What are the odds?

Sometimes you are fortunate enough to find money on the street or a parking lot or the pocket of an old jacket. Woo hoo! Usually it's not high dollars...a penny or a nickel, maybe. If you are *really* lucky, maybe a quarter. Or if you are **really-really** lucky, like a friend of mine a few years back, you will find a flying $100 bill on your way home from work. But I digress.

So, what are the odds of finding a dime? I almost NEVER see one of those. Ok, better yet, what are the odds of finding 2 separate dimes within 24 hours? It happened to me this week. Is someone trying to tell me something? The first one was at the gas station and the second one was the following day on the back parking lot of my apartment building. Odd, huh?

Today's job interview - an update!

I'm excited, I really think it went well! The lady was very nice, she would be the person I would be working directly under, so that's good. The interview lasted almost an hour with no awkward empty or quiet moments. I really hope it went as well for her as it did for me!

I didn't have any issues with her questions except for one. I never know how to answer this when I'm put on the spot, I suppose I should have given it some forethought knowing it's usually a common interview question...."Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" The first thought that pops into my head is always, "Duh, employed!" LOL I don't suppose I had a very interesting answer to that one. Perhaps I can think of a better answer and write it down and *if* I get called back for a second interview, I can address it again. Some other questions that she asked me and I believe I answered very well were:

1. Why am I leaving my current job?
2. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being the least and 10 being the highest), how organized would I say I am?
3. Do I balance my own checkbook?
4. Do I pay my own bills?
5. How has your employer benefited from hiring me?
6. How do I handle when other people make mistakes?
7. What do I think about making and/or having friends at work?
8. Which type of supervision do I prefer, hands on or at arms length?

She told me they will be interviewing 11 people and this is a brand new position they are creating. Their HR person is going on maternity leave and an outside consulting firm told them to get an assistant to lighten the load on her, especially while the HR lady is out. It is a permanent position, so don't worry about that. They are conducting the first round of interviews Thursday, Friday and on Monday. Then they will call people back on Tuesday for the 2nd interview which will be a panel of 3 or 4 people. I actually had a suggestion for her to ask the other applicants, "How do you handle someone telling you about a mistake you made?" She agreed it was a great question and I saw her writing it down :-)

I'm excited! I was really worried that I would go there and find out that the job would be too big for me, but according to what she told me about the duties, it sounds right up my alley! So be praying for me that I will get a call back, if it's the Lord's will, of course! I am going to go research 'Thank you' notes so I can put one in the mail to her today! Thanks everybody, keep me in your prayers!!!!

I have a job interview!

I'm trying not to get too excited here. I do believe the job is a little more demanding than I can commit to but I'm so excited for the opportunity to interview! I have had my resume on Monster since like January this year and this is the first interview I've gone on!

I get emails from time to time for various open positions in my field and I have applied for some of them as they came along. Typically I've found I don't qualify for one reason or another. This one is for a major leader in their industry. The name is synonymous with industrial and construction type equipment...a hint...it's a man's nickname and a domesticated animal....that's all you get!

No more lounging around this office daydreaming about buying a house and new appliances and maybe some teak outdoor furniture to relax on, it's time to get busy and make it happen! I applied for another job today, just to keep at the process. I do not expect to get the first job that comes along, not putting all of my hopes in one position. I am praying the Lord will help me along and guide me towards His plan for me. I'll keep you informed!

Memorial 3 Day Weekend is here!

It's so nice to have 3 days off work in a row! I don't have plans to go out of town like I would like to, but it will be nice to stay around here and get some cleaning done and maybe visit with some friends. I'd consider seeing a movie too, but next weekend's 'Sex and the City' movie release is tops on my list! Although I wouldn't mind seeing 'What Happens in Vegas' too. Maybe I'll squeeze that in over the weekend!

Of course, going to sit in a dark movie theater isn't really as memory worthy as other holiday events. I mean, there's no use in breaking out with the digital cameras and capturing the memories there! I think this holiday weekend would be more memorable spent with friends and family, playing games, getting outside, going fishing, having a nice BBQ and so on. I used to say it's nice to just take a car ride and explore, but with the price of gas these days, you'd be better off staying at home! LOL

What nice weather we're having!

Here I was, all prepared to do a post on how beautifully fantastic the weather has been lately in the St. Louis, Missouri area these past few days and of course, today it rains! I planned to mention how it's the perfect time to get out and enjoy your patio furniture and practically bug free back yards since it's spring and the mosquitoes haven't invaded just yet.

Well, the skies are cloudy and rainy here today but I'll leave you with this nice shot from a beautiful sky on an equally beautiful day!

One root canal down, one more to go!

Tuesday I had an appointment at the dentist's office for a root canal. I've never had one before so I was apprehensive. All my life I've heard the old cliche' about how bad root canals can be. Things that are really bad/painful are compared to root canals as if they are a gage in which all things painful are measured! Ugh...

Walking in, I could feel my anxiety level going up, up, up! I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to just cry at these times...it's not because I'm currently sad or in pain, just anxiety. This particular dentist is the kind that doesn't talk to you and let you know what's going on, so you don't know if it's time to relax or be on edge. I knew the worst part would be the removal of the root, which they had a hard time getting out, apparently. He kept yelling to another room for a different assistant to go get him a this or a that.

Even with all the shots of numbing medicine he gave me (like 6!) I still knew when he was in my nerve or whatever. I just kept staring up at the light and thinking about how nice heaven will be because we won't have to go through any dental nightmares up there! I'd even be willing to contact the best movers New York City has to offer and tell them to come get me, I'm outta here! I was really trying anything to get my mind off of what was going on. The sounds you can hear can be disturbing. Besides having to hold your jaw wide open for an hour and a half, is bad enough in itself!

Later, as the numbing medicine began to wear off, I was afraid I would feel like someone had hit me up side the head with a baseball bat. Not here or here so much, but right in through here. But I was lucky because I really didn't have pain after the numbness wore off! Of course, I took one of the pain pills the dentist prescribed for me, but even today, the day after, I'm fine! There is a tiny bit of tenderness in my jaw, but nothing as I had anticipated there would be. I have to go back next Tuesday to have the rest of the build up finished. One root canal down, one more to go!

Give Me Five Monday Meme #24

Monday, May 19, 2008

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.
Sign up for weekly reminder emails @ beccagirl@charter.net


Give Me Five movies you'd choose to have along if you were stranded on a desert island (that happened to have electricity, a tv and dvd player).

I have an obsessive compulsive personality. Once I find something I like to eat or see or do or the like, I repeat, repeat and repeat again! Movies are that way for me too. There are some movies I can watch over and over again! Here are five of my all time favorites, I'd certainly want them with me in the above deserted island type of situation. Guess I'll need to vacuum up sand rather than popcorn from my home theater carpet. Perhaps 5 wouldn't quite cover all my favorites, but it's a nice start!



1. For comedy: National Lampoon's Vacation. I could watch this movie over and over and I have! I just wonder how many time's I've seen it. Anyway, you can't top this one for me, classic, nostalgic, funny. Chevy Chase is fantastically superb as a dad traveling across country in a 'pea green Family Truckster' station wagon. Roy Wally: "And the smell from the back seat!" Clark W. Griswald: "Shhhhhh, eeee, yeah, I know that smell."



2. For nostalgia & songs: The Wizard of Oz. My favorite childhood movie, it's fun to sing along and pretend I'm Dorothy, I always wanted to be Dorothy and find friends in the woods to skip along with! LOL Just hearing the music stirs up fond memories! I can still remember how frightened I was of the wicked old witch (this was pre 'Wicked' days, of course!)



3. For a good cry: The Color Purple. I can't help but to start crying every time as soon as it begins, just because I know what is going to happen later on! This movie really touches me, to see what Celie went through and my heart just breaks every time Mr. comes callin' on Nettie because I know she is going to have to leave her sister. If you haven't seen it, please find one and watch it, but you'd better grab your box of tissues first!



4. For a nice dating/relationship/love story: Love & Sex. Ignoring any foul language, I really enjoyed watching these two meet and fall in love. Things don't always go the way you planned and this story takes you through the ups and downs of finding love. I actually don't have this on DVD so it would make a great gift for me!



5. For adventure & a love story: A Knight's Tale. What a story! This is great for me, I do love jousting! Also, the music cracks me up because it's all modern music. There are many movies I could name, this is just 5 of them. What movies would you choose to have on the island?Give Me Five Participants

1. Kwizgiver 2. Forgetfulone 3. Tamy ~ 3 Sides of Crazy

4. Penny Lane 5. Shannon H. 6. Joyce T.

7. maryt/theteach 8. Miss Jocelyn

Learn more about Give Me Five here.

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One man's trash...

I love participating in freecycle. I'm not sure if you know what that is, but basically it's a yahoo group (they have them in different areas - all over) and people can post on there, things they want to get rid of. Then, other people can email back and request the item. The offerer chooses a recipient, gives them a place and time to pick up and it can help save our landfills from collecting items that can still be useful to other people. There is no exchange of money of any kind, you aren't selling anything.

I have been the recipient of many nice, useful and sometimes new items from freecyclers. I have also, offered items for other people to come pick up. For instance, last week, I was cleaning out my hair care products and discovered I had quite a collection of mostly full bottles that I had tried and weren't going to be trying again. So instead of throwing them all away, I offered them! I had several interested people. It's great, a couple of days later, the bag had been picked up and was on it's way to being used.

There are some downsides to freecycling as well. Sometimes people who are going to pick up from you, never show up and your front porch is littered with bags for people. Sometimes, you drive to someone's house to pick something up and it's no where to be found. There are various reasons that could happen. Sometimes, you are just plain disappointed in the item after you pick it up. Now, I know these items are mostly used or of the 'discarded' grade, but come on...don't say you have a nice wedding frame to get rid of that would make a nice gift when the frame is scratched and dented! I can't give that! And don't just say 'Offer: roses and tiger lilies flower ring' and then hand me a peach and mint green flower ring! Who has peach and mint green anymore? Why don't you just give me your grandpa's old medical id bracelet? I strongly dislike wasting gas. All I'm asking is, if you make an offer, please be descriptive, that way I can make an informed decision. >-)

3 day weekend coming!

"Pack up your Briggs and Riley luggage and head out of town, it's a 3 day weekend!!!"

Does anyone do this anymore? If so, where are you going? It seems like when I was young, we made use of all these rare and precious 3 day weekend opportunities! We would even occasionally take the Friday before and make it a 4 day weekend. But for some reason, no one I know goes anywhere on these holidays.

I know what I want to do....go fishing!!! Nothing would make me happier than to pack up and go camping and boating and fishing for a couple of days. I need to get me a man with a boat and a fishing pole LOL

Babies, babies & more babies!

Tonight, I am going out to my cousin's house to help her go through her shower gifts and figure out what needs to be taken back or exchanged, to finalize the nursery and stock it in preparation for the arrival of her baby (Due on June 13th, just 3 weeks from now!!!) as well as some fun crafty stamping of her thank you notes, just to name a few things we need to get done. It's their first baby and she has never really spent alot of time around babies and nurseries. I've had many friends who have had babies and now it's my turn to share and make use of some experiences I've had through the years. They have chosen not to find out the sex of the baby, which I love! It's so exciting for dad to come out of the delivery room and say, "It's a........ !"

Something else that is so exciting about all this is that their best friends are also pregnant with their first baby! They are due in September and already know they are having a boy. They are all set with a couple of boy names. I am going to help my cousin plan a baby shower for her, after all, by then she will have a new born baby to tend to 8-) I'm telling you, all this talk of baby cribs and diapers and breast feeding is making me tired just thinking about all of it! But it's such a happy and joyous occasion though, to welcome a beautiful gift from God!

Growing up

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NKJV)

As you get older, you begin to realize that play time is precious! You watch your kids take their toys for granted and although you wish you could go back to a simpler time, it's just impossible to do so! Life guides you along a path that is, at times, completely unpredictable. Sometimes things make sense and sometimes you are left pondering the reasons why. FYI, the bible is God's living word, full of love, reason, hope and meaning. Why not give it a try sometime!?

A change is at hand

I can feel it coming over me now...a change is eminent! For a long time now, I have hidden behind this weight and sin of slothfulness! I'm tired of it's effects on my life.

I live on the second floor in my building. Lately, I've been contemplating having a stair lift installed because my knees just can't stand running up and down all the stairs to get to the basement where my washing machine and dryer are!

Last night, my mom and I were discussing our overweight and unhealthy situation and I told her I want her to get out her Weight Down materials and we are going to start off by just eating better and in smaller quantities. Also, we are going to start stretching and utilizing my treadmill too! Shoot, I forgot to weigh this morning....oh well, there's always tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Eating!

Now, on rare display...

A museum in Jerusalem has decided to display the 24 ft. scroll with the text of the Bible's Book of Isaiah this week - more than four decades after it was last seen by the public. It has been in a dark, temperature-controlled room at the Israel Museum since 1967. They have decided to put the scroll back on show for three months as part of Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations.

I am very intrigued by these kinds of things. I always did marvel at all the artifacts in our museums because I just can't believe anyone would still have so much stuff from way back when! I love the testament to God's word and that it can still be proven true over and over, even to the original manuscripts of many days gone by! I'd love the chance to go see it, and although my passport may be good for 9 more years, my savings account is empty! :(

The AOL news article I read said this:

The priceless manuscript, written by a Judean scribe around 120 B.C., was in a long glass case Tuesday, its neat rows of Hebrew letters distinct and legible. President Bush, visiting Israel this week for the anniversary celebration, will be one of the first to view it.

Very interesting!!! It makes me want to go read Isaiah in my Bible!

To settle? Or to try?

I just wanted to share a blog post I wrote over on my Church's Blog, Valley Views. It's called To settle? Or to try? The Mother's Day sermon at church was interactive this week. At some point our pastor tried to convince us that there are some things we ladies are just going to have to accept because they 'can't help it!' Of course, I raised my hand and suggested that while women do understand that certain traits don't come 'naturally' to men, we would be made happier at any attempts to simply TRY!

Of course, I was quickly applauded. Hey, I just say what other people are thinking!

I've been thinking...

Lately I've been thinking more and more about how I want to go about losing weight. Remember? So anyway, I know there are lots of options available to help me along this process. Now, if I had my way, I would go to one of those places where they keep track of everything because you buy your food from them! All you have to do is be able to afford it....XXX....there goes that. Besides, at some point, you need to learn on your own how to eat and you won't be able to eat their foods forever!

Ok, so next we have varieties of pills. You have pills that expand in your tummy to make you feel full, that sounds kinda creepy to me. There are appetite suppressant pills, I had some success with these in high school. There are natural weight loss pills, have any of you used these types and can share your opinions? There are also pills you can take that block fats and the list goes on and on. Some of these are a bit pricey for me as well....something to be mindful of.

I wish I could get involved with a local Weigh Down group and meet other women like myself...I know the *right* way to do this, it's just a matter of actually doing it! Weigh Down takes the focus of dieting and puts it on Jesus! Hello, who better to get help from!?!?!?!

We had a floor mopping good time

I attended the church baby shower last night for my cousin. It was really fun to go and not have to do any planning or work!

There were like 3 or 4 ladies from her church that put everything together for the shower. We played a game where you put a white paper plate on top of your head and follow the instructions to draw a baby. It was a riot! You get points depending on......OOPS! Someone go get the floor mops! Aunt Linda spilled her fruit punch & rainbow sherbet on the floor and one ladies shoe, and then followed up with a loud, "Oh sh*t!" LOL Aunt Linda doesn't go to church often enough! LOL

Anyway, the games were fun and everyone had a good time fellowshipping. My cousin got lots more items from her registry as well as diapers which she didn't have many of before. Baby showers are so fun :)

Give Me Five Monday Meme #23

Monday, May 12, 2008

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.
Sign up for weekly reminder emails @ beccagirl@charter.net


Give Me Five things you enjoyed about your mother's day yesterday or from prior years.

I am not a mom...but I have one! Also, yesterday was a big errand day for me so I think I will pick a few from yesterday and a couple from years past.


1. Mother's Day is always bitter sweet. You are happy to spend time with your mom, but at the same time, sad because you miss your grandma and you know your mom is feeling the same thing as well. I don't think that will ever go away but I don't let it get me down. I just use it as a time to remember the moms I know who have passed. I almost always go to the cemetery and put flowers out on a couple of friend's moms' who have passed. I don't think they go to the cemetery and I can't stand the thought that no one visits on Mother's day, so I go. I understand it's hard for them...I can imagine it will be hard for me when it ever becomes my turn for that. Unfortunately, my mother will be buried about 3 hours drive from here not too far from where my grandma is buried, so that will change things even more for future Mother's day plans...but let's not think about that yet!!


2. I took my mom out to lunch at Outback Steakhouse...I had grilled salmon (the best grilled salmon!) and momma had the Alice Springs Chicken (my second favorite). It was a very nice meal and a very nice time to visit with mom and enjoy her company. My mom lives with me and we work together, so you'd think I'd get tired of her...but hello, it's mommy! LOL


3. I was able to run some errands! Saturday was a big resting day so I decided to send momma off to home for a nice nap while I went and did some running and was able to accomplish a few loose ends. It feels good to get things done...I need to keep my momentum going...I actually did 1 productive thing on Sat, though...I 'found' my desk and organized it and cleared if all off! Now I can go back to comfortably using my computer at home!


4. I remember making cards for my mom on Mother's Day when I was young. I always did live to be creative and crafty and mom sure did love those hand made cards! I used it as almost an excuse to be crafty! I mean, I loved being crafty so much, I would just sit and water paint or cut paper out and glue it onto another piece or color...I still do love to be crafty alot but not to the same intense borderline need to seek addiction treatment type need to do it all the time. I've grown out of that stage, but I do love to make cards and such still! Paper crafting is a great venue of creativity for me, I really enjoy it.


5. I always love to hear stories about the Mother's Days when I was young, the ones I can't remember. Mom tells me stories about the things we would make for her in school and bring home adorned with glitter and painted hand prints. I also love to hear stories about going down to the country and visiting my grandma on Mother's Day. My mom and I sure did love her and we really miss her, especially this time of year...well any time of year, really. I hope you all had a great time reliving memories from the Mother's Days in your history. Here's to many more fond memories in the future!Give Me Five Participants

1. maryt/theteach 2. Penny Lane

3. Kat 4. maria

Learn more about Give Me Five here.

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Housekeeping, please!

Ok, so it has been a very long time since I've honestly had time to keep up on my laundry, especially the (what I call) "extra" loads, as in towels. I use a bath towel for a few days and then switch it out for another one. Well, I've ran out of my good bath towels. What I mean by 'good' is actually a bath sheet. I'm a big girl and I am all about a towel that can wrap all the way around me and then some! So I buy bath sheets and they are long enough and wide enough, it's great! Well, I only have so many of them and yesterday, I decided the one I'd been using needed to be swapped out.

So there I am finishing my shower this morning and I reach over for the replacement and might I add, much inferior version of a bath towel to dry with. All of a sudden I had the thought that it was like being at a hotel and the towels are a joke. You need like 2 of them to feel covered and that just makes things cumbersome and awkward! Then I thought, shoot, I wish I was at a hotel!!! I could just call up housekeeping to clean my house! I wish I could just pick up the phone and dial 9 for the front desk and say, "Yes, this place is dusty, disorganized and in dire need of vacuuming , could you send someone up right away?" And while they are at it, I could complain to the front desk about the poor mattress quality. They need to get some type of new fangled posture corrector or posture enhancer mattresses implemented right away! My back has been bothering me ever since I flipped my mattress the last time I changed the sheets on my bed. I wish I could just call housekeeping for that too! :) Ah the list goes on and on!

Catching up on errands

After the very busy last few weeks I've had, there are many errands and other tasks such as cleaning that need immediate tending to. Some things just don't wait. I mean, you can run out of toilet paper and pet supplies before you know it when you don't have any time to go to the store! These are two areas that you can't go long on empty before a refill is eminent!

Yesterday I took a day to rest...today became a day to run! I think I'll tackle the fish tank on Tuesday...I don't look forward to it, it is far too overdue!!! That task will take me about 3 1/2 hours to complete by myself on my 55 gallon tank set up. :( Oh well, it will be worth it when it's done!

I like it, I don't like it

The Rain.

Seems like we've had quite enough around here lately considering how high the water levels are already. I've heard the rain will be intermittent for the next few days so I guess you can put away your golf clubs for a couple of weeks until the rain stops and the ground has time to dry up some.I really hope we aren't looking at another Flood of 93'. Our office was about 3 feet high in water...I couldn't imagine all the work it would take to evacuate that office of all the boxes of files and computers and such...what a mess! So, although I am loving how green and lush everything looks and how much it reminds me of England's green rolling landscapes, I don't love the threat of higher waters!

I know, I know already!!

I can feel the resolve building inside me. It's something I've been meaning to do here for a while but haven't actually made the changes necessary to be successful yet. I've been learning for a long time about food and exercise...I mean, heck, all one has to do is watch 1 season of Biggest Loser and you will have a great start at what you need to know and do to get that weight off!!!

But knowing facts and actually getting up and active are two separate issues! Even the best acne treatment can't work unless you get up and use it first! It's the doing I'm having issues with....I'll get there, I know, I know already!!

Wordless Wednesday - Hey Mom! Come see the kittens!

Note to children everywhere: (& husbands, too!)

Mother's Day is less than a week away...please plan ahead for your mother and/or wife...or both! I hear the ladies like flowers and jewelry. Just make sure you don't blow it by waiting until the last minute to get something and end up with a fist full of orange silk flowers from a Wal-mart craft isle or a gum ball machine type bracelet. I myself am not a wife or mother, so I can't get any more specific than this as to what your lady might like to get, sorry. I know women love gifts of your time too, doing something alone with that person could put a nice smile on their face. Women need to build fond memories to reflect on for those times you end up in the dog house. Anyway, you have now been warned! This is your 2 minuted warning (well, actually, your 6 day warning, but we are talking realtime here)