Friday Fragments

The post that is one of my favorites occurs every Friday. I get to sit down and pull together all those random scraps of paper, voice-recordings (I love smart phones) and virtual post-it notes together for Friday Fragments! Head over to Mrs. 4444's blog Half Past Kissin' Time to get all the fun facts about this Friday blogging fun! :) She will love to have you (assuming you're willing to abide by very simple guidelines :) and I can say with full confidence that Mrs. 4444's is a remarkable woman. She's awesome. Period.

• I tend to 'call out' specific cars by their given name when they do something especially dangerous or irritating. For instance today it was: "Watch it Corrrolla." and "The gas is on the right Keea." (Clarification: The misspelling of the car names is intentional.) I feel that by calling them by their given name my anger is directed at someone versus the something they were doing badly.

• I am having severe sciatic nerve issues. It's really been bothering me for the last two weeks and even a trip to the creepy chiropractor didn't help! It runs from my butt all the way to my right foot...trust me when I say, it's uncomfortable and painful.

• Have I ever mentioned why I think the chiropractor I see is creepy? If not, it deserves a whole post. There are way too many reasons he falls into the creepy category to list in a Friday Fragments post.

• It's hard for me to even type this next sentence. I've struggled since "the incident" on whether or not to blog about it at all or keep it as my own (and Mr. Ski's) secret. But here goes...I plucked my very first chin hair while we were vacationing in Green Bay. Oh my gosh it was terrible. I discovered it while scratching my jaw and was a little confused. Like, what is this? It's not attached! IT'S ATTACHED. I promptly tweezed it but considering it's length I am afraid to know how long it had been there. I was traumatized that night...in a daze. I told Mr. Ski thinking he'd laugh but hoping he'd be comforting and he said..."So." Oh yeah, having chin hair is not a problem for YOU, he even encourages chin hair growth! And the female takes the short straw once again. Grr. Now I can't stop obsessing over it's regrowth. I feel my chin daily...waiting for it's return and it's removal. I will say that this is one of those times I'm grateful to have some natural blonde hair.

Wow...see that's why I stressed over blogging about it, I obviously am having serious issues with this whole getting older business. I have acne like a 13 year old and now chin hair. Great.

On a positive note....I'm super glad I get to spend the weekend with my love. :) He never fails to make me smile and frankly, that's nice to look forward to. I hope your weekend is splendid as well.

My blood pressure will thank me.

I have made an EFBD (executive Facebook decision). I will no longer participate, engage or begin any conversations regarding politics for the following reasons:

1. Unless you're friends with politicians and are certain that they read and take heed to your Facebook statuses then all you are doing by declaring your distaste or writing fictitious notes (for example: Dear Congress...) is exciting others who do read your Facebook statuses either to agree or disagree with you. In whole, it is totally worthless to declare these things. Instead, pick up the phone and call your state's representative, congressman or senator this will ensure that what you are thinking will actually make it to the person who can illicit change (or at least try).

2. Clone statuses* about such items are unoriginal and unimaginative. They only show that you are not as passionate as you think you are because you were unable put your own thoughts and feelings into your own words. Plus, as soon as I read 're-post if you agree' you've lost me because how do I know that is really how you feel and not just something you saw others posting and felt obligated to follow suit.

3. Arguing on the internet is stupid. If you want to argue with me please call so we can really have a discussion. Otherwise, don't argue with me.

4. My cardiologist recommended that I not expose myself to unnecessary stress and discussing politics on Facebook is just that, unnecessary stress.

So here's the bottom line: You can't change my mind. I can't change yours. Your opinion is just that...yours. And applying that logic my opinions are solely mine. Therefore, I choose to refrain from these discussions from this point forward. I feel better already!


*Clone statuses-not really the name, I don't guess these particular statuses have a name at all, but this is a name that I have given statuses that tend to be very well written about various items (most recently the debt ceiling crisis) by one person and then copied by thousands with the phrase "Repost if you agree" at the bottom. Grr. (that Grr. was just for you Dad! :)

Facts and Figures

10 - The number of months it has been since I quit smoking.
303 - The number of days without smoking.
$757.50 - The amount of money I have saved since quitting.
12 - The number of days I have gotten back.
3,030 - The number of cigarettes I haven't smoked since quitting.

Overall, it hasn't been easy but it's definitely been worth the struggle. I know that some are able to casually smoke after they quit but I don't think I'd ever be able to be a 'casual' smoker. I loved smoking, I didn't want to quit but knew it was in my best interest to quit, so I know that if I tried 'just one' it would quickly turn into me smoking full time again. I miss it but know this is for the best. It's funny because once you quit smoking your sense of smell improves...great, better to smell cigarettes with, because I'm not kidding when I say I can smell someone smoking as they pass me on the interstate! That's one benefit I could do without! Thank you for all of the encouragement and support you've given me over the last 10 months, it helped me greatly!

Have you experienced any changes in your appetite?

I had an appointment with my cardiologist this morning where I received a good report. (yay!)

My least favorite part of going to the doctor is the obligatory weigh in. I knew that I had gained a few pounds prior to our vacation but had lost them during the vacation because I had weighed in at our uncle's house in Green Bay. We weren't following a strict diet while traveling so I assumed I'd maybe gained back a pound or two, maybe.

Um, yeah, now I just wish it had been a pound or two. I gained SIX pounds in seven days. How is that even possible?! I'm really hoping one of the scales is wrong OR that the clothes I'm wearing today weigh in around five and a half pounds. (I can hope...)

In reality though, it's probably the delicious pancakes with copious amounts of syrup I consumed for breakfast two days in a row OR the fried ice cream I shared with Mr. Ski after eating ridiculously good Mexican food OR the ice cream followed by the iced cookie eaten on the drive home OR the....I'm stopping now, as continuing to list all the 'bad for me' foods I've eaten recently is depressing.

I've had trouble feeling full lately. So I continue to eat until I abruptly throw down my fork and then I feel way too full, much like a puppy who gobbles up his dinner and then falls on his side with a swollen belly for a nap.

I now see that I cannot just fly by the seat of my pants when it comes to eating...I will, most always, over eat. I was hoping that after a while I wouldn't need to count calories and would just know how to eat to maintain a healthy weight but after this little big weight gain, I'm thinking I'll always have to keep count.

So in response to the question "Have you experienced any changes in your appetite?" Apparently so.

'Mrs. Fours' score and seven days ago...

Mr. Ski and I recently returned from nine days of traveling. It was spectacular!

Our itinerary included Chicago, Green Bay, and the Wisconsin Dells.

We walked a lot, saw a lot, talked a lot, laughed a lot, drove a lot and in general just enjoyed spending time together...a lot.

There were several 'favorite' moments from this trip, many of which will be blogged about later...ideally.

One of my favorite moments was getting to meet one of my most favorite bloggers. You all may know her as the mother of Friday Fragments, Mrs. 4444, I now know her 'in real life' and claim her not only as a great friend but also as my fourth sister.

You see...I was so excited about meeting Mrs. 4444 (just ask Mr. Ski, I wouldn't shut up about it!) and a teeny bit nervous. Not because I thought she would stuff me in her trunk or anything but because I was worried we wouldn't have much in common aside from me being one of her biggest fans. She's a big time blogger, folks, and hangs out with much bigger bloggers than little ol' I only blog once a month (if that) me. I was so wrong and was so pleasantly surprised at all that we had in common. All my nervousness was for nothing and actually I feel a little silly now that I was nervous at all. As soon as we sat down in the booth and I asked my first generic (but genuine) question (it was about summer school) we were off and talked for a solid three and a half hours!

The similarities between us were remarkable. I can't even tell you how many times I said..."that is so me" either out loud or in my head. I can tell you though that I like her even more now (if that's possible) than before. She's so incredibly beautiful, kind, wise and hilarious. She's an amazing wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, teacher and an all around wonderful woman. I am certain that if time would have allowed we would have continued talking for much longer, I feel like I have known her forever and hopefully I will.

Thank you Mrs. 4444 for meeting me, it was so good great to connect with you. And it is something that I cherish and will never forget. I'm already looking forward to seeing you this fall! :)

How not to kill a wasp.

The majority of my morning at work was spent battling with a wasp.

He was big, and looked mean. I hid out in my office as much as I could, keeping an eye on him through the glass but knew I'd eventually have to kill that wasp.

The first tactic I used against him was a rolled up magazine. Fail. Either it was to small or my arms are too short because that magazine just wasn't reaching.

Next up was the 1.5 inch three ring binder. Fail. I think all I did was show him what a nice, strong breeze felt like.

Then came the 3 inch three ring binder. Almost, but no, therefore a fail. I had originally intended to smoosh him with the spine of the binder, which I was able to accomplish twice (based on the crunch) but that little booger survived both smooshing attempts.

So, I went back to the smaller binder. By this point this wasp is pissed. And as I'm standing there trying to get up my courage to make yet another attempt at taking this wasp's life...he charges at me. Yes, you read that correctly...he. charged. at. me.
I started flailing the binder all around me (eyes closed, of course) in an attempt to hit him but instead tripped over my own feet and fell hard on my right wrist and butt. Then, because I have the weirdest emotions EVER, I started to laugh uncontrollably. So loud that my coworker came out of her office down the hall to assure I was ok. I assured her that I was fine, just embarrassed that a wasp was giving me so much trouble.

Finally, she saved the day. She took her shoe and climbed up on a chair and gave that wasp what I had been attempting to give him for the past half hour...death. Success!

Friday Fragments!

It's finally Friday and time for my most favorite Friday blogging topic...Friday Fragments! If you're interested in seeing what all this fragtastic fun is all about head over to Mrs. 4444's blog. She's not only the creator of this bloggy gem but also an incredible human being!

*There was a dove sitting on our roof when I got home today. There was, however, no sign of an olive branch. I thought those two were a package deal.

*I had to give out several 'you're an idiot' head shakes this week during the commute. People were all about driving like they just didn't want to get to their destination alive.

*For the most part, summer is not my favorite season (hot temperatures and I do not get along, just ask Mr. Ski). But I am grateful for the extra light in the evenings. For instance, tonight it will allow Mr. Ski and I to go play a round of disc golf before sunset. Yay!

*The very hungry dinner guest that I blogged about in this post came through town again last weekend. In preparation for his visit I made a dish that is known to feed multiple (try 8-10) people except this time it only fed three people. THREE. Neither Mr. Ski nor myself ate more than usual so that means he ate enough for at least six people maybe seven. Shew.

*Mr. Ski is my workout buddy and we usually do all of our strength training at the gym. Usually I'm not sore at all after these strength training sessions Mr. Ski coaches me through. I even cockily thought to myself 'these aren't so bad, I don't even get sore.' Of course I didn't tell him that, it's not like I'm upset that I'm not sore and I certainly don't want to encourage him to make it more challenging. All of this was applicable until this past Wednesday, he must have read my mind because after that session my legs are still sore and I'm walking like I just climbed down from a three day horseback trek.
Note to self: no more complaining about lack of soreness, apparently once you reach the four year marriage mark he knows how you think.

*Finally, I hope everyone has a fun and safe Fourth of July. Happy Independence Day, ya'll! :)



-This photo was taken by me in Savannah, GA on July 4, 2008. I took it with the flag flying in this direction for the following reason:
"Some wonder why our soldiers wear the flag 'backwards' on their right shoulders. Here's why...As the flag bearer would charge with Infantry and Calvary units his rapid forward momentum would cause the flag to stream back. If a soldier is charging into battle the flag would give the appearance of forward motion. This is why our soldiers wear the flag patches on the right shoulder 'backward.' Because retreat in battle, as any soldier will tell you, is not the Army way." -Snopes

May we never forget those who have protected us and those who continue to protect us.