For the LOVE of Pete...enough already

Enough! No really, stop it! Quit it!

I know my "whining" about snow is nothing by comparison to the wicked weather other parts of the country are getting. But Seattle rarely, if ever, gets snow. And we've had our fair share of it this year. I've decided I'm packing it all up (the snow that is) and sending it to Kansas, where it belongs. Or North Dakota. They surely need it.

If you couldn't tell yet, but it snowed again today. Mother Nature really has been in a fowl (foul, fawl, fowel?) mood.

For all those who believe that global warming is bunk...I will gladly throw a snow ball in your face.

Skid Marks in the toilet bowl of humanity

My bad, for not getting all the jackasses information. This is true. But I went with the idea that perhaps, people, in general, are honest. Why not give humanity a chance to prove to me that they are an honest lot? Instead of being cynical and critical and not believing a complete stranger. Why not give this complete stranger a chance to prove to me that people are not germs? I believed BeemerBoy when he stated that he had integrity and was an honest person and that he'd follow this through. Uh huh! Right!

Previous blogs I mentioned that I was going to practice the positive attitude thing. Unfortunately this is a situation isn't helping prove to me that positive energy out means positive energy back. I'm not ready to throw in the towel though on this idea. Not yet anyhow. But give me a few more weeks.

I can only blame myself really. I was taught that when in an accident get all the information. ALL of it! Yet I allowed myself to be distracted and allowed myself to believe BeemerBoy and now I probably am going to have to pay the price for it. (Roughly $700 + the cost of a rental car). Damn BeemerBoy.

I do, however, hold solice that BeemberBoy will get his. I, obviously won't be around to witness it, but he will get his. I believe the universe holds true to at least negative energy out = negative energy back. I'm still waiting for the proof of positive energey out = positive energy back.

Either way you look at it, BeemerBoy is a jackass!

Me Smart

OMG...I laughed out loud when I saw this video. Enjoy!

the Stang is "officially" broken in

First a history lesson. In 1999 I purchased a 2000 Mustang Coup. My baby. I adored that car - much like I adore my current Mustang. Then in October of 2000 I got rear ended and they totaled the Stang. I was heart broken. Much like the new stang.

No, it hasn't been totaled, but yes I got rear ended today. I'm fine - thanks for asking. But more importantly the baby is fine.

The "irony" here is what got me laughing at this whole stupid event.

We have here, and I'm sure other places do too, metered on ramps. I was rolling along waiting patiently for my turn for the green light. About three cars in front of me. The thought that literally crossed my mind is how easy it would be to roll into the person in front of you if you weren't paying attention. Then WHAM I get it.

I literally say out loud in my car, "You've got to f*cking be kidding me." I pull to the side. The guy who hit me gets out of his car, his hands clasped to the side of his head shaking it as if he couldn't believe it. Then I hear it. I hear music blaring from the inside of his car. The song, Dulcinea from Man of La Mancha. I mean really, what are the odds?

The guy proceeds to tell me he was listening to this song when he saw my license plates (remember they say Dulcnea) and he couldn't believe that he was listening to that song and saw the plates, and he completely missed my brake lights.

I was dumb founded. (When I told my mom this story what was her question? Not "Are you okay?" Not "how's the car?" No. Her first question was, "Did he have a ring?" My mother. Subtle isn't she?)

Anyhow, I am still a bit amazed at the irony involved in getting hit by a guy playing Dulcinea because he was staring up my tail pipe (that sounds bad, doesn't it?)

But as I said, the car is fine. Not even a scratch. He really didn't hit me that hard, we weren't going but a half of a mile per hour. I feel fine. I do feel a bit tight and sore, but can't determine if it was post work out pain or car hitting pain.

All you wanted to know about me and high school

This particular questionnaire has impeccable timing. As discussions are ramping up for the planning of my TWENTY YEAR reunion. I still have a hard time believing it's been twenty years. Seems almost impossible.

Who was your best friend?
Oh heavens. I guess I would have to say it would depend on the year and the high school. But for the most part, its safe to say one/all of the following: Billie, Laura, Tammy, Vicky, Christy, Claudia, MikeG, and Jorga.

What sports did you play?
Volleyball and marching band / rifles (yes marching band was a sport – I got out of PE for it)

What kind of car did you drive?
1971 Ford Country Squire station wagon with wood paneling. It was da bomb. It got 8 gallons to the mile. No lie.

It's Friday night, where were you?
Field shows at the football games. Or in later high school years at the “disco” – we had dances every Friday night at TASIS.

Were you a party animal?
I saved that for college.

Were you considered a flirt?
I wouldn’t say that. Though I thought I was flirting a lot – only to find out recently that, in fact, I suck at flirting.

Ever skip school?
Only once. Senior Skip day. Me and a few friends went to Nice for the weekend. I got to play volleyball on the beach, well on a cement platform on the beach, with guys in speedo’s. All of whom said in heavy French accents, “but girls do not play volleyball.” Yah um – step aside Pepe…this girl does.

Were you in any clubs?
Aside from my own personal clubs that me and a few friends created, not really. Though I was an active participant in my local church group. OH and I was on the yearbook staff at Redmond and later at TASIS. That counts, right?

Suspended?
If I ever were I certainly would be a live to be writing about it now!

Can you sing the fight song?
Who had fight songs in high school? I do, however, have letters from each high school I attended. If I were to get a letterman’s jacket for all of them I’d look like Joseph wearing is amazing technocolored jacket.

Who was your favorite teacher?
That would be Mrs. Penn at Quartz Hill (sophomore year) Mrs. Lucini and Mr. Whisnant at TASIS. In fact, Mrs. Penn and I still correspond.

What was your favorite class?
Lunch

What was your school's full name?
Well let’s see
9th Grade – Antelope Valley High School
10th Grade – Quartz Hill High School and Redmond High School
11th Grade – Redmond High School and The American School in Switzerland (TASIS)
12th Grade – The American School in Switzerland.
Side Note: I'd like to comment that when I was attending these schools we didn't have websites, nor was the internet really around. Which makes me wonder how on earth did we EVER get school work done, or know anything about what was going on.

School mascot?
AV = The antelopes - dah
QH = Home of the Rebels
Redmond High Mustangs and
TASIS – er ah – Mike? Any idea? I don’t think we had a mascot, unless you count the townies.

Did you go to dances?
Like Yah. To this day, I regret not asking Mike Pomerleau to the Saddie Hawkins before Denise whatever did. I rarely went with a date, usually a girl friend and I. And in my early years you could find me firmly planted against the wall praying no one would ask me to dance, unless it was Mike P of course. If you could go back and do it over again, would you? I would do TASIS again. And I’d take with me my photography skills and go and see more. All the other high school drama can stay in the past.

What do you remember most about graduation?
It was hot and sunny. My family flying all the way over to Switzerland to watch me graduate. White dresses for the girls and nice suits for the guys. And I soooo wanted to wear a cap and gown, but we didn’t.

Favorite memory of your Senior Year?
Oh god…that was 20 years ago. I’m not sure I can pick one, but my fondest memories are of Mike G / Claudia and Me triangle, ham and cheese sandwiches from Angelos and traveling around Italy.

Were you ever posted up on the senior wall?
WTF? What’s a senior wall? And no, I wouldn’t have been posted on it…unless it was for biggest slacker.

Where did you go most often for lunch?
I don’t remember lunch at AV. At QH Laura and I would frequently split burritos. TASIS lunch was served in the dining room and there were no other options.

Have you gained weight since high school?
Hasn't everyone?

What did you do after graduation?
Traveled around Germany with the family, then flew back to Riyadh Saudi Arabia for the summer. After working there at USMTM (United States Military Training Mission) I came back home to go to WSU.

When did you graduate? June 5, 1987.

Where are most of your classmates? A planet called Earth (I'm assuming).

Did you have a high school sweetheart?
Well not technically. I did, however, have two major crushes. And their names were Mike (P and G)

Have you changed since?
God I hope so.

Have you been to your high school since you graduated?
I wish. Some day I will visit TASIS again. I did go to the 10 year reunion in Boston and tentatively planning on the 20 year in DC.

Happy 24th Birthday to Me!

Yes that's right my lovelies. I'm 24 - Two & 4 - Twenty - Four TODAY.

No really. I am.

No lie.

I know. I know. I just complained about turning 38 in December. But today I'm 24.

Today is the day my dad and I celebrate the day he adopted me. 24 years ago today he decided that he wanted to be responsible for me as a father figure. (I am still not 100% sure what he was smoking that day, but whatever!)

Through the years we have both grown - mentally and most certainly physically. We've seen the world together, experiencing some of the most memorable moments of my life.

And what did I get as a birthday gift from dad? A Vermont Teddy Bear. Oddly I had never heard of these little creatures. But on Valentine's Day a co-worker got one from her husband. And now today I get one. Ain't he cute?

So Valentine's Day came and went and I truly believe shelling out the love that day brought love back to me. I picked up a box of Russell Stover chocolates for Blueberry (aka Cousin). Her dad used to buy her a box of chocolates every VD. Being that her dad passed away last April, I thought I'd pick up that tradition for him. She was thrilled. Even more thrilled that I bought the smaller box rather than the bigger box for caloric reasons.

Then from Blueberry I got two Starbuck special order cupcakes. Delish. Here are the cupcakes. My apologies that they look half eaten. It wasn't until we were chowing down on them I thought about taking a picture.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!

Now, those of you who know me are probably waiting for the sarcastic, though witty, remark about how I hate Valentine's Day. And it's true I have treated this holiday with a certain degree of disdain. But no'mo!

One of my favorite songs of all time is Depeche Mode's song "Somebody." It has explained for years how I feel about love. If you haven't heard it, the song is a love song...sorta. It starts off sounding all beautiful and lovely. The singer basically telling the world how much he loves this person, and how much this person makes him feel complete. Then the last line of the song,

"Things like this. Make me sick. In a case like this, I get away with it."

See, it's really saying its all crap. And that my loverlies is how I've seen love.

I thought I had it once, but come to find out that it was a mirage. And that added to my lack of belief in love.

I could go down a list of men/boys that I've felt compelled to share my heart with - who sadly may not have felt the same - and that added to it.

All of it. Lack of love stacked on lack of love, each being a brick that I've successfully built around this beautiful heart that is mine.

Now, that's not to say I don't love people...because I do...I just don't want to love and feel love because that = pain. And pain is no good.

And that is how my thought process has worked all these years. But, as I stated above, no' mo'!

That's right kids, you read it first here. Jennifer is going to find the love. I'm going to exude love and I guarantee you it'll come back to me ten fold. The negativity I have been spewing for years has. So why can't the same work for love.

I watched Oprah the other day and she had a panel on there talking about "The Secret". I don't normally give a whole lot of thought about things on Oprah, but it was one of those *things* that someone said that made me think about my existence.

I've long since believed that everything comes to us for a reason. Religious folks would argue that there's a "plan" already laid out and that's why. But for me, I think it's more that all things are connected. You've heard the phrase, "what goes around comes around". And it's true. Though its usually used in negative terms. But what if its true for positive energy too. What if, you feel the love, you'll get the love?

And so, I'm doing an experiment. I'm trying to feel the love! I'm trying to take what I normally would be cynical and sarcastic toward and turn it around. It won't happen over night, and I don't expect it to. But what if the vibe I've been sending off to the world is that of negativity and lack of love? What if I send off a different vibe - a smellier vibe - that smells of love?

Anything that happens to me is within my reach to change. I've always hated people who play the victim. The person who blames the world for all their problems in their life. So maybe now its time to stop playing the victim with regard to love. Maybe its time to be the love. Feel the love and take the love.

Can you feel it? It nauseating isn't it. But it's gotta feel good!

It's Electric!

I think I might have a magnetic personality. Oddness sometimes follows me. It collects and pools at my feet and then explodes all over. Let's take today for example. Actually, let's start with last night.

The Big Black Beast of Burden (BBBB) who lives with me (aka Pookie) last night was slinking around the place. He gets in this low rider mode when things freak him out. So all night he was spooked, with this wild-eye'd look on his face. I was convinced we were going to have an earthquake.

Then this morning I woke up and my alarm clock was flashing. Odd. So I got up and checked the cell phone and set its alarm. Still no power when I got up. So I went off to the gym to get ready...the only place I knew of that had power. And my blow dryer didn't work. Very strange.

Anyhow, I progressed through my day and suddenly I open the door to our office on the way back from lunch and we lose power. Now we're all working on half power. Like a brown out or something.

I'm starting to think its me and that maybe I shouldn't drive the stang.

Red red wine you make me feel so fine

The Anti-Valentine's Day Wine tasting party was, I think, a success. As I mentioned the usual suspects were in attendance. I made a kickass meal (Chicken with Mustard Marscapone Sauce) and we had an abundance of wine. Note on the wine picture the bottles with dust. Mark and Vanessa brought them with the dust to show that they were "vintage". Even though they really weren't all that "vintage."

I went to Central Market to buy the ingredients for the dinner and decided to browse through their wine section. A dangerous thing to be sure. This time a tad bit more dangerous. I know you're wondering why. I can tell. I have ESP or something. Central Market has the HOTTEST Wine Guy ever (HWGE). He caught my eye and sauntered over to ask if he could help me.
"Um yah, you can help me." I say while I think, "Oh you're the one who's gonna need help."

I explained to him what I was doing and he proceeded to show me 4 bottles of wine. Three of which I couldn't live without. So I bought them. I'm only human you see. The HWGE said they were good, I had to take him at his word. He wouldn't lie to me.

Cousin won the prize for the best White. AND... cousin went to Central Market too. She too had the HWGE talk her into a bottle of wine. Her wine: Esporao Reserva 2004.

Mark and Vanessa won the prize for the best red. Their wine: Hogue Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 from Columbia Valley. Very tasty.

I spent a good part of today getting scrapbook pages together to take with me next weekend to a crop. In the process I found these pictures.

1975 - Look! I actually work a bikini once in my life.

Left to Right: My older sister Melanie, Mom (Hotty!),

Me (Hotty-er) and some lady I don't know.

1975 - Who the hell dressed me?

Red shirt, tan pants, and blue socks.

Nice hair mom. That style's back now days

Left to Right: Me, mom, some baby, and sister Melanie

1970 or so: Left to right: me and sister Melanie.
My destiny to be a Cougar at an early age.
(Washington State Univ has a reputation of being a party school and it was).

Let the Anti-VD Day Games Begin

Tonight I'm hosting an anti-Valentine's Day Wine Tasting gathering at my place. The usual suspects will all be in attendance, so it should be "entertaining". In previous years I've had a brunch for Anti-Vd Day (Yes. I realize the word "day" after VD is actually a double dose of "day". As the Patron Saint of Smartmouths says on her blog, "My blog. My rules.")

Yesterday, however, was the Dudley Valentine's Night of Love. Me, not being a huge Valentine's Day person (for my own personal reasons) felt obligated to go see the boys display their pure love to the masses. And display it they did. Though I have to admit, not exactly the most exciting show I've been too, in fact, a little dull.

And if that's not enough to WoW you (no Ken, that's not War of Witchcraft or whatever the hell its called). How about this new kicken hair due of mine. If you removed my actual face from the picture, I assure you it's a cute haircut. Short and Sassy.

Now this last picture I took of the darling little black beast of burden that lives with me. My friend Kara was over this last weekend and brought her son Ben with her. Ben found this little cat stuffed animal in my room and brought it out. The cat was made my my grandparents many moons ago. Grandma and Grandpa Spaid decided to make these goofy looking animals for

some extra cash. They had all sorts of animals, but I liked the cat the most. And apparently so does the Pookman. I came home from work and found him using the little cat stuffed animal as a pillow. I thought, momentarily, about moving it

from him, but he looked so peaceful and sleepy I couldn't do it.

Have You Seen My Marbles?

So it really should read, "Have you seen my hair?" But every time I look in the mirror, for some reason yet to be understood at a later therapist session, I think of that old guy in the movie Hook (Schmee) who goes around looking for his marbles.

Anyhow, yes my pretties, I got all my hair chopped off. I'll see about posting a picture this weekend. It was getting unmanageable and boring. Just like me. (Oh wait.) Anyhow, I went to a new stylist yesterday. Brave, I'd say to have a new stylist whack off all your hair, but what the hell.

By the time I left the chair, there was approximately 3 tons of hair on the floor. I couldn't believe it. 6.5 inches off the back. My hair - WAS - just below my collar line and is now about a quart of inch long in the back. The front, though is still relatively long-ish. It's an drastic angle really. Short in back, long in front. Not quite 80's look...after all a scrunchy won't fit in it.

Anyhow, I wanted something stylish, hip, easy and sassy....I think I got all those.

In other news, DMQ Valentine's show tonight. Cousin Sherrie are going to struggle to stay awake long enough to see at least 2 sets.

Oh, and I'm freaking out about my job still. I love it. Can't say enough good things about it. But I'm anxious as virgin bride on her wedding night.

Oh and I just recieved a photo of the house they work out of in the UK. The house is older than the US, if you can believe it. Actually, its not that hard to believe anything in Europe is older than the US.

Busy Child

There are certain things about myself that when they happen, I know unequivocally that something is up.

For starters, if I'm not hungry then I'm likely sick.

And

If I haven't blogged in more than a day, I'm likely loving my job and too busy to even think of anything coherent to write about.

If I dream about work, then I know I'm in deep.

If I eat weird combinations of food, then I know I'm stressed (for example my dinner of champions tonight was Captain Crunch cereal and Diet Dr. Pepper. No the Diet DP wasn't ON the Captain Crunch...sheesh...I'm not that odd...yet) (and does Captain Crunch tear up anyone elses roof of their mouth?)

I knew this day would come in which all the leisure time of learning and taking my time to do things would end. And it has. Oh boy has it. I reached, officially, 100 emails in my inbox today. That may not seem like a big deal to most, but when you start a new job, your email consumption is way low. And I was waiting, rather hoping, that my email consumption would reach at least something in the vicinity of the rest of the team.

I've been handed a few projects suddenly, and am very glad to have them. Now the real learning can begin. Of course, now the real f*ck up's can now begin too. I've had little mini anxiety attacks related to my abilities to PM. I know that I can do it, and have done it. But there's a nagging little voice (maybe a separate personality for all I know) that keeps piping up and says, "What have you done? You can't do this. You have fooled everyone, and now they'll see you for who you are." Luckily the other Sassy Jenn usually kicks the Miss LackLuster in the butt and it all goes away with a trip to Starbucks.

Of course if you asked the PMDude that I work with, he'd probably laugh at my so called "busy-ness". He's slammed, and I'm so sure that'll be me in a few weeks/days/hours/minutes.

So if you don't hear from me as much as when I had nothing to do at work, its because I am working. Odd, isn't it? They want me to work. The hell.

Ta.
That's British for Bye. I guess.

The Baby has new cloths...

Finally.

My baby has new cloths. It's been sad driving around with it all nekked and all. Poor thing.

And in fact it's been awhile since I've given any Mustang update at all. What have I been thinking? I know what you're thinking right now, "When we she EVER get a life so she can stop blogging about that damn car and the damn weather?" It's raining again, but thanks for asking.

Back to the car...she's a beauty still. Dirty, but beautiful. I washed her last week but our parking lot at work is like a dirt road with all the left over gravel from the great snow we had here. So the car becomes very dusty...very. Yesterday, oh wait, today rather we hit 7300 miles. And it's not even 6 months old. Wait? Is it? Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov Dec, Jan...holy crap...I've had the baby for 6 months. YeeHAW! That's Texan for "alrighty then."

But I digress...shocking, I know. New clothes. Yep. That's what she has. A. New. Pair. Of. Clothes. I ordered this particular item in October. Can't ever say that Washington State of licensing isn't fast as lightening. The first pair...lost. Never got them, never to be seen. The second pair - reordered in December - just arrived today. I, naturally, dropped everything and put them on. 

Dulcinea [dull sin A "as in hay" a "as in dah"], in case you're wondering is don Quixote's girlfriend. The story goes, and I'm not making this up. Back in college I took a class that was a Seminar on Cervantes - the author of DQ. I joked with my college pals when they'd ask me to go out, I'd say, "Can't. Got a date with Cervantes." And yes mom, I did study, occasionally. Anyhow, somehow it became my favorite book. I decided to name my second car with this prestigious title of Dulcinea. It's followed me on ever car I've owned since (well okay the bank currently "really" owns it). See, Dulcinea was a princess to DQ. He saw her and thought she the most beautiful woman in all the land. He swore then and there that he'd make her his muse. His reason for being a knight errant. Sadly, in real life she, Dulcinea, was a bar tramp. I'm not saying I'm a bar tramp pretending to be a princess...but if the shoe fits. My friend Lars, many years ago, told me I should get a license plate cover that says, "My other personality is Aldonza" (Dulcinea's real name).

And finally this...I give you the song lyrics. (They did a musical called Man of La Mancha in case you're wondering. And in case you're not...too bad)

I have dreamed thee too long,

Never seen thee or touched thee.

But known thee with all of my heart.

Half a prayer, half a song,

Thou hast always been with me,

Though we have been always apart.

Dulcinea... Dulcinea...

I see heaven when I see thee, Dulcinea,

And thy name is like a prayer An angel whispers...

Dulcinea... Dulcinea!

I have sought thee, sung thee,

Dreamed thee, Dulcinea!

Now I've found thee, And the world shall know thy glory, Dulcinea... Dulcinea!

Put on your Big Girl Panties and deal with it.

That is quoted directly from my brother Michael. Today, I fear, finally, I’m going to have to put said panties on. Yes, boys and girls, I’ve gone kicking and screaming, but alas, I think I must grow up and deal with an enormous problem that has plagued me for years.

Money. Management.

Now in previous years, managing my funds was easy. There wasn’t any. Oh sure a few scraps of a dollar here an there. But for the most part, no $$ to really manage. Plus then I got paid on a very regular schedule so you could make $50 stretch for two weeks, easily.

Last year was the grand-daddy year. I got paid EVERY THURSDAY. That. Rocks. I could make a large chunk payment toward any credit card wishing for my $$ and still be fine, generally only have to suffer through a weekend of perhaps not doing anything outside my apt.

Now, working for this new company, I am a contractor for 3-6 months first, then a full time employee. The new contract company I’m working for pays every other Friday. A bit more challenging for me to manage $$ and schedule my bills accordingly, but I’ll survive. AND in the month of March, I’ll get paid THREE Times. One of those paychecks is, for all intensive purposes, free $$.

Ah…. Not so fast electric money spender.

Assuming I go FTE in April as planned, then this is where it gets interesting. The new company pays every MONTH. Yes, you read that correctly and I almost choked as I typed it. They get paid monthly. Do you know what this is going to do to me? I’m going to have to *gasp* save! And *gasp* budget. And *gasp* think ahead. By the last day of each month I’ll be eating crumbs off my kitchen floor.

The best part of this equation is that I should “officially” be hired as an FTE on April 3rd. Which means, you guessed it, I have to way until May 1st for a paycheck. Which now also means that that so-called “free paycheck” in March, ain’t so free now. AND…I have to pay taxes this year.

Me thinks I need a drink. And since it’ll be my last one, I’m gonna make it a big one.

The Office: Jim Pops Dwight's ....

OMG...so I've worked, as in past tense, and am currently working, with people who use these "fitness orbs". This was sent to me from someone who, like me, kinda hates them. Mostly because I'm sure my weight would cause me to quickly lose altitude if I sat on them.

Anyhow, I'm lacking in clever, witty, funny blog entries (yes my entries are normally clever-witty-fun) so this is all you get today.

I think I will run a contest though. I need a clever "code" name for my new company. If you think you're clever and can come up with a clever name, send me the name. If you need to know where I work, check out the left nav and look for the last URL.