Randomness

the usual...

--I have been in a very odd mood lately. Last week instead of the normal gymming and then TV & vegging, I went on a cleaning binge! Now, though, my kitchen (appliances included) is spotless and my room is pretty & vacuumed. I am not sure yet quite what is wrong with me...

--speaking of weird moods though, I have definitely been in a work funk thanks to all the complete and utter BS I deal with everyday. After a very long talk with my manager today, though, I have decided not to let it affect me anymore. I love that my manager tells it straight (no bullshit, no fluff), and when I asked what I need to improve, the only thing he said was that I need to stop wearing my heart on my sleeve and remember that my mood affects my team. And, he's right. So, consider me out of the funk and back to normal. we'll see how this goes...

--It is so cool that the Spurs won the NBA championship this year after they were my first NBA game ever this past March! maybe I am good luck. maybe I should go to a Sixers game and break Billy's curse...

--I am also a little freaked out! Last weekend I actually had a GOOD DATE! Now, for those of you who know my dating history, you know I am not one to really be gung ho about someone after the first date. Usually it's eh, they were nice, I'll go out with them again I guess, which either eventually turns into a relationship (i.e. Ryan) or just a nice, but no thanks (Six Foot Four). Or, there's the other extreme, where I decide ummm no way (i.e. Lettuce). So last Saturday's great date that turned from dinner into dinner and a movie and just hanging out freaked me out! I really like this guy! So, I am trying to figure out what to do about it. I still obviously barely know him, and I probably won't even see him again before we both go away this weekend, so I guess we'll have to see... It's just so hard for me to sit back and see what happens.

--after putting my closet back together this weekend, I realized that I have entirely too many random clothes, and I really don't need to buy anything new. And I was doing well with my new no shopping rule! But, then I went to Dick's to buy backpacking stuff. And, I came home with $50 worth of new workout clothes... I just can't win. (but they were super cheap and since I pretty much live at the gym anyway that's not so bad, right? oops.)

-- and while we're on the subject of backpacking, I am realizing that my new hobby is EXPENSIVE! Then I thought about all the money I spend in gift registries every year (I swear everyone I know is getting married or having a baby-- can you tell I just hit up Bed Bath & Beyond?), so I have decided I should register for backpacking :) and I'm stealing the idea from S&tC when Carrie registered for her stolen Manolos. anyway, if you would like to contribute, I'll email you the list. hehehehehe. (yes, I'm KIDDING!)

--I used to think my corporate management job has forced me to grow up faster than I would have liked. but then I realized my job cannot POSSIBLY be to blame after watching 7 of my coworkers run around like idiots at LaserTag last week :)

--I have a ridiculous amount of my wedding already decided considering I haven't found the most important part yet! (hey you girls all know you do it!) But tonight I re-discovered a fabulous first dance song: Gavin DeGraw track 10-- "More Than Anyone". It will rival "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds. both are absolutely fabulous-- if you are in a mushy mood, check them out. I have been sappy lately and almost cry every time I hear either one. sad, I know :)

okay off to continue my backpacking shopping online. ish. k later all!

okay I know this is innocent and all, but I still think it's hilarious!!!
sorry-- sooner or later I'll actually write something...
P.S. Yankees suck! :Þ

Favorite Things #3

Well, I am in a good mood, because it has been super warm finally, today wasn't a terrible day of work, and my closet is FINALLY fixed. even RIDICULOUSLY DUMB VA Beach drivers couldn't get me down! So, I decided to write a happy sunny post. Here's a continuation of some old posts I did of my favorite things :)

beach weather-- hey if you live here, why not appreciate it when you get it?! :)

Starbucks iced white chocolate mochas with non-fat milk and no whipped cream-- the hot one was my new addiction in the winter, but the iced version is perfect for summer!!!! I think the daily Starbucks morning meetings in Dallas got me re-addicted. mmmmm.

CPCU taught by someone from outside-- I am actually learning a lot! and it's interesting! and oddly, it's all law stuff! Maybe I should have been a lawyer... I did consider it... eh, or maybe not. maybe I'm doomed to corporate hell for the rest of my life. oh wait, this post was supposed to be happy. ok moving on.

Newman's Own Tequila Lime Salsa-- an odd new snacking addiction. I had never before been a salsa person. but, it's veggies (sort of) and it's actually not that bad for you!

Sugar Slicks lip gloss-- I love all things Sugar (including my new bronzer), but I ESPECIALLY love this lip gloss in Gleam. I love it way more that my Tutti Dulci, which until recently was unstoppable. Hit up sephora.com to check it out.

and while we're on the subject-- sephora.com-- Stila, Sugar, Urban Decay, Smashbox, Dessert, Philosophy, and free samples with every order!!! AND delivered right to my doorstep! what's not to love?! actually, though, I am addicted to the Smashbox mascara sample I got, but I totally balked at paying $22 for the full size! maybe SOME things aren't love worthy... it just might be worth it though. haven't decided yet :) If you happened to have tried it, weigh in!

softball on TV-- over now, but what a great run! thank you Olympic team for making softball mainstream! And thank you, Michigan, for winning a national championship and finally bringing UCLA down. and one more thank you-- to the Alabama superstar pitcher from PA, who kicked ass and represented despite the comments from the commentators like "I know you're wondering what a Pennsylvania girl is doing in a west coast dominated sport..." grrrr

The Container Store-- infinite ways to organize!!!! there's a reason gold is my second color :Þ The Container Store has to just be the coolest place ever. and apparently a great place to work! hmmm... oh wait--forgot-- doomed to corporate hell. k moving on again.

Tivo-- or the cable version of it anyway-- TV now has to follow MY Schedule instead of the other way around! muuuuahahahahaha. I don't know how I ever watched TV with commercials! :)

Summer-- I can't wait for this summer's trips! We have a hotel booked now for D's wedding and NYC on the Fourth, and I have plane tix now for California for backpacking (DIRECT believe it or not! go Philly Int'l!)

cucumbers-- still nature's most wonderful veggie! :)

Fire Me, Please!-- HILARIOUS new show on CBS on Tuesday nights from the BBC. OMG I DIE every time I watch it!!! people compete to get fired closest to 3pm without going over-- and of course their boss and co-workers have no idea this is going on or that they're on TV. side-splitting. definitely worth Tivo'ing

my cats-- for cracking me up! give them a giant TV box and watch the hilarity ensue... oh yeah btw I have a new TV and will never shop at Best Buy ever again (no joke). I'll spare you the vent though :) Target, though, continues to please!

The Phillies-- for kicking mad ass and winning 13 of their last 16! now in second place and only a game and a half out-- I smell either a division title or a wild card...

levels-- what a neat invention! I don't know how I ever hung stuff without one!

Cheerios-- thank you to my mother for not letting me have sugary cereals! now I only like stuff that's good for me! btw-- if you haven't noticed the food theme, I am hungry! hehehehe

okay time to go. wow, I have a lot of things that make me happy! I need to remember that next time corporate hell strikes. lol. off to watch some Tivo'd S&tC! :) post YOUR recent faves if you have some! It's oddly smile inducing! hehehe gnight all

Me vs. the DMV

Well, I'm sure you'd all agree that the DMV is evil. But, since my license expired, I had to take them on. After I was suprised by almost not getting through security in the Dallas airport (helps to have a valid I.D.-- mine apparently had expired while I was away), I figured it was important to clear up ASAP! First, though let me give you some background information:

It is a law in Virginia that you must notify the DMV of an address change within 30 days. believe me, I know-- I read the manual (explained later). but anyway, within that 30 days of changing my address by ONE STINKING NUMBER (I only moved 5 doors down), I bought my car. And when the dealership had an issue with the DMV having a different address than I had given them, I assured them that they were correct and my car needed to be registered to 3618. Thinking everything was fine with DMV, I went about my life. But, apparently registering a car and changing your address with the post office are not enough. Below is that battle that has ensued...

TRIP TO THE DMV #1:

I decided I wanted new plates, because the novelty of vanity plates has worn off. So, I go to the DMV on a day off. I wait... and wait. And when I get to the counter, the guy tells me he can't process it because I owe taxes to Virginia Beach. I am not sure how, and tell him I paid my taxes last year. Not so he says and gives me a number to call. I leave with no new plates.

SCORE: Me- 0, DMV- 1.

TRIP TO THE DMV #2:

I call the number, and they tell me somehow I owe $400 in personal property taxes after late fees. Now, I promise you-- had I known about that tax, I certainly would NOT have been shocked to owe over $200 for my car this year. Amazing. I had thought it was weird to still pay on my Sentra last year... I really think I was charged twice! but anyway, the woman on the phone does not believe me that I didn't know (I did after all get this year's bill-- I do sometimes get mail to my old address, I guess if the mailman goes by my name... but all this makes me wonder how much I DON'T get b/c this is not the first problem!)

Anyway, I pay. I wait til the check clears and go back to the DMV. I wait... again. I get a new guy this time, who is about to give me new plates. Then he tells me no go-- I still owe taxes. NOT SO I say. I was smart. I printed the cleared check. No, he says-- you owe taxes to Stafford County. Now I DID know Stafford was trying to collect taxes previously. They actually billed me for 2004, when I clearly had moved and didn't owe anything. I got mail from them at my old address. I responded with an explanation and the dates I had changed my address with DMV. Since I did not hear back, I assumed it was taken care of. (I am bad at remembering to follow up on shit like this!) Apparently it was not. Again, I leave the DMV with no plates. I do, though, FINALLY get my address corrected (and I'm giving myself half a point for that!)

SCORE: Me-.5, DMV-2.

So I called Stafford County, finally spoke to someone helpful who assured me they now have the correct address (turns out they had apparently tried to bill me for 2005 too!), paid whatever I did or didn't owe so I could move on with this. all okay.

INTERNET ATTEMPT #1:

woo! finally all taken care of! I go online, thinking I can pay there now and renew. Not so. Because Delaware cops and I don't get along (damn 2 tickets! the 2nd was SO unfair!), I have to retake the knowledge test to have a license again! So, still no license.

SCORE: Me- .5, DMV- 3.

TRIP TO THE DMV #3

Since the Internet was a no go, I take time off from work and hit up the DMV first thing in the morning. the woman at the counter on the way in gives me a VERY hard time, because now that my license is expired, I have to have proof of identity. Doesn't matter that I've held a license of 9 years in the U.S. AND have my social security card-- I have to have a raised seal birth certificate or a passport.

I visit the woman at the counter anyway, who tells me that she will do what she can to help. She says if they have a birth certificate on file, that will suffice. But, she checks and says "the system won't let her go any further" (I was skeptical-- we so use that at work), and apologizes profusely. She tells me not to worry and just be careful so I don't get pulled over. And, she does not get my half joke that I'm not worried because I only apparently speed in Delaware. I leave. But, I finally get my plates!

SCORE: Me- 1.5, DMV- 4.

TRIP TO THE DMV #4:

Called Dad right after the last DMV trip. He can tell right away I'm upset. He drives 45 each minutes each way home from work at lunch to overnight me my passport. Gotta love dads. Take time off from work AGAIN today to get this taken care of. Package is waiting at home (woohoo!), so I head over to the DMV again. Wouldn't it figure I get the SAME woman out of the 11 options I could've gotten! So, she processes my license renewal. She remembers me. She has me all ready to go, when I see her write "BC on file" on my form. I say "HOLD UP! my birth certificate is on file?!" she says, "yes, it's in here... why?" I say "then WHY couldn't I do this yesterday?!" she looks at me like I'm speaking Russian. she clearly does not get it. She never even asks to see my passport. She sends me over to my test and asks if I'm okay like I'm 4 years old, and tells me not to worry, she's sure I'll do fine on the test. I wasn't worried, and now I am ANNOYED that I put my father through this, I wasted time off, and that this woman does not have a clue.

SCORE: Me- 1.5, DMV- 5.

I almost didn't find my station (she told me to go to #7, but the stations aren't even numbered!), but I pass the test because I kick ass! I also had quite a good laugh while taking it. My favorite question:

What is the best way to sober up quickly?
(a) Drink coffee
(b) Drink lots of water
(c) Take aspirin
(d) There is no way to sober up quickly.

I'm giving myself a point for getting it right :Þ

SCORE: Me- 2.5, DMV- 5.

So, I had to talk to 3 more people just to get this all done. Someone really needs to mad Six Sigma the DMV! hehehe. anyway, I go to get my picture taken, and when she tells me to smile, I decide I am NOT in a smiling mood. I decide my new mug shot license is a personal victory. AND I FINALLY got my license!

SCORE: Me 4.5, DMV- 5.

WINNER: DMV! it was close, though. I think I put up a damn good fight. Can't wait to do it all over again in 2010...

Ruminations & Ponderances

yes. it's the normal randomness! here's this week's edition, separated this time by subject :)

NEW BLOGGERS

yup, we have some new blog friends! my friend Yvonne IM'd me about hers, and I found Ryan's in some of my boredom-solving profile snooping. hehehe. If you don't know them, they are both high school friends, and although I don't talk to either of them as often as I'd like anymore, Yvonne especially is by far one of my favorite people ever. I don't know how I would have survived high school without her! you probably all know what I mean-- one of those friends that no matter how often you see will always be important in your life. She also has the same car as me, which we discovered in a hilarious conversation over our Christmas visit, and although she won the silly perks argument with her awesome freebie keychain and carwashes (she beat my free Wednesday manicures :Þ), her sending me my own keychain for my birthday had to be the cutest present ever and a reminder why old friends are the best friends :) anyway, when I get a chance I'll add them both to the side links.

THIS SUMMER

so, it's official: I am going backpacking! I am going to be mad tight on vacation trying to fit everything in, but I decided NOT to be the martyr and to just go on the trip sans the brother because I REALLY want to. I am not sure how this will turn out, but I'm super psyched. The venue has changed a little, though-- we are now doing a 45 mile loop in California's King's Canyon National Park in August. I CAN'T WAIT!!!! now I have to buy everything, though, which is definitely the part that sucks. anyone have any ultra-light camping stuff? :)

In other summer news, I will be doing July 4th weekend at home, at D's wedding, and in NYC, which should be ridiculously fun! Also, if you would like to do a beach trip this summer, please let me know know so I can save some vacation time for you (and clean for when you get here! hehehe). Everyone is welcome!

WORK

I just need to get this out: how do people last 40+ years in the corporate world???? I have only been in it for 3, and I can't BELIEVE the BS that occurs on a daily basis! and you can't trust ANYONE!!! sometimes I think all the phone people have the best job-- sure, they have to deal with terrible customers every now and then, but I think the politics and cattiness of everything else is far worse.

Anyway, this probably comes out of yesterday's frustration (I honestly do normally like my job), which is what ALWAYS happens the first day back from vacation: EVERYONE has something urgent for me before I've even caught up, again I'm the only one available to take care of the floor, and the same people that normally annoy me REALLY annoy me when I had a week break from them and now have to deal with them again! this is why I hope to someday marry rich or win the lottery! hehehehehe

DMV

Tomorrow I will brave the DMV AGAIN, because I found out while I was away that my license just expired. and I can't renew it online because I've gotten 2 speeding tickets in the last 3 years, and now I have to re-take the written test. lessons to be learned from this: 1) DO NOT trust the car dealership to register your car under the right address and 2) DO NOT EVER drive on route 13 through Delaware!!!! anyway, I'm sure this will turn into some stories. if they are especially amusing I'll post them later.

SHOPPING

THANK GOD for shopping. Maybe it shouldn't be therapeutic, but it SO is!!! I hit up the Bath & Body Works semi-annual sale today and found all of my old-time favorites for way cheap. The best buys? my favorite Juniper Breeze scented everything (I think every girl in my generation grew up on a favorite B&BW scent that will stay with her forever-- Juniper Breeze is mine) & Tutti Dolci lip gloss for $6. gotta love it. Now, does anyone know where to get the discontinued car scents? SO not buying the new huge ugly ones.

Also, when I was in Dallas, I flipped for these Nine West heels--TOTALLY not me in any sense of the word (I got the ones like the orange here but in bright pink!), but I LOVE them!!!! total impulse buy. don't know what it is about them. now I have to figure out what to wear with them... :) nothing like building the wardrobe around the impulse buy shoes!

anyway, I am back to 2 classes a week, so I am off to review for tomorrow while also watching Michigan hopefully kick some UCLA butt in the NCAA softball finals. so over UCLA! (I know none of you care, but softball will NEVER be out of my blood.) lol. anyway, have a good night everyone!

Lisa's Travel Guidebook

As I sat on the plane coming home Friday night, I realized that I really have gotten around in my life! Most of you know that I LOVE traveling, and I really think I've been lucky to visit as many places I have, especially in the past year or two, which has included everywhere from Charleston and Savannah to Chicago and New Orleans, and of course the latest Texas trips. There's just something absolutely fantastic about being somewhere completely new and getting away for even just a few days to escape the daily grind. Plus, there are so many amazing places out there to see, I figure I better get a head start now before I settle down!

Well anyway, every good thing has a downside, and mine came Friday night in the form of a terrible airline and delays out the wazoo. So, I decided to pass on my traveling wisdom so that maybe you can learn from my recent traveling blunders and successes. and if you have any tips, post them too! :)

ok so without further ado... here are
Lisa's Do's and Don'ts of Traveling:

DO invest in an iPod or something similar. I can't STAND the low buzz of airplane cabin noise. It makes it impossible to relax or get to sleep or anything remotely close to avoiding travel stress. my iPod has definitely been the most useful Christmas present ever. also perfect for the gym :)

as I stated earlier, DON'T fly on AirTran! AirTran would have been a do if this were just based on the way down. I was willing to forgive the hour delay due to the ambiguous "mechanical difficulties" since it meant getting a new plane with free XM radio! but then on the way back, every flight connecting through Atlanta (their hub) was about 2 hours late. Had I not flown standby on an earlier flight, I would have missed my connection and been stuck overnight like my company traveling companion and the rest of the people waiting in AirTran's 50 foot long customer service line. And the the thing that bothered me the most about it was that the woman that helped her never even apologized or acted surprised it had happened. Instead, she very methodically gave her the hotel discount card and her morning flight's boarding pass and sent her on her way. and it was then that I realized how easy it is to become complacent. I don't know about you, but I refuse to do business with a company that lets mediocrity become commonplace! and that is why AirTran is now on my DON'TS list. now I know why they are so cheap.

DO get some local flavor while you're away! now, when I'm traveling, I have three restaurant criteria: no chain restaurants (why eat somewhere I can eat at home?!), no restaurants in shopping centers (nothing good can come of this), and no Mexican (personal preference :Þ). so, my criteria ruled out a lot of places to eat, but when I was intrigues by the non-descript exterior of the "Magic Time Machine Restaurant," we decided to give it a try. And let me just say I will NEVER forget the experience! it was quite possibly the oddest place I have ever eaten. click here to get an idea what I'm talking about... but anyway, an adventure is always a good thing, and we definitely got quite a laugh that night, especially at all the "code yellows" and the crazy characters, like our waiter, "Jethro Bodine". actually, the night was entirely hilarious up the point when my co-worker commented that if I have as many criteria for men as I do restaurants, that may be why I'm still single! grrrrr. ok so maybe that was kind of funny... :)

DON'T spend all your time in the hotel! again, make sure you get some local flavor! there's no point in just sitting around, and what good is being homesick?! it doesn't help you get home any faster! I vote have as many great experiences as you can while you're away, even if you're traveling for business.

DO find the best local mall! okay so I know there are malls everywhere and that kind of goes against my rules, but Dallas had all 3 of my favorite stores in the same mall complex, and NONE of them are available in Virginia Beach! yes, after visiting Macy's, Sephora, AND The Container Store (and finding cute Nine West heels to boot), I was a very very happy girl. And again, my co-workers were quite amused at my excitement, but I told them as long as they assured me they were laughing WITH me and not AT me, it was all fine :)

DON'T trust hotels when they say they have special amenities! After the "swimming pool" of San Antonio's Microtel Inn and the "exercise room" of the Dallas Fairfield Inn (by Marriott no less), I will definitely be picking just from pictures from now on. grrrrrr.

DO unpack right away. Take a lesson from me and don't spend two weeks searching through luggage in the mornings to find things you use every day! (oops!)

DON'T be that person on the airplane! you know who I mean-- the ones with the screaming kids, the ones that put their seatbacks so far back they're looking the row behind them in the eye, the ones who freak out about EVERY bump and air travel in general, and the ones who should realize that if they're going to USE two seats then they should have BOUGHT two seats!!!

DO have a good time while you're away! No matter what you're traveling for, there's nothing like a little time to relax and unwind. thank god I came home to a weekend, because I'm so relaxed that I'm not even dreading going back to work tomorrow!

Anyway, in some last Texas notes, there were definitely some things that were scary about this last week's trip (seeing my first roach!), some things that are still unexplained (why are Texas men always winking?!), some things that are definitely keepers (meeting at Starbucks every morning instead of going right to work!), and some experiences that were just hair-raising (literally! the humidity was a killer!) but, now it's back to the daily grind, so I am off.

as usual there are some pics below. and sorry this got so long! I didn't mean it to! the story of my blog, right? :) anyway, hope everyone has a great week!!!

here's the project team-- I had met the middle guy at a Plaza event a few years back, but I bonded with all the new people too, especially my traveling buddies: Josh (last on the left-- Florida office) and Helga (2 left of me-- Long Island office)

HAD to post this because it's unlike any other company building-- 15 stories and actually very much like an office building! if you're from work reading this, you know what I mean :)

me and my new Magic Time Machine souvenir glass. hehehehe. you can't see the musty upholstered booth or the Raggedy Ann decor, but just trust me that it was there :)