Recruiting the Youth of America, Part Deux

New front elevation of the library:


Bridge that connects library and Fisher (note: I was told that the bridge is closed during the winter because the engineering firm didn't take the load from the snow into account. I *really* hope that's not true):


I had a great time and I wish I was able to stay longer. Can't wait 'til next year!!

Recruiting the Youth of America

Last week, I (and 12 others)represented Ford at Career Day on campus. Words can not describe how much I wish I could stay at Tech forever. The people, the surroundings and slow-paced, simple lifstyle are what make it so wonderful. I interviewed 8 candidates for summer intern & co-op positions; 4 made it to the next round of interviews. If things go as planned, a summer intern and a co-op will be hired by the spring.

I made a very important observation last week. Either the fishbowls got a hell of a lot smaller or the amount of alcohol has decreased. Point being - I drank 3 fishbowls and 5 Captain & Cokes. I'M STILL LIVING TO TELL ABOUT IT!!!! If I drank 2 while I was in school, I was piss ass drunk and guaranteed booting all over the place. Nope. Not this time. Yes, I was tipsy but I felt good the next morning. A little dusty but not even a headache. That's scary......Below are some pics:

Ripley - Still beautiful as ever




Homecoming was last weekend. How did I know??? Well, it was easy to tell when I saw this:




Our letters look funky:




If anyone can guess what this is a picture of, then you're good:

On a happier note.....

....I'm leaving for Tech on Sunday morning for Career Day. I am one of 13 members of the recruiting team representing Ford Motor Company. YIPPPEEE

Who's going up?!

The company is giving me a car to drive for the week - either a Mustang Shelby (I will pee my pants) or a Ford Edge (our new crossover vehicle coming out in November). If I had to bet, I'd say I'm getting the Edge. I don't care which vehicle I get...I'm going to Tech, baby!!

I should arrive around 5pm on Sunday. Ford Night is at 6pm that evening. The team plans on meeting for breakfast at Suomi Restaurant (I love their sweet bread). I present to a junior-level class later that morning and then that night we are to set up the display. Tuesday is Career Day, so I'll be speaking to students from 9am - 4pm. The team will meet for dinner that night at North Shore (is it new, I've never heard of the place????). Wednesday and Thursday are interview days. Yuck. Ford's interview process sucks the big one. Very rigid. Oh well.....hopefully I'll be able to hit Quarters on Thursday night. TROUBLE!! Ugly things happen when you can get a tray of beer (13 of them) for $2.25.....Too bad JD's Boathouse no longer exists. I'd stay one additional night for pitchers. I CAN'T WAIT! Especially after the wonderful night I had w/ my fabulous husband (see previous post). I need some time in Houghton to regain some perspective. I'll be sure to post some pictures when I get back. The colors are supposed to peak next week. I love the fall season.

Dennis Leary is Correct

Asshole. Unfortunately, on my husband's birthday, that is the only word I can think of when I look at him tonight.

Remember that kick ass snowmobile I bought him a month ago (well 50% of it anyway - we still owe the remaining 50%)? Well, he seems to have forgotten the "grateful" part of that deal. The downhill slide started with this comment:

"Jason, the snowmobile payment is due on the 13th. Don't forget to take money out of your ING account to pay for it." Before I knew it, we were in a huge arguement about money. Now, there is NO REASON for us to be arguing about money. Our combined income is well beyond what we need to survive. Somehow the conversation got turned around on why I have a 2K credit card balance. My explanation (albeit not a good reason) - if I didn't save 4k for the stupid ass snowmobile, I wouldn't have a credit card balance. I can't save money for the snowmobile AND pay off my credit card in the same month. I don't make that much money. So, I chose to save for the snowmobile last month and pay off my credit card this month. I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Wow, wrong answer. All of a sudden I was supposedly insinuating that it wasn't alright for him to spend money, but it was alright for me to. Where did that come from?

Comments like "why did you charge your plane ticket to NYC?" and "why did you spend $300 on clothes?" were directed at me. Response #1: well, it's basically the only way to purchase a plane ticket these days - plus I used my DEBIT card NOT my CREDIT card....try again asshole. Response #2: I hate shopping. I shop for myself MAYBE twice a year. I went to the mall one day and bought 4 outfits for work (not even casual or bar clothes) and a necklace to go w/ one of the outfits. Sorry, but there is a dress code at work. The last time I went shopping for myself was when I went to Minneapolis last summer/fall before Heather Kentala had Carter. Thank you very much.

Now I'm ready to torch the fucking snowmobile and be done with it. NEVER again will I sacrifice to do something that I know will make him happy. I'm pissed.

OH MY GOD.....

WARNING - Grey's Anatomy S3, Ep1 information

.......Addison had the black underwear!!! Not only did Addison have the black underwear, but she *DELIBERATELY AND METICULOUSLY* washed them, folded them and stuck them in a plastic bag. Then at the end of the episode, Addison tacks them up on the bulletin board. HOLY SHIZ.

I loved the flashback thing going on. It was great to get more background information on each character. Can you believe Burke was such an A$% to Christina at the mixer??? I LOVED how McDreamy booted Addison out in the rain. Oh, and I always thought that Ellis dumped the Chief - not the other way around.....hmmmmm

The dialogue between George and Derek made me tear up for a split second. Then what made me cry like a baby was what Derek said to Meredith at the end. Why can't guys be that romantic? Actually they are until you start boinking then romance is totally out the window......Anyway - Meredith has a lot of thinking to do. By her reaction to Derek's confession, she's gonna choose him. SHE BETTER!!

He's Never Disappointed Me Yet

The Jimmy Buffett (JB) concert was last night and he's still got it. Despite the fact that it rained the entire 3 1/2 hours we were there, the concert rocked. What I love most about JB concerts (and his music) is his sound. He sounds EXACTLY the same live as he does on his records. NO JOKE. I love it.

Some highlights of the night:

JB walked on stage at 8pm with a faded yellow t-shirt, khaki-style shorts, bare feet and his signature wrist bands. He carried an umbrella made out of balloons and started with "Singing in the Rain". How appropriate.....I'm sure he was trying to lighten the mood since everyone in the lawn area was going to be soaked to the bone by the end of the night.

He played some oldies - Floridays, One Particular Harbour (my fav) and, of course Margaritaville. He also played some newbies off of the Hoot soundtrack and his new record coming out October 10. He actually produced the movie so check it out!!! He's a conservationist, so the storyline is parallel to his lifestyle.

He ended the night with Southern Cross (which I'm not too fond of re-makes, but his rendition is very good) and Fins.

Although I didn't have an ounce of alcohol (I drove the 2 hours home and I HAD to come into work today) it was an awesome night. So what if it rained steadily for 3 1/2 hours, I didn't have a dry article of clothing on me and I wasn't smart enough to wear contacts.....For that short span of time, I was on a beach off the southern tip of Key West.

Good to Bad to Worse to Good

Despite the title of this post, I really did have a good day today.

Work went extremely well today. I was contacted by a customer that I did work for a few months ago. He asked if he could use some images that I put into a report for an SAE paper. Excellent. That was basically the highlight of my day.

Left work around 3:30pm because Jason and I are going to check out the local YMCA together. His gym membership expires tomorrow. Well, at about 4:03pm things weren't so great. My front LH tire went flat. That's not the bad part. I've changed flat tires before....once at 2am in a gas station parking lot when I was 21 and once in January of 2005 at 6am, on my way to work, in the freezing F'ing cold, in a gas station parking lot. I got my last flat tire by hitting a pothole (unbeknownst to me it was a DEEP pothole) going 30 mph. Not only did my tire go flat instantly, but my rim bent, too. I took my car to Belle Tire on 15150 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn (subliminal message: don't ever go there) to have the rim replaced. I should have been observant when I picked up my car because one lug nut on that tire was not the lug nut that was on it when I dropped off the car. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY: I pull off to the side of the highway and start jacking up my car. A super nice (and incredibly HOT) man asked if I needed help and I declined. He looked at me, smiled and said, "bullshit". Then proceeded to loosen my lug nuts (M-E-O-W). He got to the mutant lug nut from Belle Tire and couldn't loosen it. It didn't fit the socket. In fact, it didn't fit ANY socket that he had in his toolbox. In the meantime (and this is about 1/2 hour later), two MI State troopers and MDOT Courtesy Patrol pulled up. We explained what the issue was with the lug nut. The MDOT guy (David Dawson) said that he had a compression socket that he would try. Heaven opened up and angels began to sing because it worked. Chris (the incredibly HOT guy) said that he was going to take off since there was nothing else he could do. I thanked him and he left. The funniest part of the story is that I left my cellphone at home today. I couldn't get a hold of Jason to let him know that I was going to be late. I used Chris' phone to ask Jason to pick me up (at that point MDOT David hadn't shown up). After my tire was changed, the MI State Trooper said that he didn't want me to stay on the highway for Jason since it was so dangerous. I thanked MDOT David by slapping him with $40 and a quick hug. I told the trooper that I'd exit off the highway and call Jason from a payphone. How archaic. I wasn't able to get a hold of Jason, so I left him a message to turn around and come home. When I got home I figured out why Jason didn't answer his phone. He left it at home. I need to go to the gym and blow off some steam......Thanks to all who stopped to help a girl in need - MDOT David, Hot-guy Chris, and the two MI State troopers.

Ballpark tour - Year 3 Pics

Ballpark Tour - Year 3

Over the weekend, Jason and I went on our annual MLB ballpark tour. This year we chose Milwaukee. I promise to upload pics tonight, but until then here is how the weekend went for us:

Friday - worked all day. We left Maumee (where Jason works) around 5:30pm. Spent the next 5 hours on the road. Let me tell you something, those turnpike service centers are magnets for scary people (excluding us of course). We stopped for a biological break and to pick up something to eat. First observation - trash can overflowing with paper towels in the bathroom. Great. Do I need to go *that* badly??? Get in line for food. Second observation - not one adult is working in the back or behind the counter. In the middle of my order, the girl behind the cash register opens the register drawer and starts counting money. NO LIE. I looked at Jason in total disbelief and he started cracking up. She must've got the hint because she looked at me, apologized and asked me to start over. People scrambling everywhere and nothing is getting done. My only thought was get me out of here ASAP.....We arrive in Milwaukee around 9:30pm (CST) and check into the hotel. I gave Karen a call to let her know that we made it and I'd call her in the AM. By 10:30pm, I was passed out.

Saturday - woke up on my own at 6am. Holy crap. Jason was still kind of sleeping so I decided to workout in the fitness room. Too bad I left my bathing suit at home b/c a swim sounded really relaxing. After about 45 mins, I was bored on the elliptical and chose to go back up to the room for a shower and some coffee. Jason and I called Karen after breakfast to decide what time we were going to the Miller Brewery. That was fun. The beer really didn't taste any different than buying it from a store (which is a good thing). The coolest part of the tour is seeing 500,000 cases of beer in one area. I've never witnessed that much of anything EVER. After the tour, we met up with Heather J for some tail-gate shopping and off to the game! The parking lot was PACKED full of tail gaters. The smell of charcoal and burnt meat filled the air. It was exciting. We went into the park, took some pictures and sat in our seats to enjoy the game. We left too early (Heather and Karen were sleepy - with pics to prove it). The Brewers were down in the bottom of the 8th, they came back to tie in the 9th but lost in extra innings.

Sunday - most of the day was spent walking around downtown. We checked out the waterfront, art museum, some boutiques (much to Jason's dismay), a "women's" shop, and where Karen e-mails all of us from every day. For dinner, we went to The Capital Grille. Expensive, but worth it. The food was delicious. A few drinks afterwards and goodbyes.

We woke up at 7am CST and left - arriving home around 1:30pm EST. To end, some funny moments during the weekend:

Heather: "We're all friends here, right?" Then farts.
Diana: *Insert huge burp* "I guess burps don't scare off bees"

That's all I can think of right now. More later....including pics.

Weekend News - Mostly Venting

Some weekend happenings:

Friday didn't do too much. Started planning a baby shower for Jason's cousin, Corey. I am sort of perturbed about how the family is handling the situation. Corey is 20 years old and not married. She's due on November 1st and nothing has been said or planned for her shower. On the other hand, when Jason's cousin's wife, Jody,(Corey's sister-in-law) was pregnant all of the aunts got together and planned a shower for her. Anyway, I mentioned something to Corey's mom about when we're going to plan the shower and she had no clue. The Stark family drives me crazy sometimes.

So, I talked to Jody and we're planning the baby shower. I printed all of the invitations, reserved the hall and have a guest list. All we have to do is get Corey registered and figure out the menu, centerpieces, guests' gifts, etc.

Saturday I spent most of the day in Roseville (where I grew up) for a friend's bridal shower. Katie and I have known each other since we were four. We kind of lost touch when I went to college and moved to Temperance, but we're still really good friends nonetheless. I am so happy for her. Chris, her fiance, seems to be a REALLY good guy.

When I got home from the shower, I didn't feel very well so I curled up on the couch with Caicos and slept. Jason went over to a friend's house to drink/play cards/whatever. He said he wasn't going to stay out too late so I didn't feel bad for staying home. When I woke up at 1:39 am he hadn't come home yet. I was sort of concerned so I called his cell. When he answered the phone (after 3 tries) I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. He was at a bar about 20 miles away and he was WASTED. The only thing I asked him was how he was going to get home. His response was, "I'm not drunk, I'm going to drive home." GRRRREEEAAAAT. So, I reminded him that every action has a consequence and that he'll have to figure out how to get home b/c I wasn't picking him up and if he drove home then I'd kill him. He proceeded to call the house to talk and I just let the answering machine answer. He was dropped off at 2:34 am just in time to start puking. He babbled in between flushes and I feel back asleep. At 3:57 am I woke up to check on him and he was passed out on the bedroom floor. Probably a good idea. I gave him a pillow and blanket and left him there. This morning I told him I wasn't mad that he went to the bar, but b/c he was going to drive home drunk. For my entertainment, I replayed his messages and he didn't think it was funny. So, with a hangover, he has to figure out how to get the car home (I told him I wasn't going to go with him), go to a Fantasty Football draft and clean up the mess he made from last night.

So far today has been a pretty relaxing day :)

I'm about to freak the F out

Has anyone told my husband that a "super typhoon" is supposed to hit the China coast tonight around midnight (eastern time)??? He didn't mention anything while I spoke to him tonight.....and I didn't find out until about 3 minutes ago.

A "super typhoon" is on the same level as a category 5 hurricane. Right now Typhoon Saomai has sustained winds of 160 mph and gusts up to 195 mph. The eye is projected to hit between Wenzhou and Fuzhou (approximately 400 miles south of Shanghai).

Typhoon Saomai's path

Seriously. And I have no way of getting a hold of him. I think I need a beer.....

This, That and the Other

Many things to talk about:

2006 Primary - Go out tomorrow and VOTE!!! For those of you who live in MI, I've attached a link to check out who is on the ballot. Be informed and make yourself heard. Candidate information here. Remember - if you don't vote, then you don't have the right to bitch!!

Madonna - Although I really like her early music (80's - early 90's), I am getting really sick of her attempts for attention. Her latest, tasteless and obscene stunt in Rome is vulgar and offensive. Read about it here. Get over it, lady, you're old and you have 2 kids. Focus on raising them rather than raising eyebrows.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?! - Last night's Hall of Fame game between the Raiders and Eagles was the unofficial kickoff for the 2006 - 2007 season. I fell asleep during the 3rd quarter, but I read that the Raiders won. The Lions' season begins on September 10 against the Seahawks. View their schedule.

How 'bout them Tigers? - I've been catching the Tigers on and off this summer. I have to admit, I'm not as big a baseball fan as I am a football fan. However, this weekend's sweep of the Indians was phenomenal (sorry Heather P)!! Woo hoo! Makes me almost wish we were going to Minne to watch the Twins go head-to-head with Detroit. Oh well.

New music - OMG - I just heard SexyBack (Justin Timberlake) on the radio and I CAN NOT WAIT until the album comes out. Watch the video. I feel very DD-like when I listen to that song ;) FutureSex/LoveSounds will be released on September 12.

Talladega Nights - I totally am not a NASCAR fan, but I am a huge Will Ferrell fan. The movie did not disappoint. There were some HILARIOUS moments. I give it a thumbs up.

If you can't take the heat....I've found a "summer" show to get me through until Season 3 of Grey's Anatomy debuts (September 21). Hell's Kitchen is an entertaining reality-type show that puts wannabe culinary gurus through, well, hell. I like the show because of the English chef (Chef Ramsey). He is the most forward, blunt, in-your-face person and I *love* his accent. Ahhhhhh.....I know, I'm pathetic.

I'm glad to be out of my no-preggers-yet, two-funerals-in-10-days, dog-days-of-summer funk. I'm hoping to get a couple of friends to visit before the summer is over.....*cough* ERIKA *cough* HEAD *cough* The invitation is extended to anyone else who is interested in visiting, too!!

THE BEST WEEK EVER

This week is the most coveted, for TV-viewing that is, each year!! IT'S SHARK WEEK ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL!!!! Wooooo Hooooo

I found this re-enactment of JAWS - it is hilarious!!

I love Shark Week :)

Sad Times/Funny Ending

I've been MIA for a while and with good reason. The past two to three weeks have been crazy.

To start off, we had two family members pass away within 4 days of each other. One has been sick and basically bed-bound for almost 7 years. The other came as a surprise. It seems like we've been attending wakes and funerals for the past week and a half. Needless to say, I haven't really felt like posting anything, e-mailing or calling anyone. I'm just blah. When I get blah, I like to shop for house stuff. I plan on hitting IKEA that just opened up in Canton. Maybe I'll wait until Jason leaves :) See explanation below...

Jason is going up north tomorrow to golf. Poor guy - he needs it too. He just defended his Masters last Friday. That is a huge stress reliever (for the both of us)! He'll be back on Saturday, just in time for another funeral. We're going to miss the Mio softball tournament this year. Oh well, it gives us time to do something to cheer us up. He then leaves for China (next Saturday) for 8 days. At least I have a wedding to go to on the 5th. That will be fun. Plus it'll be the first wedding I go to solo since Kentala's wedding. Wow - and that's how long ago???

On a happier note, I've been thinking about ditching my membership at the gym for one at the YMCA. The Y is $40/month more expensive but it has TWO pools (one for adults and one for children - thank you Jesus), more classes and it opens an hour earlier. I plan on using my free pass this weekend to check it out. YIPPPEEE

This always cheers me up:

Best Places To Live

Obviously Detroit didn't make the list, but one place that I've been interested in did! Check it out!

Does your area rank?? The closest I got is Ann Arbor, MI. At least I can say I went to school there, right?!

On a different note, I'm not feeling very well today.....A combination of anxiety and nausea. Blah. According to Jones' post, it sounds like there may be something going around. It's either that or the fact that I didn't sleep very well last night. I went to bed with a pounding headache and a cat that wouldn't stop following me around. I was like, "what the hell got into you?". I fell asleep with Caicos on my right side, petting him. What a spoiled feline! It's actually kind of cute in a demented sort of way.

Where The Ocean Meets The Sky

Charleston is beautiful. Where else can you lounge on the Atlantic coast, peruse an open air market and stroll downtown through historic neighborhoods that are quaint and colorful, all within 15 miles??? A city that is more than 300 years old has a plethora of stories to tell. The captial was moved from Charleston to Columbia in 1790. SC was the first state to secede from the union during the civil war and the 1989 category 4 hurricane Hugo that destroyed 80% of the barrier island homes; losses that estimate ~ $2.8 billion. One last cool fact is the state motto: DUM SPIRO SPERO, meaning "WHILE I BREATHE I HOPE".

Onto my stories:

The drive down sucked. We left at 8pm on Friday (June 30) and it took us 14 hours to get there. We figured driving through WV (and the mountains) at night tacked on an additional hour. Since we arrived before check-in on Saturday, we weren't able to pick up the keys to our house. So we did the next best thing - changed our clothes at Jeff (Jason's brother) and Cheri's apartment and headed to the beach. It was the closest thing to heaven that I could think of. Around 4pm, we headed to the real estate place to pick up the keys to our digs for the week.


The ocean was a 3 minute walk from the house. I awoke early on Sunday (~7am) and decided to chill on the beach before the crowds took over. It was breathtaking.



To make a long story short, we baked in the sun, drank and toured around the city (including a tour of Middleton Place, a rice plantation. That was pretty cool because Middleton was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Some of my favorite places we drank at were Henry's - because the live music was awesome, Poe's Tavern - named after Edgar Allan Poe - because of the deco, and Red's - which was on the water - because I drank too many Captain and Cokes, supposedly saw a dolphin and talked about how Jeff was going to be rich or broke by 30.

Since we rented a beach house, we didn't eat out too often. But out of the places we did eat out at, The Mustard Seed was my absolute favorite. The food, wine and even coffee were phenomenal. I definitely recommend it!!

A few things that we didn't do, which I wish we would have, were parasailing (800 feet in the air as opposed to 300 feet in Key West), renting wave runners and traveling to Savannah. I was super bummed about not driving the 2 hours to Savannah, but I didn't want to go alone. Oh well - maybe some other time. All in all, the week went by too quickly. The gorgeous weather, beautiful beaches and breath taking downtown made it very difficult to leave. I can see why Jeff chose to make Charleston his home.

Balls, Buns and Beer

The Home Run Derby 2006 has officially begun! I'm going to take a stab in the dark and predict that Ryan Howard is going to be crowned King of the Long Ball. We shall see.

The All-Star Game will be played tomorrow night at PNC Park (Pittsburgh). Go AL (specifically Pudge)!

Rain Drops Keep Fallin' On My Head

Talk about crazy weather.....



I knew that it was supposed to rain, but seriously. Thinking nothing of it, I went to the gym. After my workout, I wondered why there was a huge crowd in the vestibule. I quickly discovered why. It was POURING outside with thunder and lightning included. I ran out to my car and by the time I closed the door, I looked like I had stepped out of the shower. Carefully exiting the parking lot (since some spots were flooded), I had the bright idea of making a pit stop to tan. Hey, I'm going to Charleston in a week, I need a base!! Anyway, when I got to the tanning salon, a note was posted on the door that read, "Temporarily closed due to severe weather". What I didn't know at this point was that a tornado warning was in effect. Ooops. As I enter into my subdivision I knew it was going to be a challenge. Since 5 inches of rain had fallen within a hour, most of the streets were flooded. There are three ways into my subdivision. I tried the first and there were three stalled cars that blocked my way. So I tried #2. I got half way into the subdivision and I was blocked by huge branches. I'm running out of options, right?! I get out of my car and start pulling the branches to the side of the street so that I can get through. A kid (yeah listen to me, I'm calling an 18- or 19-year old a kid) came out to help me. Once we got the branches cleared, he said that it wasn't worth going through because there was at least 12" to 18" of standing water at the corner. CRAP. And I say crap because that is the same corner that I'd have to get through for entrance #3. So, I asked the kid if I could park my car in front of his house, I grabbed my keys and started running home (about 1/2 mile). All I kept thinking about was getting struck by lightning. I know, I'm a freak....But I was sort of scared, though. I get home safely and soaking wet. Crazy.

Severe weather like this reminds me of when I was growing up. My grandmother (Romanian) used to say, "Say a prayer when it's thundering and lightning; God is sad because we're not doing His will". We would also light a candle in remembrance of our dead relatives. I felt compelled to follow her advice and did just that - in her name. Rest in peace, Mama. I love you.

Pacing The Cage

Twins or Brewers this summer? Buffett concert or not? Appease my spontaneous streak or compromise? These questions are filling my brain with torment. One at a time:

#1: Twins or Brewers? - Every year, we take a long weekend to visit a different ballpark. Since we're going to Charleston for a week, we decided not to travel very far for a ball game. Therefore, Minne or Milwaukee (we've already been to Chicago and staying in Detroit is out of the question). We decided to take the trip sometime in September. Twins are at home the weekend after Labor Day. Brewers are at home Labor Day weekend.

#2: Buffett concert or not? - For the first time in four years, JB is coming to Detroit. The concert date is September 12 (Tuesday). If we go, tickets will be $200 and vacation days will be planned :) This ties into dilemma #1. If we decide to partake in the concert festivities AND go to Minne, then we'll be traveling, spending a ton of money and taking a few days off from work within a short period of time. If we don't attend the concert, then two things will occur - I will be extremely disappointed AND it won't matter which ballpark we go to this fall.

#3: Appease my spontaneous streak or compromise? - I can see right through Jason. God bless him, but he's so damn transparent. When I informed him of the Buffett concert, his immediate response was, "What about Minneapolis - isn't that the weekend before the concert?" I think that's his way of saying, "I don't want to say 'yes' to the concert because it'll piss me off and I don't want to say 'no' because it'll piss you off." I introduced the idea of going to Milwaukee, but he didn't seem to warm up to the idea right away.

I think my idea is brilliant - go to Milwaukee for Labor Day (don't have to take off from work, which is a plus) and attend the concert. Minnesota can wait until 2007.

Simple solutions to simple problems, right?!

HELP!

Bad, Bad UAW

My week just went down the toilet. Well, not really, but I'm not too happy right now.

For those of you who don't know, I work in a represented (union) environment. Strange, I know, because all of the engineers/chemists/technicians are salaried.

To "reward" my "good" performance, my supervisor offered alternative work schedule (AWS) to me -specifically 9/80. I was so excited because one day every other week that I don't have to drive to Dearborn is a total bonus. So, naturally, I thanked him and accepted his offer. He told me that I was one of a handful of people offered AWS and congratulated me.

*INSERT CHILDISH, MIDDLE SCHOOL BEHAVIOR HERE*

Once people found out that THEY didn't get the opportunity of AWS, the fur started to fly. To make a long story short, a grievance was filed. Needless to say, AWS came to a screeching halt within three days. *SIGH* Two questions ran through my head.....Since when did I start working in a Socialist environment? AND Why the hell am I paying union dues when I was totally screwed? I guess I was a little naive about a represented working environment. In response, I'm doing a little research. I am aware of my Beck rights, but that just addresses the financial aspect of my membership. The question that I want to answer is, can I resign my membership? We shall see. If anyone has any information on this subject, please feel free to comment.

There is a silver lining in this whole mess.....I have the personal satisfaction of being recognized by my supervisor and I've been there for only 8 months. *Insert evil grin*

Catch Up

As the title of this post suggests, it's time to play catch up. Since one of my plans for Memorial Day weekend fell through, I decided to put Plan B into action - attend another bachelorette party. I really wasn't too interested in going since I only knew the bride through a mutual friend, but I'm glad that I did because it was a blast! I mean, really. The evening started out at Miranda's house with appetizers, drinks and gifts for Joy (B2B - not business to business, but bride to be). Sorry, but I had to clarify for the engineer/business nerds...



Joy had a really great time catching up with everyone since she and Cole live in NC. Most of all, I think she really liked the gifts she received :)

Around 10pm, the limo showed up and we were off. First to a restaurant/bar that was closed, but we were able to get in for a Monster Margarita.

Check that out!!!

Next, we stopped at Litehouse where we danced and drank....owie.

And things got a little out of control....

For some reason, Joy just couldn't resist shots....

And more shots.....


By the end of the night, some people just couldn't hang....he, he, he



It was a fun night :)

Coconut Telegraph

I think I'm going to have a heart attack.....For the first time in about four years, Jimmy Buffett is coming to Detroit. Since 1996, I've been to 7 Jimmy Buffett concerts; 4 in Detroit, 1 in Indianapolis, 1 in Cincinnati and 1 in East Troy, WI. Ah, I can remember the first time I heard Jimmy's caribbean tunes like it was yesterday. I was 17 and on spring break in Myrtle Beach. The hotel we (Devon, Katie, Lynnette and I) stayed at had a cover band that played JB songs every morning at 11:00. So cool. Then, by some strange twist of fate, I was able to score a free pair of concert tickets the night before high school graduation. You had to be there. Disgusting, I know. After that night, I was completely hooked. So hooked, in fact, that I went to Key West on my honeymoon. Again, so cool - actually it was REALLY hot.

Now for the hard part.....since my hubby and I have a very different philosophy on what is a "reasonable" amount of money to spend on having fun, I will probably buy the tickets and tell him after the fact. I may be in hot water, but we shall see. It's better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission. I don't really believe in that statement, but it's applicable to this situation. So - if my plan works, I'll be looking forward to ending the summer with a Buffett concert, having just a sick time with a crap load of crazy Parrotheads and not worrying about whether or not I'm living or dying in 3/4 time!! FINS UP!!!

So When's The Next Trip?

Three adjectives perfectly describe the weekend spent in NYC for Andrea's and Jen's bachelorette party: drunk, sleepless, and quasi-disappointed.

To describe each in greater detail.....

Drunk - because from the time I checked into the hotel to the time I landed back in Detroit I was either drinking, drunk or sobering up from the night before (not to mention locking myself out of my room and not realizing that I didn't have a key until 4am).

Sleepless - three or four hours of drunk sleep does not qualify as actual sleep, therefore, I was sleepless for 48 hours.

Quasi-disappointed - when girls get together, they like to shop (especially if you're in a place like NYC). I, on the other hand, am not a typical girl. I HATE SHOPPING (I still love you beautiful, happy shoppers). I would much rather spend my money on cultural/natural stuff like the MoMA, Ellis Island, Rockefeller Center, Central Park....you get my drift....or drinking. I have to admit, though, Karen and I *really* "bonded" when we were caught God-knows-where walking for about 5 hours (getting stuck in a shiz cab) and laughing at how badly our feet hurt before going to the bar for the nightly festivities. Not to mention, I think I met my match when it comes to fast-paced walkers. I've always been told that I walk fast, but Karen walks REALLY fast. Owie.

All in all, it was an awesome weekend. The weather cooperated and it was so wonderful to see everyone; especially those who I have not seen in a really long time. Thanks to all who could make it out, because it was a blast!! I know that Jen and Andrea appreciate it, too!

Some of my fav pics:

Andrea looking hotter than ever!!

Bolte and Heather enjoying the evening

Karen and me....When are you coming out to Detroit?!




Karen - I can't believe we couldn't convince Heather to demonstrate the "Quadriplegic Hall of Fame"...or was it "oral, consensual conversation"...he, he, he.



See, AGD little nuts get special treatment....Will is always welcome to crash our parties!!!

Start Spreadin' The News.....

....I'm not leaving today, but pretty close!! My flight leaves on Friday around 1:30pm bound to NYC for a girls' weekend to celebrate Jen's and Andrea's short-lived bachelorette status!!! What more could a girl ask for than to hang out with great friends in a vibrant city for the weekend? An update (with pictures, of course) will follow......


Some interesting facts about NY:

State motto: Excelsior (Ever Upward)
State beverage: Milk
State gem: Garnet (coincidence....my birthstone)
State flower: Rose (A rose is as beautiful as its least perfect....)

Oh, and for the creepy part of NYC, check out this story

State of the Human Address

Thoughts of "you're breathing my oxygen" and "please don't contaminate the gene pool" ran through my head as I battled a 2-hour drive home. A combination of an accident and construction closed I-94 just east of I-275 (of course). I must admit, for someone who acknowledges that they don't possess as much patience as they should, I was pretty calm. My calm demeanor may be because Filter was BLARING out of my speakers. For a split second I wish I was unemployed. I know, I know - I run the risk of long commutes because of the distance, but seriously.

It took me one hour to drive 15 miles and an additional hour to drive the remaining 36 miles home. Then, as if I was the butt of a cruel joke, I was stopped by a train 3 miles from my house. That's when I lost it. I laughed hysterically. People in the car behind me must've thought I was some whack job. I couldn't help it.

If I were in charge:

• Labor hours for construction workers would be from 9pm to 5am
• People driving at or below the speed limit would not be allowed to leave the right lane, people driving 5 - 10 mph above the speed limit would be allowed to drive in the center lane and the left lane would be ONLY for passing (ever heard of the Autobahn?!)
• Drivers must merge as soon as they are notified of a lane closure
• No one would be allowed to talk to me for 15 minutes after a crappy drive home. I am following my childhood rule of "if you don't have anything nice to say...."

Simple, right?! If only it was just that.....And after all of that - I STILL VOTED!!!

I See Little People

Today was "Bring Your Kids To Work Day" at the laboratory. After presenting for 3 consecutive hours (and 77 kids later), I totally empathize with teachers (i.e. Danielle). It was an extreme adrenaline rush to put on each demonstration and to watch each kid's face light up with excitement (okay, so I wasn't THAT good, but most of them looked excited). To be honest, I was taken aback by how advanced they seemed to be for their ages. Is that a precursor to getting older?! I mean, their responses to my questions were so grown-up-like! And they were elementary school students!! I hope they enjoyed the day just as much as I did! It would've been cool if I was allowed to bring my nephews to work with me. Unfortunately, the children must be yours in order to participate in the festivities. I definitely did the next best thing. I commend the parents who took time out of their work schedules to interact with their children on so many levels - intellectually, emotionally, socially, etc. Mental note of the day - amazing how it's the simple things that make all the difference in a child's life. Time spent with mom and dad definitely outweigh PlayStation 2, chat rooms, and whatever else seems to consume kids' attention these days. Maybe I just have a skewed view on the subject.....Always striving to improve the situation. God knows that I didn't grow up in an ideal environment and that is why I pray fervently that I will be the most nurturing and "real" parent that I can be - someday. My hat's off to all the parents who participated in the company-sponsored event. In their own way, your children thank you.

"The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children." - Elain Heffner

WHO BOUGHT THE CASE????

Another successful Senior Walk:

Tostada pizza and raspberry lemonade fishbowl at the Ambassador: CHECK
Canned beer at the Crystal Room: CHECK
Pickled egg and a jell-o shot at Bleachers: CHECK
A case of beer at the DT: CHECK
Attended a Gary Tunstall performance: CHECK
**Gary doesn't play at the Ramada anymore. Don't know why. He plays at the Tap (Northern Lights) on Saturdays. We found out that he's "slowing down". Whatever that means. He still was drinking a boat load on Saturday**
A pint of Coppertown Ale at the Keweenaw Brewing Co: CHECK
A pint of Miner's IPA and a bowl of french onion soup at The Library: CHECK
Walked through the new kitchen in the AGD house: CHECK
Met Carter for the first time: CHECK

All in all, it was a great time. The weather cooperated (it was in the 50's and partly sunny) which was a bonus. Tried to walk through the renovated areas of Fisher Hall and the library, but we needed an ID to get in. The renovations to Wads are fantastic. I can't believe that the 'ghetto' was able to be transformed into such a cool place. It kind of makes McNair look like the 'ghetto'!!

*Sigh* I miss it already.....I'm thinking Labor Day - just the girls!!

He Is Risen!

Image: Stained glass depiction of St. Monica (my confirmation name, in case anyone was wondering) from St. John Catholic Church in Monroe, MI.

I can't put my thoughts and emotions regarding tonight's Easter Vigil into words. All I can say is THANK YOU to all of the RCIA team members - Laureen, Elaine, Bob, Brian, Diana, and Nancy. Not to forget Father Dan, who is most inspiring with his plethora of knowledge and talent for playing the piano (which I learned about this morning). I must admit, Father Dan is the type of person that I can listen to speak for DAYS. He is simply AMAZING; Father Tom, who definitely puts a new spin on "Burn Baby Burn"; and Ray, Mount Carmel's seminary intern, who has astonished me with his undying devotion to his faith and devotion to the priesthood. I, along with my co-converts, are extemely blessed to have you in our lives. Each of us was called to the Catholic faith by God for a reason. Now that we've been officially accepted into the church, we must share our experiences with others who are on their journey. Whether it's their journey through life or their journey through Christian Initiation, we now have an obligation to share the Good News. "To whom much is given, much is expected" (Luke 12:48) And no, I didn't know that passage by heart, I had to look it up!! My grandmother used to say it to me when I was growing up. She must've known something that I didn't.

Yes, I have been extremely blessed in my life. I'm almost ashamed to admit how much I do have. Therefore, the time has come to give - and to give with an open heart. I don't know how I'm supposed to give back, or in what form, but I guarantee that I'll know when the time comes. Oddly enough, answers come to me at the strangest moments - just as I'm falling asleep, more often than not.

The journey through RCIA has been most fulfilling. What I've learned has inspired me to scratch my traveling itch....Rome, anyone?!

Pimpin' All Over The World

As the bottom map shows, I haven't ventured too far away from MI. Sad, I know. However, I have been out of the country a few times - as shown in the top map.

Hopefully, I'll be able to join Erika on the cruise to the Turks & Caicos Islands in January...It's fate because my cat is named after the Caicos Island!!! We'll see, I have to convince you-know-who....*sigh*

Sometimes It Takes Courage

I want to congratulate one of my friends, Jody Rose, for making a hard decision because she stood up for what she believed in. Not all decisions are clear or easy, but it's usually the hard ones we make that are worthwhile.

And The Greatest Of These.....

For the past year, I've had to remind myself of the most important gift of all - LOVE. Without love, life would be worthless and meaningless. I believe that humans have an inherent or instinctive drive to attain love and with that brings acceptance and understanding. This is why 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is my absolute favorite passage. This particular reading takes my breath away for a couple of reasons: 1. It defines, in great detail, what love DOES; 2. It will always remind me of the ties that bind us to one another. My goal in life is to do exactly what is described.....

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Thank God for love. Without it, I'd be nothing.

HEBDOMADA MAJOR

Image: Bucharest, Romania - Easter eggs painted with pictures of Jesus.

As some of you know, back in September I began my journey through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. Today marks the first post of my daily accounts, thoughts and feelings as I draw closer to becoming Catholic.
As I entered the church this morning, a somber, yet peaceful, feeling came over me. I don't know if it was because all of the statues and crucifixes that were covered or because of the incense that filled my nostrils. It doesn't matter which it was, but what did matter was that I was there. Humility and love. That is what today was about for me. To know and to admit that yes, I am not perfect, I am a sinner and I will fall short again and again - is a very humbling feeling. At the same time, it is beyond comprehension to know that through all of that, I can still experience the full grace of God. The old spiritual which was first written down in 1811 sums it up best:

What wonderous love is this,
O my soul, o my soul?
What wonderous love is this,
O my soul?
What wonderous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse
For my soul,
For my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse
For my soul.

Throughout my life I've always tried to accept and understand the lows because, only then, would I truly be able to identify and appreciate the highs. Some may say that I'm strange. Life will take me through numerous lows, no doubt. However, my faith reminds me that I will never experience those lows alone. And that comforts me. On the other hand, the highs cause me to remember the acts of humility, gratitude and love because through the grace of God, I am able to receive those highs. Lesson #1 of many - Humility and Love.

To All My Sistas

After having a heart-to-heart with one of my best friends this evening, I was reminded of how blessed I am to have such strong, beautiful and important women in my life.

Grandma - Thank you for sacrificing so much to raise your granddaughters. You are my example of a true woman.

Mama (God rest her soul) - Te iubesc cu toata inima. Am invatat sa fiu o sotie buna de la dumitale. Nu pot sa astept sa te vad in cer. (Translation = I love you with all my heart. You taught me how to be a good wife/woman. I can't wait to see you again, in Heaven.)

Devon - Thank you for being the ideal sister! Although I was pretty rotten to you growing up, you still loved me! You are my balance.

Erika - Thank you for showing me what a true friend should be like, although I'll never ask you for advice again (JUST KIDDING). You have a wonderful way of explaining the gray areas when I only want to see the black and white. We connect on so many different levels - scary sometimes! Does your you-know-who have a gun?! How about #8 please, supreme, with a Mountain Dew......Yeah, you're that type of friend! BTW - I think you need to go up to Senior Walk (Apr 21st)

Heather - My second conscience when I want to throw mine out the window; my voice of reason.....Are you suprised yet?! LOL. We've been through some pretty rough times together and thankfully we always can count on each other for consolation, an objective ear or just a shoulder to cry on. And yes, you'll NEVER be able to look at Taco Bell the same EVER AGAIN. He, he, he.

I may not say it often, but I love you all. You have added immeasurable joy to my life, and for that, I thank you.

Only Time Will Tell

I woke up this morning with a thought in my head. Today's date is 04/05/06. What's even creepier is that twice today it was and will be, 01:02:03 04/05/06. I need to stop drinking tea before I go to bed!!

For all of you structure/history buffs - this clock (circa 1915) is located at 495 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn on the Denk Building, formerly the Grossinger's Baking Building. I found it on www.clocks.org which is the official website for the restoration of America's clocks.

At Last

Yes, I've *finally* succumbed to the temptation of computer savviness. Well, I wouldn't exactly describe myself as such, but hey, at least I'm trying to keep up with the times!! After several months of staying current with my friends' lives via blogs, I thought I could at least try to update everyone with happenings in my small sphere of life. Enjoy the stories to come.