I Must Be Crazy…

When I had the bright idea of ripping up the carpet in my living room and placing new tile in my kitchen as well as painting the on top of it all…. I must have been on happy pills.  I only have two weeks to compile this venture.  My husband and I did not take into account the weather (it has been cold and rainy most of the time).  Lack of space that we have for a lot of our items (big entertainment center that went out in the early 9o’s) large sectional sofa, large TV, all of the big-ticket items that your can usually place in the backyard in the spring or summer under a tent while working.  NO….we did not thing of this.  The entertainment center has been my Achilles heel.  I HATE this thing.  I would rather tear it apart into little pieces and watch it burn in a fire for all I care.  Luckily it has retired to the basement with the promise that I will buy my husband and brand new 50 inch flat screen in return for the favor.  The large out of date TV and even my parents don’t have anymore has also met its final resting place down below where old furniture goes to die. 

We decided to go with the engineered hard wood for the flooring.  Not as hard as the nail in hard wood and still as easy as the plank slide in laminate.  It has a 25 year warranty and you can re-finish it once or twice.  Hopefully we will be long gone by then.  When we ripped the carpet up out of the living room, hallway and half of the bathroom we were appalled at all of the dust and dirt underneath!  YUCK!  I am reminded that we came from years of people buying homes that had beautiful hard wood just to cover it in carpet because hardwood was too hard to care for.  Then we cover it with nasty carpet that we think is better because it is softer, warmer, and actually it is nothing but a carrier for dust, mites, and who knows what else! 

We start laying down the planks.  We find that my husband has no patience for this feat.  Little does he know I was once a Tetris champion in my younger years and this job looks to me like a huge Tetris game.  As I start putting the planks down making sure the seams are no more than 6 inches apart the floors look beautiful.  It took us two days to get the living room, hallway, and bathroom complete.  When I needed a board cut….that was his job!  I would yell…CUT MY BOARD!  Then he would come back with my board perfectly set for the rest of my row.  It’s funny how an argument can turn out to be over T-moldings and Wedgings.  Lowes became our second home and Wal-Mart our third.  I called myself the Foreman because my word usually won afterall…

We were smart enough to hire someone to do the painting for us.  We did learn that we should not have had them paint the trim…since we ended up taking it up and will probably replace it with something else.  Oh well…live and learn.  I told my husband to look at it this way.  We hired some ladies to paint that needed a job, they needed to work, they had children, it was before Christmas, we added extra money to hopefully make their Christmas more enjoyable.  You look at it as a waste of money…I look at it as a way of giving . 

I hope our kitchen adventure is as fun as the hardwood was.  We have to lay down interlocking planks that look like tile.  I am looking forward to having an almost new house!  My next venture is to redo my bathroom and make my countertops in the kitchen look like granite (they sell kits for that)!  For now you can just call me Bob Villa

Great Loves….

I often wonder how many great loves are you allowed in one lifetime?  One amazing love that takes your breath away, makes you tingle up through your toes all the way through your chest, and makes you feel as though you may die without that person.  Two loves, one you have that can be characterized as puppy love but you feel like it is “true love” and then the “real love” is later on when you find out who you are and what you want in life.  Maybe we have many loves and the number is never-ending?  Lovers refer to their partner as their “soul mate.”  What does that mean exactly?  What constitutes the title of a soul mate?  Is there and application process, checklist, a number of qualities that the other person must do or say to accomplish this outstanding title?

I ponder these questions after yet another scandal in the news…Tiger Woods and his affairs…  My good friend Steven writing an intriguing book about relationships and Men and their insecurities.  The divorce rate yet still ever so high and the media, TV, movies, not really looking into what makes us human.  We all have a sense of oneself.  The need to be with another person, to be needed, to be special.  What is it that makes all of those qualities…Love?  Great love, outstanding, truthful, caring and unbreakable….

When  I look at relationships that I feel are good examples I always look back on my Aunt Jackie and Uncle Johnny.  They were always so considerate of each other.  If he went to the kitchen to get something, he always asked if she needed something and vs versa.  If she needed something done around the house, he would surprise her with it being finished.  He would buy her outfits that he knew she would love.  She would do things for him that would make him smile and laugh.  They would still hold hands when they were out in public together.  If he got home first he would do the cooking.  They would lie on the couch and read next to each other.  They were High School sweethearts and loved everyday that they were together.  I longed to be near them.  I remember saving money in high school just so that I could go out to California and spend time with them and my cousin. 

My Uncle passed away about 7 years ago and my Aunt lost the first love of her life…it was one of the hardest things I ever had to witness.  I didn’t know how she would recover or if she would ever find love again.  Afterall…how many do we get in our lifetime?  She did find love again and has been happy for the last 3 years….

Is it luck in love?  It could be the people who are lucky to find that one love and hold on to them when they know it’s real.  Know how to take care of it, nurture it, watch it grow.  Or it could be different for each individual.  Some may feel they get one great love and that’s it.  Once it is over…it’s over.  Others get two…the practice and then the real long-lasting love.  Karma could also play a large roll in what becomes of love.  You get out of your relationships what you put into them….

I Can’t Stand It…

Do you ever get so pissed off you want to scream at the top of your lungs????  You hate the way the world thinks, acts, behaves and feel like no one listens? Like people around you have gotten their education from the school of Sponge Bob?  These thoughts have led me to think of my biggest Pet Peeves….

1.  I can’t stand people that are late.  They are telling you they don’t care about you or your plans and have forgotten all about life.  I think they have worms crawling between their ears.  These people have no concept of politeness especially if they are ALWAYS late and think that the whole world is just waiting on their arrival.  I try to be early or on time.  I even get up extra early just so that I can “wake up” before I have to actually be anywhere.  I can wake up, have a smoke, make my coffee, watch the news, play with Lena, take a shower, relax, and then get ready to be where I need to be.  If I’m on the road and have to be somewhere at 9am.  I usually up at 6am just so I can prepare mentally for the day.  I think this was instilled in me by my mother who is always up and ready to go early in the morning even on her days off.

2.  People who cruise in the passing lane!  Oh My God…move the hell over!  What are you thinking?  No one is over there so it is your personal lane to drive in and I have to pass your ass on the right just because you don’t want to press on the break to turn off your cruise control????  This happens mainly in Illinois and Minnesota they do not know how to drive.  What makes it worse is when you pass them on the right they have the nerve to look at you like you have done something wrong when they were the ones that wouldn’t move out-of-the-way in the first place!!!!

3.  Ex smokers that have seen the light and feel that they have to convert all of the smokers….  Okay I know that it’s bad for me, cancer, blah, blah, blah, I’ve heard it all.  However, the last I checked I still live in America and until they raise the tax to 100 dollars a pack I will smoke until I damn well please so don’t preach your crap on me because I remember not so long ago a time when you use to bum them from me….  Yeah, your all high and mighty but once you start drinking, your bumming them from me again and all of your preaching goes right out the window!  I don’t tell you what to do so don’t tell me what NOT to do and everything will be just peachy …

4.  Energy Stealers…..I once went to a conference and saw a man who had a wonderful speech and it has stuck with me ever since.  He said we had three types of people in the world, Energizers, Energy stealers, and Energy Imposters.  Energy stealers are the people who ALWAYS have something negative to say.  No matter what you have to bring to the conversation they have to bring your good news to a screeching halt.  You are so excited about a new job and they say, oh but that 45 min drive must be a killer everyday!    The people who are woe is me, I don’t have this, poor me, and when you leave them you feel like shooting yourself in the head.  Sad thing is at times I feel my husband suffers from this…he is a pessimist.

5.  Energy Imposters… the people who you think are on your side but then the next thing you know they are talking about you behind your back.  Not sure if they are?  Are they talking about someone else with you?  Chances are when they are not with you they are TALKING about you.  When I’m with someone who starts talking about someone else I usually just call them on it point blank…Man, I would hate to hear what you say about me!  If you get the surprised, Oh No I would NEVER talk about you!  That means they talk about you the most!  If they say, “ I say the usual”…then it’s not so bad.  If they are reserved and quite….That’s the most dangerous…..

6.  People that talk to me while I am on the phone or watching T.V.  I’m sorry I’m not that talented.  If I am on the phone I am talking on the phone and listening to the person on the phone.  I can’t multitask and talk to another person let alone listen to that person at the same time!!!!  I know I have two ears but not two mouths…  If I am watching T.V.  I am not listening to you or want to have a conversation with you and please don’t interrupt my T.V. watching don’t you know Roseanne is on???? Are you new???? (one of my favorite Roseanne lines…)

7.  People that don’t know how to discipline their children.  Your in a restaurant and trying to enjoy a nice dinner and the couple next to you has a child that is screaming at the top of their lungs or throwing food or running around the place.  Why don’t they take their child outside?  Or get their food to go?  Doesn’t this make sense?  Then you get the family that has the child screaming or throwing items in the middle of Wal Mart…Again why are you still at the store?  Why do we have to listen to your screaming child or have to get hit by the merchandise?  I think what I don’t understand is that I would never allow my daughter to act like that and the one time she did throw a fit in the store.  I stopped, took her hand, and walked right out of the store.  It’s a very simple concept called FOLLOW THROUGH….

8.  Tattoos on the neck or face….I don’t know why this bothers me so much.  I can be just walking by minding my own business and wham there it is, a fairly large lady with a rose tattoo across the back of her neck up the side of her face.  You have to wonder….what the heck was she thinking????  Did she feel that rose would help her in the future?  don’t get me wrong I love a good tattoo, I have one myself.  I heard it best when said, if a woman has a tattoo she should be able to still be a lady.  Meaning that if she wears a dress or a gown that she can cover it or conceal it and not look trashy. 

9.  Infertility….Okay this is a personal one.  I like to say that I’m broken.  It took us a little over three years to have my wonderful daughter and with the help of Clomid she finally arrived.  I would joke and say that luckily I didn’t have a litter!  I am amazed at how some people can just conceive by sharing the same soap however can’t afford to buy the soap….  You hear the horror stories about the couple arrested for killing their 4 month old baby because it wouldn’t stop crying, or the teen mother that through the baby away, or the mother with 18 kids and you can’t help but get pissed off beyond all recognition.  Then you ask why do they make adoption so expensive and difficult so that even when you want to bring a child into your home it seems like you will never again be able to unless you sell your soul. 

10.  Loud and obnoxious people….Chinese propherb that says…Better to shut your mouth and look the fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt…..  You know that person that always has something to say in the meetings, always has their hand up, always has a loud story, you have to take in small doses….  You are embarrassed at times to be around them.   I know it is said that there are no stupid questions but come on people sometimes there ARE STUPID questions.  When the answer was just given, it’s common knowledge, it’s a second grade answer and they are in their 30′s, yes this can make you uncomfortable. 

I think that about wraps up my list for now.  I know I have others like cold weather, when it rains three days in a row, people with 20 items in the 10 item or less lane…So I ask you…WHAT IS YOUR PET PEEVE?????

Working in a Home Office….

The majority of my time is spent on the road seeing new towns and cities and the rest of my time is spent in my home office.  I am fortunate enough to have one and not have to go into a cubicle and work everyday even though I find the comedy, The Office one of the funniest shows on television.  I find it very interesting that my husband does work in one day in and day out and does not find the humor in the show.  Never the less, when I have the opportunity to have what we call, ‘an office day’ to get all of the paper work, running around, answering of phone calls, and odds and ends that I otherwise cannot do when I’m on the road completed.

When I started my job in educational publishing my office was set up in the basement.  I quickly found out that the damp dreariness of the location did not meet my needs and I would often find myself working on the kitchen table or use a foldable table and work on the couch.  With the T.V. on in the background for white noise I could get a lot done. 

Finally, after months of nagging my husband about the scary basement and how the lights would give me a headache.  We turned the spare bedroom into my office.  I loved being able to look out into the front yard from my desk as I plugged away on emails and be able to walk into the kitchen to refill my coffee within seconds.  I didn’t feel so faraway from everything.  Work was complete…..

One more small problem….I can’t work if someone is in the house!  At times my husband’s schedule changes and he has to work at night so he has to sleep during the day and I find that I have to walk on egg shells in my own office.  This will not work.  This is an interruption in my day, in my work, I find myself getting frustrated.  I know he can’t help it.  I justify it this way….I don’t go to his job and sleep do I????  

I have the perfect solution.  Living in  a small town in the Mid-West we have a small coffee house in which you can bring your computer and access their free Wi-fi.  My neighbor is the manager and I know the owner.  I decide to set up my office day at the Coffee House.  The bonus for me is in the back of the coffee house is a smoking room so it’s kind of like I’m on the road when I get my smoking room and can sit, work, smoke, not have to stop and take a break to go outside….  To me it’s actually a great thing!  I start to feel like one of those writers that use to go to their small town cafe and write and American novel or love story.   Now granted I’m just working and not writing anything that will change the world but in my own little bubble I can get a lot done.

The amazing thing about the Coffee House is the customers.  People of all walks of life come through its doors.  As I sit in the back plugging away at my computer I get to overhear the most interesting conversations.  Mostly about politics, relationships, someone just got a job, someone just got laid off, one person is working on flipping a house, and one just buried his wife…  The whole little town goes by without missing a beat.  I can spend a whole day in there and not notice how long I have been there.  It can also get very loud when a meeting may be going on and I have to go into my, “Work Bubble” and tune everyone out.  I’m lucky enough to have found such a gem and be able to have a second location to get my work done.

It’s amazing how far we have come with technology.  When I completed my degree in education I thought I would just be a teacher and that would be that.  I never thought that someday I would have a home office, conduct a webinar, attended conference calls, conduct conference calls, or let alone get to travel and educate the world.

My Beloved Dogs…

I have had many pets throughout my life from fish, hamsters, dogs, cats, birds, you name it I have probably had it.  I had an Irish Setter from the time I was 3 until I was 17 years old.  Since I was an only child he was called my brother.  My father would say things like, “Go feed your brother…Go take your brother for a walk…Go get your brother…”  Shin was the smartest dog, a beautiful dog, faithful and most of all he grew up with me.  I would lay on his stomach and watch T.V.  I would take him for long walks in Hawaii and enjoy the tropical breezes.  We would play in the snow when we moved to Missouri in which he would eat all of the snow balls that I would throw at him.  He even got along with every stay cat that I brought home.  He had one really cool trick in which my dad would say, “Bang your dead!” and act like he was shooting Shin.  Shin would then lay down and act like he was dead and wag his tail.  My dad would then say….Dead dogs don’t wag tails!  Shin would stop his tail from wagging!!!  As he got older he began to lose his eyesight and being a larger dog had hip problems.  We started giving him aspirin and he would perk up.  When the time finally came to put him down I was at school and did not know.  I came home looking for Shin and he did not come to greet me.  I looked all around the house and outside and then I knew…I didn’t know what to do.  I felt lost.  He was such a part of my life for the past 14 years which for me at the time felt like my whole life.  I started cleaning….I vaccumed, I dusted, I did the bathrooms, I washed the dishes, and so on and so forth, I just had to keep busy so that I wouldn’t think of it.  My Dad came home from work and naturally not thinking thought that I was up to something and accused me of plotting to ask permission for something.  I began to cry and simply stated, “I miss Shin…” 

Fast forward 7 years later after college and after marrying my husband, we decided we would get a dog that wouldn’t be too big or too small.  He had a Bassett Hound as a kid named Bo that he adored but was taken too soon from him.  I thought they were cute!  A Hush Puppy dog, perfect.  We wanted a pure bred Bassett Hound and found him in a little town not to far away from our house.  I tease now that we bought our house for him because it had a fenced in backyard!  They had four puppies left and this little guy had the longest ears, he was tri colored and when I picked him up he nuzzled me between my neck and ear.  I fell in love instantly.  He was coming home with us.  We named him Scooby since that was our favorite cartoon as kids. 

Scooby was so cute, he would trip over his ears as he would run and play, he would play tug a war with toys, and loved to be the center of attention.  The first night home my husband was traveling so of course he howled and cried the whole night so I broke down and let him sleep with me…..Then he became my snuggle buddy and never left.  As he got older he would chew on the stuffing in the couch so I had to get him other toys to chew on.  He quickly grew out of it.  He was really easy to house train.  The best thing of all was that he did not bark or howl like other dogs.  The only set back he had been his slight slobber issue. 

He followed me everywhere.  I went outside to smoke, we went with me to keep me company.  I went to the bathroom, he went with me.  I came home, he was at the door to greet me.  I was in my office, he was at my feet.  When I was pregnant, he was at my side to make sure I was okay. 

When my daughter was born he was fascinated with her.  He then had three people to follow!  He was in heaven.  We would take him to Barks in the Park every year.  In Forest Park here in St. Louis once a year everyone brings their dogs to the park and he was always so good.  Never chasing after other dogs or people.  We would always get comments like, He is so beautiful, he is so well-behaved, look at those ears!, he looks so young for 9 years old….

Before we knew it he was 9 years old.  He was active, happy, still at the foot of our bed and very much a part of our family.  The morning of Halloween my husband told me that Scooby had his head in the bushes and would not come out.  He tried and tried to get him but couldn’t.  I went outside and called for him.  Scooby slowly came out of the buses and came to me.  I knew something was wrong.  We took him to the vet.  They took X-Rays.  I was thinking maybe he ate chocolate, we will give him meds and be on our way.  The Vet kept going on and on about something or other until I finally said….what are you saying???   Scooby had a tumor that ruptured in his stomach and because of his age surgery probably won’t be much help.  I went blank, tears began to fall….I knew what that means….

We spent a total of 3 hours saying goodbye to our dear Scooby.  I had to get my daughter, explain to her why he wasn’t coming home.  Spend time hugging him, kissing him, and holding him as he left us.  It’s still hard and I know that time heals all wounds.   Even today I had today I had to take our cat in to get declawed but was put in t he same room and started crying. 

We all develop a special bond with our pets because they never talk back, they are always there, they are always happy, and we know they will never let us down.  I read a poem called the Rainbow Bridge that talked about us meeting up again before we go to heaven and that is where he is waiting for me.  I can’t wait to meet up with Shin and Scooby at the Rainbow Bridge.

Hotels…Just call me Paris…

In my line of work I stay at a lot of hotels.  I have stayed at posh hotels as well as rat holes….  I am a smoker ( I know , I know it’s bad for me get off my case already…) and it is getting harder and harder for me to find a room.  Now get this hotel establishments:  I do not smoke in my home I smoke outside however I know that I will not be stabbed and or mugged outside my safe fenced in backyard.  With that in mind I am very picky when choosing a hotel.  I LOVE the Hilton chain.  I currently have over 280,000 points with them which I am saving to go on a Disney trip next year with the family.  They have smoking rooms!!!! 

I rank the Hilton number one, Embassy Suites-two, Homewood Suites-three, Hampton Inn-4, and then the Doubletree-5.  Why is the Doubletree last on the HIlton list?  It all stems back to a time when I clearly had a smoking room booked in a large city and they gave it away to another customer!  Boy was I pissed…  How could you give my room away when I clearly booked it way in advance, I’m a diamond member, and I was told that I would have it when I clicked the little button and your took my credit card as a hold for the room.  I was so enraged that I called the diamond member services and they set me up in a neighboring hotel that had a smoking room for me. 

When I’m on the road I work late into the evening.  I usually set up shop on the bed or at the desk plugging away at my computer chain smoking, drinking coffee with the T.V. on in the background or my IPod jamming.  Either way I am not going to stop what I am doing, get dressed (out of my jammies) and go outside for a smoke…where you never know who may be out there lerking to bum a smoke from me, ask for money, rape me, or just plain bug the crap out of me.  No thanks!  For this reason Doubletree is the lowest on my list of Hilton Hotels.  I also love their grab and go breakfast in the morning, their cute little computer lap desk at the Hampton, and how great the customer service is when they find out that I am a diamond member.  What can I say I love the ass kissing….  When I am offered an upgrade you may as well have offered me a winning lottery ticket!  I am all over it.  I love the exra ammenities, snacks, jacuzzi tub and anything else that you can throw at me to make me feel like I am a Queen.   Just call me Paris because I love Hilton baby .

If I can’t find a Hilton then I will stay anywhere BUT Marriott.  I use to like the Marriott chain until the went all snooty and decided that they would become all NON-SMOKING.  It’s like they became Florida or California or something.  Fine, I will take my money somewhere else. 

A few tips to remember when you are staying at a hotel: 

1.  Usually the tem is too cold or too hot the gauge is on the wall next to the bathroom.  You can find it there

2.  Place all of your bathroom items on a towel so that you won’t forge them.

3.  Store valuable items and medications in a safe if one is available.  You never know what could happen….

4.  If it is daylight savings time make sure the clock is the right time, many times the hotel staff forgets to change the clocks (found that out last night in Ohio, I was an hour ahead but they forgot to se the clocks back for daylight savings.)

5.  Set your alarm and ask for a wake up call this ensures you will not be late.

6.  Ask for extra coffee packets if you will be working late at night (creamer and sugar too)

7.  Tip housekeeping

8.  Don’t forget your shoes, socks, any extra clothing that may be in drawers or under the bed (they like to hang out there for some reason….)

9.  Don’t forget your cell phone charger or computer cord!

10.  If you order room service the tip is usually included on the bill however they want you to leave the tray out by the door.  This is because the housekeeper that cleans the room has to do double duty if they are cleaning your tray as well!  If you leave it in your room leave them an extra tip!

11.  Don’t be shy to ask for an upgrade, many hotels have the rooms available but offer them to Members first.  Who knows maybe your night not many members are staying!

12.  Don’t know a good place to eat?  The front desk always know!

13.  Be sure to hide your GPS in the hotel parking lot.  Theives like to find goodies while you are sleeping.  How else did you find the hotel???

14  Don’t put your hotel key next to your cell phone this can make the magnetic stip very angry…

15.  Need to print your boarding pass?  Many hotels have a buisness center that you can use.  If they charge a fee I always use the excuse that the printer doesn’t work at the front desk this usually gets me a free copy .  You can use that for a fax as well! 

Happy Travels Everyone…

Airport Security….

One of my biggest pet peeves is people that do not know how to go through airport security!  So I have devised a list to help all of you to make your life a little easier…

1.  Wear slip on shoes.  Don’t try to look cute in long zip up boots or sandles that have a lot of buckles we are not looking at you thinking, “Oh she looks so adorable in those shoes!”  we are thinking…”She is an IDIOT!!!”

2.  Stack your bins….place your laptop in one bin on the bottom, then place our jacket and shoes and plastic bag in the next bin and stack ontop so that it is easier to slide down the belt until you seperate them.  This is a quicker way to organize your items.  NOTE:  If you have a projector then you need a third bin.  TSA will thank you (trust me I have been personally thanked by them for doing this).

3.  Remember 3-1-1…all of your liquids need to be 3 oz in one container that is 1 quart size plastic bag.  Some airports are really nice and have them by the security checkpoint for you but do not count on it.  I always travel with an extra one for the moron in front of me that has no bag and is holding up the line….

4.  Place the plastic bag in an easy to reach area not in the bottom of your purse or the bottom of your large carry on bag!

5.  Wear pants with pockets.  This way you can slip your boarding pass and liscense in your pocket quickly after you have to show it and go through the line. 

6.  Ladies…You only get two carry on bags your purse counts as one!  I NEVER check a bag.  So, I always leave enough room in my carry on bag for my purse.  I take out my liscense, put it in my pocket along with my boarding pass, put the purse in my carry on.  Now I just have my computer bag and Carry on.  Once I am pass security I can take my purse out until I have to board the plane.  When I get to the plane I can put my purse in my computer bag so that I can get to it on the plane.

7.  Don’t forget the bottle of water that you may have thrown in your bag at the last meeting and left in your bag.  NO liquids in your bags remember?!  I don’t know how many times I have been behind someone that has done this…..

8.  Make sure all metal hairclips, chains, and heavy earings are not worn that day….

9.  Yes you are allowed to bring lighters through security now!  It cost the airports way too much money to dispose of them that is why they lifted the ban so stop buming lights off of me!

10.  Finally, don’t forget that you now have to have your name exactly as it appears on your liscense now

HAPPY TRAVELS!

About Me

I am what you would call a traveling mother…I am in publishing and it causes me to travel across the country. I love to meet new people and see new places so I thought blogging about my experiences would be a great release to my days. Let’s see where this takes me!