Up In Arms

Today, official news spread that Albert Pujols, long time St. Louis Cardinal's hero has signed a deal with another team.  I'm enjoying the controversies, everyone seems to be up in arms over the  $250,000,000 deal.  Some people are commenting how a single person should not earn that kind of money, and if so, it should be teachers and nurses.  Others say, good for him, it's not as if I have never made a choice based on economics.  I can't really say much, other than the fact I am happy we still have Yadi.  I have my opinions and I care not to share them here.  This is one of those topics like politics, religion, the "true" Arbogast  potato salad recipe, and child rearing.  Mum's the word!

But, I thought, since everyone is so up in arms during a time when we should really be more positive and thankful for what we have rather than negative about what others have, I would default to something I started doing years ago, listing some of my favorite things that get me by.

• The decorated "blue line" Metrolink with it's blue ornaments.
• Sewing, in fact, making Dani her first holiday dress.  I'd call it a Christmas dress, but it's gray, blue, and white, and has snowflakes on it.
• Having two functional hands!
• Having two functional legs!
• Working a simple 8 hour day and going home to a relatively calm and mediocre life.
• Doritos when my throat is sore.
• My pink double layer plastic cup with lid and straw that has a tiny crack in it.
• Cake pops (nom  nom)
• Baking, in fact, what I plan to do a lot of this season
• Getting tweets
• The "Walking in a Orgy (ahem, 4G) Wonderland" commercial

Fingerprints Don't Fade

Eva and I took some time out today to go see the movie Remember Me. I cried through several parts of the movie and silently thanked the movie dearly for comic relief. But all in all, it was a decent movie whose premise is sad and true. It mostly deals with death, love, lack of understanding, and the effect that one person can have on others' lives. The movie even begins with the Gandhi quote "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it". For those of you intending to watch the movie, I won't elaborate, though I will provide you with a couple quotes from the movie...

Caroline asked me if I knew what I'd say if I knew you could hear me. I told her I know: I love you. God, I miss you. And I forgive you.-Tyler

If you could hear me, I would say that our finger prints don't fade from the lives we've touched. -Tyler

I guess I wanted to write about seeing the movie so I could emphasize something. The things we do, good and bad, they do leave fingerprints on someone else. We may not know it, but we may be the one thing that keeps someone smiling. We might also be the one thing that torments someone else, so maybe try not to be that person. We can't live worrying/working/stressing/being depressed every day. If you feel the need to compliment someone...forget social boundaries that might make you feel awkward...say something, it may be the only compliment that person receives. People are mean, but don't be bothered by them, not everyone will be mean to you, they just don't "get" you. Life really is short and we never know what tomorrow holds...make the most of the little things, the one's you love, and the one's that love you in return.

Now, go on and take a few seconds to list a few of the small things that get you by...

• Snuggling with the dogs


• Knowing that you can talk to some one who does not hear you, and knowing that really, they do


• My shorter curly blond hair that goes where ever it wants when the humidity is high, no matter how much I hate it, I smile in the mirror


• Incessant giggling that can't be stopped which incurs more giggling


• The stuffed animal carcasses laying about the house...each with its own place so that cleaning is endless with carcasses ending up back where you removed them from


• Always having a book on standby...never want to be left without reading material


• Saying the perfect thing at the perfect time that gives you the confidence/pride tingle up the spine


• Being able to relate to someone, for the simple matter of letting him know he is not alone


• Finishing a project


• Marking things off a list


• My notebooks
• 
  
• The Notebook of Potter-Arbogast transcripts


• Four leafed clovers


• History


• Battery chargers

And Still More Things...

I love to share the things I enjoy with hopes that others may enjoy them as well...

• reading in the shower


• Getting unexpected (and good) mail


• Spending free time in my pajamas


• The expressions my dogs make


• Surprising myself by doing something I didn't think possible


• Getting a joke that no one else gets


• The flavor of bubble gum


• The smell of books


• Finding something unexpected in a book (an old picture you once used as a bookmark or an old movie ticket perhaps)


• Seeing a photo you had forgotten about, but brings back fun memories


• Receiving a compliment


• Being told that you are the glue that holds things together.


• Dictionaries, the kind you find in book form


• Diaries/notebooks/sketchpads that age over time and are reviewed at a later date to bring smiles, confusion, and reminders of muses

A few other things that get me by...
T.H.I.N.G.S.1
T.H.I.N.G.S.2
T.H.I.N.G.S.3

Getting By

A few more things that get me by...

Watching Bella (the bulldog) climb into bed with her wee little legs

Riley's ears

Smarties

SweetTarts

Knowing that Bella will beg for food, no doubt showing her two front bottom teeth

Getting a lot of stuff done in a couple of days that would normally take a week

My pink and gray loafers

Angel food cake

Reading something in a book that I really enjoy and can relate to that I later share

Getting invited to lunch with people

Being able to help someone by answering a question, fulfilling a task, or, well really, just helping do anything

spreadsheets and databases

Alphabetical Order

When I can't sleep, I have a few techniques that I dazzle myself with in order to doze off. The first trick consists of a healthy dose of diphenhydramine. If that fails me, or if I manage to resist the urge to consume medication, I do the alphabet thing. It's simple, much like counting sheep.

The problem with counting sheep is that it requires too little thought and therefore my brain begins to wander again as the sheep roam about doing their own thing. So I have to do something more complex. [Once I wrote equations in my head, but I found I got so consumed with trying to remember complex ideas that I wanted to get up and write things down rather than sleep. So, I go to my good old alphabet thing.]

For ages (or since junior high school), I said the 50 States in alphabetical order. Then, when I got too used to that, I'd count how many states had A's, or double letters, or ending in vowels, etc. I rarely bore of this; however, on occasion, I like to mix things up for my brain. In these cases I list items in alphabetical order, based on theme, and repeat them until I eventually fall asleep. It never fails that eventually I just doze off with little recollection of where I even left off. For example, last night was animals...

armadillo
armadillo bear
armadillo bear crocodile
armadillo bear crocodile donkey
...you get the idea...this is my list...or as far as I got...
armadillo bear crocodile donkey elephant ferret giraffe horse impala jaguar kangaroo llama moose n..n...n...

More Things To Get Me By...Life Lessons

I got an e-mail today from coworker and friend Christine. It was about author Regina Brett and her 45 life lessons.

I looked her up and was able to find her blog...if you want to see the whole thing, it's there...but here I will highlight and comment on a few that I see fit!

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
[Life is shitty, in fact I rarely think life is good. It's disappointing, it's heartbreaking, it's hard; sometimes all of those things make life worth the struggle because the reward is amazing...for every sucky thing there is a great thing and to every story there are two sides. My point, stop bitching, we're all stuck!]

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
[Always been one of those "One day at a time" girls myself]

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
[Your job might be cool, and you might work for a cult, but that does not mean you need to sleep at work]

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
[Fuck this, argue to argue, be passionate about something!]

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
[They will make fun of you later, they might even take a picture of snot coming out of your nose]

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
[Ain't this the truth?]

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
[I think a person should make peace with their past because it's right, but if you need a selfish reason to get you to do it, then yes, do it for your future!]

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
[I really think we all have a purpose where we are. Your role in life might be to make people smile while that other guy is there to be smart. No one has it all, and if it appears they do, they are going fucking mad in their head]

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
[Yea, if you can't tell your friends, you should be disappointed]

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
[I am so ready for the superbug you don't even know! Fuck yea]

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
[...don't forget to tell people so it's not secret]

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
[yea....but then again, there is nothing wrong with comfy]

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
[This explains SO much!]

24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
[This is a big fat lie, see number 1. Reality is that you might have a great plan in your head, but there is some one (your mom, your friends, your employer) that doesn't want to let go so you stay around...you might be miserable but you convince yourself that since its smart or logical it will make you happy, but ultimately, you just want to run away from RAM and be a librarian]

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
[Another big fat lie. Time heals nothing, our bodies heal us and our mental capacities allow us to ease the suffering (tangible or not)]

37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
[I think that as long as you tried and you let those you love know it, it really is all anyone else could ever ask for!]

40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
[I hear it, I say it, I am sad that I will never be anyone but me]

42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
[You might be the one thing that makes someone elses day]

Mike M. (ahem) "Hearts" Monitors

Few of you may know the daily tribulations of an engineer. It’s boring! So boring, the only thing perhaps worse to hear about is data entry. At least we get to think once in a while! But really, I’m straying off course like a Catholic priest! What I’m getting at, is that most days, I would like to bang my head against a wall only long enough to allow time for someone to come shoot me. Today, there is a lot of head banging going on! [You could insert here…Quiet Riot’s Bang Your Head and throw some goat baby!]

There are days that I can be cheered up by a number of small things. Sometimes it’s exercise; randomly it’s chocolate; most days it’s music. Yesterday, I chose to write about sheep. Upon reading comments (thanks to all of you that chimed in), it occurred to me that there's one person that could really get me laughing. We used to work together at a different "head banging" company. This person is a crazy fellow, Mike M., that is special in ways no one else comes close! Example: he likes to hump things "Beavis style". But really, don't we all occasionally like a good hump? Maybe we're talking about a camel's back, the middle of the week, or a good shag; in any case, the hump is good! Mike M. though, he's real special like! He makes dirty thoughts blush!

Don't get me wrong, he's good people! He does good things like Locks of Love, super fun things with his kids, and has even done his share with Doberman rescues!

Before Locks of Love - hippie!	After Locks of Love - ship shape

So about now you are thinking, "cut to the chase jerkwad". Okay, here it is, the point to this rambling, the cutting of the chase, the..okay, I'll stop!

Mike M. sent me a video that had me laughing tears! So now, I present to you,

Mike M. Hearts Monitors!

...a short film by Mike Marfell and produced by Sprocket...

Preface...a long time ago, on a hunk of land approximate to where the Mississippi River meets some other big rivers...a group of friends worked at a company. One of those friends chose to wimp out to the land of humidity, old people, and mouse ears (also known as Florida). Suspecting that his dear friends missed him insanely, Mr. Florida called to ask if his friends had turned his former office into a "shrine". The sad friends, Sprocket and Mike M., had already turned their sorrows to some Crack-House blend coffee; adding to this mixture was a newly owned Sprocket camera; and of course the now brilliant idea of a "shrine". You see, one thing led to another in the "shrine"...and well, eh, just watch!

Tad Stressful

So today was a tad stressful for me, some details I will spare you. The whole idea of today though, was that I had loads to do, no real time to get it done, as well as waiting for a call, missing that call, but then catching that call later to get not great news, but much better than expected. Now, I need to get going, but I have a tip for you, a word for you, and positive note!

To reduce anxiety, keep a journal to vent. At the end of every entry, write something positive!

My positive note is that someone [Amanda] got me socks. I needed that! Thanks! Socks are one of those little things that get me by. Like music. Ah, Rancid.

Word...
break your crayons: An expression used when something makes you very upset or sad, or ruins your whole day.

Tides of Change

In the tides of change come great new things . . .

Economy got you down? Lose your job recently? Check out this networking website to see what other people are doing! Thanks to Janet for blogging it!

I wanted to say thanks to my sis Holly for actually blogging this past weekend. I am always asking people to blog, partly because I find it so relaxing when I write; partly because I enjoy reading blogs; and partly because I am just damn nosey! In any case, Holly blogged. So thanks! In fact, thanks to everyone that blogs so that I may read...Justin, Janet, Frank, The Carr's, Dan Z., Kelly. I don't even know these people, but I seem to know little insights to their personalities that make me happy to know them, but well, not know them! Moving on . . .

You may or may not know that last week I had two deadlines (and a short week). I won't discuss the details of either (one because I can't due to confidentiality agreements, and two because I'm so glad it's over I don't want to think about it); but I was so happy to see the following e-mail from my boss.



Here is another e-mail that I have saved, and so on days when I'm down, I read this to know everything will be okay if I make it through the day. (I covered this person's name since I didn't get approval to show it here).



It's these little things that really get me through each and every day. I swear by it. If we can't close our eyes at the end of the day feeling happy about something or someone, knowing we did what was right and best for us, then what do we have?

Small list of things that get me by (cont'd)-
Practicing obiedence traning with Bella and watching her learn these simple tasks such as sit, wait, and heel.
Knowing that Riley is a genius of a dog, and watching him teach Bella simple tasks.
Neighbors not recognizing me due to such hard paced efforts and health change.
Bike rides where the honeysuckle is the only thing I can smell.
Being sleeping, laying down, not thinking about sleeping, and simply dozing off into dreamland.

Likes/Dislikes-

Claiming that genetically altered monkey's research done for human health reasons (maybe is, maybe not), is this necessary? Where will it go? Super race? What happened to Darwin's "survival"? Too many questions for me to ponder, thus causing brain overload!

Last of Last Week's Comic Sharing-


Word(s)-
toy: A graffiti artist's term for a novice. More experienced artists will often write "toy" next to the tag or graf of the novice.

nerdrection: When a nerd experiences or anticipates a certain event that is expected to have a positive effect.

Amanda Is Finally On Facebook

Blog-
Last night was rough. Today is bearable, I'll be leaving work at noon. Today's lessons:

1. Don't sweat the small stuff.
2. Don't panic and stress about the things for which you have no control.
3. Give yourself something to look forward to, always!
4. At the end of the day ask yourself if the choices you made, actually made you happy . . . if not, then on the next day, try to reconsider what you can do differently.
5. It's probably too far from your heart to kill you.
6. Don't let guilt guide you.

Recent updates: I finished Dog On It, super cute book that I am loaning to Chris. I am now onto Bloodsucking Fiends. We have Mama Skweak's birthday party this weekend. My window in my car was fixed thanks to Chris who went to the junk yard, got a window and put it in himself. Saved me loads of money too. I may have already blogged that. Amanda is finally on Facebook. Took long enough! I am still pondering the 6th installment of the Hitchhiker's Guide. Thanks to the Sutter siblings for providing me with exciting play by play on the ESPN spelling bee yesterday (when I needed the entertainment)!

Yesterday and today's comic Brevity, (that I am sharing this week because it's backwards)! See previous blog for clarification!





Likes/Dislikes-

People I know blogging; or getting to read interesting blogs.



So many bloggers, does anyone read any of it? And why aren't more people I know blogging?


Word-
yo

1. When followed by an apostrophe (yo'), a contraction of "you" or "your".

2.An informal address or title to one whose name is not known; can be used as an interrogative address.

3.A declarative or imperative exclamation, whether alone or within a sentence.

Laissez-Faire Blogging

I'm going to start doing something different! Or that's what I tell myself. (I talk to myself a lot)!

You see, in my drafts here at blogger, I have a blog of things I like and dislike. Initially I was going to make it a blog all on it's own. I have some silly pictures of me that are thumbs up or thumbs down (for like/dislike). Then, to the right, my thing that I like or dislike.

Instead of making one long post that no one reads; I'll just add one like and one dislike (unless the occasion calls for change) in addition to my usual laissez-faire blog and word of the day!

Sound like a plan to you? Good then! (Wait, did you just say "no"? Unacceptable!)

So, now . . . onward with the blogging (laissez-faire style)! ... ... ...

Blog-
Short week this week with the holiday Monday and it's a stressful one where I am dodging some proverbial stinging and fiery darts while man handling two deadlines! You might have noticed, or not noticed at all, I did not blog early Thursday. Well to be honest, I had no time. I left work to go to an appointment, and then returned to work with pizzas in hand to feed the crew. Here it is, near 11 PM and I'm blogging while waiting for some prints! But alas, I shall get this published some time today!

Likes/Dislikes-
Disappearing Lakes: The Aral Sea is disappearing because Russia diverts flow that would go to it! Come on people!





Smarmy Email Tags:

Mine-Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

Theirs-Notice: It’s OK to print this e-mail. Paper is a biodegradable, renewable, sustainable product made from trees. Growing and harvesting trees provides jobs for millions of Americans, and working forests are good for the environment, providing clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat and carbon storage.

Word-
fap: The onomatopoeic representation of masturbation. Often used to suggest something is attractive.

More Things That Get Me By

A continuation of a list of small things that make me happy . . .

breezes
dreamy memories
feeling needed
feeling wanted
randomly buying a gift for someone
randomly receiving a gift from someone
my blankets
my pillows
a mirror's reflections being more beautiful than expected
pale skin
wanting to keep talking to someone
cool breezy weather
crazy socks
New York
serenades
something such as a word, smell, or sight that reminds one of another person, as though life were a memory book
The sun being so bright that it turns my hair into gold
clavicles
pink and green
the sounds that shoes make
closing tired eyes that have awaited sleep
old suitcases
maps
dreams that I never want to wake from
watching some one you adore
having a shoulder to cry on
music
when the bus drivers wave to one another when passing
great hugs
telling the truth all the time
knowing that you are important to someone
seeing some one's face for the first time after having seen then for many years
taking a break from everyone
naps
holding doors open for people
having the door held open for me
finding a journal from years ago, re-reading it, and finding how much or how little has changed
getting to talk to someone you really enjoy talking to
not growing up
going to the graveyard, being completely alone, and being able to cry for whatever reason pleases you
someone dedicating a song to you
my Grinders (shoes)
knowing people that are such great people they deserve everything wonderful the world has to offer
"mate"




[Editor's Note: Content on this list was taken from Steph's original list started prior to 2000].

How Will the Pub Pull This Off?

I have to admit that I am rather enjoying this lyrics game. For starters, I’m always the person with her headphones in her ears, so it’s not like I even have to think twice about listening to music. My second point is that I have some lyrics that I absolutely love, and some lyrics I’ve always wanted to look up because I can’t understand them. I find that it’s rather fun in general; the problem is that no one has really tried to guess any of the songs. Maybe they have and don’t know the songs, which makes sense because even after looking them I have to think about what the song could be, and I wrote them! I am starting a new list that is the couple lines of lyrics that I love about a particular song rather than the first lines of the song. I’m being a little more selective about the song this time too. Perhaps some one will know these lyrics a little better!

I recently noticed a bulletin in MySpace about the Pub having their first live music ever. This will be good, for many a year I have thought it would be a great space for a small band. Of course now that it is reality I am wondering where and how the Pub will pull this off. I’m hoping Becky, my faithful reader, will comment to let me know in what exact space the Dynamos will be playing. A three dollar cover charge is about the right amount of money to charge too! I make no promises to show up though, I am a total slacker, just so everyone one knows up front! I do good anymore to know what day it is!

I believe that since I am in a relatively crabby mood, I will cheer myself up with a continuation of my list of small things that make me happy!

The sound of the white out pen being shaken on the other side of the cube wall
Blogging, both reading and writing (stephysite.blogspot.com, stephysite-picaday.blogspot.com, hoklife.com)
People confused about what blogging is . . . it’s a vast array of things too large to narrow down
Taking a really great photograph
Getting complimented on that really great photograph by others that take really great photographs
Writing out my favorite lyrics like they are poetry to share with others
Successfully multi-tasking
The beady eyes of my surely Canadian American Bulldog Bella
The look Riley gets on his face the moment just before he barks, a seriously look that says, “Oh no, don’t make me talk back!”
My pink TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Calculator, it was my screen shot for HS:MS:HS
A good night’s sleep, especially when it’s storming outside and you can hear the rain hitting the roof/window

OKAY, so enough of that for the day, I’ll move onto the word of the day.

Phone grope: Grabbing at pockets, patting one’s self down to make sure you have your cell phone and don’t need to turn around and go back home for it.

In Use:
Dude 1: Dude, stop that!
Dude 2: Stop what?
Dude 1: Quit the phone grope, you’re always grabbing at your pockets as soon as we’re on the road, did you remember your cell phone?

I Don't Think I Blog Too Much

I told you I'd be blogging more, but really, for those of you that think I blog too much, well too bad! I'm bloggy these days!

Okay, so for my slang word of the day...
hella: 1. Very, totally. 2. Lots of. Short for "a hell of a lot of".

I'll be using it this blog...keep your eyes peeled and ready! By the way, the "Urban Dictionary" street slang is courtesy of Andrew McMeel Publishing, LLC, Kansas City, Mo.

So I think it would benefit everyone to blog, as I've mentioned before, so why aren't you? No one has to read it (or at least I will be, I need reading material). Badger and Becky could have home improvement blogs. Mike could do alcohol! Eva could do gross body stuff! Maureen could be writing about brain disections and psychology! Shane could write about Ireland. Tyler could blog about skateboarding and his journeys in Japan! Oh well, I don't want to force you to write, it's not fair; I'll just be hopeful.

So I am at work today and tired. I couldn't fall asleep so I dozed off at about 2:30, got up at 6. I feel dead, soda and music are helping. I caught the bus in today instead of catching a ride with Chris; all the regulars were there, nice to see them. New bus driver though. I have hella work to do today with deadline on Monday. It won't all get done, which I am sad to say is expected!

Anyway, on to my list of little things that get me by everyday...
-Diet Cola
-Internet access at basically any time I want it
-Pulling the wire on the bus that indates a stop is needed by a passenger