bullet list

• I am in a blogging rut and I hate not having anything to write about. 
• My lunch today is a weird mash up of snacks from the pantry because I had no time to pack
• I have this strange desire to go out and party like I am 21 again, but I know I will hate that choice the next few days.
• I am kinda done with Pinterest. I am not buying a house, planning a wedding, or having a baby, so most of it is useless to me now.
• On that note, I am kinda over Target too.  Their clothes are just not cute enough for me anymore.
• My dog has been mastering obedience school except he will not lay down for the life of him and that is annoying.
• If loosing your cell phone in your purse was an Olympic sport, I would have several gold medals.
• Auto correct keeps turning my "bahahaha!" into "Bananas!!".  I decided to go with it and just use the banana emoticon.  
• This is officially the most boring post ever and I should feel bad but I don't.
• BUT.... good news is that CC has been surprisingly fun to be with this week,  I will take it!

A post on three hours of sleep....

Hello world.  Why is this Monday harder than normal?  Oh, maybe because I went to one seriously country wedding yesterday.... that I would love to show you photos of but can't because I left my flipping memory card sitting inside of my laptop, next to my cell phone.  Cause that's a good spot for it.   When I say country wedding I mean it.  It was in the middle of a hay field with cows in the background and bales of hay for seating.  Oh, and the bride rode in on a fire truck.  Good times.

On Thursday the groom asked us if we wouldn't mind giving them a ride to Buffalo after the wedding.  We weren't really thinking about it and said yes.  Well come to find out, it wasn't Buffalo their hotel was in, it was Niagara Falls.  Let's do some math.  The wedding was 2.5 hours east of Rochester.  Niagara Falls is about 1.5 hours west of Rochester.  Meaning our 2.5 hour ride home turned into a 5 hour ride home.  The reception ended at 10.  We got on the road at 11, meaning we got home at 4 in the morning.  Ouch.  Then I had to get up extra early this morning so I could take the puppy to the vet to get fixed.  Double ouch.  I've had a lot of coffee today.

That was my "Sunday Funday".  Sorry this post is so crappy.  I also have a head cold on top of lack of sleep, so this is the best you get.  I'll make it up this week.  promise  I'll try.

I spend too much time....

WORK

• Stalking old frenemies from high school on Facebook. 
• Reading Buzzfeed
• looking for the frenemies of my favorite bloggers on GOMI
• looking at old pictures of myself on Facebook and talking my self out of an inverted bob again.
• Laughing at my co-workers ignorance
• Candy Crush

HOME

• Looking for something to watch on Netflix
• Looking for the remote
• Walking into the kitchen expecting there to be a cheesecake in the fridge
• Picking at my cat's nails
• Going into the kitchen and forgetting why
• Going in to the bathroom and forgetting why
• Going into the Bedroom and forgetting why
• Talking to myself
• Sweeping the floor and then giving my dog a messy treat
• Looking for my cellphone 
• Candy Crush

Marriage is a choice, not fate

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of one of my closest friends.  We attended Bible college together, and she pretty much helped me keep my sanity in a sea of ultra conservative "Bible Thumpers".   I've mentioned before that going to Bible school was the best mistake of my life.  I had plenty of time to think about this on my 4 hour trip home on Sunday (that would have only been 2.5 hours if it wasn't for the HUGE line at the border).

The amazing Mrs. & Mr. Tan

One thing I can say about Bible School was that it influenced my thought process in choosing a husband.  That's completely understandable and expected, but in my case (and in the case of many of my classmates), it helped me set unreachable expectations for my "soul mate".   looking back,  I am almost embarrassed to admit that I even believed in soul mates.  Yes, you read that right.  I believe there is more than one "perfect match" out there for each and every one of us.  

before I go on, I would just like to point out that I am beyond thrilled to be married to Dean.  We butt heads on occasion, but he makes me happy and encourages me to be the best me possible.  He better be the one to die first, because I simply cannot imagine my life without him in it.  But, he is not my soul mate.  

I had decided that I wanted to go to Bible College in the late 90's (I didn't actually go until the early 2000's).  At this point in my life, church and youth group events were a huge part of my life.  I was constantly bombarded with lessons about Jesus being my "boyfriend", and "kissing dating good-bye", I wore a promise ring for a while, and was once invited to a girl's weekend retreat where the the chapel was decorated  for a wedding and every one signed "purity pledges" (I missed out on that one since I was at Cheer camp.... shucks).  At the age of 16 I started a journal full of letters to my future husband.

I was convinced that God would lead me to "the one" for me at Bible School.  Ring by Spring, right?  I would know that he is "the one" because he would match "my list" of things that I asked God for, and he would pray with me in the morning, we would sing worship songs around the camp fire together, and of course he would be a missionary, or pastor.  

Then I left the "Christian Bubble", I hit rock bottom pretty hard.  That story is at least three posts on it's own. When I started to put my life back together, or whatever you want to call it.  I started looking at all those lessons on purity a little differently.  During that process I came to this radical conclusion: There is no biblical basis to indicate that God has one soul mate for you to find and marry. You could have a great marriage with any number of compatible people. There is no ONE PERSON for you. But once you marry someone, that person becomes your one person.

This was and still is very reassuring to me.  My marriage is not based on a set of choices that I had no control over. instead, it is based on a daily choice to love Dean.  The guy I choose to love out of many other people I was compatible with.   The guy I decided was worth waiting for when he moved to the other side of the world for a year (ironically, to be a missionary).  The guy that choose to sleep in a chair by my side in the hospital for two weeks just days after our wedding.  The guy that chooses to sacrifice things he enjoys to make me feel loved.  The guy that chose me.  The guy that couldn't wait to marry me.

Oh, by the way, I never did give him that journal full of letters to him.  I cringe every time I think about it.  I told him about it and he just kind of laughed and said "aw, that's cute, but I don't want to read it."   Can't say I blame him.

It's Friday, so let's talk about beer.

More specifically, let's talk about beer marketing gimmicks.  I've tried to avoid the typical alcohol related blogger posts, but after my brother-in-law made some hysterical comment about Miller Lite's Vortex bottle, I just couldn't stay away.  

The whole vortex design on Miller lite bottles consists of tiny grooves in the neck of the bottle, creating a "vortex-like" motion as you pour. Because, you know, cheap beer will definitely taste better after being swirled around.  It's supposed to give it easier drink-ability  making it go down your throat faster. Which means they're basically admitting it tastes like crap and the faster you drink it, the less you'll realize how awful it is.  And I can say this because, yes, I do drink Miller Lite. What? It's cheap.

There have been a few other times when beer companies have had dumb gimmicks in hopes of boosting their sales:

Coors Light's Cold Activation: The mountains on the label turn blue when cold. Apparently, touching the bottle with your hands just didn't cut it.

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1. Lime in beer: Lime is only good in a Corona ... and it needs to be a real lime, not lime flavoring. 

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1. Taste protector caps:  Miller Lite came up with this amazing invention. They put a removable top on their bottles, keeping out the oxygen and preventing the beer from spilling. It's called a cap. Ground-breaking.

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1. Coors Light's Window Box: The same idea as their label, but there's an actual window on the box that turns blue when the beers are cold, meaning you have two forms of confirmation that your beer is in fact cold before you grab it.

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Do you remember these? In your opinion, what has been the dumbest beer gimmick? 

All I want to do is watch Boy meets World!

I feel like Cory and Topanga have made a huge come back this year.  I mean, why wouldn't they? I know I am not the only one who learned some of the best life lessons in those amazing 20-some-odd-minute time frames.  So with all this talk about the new Disney Spin off, I would like to relive some of my adolescents and watch an episode (or 50) after work.  But can I?  No.  Because I don't have cable and Netflix is stupid. If I want to Watch Boy Meets World through  them, I have to upgrade my account and watch it on DVDs.

Netflix and I have always had a love hate relationship.  I love the convenience of the instant streaming and the ability to show a toddler some curious George on my phone has saved me on many a babysitting adventure.   But I don't like that certain shows are not available, or only available on DVD (like Boy Meets World, Dexter, or Chuck).  This isn't  the first time this has happen to me.  There has been many Saturday mornings that I have plopped my fanny on the couch and searched for my favorite old school show, only to be disappointed.

Home Improvement

Home Improvement is not availble on Netflix at all.  Period.  Even if I updated my account and was willing to wait days for my DVD, I couldn't re-live my school girl crush on JTT.

ER

I know this my be a less popular show for my age bracket, but I still miss it.  I would watch this with my grandfather, and then my mother after he passed away.  So to me, it's something worth watching.

Friends

This is an instant pick me up on a bad day.  Most of the time I am not able to tell when I will have a bad day.  So, how will I know to get my DVD in the mail?  This definitely needs to be available on instant streaming.

Gilmore Girls

Pretty Much the story of my life only with better looking people and a higher GPA.  Luckily, I have the first season on DVD and a BFF who owns the whole series on DVD.  

Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Really Netflix?!?  Really!!??  Do I even have to explain why this should be available to stream instantly?!  Come on, Netflix!  Get it together!

So, now that I am done ranting. can any one tell me where I can watch Boy Meets World for free online?

Nothing like a good game of tag.... like old school Myspace.

Kayla from Green Mountain Couple as tagged me in this pretty snazzy questionnaire.  Just in time too, because I am running low on motivation and creativity.  Work is crazy this week ad CC left for vacation today (I can't decide if I am happy about that or not).

Any-who-how-hay, here is how this little game works:  You answer the 11 questions that the person who tagged you asked.  You tag 11 people and ask them 11 new questions.   I enjoy these posts because it's a good way to learn more about the person behind the blog.

Ready, Set, Go!

1)  Describe yourself in 5 words.
Technically this isn't a question, but I will participate anyway.  5 words: A quirky girl that dances.

2)  What is your favorite aspect of blogging?
Well, I started blogging as a way to have something that was "mine" to help me not lose sight of the things that make me me.  I never expected to make friends through the internet and it not be creepy (yes, I know every blogger says that).  I would have to say those are the things that keep me going.

3)  Would you ever lead a "Prepping Lifestyle"?
If I had the means to do so probably yes.  At the moment, we live in an apartment in the city and we don't really have the room to have a stock pile.

4)  Where do you see your bog in 5 years?
Truthfully, I haven't thought that far ahead.  IF I am still blogging in 5 years, this little corner of the web will most likely me a mommy blog. (admit it, half of  you would say the same  thing!)

5)  What is the best tip you have ever received on how to get healthy?
 I would have to say the best advice I have gotten on this subject is that everyone is different and you shouldn't compare yourself to other people, but to yourself.  Are you the best YOU you can be?  Than that's all that matters.

6)  Nail polish or makeup?  Which are you addicted to more?
Make up for sure.  the fact that I work less than two miles from a Lush, Ulta. and Sephora is a bad thing for my wallet.

7)  Top 5 favorite songs?
This is too hard for me to answer now.  I would say that I will answer later, but I probably won't.  So I won't lie to you cause that is mean.

8)   Do you have any tattoos?  If yes what?
 No, but I have a plan for one in my head.  With things like this I want to make sure I really want them before I do anything.  So in two years if I still want it I will get it.

9)  Any pets?
Two kitties and a puppy.  Don;t tell the kitties, but the puppy is my favorite.

10)  Favorite alcoholic beverage?
This all depends on my mood and budget to tell you the truth.  AT home I always have a bottle of Malibu handy and a box of wine in the fridge.  if I am at a bar I will drink cheap beer to save money.  $2 PBR anyone?

11) favorite link-up to participate in?
Hands down it;s throw back Thursdays. I currently love  the one that Bonnie from Life of Bon hosts, but there are a few TBT parties out there.


Now the rules say I should "tag" 11 other people, but I don't really feel like it.  So if you want to participate just consider yourself tagged. ok?  Cool.

Sometimes I cannot keep my mouth shut

I have tried to keep my thoughts regarding the Zimmerman case to myself, but since it is so hard to get away from this topic, I just can'y bite my tongue anymore.   So, I am going on a little rant. My opinions may be controversial and different from yours.  That's okay.  If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary. Given my recent experience with Jury Duty, I won't be making an assumption of guilty or not guilty, I wasn't a juror and I wasn't able to see all of the evidence.  I have my belief, of course, just like to rest of you. 


 A couple thoughts about all this racial stoking going on: many black leaders would like to see Zimmerman put in jail over this, but they say diddly squat about black unemployment, especially with young people, which is ridiculously high. What about all the gangs in Chicago that black teens join because they have no hope? What about our failed government school system, which is spitting out people like the prosecution's star witness Rachel Jeantel, a black 19 year old who needed help writing a letter and couldn't read it back? What about kids like her who can't read and write?!?! Sharpton, Jackson and others would rather see a fake white man go to jail than help one of their so-called own who has her whole life still ahead of her!! With leadership like that, the black community will never rise to meet their amazing potential. So instead of complaining that Zimmerman is free, I have a better idea: dump Sharpton, dump Jackson, dump Obama and the fake black accents he uses only in front of black audiences, and let new leaders rise to the top who actually give two craps about you.
2 more thoughts on racism: 1) Zimmerman's own parents weren't allowed in the courtroom. I believe this is because the prosecution didn't want the jury to see that his mom was full Peruvian. Is that not racist?! And if you think I'm wrong, please - tell me your excuse for why they were left out while Martin's parents were in, because I don't think there is one. 2) Jeantel (Martin's friend, star witness for prosecution), in the courtroom, repeated Martin's words that night: there's a "creepy-ass cracker" following me. Is that not racist? IS THAT NOT RACIST?!?!

One last thought: I agree that it is absolutely tragic that a young man is dead whom his family will never have back. Trayvon Martin's autopsy showed he had THC in his system that night (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) (by the way, that evidence was NOT allowed in the courtroom!). In texts, Martin spoke highly of drugs. He also complained in texts that his mom was thinking of kicking him out of the house. (None of those texts were allowed as evidence, either.) Martin was a young man who experienced a tragic death, but between the drugs and other troublesome behavior, it was only a matter of time before a tragedy occurred.  I know that is a harsh statement, but I believe it is the truth. Let this be a reminder to us all that no matter what, trouble is stupidity's shadow: it will always follow. Between the THC, photos of a bloodied Zimmerman, eyewitness accounts with clothing descriptions which would indicate Martin was physically on top of Zimmerman in the fight, I believe Martin was the aggressor in the situation. And if Martin hadn't run into (pummeled) Zimmerman that night, maybe he would have found someone who didn't have a gun (i.e. someone who couldn't defend himself), and if Martin had been able to kill that person, we would never have found out about it because apparently black-on-black or black-on-whatever crime isn't a "hate crime" - it's just those pesky "creepy-ass cracker" fake white people (or the real ones) who can commit hate crimes. My final opinion: all violent crime is a "hate crime," no matter your complexion. It's just the non-black on black crimes that get all the attention.

Stuff my Co-Worker Says

If you read my post a few weeks ago about my new job, you would know that I am not exactly happy about it.  I kinda feel swindled.  I was told this job wouldn't involve sales, and early this week I was asked to call "warm leads".  Yeah... about that.... Basically I have decided that if I still feel this way in three months I am looking for a new job. I think that is the most logical way of looking at this.

In the mean time, I have to share an office with my co-worker.  Let's call her....CC, short for Candy Crusher (because she is beyond obsessed with that game).  CC and I were hired at the same time and went though the same training at the same time with the same person. CC will put people on hold daily and ask me questions.  Umm...yeah you have the exact same amount of experience as I do.   Needless to, she is not the brightest star in the sky, and her random comments and strange actions prove it.  These things need to be shared with you, so I am not the only one with this reaction:

We were talking about Jackie Chan for some reason and I made a comment about him being Asian.  Her response "Oh my god he is Asian!?  I though he was Chinese!"..... I think that our education system failed her.  Like, such as, maps.

This happen while I was on Jury duty:

Seriously, I can't make that up

She cannot do basic math.  She asked me out to figure out a percentage from a fraction.  I said "oh just divide the top number by the bottom number and multiply by 100".  She did something on the calculator and got a number that was way off.  I just looked at her and said "Google it"... yeah I am a horrible person.  

I think I am going to make a drinking game to make these days go by faster.  If only I could actually drink while I was here... but I don't think that would be a good idea.

People are Stupid

I think I said "People are stupid" an average of 7 times a day while I was a juror.  I am generally and easy going individual, but I lost my cool twice with my fellow jurors in a two week time frame.  Why?  Because people are stupid.

Please ignore the rat nest known as my hair.  I don't look pretty in humidity.

This was my first time ever being called for Jury Duty.  I thought I would just go in for the morning and not get picked, and head back to work the next day.  I was dead wrong.  It took two days just to pick the jury, we didn't even start the trial until Wednesday.  Let me tell you, attempted homicide is not a fun trial.  I am still having occasional nightmares.

We spent three days listening to testimonies of witness, and watching a video from a red light camera that captured most of the event.  It was pretty much obvious that the defendant was guilty.  We had a video of him shooting in to the house (wearing a mask), AND a testimony of a witness who's story matches exactly what we saw on the video, along with several other witnesses that could back up the case.  You would think it would take no time at all to deliberate, right?  Wrong.

You see, the key witness is a convicted felon, rapist, drug dealer, and all around horrible guy.  The DA's office cut him a deal so that he would actually come and testify.  Because of this, one juror said he couldn't believe anything he had to say.  Even though his testimony lined up with the video.  The rest of us spent a day and a half using the other evidence to prove his guilt.  Stupid Juror still wouldn't say he was guilty and the judge told us to keep trying.  by the last day of deliberation we all gave up.  I brought a deck of cards and we all just sat around.  There was no changing this guy's mind, no matter how obvious the case was, and he told us point blank.  A few other jurors and I started to think that this guy knew the defendant, or was paid off or something, because it really couldn't be any more clear.

When the Judge finally declared a miss trail, he let us in on some more information about the defendant.  Turned out that in his 25 years of life, he has been convicted of several other felony's, numerous drug charges, countless assault charges, a few robberies, and 7 other shootings 4 of them being homicides. The DA was waiting for us in the hall and asked us what he could have done differently to seal the case.  Come to find out this is the second time this case ended in a miss trail.  He also told us that everyone that testified against the defendant was visited by one of his "boys".  So, that confirmed our suspicions about Stupid Juror.  We suggested having the jury sequestered next time around.

As the judge read the list of convictions I just cried.   I have always known that Rochester has a high crime rate, but it never really hit home until now.  I am smart enough to avoid the bad neighborhoods, and the news only reports some of what happens.  I have lived a lot of places in my life, but nothing ever felt like home quite like Rochester has.  Seeing first hand all the devastation that is eating the city I love from the inside out, was heart breaking.

Needless to say, I am more than happy Jury duty is over.

How to get out of Jury Duty 101

I'm back!!  Did you miss me?  It's okay to admit you did.  

The State of New York decided that the best way for me to finish up two months of chaos was with Jury Duty.  Honestly, what doesn't sound appealing about getting paid less than minimum wage to get locked in a small room with no windows and people you don't like to hear about a guy getting shot in the stomach for seven whole days? .... Yeah, thought so. Needless to say, in eight years, when I eligible to be picked again, I will find a way out, luckily, I can use this experience to my advantage. Since I am a nice person I am going  to share some of those methods with you.  Because no one's dreams should be haunted by this guy:

I am not even sure who this is, I was too creeped out by the lack of eyes to find out.

ONE. Come up with a medical excuse.  The judge will just take your word for it (at least he did in this case).  But make sure it is something that will really get you out of it.  Telling him that you have allergies and will cough if it gets too warm in the room is a stretch (yes, a woman tried to use that as an excuse).

TWO.  Fall asleep as the judge is explaining things.  This worked like a charm for a few guys.  Personally, I had too much self respect to do that this time around.  But after my miserable experience, I am willing to do anything to get out of it next time around.  Including looking like a fool... and that brings me to my next suggestion.

THREE. Sport a hair style that will make people question your intelligence.  It worked for one woman on our panel.  I am fairly certain that she mixed up a Dr. Seuss book with a copy of In Style, because she looked like she belonged in Whoville.  She had a high side pony tail that was braided, and a dolor store flower stuck in.  She was eliminated in the first round and I was tempted to wear pig tails  the next day, but it was too late at that point.

FOUR.  Decide that you know the guy.  I wish I would have thought of this. While the Judge was asking questions to the rest of the jurors, a man stood up and shouted "Your Honor, I am pretty sure I know the defendant!".  He said that he couldn't remember from where, but he knows he knows him!  It worked like a charm.  He was dismissed right away.

FIVE.  Make friends in law enforcement and/or with criminals. I would say that 90% of the people that said they knew some one in law enforcement or someone that  had been convicted of a felony were dismissed.  I think I am going to start hanging out at the doughnut shop in the morning so that I have en excuse the next time around.

And there you have it, ways to get out of Jury Duty.  Tomorrow I will enlighten you all on the trail, because I know that's what you all really want to know about.

PS - check out my improved "about me  section" but only f you care to know more about me.