magically disappearing ink

ok, so it didn't disappear magically, but by some hard scrubbing by my delightful p... some simple lysol did it for inside the dryer (thank goodness as a new dryer wasn't in the budget) and remarkably enough *hair spray* worked on some of the fabrics... even more remarkable was that it was p's idea. like a little macgyver he said, 'where's the hairspray?' i was skeptical and asked what he needed it for... he said, 'well, it was my pen and i wanted to help... so i googled it.' what a darling :)

and it worked!

p and i went to three different grocery stores (in typical american gluttony, they're all next to each other, so we did think in advance about cost savings vs gas burning). we made a list, i looked through the flyers, and get this... what typically costs us about $130 cost (drum roll please) $58.71. Holy crap people! I'm now a believer in thinking ahead.

is anyone else secretly glad it's going to rain this week? i was getting nervous for my floppy and thirsty pansies. happy sunday y'all!

pens and ink and dryers oh my

last night i turned our dryer on before i left my house to run a couple of errands (in my old age, being efficient like this also makes me as excited as kid at christmas... oh boy do i need a life)

that clanking and rattling? totally ignored it in my haste... and what a mistake it was

p is now lovingly using some sort of 'hairspray-lysol' homemade concoction which he insists will work on the *INK* all over the inside of the dryer. somehow a pen made it through qc and proceeded to blow its proverbial load, well, all over my load of darks. thankfully, they're darks... but i'm secretly afraid to look for fear that there's some sort of big ink spot on my favorite jeans (i say favorite because they're pretty much the only suckers that fit right now)... a nice rorschach on my ass would be a nice touch, don't you think?

and i just heard p say, 'g-d this sucks. i hope i get something in return for doing this...' men... seriously?

well, it'll be two months (!) since my surgery this week... hard to believe. i have realized that they are quite the weather device as well (most people (including my mom) will say, ooh, my ankle is bothering me... must be going to rain)... now i get to say, 'oh, the perkies think it will be sunny and 65 today.' a veritable farmers almanac i say! i'll let you know the seven day forecast once i become more tuned in :)

off to try and do something (anything) with my backyard... it's been the bastard stepchild of my gardening foray so far...

random thoughts past my bedtime

oh, and for those out there who may be (or know someone) who likes being the extra special person on the train, plane, etc with the super phone that can do everything... take over my blackberry plan on at&t and get my blackberry for free!

i just don't need all of the features, but they are great and convenient!

look at it on: http://www.cellswapper.com/Cell-Phone-att-cingular-plan-1811.html

grassy ass y'all :)

ps... in other 'flashy' news... with it being so cold this evening, the girls were all about the headlights. while this might not mean much to most (or be downright embarrassing)... i'm not only excited, i'm ecstatic. not only are my headlights pointing up and out as high beams should... it's the first time ever i haven't had a head light out (meaning one of my girls has been fairly slow on the uptake)... for those that have no clue what i'm talking about? ...don't ask

dammit you personal trainer man

so yesterday i was an extra good doobie and took advantage of the gym in my building... they let you try out a 'get to know ya' personal training appointment on the house (which i think is super as all of the equipment is all different and they help you set up a program)

anyhoo... it went great (props to the 'nice on the eyes' hunk-of-a-trainer-man-boy (i'm fairly sure he's at least 8 years younger than me)) and he was really helpful. like a typical trainer, he pushed me pretty hard and i'm paying for it now...

why you ask?

i can't comb my hair, get ouy of my chair... and it hurt to brush my teeth this evening

(sigh... gotta start somewhere right?)

pocketbook panic

perhaps it's from watching gma's piece this morning on costco rationing rice... or perhaps it's from the random email sent down from the company g-d's reminding us that each of us plays a role in managing business expenses...

is the regular joe's world going to h-e-double hockey sticks in a handbasket or what? i've started freaking out about every last thing i spend and every last dime i owe, which is making me a frazzles, stressed out, downright bitchy person to be around. of course, in doing that, i realize that in order to fully right the proverbial ship, it may cause me to have to (1) donate all of my internal organs; (2) stand on a street corner in some hoochie outfit (which doesn't even exist in my vocab anymore; (3) relinquish my first, second and third born... or all of the above.

gas is sky high, food is sky high, it cost us $600 to **1/2** fill the oil tank in our house (and trust me, we don't even really use the heat) and just today (which may be what put me over the edge) the price of the sodas on my floor went up 125% from $1.00 to $1.25... who the fark did that?

i mean, my g-d people!

anyhow, i'm thinking of ways to cut back and generate some funds... i was thinking of having a yard sale, but feel that those attract people looking for something for nothing. i was thinking of posting some things on craigslist, but am scared of the dominant-submissive-horny-individual-looking-for-whatever emailing me...ca-reepy! i was thinking of selling stuff on ebay... i've done it before, but it's *so* much work (again, reference the l-a-z-y)

so, here's what i'm planning to do (once we get a plan in place that we think we can stick to):
(1) drop my cell phone and its contract... frankly i have a home phone and if i really feel i can't live without it, i'll get a pre-paid jobby
(2) sell my car... it seems drastic, but i walk to the train people. it's retarded to spend oodles of money each month to look at a pretty car in the driveway collect pollen
(3) reduce the phone/cable bill... how i'm not sure, but am going to
(4) get rid of *all* credit cards (except for emergency one)... i obviously lack the willpower to resist buying crap and therefore need to not have them with me
(5) bring my lunch every day... no excuses!!!
(6) plan the dinners on sunday for the week ahead... make 'em in advance if i have to

ok...that's enough for now... having no cell and no car? why, it'll be like being a college student all over again :)

i'm also hoping to attain a second little job on the side to ease the crunch for a bit... i'm super good with quickbooks and tutoring :)

oh, and i make baskets! lest i forget that. i make awesome baskets for baby showers, weddings, birthdays... anything really. i just did some for my husband's secretary for an event of hers and she loved them. so yeah... was that a shameless plug? perhaps :)

state of *my* mass

yup, i'm crazy. i took the spin class and it wasn't pretty. this tiny little thing who taught the class had a mouth similar to a truck driver and i was more scared to stop pedaling than to risk injuring myself. consequently... i'm currently walking around the office like i just got off a horse.

(and... who in g-d's name invented bike seats... they s-u-c-k big time)

i was so unbelievably sweaty after class that i couldn't get away without taking a shower and i'm just not a fan of the whole non-gratis changing thing in the woman's locker room... some women sort of loom about with their business all over the place... no need i say! you can put your eyeliner on while wearing a bra, i'm sure of it.

or the ladies that have full on conversations standing there in the buff? what is this? an 80s high school horror movie reenactment? stop it!

also, to further piss me off, the gym has these teensy towels (read: handkerchief) that the little teensy people can wrap around them twice over... i need like two of them just to cover my ass. i guess the gym considers it motivation... i consider it mean

anyhow i'm happy to say that i made it through and if i don't get to that walk tonight (as i'm hooking up my new fun hose tonight (read previous post for definition of 'exciting' in my world these days) i won't be too sad

enjoy this most beautiful day. (those of you who are teachers and have this week off?... i'm secretly giving you the middle finger)

:)

am i crazy?

i just signed up for a spin class to take over lunch... am i crazy? i went for a *walk* last night and was tired. oh well, no pain, no gain right? positive, motivating thoughts welcome :)

state of mass transit

my train was so slow today that i actually witnessed two pigeons having sex...

do you think if i wrote the head of the "T" he'd take me seriously using that reference?

so much to say, so little time

ooh, it's been awhile over here since i've written last. i must admit that while i've thought about writing, i've been far too (1) busy or (2) lazy, depending on when you catch me. i've actually had *so* much to do that i'm becoming a morning person... i'm getting at least an hour and a half more of productive time in the morning, rather than on the back end of the day when i veg and read all of the magazines and catalogs (of items i'll never be able to afford to purchase anyway) before drifting off.

why is that through the entire month of march, when i had nearly nothing to do, the weather stunk... and now that it's april and nice out, i'm up over my head in shhhtuff. (not to self: never start new position in the spring!)

i've had lots of exciting things happen (the word 'exciting' takes on a whole new meaning when you turn thirty i think)... let's see:

(1) My kitchen is being painted and prettied up. We chose a sunny, fantabulous yellow and are now splurging on some new counters, faucet, stove and island... ooh, and lights... i hope. i hope they're in the budget because i really want to do it right (but not go too wild on the spending)

(2) in not so fun news, i developed some sort of bizarre infection as the result of my surgery which made me super sick... like, 'thought i might as well die' sick... and it completely coincided with the painter being at the house. disgusting paint smell: check. feeling nauseous and only having one bathroom: check. i'm thankful that i never have to relive those two days.

(3) better news: my left girl is on the mend and has bounced back (literally) to her new and improved self....which leads me to...

(4) i returned to the gym for the first time in a very long time. to think last year i was prepping for a four-mile road race... yesterday 20 minutes on the treadmill was just about as much as i could handle. i keep telling myself to not push it and i'll get back into it, but i can't help but be somewhat disappointed. why does it take so long to get in shape... and so quickly to get out of it. disheartening!

(5) we woke up this weekend to two, count 'em, two little birdy couples fighting for the honor of calling 91.5 hill st. home. for those that don't know me (or don't already think i'm crazy), that's actually, um, my birdhouse. (told you i was crazy) i painted it two years ago to look exactly like our house and i've been waiting ever since to see some new occupants. well, after much waiting, p and i watched two couples beat the living crap out of each other trying to make it their little home. i think it was the little guys (the finches) who won out (which is super!) and when i'm in the backyard i can hear them building their little nest. it almost sounds like they're renovating with the knock, knock, knock

(6) volunteered at the boston food bank this morning. we helped sort and look through pallets of snacks (crackers, cookies) etc. which makes me realize just how wasteful i can be (they have a rule that as long as the inner packaging is not broken, they tape the boxes and send it along). very fulfilling, if not inspiring... well except for the man who said repeatedly 'i'm a'gonna kiss ya tonight' and the cat-calling from the prison across the street. other than that, it was great!

i'm going to start walking/jogging every night to get ready for Jod's wedding... after all, I have to fit into the dress! (here it is, but mine's in black) ...you likey???

freakin, frackin, frookin

well, another delightful day in the Hub. fa'chrissakes, i'm not sure how much more of this dastardly weather i can take. my wonderful husband, p, said that now that i have a view, i now know when to leave when it's snowing... when i can't see the buildings anymore, it's time to go... does that also apply on a day like today? or even on a sunny day? ('oh, the sun is so blinding i can't see the buildings... gotta go!!!) anyhow, this think grey, almost green cloudy blanket has once again dropped over my lovely little city and i'm bummed. i even wore a colorful fun spring sweater today... nothin.'


at least it's friday and i've had a couple of minor victories... i went for an albeit small jog yesterday and found that the new girls quite enjoy their new digs... they no longer try to escape and that is a very good thing (although p may beg to differ)...


ooh, and i got my 'i know i'm getting older when i choose these over heels' shoes fixed today... i've had them now for about two years and i've noticed my right toes have been getting on the damp side on rainy days... notwithstanding the cobbler man "fixed" them with a little crazy glue (no charge) i feel just that more confident jumping around in puddles this afternoon.

i successfully bypassed the 'grilled cheese and chicken finger' station at the cafe and chose a salad with some of the best cucumbers i've ever had!

it's the little things really :)


oh and ps..... this stems from another email thread off my blog, but i'm the new gal on the block here in my 'workspace'... and the freakin woman next to me is on the phone whispering and giggling all day non-stop... they say fences make good neighbors. i'm about ready to say that cement walls and sucker punches make good neighbors...

have a good weekend y'all

and one more thing...

i just received an email for our group to volunteer at the food bank.

wonderful. great.

then it goes on to say, 'oh, we'll get cabs over there.' nothing like expensing a little cab ride to go volunteer to make you feel good... sheesh

*then* it says, 'pick a size of your t-shirt S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL'

ok, people in glass houses should definitely not throw stones, *but*...

should you really be having someone who wears a 5XL shirt volunteer at a *food* bank?

i know, that's a terrible thought... bad amy

yet another rambling...

on a thirsty thursday afternoon

'how *does* she find time to do it all?'


i guess that term is always typically reserved for martha-stewart-like soccer moms with perfect eyebrows and unscuffed sneakers and grosgrain ribbons in their hair. considering my eyebrows haven't been done in over a month (can you hear the jungle drums?), i'm wearing black flats which may or may not have a hole in them somewhere as i notice my poor right foot gets wet in the rain and the left does not, and i wouldn't wear a ribbon in my hair if someone paid me (even *if* kristen thinks the contrary)... oh right and i'm *not* a soccer mom (no soccer-ing, no mom-ing)...

speaking of which, what *does* take up all my time? it's not as though i'm saving the world or have kids to take care of... we don't even have a pet for goodness sake. granted, i did just start a new job, just got finished with a three week leave from having life-changing surgery, volunteer for the alumni association, volunteer for the 'team' here at the bank (and oh boy is it a team! gag me) and am pseudo-studying for the cpa exam, learning french and dreamily set a goal of running a triathlon at the end of the summer... ok, so i have a *couple* of things going on... i'm used to being busy i guess, but sometimes at the end of the day i lay down and think, 'ah, the end of a long, long day'

.... followed up by, 'what the hell *did* i do today?'

does this bother anyone else that they're not exactly saving the world each and every day?

shoulda, woulda, coulda

Shoulda: Stayed in bed this morning

Woulda: Missed the commute from h-e-double hockey sticks

Coulda: Had me some nice sleep

That Bloomin' Place

Awww yeeaaaahh... that bloomin' place be Hill Street! Like the return of old friends, I came home yesterday to find these popping up through that brown, sallow ground. They literally popped completely out of the ground and bloomed all in a matter of nine hours... they're itching for spring, just like me :)

mehhh on the cell phone quality...call it blurry or call it art.

This last picture is of my fancy "small" spring wreath. I bought four forsythia branches at the craft store (fake, but 50% off!) this weekend and made one "big" wreath for my front door (not pictured) and had this one remaining. I basically wrapped it around itself and secured with floral wire. A nice decoration for $1.49. :)

The Girls Get A New View

So, started my first day here over in Enterprise Credit Risk (ohh, ahh)... I wasn't sure what to expect as far as seating goes as I always feel like a tool asking those kinds of things when I'm moving into a new job. I probably should just ask as these are the silly little things that keep me up at night (that and knowing that dry items are sitting and getting wrinkled in the dryer...is anyone else as insane as me about this?)

Anyhow, everyone seems to be on the nice side and I'm headed to lunch in a little bit. Who said there was no such thing as free lunch? Saaaweeet!

I head to the doctor for a check-up of the girls tomorrow afternoon. Here's to hoping she says I can get back to an exercise routine. This is getting ridiculous (and my tight jeans have to agree).

I'll leave you with this... it's not much of a view, but it beats staring at a wall. :)