Procrastination CENTRAL

I have located procrastination central...it is in my room, in the silence sitting in my bed. The books that I intend to read tonight are scattered about, some of which need to be read before I can go to my first meeting tomorrow. But am I reading them, for some reason no. I think this is the behavior that drove my mother crazy all through my high school years...either sitting around, or completely wasting time until I am up against the wire.

I had myself convinced this behavior was gone, but alas it has returned. Hmm, maybe I should paint my nails, or read some e-mails, talk on the phone...oh my goodness WHERE DID THE LAST 2 HOURS GO?!?!?

Spring has NOT Sprung!!!

Every now and then I think it would be a good idea to have a TV in my room. This seems like a good idea when it's cold and rainy and I want to watch a movie and a really bad idea when I know that I would stay up far too late watching Law & Order re-runs I'd already seen 15 times. Yes I do that!

But today a TV would have been super helpful...in my morning rush I could have turned it on to either the news or the weather channel and I would have walked out the door with a coat on in mid-January. I know it sounds crazy but it was 45degrees outside yesterday and I was all excited that spring had sprung and nevermind the calendar. Well I stepped outside and spring had definately not sprung, in fact it was snowing...but oh well off I go, down the block to my car. At this point it seemed like a good idea to turn around, but I was late. So I drove to work, about half way there I realized how dumb this was, it's 30 degrees outside and snowing and I left my coat at home. Hmm, wow, smart one, Einstein! By the time I walked from my parking spot in Siberia to the office I was contimplating going and purchasing a coat at lunch...so basically the moral of the story is...I haven't found one yet, but I'm COLD!

Welcome to Monday 2010

I couldn't quite keep this Monday morning to myself...so I thought I'd share it with all of you! So I've been away from the office, working from home and taking vacation for the last 3 weeks, so it was a little bit harder than usual to get up this morning. I was running late but, come on what's new.

So there is this little cut through street on the way to work, and I guess the speed limit is 25, I'll pay closer attention to that in the future. But it's a 4 lane road so I don't really think that's the correct speed limit. Well either way, I looked down and realized I was going about 35 and was completely oblivious, stopped at a red light and realized there was a cop behind me...bugger. The light turned green, I turned into my own lane and the lights came on. I had one of those, ok I deserve this feelings. This is of course new to me, generally when I get pulled over I have the oh crud, how can I get out of this I hate tickets feeling. But today it was I deserve this...

He walked up to my window and asked for my liscence and insurance. I handed him my license and told him I would grab the insurance it was my dad's car. Dad, if you are reading this, your insurance card is expired. I found 2 insurance cards, the most recent of which expired in December...double bugger...I handed it to him and said I was sorry, he said no big deal it's close enough. And then asked me if I knew the speed limit...hmm, I think it's 30. No actually it's 25 and you were clocked going 48...my response was literal shock...how in the world...I blame the supercharger-lead foot combo! He asked if my address was current, now I know I'm suppose to say yes, but that is a lie...and I said no, well it's the address of where the car is registered but not where I currently live. I think I have him seriously confused at this point. He walks away, gets about half way to his car and walks back...where do you live? So of course, I tell him and he gives me the best option I've heard all morning...he can write me a speeding ticket or a minor ticket that he compares to a parking ticket and doesn't go on my record for not changing my address...what do I choose? Seriously I'm being given a choice, that's insane! The lesser offence please officer. And so it is...and that is how my speeding ticket turned into a $25 "parking ticket"!

Big D Delusional

So as anyone reading this probably knows I had foot surgery on Monday...a lovely cut the bone, screw it back together and move the cartilage type of foot surgery. So from that description any normal person would understand that it would hurt, and probably quite a lot.

Well I went into this with a great deal of optimism, I'll be fine, this will be painless and I'll be up and back to normal life within a week. WRONG! I'm getting along ok, but let me tell you, walking is not exactly a walk in the park and what I now fondly refer to as the scoot up the stairs is near disaster. But why did I think this was going to be pain free...hmm, not really sure. And is it better to think that something is going to be painless and go forward with enthusiasm or live your life always anticipating pain and waiting for the other shoe to drop. And if you move forward with the first, are you delusional thinking that life won't hurt and things will turn out for the best? Probably...but wouldn't you rather hope for the best than spend your life waiting for the worst? I think I would, so call me delusional if you wish, I like it this way!

Worth every CALORIE - and then SOME!!!

It was one of those days, year end reviews, the last day in the office for a little while and just general craziness, one of those moments when you just want to pack up and head home.

The words do you want a cupcake came from the next office over and after a bit of contemplation the day was turned around...SWIRLZ to the rescue!!!

This cupcake was insane, a fantastic chocolate cupcake, with a chocolate coating on the top, topped again with a swirl of vanilla buttercream icing and chocolate buttercream icing and a white and dark chocolate candy. This was a dream in cupcake form...oh my gosh...worth every calorie and then some!!!! Ahhhh!!!!

So if you want an insane and amazing cupcake go to SWIRLZ in Chicago - so GOOD!!!

Kick it REAL GOOD!!!!

Everyone that lives in Chicago or has heard the news knows that we all love the parking meters and the bureaucracy that goes with them. So you would think with all of the thought and revenue planning that went into the implementation of the new meters that cost as much as $3.50 per hour they would be able to sustain the chilly temperatures that often hit Chicago and surrounding areas...or NOT! Now don't take this the wrong way I'm not complaining, I don't like paying these slow overpriced green boxes, but come on, if they don't work in the winter how much revenue are they even going to produce?

I tried to pay my meter this morning, I inserted my credit card, and received no response...hmm, maybe the strip is dirty, let's try another...no response. This meter was clearly not going to work, so I walked across the street to another pay box to find a man fumbling with a frozen meter. This meter had accepted his card and charged the maximum amount, which on this meter was $4.00...the only problem was the buttons that must be pushed to print the necessary receipt to prove that you paid were frozen. This poor guy, who was also frozen, was pummeling the buttons, muttering under his breathe at the dumb green box. After a short time of my observation, who knows how long he had been there, the kicking ensued...if you can't push the button hard enough perhaps you can kick the button hard enough...NOPE! And you can be sure I wasn't sticking around in +3 degrees to find out how that one ended...

The Chicago parking meters are ridiculous, frozen and nonfunctional in the winter and so slow in the summer that you could be mugged and killed before the receipt prints....argh!

Cat as Comedian

A great day turned into one of those crazy nights...when I got home from small group just after 10 I came to the very real conclusion that the lock on our door was frozen and I had no chance of getting into the house...no good, Rachel to the rescue, my wonderful roommate though slightly sleepy and confused gladly let me in and all was well...but God knew that I was tired, had a headache and just really needed a laugh so...while I was getting ready for bed he provided one!

I was standing at my sink getting ready to brush my teeth and Therman, Rachel's cat, who loves me dearly was standing on my toilet trying to get as close as possible. He was stretching and reaching and trying desperately to get me to pet him or something like that. Well in the process of this he somehow lost his balance, and fell in the TOILET! I swear I didn't push him, his back little legs just slipped in. He stood there looking up at me, with those sweet little eyes, partly confused partly begging for help. So of course I quickly removed the cat from the toilet and he proceeded to spread toilet water all over my bathroom floor...which is kinda sick...so I figured I should probably wash the cat, and then I thought maybe he'd just dry...and then I remembered, Therman sleeps in Rachel's bed, and no way would I want toilet water in my bed...thus started the journey that was washing the cat! I tried dipping his feet under running water but he was having none of that, on to plan B. I covered my hands with soap and rubbed it all over his wet little feet and legs, and then carefully dipped his legs into a sink full of water. Surprisingly this didn't bother him too much...if you ignore the fact that he spent the next 10 minutes or so licking his feet.

And what did I learn you may ask...I guess I don't really believe that toilet water is as clean as they say it is or I wouldn't have bothered washing the cat...hold on, I think the cat drinks from the toilet...I may have just wasted 30 minutes!