A Mother's Intuition

Well, it has been a long while since I posted here but I have been crazy busy trying to finish up summer session at school and work, and oh wait dealing with the fact that we found out we are having TWINS! Yes, it is crazy and we joked a lot about how we were not going to find out the sex of the baby unless we found out we were having twins and low and behold we are. I think deep down I knew from the beginning that there were two in there, but the doctors kept telling me there was only one so I believed them. I mean I had been so sick in the first trimester and then started to grow rather quckily all of a sudden and something didn't seem right so when I went for my 16 week check up we were finally dropped the bomb. I was in shock and amazement and then complete fear took over when I saw those two little bumps in there, but the shock is starting to wear off and now I am just going through the pregnancy motions. The funny part of this whole experience was when I told my family and Tom. My mother kept telling me to stop lying to her and well Tom didn't really think it was real either until he saw the ultrasound and the tears pouring down my face, but overall thus far it has been a positive experience. We will keep you posted as we progress. We are at the 20 week mark now, half way there already :-)

Announcement Time

Well, the day has finally arrived and Tom and I are able to share our news that you may or may not know. Yes...drumroll please...Tom and I are expecting our first child :-) We are very excited for the new arrival which is due mid-November. Yes, just a mere two weeks before I graduate from the University of Indianapolis with an MBA, but we will work it all out some how. Now it is time to prepare, enjoy just the two of us and figure out how our lives will change once the little one arrives. Yes, we are waiting to find out the sex. We figure there are so few surprises in life we might as well enjoy this one! So that is the big announcement for the year I guess!

No Deodorant Days...Do I Smell Okay?

Just a few minutes ago I realized that I left this morning without putting deodorant on. Now some might not think this is a big deal, but for me this is one of those daily tasks that gives me anxiety if I forget it. Usually I will keep an extra stick in my car or in my desk or somewhere accessible should the need arise to use it or if I am in a hurry in the morning and forget. Well, it turns out today is one of those days that I need it, but don't have it. This morning was a rough start for me, I couldn't get out of bed and then I was as usual running late, but even on those days when I am running late I usually, 99% of the time remember that I need to put on that deodorant. Today I am not so fortunate and to make matters worse I don't even have any extra sitting around. Yes, I have travelled to the store in the middle of a work day in order to purchase more, but today I don't think I will even have time to run out, so you know what I am going to do? I am going to sit here all day having anxiety over wether or not I smell okay. Now I typically do not have rancid BO, but this is not something I take lightly and there will be fear in my heart for the rest of the day that I do not smell fresh and I will wonder if other's can smell me, if I smell at all. Oh, why oh why didn't I throw an extra stick in my bag the other day while I was thinking about it. Oh well, here's to the No Deodorant Days!

Thoughts of The Good Ole West

About 5 times a week now I look at Tom and tell him we have to move out of the state of Indiana and that the time has come for us to get serious about where we want to live. I keep suggsting places like Seattle, to expensive, Portland Oregon, neither of us have been there, but it looks gorgeous, Phoenix Arizona, might be to hot in the summer, Colorado my true love, New Mexico, or any place out West. Oh, to wake up each morning and look at the mountains, or to be able to go hiking on the weekends. I know Tom will be in heaven when we finally make the move, where he can go mountain biking, and hiking and camping whenever he wants and I absolutely can't wait. It sure will be an adventure, leaving our friends and family, but for me it will be like going home. Ever since my parents moved me from Colorado to Ohio when I was 14, some 12 years ago, I have longed to move back. I don't know what it is about that state or the West in general, but it just calls to me almost begging me to come back. I do have fears and anxiety about moving, but it is all a journey, life is a journey that you can either sit back and relax or you can worry about it, so once that truck is all packed up there will be excitement, and fear, but I will be going home. I can't wait to take my kids hiking on Pike's Peak, or whatever mountain there is or watch them play soccer with the mountains behind them. It will be a wish come true and I can't wait for that day!

Spring in Indiana

Ah, spring has finally arrived! Warmer days, not waking up in the dark or driving home from school or work in the dark. The blossoms are on the trees and flowers are blooming, it is wonderful...well it used to be wonderful. I guess I should be used to tornado season in Indiana, I have lived here for what is going on eight years, but this year is the first year it is already getting to me. As I was sitting in the hallway truly scared for the first time ever on Sunday night, I kept getting angrier and angrier. First off, I was missing Desperate Housewives, I mean yes I know this is serious business, but the News people just cut in and don't stop the show.. ANNOYING. Second, I was like why were we so young, dumb and naive, to buy a house in the middle of a corn field that doesn't even have a basement...WHAT were we thinking. I keep telling Tom that if we plan to stay here for more than 2-3 more years we are going to have to move somewhere else that has a basement and isn't right in tornado alley, because I won't be able to stand it. Hopefully we hit the dirt running and can move out West before then, but if not then a basement house it is! But I guess in the mean time, we will just continue to watch spring bloom around us and run to the hallway when it gets bad out and hope that our little stick house doesn't get blown over by the big bad wolf...aka mother nature.

The Comedy of Daylight Savings

This Sunday for the first time in Indiana's history or at least for a very long time, Indiana will participate in Daylight Savings. We will be joining the East coast time, something I am very happy about. Never again will I have to remember if we are on the same time zone as my parents or my high school friends and in the fall it will be nice to have that extra hour of sleep. This whole transistion for me has been no big deal, but let me tell you something, for some people in this state who have never participated before, one would think that the end of the world is on its way. It is pretty comical if you ask me. There have been articles about how there will be more car accidents because people are going to be tired driving into work on Monday...never mind the fact that this time change occurs on Sunday morning, so if people go to bed at their usual time they won't actually lose any sleep. Oh, and the fact that the governor gave the taverns and bars an extension for this weekend to remain open until 4:00 am instead of the usual 3:00 am, so that they do not lose business because the NCAA Final Four is in town. I mean the governor gave an actual repreave over 1 hour, so the state doesn't lose an estimated quarter of a million dollars. This is not the end of the world people. It is simply ONE HOUR, just one measly hour. The rest of the country does it, except Hawaii and Arizona and look the world hasn't come to an end yet, so everyone just sit back relax and wait for fall when you get your hour back. Now I am not writing this to offend anyone and I understand that change is hard for some, but it really will be okay and life in a day or two after you lose that hour will go on as if it had never happened. So enjoy the extra daylight when you get home from work and do something nice for yourself!

Its No Wonder Americans Are Over Weight

Over the past couple of months I have slowly watched my scale creep up as my weight continues to climb. I must have been in denial as I bought larger jeans so that I could breath when I sit down and made all sorts of excuses up, like: "Its the holidays" or "well it is winter, I will lose it all come Spring." RIGHT, what have I been thinking, I should have nipped this problem in the bud several months ago, so the time has come now to do something about it. The sad thing is, I realized today as I was entering the foods I have eaten this week into an online food calculator just how difficult it is to eat healthy, even if you think you are eating healthy. I will get a salad from Arby's and say, "It is a salad...that is healthy" Well, a salad from Arby's has over 500 calories in it. Or say a naked burrito or burrito bol from Qdoba or Chipotle, with no meat or sour cream in it, well you know how many calories are in one of those puppies...if you get chicken the naked burrito is over 730 calories and even without the chicken and no beans, it is over 530 calories. I was shocked to see that I have been eating way over 2500 calories a day for the past couple of weeks, especially when I thought that I was eating healthy foods. After this realization I now can see why so many Americans are overweight or obess, you are led to believe you are doing something good for yourself, but in reality you aren't and the only truly way to eat yourself thin is to cook for yourself, a fact that I am going to have to quickly implement if I am to stay healthy. So for all you out there who eat out and think you are making healthy choices, think again and watch that nutrional information, you could very well be eating far more calories than you ever imagined!

It's Like Living With Rodents Or Some Other Supernatural!

Sometimes I am forced to wonder if our cats are truly cats or something super natural or even part rodent. This past weekend I walked into the laundry room to get something only to find the bag of cat food that was sitting on the floor open. It was a brand new bag so I turned around and asked Tom why he had opened it, since there was already a bag open that needed to be finished. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, "I didn't open it!" At that point I just starting laughing because we both realized that ChaChi had gone in there and chewed it open and had been eating straight out of the bag...it wasn't like he was unfed, his food bowl was sitting next to the bag completely full. I couldn't believe it, but it shouldn't have surprised me. This is the same cat who everyday moves the water tray and water feeder because he likes to drink from the right side, not the left and the very same cat, who has figured out how to open the desk drawer in Tom's office, was able to crawl into the back somehow and drag out an entire bag of rubberbands that he once saw Tom hide in the very back. The day I came home and saw the entire bag sitting in the middle of the living room, was certainly a shock, but I still had to laugh. These cats are certainly determined, when they want something they will find everyway possible to get it. I never would have thought that living with two cats, could be so interesting. I thought they would just lounge around, lay in the sun and take cat naps. I never thought we would have to cat proof our house, but it looks like we do. If nothing else, at least they give us a laugh every now and again!

SIX DEGREES OF SEPERATION/SMALL WORLD

Well we are back from our short trip to the Bahamas. It was, shall we say fun, but not what I expected. For some reason I though of the Bahamas as a totally beautiful Island, everywhere, not just at the resort we stayed at, but that was not the case. Yes, I understand that they were hit by a huge hurrican a while back, but at the same time portions looked like a third world country, which was a little shocking. But it was fun to say the least, get some rays and just lay around reading, not having a care in the world for 4 days, it was fabulous.
What was surprising, however, was that there on the Beach on Grand Bahama Island, I ran into one of my sorority sister's who I had not seen since I graduated back in 2002. It was so bizarre, we both kind of looked at each other as the recognition dawned on us who we were starring at. It turns out that she works for the Ministry of Tourism for the Bahamas, and had actually hired the company that hired my husband to come to the island. You never want to believe that people really are seperated by only six people in the world, but as more and more time passes and the world becomes smaller, you can't help but wonder is it really true...are there really only six degrees of seperation?

Just Call Me Grace...

So today started out as a normal typical Friday. I got to sleep in a little because I was stopping at SAM's Club on my way into the office to get office stuff and rolled in around 9:15. One of my co-workers went down to help me unload and two full cases of pop came crashing out of the vehicle and starting bouncing around the parking lot. We both just stood there waiting for them to explode. After the dust settled and none exploded we proceeded into the building. Well upon getting off the elevator I pushed the little cart off the elevator and three more cases of pop fell onto the floor and all over, after a little more laughing we proceeded and everything seemed normal. At this point I am feeling a little clumsy for the day, but am thinking the worst is over, well you know me, I have NO good luck. So I pack the cart up and head to the elevator to go upstairs to drop some stuff off. I hear the elevator ding below so I know someone is on it, when the doors open I am expecting it to be a courier or something, but no it is none other than Peyton Manning, oh yes the Indianapolis COLT's quarterback Peyton Manning. Well, there I am standing with my mustard and Parmesan and my cart full of pop, not really knowing what to say since I am in shock. Well, we finally arrive to the third floor and I push the cart off the elevator only to have an entire case of pop fall off the cart unto the floor, yes in front of PEYTON MANNING. I was so embarrassed, but he was really nice and he helped me pick it up and then he asked where Earshot was and he headed in one direction and I in the other. I have never in my entire life been more embarrassed than I was at that moment and to think this was my first brush with fame. Tom asked me why I didn't get an autograph, but come on when you are as graceful as I am the only thing I could think of was, oh man I just dumped pop in front of the Colt's quarterback, where can I hide. So there you have my brush with fame for the week and yes, feel free to call me Grace.

For the love of our pets

Sometimes you have to just sit and wonder why people get pets. We have two cats who on their good days are the best companions and cuddle buddies in the world, but on their bad days are absolutely horrible. Bailey, my little tabby is a like Jekle and Hyde. She will be all cuddled up with you on the bed or the couch or will push things out of her way so she can lay on you, acting and looking like the most innocent, sweet animal alive, but then she will smell something she doesn't like and it is all over, hissing and howling and screaming. This such thing happened to us the other night. We went to my in-laws house to see our neice and almost everytime we go down there Bailey smells something she doesn't like and freaks out, whether it is dog or the febreeze I sprayed when we walked in she freaked, scary freaking out with hissing and yelling. We have become somewhat immune to it, however, and after the initial shock wore off we walked past her and locked ourselves in the bedroom, or so we thought. We were in the bathroom when all of a sudden the door opens and there is Bailey, completely fine, but she has somehow managed to open the door, either she is totally possesed or the latch didn't catch, either way I think Tom and I were both a littler nervous at that point. But she was all lovey again and everything seemed fine. So not only do the little major freakouts make me wonder why people love animals, but the other little things, like yesterday when Tom starts cussing and saying gross and I asked him what was wrong and he said I stepped in cat poop, which only made me laugh, but sure enough right there in the middle of the living room was a cat dingle berry, so whether it is freak outs, dingle berries or hairballs, we still love our cats and I can't imagine life without them, but it does make you think, would you tolerate a human who poo'd on your floor or screamed at you if you smelled bad? It is an odd thing the relationship between a human and their furry friend!

Liver or Counter?

People always saw "Live each day like its your last." Only lately I have noticed I live life to get through each day. It is like I have put myself on cruise control and just work through the motions, not really feeling anything. It is like my life has turned into one big countdown. I have a calendar at work on my desk that I cross each day off. I have a calendar at home where I cross each day off and even at school I cross of each class on my syllabus. Or when I say I only have 33 more weeks of school left until I graduate...yes I am counting, but what in the world am I counting the days down to? I mean this is it, you only get one life, why am I counting my days away, what in the world am I waiting for? I wish I knew, but each day passes and all it gets is a cross, or a squiggly line if I am in the mood, but nothing changes. I mean today I was made to truly ponder what I want in life, when an Intern for one of our clients was talking to me about DePauw University, where she is currently a senior and of course where I graduated from four years ago. Well, here I am college grad with half a master's getting lunch for an intern...kind of makes you think, "is this all I want out of my life?" or "What in the world are you doing with your life?" While, I don't have an anwer at the moment, I hope that one day I am able to stop being a counter and start being a liver. So the question I ask of you is...are you a liver or a counter?

Another Day Another Year Older

Well today I am on the verge of being old, or as my co-worker says I have now entered my early mid twenties, you see I turned 26 today. My sister informed me that I am old, she is 15, yet I feel no different than I did yesterday. Yes, time seems to go by much faster, much to my displeasure in realizing that my parents were right when they used to say, watch out times flies the older you get. As a child I used to laugh at them, thinking they were crazy, yet as I sit here today, I feel like I just turned 25 and I cannot comprehend that I am 4 years away from 30, I mean then what...is this all we have to look forward to, watching years fly by faster than we can imagine, or is it time to actually start living life? My goal for the next year is to not dwell as much on the small stuff or let it upset me as much as it does now...I am sure I will still complain, I mean how can I not, I wouldn't be a drama queen if things were perfect all the time. But hopefully I will be able to spend more time with friends and family enjoying the everyday fun things about life instead of being upset about going out in the rain to get lunch. Hopefully a year from today I will be able to look back at the past year and remember all the good times, instead of wondering where the year actually went. So check back later to see if I am doing so, or if I am stuck in a rut!

One Stop Shop?

Last night Tom and I went to Menards to grab an end piece for a shelf we need to install. Well, little did we know, but we were about to be faced with a sad, but hilarious situation. Upon walking into mendards, we see the typical, lights, fans and piping. We keep walking only to see carseats for sale,yes car seats, we think this is a little odd, but whatever. Then we spot household cleaners, candles, greeting cards, cat litter and even golf balls. At this point I am laughing almost uncontrollably, wondering why in the world is a place like Menards selling all of this stuff, when I thought it was a do it your self center. Apparently those big burly construction workers need to be able to purchase golf balls and an anniversary card for their wives when picking up wood and nails. Haha I can't even imagine my father-in-law going in there and walking out with some dog food and some fiddle faddle, but I guess whatever sells, sells.

When Life Hands You Lemons, What Do You Do With It?

Well, I haven' written in a while, but I guess that is because there hasn't been much to write about. However, today I am having one of those days where I just want to scream at the world, if I were a young child I would throw my body on the ground and just start kicking and screaming, but seeing as how I turn 26 years old in two days that probably would not be deemed acceptable at work. Instead, I sit here and ponder what life would be like if you never had a bad day, if you never had to do things you didn't want to do, if everything was just as you imagined in your own little world. I for one know I would like this, but what would I have to complain about? Would I really be any happier, or would the things I love eventually make me mad enough enough to complain about them? Maybe I just don't handle the everyday stress well or something, but I do know this:
1. All humans should either have to attend finishing school or learn at some point in there lives to pick up after themselves. It is not okay to leave trash on the counter or dishes laying around, when there is a dishwasher 3 feet away.
2. Respect your co-workers and others, you don't have to like them, but if you are doing something that would make you upset if it happened to you, DON'T DO IT!
3. Everyone has a bad day, let them have it, eventually they will come to their senses and realizes they were being a butt.
4. Finally, if life hands you lemons, either put it in a squirt gun and squirt someone's eye, as my sister would say, or make lemonade...do your best to live each day to the fullest, because you never know what lies ahead.

Wonderful things do come in small packages

Yesterday Tom and I went to Martinsville to celebrate Christmas with his side of the family since we are going to Ohio for the actual holiday. It was the usual hanging out, eating, watching good food, only now we have a small addition Kasey our little niece. She is almost 6 weeks old and is absolutely adorable. I got to hold her for a little while but then she got fussy and needed to eat. Well after we all had our meal and had opened presents we were sitting around and she was still kind of cranky, but needed sleep. We were passing her around and I finally got to hold her, where she feel asleep in my arms, so we sat and cuddled and she slept for almost 2 hours, it was the best Christmas present ever! So remember wonderful things come in small packages!

Be Grateful for What You Have

Today Tom and I had a reality check, the worst kind of reality check one can have. We went to Terre Haute to do what we thought would be a simple room re-do for a make-a-wish child, yes we went even though there was no heat. Only it was worse than there not being any heat. The walls were cracking apart and as we started to paint, the wall started rolling off onto our rollers, it was a very sad situation. To make matters worse , we did not have enough paint to finish so we had to leave the job half way complete and someone will have to finish it again in a couple of weeks. Tom and I on the other hand realized that our little house we call as piece of you know what in reality is not that bad and we were quite thankful to come home today to a warm shower and our nice little cats. So the lesson learned is be grateful for what you have because it could be a lot worse.

Make-A-Wish or Make-A-Scam?

Make a Wish or Make a Scam?
Well, this is my first entry into a blog, don't know if I will keep it up and I am sure I won't write as creatively as my husband, but I have decided that it is time to let some of my frustrations out in a productive manner. This Saturday Tom and I are supposed to volunteer for the Make a Wish foundation doing a room re-do for a child who basically is a vegetable. Well, we called to confirm with the family last night and come to find out the house we are painting does not even have heat. Yes, that is right it is the middle of winter, we are approaching the longest day of the year and this house does not have heat. I just am appalled to even think that someone would think it is okay to have strangers come over and paint their house in temperatures below freezing. But, oh it gets better, they are not even living in the house and they want it painted in Greenbay Packer colors. If you are a child who cannot talk, speak or hardly see do you think you know who the Greenbay Packers are? I don't think so. I wish that Make-A-Wish would better investigate their wishes prior to wasting the time of their volunteers. Because of this one wish I do not know if I will do any other wishes after this, I know sad, but oh well.