Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Better than expected is good.

Wow, I had a job interview today for a Customer Serivce / Inside Sales job that I had serious reservations about beforehand. I wound up liking the place and the opportunity a whole lot more than I had expected. I am scared to death of having terrible judgement again. My last "exciting job offer" wound up being such a nightmare in the long run.

Monday, June 27, 2005

Birthday Dinner #3

Today is my actual birthday. Dennis got home late, and I didn't feel like cooking. We're having pizza! There's nothing wrong with birthday pizza.

I got flowers from Dennis and my parents.





I saw the Birthday Ponies today too. Chris and I went up to the farm to feed the horses and give Commanche his medication. We stood in the hot barn for about an hour while they finished their hay. I brushed both of them, but Chris chickened out on taking a bareback ride around the barnlot. I didn't feel like taking them all the way down to the other house to saddle them, so I have officially managed to avoid actually riding the Birthday Pony!!!


I just realized that my birthday this year was nowhere near the quality of last year's. I guess we're both distracted with everything we've got going on right now. I am feeling very up in the air about the entire St. Charles situation. The apartment complex is trying to railroad us, and I just found out this morning that Paul isn't ready to sign the custody paperwork. I tried not to let it ruin my birthday, but I'm just generally uneasy right now. At least I didn't get a sappy birthday card to type out this year. *shrug*

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Plain Ol' Hot

[I wanted a witty song title for this post, but nothing hit the nail on the head quite as well as what first came from my fingers.]

We went to the Sears Craftsman Nationals today. The new management at Gateway has gotten rid of shuttles from the back parking lots. Hooray! They've also hired a bunch of bleacher Nazis to keep us cheap seat folks out of the EMPTY expensive seats. Gateway is rapidly becoming much less fun. It was miserably hot - the sign at the entrance to the track read 99 degrees as we walked by.

Someone had the bright idea to water the track with one of the local fire department's pumper trucks right before the first round of Top Fuel. The first two sets of racers could barely peddle their cars before they lit up the tires. We saw four track-length burnouts. Hey, let's spray some more water on it, I don't think it is slick enough yet! Funny car definately outran Top Fuel that round. I think the track had time to warm back up by the time they got out there :)

Unfortunately, I got sick from the heat. I haven't had this problem for a few years - at least not since I met Dennis. He's never seen me like that. I think it was a combination of the heat and drinking too much water. I just couldn't get myself right, no matter what I tried. I wound up needing to go home by about 6:30. We only saw the first round. When we were almost to the truck stop, we heard the Top Fuels firing up again. I was not happy to have to leave. I really like the event. Nothing in the world compares to watching two Top Fuel dragsters make a full-throttle side-by-side four-second pass. The noise and heat and vibration and speed is just plain wicked cool. Seeing the final rounds at night is the only possible way it could be any cooler. I got overheated and missed out.

Before the racing got underway, they had a tribute film for Darrell Russell. I still can't believe he died at last year's event.

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Birthday Dinner #2

Dennis took me out to Tequila Mexican Resturant this evening. The margarita wasn't nearly as good as last time, it was only "pretty good" instead of "perfect." Must have been a different bartender.

I've escaped the Birthday Pony yet again! The manager specifically requested not having to sing, and I enjoyed a free sopapilla with ice cream.

Apartment Hunting

Dennis and I spent the greater part of the day looking around St. Charles for an apartment. It isn't that I don't like St. Charles, it's just that I REALLY DON'T LIKE ST. CHARLES! Unfortunately, to get Chris in a supportive environment, and to avoid making him change school districts TWICE more, we have to settle for the area my ex-husband chose. (Not just the school district, but the specific elementary school as well.) I have to admit that his school is awesome!

St. Charles isn't really a place to live in an apartment with a child. The apartments are all too expensive, too nit-picky, or too damn crappy. There just aren't small, friendly complexes like we are in now. The "nice" places are all huge and full of single twenty-somethings. (I guess we are technically single twenty-somethings ourselves, but not in the O.C. kind of way I mean.)

We know for a fact that this is going to motivate us to bust ass for a home of our own. We know what we're looking at for the next two years. But we're trying to keep our chins up, because two years isn't a lifetime.

I continue to be amazed at how much Dennis is willing to give up for Chris and me. I don't think that there is a more amazing man on the face of the earth.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

It is nothing at all like riding a bicycle.

Interviewing takes practice. You don't remember it all when you jump back on after a few years. I had to take a Word test and an Excel test. I did fine with the Word test (which consisted of typing a letter to the President of the company, I used the Wizard, it was all good.) The Excel test threw me for a loop. I'd forgotten that I haven't used Excel in a good long while. I know I did alright, I got all of the figures in the right place and got the formulas right, but I didn't have time to get labels on all of my data. Blah.

Then I met two women who have strong family ties to my hometown. They recalled the family name, and I know someone who went to school with someone, etc. That's the way it always goes in small towns. Hopefully that is a strong plus in my favor.

Today was just a short interview, they're hoping to cut down their stack quite a bit with the Word and Excel tests. They're doing more in depth second interviews next week. I did not hear one word about benefits or compensation. I didn't say one word either.

If I get called back, I am going to have to really brush up and cover up some of my goofiness from today. My nervous personality is incredibly silly.

Pleased to meet you, I'm sweaty.

So I've landed a job interview! I've been peppering the universe with copies of my resume. Some of the opportunities are questionable, but you never know what they're about until you get your foot in the door. This is one I've actually had my fingers crossed about. I am excited and nervous - and I'm hoping they're not going to tell me that there are no benefits or they are only willing to pay $7.00 per hour. It is only about three minutes from Dennis's job, so that would be cool.

I am set up to interview in the winter. All of my best clothes are black. Gah! I'm going to have to make up something on short notice. I always find "cool" clothes feel too "cutesy" for interviewing. I think I can get away with my black pants and a lighter colored jacket - I think?

***excited***

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Birthday Dinner #1

My parents and sister came down to see us and took me out to Smokey Bones BBQ for a birthday dinner.

Nobody made me ride the Birthday Pony, there was no singing, and I got free chocolate cake on top of the doughnuts we'd already ordered.

I am SO full!

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Just Eat It!

For the last few days, my son and I have been going round and round about eating lunch. He wants to play video games and crab about having to eat. He says, "I'm not hungry," until right before dinner. I am sticking to my policy of "Nothing fun until after lunch." This means I spend most of the day sitting around waiting for him to eat. He'd be more than happy to have a Fruit Roll-Up and call it a day. I am just asking for a sandwich. He's got a turkey sandwich with gouda (he loves it) on white bread (just for him, we don't eat it.) He sat at the table with me while I ate my lunch (same sandwich on whole wheat and a salad) with his head in his hands making the most pitiful face you can imagine. He chose to lose his Playstation privelages and sit in his room over eating. As soon as he has something resembling a lunch, we are free to head out to the pool. He just won't eat.

Yesterday, he refused the bagel mini-pizzas that he got out of the freezer case and put into our cart with his own hands. He finally asked for a sandwich at 4:50. I don't know how he stands to go so long with nothing in his stomach. I am going to break him though. He has to get over the idea that he can eat whatever he wants whenever he wants that he's picked up from his Dad's house. Someday I am going to write a humerous memoir called "Food and the Willful Child" and become quasi-famous.

Wierd Al Yankovich must have known my son in a past life.

"Eat It"

How come you're always such a fussy young man
Don't want no Captain Crunch, don't want no Raisin Bran
Well, don't you know that other kids are starving in Japan
So eat it, just eat it

Don't want to argue, I don't want to debate
Don't want to hear about what kind of food you hate
You won't get no dessert 'till you clean off your plate
So eat it

Don't you tell me you're full
Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it
Get yourself an egg and beat it
Have some more chicken, have some more pie
It doesn't matter if it's boiled or fried
Just eat it, eat it, just eat it, eat it
Just eat it, eat it, just eat it, eat it, ooh

Your table manners are some cryin' shame
You're playin' with your food, this ain't some kind of game
Now, if you starve to death, you'll just have yourself to blame
So eat it, just eat it

You better listen, better do what you're told
You haven't even touched your tuna casserole
You better chow down or it's gonna get cold
So eat it

I don't care if you're full
Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it
Open up your mouth and feed it
Have some more yogurt, have some more spam
It doesn't matter it it's fresh or canned
Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it
Don't you make me repeat it
Have a banana, have a whole bunch
It doesn't matter what you had for lunch
Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it
Eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it

Eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it
If it's gettin' cold, reheat it
Have a big dinner, have a light snack
If you don't like it, you can't send it back
Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it
Get yourself an egg and beat it (oh lord)
Have some more chicken, have some more pie
It doesn't matter if it's boiled or fried
Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it
Don't you make me repeat it (oh no)
Have a banana, have a whole bunch
It doesn't matter what you had for lunch
Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Chipper / Shredder

We spent most of the afternoon with Dennis's parents. His dad had been trimming trees in the back yard. He trimmed a couple of them all the way down to the ground. As we were pulling up, he was heading out to The Home Depot to rent a chipper / shredder. We all pulled piles of branches over to the machine and watched DJ stuff it full and clog it up a few times. LOL! What is it about Dads and power tools?

We bought DJ a mixed six for Father's Day. It was a lot of pressure on me, since he specifically said, "I don't really like that ale stuff." I got a bunch of Pilsners - Shiner Blonde, Blue Moon et. al. and one Abita Amber. I can't imagine anyone disliking that. Both DJ and Cathy seemed to like Labatt Blue that they opened first.

They have a family of Indigo Buntings coming to their backyard feeders. I am officially envious.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Six Flags

Chris and I have Six Flags season passes, thanks to Grandma Myrna!

We went out for a little while this afternoon. I rode the Tom's Twister - something I've always been terrified of doing. Geez, it was all a bunch of little kids. I don't really like spinning, but if you close your eyes and lay your head back, it feels exactly like being in a cozy bed.

Chris rode The Boss! It is arguably the biggest, baddest coaster at Six Flags St. Louis. (Mr. Freeze is a bad dude too, but the steel coaster/overhead harness experinece is entirely different than the wooden coaster/open car one, and while the magnetic launch is neat, nothing beats good old gravity!) I was so proud of Chris, and so exhilarated from the ride, that I had to wipe tears out of my eyes as we pulled back into the station at the end. He's tall enough to ride Batman too. That is my favorite rollercoaster of all time, ever. I can't wait until he gets himself psyched up for it!

Saturday, June 11, 2005

I'm Burnin', I'm Burnin', I'm Burnin' for YOU

I'm sick with a fever again. Last time I had this, in April, I was down for the count for two weeks. So far it has been up to 101.3 - which is a cool radio station somewhere in the world, I'm sure. Perhaps they're a classic rock station, just finishing up BOC's song as I type this. Fevers are trippy :)

Home in the valley
Home in the city
Home isn't pretty
Ain't no home for me

Home in the darkness
Home on the highway
Home isn't my way
Home I'll never be

Burn out the day
Burn out the night
I can't see no reason to put up a fight
I'm living for givin' the devil his due
And I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you

Time is the essence
Time is the season
Time ain't no reason
Got no time to slow

Time everlasting
Time to play B-sides
Time ain't on my side
Time I'll never know

Burn out the day
Burn out the night
I'm not the one to tell you what's wrong and what's right
I've seen suns that were freezing and lives that were through
And I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you
I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Beer and Cookies

Dennis and I just dug into our Lemp Beer score from our expedition the other night. It is relatively unremarkable; more deeply colored than the usual local product, hoppy for a lager, I poured a good head in my glass with it. The best thing about it is that it pairs with the oatmeal raisin cookies I just made almost as well as chocolate chip and milk. Who knew?

Without cookies, it is a 6/10 (Dennis really didn't care for it at all) with cookies, it is a 7.5/10 - that's how good the pairing was.

(Of course the Local history is the biggest draw with Lemp Beer. I don't usually go for the lagers so much.)

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

A Very Merry UN-Anniversary to Us

June 7, 2002, is the day Dennis and I first admitted to each other that we were feeling more than just friendly feelings toward each other.

The entire text is uploaded to The Summer of 2002 Blog.

I started it with this paragraph:
"My crush on you is wearing off. Uh, a *friend crush* instead of the other kind - for a while it was like 'gotta email Dennis, gotta email Dennis' all the time. So now we've proven that we're similar and we can get along and what not. And it's like - uhhhhh - now what? Good thing it was a friend crush instead of the other kind - cause this is when the lust wears off and we'd break up :) So I'm trying to figure out where you fit - you're different because you're a digital friend, but I'll probably see you in real life at least once a month (Dennis = Aunt Flo???) So it's different - in real life you are just different somehow - more 3 dimensional maybe that's it? And I'm thinking "do I say this or not?" a little now - cause it may come back someday to make me blush - since I'm very bold with a keyboard, but very shy in the real world. :o Although I do type :o a lot :o Guh - and why does this bother me? Because I've been sitting at home with not much to do for a few days - thinking about stupid stuff that probably doesn't matter at all. You can make anything into a big deal if you concentrate on it long enough :) Well, anyway, just hit me over the head when you're ready I'm working Saturday and Sunday (w00ty w00ty woot)"

The truth is that I already loved him. I just had no idea how to deal with it, and I assumed I must have been insane to feel as passionately as I did after such a short time, not to mention the fact that I was married to someone else. Crazy!

I still love him too, at least as much as I did then.

Monday, June 06, 2005

Power Tour 05

Dennis and I went to the Hot Rod Power Tour yesterday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. It was incredibly huge!

I have a picture album uploaded with 76 thumbnailed pictures.

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Alcohol

We went out to Lukas Liquor Superstore this evening.

Dennis got some of this:


Then I got some of this:


Build your own six pack is awesome!

Friday, June 03, 2005

Oprah is my Arch-Nemesis!

I can't believe it! Oprah has chosen books that overlap my reading list yet again! Now she is reading three Faulkner novels, As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, and Light in August. I have already read two of them, and my Blog entry for As I Lay Dying is getting a lot of traffic since the book club announcement. I was not as impressed with Light in August, but I wonder if I'll start drawing hits on that page when they get closer. I hope Oprah's Book Club Website can help me gain some much needed understanding and appreciation when it comes to that book. I wanted to like it more than I did.


Speaking of reading, I've gone on an off-list adventure, and I am currently working on Salt and Saffron by Kamila Shamsie. So far it is an interesting read.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Mix Tape Radio?

I'm experimenting with the new radio station in town.

www.1065thearch.com

Yesterday they played Charlie Daniels' "Devil Went Down to Georgia" followed by Tone Loc's "Funky Cold Medina." I was amused. It seems slightly better than the 15 song play list stations. It reminds me of making mix tapes, but it also makes me feel old.