Six Word Saturday

very busy working - and loving it!

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

La Cucaracha

This happened yesterday morning while Joe was still other-coasting it for work.

me: Can our pest control do anything about cockroaches?
Joe: Ugh, another one?
me: Yeah, in the downstairs bathroom sink. I went in to check my face quick before I left and it was in there looking at me.
Joe: I'm sorry, I'll call tomorrow. What did you do?
me: I put on some water.
Joe: You mean, you sat down and had tea?
me: No, ew, I don't drink tea.
Joe: I don't follow.
me: I put on some water. Got it all boiling hot. Poured it down the sink. Goodbye Mr. Bug!
Joe: Seriously?
me: Seriously.
Joe: Why didn't you just squish it?
me: Ewww. That's even nastier than drinking tea.

Bugs should not be allowed to invade the house ever, but especially not when husbands are away.

P.S. Generally, I'm a non-violent person, even to bugs, (in practice anyways, not so much in words) but creepy bugs inside my house don't belong there. And if Joe's not home to catch and release, I do what I have to do to protect me and my kitties.

A test for you

Don't worry, this test is multiple choice. You may begin at any time.

You are a Toyota Prius. You beep and display the "low fuel" light. Fifteen miles later, having not passed a single gas station, you start to feel desperate. Do you:

a) beep again, more urgently,
b) display a warning message that "Failure to add gas immediately may result in battery damage and a visit to the dealer,"
c) keep operating normally until you actually run out of gas and stall,
or
d) light up warnings on the dashboard for: VSC (vehicle stability control), brakes, engine, service, and wheels while emitting a high-pitched alarm and flashing "PROBLEM, PROBLEM, PROBLEM!" causing your driver to pull to the side of the road immediately, proceed down the shoulder at 15 mph to the nearest travel station, fill the tank, drive 50mph the remaining 80 miles home with no a/c (because it could be battery-related), and schedule an appointment at the dealer the next day only to be officially diagnosed with having low fuel?

Yeah, I bet you all got it right.

P.S. Stupid car.
P.P.S. The important part is that we got home safely.
P.P.P.S. It's a relief that the car did not need an expensive repair.
P.P.P.P.S. Joe has the best Toyota dealer in the world - they didn't charge us for the visit.
P.P.P.P.P.S. Stupid car.

Don't try this at home

Recent chat with my husband, me at home, him at an airport on the way to somewhere...

me: Be right back, going to shower quick before it storms.
Joe: It's already storming, you should wait.
me: Only a little. It's going to get worse so I'll go now and be fast.
Joe: You should wait until it stops.
me: That's going to be a long time!!!
Joe: Yes, but I don't want you to get electrocuted.
me: Pfft. How many people have you heard of that actually happening to?
Joe: None.
me: See?
Joe: Because nobody is dumb enough to shower during a storm.

I'm sure he thinks he won this one. Except what he doesn't know (unless he reads my blog, which he never does) is that I went and showered anyways.

And totally didn't die.

I win.

Six World Saturday

something wrong with the world today
i don't know what it is

Today's six words x2 brought to you by the esteemed philosophers otherwise known as Aerosmith. I'm writing my 6WS post, as usual, on Friday so it can be ready for all of you late-nighters/early-risers. And the news this morning is heartbreaking. As it often is, which is why I'm often guilty of ignoring the news as much as possible. Which is why it's kind of bizarre that I'm working a contract that involves me spending 40+ hours a week monitoring the news.

Anyways, please be kind to each other. Which is six words. I probably should've just gone with that...

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

Someone like me

Know how small electrical appliances have bizarre warnings on them and you always think - who in the world would do something so stupid? because you know SOMEONE must've done it. And probably sued and won a bazillion dollars and now they have to put the warnings on there.

I'm talking about the hairdryer that specifies "Do not use in bath." Or, the label on peanut butter that says "WARNING: May contain nuts." Or the coffee that says "Contents may be hot."

So, coming soon to a store near you, a sports bra that says "WARNING: failure to wear correctly may result in chafing across the chest that looks like a horizontal surgical cut and no amount of aloe or antibiotic ointment or anything else you think of to put on it will make the burning stop."

And when you see that and you think what IDIOT managed to pinch the skin in their sports bra in such a way that this happened?, you can think of me. Because if it wasn't me personally, it was someone like me.

Also?

Ouch.

The elephant in the room...

...it's me! No, that's probably not indicative of a positive self-image but I'm being realistic here. I'm a smart, funny, amazing person - who happens to be carrying around 100 extra pounds. So by calling myself an elephant, I'm just making light of the fact that I'm not at all light.

Anyways!

Yesterday started Plan #1222. Why Plan #1222? I figure I've had at least 1221 plans before that haven't worked. Plus, 1222 is the number of calories livestrong.com says I'm allowed to eat in order to lose 2 lbs a week. I'd rather lose about 50 lbs a week and be done with it but apparently there's no healthy way to do that. So, instead, Plan #1222. Counting calories, working out, vitamins, 64 oz of water.

I hate counting calories. HATE! But I've found it's the best way to hold myself accountable. It also motivates me to go to the gym to "earn" extra calories. That's important to me, not just so I can eat more but because I really believe that regardless of your weight (probably the more you weigh, the more this is true), regular exercise is good for your heart and lungs and other parts and functions. It's good to stimulate the old ticker every so often! By counting calories, I'm more likely to go to the gym and use the elliptical for an hour than if I'm doing some eating plan that says "eat everything you want but it has to be this or that!"

I had a good start yesterday. Though I felt hungry a lot, I managed to do 45 minutes on the elliptical (not the hour I was doing at my peak but not bad for the first time back in awhile) and end the day well below my calorie limit. Today, I'm going to ride my recumbent bike at home I think, so I can go to the gym again tomorrow when I'm not working.

This is just one more piece of the puzzle as I work towards World Domination. And a healthier me. Lately, I've been making progress on a lot of those pieces. I'm excited to see what the final picture looks like once I have them all assembled!

me: I did great drinking today! Just finished 32 oz now, plus I drank 40 oz at the gym.
Joe: You drank 40 oz of gin?

My husband, ever supportive, ever sidetracked with his own things.

Six Word Saturday

feels so good to be plotting

My novel, that is. And also still working on world domination.

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

A Question of Duty

Since I've been so awesome at completing my to-do lists lately (hence my 6WS post), I didn't want to let today's streak end my amazing run. Besides, it wasn't that I was lazy. I just spent most of the day working on a project that I had intended to spread out over several days.

All of which leaves me at 8pm wondering if it's ok not to finish my list for today because I worked on a MAJOR project from days ahead.

Don't worry - I don't need you to weigh in. I'm determined to finish everything on my list. And one of those things included "post on SMF." It didn't say "post something brilliant on SMF."

Checking that one off my list...

Six Word Saturday

productive week behind, productive week ahead

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. I love seeing what everyone does with their entries.

Each week (probably on Sunday or Monday), I use random.org to select a bunch of entries to visit.  Or I visit everyone. Or even numbered entries. Or odd numbered entries. Or multiples of three. Depends on what's going on that week.  In addition, please visit the person ahead of you on the list (or visit everyone if you like!). That way everyone receives at least one visit!

If you play along in your blog, please add a link to the Mr. Linky. I appreciate a link back (shiny code below if you like!). Otherwise, you're welcome to leave your six words in this post as a comment.

Please be sure to link either to your main page or (preferably) directly to the 6WS post. Links to blogs that do not contain a 6WS entry will be removed (sorry, just the button in the sidebar doesn't count as participating).

<a href="http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS"><img src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp35/showmyface/guts/6wsButton.jpg" /></a>

And so it begins

Today is the first at-home day of Joe's new job. I've been working from home now for quite awhile and I've become accustomed to having the place to myself during the day. And he's been accustomed to an often lousy commute to an office where he ran from meeting to meeting with some periods of time in his cubicle in the middle of a noisy space.

This is going to be a big change for both of us. But I'm excited for it to be a good change. This is one of those examples of a time when our attitude and approach can make a big difference.

We are fortunate that our home is large enough to provide us with separate work spaces. An upstairs bedroom serves as his office and he can close the door. We also have a bonus room over the garage where my craft desk and work desk are located. And then there's the downstairs where I sometimes go to escape the heat (the bonus room is poorly insulated).

He actually started the new job on Monday. He traveled to meet his boss and his boss's boss for two days of orientation. It's already clear that this job is going to require a lot of flexibility and ability to roll with the circumstances (something I'm not exactly known for). Monday night, he told me he'd be working from home all next week. Tuesday at noon, we found out they're putting him on a project that will involve travel the first part of the week. This is apparently typical.


I think the biggest key to making this work for both of us will involve respect. We both need to respect boundaries and space. We need to not interrupt. We need to be aware that we have different working styles. We need to both kind of go about our day individually while being aware that we aren't the only ones working in this space. And we're both going to need to locate our headphones. 


Communication will be important too. Yay for living in a digital age - we have a shared online space that we use to communicate a lot of those little things that come up during the day. You don't want to forget them, but you also don't want to interrupt to share them RIGHT NOW! They don't usually require immediate attention so on the list they go for whenever the other person has the time to look them over. We use similar tools to keep track of things that need to be done to the house, items to pick up at the grocery store, etc. It's worked for us in the past so I'm hoping it keeps working.

It's going to be a very all-or-nothing situation with this job. Forget going into the office in the morning and coming home at some point in the evening. He's either going to be here all day or he's going to be gone all day. Good times...

Anyone out there who works from home or has a spouse working from home or you're both home during the day or he travels? Any tips for making this a productive experience? 

Why I'm a Cat Person

File this under "Things I wouldn't know without Twitter."

A twitter conversation yesterday resulted in a serious "a-ha!" moment. That moment? The realization of why I am a cat person and not so much a dog person.

Warning: it's about to get a little EWWWW up in here.

Melinda's hungry dog decided to help himself to a snack from her toddler's little potty. And, because this is why Twitter exists, she shared her disgust with the rest of us. Which reminded me of the day my dog puked. And then ate it.

Cats may have their own issues but I've never seen a cat do either of those things. Which is why I am a cat person.

P.S. This post was for tomorrow. But I'm a moron and clicked "Publish" instead of "Save" and then I reverted back to draft but it was too late because it went via RSS so you can all read it anyways so WHATEVER. FINE. Have the post. See if I care.

P.P.S. But I'm not posting again tomorrow. Unless I'm a moron again.

P.P.P.S. It's entirely possible that if I'll be a moron again tomorrow.

Pointless

Today, like most days, I feel the urge to blog. Today, like most days, no real idea what to blog about. Or what purpose to serve. So I'm going to ramble a bit.

Joe started his new job this morning. He had all of last week off which was great because he needed the break. However, since it was so last-minute, we weren't able to plan anything exciting. Also, I had planned on him being away all week originally so I went from "no husband!!!" to "all husband all the time!!!".

I love my husband. But I think (for various reasons) we were both happy for him to be out of town today and tomorrow starting the new job.

While he's gone, I'm trying to do ALL THE THINGS!!! (It also appears I am trying to use ALL THE EXCLAMATION POINTS!!! and ALL THE SHOUTY CAPITAL LETTERS!!!) Nothing too exciting - it's too hot here to do anything too exciting. But I'm finishing some projects and starting some projects and generally taking care of business. Which feels amazing.

I thought I might post about my sick cat (Tonya) or not having insurance for the first time in almost 14 years or how this is a whole new beginning for both of us so I'm excited to also take advantage of it or how I need to lose 97 pounds so is it just better to say 100 or how I had a total panic attack Saturday that was originally about lack of insurance but progressed until I was freaking out about being fat and dying alone and wanting my missing sweater. Any of that sound interesting?

Probably not-so-much. Which is why I've been blogging a lot lately. Welcome to being me.