raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

You know how, when you're laid up sick in bed, and you're all, "Oh man, I'll not take being unsick for granted again", and then you're healthy again for a few days and finding other stuff to whine about? 

Well, NOT ME!  I'm happy to be back among the living, and it's all good.

Whatever I had, I'm not sure if it was the flu or what.  It knocked me off the earth for a couple of days, but then I got better relatively quickly, so who knows?  But I figure I should count my blessings.  Here are Five Most Recent Favorite Things (in no particular order):

My commute.  
Y'all remember a few years back I actually consulted a bit with a life coach?  Part of that process involved me finding my passions or something like that.  I remember going to a site and answering several questions which then ranked things that I'm passionate about.  Apparently. 

Turns out, one of my biggest passions is efficiency.  I don't like waste.  Of anything:  money, things, talent, time... In fact, that's probably why I consulted with a life coach in the first place "I'm spinning my wheels here, times-a-wasting!"

Anyhoo, this is why my work commute is an important deciding factor for me.  And if I can commute on my bicycle or walk, well then! Fun transportation is not a waste! Currently, I can do either.  My job is about a 30-minute walk or 20-minute bike ride from my house 😊😊


My parka.
On the commute note, it's quite cold this week.  Doesn't bother me none!
About 18 years ago, I got a nice parka from Cabela's.  I was preggars with Meego and liked to go for daily waddles.  When I got too big for my own jacket, I started wearing Magnum's.  He got me the Cabela's parka - complete with adjustable waist - saying I "deserved it", which really probably meant, "stop wearing my jacket".
I can't believe I still have it, but it's the warmest thing ever!


My coworkers.
They're a fun bunch.  We manage to avoid a lot of drama we hear about from other kitchens.  We do have one guy who works with us too.  Joe.  Nice guy.  He doesn't say a whole lot, but I've concluded that it's not because he's shy.  It's just a smart tactic he's figured out.


Watching the Olympics.
It's hard to not get caught up in the Olympic spirit.  And if you're riding the couch with the flu, it doesn't take much effort. Today, I was feeling a bit sad that they'll be over in a few days.  But then, if they were on all the time, they wouldn't be special.


My Kindle.
Chaco talked me into getting one a few months ago.  I still like to read physical books, but I can just download them to my Kindle easily and quickly from the library and carry them around without all that bulk.  Damn efficient. 

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Linking up with Mama Kat for the prompt:
4. List your five most recent favorite things

House

This week's prompt at Illustration Friday is "house", and I'm not ashamed to say that I'm posting this from the archives.  I've spent my desk time writing up a year-end thing for P.E.O. and that activity ate up my happy illustrating time today.

I drew this during last year's "Inktober".  The perspective is off, but I can say that the freaking house is haunted, so it's intentionally crooked, OKAY?!




This week was a bit of a challenging one with another school shooting, plus I think I had the flu?  At least I hope it was the flu and not a big cold, which would mean that I'm still susceptible to this year's flu.  Anyway, a scary house seems fitting even if it was Valentine's week.

they don't write 'em like that anymore

Morgan is hosting an old school blogging activity, so I thought I'd play along.  Remember the old days when we'd answer getting-to-know-you blog prompts?  This one is Valentine's Day themed...


1. When you were in elementary school, how did you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Was it a big deal or not so much?

All us kids did the customary make-a-unique-"mailbox"-from-a-shoebox.  Then on Valentine's Day, we each brought those cheapo Valentines that came fifty or so to a box and delivered one for each kid's box.  Then we'd have a party and get all sugared up.

Recently, a friend told a story of how her youngest son didn't like having to write out all those Valentines for his classmates, felt it was too much like homework.  But when he opened  his box and saw all the Valentines made just for him, he had a complete change of heart.  Awwww.

2. What has been your favorite gift you have received on Valentine’s Day?

I got a card from a boyfriend several years ago.  I won't repeat here what it said on the inside 😉.  But it was a nice card.

3. Should Valentine’s Day even be celebrated?

Yeah, sure.

4. Do you like to send Valentine’s Day cards?

Well, I don't send them, but not necessarily because I don't like to.  They're just not something I'd send to friends or relatives.

5. Do you ever receive Valentine’s Day cards?

Uhm, nope.  

6. Do you think people spend too much on Valentine’s Day?

Yes, I heard recently that people spend an average of about $150 on VD.  That's way too much!

7. What is your favorite Valentine’s Day candy?

Russell Stover milk chocolate assortment, thanks for asking.

8. What is your favorite movie with a love story?

Braveheart

9. Do you believe in “love at first sight”?

Nah, not really.

10. Tell us about your first crush!

First grade.  His name was Frank, and I was still too young to worry whether he liked me too or not.  I declared my love/crush, and thankfully the feeling was reciprocated.  Whoever got to school first would wait at the playground fence until the other arrived.  Then we would give each other a huge hug and live happily ever after.  Until the next day, and it all started again.  Then we got old.  

11. Do you have a terrible dating story? Tell it!

Yes, my terrible dating story involves my high school boyfriend.  It was a terrible date because he was on it behind my back with someone other than me.  Other than that, no.

12. Favorite love song?

I'm currently feeling "No Air" by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.  But maybe it's because I have a cold and can't breathe.

13. Favorite Celebrity Couple?

I don't follow celebrities, but when I was a kid, I was a huge fan of Sonny and Cher

...and I wanted to be Cher when I grew up.  They broke up, and I'm not Cher. 


14. The best break up song…

"The Break Up Song", naturally.

15. If you had a perfect Valentine’s Day, what would you be doing?

Breathing.

Olympics

The winter Olympics began this week, for those who haven't noticed. This week's prompt at Illustration Friday, to commemorate I suppose, is simply "Olympics" .  Watching?

We caught the end of the opening ceremonies on Friday evening and watched the... uhm... "climactic" lighting of the torch, a.k.a. the "fire penis".  I was somewhat glad to know that I wasn't the only one for whom that thought came to mind.

Saturday, we finally got a decent snowstorm here.  As the temperature dropped and the snow fell outside, I was comfortably wrapped up and watching some Olympic coverage from the futon.  It was fun to watch as 17-year-old Red Gerard won gold for men's snowboard slopestyle. 

Here in Colorado, people are celebrating the victory - what a dude! From Silverthorne! It's difficult to not get caught up in the hoopla.  Honestly, I personally have never ridden a snowboard and had never heard of Red Gerard before seeing him on TV yesterday.  Now, I wonder how many talk shows he'll be invited to.  All of them, probably.  What if he'd gotten silver?  Hmm...  I think there's a big gap between first and second place.  And the big question...who's he taking to prom?

Even though I enjoy watching some winter Olympic sports, I personally am not much of a skier or skater.  I suppose if I were to pick something:  curling?

What's your winter sport?

when nerds collide

Out for a romantic dinner.  He suddenly stood up, then got down on one knee, whipped a diamond ring out of somewhere, and popped the question.

Or...

At a lovely hiking destination, with nothing but the sounds of nature and breathtaking views.  He gently popped the question.

Or...

At a favorite sports venue and suddenly he was on the jumbo tron, down on one knee, and smilingly popped the question.

I've heard of things like this happening or seen them in movies.  Well, nothing like that has ever happened to me, and I'm perfectly fine with that.

In fact, our proposal just sort of materialized.  Think of an engineering problem to set the romantic mood...

Magnum and I met at the University of Colorado where we were both studying mechanical engineering.  So right there, it can be inferred that we were/are both unromantic nerds.  We'd been "dating" for a little over a year I think.  But I'm struggling to recall our "dates" since I mainly remember working at my retail job and doing homework, and he was in the Army National Guard when he wasn't doing homework.  Somehow, we managed to become a couple during that time.

The proposal, however, was quite momentous.

We had both just finished fall semester finals, typical painful things that they were.  So we were celebrating the conclusion of finals and being another semester closer to graduation when the idea of marriage just kinda came up.

The mush that was left of our brains at that point was already on vacation.  Plus, we were both probably a little drunk at the time.  Yeah, what the hell!  Let's get hitched!

And here we are, almost 28 years later.

As an epilogue to that touching story, I also remember the choosing of our wedding date.

Magnum's brother/best man lived in Austria at the time.  My brother Guano/usher lived in Japan at the time.  My best friend/maid of honor lived in Germany at the time.  We managed to find a date that worked for all those worldly people.  My dress was off-the-rack JCPenney, and we sealed the deal.

To this day, we sometimes consider renewing our vows and having the wedding WE always wanted...

at the Justice of the Peace.

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Linking up with Mama Kat this week for the prompt:
1. Write about your proposal.

what's in a name?

Me:  What's the special today?

Head cook:  Chicken Cordon Bleu

Me:  Wow, we're getting pretty fancy!

Head cook:  Not when you see it...

Despite her modesty, it didn't look all bad and was actually quite tasty.  But no, we're not cooking at The Broadmoor.  And we know it.  We're middle school lunch ladies.

Most of the people I work with are moms who gave up careers to raise their kids, then fell into lunch ladyness because of the perfect schedule.  There are a few ex-teachers, ex-managers, ex-business and financial types, and yes, even some cooks.  Lots of volunteer moms.  Plus, it's a good way to get some operations experience on the dusty resume'.

We've all heard Adam Sandler's "Lunch Lady Land", and a couple of weeks ago, the special was actually sloppy joes.  We found we couldn't just say, "sloppy joes".  It always came out in song

SLOPPY JOE, SLOPPY SLOPPY JOE...

What's the special today?

SLOPPY JOE, SLOPPY SLOPPY JOE...

We're all out of ketchup?  Why?

SLOPPY JOE, SLOPPY SLOPPY JOE...

What's that spill near the cash register?

SLOPPY JOE, SLOPPY SLOPPY JOE...

and so on.

I recently read an article about job title makeovers.  In it "Lunch Lady" was instead "Education Center Nourishment Consultant".

Here are some others:

• Five a Day Collection Operative – Fruit Picker
• Media Distribution Officer – Paper Boy
• Petroleum Transfer Engineer – Gas Station Attendant
• Transparency Enhancement Facilitator – Window Cleaner
• Front Line Customer Support Facilitator – Call Center Worker

What's your specialty?

Justin gives me chills

I heard there was a big football game today?

I don't really concern myself with happenings in the NFL and can't remember the last time I watched an entire game.  Magnum usually watches, so I catch snippets during the season.  I do know that the Superbowl is today and I even know who's playing in it!

This  morning, I ran in the local Super Half Marathon.  It was a good time, as usual - for a little over half of the half.  Then Mother Nature turned it into a real race - a race to finish or freeze.

It was sunny and in low 30s when we started out.  I was actually a bit concerned that I might be dressed too warmly, but that was NOT the case.  Just before the halfway point, the breeze had blown some cloud cover, but I totally expected that as I'd checked the weather forecast.  Supposedly, some clouds would blow in for a bit, but then clear out quickly.

I think they didn't get the memo on "clear out quickly".  Instead they hung around and invited bunches of friends. The temperature dropped to mid-20s, and the wind was not our friend.  And the mean clouds started spitting on us.

Around the 9-mile point, I realized I didn't have feeling in my left hand.  Nice.  Fortunately, a left hand isn't all that necessary for running.  I managed to finish in an upright position and then went in search of the sweat check, as I had a light jacket waiting for me.

I couldn't see the sweat check right away, so thought I'd ask an official looking person.

"SKOOZ MA, WHA DA SWE CHE?", came strangely out of my mouth, which I then realized was attached to my nearly frozen face.

Miraculously, I was understood and directed to a cold person behind a cold plastic table with several bags of clothing.  I claimed my bag, and the cold person was nice enough to undo the tie for me, as the runners coming in - myself included - had hands that were as dexterous as rocks.

It was a good time, though, really.  I'm happy with my finish, and I think I can honestly say that it was the least I've ever sweated in a race.

The stats:
Finish time 1:49:37
175th overall
54th for the ladies
2nd for my age group

And I got the all-important medal/bottle opener.

Now, bring on Justin Timberlake... er... the football game!

foodies and foundlings

Well, this week feels like it was a fly-by.  Wasn't it just last weekend?

It was a good week, though, from what I remember of it. We went through some position shifting at work, and I've got a new role - Fiesta Lady!  (a.k.a. I get to make and serve the Mexican stuff).  I'm liking it!  It's pretty.  Hopefully it tastes good too.  No, I'm not Mexican, but could pass for one in a pinch.

Did anyone catch the blood moon this week?  It was at its bloody peak just as I was going in to work - kind of an eerie site.  That day, it seemed that emotions were running high, and I attribute it to the weird moon activity.

A co-worker whose been struggling to get her teacher certification here in Colorado had reached a frustration peak.  She's normally a "tough chick", but I came upon her crying in the break room and listened as she vented.  Turns out she's a good candidate for help from P.E.O. which she, not surprisingly, had never heard of.

In a timely fashion, we had our annual P.E.O. Founders Day bash today, to celebrate the seven ladies who started this whole ball rolling.  Always a good time with about 200 of my sisters.

My chapter made a pretty good showing at the shindig:

If you ever find yourself crying in a break room on a weird-moon day and wondering how  you're going to pay for completing your master's degree, think of us...