Wordless Wednesday – new balcony garden edition

(Green/Red Peppers)

(Radishes)

The Deer Saga of 2009

And so it happened...

 

Driving from Iowa to Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, I was passing someone in the interstate and ran over something big and dead in the road. I couldn't swerve to miss it - and thought my car would clear it no problem.

It didn't.

As soon as I drove over it I heard it hit-- Ka-klunk.

Crap.

I waited for the thump-thump of a flat tire or something on the car's dash to tell me I totally screwed up my car, but nothing happened. 

I then got really sick and forgot all about the "dead thing in the road". Fast forward a week and as I was walking out of work, I noticed something dangling from the bottom of my car. Upon further (really far actually) looking, I realized it was something DEAD under my car.

ICK!

I went to the car wash (with an under carriage cleaning option)  and tried to wash the "thing" off.

Yeah, not so much.

Dead thing 1, me 0.

I went to a local Honda dealer and they actually laughed me off the lot- they weren't gonna touch it.

Dead thing 2, me 0.

So I called MY dealer (about 15 miles away) and they told me to bring the car in this morning.

I was not so much worried about the dead animal part on my car; I was more worried about the damage it might have done when I hit it.

Ok, I was worried about the dead animal part too- It is 90 degrees here right now- I DID NOT want my car smelling like animal carcass! EW EW EW!

When I got to the dealership, we all had a good laugh and I asked them if I could take a picture of whatever it it when they get the car up on the lift.

When I walked out there, I saw THIS:

Yes- That is a

DEER RIB

hanging out of my car frame!!! It was so wedged in there, the poor mechanic was pulling so hard, the whole car was moving.

I am serious.

You can't see how wrapped up the hide and bone is in the frame. Thank goodness it didn't puncture a tire or the oil line or something.

The cool thing is, no damage to the not-even-two-month-old car. It is fully removed and they even washed my car for me.

AND, my AWESOME dealership did not even charge me for the service call. I love them!!

SO SO SO glad it is off my car!

SO GLAD!! :-)

So that was my Saturday, how was yours?

Still here...

I am in Iowa visiting family and friends for an 80th birthday and a wedding.

I forget how much I miss Iowa sometimes...

I’ve always had a thing for Quakers

When I was little, I wasn’t much of a breakfast kind of gal. My mom still to this day makes the best toast*, hands down, but if I had to pick my favorite breakfast, it had to be a tie between two cereals.

Lucky Charms and Quaker Oats Crunchy Corn Bran (AKA QOCCB).

Yeah, yeah. I know what you’re thinking.

Corn Bran? She, as a kid, loved Corn Bran? Just having the name “bran” in the name makes most kids run screaming the other direction. I can understand Lucky Charms, but CORN BRAN?!? No way.

But really, this cereal was amazing. Yummy pockets of sweet goodness in 2 percent milk**. They almost pop open in your mouth if you catch them at the right pre-soggy moment.

I haven’t had QOCCB in almost 10 years—not for lack of trying.

Each time I was in (add chain grocery store name here) I would search the cereal isle for it. Top row of “good for you” cereals. Middle/second row of “the most popular and sometimes the most expensive cereals” (cuz they are eye level for most people--really) and the bottom/middle row of “the most kid –friendly” cereals (yep, you guessed it, kid eye-level)

No luck.

UNTIL TONIGHT. (!!!)

Who would guess that my ‘lil ‘ol local Publix would have EXACTLY what I have been searching for.

Tomorrow’s breakfast?

Is gonna be a good one.

-----

*And popcorn. And cereal. We still laugh that I remember her “cooking” 3 things that take no effort at all, but not the 100’s of other great meals she slaved for hours over.

**It HAD to be 2%. Maaaaybe 1%. But none of that watery skim junk. Have you ever tried Lucky Charms with skim milk? If not, just…don’t. Ew.

Thanks for your prayers…

Though I can’t say the same for some of my very very very good friends, I still have a job.

Today was a horrible day at work.

My boss was let go.

I listened to another colleague sob uncontrollably in her cube just down from mine. She has worked for my organization for 25 years and she was let go today.

Brutal. Just brutal.

It is very hard for me to be “happy” I still have a job when I see the devastation going on around me. 

Tomorrow, 3 more departments go under the knife.

I just want to call in sick.

Waiting to Exhale

I have never been more uncertain of my professional future than I am today.

Prayers are needed from 9-12EST- I will learn if my role has been eliminated or if i have a job tomorrow. Most of my friends and colleagues will learn their fate around the same time.

Not a good day to be in the office.

5 people I know were let go yesterday—but today will be the worst of it.

I am scared.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Hope you all had a great Mother’s Day!

Open letter to the cable company

Dear big behemoth company with a monopoly:

I am done with you.

Tomorrow, I will call your disconnect line and get rid of your DVR service, your On Demand service and your stupid box. Oh, and the phone service too. I wish I could get rid of the cable completely and my internet service, but alas, you are a MONOPOLY, and I can’t have any other service in my building.

And you know that. You are twirling your handlebar mustache  and laughing behind my back right now, aren’t you??

I have spent COUNTLESS hours on the phone with your incompetent  “customer service reps” and have had 5 techs in my home in the past 35 days.

None of them can figure out what the problems are. NONE OF THEM.

I have had my condo rewired.

I have been yelled at by a CSR.

I have stayed home from work 5 times for you to tell me you can’t fix my problem.

I have had 4 new cable boxes.

I have been given credits* and fake apologies.

I have been told (today) I am past due on my bill, though the 7 different CSR people I have talked to over the past 7 days have told me my bill was due on 7 different days and that they had given me so many credits I would not have to pay for another few weeks.

I am done with your shady business practices.

I miss the ease of use of TiVo (and it did SO much more than the DVR for Comcast). It only costs 3 bucks more for better service. I am going back to them as soon as I can.

I had DirectTV for 7 years in Chicago, and other than the few times we had issues during weather related outages, I never had a cable TV problem. NEVER.

Your company- nothing but problems, and outages and issues., Issues you can’t seem to fix.

Gee, do you think it was because they did not have a monopoly and they had to treat their customers with respect and dignity?

You are picking a BAD time to make your customers mad. The economy is bad; you don’t want all your customers to leave you do you?

Oh, that’s right, WE CAN’T! You have a MONOPOLY OVER US!!!!!!!!!

Signed-

A former DVR/OnDemand customer

*that more than one mean CSR has told me I don’t deserve. GRRR

Still here...

I have been a bit preoccupied with work and with life lately-- most of my time at work has been spent writing for my job (you know what I do) and since I have been writing for that, I haven't wanted to write personally. I submit my work to the designer today so it will be nice to be FINISHED with my project for a few days so I can get some other work done.

I have been a bit depressed- the organization I work for is laying off 15% of the workforce next week so it has been especially scary the past 2 weeks with everyone I work with speculating if they are going to be laid off (or not). I have no idea if I am one of the people to be laid off, but if I am, it will be especially hard since I just moved here less than 2 months ago and have no network to help me find another job. And bought a new car. And have a 2 year lease.

No matter if I stay or go I will still be sad-- a lot of people I think are extremely smart and talented are going to be let go.

It will not be a good week next week.

I am breathing and trying to just get through these next few days.

I got my bridesmaid dress for the May 30th wedding, and have to go buy the undergarments for it sometime in the next few days, then get it altered. I am excited to be back in the Midwest from May 22-June 2nd.

My cousin is graduating from college this weekend so I am traveling to see my family and see him graduate. I am proud he found his calling in life and am happy he was accepted into a great graduate program.

TBO has a vet appt on Friday-- he has 3 large and scary lumps on his back and has been crying a lot. I hope he is OK and not in pain. We shall know soon enough, I guess. 15 is a ripe old age for a cat. He is starting to have "grumpy old man" days where all he does is pout and sleep.

So all in all, kind of a crappy month and it is only May 6th.

Sorry I am such a Debbie Downer today!!

Famous!

My photo from a few months ago while riding on the 147 bus in Chicago made it on ROCK on the CTA… (for those of you who can’t see the link/photo, it is a photo of a woman’s feet. She had fashioned white duct tape as sandals. The things you see while on the bus….

http://rockonthecta.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-heart-duct-tape.html

 

ROCK on the CTA is a website that people submit photos of crazy things they see while riding on the Chicago Transit.

The festival is over!

I am exhausted, but the weekend, and the festival is over. I worked from 7a until 9p on Friday (at work and packing the truck), 6:30a-8:30p Saturday and 9a-8:30p today at the actual festival.

Yep, you read correctly—that is 6 1/3 days of work (8 hr days) in 3 days.

Ouch.

It was hot (on the mid 80’s) both days, but we had one of the most shadiest spots along the festival so that was helpful. We also were along the parade route, so that was something that was cool to watch from the comfort of our booth.

I am stupid exhausted, so I am not going to write very much- just know I am glad it is over. I will be in the office tomorrow but will take Tuesday off (waiting for Comcast to come fix my broken-since-Wednesday TV and home phone – thank goodness my internet is finally up and running!

I AM SOOOO TIRED!! AND SOOOO GLAD IT IS FINALLY OVER!!

I’m sorry did I already say that?

 

48MV

Why I dislike Atlanta: Reason #132

There are tiny black flying bugs here that LOVE TBO’s wet food. I hate them, and they love me.

EW EW EW EW EW EW EW.

I have NO idea what they are but I want them gone.

EW.

On 30 Days Here…

Yesterday was 30 days in the new city.

In the first 30 days I:

• moved across country/rode in a car for 15 hours
• unpacked over 75 boxes
• installed, reinstalled and installed again my wireless internet connection
• had 2 out of 4 Sunday AJC newspapers delivered correctly
• did untold loads of laundry
• (ditto for dishwasher use)
• researched, test drove and bought a new car (Fiiiiiiiiiit!)
• worked on, went with the flow with (when plans majorly changed 2 times) and planned logistics for a 2 day festival in ATL (happens this weekend)
• entertained 5 visitors in one week
• researched, bought and put together 2 leather barstools and a wooden TV stand
• organized my new closet
• took 4 car loads of clothing and other things to Goodwill
• bought a sleeper loveseat
• bought a new outdoor plant for my balcony
• joined the gym downstairs and worked out 10 times (wish it was more)
• received countless emails and phone calls from family and friends asking me how I was doing
• cried myself to sleep 10 times
• found my mailbox after 8 days (was not told the mailbox #)
• spent 2 “fun” days of Comcast installation
• did hatha yoga 6 times
• received 5 cards and notes in the mail from friends
• watched TBO sleep for hours and hours and hours
• went to the Dialog in the Dark Exhibit in Atlantic Station
• had a lot of trouble sleeping the first 3 weeks. Still having some issues, but am starting to get a little more sleep.
• spent more time than one person should at Target and WalMart (surprisingly, more time at the WalMart which is farther down the road than Target)
• only been to Starbucks 2 times in 30 days (and one of them was the day after I got here) I think I have broken my addiction to hot chocolate
• was put on anti-anxiety medication
• learned my way to and from work both by Marta train and car
• found the closest JCPenney's
• learned the pros and cons of both Kroger and Publix (I think I like Publix better, but I am not sure yet)
• made brownies, homemade mac and cheese and homemade freezer burritos…mmm…comfort food

I am sure there is a lot more that I have done that I am missing, but this is all I can think of right now. It has not been the worst month of my life, but it certainly has not been the best.

While change is a good thing most of the time, I am allowing myself to be unhappy and homesick for a little while longer.

A lot of people have told me the sooner I “own” my unhappiness, stop pretending I love it to people who live here and just grieve for what I have lost, the sooner I will come to terms with everything.

I miss my friends. I miss picking up the 147 outside my house and waking up to frost on the windows. I miss my morning starbucks and walking to Walgreens at lunchtime. I miss hearing sirens every ten minutes on Sheridan and walking along the lake on the bike path. I miss I Go car sharing and pool monitoring. I miss seeing Chase banks on every corner and the crazy lady in the wheelchair that used to think she was a car. I miss seeing the Chicago skyline as I ride into work.

I still feel like I am on vacation.

I miss home.

A better picture of the new car

The rollover

My first visitors…

While my friend N was REALLY my first real visitor, my first visitors other than my drive down buddy were here Monday.

While they were supposed to be here earlier in the day, but mother nature decided to have some fun and have crazy 60 mile an hour winds, 300,000 people in ATL left without power, crappy storms in Chicago and major delays at both airports.

NM and HD got in at 9 and we were all hungry for the famous (and first) Chick Fil A – The Dwarf House.

 

We ordered WAAAY too much amazing food

 

and went home full.

It was so great to catch up with my 2 good friends—though we were tired, TBO was nice to them, and we stayed up a long time catching up and gossiping. I had a blast. It was so nice to have a taste of home.

I am still homesick.

HD was so nice to help me pick up my rental car at the Marietta dealership after I bought my car on Tuesday, so I could drive my new car home.

They were in town for work, and they left waaaay too soon. I miss them already! :-(

Lookie what I did!

Today was “work on all things festival day” at work.

For those of you that don’t know, my normal (and new) job has been put on hold to instead do all the logistics and implementation for a festival in Atlanta next week. In the last month, “we” (quotes meaning not me) have changed the plan of action about 4 times. 

I am working very hard to make sure the festival goes off without a hitch.

I spent the early morning running around town gathering items to use at the festivals. All of the stores I needed to go to opened at 10, so from about 8-9, I worked on my for the day “to do” list then remembered that today is a day I had been trying to remember for the week.

Today is “get something expensive for really cheap” day at IKEA.

IKEA is in my backyard, and last week I was reading my new favorite in-town blog, Atlanta on the Cheap, and they mentioned that IKEA was having “Seize the Day” sales over this weekend.

Let me back up.

When I first arrived in Atlanta in February to look for a place to live, the place I ended up living in was available either with or without furniture.

The island in the kitchen had 2 barstools that made a cute seating area. I decided to take the place unfurnished (since I had furniture already) and knew at some point I would need to buy a few new pieces to make my house feel like home.

I had priced barstools at Target and IKEA recently, and was blown away at how expensive they are. I figured I could wait to have an eating area until I had more cash.

And now, back to the story at hand…

I noticed on the Atlanta on the Cheap blog that they were going to have barstools that were usually $99-$109.00 on deep discount- $39.99 each (limit 2). The ad said they had 2 sizes and that they were chocolate leather with black wood. They we only available at that price on Friday morning.

I figured I would be working (IKEA opens at 10am) so I put it in the back of my head.

This morning I realized I was home and would have time to run over there before I ran to the Container Store, Home Depot, and Office Depot.

At 9:30am, I pulled into the parking lot at IKEA (IN MY BRAND NEW CAR!!!), thinking I should probably be at the store when they opened for breakfast so I could wait in line for the barstools.

When I walked in the front door, there were my barstools, and 2 people handing out wristbands (yes, wristbands). Purple for short, grey for tall. Guess which ones I went for?

I felt like I was buying tickets for a super popular concert. There were about 10 other people there also getting wristbands. The wristbands guaranteed I would get 2 short (25inch) leather barstools for the cheap price.

I went up the escalator to see if I could get an OJ while I was waiting for the actual store to open, and WOW – people galore!!!

I was amazed – there were about 150 people in line for breakfast. I didn’t know that IKEA was that popular for breakfast.

And I don’t know if it IS usually this busy, because I lucked out again, IKEA was giving away free breakfast today! And it was a great breakfast! Eggs, bacon and potatoes.

It only cost me $1.29—for the 100 percent OJ I found.

I ate, then went back downstairs waiting for the store to open.

I was one of the first people to get my 2 chairs, and was out the door by 10:03am. They fit well in the Fit (pun totally intended) with the 60 part of the 60/40 seat folded down flat.

Have I mentioned yet how much I love my new car??

I had a crazy day at work, came home and made a turkey burger and sweet potato fries for dinner, then put together my new chairs. It only took about 15 minutes per chair.

So,  TADA! Here they are!

different view…

How was your day?

Wordless Wednesday – One More New Car Edition Pic!

Wordless Wednesday – New Car Edition!!

My New Love – a late Wordless Wednesday post

(adding a few words to say RUN don’t walk to the store to buy these chips—I HATE baked chips normally, but these- FANTASTIC!! Full of flavor that is baked in – not sprayed on top like most chips.)

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