Decision making is one of the tough things in life. But isn't it a great feeling when you make one that you know is right. Feels like a walk off homer in the bottom of the ninth combined with the winning shot at the buzzer. You not only know it in your brain but you can feel it in your heart. I recently made one of those decisions and as the process was taking place my head really did feel like a light bulb came on. In a matter of a few hours I knew what to do and was 100% sure it was correct. I love that feeling. And I bet God is up there saying, "Duh...took you long enough."

Check out this sentence...."I lost the first six of the first ten of the ten tens I have to lose." LOL. I love words.

I want to lose 100 lbs. but that big number shares the $hit out of me so I'm just planning to lose ten pounds.....ten times. I actually got the idea from a cookie story regarding my dear departed daddy. He had a cookie jar that my mom dutifully kept full for him. One day my youngest child helped herself to this cookie jar and when my mom noticed that there were only a few cookies left she asked this lovely, angelic child how many cookies she had eaten. Her reply...ever so sweetly was...

"I only had a couple. (pause) A couple times."

;) Thank you, Rach, for the idea. Let's hope it works. :)

Pet peeves

First of all....why are these tidbits of irritation called "pet" peeves? Pets are a source of joy in my house...not irritation. I'll have to do some research on the origin of "pet peeves." But that is not why I'm blogging today. I'm irritated and need to vent. You see, I don't mind helping out when people need assistance but I ABSOLUTELY HATE when you spend time explaining something then they don't follow up on your instructions but ask the very same question to someone else. Why did you waste my time asking me? Why do you think you're going to get a better answer somewhere else? If I hadn't known the answer I'd have told you that. Since I spent some good quality time talking you through the situation, obviously I knew what I was talking about. Aarrgghh. Now the next time you ask me a question I am going to feign stupidity and not answer you. This makes me look like a bitch, and inside I should feel guilty, but I don't. Sorry.

Musical memories

They say that smell is the strongest memory invoking agent that we have. I don't know who these "they" people are but I disagree. Music is the trigger for me that takes me right back to where the memory took place. There are a whole group of songs that my teenage friends and I affectionately refer to as "camp songs." I grew up spending summers at a local campground and these were the tunes of the day. I can't hear the Backstreet Boys without thinking about the two concerts I took my youngest daughters to along with the CD's we played out on road trips to their brother's east coast college football games. There are particular songs, such as Rockin' Robin, that have me cheering for my oldest daughter's gymnastic floor routines of fifteen years ago. Today I heard one of my all-time favorite Styx songs.....Come Sail Away...and was right back at their concert on Jones Beach, Long Island. Concert tickets from my son and his fiancee' as a graduation present for their old mother who finally...after ten years...graduated from college. A weekend in New York with the concert as Friday night entertainment. I remember how much fun that night was...and all the joy came rushing back tonight on the way home from work. That's a nice trick. Thank you, memory.

Elevator creeps

I work on the fourth floor of a building. I enter from the parking lot on the first floor level. Nine days out of ten I have to push the up button to call the elevator. That other one day gives me the creeps. As soon as I enter the building through the glass doors the elevator doors swing open and the bell rings to signal its arrival. I step in and push the 4 button even though I feel like this particular day it will be taking me elsewhere. Who sent that elevator down to welcome me as I arrived? It gives me the willies. I almost want to step back out and wait for the next one to arrive AFTER I push the up button. Stop helping me creepy elevator spirits. I'd rather take care of that morning action myself. I don't want or need an escort up to wherever you are planning to take me. My office is scary enough, thank you.

big peckers

Well this past Friday I was reminded of an important concept of the hierarchy of the world that I had forgotten. You see there was an open position in my department at work and out of three candidates for the position one was truly the most qualified. She, however, had had an unpleasant exchange with the hiring manager in the past and was worried it would affect her. Silly me...I tried to convince the candidate that this hiring manager was much too ethical and intelligent to let personal feelings cloud her judgement. Boy was I wrong! The decision was made to offer the position to one of the other candidates despite them being severely under-qualifed. I was reminded that the boss has the biggest pecker no matter what and she will use it any old which way she wants.

Saturday night live

I'm pretty sure I would never actually want to do this but last night I dreamt that I was chosen to star on Saturday Night Live. I don't even watch that show anymore so I'm not sure why it was stuck in my subconscious. I was in a room with the other stars and the writers and after a brief try-out, was given the welcome aboard high fives by the producer and everyone in the room. I would have two days to learn my lines and get ready for my first live broadcast. I remember calling home to ask my oldest daughter to pick up my youngest daughter at kindergarten because I was stuck in New York for the show. (Keep in mind that the oldest daughter is married and lives in Columbus...and the youngest daughter just graduated from college...and is no longer either in kindergarten OR in need of a ride home.) I guess I can take them up on their offer then. Watch for me...live from New York....on saturday night. ;)

Crown Princess of Jamaica

I am the long lost Crown Princess of Jamaica. (In my dreams I am anyway.) So last night I had a dream that I was attending an open house and was approached by the butler. Upon reading my name on the guest list he discovered that I am the one they have been searching for. I am the Crown Princess of Jamaica.

So all day I've been planning how I can make this happen in awake-world. This would be a major gig. I'm sure the Crown Princess of Jamaica lives in a beautiful, luxurious, oceanfront mansion surrounded by lush foliage, and filled with all the necessary amenities of island life. I could handle that.

I wonder what children of a Crown Princess are called?

quiet

Is it wrong to enjoy quiet as much as I am enjoying it lately? I delight in complete and total quiet. (wind chimes or rain excluded) I've not always been one that wanted or needed peace and quiet. Raising 4 kids tends to ramp up your tolerance for noise and confusion. But lately....and especially at work....I WANT QUIET. As students or faculty members come traipsing by my desk to invade my solitude I just want to push a secret button under my desk that throws up a wall to keep them out. Insta-wall. (Note to self...call Staples.)

A Perfect Sunday

I am in the middle of what one might describe as a perfect Sunday. I have no obligations today other than reading the paper, catching up on writing, and watching a plethora of sappy Lifetime movies. I baked a cake and am waiting for my darling daughter to get home with a yummy, cheesy baked potato and chocolate frosty from Wendy's for dinner. The weather is an easy, breezy, rainy day which adds to the relaxing atmosphere. Lady and the Tank are both sleeping on either end of the sofa and even the fish seem quite zen today. I bet this is a gift from the cosmos because tomorrow I have a department meeting at work which is more brutal than sitting through a mouthful of root canals. Sans Novocaine. I'll take today and bottle up the feelings to take to work with me tomorrow.

Fridays

Well a very dear friend of mine has ever so gently reminded me that the only way to keep writing is to pick a day and write. Good idea, Jude. Friday=writing day. I believe that being responsible to myself should be a priority but something always pops up to invade my space. Like today. This morning started with a bang before I even opened my computer and hung up my coat. Two very similar faculty members are fighting. I say similar because little do they know but they both possess the very same characteristics that they despise in the other. Both are stubborn and want what they want. Both ultimately want the same thing but are too dysfunctional to get it done. I finally had had enough and interceded. Peon or not I'm tired of hearing about it and do like both of these goofballs actually. So I butted my motherly, secretarial, administrative assistant-ness into their faces and got them on the same page. The project is back on track and I need another cup of tea. And then maybe I'll find a cool writing assignment out there in freelance world. Write on, peon...write on.

W

Today I noticed something that everyone knows but I just found it odd. All of the important questions in life start with W. Why are we here? When will we die? What is the meaning of life? Where is heaven? Who is God? All accounted for except, of course, for the "how" questions. (And they must feel really left out. Like the new kid in school all alone at the lunch table.)

Wonder why?? (Two more W's) :)

snow days

I love working at a university. Now everyday isn't perfect, and the constituents are a crazy little bunch, but I work at one of the only places that still gets snow days! My children work in corporate America and still have to go to work even in the snow. I love it that I don't. When I see the weather report and get those alerts that the university is closed I feel like a child again. No matter how tough my job gets it will take a lot to make me leave. I live in Pittsburgh. We get a lot of snow in Pittsburgh. I love snow days.

Buffalo calling

Buffaloooooooooooooooo! :)

No I am not chanting for the cold and windy city in upstate New York; and no I'm not overly fond of the western plains animal known for its face on the old nickels. Buffalo has become the tribal call of all things Keene. Yes, you read that correctly. If my family feels the need to locate each other and/or wake up sleepy parents they simply call out "Buffalo!" This funny and heartwarming tradition started over a late night card game fueled by a little too much alcohol and happily has stuck. Recently on a family beach vacation everyone but me went on an afternoon deep sea fishing expedition. As the boat passed our resort I looked up from my poolside chair when I heard a loud and proud group of eight yelling "BUFFALO" just for me. My heart swelled, I smiled at the love, and proudly returned our new family chant. I love my family. <3

Happy New Year

Yes indeed..it's 2010. And the last time I visited was back in October. That's no way to run a blog. Duh. I'll try to be more present in this endeavor and share the wit & wisdom that runs through my brain everyday. Like today, for example, I proclaimed out loud to my wonderful dogs, Lady and the Tank, that "sometimes you have to poo in the rain." (They had just eaten and wanted to go outside until they saw that it was pouring rain.) That silly statement got me to thinking. Sometimes you DO have to poo in the rain. Sometimes you just have to buck up and get your "shit" done...even if it's raining. Figuratively and/or actually raining makes no difference. My friend recently had to get updated vaccinations and he did NOT want to go to the doctors. He had zero choice in the matter as these shots were required. He had to just "poo in the rain." No umbrella...no diapers....just get that shit done and over with.

I'll be back to write more this year....I promise. Even if I have to poo through the rain to do so. ;)