Whew!

I have had a busy week. One of those in which I start by leaving the house around 7 AM and don't get home to stay until around 9 PM at night. I know for most people who have a 'decent' commute, leaving before 7AM is normal but I live exactly ONE MILE from my business.

So... I kind of consider it a pain. And it's definitely different from my life in Chicago and even my life here in Monroe when the earliest I ever had to be at work was 8AM to open.

Again, with a ONE MILE commute.

And my job requires driving, ALOT of driving... I don't mind that aspect so much. Or at least not as much as I mind how much it's costing me to drive. But there are enough rants out there about gas prices.

So I'm a little tired. But sooooo energized. I am feeling great about my job here and I love what I'm doing. Also, a part of my job is to be involved in the community through activities which help educate the public about our business.

I love it.

I'm a joiner, I always have been, and I like having an impact and making things better for those that come behind me. My family was teasing me last night about how it never makes a difference. And while I kept my mouth shut (for once), I definitely was silently disagreeing, thinking it's people like you who don't make a difference and why things never change. Three college educated and hard working people who refuse to get involved because "nothing will ever change" is a sad statement to me. Hence, my quote of the day:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

While it is an over used quote, I love it and I think it says completely how I feel as I sat with my family last night around the table. History proves them wrong and I know I, along with other motivated individuals, can make a difference.

**************************************************************************************

On a more personal note, the guy who I'd been seeing (?4 dates?) quit calling me. He went out of town last Thursday and I haven't spoken with him since. I'm assuming since he was the guy that called me 8 times (!!!) in one day that he's no longer interested.

Which is FINE. Honestly, it is... but is it too much to expect that a 38 year old man could...

1. Tell me that he's not interested

2. Return/Answer my call

3. Act like a decent human being

4. Develop a sense of decency

I get that he's just not that into me, to be honest, I wasn't that into him but I was willing to see where it would go and/or just have fun. But if, at any time, I had decided it wasn't for me. I would have had the BALLS to call it off with explaination.

Good thing, there are more fish in the sea!

the perfect girlfriend

I love this! I am printing it out and saving it and using it!!! I'm a girl and I find this great. If relationships were ONLY this clear!!!

I wish I could take credit but obviously I'm not this talented. This writer is Jon Wilde, he works for some publication called Maxim, you might have heard of it...

I, [print your name here] (heretofore referred to as “The Lady”), being of sound mind, have entered into a relationship with [print guy’s name here] (heretofore referred to as “The Man”).

By signing below, I hereby agree to abide by all the rules as set out within this contract in perpetuity.

Clause 1: Dates
A. The Lady will eat more than a side salad.

B. The Man will not be expected to plan every date. He will be chivalrous, but he will not be the cruise director of the relationship.

C. If The Lady would like to attend an event that she knows The Man will despise, she is advised to do so with other people (See Clause 5: Extra-Curricular Activities). However, should she deem a night at the ballet, opera, or foreign movie house to be a necessity within the scope of the relationship, she should make plans (transportation, tickets, etc.) for this evening herself.

By accepting this Lady-partisan date, The Man will be guaranteed one (1) date on which both parties participate in an activity of his choice—including, but not limited to: Attending an athletic event, watching a martial-arts movie, or going out for a large BBQ dinner.

Clause 2: Dialogue
A. The Lady will never discuss an ex-boyfriend.
Rule 2-A above may be broken if The Lady mentions a deep and abiding flaw in the ex-boyfriend, while also discussing ways in which The Man betters said ex.

B. If The Lady wants something or wants to know something, she will ask. There will be no hints or guessing games.

C. Any cute nicknames that The Lady has devised for The Man will never be spoken in public. See Clause 6, Section a, Subsection 3 for explanation.

Furthermore, The Lady may not devise any nickname that includes a diminutive or that is spoken in baby-voice (e.g., “Little John” or “Snuggle Bear”).

Clause 3: The Bedroom

A. During moments of physicality, The Lady will voice her wishes so that The Man knows how best to make her enjoy the experience. This is expected not only for her sake, but for his. The Man is a prideful being. He wants to know he can do everything right.

B. The Man reserves the right to his favorite side of the bed at all times, no exceptions. He may permit The Lady to rest on his chosen side if he wishes, but should he find himself tossing and turning at 3 a.m., it is his right to reclaim said side with no ill will from The Lady.

Clause 4: Family

A. The Lady will not ask The Man to meet her family until at least one month of dating has been completed.

B. Upon meeting The Man’s mother, The Lady will try to learn as many of Mother Man’s recipes as possible. And yes, The Man likes his chicken that dry.

Clause 5: Extracurricular Activities

A. The Man will be guaranteed at least one Guys’ Night per week, chosen at his discretion. He will also retain at least two extra “floating” Guys’ Nights per month in case of an important sporting event or should an impromptu post-work visit to the bar arise.

B. The Lady can never be angry with a man for attending Guys’ Night.

C. The Lady will not call The Man more than once per Guys’ Night.

D. The Lady is encouraged to go out with her own friends as a means for keeping her independence and sense of self. However, there are ground rules for these engagements:
1. She will not ask The Man to attend any event on the day of a televised athletic match, any event that involves the phrase “pot luck,” or any event that celebrates the birth of a child, impending or otherwise.
2. She will not expect The Man to attend a gathering solely because the boyfriend/husband of The Lady’s Friend will also be in attendance. Misery does not make good company.
3. No. Ex-Boyfriends. Ever.

Clause 6: Love
A. Should the two parties remain together long enough to reach Relationship Level: Serious, The Man understands that he will, at some point, be called upon to vocally express his appreciation of The Lady in the strongest method possible. When the time comes, the following rules shall govern the use of Those Three Words Which Shall Not Yet Be Spoken.

1. The Lady will be the first party to speak the phrase. She will do so clearly and while making eye contact so that The Man knows it is he who is being spoken to.
2. The Lady will allow the man at least five (5) minutes to respond in kind. This reprieve does not mean he doesn’t feel the same way, only that he is apt to be flustered, frightened, and suddenly stricken with cotton-mouth.
3. After the first time the Man arranges the words “I,” “you,” and “love” into a sentence, he will not be required to do so in response every time The Lady speaks the phrase. The Lady will also accept “Me, too,” “Ditto,” or a high-five in return.
4. The Lady will never speak the three-worded phrase when The Man is in the presence of either friends or co-workers. This is done out of respect for the mockery that is sure to result should he be forced to reciprocate while with said company.

By signing below, you agree to all rules as laid out in this contract, effectively guaranteeing that you will make The Man a truly happy person for the rest of his life, or until you realize that he is a loser who requires his girlfriends to sign legally binding documents.
______________________________Print your name ______________________________Signature ______________________________Date

Pink or Blue?

One of my best friends in the world is pregnant with her first child, I have a 6 month old nephew, one of my Vandy 8 is pregnant which is a first for the group, my childhood 'brother' and his wife are due on my birthday! I've got two showers this weekend and many more to come. All around me people are pregnant and the world seems to be full of glowing little mothers.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my nephew and I can't wait to see him next week. Yes, there will be pictures. I think they'll get here on Monday or Tuesday so I'll have some up before I leave for the coast.

Marianne is expecting a girl and I'm so excited for bows and braids, frilly dresses and little pink onesies! And of course, the right to corrupt the little tyke later with beaus and boas!

Here's a little poem I found to celebrate the life that's growing...

Ten fingers, Ten toes
She's laughter and teardrops
So small and brand new
And amazingly angelic
She's sent to bless you
She's one special Baby
The best of life's treasure
And will grant and bless you
Many hours of great pleasure.
- Author Unknown

RoadTrip!!!

Anyone that knows me knows that I enjoy a good roadtrip... I enjoy getting into the car and finding myself along the highway heading to the next great place. I get this from my parents who used to throw all of us in the backseat of our navy blue Volvo station wagon and head up to the north Georgia mountains for the fall apples or the low country of South Carolina or the Chatanoga Choo-Choo (I mean, how many other people do you know who have slept on that famous train?). I can jump in the car, put on some great music and keep myself happy for at least six hours.

In my almost (ahem! 21 days and counting!) 29 years, I've had the distinct privilage to visit several of our nation's most treasured monuments (Mt. Rushmore, Yosemite, etc.) and seen alot of the country. In fact I have been to all continuous 48 states - that's a piece of trivia for ya! I have lived in five states (GA, TN, CA, UT, IL and counting!) which also provided for several cross country trips. I take a different route each time I go somewhere in order to experience more of the country. I have some great pictures and some that just leave me confused... (where was I? who is that? what am I doing? what am I wearing? how much did I have to drink that night?)

I found out last week (thanks to MSN.com Travel articles) that I have missed several of the "MUST SEE" tourist attractions out there. They gave a list of 12 (some of which I have been too, The Hershey Museum is AWESOME!) but I've narrowed it down to my top three:

1. THE SPAM MUSEUM - the fact that people actually buy and then eat this product is more disgusting that I can even imagine. However, if there is one thing that I've learned in my life of retail and capitalism, it's that businesses don't stay in business if people don't buy the products. I actually am curious enough to make this a stop the next time I'm in Austin, Minnesota... the website is actually quite funny but beware, they are singing (yes, singing!!!) about spam.

2. The Vidalia Onion Museum - As my good friends know, I worship this perfect vegetable... if you sit down at my dinner table on any given night and twice on Sunday, somewhere in the menu, there will be Vidalia Onions. It is the perfect veggie and there isn't anything you can't do with them! Saute, fry, bake, grill... it's all good! I'm excited to report that the Vidalia Onion festival is going on next weekend when I will be in South Georgia so I will be in attendance (with my camera!). While I feel bad even putting it on the same list as the Spam Musuem (they aren't EVEN in the same category), I do have the same passion for seeing each site, just for COMPLETELY DIFFERENT reasons.

3. Dr. Pepper Museum - Another of the Lindsey classics, I adore a good DP! I have to give a salute to my friend, Ann Pampa and her greater commitment to his skinny sister, DDP as well. I don't know where they got the name, Dr. Pepper but this drink used to be called "Waco". I think I understand why they changed the name. I think another trip to Texas is necessary.

Well, that's it folks, the top 3 of totally random places that I will visit as soon as my life takes me near them.

Other weird/unique places that I have already been:
1. The Jelly Belly Factory
2. The original L.L. Bean store
3. The Okeefeenokee Swamp
4. Ben'n'Jerrys factory (on the ONLY day of the year they were NOT making ice cream!)
5. The Haunted Smith & Wesson Mansion


I actually highly recommend all the above... it's the random places like this that make our country interesting and what keeps me hitting the road time after time.

Ballade of the Bookworm

I'm an avid reader... I constantly have 3-4 books in rotation. Recently, I was given a book by my sister and she left a bookmark in it which had this poem on it. Enjoy!!

Ballade of the Bookworm

Far in the Past I peer, and see

A Child upon the Nursery floor,

A Child with books upon his knee,
Who asks, like Oliver, for more!

The number of his years is IV,

And yet in Letters hath he skill,

How deep he dives in Fairy-lore!

The Books I loved,

I love them still!

One gift the Fairies gave me:

(Three They commonly

Bestowed of yore)

The Love of Books, the Golden Key

That opens the Enchanted Door;

Behind it BLUEBEARD lurks,

And o'er and o'er

Doth JACK his Giants kill,

And there is all ALADDIN'S store,

The Books I loved

I love them still!

Take all, But leave my Books to me!

These heavy creeds of old we bore

We fill not now, nor wander free,

Nor wear the heart

That once we wore;

Not now eash River seems to pour

His waters from the Muses' hill;

Though something's gone

From stream and shore,

The Books I loved,

I love them still!

Horrible Taste

I have horrible taste in music... I love Britney Spears - I don't care how crazy she is; Miley Cyrus' new song makes me turn up my radio in my car; the fact that NKOTB is doing a reunion tour made my month! I fully admit it and recognize it.

But I refuse to apologize for it.

Plus everyonce in a while I redeem myself. I'll have a random Tom Waits or Ani DiFranco song playing and surprise my friends who think I have no taste.

So. there.

Variety is the spice of life.

Quote of the Day

"Unless you love someone, nothing else makes any sense. "

-E.E. Cummings (1894-1962)

Monday, Monday

I am having a Monday... I hate it waste in general and I really hate wasting my energy. So when I have a day when I spin my wheels and don't seem to accomplish anything or use my time wisely, well... it just pisses me off. Plus it leaves me knowing that I have so much more work to do the next day.

I like working, I don't mind working hard - I enjoy physical work as well. There is a certain satisfaction you get from working toward a goal when you achieve it. I enjoy that feeling.

I dislike busy work or repitition or tedious detail. However, a lot of our business deals with goverment contractors and private insurances... two of the world's worst paper-pushers. And, unfortunately, there are days in which I allow myself to get caught up in the cycle of paperwork instead of remaining focused on the bigger picture.

Even this post is being affected by my gloomy Monday mood... all I can think of is all the work I still don't have done... ugh. arg. yuck.

No reason to Reinvent the Wheel

“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful implanted in the human soul.” --Johann Wolfgang Goethe

I stole this off this blog, http://poem-of-the-week.blogspot.com/

I'm a total mooch... I'll be the first to admit that... I'm a generous person and have no problem sharing my food, toys, clothes, make-up, etc. (I do draw the line at my toothbrush) so if you have something on the internet that I want to use, I'll steal it in a heartbeat. Like I said, no reason to reinvent the wheel.

Rainy Night in Georgia

It's been a sleepy, rainy day in Georgia so I've had a tough time getting motivated all day long. It's looking to be a rainy night as well so I doubt I'm going to do much more than go home, change my clothes and curl up on the couch. The only stop I might make is somewhere to find myself a book that I haven't already read. I'm bored with my reading options at home. I have a short attention span so if I start a book and I'm not motivated to finish it right then, I have a hard time picking it back up again.



But I did get one of those tell me about yourself emails so I decided to post my answers here as well as in my return email....



Hope you enjoy it!

4 Things About Me:

4 jobs I have had in my life:
1. Camp Counselor
2. Ski School Agent
3. Lifeguard
4. Sales Representative

4 movies I've watched more than once:
1. Indian Summer
2. Almost Famous
3. Aspen Extreme
4. Braveheart

4 places I have lived in my life:
1. Monroe, GA
2. Nashville, TN
3. Salt Lake City, UT
4. Chicago, IL

4 TV Shows I watch:
1. Criminal Minds
2. Mad Money
3. Road Rules/Real World Challenges (I know but it's an addiction)
4. Grey's Anatomy

4 places I have been:
1. Virgin Islands
2. New Zealand
3. Cancun
4. Puerto Rico

People who e-mail me regularly:
1. My Vandy 8
2. My sister, Leah
3. Snapfish
4. My friend, Marianne

4 of my favorite foods:
1. Mexican
2. Birthday Cake
3. Fresh Seafood
4. French Fries

4 places I would rather be:
1. On a warm sunny beach
2. In bed
3. In my own home
4. France (with a certain Wineboy)

4 things I am looking forward to this year:
1. Buying my first home
2. Moving the into the new store
3. Starting Grad School
4. Creating a new life for myself

Here are things that I believe...

I believe everyone needs an ice cream cone on the first really hot day of spring.
I believe in being selfish every once in a while.
I believe in the simple pleasure of a PB&J.
I believe there are people who you love and there are people who love you but sometimes, they aren't the same people.
I believe a rainy afternoon on the couch with a good book is the perfect way to spend the day.
I believe a long soak in a hot bath can cure almost anything.
I believe in laughing until I cry. And crying until I laugh.
I believe there is nothing more fun than making out with some one for hours.
I believe in being a good citizen, whether you're an individual or a corporation.
I believe dancing with your friends is the most fun you can have.
I believe there is a little bit of good in every bad person and a little bit of evil in every good person.
I believe we're all too hard upon ourselves.
I believe that a good friend, a bottle of wine and the ability to say whatever comes to mind is what cures a broken heart.
I believe I shouldn't be held responsible for anything I did or said over five years ago.
I believe in working hard and playing harder.
I believe there is something or someone out there looking out for all of us.