Day 30 - Crossing the finish line.

Today is the final day of the MEme!  Although there were times when I just didn't feel like it, overall I did enjoy the experience.  The thing I learned is this:  I will never be an everyday blogger.  Sure, I'll blog almost everyday, but sometimes I just won't have time for it.  I'm okay with that too.

In any event, onto today's post.  Naturally, the prompt asks for another picture...and once again, I didn't take any.  So let's forget that part & just go with the rest:  3 good things that have happened in the last 30 days.

Here goes...

1. There was some debate about whether or not I'd be able to have off for my much anticipated upcoming getaway.  After a whole lot of unnecessary back & forth, the time off was granted!  I'm very excited.

2. Even though I work on my birthday, I celebrated with my family tonight.  We had a lot of fun.

3. I finished this MEme, which I honestly had doubts about at times.  I'm glad I did.  Thank you to everyone who followed along!

Day 29 - We're in the home stretch!

The MEme is almost over!  This was fun, but I'll be glad to get back to spur of the moment blogging.

I'll be honest.  I had an idea for this post a few days ago, & then the last few days we're pretty terrible at work.  That's important to know because all that drama spilled over to home.  DJ & I had one of those those totally pointless fights.  You know, the ones that are so pointless that you take them totally seriously at the time because you're a crazy person?  No?  Well, maybe that's just me.  Anyway, in the aftermath I questioned for a minute whether it was appropriate to go ahead with my original plan.  I decided the stupid fight was just that:  stupid.  There's no reason to change the plan.

The prompt today is:  something you could never get sick of doing.

 The answer is simple.  I will never get sick of waking up next to this guy.

I picked this picture because it looks like he was probably yelling at me not to take his picture, which would probably be his same reaction to me writing this post.  Tee hee!

You should know that after our ridiculously stupid fight (which I'll freely admit, was my fault) I had to leave for work.  I got less than 5 minutes from home before I called to apologize. 

Our relationship isn't perfect, but I don't think anyone's is.  And even though we sometimes frequently have stupid fight, I never question for a second that this is the man I want to wake up next to in the morning...except for maybe when he hogs the bed.

Day 28 - My favorite movie

This post will be short & sweet. 

My favorite movie is The American President.



Image from Google.

It's a chick flick, but the writing & acting is excellent.  I would recommend it to anyone!

Day 27 - The times, they are a changin'

This was last August at the SIL's wedding.  Even though I was just a few months away from turning 25, I couldn't resist a throwback to the My Space photo.

What has changed since then?  A lot of things, actually.

I changed jobs, which was a really difficult decision.  I had stability as a Call Center Supervisor.  I had been with the company for 5 years with benefits, vacation & lots of other perks.  The economy wasn't great, so people weren't leaving jobs like that to start over.  But I did, & it was absolutely the right thing to do.  Besides, I think the poop stories enhance my blog.  Don't you?

DJ & I moved into our new home since this picture was taken.  What a long, strange trip that's been.  The house was built for us with help from a very generous family friend.  The plan was always for us to get a mortgage & buy the property from him, & that's proving difficult because of our unusual circumstances.  It annoys me that the hold up is not our credit or anything to do with us, it's red tape at the bank.  It's frustrating because I just want to get my bill in the mail & pay for my house like everyone else.  I don't like the delay, but I know it will work out in the end.

Day 26 - European Vacation

When I was 17 I was lucky enough to spend 22 days in Europe.  I went with a group of students & a teacher from my school, but it wasn't a school trip.  This teacher goes to Europe every summer, & every other year he takes a group of students.

In those 22 days I visited Englad, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria & Germany.  I have a shit-ton of pictures from the trip, but unfortunately those were my pre-digital camera days & I don't own a scanner.  Since I can't share a picture, I'll share one of my favorite European stories.

First, you need to know that I'm an Art History buff.  I took Art History classes for 3 years in high school.  I was good at it; really, really good at it.  My love of art has never gone away.

The trip I took to Europe was during the summer after my 2nd year of Art History.  One of our scheduled stops was the Academia in Florence, Italy.  That is where Michelangelo's David is on display.  This is the David.  I think most people are familiar with it, even if they don't care about it.  I was so excited to see it & was just sure that I was going to burst into tears when I did.

Well, there were no waterworks.  Don't get me wrong, it's amazing.  It's more amazing than I could have ever imagined.  I had an emotional response, just not the one I expected.

A few days later we were at the Vatican, another scheduled stop.  There is so much amazing art at the Vatican that I didn't have time to think about one particular thing I would see.  The exterior of the building itself is a work of art, & religious or not, anyone would be in awe when they saw it.  One of the stops I did want to make at the Vatican was another of Michelangelo's great works:  La Pieta.

For those of you that don't know, La Pieta (the Pity) has been done over & over throughout art history.  It's the image of Christ with Mary immediately after he was taken off the cross.  I had seen pictures of Michelangelo's sculpture, as well as the other depictions, more times than I can count.  I wasn't expecting any fireworks, especially after having seen David.  I was so wrong.

Walking into the Vatican is like being in New York for the first time.  It is enormous, & you can't help but look up & try to take it all in.  The main room is cavernous, & there is something incredible everywhere you look. 

Just as I'm getting my bearings, a friend of mine says, "There she is." 

I turned to my right &, shoved in the corner aside of the entrance, is the La Pieta.  In hindsight, I think I it caught me off guard because I sort of expected it to be somewhere prominently displayed.  But I suppose that, in the Vatican, everything needs to be prominently displayed & you just run out of room after a while.

The point of this story is, that when I saw it for the first time I immediately burst into tears.  I'm not talking watery eyes, either.  I'm talking loudly, openly sobbing - right there, in the middle of the Vatican with a crowd of people from all over the world.

It was totally, breathtakingly beautiful.  Not to mention the back story.  If nothing else, this is the image of a mother cradling her adult son on her lap like a baby after he was murdered.  That is probably enough to make you cry, but knowing the story makes it more intense.  It also reminded me that Michelangelo lost his own mother when he was very young & what a tribute to motherhood this was.

One of the chaperones on our trip was an Art teacher.  She was crying too, even though she had seen it in person many times before.  She said something to me that's always stayed with me, "No one who hasn't seen it for themselves will ever understand."  After being there myself, I think it's absolutely right.



Image from Swagbucks.com
 

Day 25 - That's an excellent question.

What's in my purse?  Here goes:

• Wallet
• Sunglasses case
• 2 make-up bags (1 for make-up, 1 for brushes)
• Checkbook
• Gum
• 2 green pens & a highlighter (for work)
• Hair ties
• Miscellaneous change

Day 24 - La Familia

So, the picture prompts seemed like fun before I started this MEme...but now I'm getting a little sick of them.  That being said, I don't feel that way about today's prompt.  Today I'm supposed to share a picture of something that makes me happy.  Believe it or not, I can't pick just one...

Day 23 - 15 facts about me

• My birthday is on Halloween.
• I don't like gravy or marinara sauce.  Yes, I eat my mozzarella sticks plain.
• My favorite color is green.
• I've owned two cars in my life, both of which were used.  I'm hoping my next car will be new.  If it is, it will probably be a Volkswagon.
• I want to be a nurse when I grow up.
• I love to cook, but I don't do it often enough.
• I complain all the time that DJ doesn't help around the house.  The truth is, when he tries I tell him to stop.  I don't think anyone else will do it "right."
• I have struggled with my weight my whole life.  I try to eat healthy, but I'm a victim of my busy lifestyle...and my total lack of will power.  I'm addicted to carbs.
• I try to avoid caffeine as much as possible because I've had kidney stones twice.  It's really not something I want to experience ever again.
• I laugh at most inappropriate jokes.
• I swear like a drunken sailor.
• I believe there are spirits & other-worldly things around us, & I believe the people who see/experience them.
• I wish I was crafty, but I don't have the attention span to finish anything I start.
• I watch too much TV.
• I bite my nails, which I absolutely hate!

Day 22 - Better late than never

You all thought I just skipped this post yesterday, but I really wrote it weeks ago! Here's the link, How 'bout them apples, y'all?

In all seriousness, yesterday did not go my way.  As you all know I work in a nursing home.  I started there in June.  My CNA training classes started in July & lasted until the end of August.  Since then, I've been waiting to be contacted to test for my official state certification.

A few weeks ago some of the ladies from my class started getting their letters, but mine didn't come.  No biggie, right?   Except the last day I can work as an NA without being certified is November 6th.  After that, I have to do other things aside from direct care until I take my test.

Although I really don't want to do that, the real problem is this:  a coworker & I are supposed to be switching weekends soon so that DJ & I can go away November 5th, 6th & 7th.  Because of all this nonsense, I'm not sure we can switch.  In a perfect world, we would both pass our test before the end of the month.  She passed yesterday!  While she was there, she found out that I was also supposed to be there...even though no one ever notified me.  I made some calls & found out the testing facility entered my address incorrectly into their system, so I never got the letter, nor was it returned to them.  FML.

So I was on the phone with the scheduler from work yesterday trying to explain that I have non-refundable tickets to a convention & hotel reservations for that weekend.  Her response was, "Mondays are busy, so I'll get back to you by tomorrow."  Well that sounds optimistic, doesn't it?

And now, the waiting game.  I feel like my employer is not going to help with out with this, even though it's not my fault.  But if they don't, I am so going to be a thorn in their side.  I plan to plant myself in the scheduling office until they decide to do something for me...or have me removed.

Wish me luck!

Day 21 - Didn't have a camera by my side this time.

I'm supposed to share a picture of something that makes me happy.  I had this plan to take tons of pictures yesterday at my PopPop's birthday party, because my family is what makes me happy.  I had also planned to tie this into the post I skipped from earlier this week, which was supposed to be a picture of my family.

Perfect, right?  Well, it didn't happen.

They were all here, & I had my camera in my pocket the whole time.  But instead of chasing everyone around with a camera all day, I chose to participate in what makes me so happy.  Our day including:

• Discussing if what we ate was pork or turkey.  We ultimately decided it must have been "porkey."
• Several trips into the corn field behind the house, which resulted in my deck being covered in corn.
• DJ & the little ones "hunting" my cats in an attempt to get them out from under the bed.  I walked into the bedroom at one point, & my 4-year-old cousin was flat on his stomach staring under the bed saying, "If you come out, I won't find you!"
• Once again discussing my aunt's belief that my dog's name should be Cocoa instead of Ripley.
• Opening my birthday gifts from my mother & having her explain where I'll be putting all of them.  She had it all figured out when she bought them, you know.
• And of course, there were the spiked lemonade slushies.

Day 20 (On day 21) - Everyone is at church.

I did not blog yesterday.  Gasp!

My PopPop's birthday party was held at my house yesterday, & there was far too much going on.

Yesterday's Today's 1st prompt is the meaning of my blog title, Closed on Sunday.

Ever since I started working at age 16 I have hated working on Sundays.  I've always worked rotating Saturdays & several nights a week.  That has never been an issue for me.  But for some reason, Sundays just made me crazy.  I didn't have anything pressing to do, like go to church, I just simply felt that Sunday was a day to sit around & do nothing.

The second part of the story stems from me moving in with DJ.  I didn't grow up in some sprawling metropolis or anything, but it's a far cry from the rural area where we live now.  One thing that will always drive me crazy is that everything here is closed on Sundays.  We're talking restaurants, stores, etc.  Basically, any family owned business (and some not family owned too) are all closed on Sunday.  So on those days when I refuse to clean or do anything productive, there's nothing for me to do.

Ain't that a pisser?

Day 19 - Really? Another picture?

This is another "old" picture, but I like this one.  This is the MIL & I at the SIL's bridal shower last year.

Could you tell it was a Hawaiian theme?  What gave it away?

Anyway, I think I really like this picture because I'm really thankful for her.  DJ & I are in an unorthodox situation, & we all know how MIL's can be.  She's not that way. 

If he calls her to bitch about me, she usually takes my side (Don't you love it?).  She doesn't step on my toes when it comes to things in my own house, & she trusts me completely to take care of her one & only son.

I have an "interesting" relationship with my own mother, & at times it's not a good interesting.  But, MIL will  listen to me, even when she & I don't see eye to eye on things.  And whether it's what I want to hear or not, she gives her honest opinion when I ask for it.  Everyone needs someone like that.

And you know that the best part is?  I can always count on her to come get rid of the freakish monster spiders that invade our house.  I think that's a story for another day though...

Hold please!

I have a million things to do before I leave for work today, so I'm putting Day 17 on hold.

I'm going to combine today's prompt with a post a little later on.

But, I have not jumped ship or anything.  I'm just too busy today.

Day 16 - Do I have to pick just one?

I don't really have a "celebrity crush."

I will admit, I'm an avid Perez Hilton reader/celebrity watcher.  I can easily keep track of who is dating, who is breaking up, who is getting arrested, etc.  But for me, it's more like a hobby.  I'm not obsessed with these people.  They're pretty.  They have the fancy clothing & fancy lives we would all love.


In the interested of keeping up with the MEme, today I'm writing about Mr. Efron.  I've never (nor will I ever) see the High School Musical movies.  For the last few years when everyone was swooning over this kid, I wasn't paying much attention.  That has started to change.

I saw him in Hairspray, which is a really cute movie.  Then recently I saw him in 17 Again, also a really cute movie.  Neither of these roles were Oscar worthy or anything, but it made me notice that there's just "something" about him that I can't quite put my finger on.

These days, whenever I see him on TV read about him on Perez I find myself saying, "That one is going to make something of himself."

He really is a cutie though, isn't he?

Day 15 - It's still today, so it counts!

I'm not gonna lie - I'm phoning this one in today.

I had some stuff to do that took longer than I expected.  After that, I went to dinner...& then I just kind of forgot.  Sorry.

Anywho, the prompt for today is "something you never leave the house without."

Easy:  my iPod, Manfred iPodington.  That's his name.  It's a long story.  Click here if you care to read it.

I promise I'll do better tomorrow...maybe.  It's going to be a busy week.

Day 14 - "I transcend race, hombre."

My newest TV obsession is Eastbound & Down on HBO.  This show is hilarious.  Imagine the most ridiculous person you've ever met having no idea they're ridiculous.  That's what this show is about.

Oh, & it's also about the greatest mullet I've ever seen.



Kenny Powers is a former baseball superstar who hit rock bottom & is now trying to find his way back to the top.  It's the Office, HBO style (eg, lots of nudity & foul language).  What I mean to say is, it combines the dry, sarcastic humor I love with lots of wildly inappropriate jokes & behavior that makes you cringe - & it's uncensored!  Yay!

If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

Day 13 - And look at the stars. Don't they remind you just how feeble we are?

I have an eclectic taste in music.  My Pandora radio station list includes the following:  Jon Secada, Gin Blossoms & Cold...among other things.  I'm one of those, "I like everything," kind of people who make you crazy when you're trying to decide what radio station to choose for a long car ride.  But, it's the truth.  I'm a "greatest hits" kind of girl & can hum along with a lot of songs on the radio.

But don't get me wrong, I can delve deeply into the music & lyrics hidden on an album because they're not deemed radio worthy.  And that is why, out of all the classic rock, bubble gum pop & everything in between included in my musical library, I can name without a doubt my favorite artist.  John Mayer.

I found John while he was touring for his second album.  He actually came to little-ol'-Reading, PA for a concert because he wasn't a mega-star in those days.  I had heard the songs on the radio, but didn't know much about him.  I was tagging along to the concert with some friends, & I'm so glad I did.

Yes, there were screaming girls & soccer moms, but that's not enough to scare me away - I've seen the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys in concert.  My friends & I weren't in the last row, but we weren't up front either.  They were "eh" kind of seats, but that didn't matter either.  Because all the shrieking aside, there was the music.

Since then I've seen John many times.  I've had "eh" seats.  I've been in the third row of the Borgata casino in Atlantic City.  I've been crammed like a sardine in the front of Webster Hall in NYC.  I've gotten up at 3:30 in the morning to drive to Philadelphia & stand in line for a signing at Tower Records on Broad Street.  People have asked me why I go again & again, & the answer is simple:  the music.

He's got a velvety kind of voice - & let's be honest, he ain't exactly hard on the eyes either.




Image from Google.

But what you may not know is, he's an incredible guitar player.  I never realized it until the first time I saw him live, & it's what's kept me going back.  Even if I knew my seats were in the last row with a pole obstructing my view, I would go to his concert because the experience would be the same.

In recent years his ego has grown with his career.  He's said a lot of stupid things on Twitter & in interviews.  Most notably, he made some ridiculous comments in Playboy earlier this year.  That did not go over well with the masses, & his sarcastic sense of humor got him in some hot water.  I saw a concert in February, shortly after all this happened.  He was acting like a man making his last effort to save his career.  My friend appropriately called it his "Apology Tour 2010."

Funny thing is, it was the first time in a long time that he seemed like the John I saw in Reading way back in the day.  And he said something that night that struck a chord with me.  He sent his band off the stage & standing alone with his acoustic guitar said to the crowd, "I want to do less talking & just get back to the music."

Works for me.

Day 12 - B.F.E.

I'm supposed to share pictures of the "town" I live in, but there's really not much to show.  The town part consists of one main road where there is a bank, a post office, a tiny movie theater, a pizza shop, a small grocery store, a bar & a country decor shop.  Everything is one one place, & it's nothing spectacular.

So, I'll share these pictures instead.

These pictures were taken from my deck.  The view is definitely a lot more interesting than the post office of bank.  Although I sometimes complain about living in BFE where everything is closed on Sunday, I have to confess that I enjoy it from this angle.

Day 11 - Keep it simple

What's in my make-up bag? 

The essentials:  bare minerals foundation, bare minerals bronzer, eyeshadow, eyeliner & mascara.

Day 10 - Simply delicioso

My favorite place to eat is a Mexican restaurant called Alebrije.  There are 3 of them in the area, but there's one in particular that I prefer.  Unfortunately, this is the best picture I could find.

I love Alebrije because the food is authentic.  We used to have a ChiChi's (yuck!), & a few years ago an On the Border (bleh!) opened - but Alebrije is by far the best.


They give you their freshly made chips & salsa to start, & we always add guacamole for good measure.  The menu has everything from quesadillas & burritos to "Mexican" hamburgers & taco salads.  Just about everything comes with their awesome rice & refried beans.  My personal favorite is their pollo ranchero, but I've never had something I didn't like there.


And of  course, no Mexican dinner would be complete without fried ice cream!  That is definitely a must.


Now I'm hungry.  Alebrije also does take out - so I think DJ & I have dinner plans.