Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Strange

It's been a strange week and a half. Since I'm dog sitting, I'm going home, feeding, walking, playing, etc not out networking, drinking and what not. I officially know I'm not in the position to own a dog right now - there's too much to do after work, but the break has been nice.

Every day I go on two walks now, cuddle at night with two pups and I actually even get a chance to do laundry and pilates. It's amazing how much time two little guys can take up.

Today's a busy day. I have a meeting at 12, one at 1:30 and then a networking meeting at 5:30. I brought the dogs into work (thank god I can do that) so that they can still get attention and get walked, but even today my life will be enthrolled with their care. I completely sympathize with parents now (don't get me wrong - I realize a WHOLE different gammet there) and why they need to leave at certain times, take certain phone calls, go to certain doctor's appointments (check on the post from Thursday) and so on.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Oh Baby!

If you didn't hear both Gwen & Angelina had their babies this weekend, Kingston and Shiloh - they gave their kids actual names! Congrats to them!

My long weekend brought me back to work looking like a lobster and hurting too. I forgot what a bastard sun burn is!

Thursday, May 25, 2006

For Charity & Other Happenings

Last night was a charity event for the YWCA - which included a bachelor's auction. The event was a "donation" of $25.00 which entered you into a raffle and got you a drink of choice and also allowed your name to be put on bachelor silent auction. 12 viable candidates walked around and schmoozed with the ladies, all trying to get the most money for their, ummm, "services" for one evening.

A bit in the tank - I bid on the cute guy at the door then downed a couple more beers and chatted with a couple friends. At 9:00 they started awarding Violent Femmes and Ben Folds tickets, one of our friends won two. Then the raffle and she won a spa gift certificate. The other girl that we were there with won golf tickets. A couple other people won the next random prizes and it was time to award the grand prize ... a custom tailored and designed outfit and called out the numbers. To my surprise, it was my ticket! Pumped, I gladly accepted the prize!

Then the bachelor winners were announced and it turns out my $25 bid actually won one of the guys. Some of the darling gentleman never got bid on at all. Lesson to all - silent bachelor auctions don't work.

In other happenings, I spent the night with the dogs at their house. The next day I packed them up and brought them back to my house. Hearing my voice, my happy cat wandered out to say hello. His beautiful white face was black. I grabbed him, panicked that he had gotten into my paint and tried to scrub his face to no avail. I then surveyed my supplies and saw that none of the paints or paintings had been struck. Angrily I picked him up and went next door to my sisters. I didn't even knock. She was having dinner with my dad and I strutted in and presented my once cutie pie cat to my family. I demanded to know what happened.

My dad laughed. Turned out during his kitty sitting, he was using a sharpie to which my cat was very attracted. Enjoying the smell, he rubbed his head against it - staining his fur black. My dad let this continue until he was happily stoned and permanently dyed.

That's not all of the fun animal stories. The youngest of the two dogs I'm puppy sitting for is wired at night and has been causing me to get around 3 hours of sleep. Not happy this morning, I took them on a walk - only to notice the older dog bleeding from her paw. I felt horrible. The week before, she broke her toe nail at the base, I rushed her to the vet. After saying it might be broken and other random could-be's it turns out it's just an infection - but I still feel like a horrible doggy-sitter.

On the rush to the vet I got a phone call which said this ...

"Hi this is 2002 from the other night at the bar. I met you last week, will be there this week and ... well wanted to cash in on that blow job."

Random rants in drunken stages that you think are funny and may have told his boss do not turn out to be good.

Thirteen Things that Surprised Me This Week



1. Random acts of kindness really do put you in the best mood ever.
2. Drunken rants get back to you ... see my post today.
3. My cat likes sharpies - and now he looks like an idiot.
4. Two little dogs take up a lot of room in bed.
5. Movie tickets are now $9.75 a piece.
6. $25.00 for charity gets you more than a good feeling.
7. Sunset Wheat is better than Blue Moon.
8. eBay is a good place to sell and buy good quality junk.
9. It's nice to see people fall in love, even when it's not you.
10. Taylor Hicks won American Idol.
11. My built-in retainer broke while still glued to my teeth. Guess I should've gotten removed 5 years ago.
12. Dog cookies taste like people cookies.
13. How time flies ...

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

And in the thirteenth hour ...

In the 13th hour, I'm exhausted and the day may be over but not the week.

So here I am, at the beautiful house I'm sitting the dogs at, on the comfy chair, watching Tivo-ed House, with my laptop on my lap. My mind is still at work, going a random 30 miles an hour - jumping from sales, to testimonials, to anticipation over what my students will say tomorrow at lunch for my "review."

It's been almost two years since I was in college, anticipating the review of classes and here I am nervous over what they will say. I must admit, this hasn't been my finest hour as a mentor. Between the job change and the hours change, I haven't been as accessible as I usually am. I even got the flu and slept through a meeting. After talking with former students they suggested that I'm too accessible, no longer making me a mentor but a companion. While this is good for connection's sake, it is not good for viewing me as a professional. Other mentors request that students meet them during business hours, at their offices and at their convenience. For me it's after hours, weekends, it's traveling out of my range. 1/2 way into the semester I actually became a professional but I started off not as one which can't be good for a review. It's funny how three students, will make or break my day.

That is my over-tired rant of the evening. Now it's one last run with the dogs and to bed I go!

Monday, May 22, 2006

Much Over Due ...

Fair warning this post will be long. I've been so busy I haven't been able to post so I'll cram my week happenings into this little blog.

On Wednesday I had my deposition in the morning, or what I would like to call - the worst hour and a half of my life. Turns out that lawyers don't like it when you tell them that the first thing the client said to you was that they were going to sue you - especially when they actually are. After two thousand questions about sidewalk construction, my lack of memory of last names over three years and being asked the whereabouts of employees that no longer worked there, my nerves were frazzled. Turns out the guy is suing about five people, so there were approximately 8 lawyers in the conference room - all of which felt at one point or another that a question needed objection or that I was being badgered.

Here's the deal with the depositions - it's not like the court of law where someone says "objection" and you don't answer - no, you still have to answer. This is also included with "Objection! Badering the witness!" I answered the same five questions over and over again. Could I remember verbatim what I said? No, not verbatim. I also WAY over used the phrase "to my recollection." Yipes.

So I didn't have a very productive afternoon after that - and my frazzled nerves were not up to playing softball. Thank goodness I live in Wisconsin. The beautiful morning turned into rain and HAIL. That's right, hail. They promptly cancelled our game and it was my understanding that my old job owed me a free beer - or six.

After work I sat at the bar by myself, downed a couple Berry Weises and then my boss joined me for dinner. We closed the restaurant and I can officially say that I had been WAY over served. But I wasn't done yet. We headed over to the 1850, dressed in grubby clothes and enjoyed some more alcholic beverages.

About an hour into the evening, a girl came up to me - advised me she was not a lesbian, but wanted to know if I was single. I said yes, she said her friend was interested. I was exhausted and drunk and didn't want to play the cute-girl-flirt game so I bought him a beer (hindsight - that encourages conversation) and thought that would call it the night. Turned to conversate with my friends and was informed he was standing behind me.

After awhile of conversation, we found out we attended the same school (note - this conversation has never worked well for me - so I don't know why this time was any different). Now, the first time this came about was when I was 21 and had tried to have a one night stand. The next morning we found out we went to the high school - only he graduated 10 years before me. This time was the opposite - he graduated in 2002. When he asked me when I graduated, I informed him that there was actually 9s involved in my date and left it as is.

Now, I've drank enough that everything out of my mouth is hilarious and I'm no longer speaking to be serious - just to be funny. A friend and I ducked out to the bathroom, occuppied by two other ladies and had a conversation about my encounter.

B: "What do you think of him?"
MG:"Not my type."
B: "But he's nice."
MG: "I'd give him a blow job but that's about it ..."

The older lady looked at me, I thought she might know him and I really wasn't being serious - it just sounded like something funny to say. After realizing that she probably didn't - I went back out to continue conversations with him.

About 1/2 an hour later, he grabbed two ladies walking back saying he wanted to introduce me to his boss ... that's right. His boss. Also the ladies who were in the bathroom. The ladies that heard me say I'd give him a blow job. Eeek.

It was at this time that I was sobering up and decided to head out. The girls behind me grabbed me and asked if either of the guys I was with was my boyfriend - I informed her "no." She said, "Great - my friend thinks you're hot ..."

STOP. Twice in one night? Huh? I left before I met him, it was a bit of overload for me. I went to bed.

On Thursday we had a large networking event to attend to. Also attending was the cute boy who works at one of our referrals. A night of harmless flirting ended up with a successful event toast and celebration. Where I found out he has a girlfriend who is from another country (like an ocean-seperated country) and they live together. She's a bit over zealous and he's looking forward to a female-less summer when she goes home. I thought to myself, "An 8 week in ..." That is horrible - I know it is. I was the girlfriend that had girls think about that to my boyfriend. But the thought did cross my mind - several times, including this morning.

On Friday I went home and went to bed.

On Saturday I went craft shopping with a friend from work who is getting married. We headed back to my place and promptly made about 8 different versions of invitations - it was a ton of fun. I haven't arts & crafted in awhile. Then headed over to another friend from work's house where I am dog sitting, got the tour and enjoyed a couple mojitos.

On Sunday I had breakfast with the family, did some laundry, ate dinner with the family and had a girl's night Desperate Housewives party.

That brings me back to today! Today I've been trying to do as many random acts of kidness as humanly possible - I thought it would be a great Thursday Thirteen.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Thirteen Things I Found in My Closet




1. My cat. Sleeping on my new clean sheets. Damn it.
2. My photo printer - now I can get those pics off the digital!
3. My favorite lip gloss, which I'm not sure if I should put on - but did anyway.
4. $4.22 - all in pennies.
5. My little black purse my cousin gave me for graduation.
6. My painting paints :) My favorite pair of sweat pants that I ruined while painting last year!
7. My fish underwear. They have little bitty fishies all over them, so cute!
8. A speaker cord, to a speaker I don't own.
9. Ace of Bass Baby!
10. The Michael Jackson Trilogy - in tapes?! (That also made it into the give away bin)
11. My favorite mascara - I don't think I can use it any more.
12. Lots and lots of plugs and cords.
13. My phoenix paintings :) YEAH!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Tuesday, May 16, 2006

The Day Before ...

Tomorrow I give my deposition for my old employer, today I chit chatted with the lawyer over lunch. I think I should do okay, but I am a bit nervous about it! There's so much to remember from three plus years ago and I'm hoping I remember correctly. I have to remember, "As I remember it ..." and that it's okay to say "I'm not sure."

Not an overly exciting weekend, spent way too much on Mom for Mother's Day (not that she didn't deserve it - but $250 is a lot of money). My little brother was supposedly broke and decided not to buy her anything. Nice kid huh? He still lives at home and is by far the most spoiled 19 year old I've ever known. The kid has never worked more than 10 hours in a week and has no want to because she does everything for him. So I took him shopping and told him to pick up whatever he wanted and I'd buy it - $50.00 later, he was actually happy. But then, I noticed he went out and bought himself a bunch of things which just made me angry. I may not be broke, broke anymore but I still don't have extra money. Spending that $50.00 meant for going groceries for two weeks for me, the least he could have done was reimburse me $10.

But enough about that, on the topic of being used let me take you back about 8 months ago. I had a best friend for over four years, it was a pretty one-sided relationship (me being the side, of course) however, I enjoyed her company and put up with her antics. I had been the one to bail her out of jail, pick her up drunk from bars, turn her courthouse wedding into a real wedding (I made her a boquet, drove her, got her all the something old, something news, etc) and when she showed up at my door in July with her bags in her hand and no place to live, I let her move in. Three months later I was being sued by the ex-boyfriend and was broker than anyone I knew. I didn't eat, I didn't travel, I didn't do anything that cost me money. She had never given me a dime, though my apartment costs went up (nothing was included) from her being there all the time, and she agreed to take over my lease because I was in dire streits. The day we were supposed to turn over the lease, I came home early and she was moving out - she wasn't even going to tell me. She left me stuck in an apartment where she had stained the carpet with red wine, gotten hair dye on the walls and more. I had no choice but to move because I couldn't afford it anymore, I argued with the rental agency but they wouldn't let me out of the lease. I left 2 weeks later by breaking the lease and received a letter that there was supposedly over $500 worth of damages to the place (repainting & carpet replacement). We didn't talk for two months after that. Then out of the blue I get a call saying she was sorry and she'd make it up to me by buying me a drink.

I stupidly said yes. She met me out but forgot her ID. Gave me a $20, I got beers and gave her the change. 20 minutes later she claimed I never did, threw a fit and I got fed up and went to the ATM to withdrawl $20 to make her happy. Then she had the nerve to use me as a taxi service (OK, I enabled it, I know) by driving her 45 minutes away from my house. I was totally fed up - this was her making it up to me? Costing me more money?

Since that incident, we hadn't spoken. Yesterday I got a call saying she read the local paper and saw the write up about my new job - she wanted to get together and hang out. I'm still wrestling with the idea ... even though I know it's just because she needs something right now.

And that's been my week so far!

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Thirteen Reasons Why I Have a Great Mom


Thirteen Reasons Why I Have a Great Mom


In honor of Mother's Day, here's a post on why my mom is so fabulous

1. She may be in her 40s, but she could be 25.
2. We travel well together - and I never have to pay.
3. She was in a bad marriage to my dad and was strong enough to leave.
4. She was even stronger when she fell in love with my stepdad
5. To whom she is still married to and still loves more and more every day.
6. She lets me bitch, she lets me cry, she lets me laugh with her.
7. She's taught me that independence is not a bad thing.
8. And when you're so independent that you can't afford food - there's always some at her place.
9. She's vibrant and kind and loving, all at the same time.
10. The best way to express anger is to give someone a sweet nickname, like cupcake.
11. She knows life isn't easy and doesn't pretend that it will be.
12. She's shown us that you can have a professional career and a family.
13. The best reason why she's so fabulous - because she's all mine! (Well, mine and my brothers and sister)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Lauren
2. Scouser
3. Susan
4. Bar a bar a
5. TNT Chick
6. Leesa
7. Mrs. Cranky Pants
8. Joan
9. Wystful1
10.Carmen



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Monday, May 08, 2006

10:30pm in Chicago

My feet are killing me, I'm full and I'm tired. And I can't wait for tomorrow!

We have email access at the hotel (paid for it though) and found out an old lead just got approval, this week is looking up pretty well! :D Well going to bed for an early day tomorrow!

Off to Chicago!

There's a great conference going on in Chicago this weekend that I'm hoping to pick up some great leads on. It's the ACCM, which is catalog, internet and multichannel merchants - all I'm sure that need to learn updates in software!

This weekend was pretty relaxing after the whole Cinco de Mayo incident. However, I get into work this morning to receive a cordial thank you from BS that completely confused me. I'm guessing this was a one time occurence. Who writes an email that says they had a great time with me & my friends, have a good day, talk to you soon? You forgot to sign it with your last name dumb a**.

My little crush from bowling also finally emailed me - he's such a cute, nice guy - therefore meaning I'd totally screw up any relationship chance with him. He was just checking in after me giving him a hard time on Friday about not emailing me.

And that's about it in the boy news for me. I'm going to send cutie pie from our client meeting a thank you for inviting us - hope to see him at the next meeting type letter.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Cinco de Mayo - Ouch.

Cinco de Mayo was a blast yesterday - but oh how the tequila and lack of sleep hurts one's head.

The morning started incredibly chaotic. Our two classes weren't set up in time, everything was in disarray. The stress ball came in handy. When things settled down around the 8:30 mark, I tried to pull out my stops to book leads to no avail. Noon brought around a lunch meeting that lasted until 1:00. Margaritas began at 2:30.

We went to a client's Cinco de Mayo party, tipped back some margaritas and did a little flirting with a boy that goes to the meetings I host every month. Did some more flirting with the guys from bowling. By now I regretted wearing those oh so cute heels.

After that, conned a friend into going on my "business meeting." She was convinced that business meetings don't happen at 7:00 at night on a Friday night - I was convinced otherwise. After my lovely email that morning, I wasn't even sure he'd be there. So the plan was laid into action - she'd have one cocktail, head down to Le Fuentes if he was there. Turns out the line was HUGE. 15 minutes to get in the door and an hour wait. Anyone say "yikes?" She drove, so she dropped me off to find parking. I stood in line, he showed up (just as cute as I remember), I had my file folder, looking all professional and what not. He informed me of the wait, I suggested Le Fuentes. We walked down there (friend in tote) and realized that line was even longer (it was Cinco de Mayo). We opted for across the road, Habanas, it's Cuban - that's close, at least geographically.

A couple mojitos into the conversation, we were still talking business. He was a really great guy, big heart - an honest to God boy scout (actually Eagle Scout - I jokingly asked, and it turns out he was!). He wants to do all these great things for low-income families. It's fabulous. He was fabulous. But we were still talking business.

Three mojitos and two margaritas later, he was finally drunk enough to stop talking business and kissed me - we did that for about two hours. Grabbed a ride with another friend to another bar that was closer to my car and stayed there for about 15 minutes. My feet killed, I couldn't take it anymore. Offered him a ride home and off we went.

He decided to stay at a hotel (I know, I know), pulled up there and made out like high schoolers. I decided that there was no way I was going to bone him if he was drunk, so I told him if wanted to continue this in the morning to call me (I also had to work at 8am). I drove home, my face raw from kissing (it's been WAY to long), and grabbed a couple hours of sleep.

Went to work this morning with a killer headache. Turns out that tequila really isn't my friend. After putting in the time he didn't call. I jagged around a little bit to see if he would while I was on that side of town but he didn't. I'm sure his hangover was worse. But hey - it's been 2 years and a couple of months since I've been laid still! If he does choose to call, I can't promise I'll keep that new year's resolution.

It may have taken a couple months, but sex is coming back to the tales in this blog!

Friday, May 05, 2006

Eek?

I may have screwed up my dinner date, perhaps emailing an early invite "Just in case you don't want to waste your evening at dinner ..." Oh so stupid.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

The Craziness of My Life

Sorry I haven't posted - I'm usually so good! This week has been crazy, this weekend will be even crazier.

I'm back to counting calories and I've picked up pilates, so I'm trying to do that as often as I possibly can.

We had the Business & Technology Expo yesterday, which kept me away from (gasp!) my computer most of the day. This thing is always attached to my hip, what the hell? In the mean time I did have time to drop a guy I've been talking to my number so we could hang out (we met on myspace, I know ... I know) only to NOT get called and then get an email that he got jumped. In Milwaukee? You got jumped? Some areas are bad - but what are you doing in those areas. Rant over. Whatever. I'm kind of thinking he might have, so I'm a little bit on the guilty edge right now.

Work has been a handful to say the least. There's lots of little stuff and I'm scrapping and scrounging any lead I get. This actually may have gotten me in trouble. May fill in more later... not sure as I can't remember who all checks this blog.

To add to the craziness, I know I try my best to keep myself anonymous but ... on my 6 month anniversary of leaving the agency I've decided to stop hanging around my mask and actually start posting pictures, etc. Most people who read this and know me, know anyhow so why keep hiding? Plus, I don't believe the old place can ring me for any posts after six months.

I'm trying to decide if I should hang out at our Thursday night joint or not. One one hand, I'm running short on cash and don't really want to waste the gas, on the other hand - it's tradition. I would need to change and shower though because of pilates...

I've also WAY over booked myself for Cinco de Mayo. I have a client coming in who is AWESOME. I'll need to pick up margaritas and chips before coming in. Then I have a client lunch, an agency Fiesta with a client and a business dinner at a Mexican restaurant. After that, we have our own private fiesta.

Did I mention my business dinner date is hot? Oh yeah.

Decisions, decisions.

Thursday Thirteen - Featuring Martinis!


Thirteen Martinis I Drank in the Last Week


1. Grape - brings back the goodness of kool-aid, you don't realize it even has booze in it. Bad, bad, bad. But so good, good, good.

2. Cosmopolitan - who can say no to the traditional pink goodness?

3. White Cosmopolitan - new twist on an old favorite - get the recipe by clicking on the link on the side.

4. Black Cosmoplitan - not my favorite - not really sure what was going on here.

5. Sydney's Cosmo (at the Outback) - A regular cosmo with a bit of Mango Monin.

6. Chocolate Martini - yum, yum. Best with Godiva.

7. Sour Apple Martini - Pucker up baby!

8. Thin Mint Martini - Chocolate with a bit of mint.

9. Lemon Drop Martini - Just like the shot!

10. Champagne Martini - The bubbles just do something to you.

11. Pineapple Martini

12. Chocolate Raspberry Martini - Chocolate. Raspeberry. Sold!

13. Dirty Lake Michigan - okay, not a real martini - but I only drank twelve. Hello, 12 martinis in one week is almost saying you've got a problem. For those of you not around these parts - a dirty lake michigan means water (yeah, the lake stinks).

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. http://diaryofthenello.com
2. http://carmenhasgonetoplaid.blogspot.com
3. http://moodswingcreations.com/blog/
4. http://overanalyzed.blogspot.com



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



Monday, May 01, 2006

Wa-HOO!

I made it on to the Thursday Thirteen blogroll! That is so exciting for me! (Yes I am easily amused, especially when it comes to myself)

Confirmation.

I have a portion of my family that lives in Minnesota - a very snotty, "we're better than you" portion of my family. My uncle is awesome, his wife and daughter are not. At family reunions the women of his family don't mingle with anyone, they make it known that they don't care for us. His daughter speaks down to us (did I mention that she's 13 and I'm 25?), she even challenged my Latin, claiming that I didn't know squat. I replied I didn't need to justify three years of Latin to a 12 year old.

Recently, we received a confirmation card from her, basically reading "send gifts." My mom fretted over sending something since when I graduated from college, I didn't even get a card from them. I had $50 in gift certificates for a website from house sitting for a friend and offered to buy her a gift from our family from there since I hadn't used them yet. We picked out a necklace and with shipping it was $40! So much for my gift being used for me! Irritated, I still processed the gift. Knowing them, she probably won't even send a thank-you.

Speaking of family, our reunion is coming up and the theme this year is "Pirates of the Cariibbean," so this weekend we went shopping. Turns out there was a beauty store on the Northside hosting a $10 wig sale. We walked in, the only two white people in the whole joint, and were helped by this awesome guy. We got some kick ass wigs (including one that was REAL hair and not synthetic) and some great ideas for our costumes.

And that was just about the weekend!