Needing Good Vibes!

First of all, if you're still out there, thank you!

Second, I was notified that I'm a finalist for a position I've been interviewing for...and if you'd be willing to send some vibes my way, I'd appreciate it!

My current situation has been more than unpleasant for quite some time, and I'm anxious for something new...new challenges, new rewards, new people. I should hopefully know more within the week, but until then, I'm extremely nervous. I've had the same job for over six years now, and change scares me, even though I know it's what I need to do.

Mini Milestone

As of today, I am
60 days smoke-free.

There are a billion other things going on that I'm struggling with, but so far, so good on this one. And I have to remind myself of the positives whenever I can, no matter how big or small.

I would really, really like to find some way to celebrate and congratulate myself...it has to be less than $10 and canNOT involve calories ;)  Thoughts?

Happy

There is NOTHING like the pure, unadulterated joy provided by an air show.  Pop was a pilot before I came along, and he instilled in me an awe that is unparalleled when it comes to planes.

So when I heard the roar outside my window, I quickly ran to the parking garage.  I just finished watching a practice run for Fair St. Louis this weekend, and I feel that at this very moment, I could not possibly be happier.

Sometimes I'm glad I have to work :)

Adding this to the Dream Job files...

I would be a really, really, really, really, really, REALLY good professional taste-tester.

I think I need to create this job ASAP.

Toilet Talk

Yesterday was quite an experience in the women's restroom.  Though it's not entirely uncommon to see little bits and pieces of TP strewn about the floor, or the occasional forgotten flush, yesterday took the cake, dear readers.  For those with weak stomachs, do not read on...

Yesterday I sat in someone's urine.

There.  I said it.  Did I provide you with enough time to let that sink in?  Because it happened.  To me.  And let me tell you, dear readers, the crappy one-ply industrial-strength crap they call toilet paper in this building is nowhere near enough to make me feel like I came clean.  In fact, nothing worked until I took a shower at home.  And I'm beyond disgusted.

Let this be a PSA directed to all

Ladies Who Hover: 

1. I completely understand the grotesque factor about touching the dastardly, icky, yucky grossness that is the public toilet seat.  I applaud your ability to avoid having to do so. 

2. Not all of us are that capable, and frankly, I'm just too fat to hold my own body weight up and piss at the same time. 

3. In addition, there is rarely a (silly, almost pointless) paper seat-cover option available. 

4. While I respect - nay, admire - your strength to get a workout on the "go," I respectfully request you be sure you've left nothing behind...because as much as you don't want to touch the seat, nobody wants to sit in your urine.

As a result, I may or may not have posted signs in the ladies room as a "friendly reminder" about bathroom etiquette.  Sure, people make mistakes on occasion, but for the Love of Pete, EEEEEWW.

First major challenge

Yesterday was a good friend's birthday.  We were part of an ever-so-secretive scheme to throw together a surprise party...with 3 hours notice!

:: insert eyeroll here ::

But, I managed to get through it in one piece, tobacco free.  Surrounded by smokers, alcohol, AND a bonfire, I took it easier than I ever would've expected.

And I did it. :)

Thanks for the comments yesterday.  I know I say that every time I venture out and try to quit, but I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it.  The support always means more than you would guess, but sometimes I can't turn to Mr. P for support when we're dealing with the same challenge.  I did a few flights of stairs at work during what used to be my normal break time (note to self: bring tennis shoes to work!) AND when I got home I jumped on the elliptical for 15 minutes.  This may not sounds like a major feat to many of you, but Holy Crap almost covers how I feel. Dinner included rice, black beans, veggies, and a little cheese.  (Those commercials don't lie when they're all "Behold the power of cheese." No shit.  That may be my biggest food vice next to carbs!)

Today's a new day, and my goal is to do it all over again :)

It's that time again...

I wanted to post this first thing this morning, but Blogger and I had a disagreement and it won.

So I'm trying again this afternoon. 

Mr. P and I are getting back on the wagon.

(again)

I really, truly want to quit. Can’t begin to tell you how hard this is…EVERY TIME I try. I honestly have no interest in the cigarettes themselves – it becomes an oral fixation of sorts, or a hand to mouth thing, or a boredom thing, or frustration, or whatever.  It's just a THING.

Weird, not-quite-exact-but-sorta-close comparison: For those of you who wear glasses and/or contacts, it’s like having worn your glasses for a month, then putting contacts in one day, and constantly reaching for the glasses frames throughout the day to adjust them. Becomes second nature, and feels weird when they’re not on.

The good news: this time, we’re not in the middle of moving.
The bad news: it’s summer, and we’ll be outside a lot.

The good news: I believe I can do it.
The bad news: I’m deathly afraid I’ll gain even more weight.

My Top 10 Smoking-related Triggers:
10. Just because
9. After meals
8. Long phone calls
7. Socialization (in general)
6. Feeling down
5. With a cup of coffee
4. Catching up with old friends
3. Pissed off at something work-related
2. Driving
1. ALCOHOL

Looks like I have to avoid quite a bit for a while.  Any ideas about how to avoid work? (ha.)
On the financial side of things – patches are actually MORE expensive than cigarettes up front. I have to remind myself that spending more right now will mean spending much, MUCH less in the future.

So there you have it. Trying again to quit.

And no matter what happens, I will keep trying until I actually DO quit.

Rocky Mountain Low

Schmoogie moved to Colorado yesterday.  I'm a little sad...well, a lot sad.  Much more than I expected to be.  I couldn't be more excited for her and the life she's about to begin, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel like a part of me has disappeared.

I have to remember that she lived in Costa Rica for a semester, and we probably talked more then than we ever have (sorry about that phone bill, Pop!)...but that was temporary, and I knew it.

Now, instead of just being down the road a bit, she's down a much longer road, and going through Kansas.  Yuck (and yikes).

She's with an amazing guy, T.  They couldn't be cuter together.

I know she's happy.  And I've never wanted anything less than that for Schmoogie.  She deserves it.  But it's hard to think about her starting a new life, entering a new world, and not being part of it.

It's making me realize how STL-bound I am.  I love it here.  LOVE.  This is my home, and it's where I want to live and raise a family.  But it's not anything new.  It's certainly not exciting.  Emotionally, I can't figure out if I'm jealous, or excited, or regretful, or what, really.  I know this is where I belong, but sometimes I wish I'd taken advantage - or sought out more - of the opportunities out there.

More than anything, though, I just miss my seester.

May 2010: Part II

This past weekend we drove to a small town in Texas to visit Mr. P’s dad and stepmother. We left after work on Friday, stopped overnight in Joplin, and departed on Saturday morning for the second leg of our trip. It’s been a long time since Mr. P and I spent so long in the car together, but the drive itself was a reminder of how much I enjoy his company.

(By the way, Saturday marked 8 years for us – can you believe it?! Married for nearly three, but together for EIGHT – another success!)

We arrived at our destination, checked into our hotel, and headed over to the folks’ house. Grandmommie has moved in, and is definitely showing her age in the form of dementia. It wouldn’t be fair to go into details with strangers (though I do know most of my loyal readers), but I can tell that it is a difficult situation for all.

We spent a good part of the afternoon sitting on the new deck, enjoying the heat weather. Saturday evening we headed to the Fish Fry, the fanciest restaurant in town, for a catfish dinner. As part of the catfish dinner, there are amazing hush puppies which, for me, are sometimes the best part. (This restaurant is the SINGLE requirement for Mr. P when visiting his folks, and since it’s closed on Sunday and Monday, our only option was to make it Saturday evening’s event.)

Most of the long weekend was spent relaxing. Mr. P got to go fishing with his dad, which may have been a highlight for them both.

And, copping to a guilty pleasure, we made two stops at Braum’s during the trip. My first delight was the banana fudge sundae and on our way home we stopped for a limeade. There’s just nothing quite like a REAL limeade. Funny thing about Braum’s is that it actually originated in Pop’s hometown of Emporia, Kansas. (We don’t fault him for his shortcomings - it's not his fault he was born THERE.). Tasty favorites that I'd kill to have in my neck of the woods…but it makes the trip that much more of an adventure :)

Got up Tuesday morning, packed our stuff, stopped by to say our goodbyes, and we were back on the road home. After a gloriously long car ride in one single day, we picked up the doggers from Mom and Pop’s place and finally felt like things might get back to normal soon…


…but first, we’ve got to get through Indianapolis, the Indy 500, and MY family this weekend :)

May 2010: Part I

It’s rather sad that we’re almost halfway through the year and this is my second of only 2 blog posts for all of 2010.

As I mentioned, life is crazy. Has been, still is, and I fully expect it will continue to be.

It’s kind of amusing – I’ve been away from this for so long that I really don’t even know where to start! And I’m surprised to find there are still (some) readers out there. Oh, dear faithful readers, it must have been supremely difficult to keep me in your Google rather than shift me over to trash management :) For that, I thank you.

I guess the easiest way to start is a simple rundown of May. This is my life, in a nutshell, and a quick glimpse into what’s going on in the World of P. Let the madness begin. And my apologies in advance for the lack of photos.

The first Saturday in May, Schmoogie (the ever-amazing, enormously-talented, always-adorable sister) graduated from Webster University with degrees in photography and Spanish. Hear that, dear readers? Two, count them, TWO, degrees. In different schools. Our morning began quite early as we headed over to the Muny for the School of Communications ceremony, which was immediately followed by a ceremony for the entire graduating class of 2010 in the main theater, and then immediately followed by the ceremony for Arts & Sciences, at which Schmoogie was the student speaker.

We then headed to Carl’s Deli for lunch (a family favorite), a few hours of down time (HA!) at home, and dinner at LoRusso’s, Schmoogie’s choice for the evening.

Once home, time for the doggers, and crashing for the night.

On Mother’s Day, Schmoogie picked me up bright and early, we headed to Schnuck’s, purchased flowers and breakfast fixings. Headed to Mom and Pop’s where we were met by Mr. P and MomP to celebrate. The three kids (Schmoogie, Mr. P and I) split duties arranging flowers, making gourmet French toast, decadent fruit salad, bacon (which is still its own food group in my book), and the piece de resistance: mimosas ;)

After a glorious breakfast (that turned into brunch, and ultimately – due to our procrastinating natures – lunch), we headed home and began our dreaded spring cleaning…

…and throughout the week, when not otherwise occupied by obligations…we cleaned…

…and cleaned…
…and cleaned…

(To be fair, there were MANY obligations distractions keeping us from doing our best, including the aforementioned procrastination.)

The following Saturday, Mr. P GRADUATED. Yes, dear readers, I finally got to say that :) I could not be more proud of the mister for all his hard work, and though he has one course over the summer (really?! Who in their right mind takes linear algebra?!), he will be completely finished by the end of July.

[Sidebar: if anyone is looking, or knows of anyone looking, for a smarter-than-average, dedicated, mature, and just-perhaps-my-own-opinion rather dashing employee, I have a good recommendation for you.]

We headed to Houlihan’s after the ceremony and bought ourselves a celebratory drink or two, enjoying each other’s company and feeling a sense of relief at the sight of the light at the end of the tunnel…

…and left for home to finish up cleaning :)

Sunday, we hosted a family barbeque for three graduates: Schmoogie, Mr. P, and FFC (favorite female cousin) R, who completed her Masters degree. As usual, our schedules weren’t quite up to par and our LUNCH bbq became more of a LINNER than intended. The food, however, was phenomenal, drinks were flowing, conversation was amazing, and the DOGS BEHAVED! Ultimately, I would call it a success. The fact that we were able to host 15 people in our small home, the weather held up, and there were no injuries is probably not the standard most people use, but for me, it works.

[WOW! This has gotten long. So for those who are bearing with me, I’ll just call this Part I and finish up May in another post…my third for the year!]

Quickie

I've been seriously MIA.

(The blog had been set to private, but I didn't post anything, so it doesn't matter.)

May try to get back into this soon. Life has been crazy. (Understatement.)