My Eyes Are Crossing....

...I just attempted to reconcile two months of our checking account. Not sure that it's all perfect, but I do half-way know where we stand financially....and it ain't all that pretty. I suppose we're just like many other American families and are living paycheck to paycheck. I have to muse at how being financially aware makes me scared to spend money. Oh, well, we'll be able to pay everyone, so that's not so bad. OK, back to seeing how we can pare down our bills....

Peace Out.

Oh, the Times, They Are A'Changing....

....a few new things in the life of the Woman-Formerly-Known-As-Zookeeper....

...first, I went to a Cub Scout meeting last night to sign Collin up. This is the first time he's shown interest in Boy Scouts, so here we go. Something new to scrapbook, I suppose. I've a feeling that we're going to have a busy year. We still do Karate, so these two things will be taking up time. Not bad, though. I realy want Collin to be well-rounded. I think Collin's newfound interest is that one of his best friends, the boy across the street from us, is a scout. So, I shall be knocking on your doors to buy popcorn from us in a few months. *winks*

...second, I attended my first choir rehearsal in a few years last night. Was totally great to be back, but totally different, too. Life has a tendency to roll right on without you. Heads are grayer, new faces are there....Was a different experience. I hope that I can get back into the full swing of it.

A Terrific Read....

....kudos to Judy for letting me borrow the best book I've read in a long time. Puts most other things I've read lately to utter and complete shame! It's the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Positively wonderful, despite the fact that it's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

....we as Americans have no idea just how good we have it. We really do.

cussing, cholesterol, and mistakes....

....not necessarily in that order, but that, my friends, shall be the topic of today's monologue.

Cussing.... I am going to tell a funny Collin story now. I know, I know, I have neglected him for far too long. Honestly, the boy tends to not give us too many fits, and therefore gets overlooked as far as the old blog is concerned. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all that jazz. ANYWAY, I digress. He and Aaron were at school today, and Aaron was talking to his fellow teachers. He referred to one of them as a "hardass." Some of the teachers gave him the "your-kid's-behind-you-maybe-you-shouldn't-swear" look. To which Aaron replied, "No worries, he's heard plenty of those words at home." To which the boy, remember he's not ten yet, replies, "Yeah, I swim in a pool of it." Am I awful that I find this the funniest thing I've heard in a long time?? *giggles*

Cholesterol....So you know I gave blood exactly seven days ago. Well, the Indiana Blood Center, bless their souls, screens your cholesterol and gives you the results. 2-fucking-10. 210!! So I suppose I really should go to the lab and get the full screening done. *sigh*

Mistakes.... the big work mistake of 2006 took place about three weeks ago, upon learning that I'd misplaced a check of a fairly large sum. So, I've finally learned the fate of what my mistake is worth. The good news... the bottom line of what it cost my company is not the figure that would have equalled nearly seven times my annual salary. No, it's only now a figure that would equal about one-fifth my annual salary. Which still depresses the hell out of me. Must.Move.On. Must. Let. It. Go. *sigh*

Further to My Point....

....of feeling couped up and down-in-the-dumps-over-my-sorry-existence. I can't even go to the toilet without someone screaming at me for not bringing them with me. This, mind you, was happening before I started working outside the home. I'm trying to play hardball with Griffin and get him to put on his own fucking clothes, only to have him scream at me some more. Erin lost her glasses between our party destination and home tonight. I looked in the van. They're not there. Aaron looked at party destination. They're not there. At least they didn't cost 230 bucks like her first pair.

...On a lighter note, google Landon Pigg and listen to his stuff. He's quite good.

Sunday...that's my fun day....

...well, hopefully it will turn out to be more fun than church this morning was. We try so very hard to get everyone to church and to instill holiness in them. Where does it get me? Feeling really fucking unholy, let me tell you. After an hour of trying to keep two rambunctous three year-olds semi-under control, I feel worse off than when I started.

...this afternoon, we'll be going down into Indy to see some friends. They're actually friends of a friend, but since we get together yearly for the fantasy football draft, they've become friends. Unfortunately, we only see them once or twice a year. They have two girls that the twins are sandwiched between. So one girl is a bit old and one girl is a bit young, but they get on pretty well. And every year I find how easy it is to be around them, and how I would love to see them more. Then a year goes by (or six months), and we marvel again at how fast time goes by and how hectic everything is.

...still feeling a bit couped up and sad. Aaron feels it, too, I know. He has his own measure of that to deal with on top of mine. This, too, shall pass, right? The kids will grow up a bit and leave us in a position of not wanting to run away all the time, right?

Freaky Friday....

.... OK, I lied. There is never anything freaky going on around here. Not with three kids hanging around. Feeling a bit couped up in my life right now. Perhaps it's a bit of a quarter-life crisis. Four years too late, but hey, ho.... You never know... I might live to be 120. Longevity is in my genes. OK, so no one lived to be older than, say, 97, but still.

...anyway, feeling a bit like there is no fun left to be had with my life. I know, I know, perhaps giving up the anti-depressants was a bit premature and too lofty of a goal. lol

....on a much lighter note, no... the book was not in MY office, because I don't have an OFFICE. Didn't I tell you people that I was the RECEPTIONIST?? Receptionists don't have offices...no. They're much more *important* than that....They get desks in the middle of the freaking floor with nary a filing cabinet in which to put their unmentionables. OK, well, I take back the bit about the filing cabinet. The boss (one of many, you might recall) who occasionally reads this rag *waves to boss currently out of the office on a huge vacation leave* did let me spring for the cabinet, of which I have made good use. But.... I don't have an office. So, no, it was not my office. Today, in asking whether or not things like books and other nostalgic paraphenalia should be made part of the inventory, I am happy to report that I was told that books were unnecessary. *WHEW* Don't worry, dear boss who reads this bit of rubbish known as my diary, it was not YOUR office, either. *winks*

Office Libraries....

....so, people sometimes, when they have an office that is not a glorified cubicle, will have a selection of books in their office library.

Example of a Good book: The Leader In You

Example of a Bad Book: Sex for One: The Joy of Discovering Self-Love

...why am I bringing this up. Well, I got to do office inventory today. You do the math. Sometimes, it's not so bad to be the office monkey.... muhahahahaha

....and when I was at my former job, my boss always used to say that if she wanted to know anything, work related or otherwise, all she had to do was ask the receptionist/secretary. Well, she might not be off-base at all....

let's do the hump, humpty-hump....

....am in a funky mood today. feel like being a smartass. hehe. can't believe that it's already wednesday. where did monday and tuesday go??

...it's been a decent week so far. Mrs. Dr. Jekyll has been in da house this week so far, so that's been a good thing. I just beat about my business and try to avoid her, honestly, but she's been nice to me these past few days. Am waiting for the other shoe to drop, but maybe she got my gentle hints that maybe she's not always nice to me. While discussing a terminated manager, I told her that this person has to realize that if she treats people with disrespect that they won't want to work for her. Of course, this was under the guise of talking about the termintated manager, and not her, but she was uncannily nicer to me after that. Additionally, we were talking about the file room, and she said that these new-fangled things that you can get would be helpful (they're something where you can tell what the file is by looking on top instead of having to rifle through the entire thing, which isn't set up terribly anyway, to get what you want). I said that I was unsure that we needed them, so we shouldn't bother. And she said that the upper management couldn't really find their way around. "Well," I said, "like you so lovingly told me in my first week here, it's not rocket science, is it?" She's been a wee bit nicer to me after that. Wonder how long it will last. It would be so much easier if she were just mean all the time. But the little spouts of niceness make me too comfortable, so when the next bout of meanness happens, it hurts worse than the first.

Office Monkey on the Move....

....so today I ran my butt off again. I went downtown and up to get business cards and to get lunch.....

I gave blood today. I'm starting to feel a bit on the woosy side, too, so hopefully I won't be a danger to the streets on the way home.

Books-A-Million....

...had a whole post about the books I've been reading lately, but my stupid computer ate it. So, anyway, if you've not read the following books/authors, go buy them and read them. I'm now in too foul a mood to reiterate everything that my bloody computer ate:

The Lovely Bones
anything by Marian Keyes
What Was She Thinking?
Lori Foster--easy and smutty....not to be redundant. rofl

I've not read the last entirely, but it's been a good read thusfar.

Have at them, folks!

What have you been reading lately?

Lunacy....

....that's what my life has become. The twins are doing everything they can to ensure that our lives are in total upheaval at most given times. They're latest bit of fun? Fighting. All. The. Time. And now it's either fighting, or it's being so damn contrary that we can't do much of anything around here.

....granted, they're not as bad as a kid I saw at the park today. She wasn't even in the "oh-my-god-i-am-not-going-home" meltdown stage. No, she was simply screaming at her mother. And mother, unlike yours truly, just sat and calmly took the abuse instead of smacking her smart mouth. Perhaps I'm not a great mom, but I have little tolerance for sassy mouths on children. Nor do I have much tolerance for children who decide to scream at me to say that they don't want to go home. I just looooove carting a kicking and screaming child to the car. The most fun I've had in ages. Riiiiight.

....So Aaron's aunt called us last night to inform us that the cousin's reception (the first wedding of the season, to be taking place in October)is an adult-only reception, but that they would be providing babysitting, and were we alright with that? Um.....yeah...yeah we're fine with that. We're going to be able to get rid of our kids for the evening, and she wonders whether we're OK with this?? Bring it on! And love and kisses to Aunt M! I'll even pay said babysitters! Now if we can only score babysitting AND a hotel downtown for Aaron's OTHER cousin's wedding, I think that we're going to be in fine shape. Fine shape indeed. Oh, no, we'll not be in fine shape the next morning, but for the evening, we'll be sitting pretty! muhahahaha

...before you pick up the phone to call CPS on me, don't get me wrong. I love my children. But didn't Chicago sing that song about everyone needing a holiday away from the ones that they love? Well, when you have two or more preschoolers in the house who are fighting like cats and dogs, you'd want to pawn them off on someone for an evening (weekend, month...), too.

....hope everyone's having a good weekend!

Which is the Good One??

Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde??? Cos, well, I never know what I'm going to get around here. That is all.

A Day With Less Diet Coke....

.....is like trying to breathe through a straw. It's very difficult and very slow-going!

Beware, the Pissed off Office Monkey....

....so, some of you long-time readers might note that I've had some struggles with religion/spirituality in the past. Well, I take it back, I still have struggles with religion/spirituality, and they come to a head during days like today. So, we decide to get Collin back into religious education this year, after a year hiatus. We were lazy, and I didn't want to push the issue last year. I just didn't feel it, and neither must have Aaron, or Collin would have attended last year. So rewind just a little bit before the religious education year, and let me all remind you of our residential relocation? Well, apparently, we forgot to notify the church. Fast forward back to the present, and you find the Woman-Formerly-Known-As-Zookeeper signing her beloved children up for religious education. All three of them. The monetary set-back (yes, you read right. MONETARY. NEVER in my life have I paid for fucking Sunday School!!)? $180!! We happily sign up all three kids and give over our check. The email response I get? That since we failed to notify the church of our move, we're considered "inactive." Excuse me? Granted, we don't ALWAYS slip a check into the offering plate, but I would bet it's at least once a month. Additionally, we did the good old "here, pledge some money to us," campaign within our diocese. They send us our "friendly reminders" a.k.a. bills....to the correct bloody address! (which we paid in full, mind you...and this is separate from tithing, but it's still handing money over to them, isn't it??) There's a shocker for you. So, my kids' applications are going to be held up because they consider us "inactive?" If she took the five minutes to give me this email, why couldn't she just have put the new address in an email to the church secretary herself to say "look! i found someone who's inactive. perhaps they just got busy with their move and fucking life in general, and never told you guys?? here's their address...."

This, my friends, is part of the reason that I don't jump whole-heartedly into organized religion. grrrrr......


...oh, and by the way, the day was a bit shitty to start with. Boss lady decided to be in a bad mood today, and decided to share it with me by just being bitchy. At least Boss Man decided to give me so much paper to bloody copy in the afternoon that I could forego any contact with her. For once, copying reems of paper didn't seem so mundane and awful.

...the highlight of my day? there really was one. Getting to eat lunch with Rebecca. No, we didn't go out to eat. She MADE me food at her office. She even set the table for me! (complete with a diet Coke....I do love me my Rebecca!) So, a big shout out to Rebecca for the yummy fajita lunch!

Whew....

.... being an office monkey is a busy job! I'm totally exhausted after today. I am gaining more and more responsibility, which is good. It just keeps a lady on her toes and constantly on the move!

...We're battoning down the hatches in preparation for the new school year. Hard to believe, but the school year starts Thursday for everyone! I'm in awe that the summer's already over. We're running into scheduling issues that we've not had to deal with for a few years now. It's called "What to do with Collin when he's out of school but Aaron's not." Wednesday will be one of our first days back in this particular saddle.

...I'm getting excited, for Aaron has two cousins who are getting married this fall. One is in October and is in Buffalo, NY. The other's in November, and is right here in the Indy metro area. I really like both of the aforementioned cousins, and am getting more and more excited for them as preparations are being made to attend their nuptuals. *and both are with the Butwin family and will include copious amounts of alcohol, to be sure.... CHEERS!*

Erin.....

....boy, oh, boy, what can I say? The girl is going to be wild. Evidence thereof:

1. Today while we're at Buffalo Wild Wings, she shouts "HOORAY, BEER!" Apparently, Aaron's not the only one who pays rapt attention to everything about Pardon The Interruption on ESPN.

2. So my friend Rebecca showed me the spoof on James Blunt's song "You're Beautiful" entitled "My Cubicle". The twins sing "My Cubicle" with such conviction that you would think that THEY'D worked in the office! Well, being a fan of the original song, I bought it today on iTunes. I played "You're Beautiful" for Erin. So, instead of either "My Cubicle" or "You're Beautiful," the tune has morphed into "My Pubicle".

man-o-man, I believe that I'm going to be in big-style trouble.

Sad Sunday....

...not that I'm really sad. I just hate the Sunday Blues. Tomorrow starts another work week. And while my job isn't all that bad, I'd still rather be hanging around outside today rather than getting ready for another week. I need to exercise (more about why in a second), do laundry (including ironing...blech), clean bathrooms (ok, double blech!), and all around get ready for the week.

...so, what did I do this weekend? I went on Saturday with my brother and future sister-in-law to the 150th Indiana State Fair. We went to Taco Bell before we went, where I ate a Mexican pizza and two soft tacos. When we got to the fair, I had 1/2 of my chocolate frozen custard, and nearly all of Ashley's (future-sister-in-law) chocolate-peanut butter ice cream. We did things like see horses whose shoulders rose a full foot above my head and saw boars that are the biggest in the world, leaving me to wonder if it's because of the size of their packages (holy mary, mother of god, were they endowed!!). We also saw some newborn calves, which were sooo cute. So amazing that they can stand up and move about the very same day that they're born. We also did the round of the kids' farm, where they learn about what kinds of things go into a farm. It's quite fun to watch them go around to the different stations. We left a bunch of sun-tired people, and Erin fell asleep in the van on the way home and didn't wake for anything!

...After the fair, I went with my friend, Rebecca, to a cook-out. One of her customers has invited her to go for years, and this year was the first year we went. Oh. My. Good. Food. I'd not eaten so much yummy stuff in ages! It was a veritable smorgassboard of terrific food. They also had an open bar. Of which I was the only one to crack open the bottle of Bombay Sapphire. So, I had three gin and Sprite's to add to my culinary debauchery. Hence, the need for the gym this afternoon, and the mornings for the rest of the week.... hehe

...Anyway, not much on tap today, aside from simply existing. I've been off my anti-depressants for about two weeks now, so I think my body's still adjusting to that. I just need to up my water and vitamin intake, as well as my energy out-put by going to the gym, and I think I'll be fine. Honestly. I feel more sane than I have in a long time. lol My job, while busy, usually carries with it a lower level of stress than any job I've had in the last seven years (since graduating college). My children are all in fairly good health. The twins are getting out of the preemie stage entirely, and are doing normal big-kid stuff now. Collin's growing up, and while he's sassier, he's doing quite well. Life is a lot less stressful than it has been in a long time. So I'm going to see if I can shake the crutch that I've been leaning on for the past seven years. As always, we shall see.

For Fuck's Sake....

....that's all I gotta say when it comes to my home computer these days. If it's not locked up, it's slower than molasses in winter. I do not want the expense of a new one, but come on. GRRRR.....

...anyway, I didn't mean to be entirely negative about the Wiggles. Griffin did go positively ape-shit when they made their grand entrance in the Big Red Car. He was screaming so loudly that his face was red and the vein was sticking out. That, in and of itself, was worth shelling out his 30 dollars for. The rest of us, however, I'm still looking for the payoff there.

...This week is finally over. And I couldn't be happier about it. Hopefully next week will be a little easier to handle. This week at work kicked my ass. The good part about it, however, is that everyone is in generally good humor, which is nice.

....My second-to-youngest brother should be gracing my doorstep at any minute now. It is currently 10:50 on a Friday night, and he and his fiancee (yes, you read this right.... my almost-twenty-year-old-brother is getting married one year from today! *sobs*) are spending tonight with us, after seeing Rascal Flatt (forgive me if this is misspelled, for I am not really a fan of country music) at the Indiana State Fair. Tomorrow, we shall all go and grace the state fair with our presence. I don't think that the fair will be happy once the meltdowns start happening, but dammit, I'm jonsing for a deep-fried twinkie! tee hee Actually, I'm unsure of which state fair delicacy I will attempt this year. I'll settle for a funnel cake or elephant ear!

Peace out, ya'll. I think I'm going to go to bed now.

The Wiggles....

....WOFTAM. The kids were more excited to have their big bucket of over-priced popcorn than they were to watch the show after the first entrance. They fought on the way home. Tell me that this is worth $30/ticket?? Why don't I ever listen to those who say...."Wiggles/Thomas the Tank/any other kids show?? NOT ME!"

....next time I say that I'm going to pay actual money for something like this, I want to put it here first. And I want you all to tell me NO. A thousand times NO.



....by the way. update on the check fiasco. Nice boss has arranged a stop payment. He said that it's more a pain and hassle to deal with rather than the fear of losing the money at this point. I can now sleep at night.

Tired....

...kicked my own ass at the gym this morning, then had to hoof it up five flights because the elevator decided not to work.

...no sign of the check, and it was confirmed today that I would have hoofed it to the mail box BEFORE it even came. Therefore, I really did lose it. Fucked, I am. Owner is still being very gracious and even bought me lunch today. Mistakes happen, but I do not like fucking up this major....

...I think that we're getting Mexican food tonight, so that makes me a very happy Office Monkey.

....btw, I didn't forget the cd's... I just have my head up my ass.

Lost and Found....

....Found today. IPod that was put in the back pocket of my purse....I don't remember putting it there, but it's a better thought than leaving it at the gym (reminiscent of the Verizon phone that does the music crap....know which commercial I'm talking about??).

...still lost... My digital camera. And the hefty check.

Bittersweet Day....

...more bitter than sweet, but you'll soon find out what I mean.

...I lost a check. Of a significantly large sum. It was sent to my office via courier. I signed for it. I was buried up to my eyes in things to send out on Friday. I think I might have mailed it out. Not good.

...Should I think that the day is not a total loss since I received a call from my local Barnes & Noble Starbucks and was told that I won a free Frappucino?

Fairly Lazy....

...We've been fairly lazy today. We had an ill-fated trip to church, followed by a quick trip to the grocery for some lunch stuff. We had spaghetti, stuffed mushrooms, salad, and Hawaiian rolls (Collin's and my personal favorite!). It was yummy. Then I went to work out for about an hour. It was good to get on the cross trainer again. I also did weights with my arms. They're about as flabby as my tummy, so I thought it would be a good idea.

...This evening's been fun. I met up with Matt and Nay, who write the blog "The Perils of Being 3D". I'd link it up for you, but my computer is being terribly shitty with me right now. If I do anything with any sort of pop-up window, it freezes. I so need to do something about this. It might involve me getting "Office Space" with the CPU. Anyway, I digress. We met up at an ice cream shop. It was fun, albeit HOT. The twins weren't on their best behavior, either, which makes for some interesting times, but Matt and Nay were both very patient with us! hehe

....So tonight leaves me with a mound of ironing like you wouldn't believe and a pile of invitations to create. Apparently, I'm building my reputation with papercrafts in Aaron's family, as I've been enlisted to make the invitations to the shower that the Butwin aunts are throwing for one of the cousins who is getting married this fall. I'm happy, as always to oblige!

My House....

...is a construction zone at the moment. Aaron and his dad are working on the windows today. So, trying to be the good wife, I decide to get them out of the way. We went to the sprinkler park with Judy and her sons. The kids were fairly well behaved. The only eventful thing to happen is for Erin to climb on my back and pee.....I seriously could have shot her at that point. Nothing like a golden shower, eh?? ewwwww.....

Thursday.....

....so just another Thursday. The only real news to report is that I got my glasses today. Plum-colored Guess glasses. The only piece of Guess-wear I've ever bought for myself....and being a child of the 80's, that is something, eh? ;) I would take a picture for you and post it here, but I don't know where my camera is. I suppose this is also news.... *bites nails and bangs head*

...tonight I get to go stamping. Woohoo! Time out by myself....with my good girlfriends, too! What could be better?

As Rebecca Would Say....

...It's fracking hot out! Aaron and Collin are at a Reds game as we speak (part of me is envious, but due to the heat, part of me is sooooo not!), which means I have twins duty tonight. We went to McDonalds' in hopes to play inside while I read my trashy novel. No such luck. The damn A/C was broken in the playplace! Grrrrr. The upside to this was the fact that we ran into a former daycare dad with his son (Gage...remember him, anybody?) and we provided eachother adult conversation while the kids ate. Was fun to catch up with him, despite the fact that the kid's mom is a bit off kelter.

...now we're back at home and it's almost time to put the twins to bed so that I can fold the rest of the laundry and iron so that I don't show up either naked or in jeans tomorrow. *winks*

Stay cool, everyone!

Tales of Office Monkey Woe....

....well, there is only one. I go to Big Office Supply Retail Chain to order business cards. Not knowing that the reliable help wasn't to be found, I placed an order for six boxes of business cards, all the while telling him to use the old order as a template. I had ordered eight boxes from them previously, and was pleased with the results. Well, I get them back today, and didn't look closely enough at them, as when I proudly displayed them for one of my many bosses to see, we discovered that they were the wrong bloody color! I was so intent on getting my locking filing cabinet (to house all my coveted office supplies and purse), that I didn't notice the shade of the cards. That was the only thing that was wrong with them, too. Fucking Big Office Supply Retail Chain.