing and tossing! It will be nice to see her.

On the vanity front, this week two different people have told me that when they first saw me they didn't recognize me. Seriously? I'm not sure what the appropriate response is, but I just kind of laugh and say "Thanks, I've been working on it." It seems like a better reply than "Yeah, I'm a rock star who is too good to talk to the likes of you!"

Finally, I broke down and bought a new desk for my home office. It's very pretty and I love it! It does make it apparent that I need a better chair because this one is too low and my back starts to hurt after a while. It's a good thing that that ATM machine I put in my dining room is stocked!

Messy Martha: A New Hope

There was a very encouraging meeting today with the social worker, nurse, an physical therapist regarding Aunt E today.

It was clear they had read my e-mail and have listened to the concerns about E's home. However, they were kind but firm when she tried to claim she was walking more than she actually is and called her out as fibbing when she said she was taking out her garbage at home. Um, not happening! Neither is the dog she thinks she's going to get, but let's tackle one disappointment at a time.

They proposed assisted living as the exit strategy from the rehab place and will help us work through the DSHS paperwork hell. I'm feeling like there is light at the end of the tunnel and for the first time not resenting the trip(s) I'm about to make to Bellingham.

I'm going this weekend to collect mail, bills and any paperwork I can find and to bring back the stinky laundry. It might be a VERY unpleasant trip home in my car, but my goal is to collect it all and bring it here to wash. With any luck at all the next few trips will be to box up stuff and get rid of massive amounts of CRAP.

The plan is a one day trip: drive up, collect stinky clothes and bills, a quick visit and drive back. It shouldn't be any more than 12 hours. Anyone wanna come?

Movie Review: Penelope

You probably haven't heard of this one unless you're a 13 year old girl. Penelope is a charming little story about a girl who was cursed and born with a snout (think porky pig.) Only true love will free her from the curse. Cue James McAvoy and *swoon*.

The girls in the audience (me included) seemed to enjoy the story even if it was a bit predictable. Pig faced girl frightens away all suitors, a man comes and pretends to like her, she figures it out just as he falls in love and then drama drama drama. Weave in a moped and Reese Witherspoon and you've got a cute date movie.

I was a tad perplexed by some of the scenery - for the most part the movie seems to take place in a magical ageless European local with cobblestone streets, street vendors and then whamo we're taken to a decidedly American city. Most disturbing thing of all was to make that that transition we are given a night time aerial view of SEATTLE…complete with a shot of the Ban Roll-On building and WaMu tower. It took me out of fantasy movie mode and into trying to figure out where the movie was actually filmed. (I hate that.)

James McAvoy pulls off a better than average American accent and is quickly forgiven for slipping into his Scottish tongue because he's dreamy. Where did this young man come from? Is he really attractive or am I just charmed by the stupid accent? I fear that one day you'll find me following around Scottish men like a child marching after the Pied Piper. (It's probably the main reason I've not been to the U.K.) Furthermore, am I reaching an age where I shouldn't be intrigued by movie stars who aren't even 30 yet? But, since he's realistically never coming over to have dinner and drink my wine *wink* does it matter?

My big Bother

Big Bother... Sisty-Ugler these are the childhood nicknames my older brother and I are saddled with. My dad has a strange sense of humor, and now at almost 40 the name still sticks. Thanks dad!

The big bother called me today. He's home for a two week leave from Iraq. His family is clearly super excited to have him home. It was great talking with him and we had a big laugh about the crazy care packages from the family. Apparently an all candy care package isn't quite as comforting as you might think.

We talked for an hour and then I had to shoo him off the phone so he could call his mother.

Welcome home big guy!

Countrywide SUCKS! Part 2

In November I got a letter from Countrywide saying that I owed them money from my former escrow account for an alleged overpayment in 2004. I repeatedly asked for a full accounting of all the monies collected and paid for my account. They didn't provide the information, but did mail a printout of some activity showing and escrow refund payment to me that I kind of remember.

I tried to push them to provide a full statement of all the funds collected but they didn't do it, instead I started to receive letters from a collection agency. Each letter included escalating threats and in the end I caved and sent them $842.00 with a NASTY letter that I'm sure had no effect other than it felt good to write.

Basically I said that they were incompetent accountants, malicious with their timing, and their failure to provide the simple information I asked for felt criminal. I told them I was sending the check not because I felt I owed it but so that I would never have to deal with them ever again.

It took almost four weeks for my check to clear and when it did I got a notice showing my account was "Paid In Full." I filed all the paperwork away including a copy of the canceled check and went about my business.

Today, when checking the mail there was a thin envelope from Countrywide. Inside was a check for $842.00 with the explanation of "Escrow Refund." I ask you... WHAT THE F*CK!?

My dad suggests not calling them and asking but to put the money in savings. I ask you... what would you do?

That's better

After talking with the social worker and the gas company Friday I opted not to drive up to Bellingham this weekend. I'll go next weekend, gather up all the bills, spend some more time with the mess and bring back some laundry (so far I've filled three of the 55 gallon bags with laundry) E's washing machine and dryer take about 3 hours do do one cycle which just isn't ok.

The social worker and I talked about the level of physical capability that E would need to achieve before going home would be an option. Of course, I haven't been shy about saying how I feel that she shouldn't go home, but we have to be delicate because E can check herself out if she wants to. There's a meeting Tuesday where we'll set some goals. I don't think being able to bend over and repeatedly pick up things from the floor is unreasonable.

I'm grateful that I'm not emotionally distraught about this process. I want her to be safe, but I also don't want to be up there every week picking up after her because she refuses to do it.

My other thought is that if she does go home, she has to move. The water situation at her current place is unacceptable and I don't want to push it until I know whats happening. When I suggested this to E she got excited and asked to move to a place where she could have a dog.

I couldn't help myself and I laughed out loud at that suggestion. That's exactly what she needs, a small animal to shit on her floor when she just doesn't have the energy to do it herself.

Moving her seems like a lot of work - but I could relocate her near my parents. (ha ha) That wouldn't be the worst thing to be honest. I would still be involved, but I could have support and visit my parents at the same time.

We'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Whine

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed tonight.

Aunt Messy is still in the nursing home and it will be a week before they decide if she's going home anytime soon. I am selfishly hoping that her days of independent living are over, but dealing with her house makes me want to throw up. I'll be calling in some favors and extending some cards to get help if it turns out she's staying. Her landlord is super accomodating (sarcasm) and is insisting on a written 30 day notice. So, technically if we don't tell her tomorrow that March is E's last month then she's stuck through April. (On one hand my thought is to let her sue E' for the last months rent - but at $550 - who cares?)

In addition to the limbo, E's power was about to be cut off so I paid that bill and the land lady said the gas company shut off the gas today. I'm wondering if I have to run up there Saturday and collect all the bills and the checkbook. (hurl)

This wouldn't be so terrible but work is kicking my ass - I'm running from the moment I step in until it's time to catch the last bus out at night. My manager is no help - I don't know what she does but she's certainly not one to lend a hand. She gives advice. Thanks!

The big boss is helping us by buying us books to read. Great! A book report on top of an Audit, being a staff member down, business as usual, a conversion of our Intranet platform and multiple folks on vacation. BRING IT ON!

FRICK.... my neck is spasming just typing this up. Don't worry I won't go on much longer I need to type up the *^&%()_ minutes from the condo board meeting.

Grrrrr

I've outsourced the cleaning of my toilets at home and I love it. Every other Tuesday I come home to a cleaner house than I left that morning. I do more tidying before the cleaners come than I normally would do, so it's a double bonus.

I came home yesterday to a happy clean house. It was a new (to me) person and she actually cleaned more than what my contract states which is a treat.

HOWEVER.... this morning it all kind of faded away.

I awoke, not to the soothing sounds of my favorite radio station but to the sound of the Wednesday morning garbage truck. I thought to myself, wow they're here early, and then I opened my eyes. CRAP! Not early, my alarm was turned off. I jumped out of bed flipped on the radio for my a.m. dose of music and whoa, the radio was blaring a loud Rush Limbaugh type wacko yelling about the evils of liberals or something. I don't "do" politics before my shower and I certainly don't do that kind of intentionally offensive politics.

After returning the radio alarm back to the proper state I took a very nice shower. The warm water and a quick hop on the scale (today is the day I hit 80 pounds lost) I was back into my happy zen place. Well, until I put my new soft towel back on the bar. That's when I noticed the rather large stain. It is clear that the cleaning people were using a bleach based product on the shower doors and slopped it on the towels. Accidents happen, but she had to take the towel off the rack and turn it around so the stain was folded on the inside of the towel which says she noticed it. The other thing is that I just got these towels - they've been cleaning at my house for over a year and haven't harmed anything - but the month I get rid of nasty towels and put out expensive ones that's when the bleach starts flying around the bathroom.

So, now I have to call and bitch about my towels. I'm not good in this situation. I worry that the gal is going to get fired - which I don't want. I also know that in the scope of what is important in the world this isn't it; but I don't think I should have to suck it up either. I will, from now on, remove the towels from the bathroom and throw them in the washer on housekeeper day.

wow moment

In the online weight loss world the folks talk about wow moments. They tend to be little things that jog your world in a way that brings a smile to your face or that you didn't know was true.

I'm super lucky in that my people (you know who you are) are amazingly supportive and are kind enough to provide the right amount of encouragement. You also give the nicest compliments and yet still treat me like me. It's great!

Today, my wow moment came at Nordstrom's where I popped in to get some pants. My recently new pants are already falling into that "clown butt" category. The sales gal (who is paid to make me feel good) asked me what my size was... 1x? I've been buying 2x's, so I thanked her for the assumption. But... what do you know the 1x things she suggested fit!

I bought three pairs of size 20 pants. I was busting out of 28's when I started. Woo Hoo! The jeans will be out of rotation until the muffin top goes down, but dress pants are a bit more forgiving. Happy day!

current photo

Taken today. The sun does shine in February!

Almost Fit

I found jeans for less than $17 a pair at Eddie Bauer and bought a pair of size 20, and 18's.

When I first brought them home I could barely get the 20's up over my bum. Today not only did they go up, but I got them zipped.

Of course I couldn't sit, and due to the Costco sized muffin top there's no way I would leave the house - but "technically" I got them on.

They will fit in a few weeks. I'll let you know.


(thank you to glamour.com for the "I wish I looked that good" pix of muffin top.)

The Big DUH!

WARNING:  This post makes reference to the female anatomy and biological cycles.

One of the many side effects of obesity is amenorrhea (which for those of you non-doctors, and men) means a gal stops having a period.  It was perhaps the best part of being overweight.  I would have one period every six to nine months.  Very manageable.

The change in diet and loss of the initial 30 pounds kicked my body back into regular mode.  I've been having a period every four weeks for the past four months.  The remarkable thing is that it is a damn surprise every singe time.

Not a surprise like run home and change your clothes surprise, but I seem to be missing the obvious clues that something is about to occur.

Chocolate cravings -chocolate is good, seems normal
Salt cravings…. Salt good - gimmie more
Leg aches… hmm, maybe I'm working out too hard (not a chance)
Sore boobs… I must be sleeping wrong

And then whamo… tampax city and all the pieces fall together.  DUH.

There's a reason why the doctors tell you a hundred times to be careful about getting pregnant.  Apparently a lot of newly less fat ladies who never had to worry about babies are now called "mommy" once their cycles revert to normal. 

Lunch Good

It is wrong to blog about food especially when you have weight issues, but this is my world so I'm going to do it anyway.

JR Sprints is a hole in the wall sandwich place downtown. They have a daily lunch special, whip up the standard sandwiches and have the BEST taco salad in the universe. (Ok, maybe it's a stretch but they are good.)

Today I learned that the meat in the salad isn't ground beef - but is ground chicken. What a great thing to find out. I'm really only supposed to eat red meat once a week or so, so how nice to not have the super yummy taco salad count.

To be truthful, I have never limited myself in the red meat category EVER. I am aware that chicken and fish are the wiser choice but beef is so good. Bacon is better, but even I know you can't eat bacon every day.

Dang... work beacons. Take me away calgon!

Family Drama

I got a call while I was in Texas that Aunt E (aka messy marvin) was in the hospital. My dad was in contact and she seemed to be improving.

When I got back home Friday (around 1 am -- thanks American Airlines) I decided to take a day at home before heading up to Bellingham. E had been released from the hospital to a place called Bellingham Health Care and Rehabilitation, but had some trouble and was sent back to the hospital.

I arrived at the hospital around 1pm Sunday and she was mostly out of it, sleeping, groggy and when awake talking nonsense about the people outside the window. She was also convinced that the lady in the next bed (who was a moaner) was my mom and that she thought it was rude that my dad wouldn't come visit her too.

After a few hours I headed over to her house - with dread and fear of what I might find the land lady gave me a key. Thankfully I picked up some industrial strength gloves and a breathing mask. It turns out she plugged her toilet and then got an unfortunate round of diarrhea. She managed the situation with adult diapers. This all wouldn't be so bad if she had the strength (or desire) to take out the garbage.

I cleaned for a few hours, set off a couple bug bombs (sorry about the environment) and went to the motel 8 where I showered for about an hour. I fell asleep to the movie Cast Away, but it must have been on more than once because I watched the thick Tom Hanks get naked and thin and then when I opened my eyes again he was fat and wet again.

Bright and early Monday I headed back over to the house and set out with a plan to bag up the laundry, clean the kitchen and get rid of all bio-waste. There are some things you do that you just do. I cleaned and scrubbed and bagged until noon when someone came and took all the trash away.

I headed to the hospital around 1 - but had to make a run to the Health Care and Rehab place to pick up her stuff. I moved her car from the ER Physician spot to a place where she'll never find it. I found her to be alert and lucid. She was very chatty and seemed like herself.

They told us they were sending her back to the B'ham HC & Rehab place at 4. She counted the minutes. (Having seen that place I'm not sure why she was looking forward to it.) The transport came and I met them over there (hauling bags of her stuff.) My plan was to get her settled and then go home.

WRONG.

She had a seizure during the movement from the wheelchair to the bed. The transport lady disappeared and then the paramedics came. All told she was at B'ham HC & Rehab center for about 30 minutes and then it was back to the ER.

Finally at 7 the ER doc said they were going to admit her again and I had to go. My dad is on phone patrol today and I'm hoping that no news is good news. (It's not, but I can hope.)

I'm hoping that the fact that she can't walk will mean that the Health Care and Rehabilitation center will be more permanent than not. I took lots of photos for the social worker (that I won't post) and will be working with her once E is able to make a successful transition to the Rehab center.

If she moves there permanently then I'll be spending some quality time up north but the goal will be to box the valuables and burn the rest. If that's the case I won't be doing it solo. I'll be hiring some friends - this alone thing is bullshit (to quote a friends 3 year old daughter.) My dad thinks he can come help. NOT A CHANCE. Mom, yes, Pop... no way.

So, if you're a "pray-er" please send word up top that E either gets so well that she can care for herself better than she was before (not likely) or that she at least be in a condition to warrant professional care. Oh my, the guilt... I'm actually hoping that she's not (ever) well enough to go home.

And here's the other thing. I have her power of attorney, durable and medical. I can invoke it and make all decisions. When she checked into the hospital they asked her about a DNR - and she didn't sign it. In reading the journal in her purse (because I'm a: snoopy and b: curious to see her mental state) she described the DNR conversation. It basically went "of course I want to be revived, why wouldn't I be!? I was awake when I came in here and intend to be awake when I leave." Hypothetically, if she deteriorates and I sign the DNR isn't that murder?

I guess not if its done at the point where she can't make decisions for herself. Doing it now and then putting a pillow over her head, well that would be murder. And I'm not sure, but might possibly be morally wrong.

Oh golly - I hope you can sense the sarcasm in my tone. Have a wonderful and adult diaper free day!

Scenes from Austin

Some of the conference folks (the cool ones) hanging out in the Cattle Baron's Suite at the Driskill hotel.











The capital at night. (this may actually be fuzzy... will correct later.)












My new Texas boyfriend! He sits at that bar all day, but he doesn't talk back which is great!













Uh, not much to say, it's a big dead thing with two hot babes.












Ah, here's me dancing the two step with a live Texan.

Austin, Texas

In reviewing the last couple posts its clear that one or two have gone missing. You didn't miss much, just a business trip to Austin with lots of dull (to you) security talk, and lots of wonderfully off color interaction with folks from all over the globe.

I wrongly built in an extra half day into the schedule to get the flavor of Austin... Its lovely, but not for an extended walking tour. (I'm hanging out now at some coffee/cocktail bar killing time before heading back to the hotel. My coffee drink is terrible, so its taking me a while to get motivated to drink it.

The conference was great and the extra-curricular activities totally fun. We went two-stepping at a bar called the broken spoke. When I mentioned it to a lady at a shop her eyes got really big. It wasn't a four stat joint (no stars) but it was charming with the plywood ceiling, $5.50 pitchers of Lone Star (the only beer on tap) and the live band. I had a great time and those nights at the country bad during college paid off. Instead of looking like a complete ass, I looked mildly competent (to my companions only; the locals knew I sucked.)

Last night after a romantic dinner (for 15) we has drinks in the Cattle Barron's Suite (the four room suite where they parked the managing director.) Oddly enough getting a reservation for 15 on valentines day is kind of a challenge.

Well, I guess I should mosey. I'll post fun pictures tomorrow. I get home tonight around 10 but I think it will be straight to bed. And yes I am aware that I could be logged into work instead of wandering around town. I'll probably take a vacation day for today. I'm so honest its gross.

Later y'all

pitfalls of eating in public

I didn't agonize too much about the possible issues related to my new eating process when deciding to attend this conference. There's a lot of social eating with this crowd. Every meal between Sunday night dinner and Thursday afternoon lunch will be in the round. Meaning that at least 8 other people will be at the table with me.

Last night the "member advisory board" upon which I hold a seat went to dinner to extend a meeting we had during the day. We left our fancy hotel and went next door to the steak house. I was able to skip the salad and appetizer trap because we had just come from an appetizer and coctail party.

I ordered an 8 ounce steak, that came with creamed spinach and scalloped potatoes. My second grade command of the english language puts me at a disadvantae when attempting to express the rich, savory flavors on that plate. I ate slowly and cherished each flavor nugget.

In the end I ate about half of the steak, a third of the potatoes and about 4 bites of the spinach. To me, it seemed like I ate a lot but one of my dinner companions expressed concerns about the quality of my food. I was adamant that it was superb but there was a lot of worry. I was tempted for about 23 seconds to share my situation, but based on the fact that we had already discussed "womens" issues I didn't want to share something intensly personal with these folks. (5 men) It might be hard to see the connection, but there is one.

Breakfast was a lot easier today, smaller plates and it was a buffet. People don't get concerned when you eat all the oatmeal in your bowl and never notice that instead of 2 cups of oatmeal with sugar, raisins and milk that you're only eating half a cup.

As the week progresses I'm sure it will come up again. I've been so open with the people in my real life, and at work that it's interesting to me that I'm not really willing to bring that aspect into this forum.

Barolo Good; 6:00am Workout Bad

Getting up this morning to workout was a challenge, but I did it.

We have a later start tomorrow so it should be easier.

How sad is that?

While I was at Bartell's picking up the replacement bus pass I saw a photo album at the register.

It was clearly there for the viewing so I flipped it open while the clerk rang up my raisins and bus pass (and odd combo.) The album was filled with photos that had been developed but never picked up.

These abandoned photo's were pictures of cute kids, Christmas, weddings, babies, parties and vacations. I felt like a voyeur but had to look at every photo.

It made me wonder about the collections at photo places around the country. If I was eloquent I'd write a story for This American Life. I can hear Ira Glass in my head saying something profound about the moments in life that we choose to capture and yet are so fleeting that we can leave them behind at the Bartell's.

Super Saturday

With no plans and no real errands to run I spent my Saturday puttering around the house. I finished five loads of laundry -- ooh sexy. Ironed work shirts and then attacked the pile of donation clothes.

I wanted to have realistic counts for my donation this time. It will help when doing next years taxes. I'm disgusted by how many items are going away. I filled NINE bags with the following items:

Coats: 6
Pants: 9
T-shirts: 33
Work Tops: 29
Sweaters: 14
Suit Jackets: 5
Shorts: 7
Casual Tops: 11
Skirts: 10
Dresses: 6

Perhaps I have a t-shirt procurement problem. I've noticed that they are stacking up again in the current lower size. They do get a lot of use, after work, Saturdays and as part of the sleepwear collection.

My other task for the day was to find my February bus pass. I'm pretty sure I threw it away and I spent the greater part of an hour going through all the paper work in my office and through the recycling pile. It is gone. I'm a dork. How nice to lose it before the month even started. (I noticed that I didn't have it Friday morning.)

I also wanted to set up my wireless router today, but that too is in a state of mess. Maybe I'm not as technically savvy as I think I am. I think I have to call comcast to get some more information about my i.p. settings. Oh why isn't there a nerdy man in my life who would trade a roll in the hay for technical services?

Nice imagery.

TP's Political Corner

Giuliani--- Out. As I predicted!  Go McCain!  (I'm very democrat, but for some reason McCain doesn't scare the daylights out of me like the rest of them.)

Edwards--- Out.  That's too bad, he strikes me as a decent human being.  Too bad you have to be dynamic to be Prez.

This whole primary season reminds me of how they gave out the scholarship monies the year I graduated from high school.  Instead of giving enough to one kid to actually go to college they divided it up into $500 chunks for everybody.    At the end of the day there was no clear winner.  (I'm super bad at analogies by the way.)  This election season feels like that - we're going to let everyone - even that Lash La Rue dude get a small sample of victory.  Then at the convention, we'll elect someone whom nobody likes (see John Kerry.)  It's called our "piss away a sure thing" strategy.

Movie Review: 27 Dresses

Looking around the theater I counted a grand total of zero men in attendance for this little movie about a gal who is a perpetual bride's maid, and then ends up planning her sister's wedding to the man she thinks she loves. Then it occurred to me that the only men in America who would willingly see this movie are either a) gay and in love with James Marsden or b) madly in love with a woman and trying to appear 'sensitive.'

Honestly, even I didn't really have an overwhelming desire to see this one, but my friend did and since I never get to see her I figured, what the heck.

Turns out that 27 Dresses wasn't so bad. Judy Greer is as always funny. Katherine H. holds her own in the romantic comedy genre, and there were some very funny lines with excellent delivery. All in all I give it a solid B. I suggest that you either pay-per-view it, or wait for HBO.

One last thing and then I'll stop

So, remember way back when in December and one of my minions (minion 1.0 to be exact) was laid off?

The company did do a decent thing and has kept M1.0 on the books through January. This would allow a person to collect any bonus for an almost years worth of work well done.

So, today, I'm working away at M1.0s job and I get an e-mail from "H.R. Recognition" telling me that I have an employee with a 5 year service anniversary coming up and that I have to celebrate it. They suggest decorating their office space, having a potluck, or holding a celebratory team meeting where we honor the employee.

Who is the employee? M1.0.

I think it would be in extremely poor taste to decorate the empty cube and hold a pot luck, don't you.

Lunch with an old friend

I had lunch this week with a former colleague who left MegaBank four years ago for a more exciting world.... insurance. (woo woo)

We had fun catching up, talking about the crazy book he's reading and then politics. We were about ten minutes in and it occurred to me... "this guy is a Republican!" How did I never know that? Perhaps I am so clueless and self-absorbed and can only see what I want to see.

He's a smart guy (calm down there trigger, I'm not suggesting Reps. are dumb - just your idiot king) and we had fun debating the merits and horrid ideas of some the current candidates.

We both agree that Guiliani is not a contender. His strategy of wait 'til Florida won't work.

Mister Insurance is actually a fan of Ron Paul - who I hate to admit I've not really heard much about. Ron Paul, wasn't he the drag queen that MAC make up company used in the 80's? (tee hee)

I shouldn't be allowed to vote - I am grossly under informed.

Shake it off...

The June & tp gal photo cracks me up, but I can see where it might be a tiny bit frightening so here's something cute to bring you back:

Silly Girls

The photo booth camera on the iMac is a dangerous toy...

I would argue that both June & I are attractive people, but iMac makes it easy to see that we are also a little bit odd.

I'm still a liar

Confession time:

I have lied about my weight on my drivers license since day one. Over the years I have under reported my weight in increments of 20, 40 and as much as 50 pounds.

While dressing this morning it occurred to me that I might actually be within 10 pounds one way or the other of my reported weight. So, I stomped out to the dining room in my one sock to grab my wallet. 10 pounds? Nope, I am over (under?) 40 pounds lighter than my posted weight.

Tee Hee

Maybe for my birthday (40!!!!) this year I'll get new license and report my weight accurately. Although, going to the dmv doesn't sound like a fun birthday activity.

I Heart Tax Prep!

I have been waiting all year long to do my 2007 taxes. (um, hasn't everyone?) I am so ready for this years tax season!

I love the sales tax itemization rule for Washingtonians and have saved every sales receipt with more than $1.00 of sales tax. I have spend countless hours logging them into a spreadsheet. It is a little depressing to think that I actually spent that much money on "stuff" but I did, and my efforts resulted an almost double deduction amount than the estimated deduction.

Paying cash for my surgery wasn't fun, but it does come in handy with the medical deduction portion of the taxes. I'll be honest and only deduct the amount I actually paid, not the bill they sent me which was $27,000 MORE. That would be wrong, and based on this huge refund I fully expect to get audited. So no funny business, I even entered the $3.56 in interest income from my small online savings account

The other coup of the century is Turbo-Taxe's "itemizeIT" feature where you enter in the items you donated to GoodWill (or where ever) and they assign the value. On my own, I over estimated the value of some items and totally valued books and clothes. CLOTHES!? Yes my friends, thanks to "itemizeIt" I am getting to deduct almost $800 in clothing due to my shrinkage.

The super SA-WEET refund will end up being about 10k! Sorry to talk openly about dinero - but damn - that's awesome! Check back with me in a year where I'll be crying over my sad little $1k refund. But for now let's debate what should be done with it?

Dreams:
Down payment on a super hot car
A night of bliss with Marco the Italian Male Prostitute
Custom flame paint job for the jetta

Reality:
Apply the refund to my surgery finance fund

Reality is so not a sexy car, or a sexy man-for-hire. Reality is responsibility.... snooze.

Oh gosh, I'm Board

My big mouth got elected to the board of my condominium association. As the secretary I am the lucky person who gets to record the meetings, sign the financial documents and make signs.

I'm also copied on all manner of exciting news and information. Today my mailbox is buzzing with the scary encounter with coyotes by J-154. She has little dogs, so is concerned about their safety.

We got word that I-233 will be going on vacation so their car won't be moving during their two week sojourn. I slept better last night with that information.

We're about to fine a couple of our neighbors for not parking any of their cars in their garages. I say, fine the coyotes for not being on a leash!

Revenue!!!!

sad & disturbing

Reading the paper online tonight and I see that actor Heath Ledger was found dead today.

Sad sad sad.

I know, I just spent an entire post ranting about the dang media who seem to be focused on the wrong story. For the record, I think the murdered marine is news, but my point was that the media is under reporting the other deaths.

Not to suggest that I am at all jaded or bitter, but I think for sure the death of a young, cute, talented Hollywood actor will push the marine off the front page for a while at least. Mr. Ledger certainly didn't have that... well... that Anna Nicole thing that the world finds so interesting, you know, like a train wreck, but he had actual talent.

Wii

OK, we're back to our regularly scheduled topics, me, things irrelevant and nonsense.

I'm in Portland this weekend with June, Hajii and the kids, Ab is 10, Lew is 2 and it's a madhouse here. In a very good way. Lew is cute, he has a few words, mostly, hello (strung together in threes "helloHellloHello") and "uh-oh" he communicates very well with pointing, grunts and looking at the item that he needs.

June and I contributed to the economy yesterday. We found shoes, which every girl NEEDS and fun jewelry. I also picked up a dress for the next 60's retro cocktail party I attend. It is HOT! I can't wait to wear it.

We've been playing Wii as well. It turns out... I'm not so good at Tennis. I can hold my own in bowling, but on the grass courts I look like I'm swatting flies. Ab finds it hilarious.

I've got tomorrow off, and my lunch data cancelled so I've got no pressure for the drive home, so it should be a nice drive. I may hit the outlet mall in Chehalis and pick up some outlet underwear. (do you care?? nope, didn't think so.)

it's my Wii turn, so I gotta go!

1 vs. 100 - I mean 3850

CNN is ablaze with info about the beautiful, pregnant dead Marine who was likely murdered.  It certainly has the trifecta of media worthiness, Attractive, White, Pregnant woman who (BONUS) is a Marine goes missing and is later found dead.    This story is tragic, to be sure and my heart genuinely goes out to her family, friends and colleagues. 

However, I'm disgusted at the media (and the publics) willingness to quietly ignore the other dead Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard and Marine casualties that are taking place on a daily basis.  To date (according to www.globalsecurity.org) 3850 US deaths have been attributed to the Iraq war, and an astounding 28,773 men and women have been wounded.  Is their pain and suffering any less newsworthy than the senseless murder of this beautiful, pregnant woman? 

I think not.

Yes, there are stories every day about the war, but for the majority of us it doesn't affect our daily lives so it's easy to focus on stuff that seriously doesn't matter.  My crazy weight loss journey, the writer's strike, the cancellation (gasp) of the Golden Globes to name a few things that in the course of our world have little impact.  (My wlj is important to me, and don't think you're getting any kind of reprieve from having to hear about it…)

Frankly, I also worry about our idiot man-child president and his big flabbing mouth getting us into more hot water in the gulf region before we can replace him with ANYONE that will be less of a danger to our nation or the entire globe at large.

Sigh.. I'm off my soap box.  ( A quick shout out to the NSA… hi fellas!  I'll be out of town this weekend so you don't have to set up the wiretaps on my phone until Monday - enjoy your weekend.)

I love a new book

I finished my book group book last night and started the one listed on my blog today (Eat, Drink, Pray.

I love a book that grabs you right away! Everyone is reading this one, it's everywhere and I hope it lives up to the hype.

The last book I saw that was EVERYWHERE was the Million Little Pieces book, and well - that didn't end up working out so well.

In other, SUPER EXCITING news -- they had oatmeal in the cafeteria this moring. I loves me some oatmeal! Super yummy.