Withdrawals

Morgan and I just got back on Sunday from a glorious 7 night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.

Note: Those of you who want to read Morgan's take on the trip can go to his blog – click the link on the right, reading his entry makes me wonder if we were on the same cruise, you know, since I enjoyed probably everything he didn't.

Our cruise took us to San Juan, Puerto Rico;


Charlotte Amelie, St. Thomas;


and Phillipsburg, St. Maarten


Our trip was supposed to take us to Coca Cay, Bahamas, but due to bad weather we took a detour to San Juan. No love lost there! San Juan is a very old, historic town with amazing architecture (I know...) and the views from the Fort that we visited are amazing.


It's just a shame that we only had a couple of hours to spend there, but I did find a great deal on a Coach purse – tied to the rack since the “drug addicts run in and snatch them”. I think it was a good first stepping stone for Morgan who has never been out of the country, since it is considered the 51st state.

I enjoyed the island of St. Thomas as a whole. The terrain lends to spectacular landscapes – built and natural. We visited Magens Bay Beach, known as one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world. What I found most interesting was that besides having salt water and the water being crystal aqua, it seemed like more of a lake. There weren't any waves, just a gentle lapping on the sand. The beach is in a national park so there are also walking trails around the Bay with iguanas and mongoose scattered throughout – no snakes, though – the residents introduced the mongoose to take care of the snake problem.

After the beach we went to Blackbeard's castle which was basically one brick tower and a few British home museums...and a couple of swimming pools.

The island is part of the US Virgin islands, the next step in Morgan's quest to the unknown land beyond the borders. Our tour guide was telling us about the history of the island, mainly how it is impacted by the United States. Their official language is English and they use US currency. The residents pay taxes (although it's through a local agency) and they are assisted by America's welfare program, among others.


Our last island that we visited was St. Martin/St. Maarten – depending on whether you are on the Dutch or French side. I have never studied the island so I was unaware that the island is actually two separate countries...and the French side is technically considered part of Europe. I guess Morgan can't get much more international than that! I took him to the Caribbean and he ended up in Europe. He must have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque.

The beach I visited (I say “I” because Morgan didn't go in the water, in fact, he insisted on keeping his socks and shoes on the entire time because he hates sand between his toes – does he sound like a huge baby or what?) was Kokao beach at the Orient Bay, which is also right next to the nudest club, Club Orient. We took a walk along the beach, through the club's beach, and quickly out. Side note: Morgan got his shoes and socks soaked by the waves, yes, this beach had waves, and he still wouldn't take his shoes off). Morgan did look the most out of place walking down a fully nude beach completely clothed.

We had a lovely meal on the beach, included in the price of the excursion, and served by very delectable looking French men.


All of our other experiences were on the ship since we had four days at sea.

We met a very nice couple from Asheville, NC at our dinner table and our waiter, Francis, and assistant waiter, Wency, are some of my favorite people ever.

So, along with the pools on board, we played miniature golf, Morgan climbed the rock wall, we sipped fruity drinks, spent time and money in the casino, strolled along the ships promenade looking in the windows of the shops, going to the casino, going to musicals (Morgan didn't go – I went with our dinner companions), seeing an ice show (there was an ice rink on our ship), seeing a few comedy shows, going to the casino, playing (and tying for first) sci-fi trivia, climbing stairs and more stairs, spent a lot of time standing at the railing and staring at the water trying not to throw the other one overboard, going to the casino...have I mentioned the casino? I think so. Casino.

The first day we were on board I wasn't sure whether or not I would like a cruise. There were so many people (over 4,000 including the 1,200 person staff) and the ship is so big that it was all so overwhelming. But, by the second day we started to get the hang of things. I think we needed a transition period from taking care of everything ourselves to be completely taken care of. I'm still half expecting my bed to be turned down when I get home from work with a cute towel animal and some chocolates. Instead I have to forage for my own food, feed the cats, scoop litter, and realize that my bed can't be turned down if I never made it in the morning. Sigh.

I am proud to say that I didn't gain any weight – if you stick to the stairs of a 14 deck ship you can pretty much not worry about what you eat – although I still watched what I ate. Our first day there we were told that the average person gains around 1.7 pounds per day on a cruise. I can see how that can happen having about 15 meals a day.

I am amazed at how much I really enjoyed the cruise, and how much Morgan liked it. I say that he liked it but his comment when I asked him if he would be open to going on another cruise (one that doesn't go to the beach which he hates) was “I'm not 100% opposed to going on another one”. That's actually high praise from someone who was dreading this one.

I'm thrilled that we went and that we were able to spend quality time together. We haven't been on a vacation together in a year, and although we don't have children and we live under the same roof, it's still hard to find time, especially time that isn't stressful, to spend together. We both work so much and at night I'm studying for my exams while Morgan is generally working from home. I'm really going to miss the cruise. I've created my top ten list of things I'll miss most – in no particular order:

1.The option of a twelfth meal of the day at 11:15 pm, free of charge, and cooked by someone else.
2.The stateroom attendants – especially the towel animals and mints.
3.Our waiter! He was so entertaining and just a fun person altogether.
4.Our dining experience at dinner with the wait staff and our new friends from Asheville.
5.Sleeping in without a care.
6.Being able to wash your hands in the sink and your hair in the shower while using the toilet – seriously, the bathroom was so small, but very efficient.
7.Fruity drinks (no alcohol).
8.Long walks on the deck just staring out to sea.
9.The entertainment on board - “The Honeymooners game”; “The Quest” Adult scavenger hunt; the musicals.
10.THE CASINO!

For those of you out there that are skeptics or not sure whether you would like a cruise, it's worth going on one at least once in your life. This had to have been the first vacation I've taken where when I got home I was actually relaxed and rejuvenated.

I'm definitely interested in going on another one. We think it would be fun to go with a group of friends (mainly so Morgan won't have to go to the musicals). So, anyone interested just give me a shout!

this just in...

I passed my second ARE exam!!!

I hate playing tag...too much stress

So, through another friend's blog, I've been tagged and asked to fill out this survey. Enjoy...or don't.

A~Attached or Single: Attached, although I can be persuaded depending on the amount of food you offer.
B~Best Friend: Hmm...I know you're supposed to put your significant other, but that's too expected, plus I LOVE my husband, I just LIKE my friends a little bit more. Ha! Um, I'm going to have to go with Jayna.
C~Cake or Pie: Pie! Except for cupcakes, they are my weakness.
D~Day of Choice: Saturday morning...sleepy!!!
E~Essential Item: Jeans.
F~Favorite Color: I never have favorites, I like too many things and I'm constantly changing.
G~Gummi Bears or Worms: Gummi bears!!! preferably on top of strawberry TCBY yogurt in a chocolate waffle cone with oreos on top.
H~Hometown: born in Steamboat Springs, CO, lived in Warrenton, VA, but Boise, ID is my closest thing to a hometown.
I~Indulgences: cheddar cheese pretzel combos
J~January or July: January...I love snow!!!
K~Kids:None, yet. I think I might just take one of my friends' babies, they have plenty to go around.
L~Life is Incomplete Without: Cats and ponies...I mean unconditional love.
M~Marriage Date: May 17th, 2002
N~Number of Siblings: 1 brother, 1 step-sister, 1 step-brother, 1 half-sister, 2 ex-step-sisters...you know, the typical modern family.
O~Oranges or Apples: oranges.
P~Phobias or Fears: buttons, enough said. Anymore explanation would be too incriminating.
Q~Quotes: "These mashed potatoes are so creamy."
R~Reason to Smile: My cats being cute...also sleep.
S~Season: Spring and Fall
T~Tag Two: Oy, no one I ask to do this will, so I'll just say Morgan (yeah, right) and...I can't even think of another person.
U~Unknown Fact: I've grown to like Morgan's Star Trek shows (not the original, ok, I've already gone too far).
W~Worst Habit: Manipulation
X~X-Rays or Ultrasound: Ultrasounds I guess, but all I've had looked at was my bladder and lumps in my boob, nothing fun.
Y~Your Favorite Food: Like I said, no favorites.
Z-Zodiac: Aries. Fire and a Ram. You can tell that breeds stubborness, selfishness, and anger issues.

p.s. blog on my cruise with pictures coming soon!

abc...dance!

I thought I'd spice up everyone's day with a little alphabet dancing!

ok

I know I've been away for a while, although, it's not like people really read my blog religiously, so I think I'm ok. But, know that I have a good reason for neglecting my loyal, and obviously misguided readers.

For the last few weeks I have been held up like a hermit in our office studying for my next ARE exam - which I took today. I feel much better about this one than the last one, so I'll just have to wait my three weeks until my results come.

Also, our internet was, unknowingly and unprovoked, turned off by our internet provider. It wasn't as if they just accidentally hit a button at their office, no, they sent someone out to our house on Friday and they manually disconnected our internet, for no apparent reason. When the technician came out today to fix it, he didn't know why anyone had done that either.

And...two weeks ago I went up to Concord, NC (just outside of Charlotte) to my mom's house to visit and also see the progress of her house renovation. I went up there in May when the house was first purchased. She brought me up there to redesign her kitchen. They gutted the whole kitchen and I helped her select the cabinets, countertops, flooring, etc., came home to draw up the plans for the contractor, and now I was there to see the fruits of my labor! It was pretty exciting. I've included some before and after pictures below. The only thing left to do in the kitchen is the tile for the backsplash. Once that is installed, the stainless steel hood can be installed.


The door that is in the third picture has been patched and the counter was run all the way to the adjacent wall, as well as the soffit (you will see in the pictures below). Also, the blank wall now has lower cabinets, as well as a new opening/pass-thru into the dining room.


Hopefully you can see the improvement! ha!

So, we have been busy in our neck of the woods, but, don't fret, we have a nice, relaxing vacation in our horizon. This Sunday Morgan and I are driving to Florida and hopping on this...

for a 7 night cruise hitting the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten (Eastern Caribbean). It's a belated 5 year wedding anniversary gift to the two of us (although Morgan says it's just for me, but when I have to pay for half I say it's for the both of us :o))

Well, I'm sure this has been quite the thrilling post all of you have come to expect from me. I'm sure I'll be back with glorious photos of our trip in a couple of weeks!

I'm addicted

As a surprise Morgan bought me the new iPod touch, just for being me! (I'm sure he has some other sneaky reason, but I also was desperately in need of an upgrade). I can't explain how awesome this is. It's like the new iPhone, but smaller and thinner, and without the phone capabilities. You can add photos, watch movies, listen to music - of course, browse the internet wirelessly, and much more! Now I'm starting to sound like an infomercial.

Everyone, do yourselves a favor and go to www.apple.com and buy one! Now!

this is exactly how i felt...

"It was as if ninjas attacked me in a group, flashbanged me, disoriented me with mind altering drugs and then said here is some scratch paper and your calculator. The clock is ticking."

This quote is taken directly from the ARE forum where architect candidates like myself go to swap test and study information about the tests (I know, it's dorky, but no one would pass any of them without it). Anyway, this sums up the way I felt leaving my test. I'm looking to take my second one in two weeks!

Southern Wedding

This weekend my friend Jenny and I drove up to Charleston for a friend's wedding. The ceremony was at the Citadel Chapel (the groom went to college at the Citadel) and the reception was at the Charleston Yacht Club. This wedding had so many highlights, although most were in the intimate details. To start with Charleston is a beautiful, old city and the historic charm already lends itself to being a wonderful setting for a wedding.

I think the part I liked most was the fact that our friend, Amanda (the bride), had her dress made from her mom's wedding dress. It was so special, unique and beautiful. Kenny and Amanda are such a great couple (they are the ones I went to Costa Rica with a year ago). I wish them all the best! (It's starting out nice...they're in Jamaica for their honeymoon!).

Don't you just hate it...

when you get some great news and then right afterwards get really bad news? Like the fact that I got my much anticipated "pass" letter for my first ARE test...that's right, folks, I passed (I guess I owe Jayna a phone call to tell her she was right). But, before I could do a happy dance I opened the next piece of mail which was a notice from the South Carolina tax people saying that I made a mistake on my taxes and I owe a LOT of money - due in 30 days. just peachy...yea for me, I passed my test...

No word...

I'm still waiting on the results of my test. It's been two and a half weeks now. It's supposed to take between two and four weeks, although I've heard of it taking six to eight. That's really not fair. I'll keep you updated when I hear something! Meanwhile I'm studying for the next one, but not too excitedly.

I don't think you heard me...

I asked for HELP...capitalized "help", not just a regular "help", and I'm not going to lie to you, I feel let down. As I previously posted, on Monday I took my first ARE exam and I really have a bad feeling about it. Out of 105 questions, I feel CONFIDENT on only 40...um, that's not going to make me pass the test. Some questions were so ridiculous that I actually laughed out loud and basically picked the answer that looked the prettiest.

So I say again, I don't think my call for HELP was answered and if I fail, I'm blaming all my friends who read my previous post, not my lack of education or performance.

I hope you all feel good about yourselves...

I'm confused...is Vessela at my bedside when I die?

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

"So, you're a cannibal."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Note: Vessela is one of my co-workers that proudly stated one day, "If I were a cannibal, I'd eat babies". Because they are more tender of course!

My travels

Now, I understand that it's a map of the different countries I have visited, but the states are listed separately. Don't look at me, I didn't create the software. It just makes it look more impressive and like I've actually been to places, even when all of the states combined still equal one country.

What's up with Nevada? I supposed I've steered clear of it for some reason...maybe the legal prostitution...

HELP

I need everyone to send me good thoughts. I have just scheduled my first of nine ARE (Architectural Registration Examination) sections. It's for August 20th at 9 a.m. and I think I might have a mental breakdown. I think it's mainly in part because by scheduling the first exam means that I'm on my way to becoming an actual, official Architect and that's just scary. I mean, it's my goal, but somehow now that it's here and I'm on the brink of tasting it, it's really daunting. I don't feel quite ready to have reached my goal. Well, at least I can be comforted by the fact that there are nine sections and I have two years to finish all nine parts.

HELP!

Bliss

I just hopped off the plane from Boston exhausted and starving, but I don't feel any of that because I just spent a glorious four days in Little Compton, RI (where the sun comes up at 5am! - which partly explains why I'm so tired) at our family cottage within a .25 mile walking distance to the beach. Every time I go there I am reminded that there are places on this Earth that are actually pure, quiet, and relaxing. There is a constant smell of lilies, cedar shakes, and salt water and it never changes.

The town has just over 3,000 residents and they just recently put up a cell phone tower...in the church steeple (not that it helps - no reception, but I loved it!). The scenery is idyllic and you can sit on the porch looking down the small paved road for hours, doing nothing at all, and loving it.

What made this trip more special for me than previous ones was that my mom, brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew were there. My mom lives in North Carolina and we see each other every few months, but my brother and his family live in Boise so I haven't seen him since my graduation over two years ago.

It's hard being so far apart so when we get to spend time together it's so great, but saying goodbye is very hard.

I spent most of my time playing wiffle ball, badminton, croquet, candyland, monopoly junior, sorry, flying kites, and going to the beach...all with my niece and nephew. We did spend one day in Boston with everyone which was great, but the time I spent with them at the cottage was unforgettable.

I have been around our friends children and have babysat many, but never have I been around children who look at me with their bright eyes and you can see the unconditional love, and that love is for me, just because I'm their Aunt. We don't see each other often and it's hard for them to know me, but for some reason that doesn't matter to them. They love me...and I love them, with all my heart. I never knew that such a powerful feeling existed, I can only imagine how you feel when you become a parent. I only got a small taste, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to love parenthood.

It is hard to be back in South Carolina knowing that they are again in Idaho and it might be two more years until I see them next, but I'm hoping that won't be the case. They are much too precious.

I thank my mom for bringing us all together, in a place where she has made so many memories, and I thank her for allowing me to make a very special memory of my own.

America the Fat

Today's rant has been brought to you by Cheeburger Cheeburger (explanation after said rant):

There are many reasons why I would rather live in a different country than the good 'ol US of A, and I find myself more and more rolling my eyes and saying "only in America". Our government is atrocious, our health care system is very sad indeed, we have poverty beyond belief (most of us though don't see the worst of it), gun toting maniacs run around shouting how the second amendment gives them "the right" to be *^%holes, I mean, to bear arms, materialism has taken over to where I want to vomit whenever I see another bitchy and spoiled teenager ruling their parents (I mean, seriously, children have zero respect for their parents these days and the parents share the blame with today's society), and it still amazes me that Americans still don't "get it" when it comes to obesity and what you eat directly impacts your life. I'm sorry, I know that it's almost the 4th of July, and I should be a proud individual, but I have to tell you, I'm not feeling the love. I'm not so proud to be an American. I know all countries have their fare share of problems, and that I'm lucky to have so many freedoms and live in a democratic society...but where has the society led us?

(If you are upset by my comments above I apologize, that's how I feel. you should hear me around Christmas...you would think that I want to strangle Santa himself - down with commercialism!).

The explanation:

Last weekend Morgan and I went to a restaurant for lunch called Cheeburger Cheeburger (which has very yummy burgers which are not good for you, but not bad in moderation). But, this establishment has a contest that if an adult finishes a 1 pound burger, their waitress will stop EVERYONE from eating and makes an announcement that this person has achieved a great accomplishment and we should all be very proud that they stuffed their faces...then everyone applauds and they get their picture taken with a over sized stuffed burger. I get so irritated when this happens because we should not be applauding people for stuffing as much food in their faces as possible. Food is for nourishment, not a game.

Well, the worst came last weekend when I discovered that they also have the same game for children. They have to finish a 1/2 pound burger and their picture is put up on the "wall of fame". We were sitting next to a table with a husband, wife, and three children. The oldest was a boy of about 11 years. The waitress kept coming over and giving him words of encouragement like "you can do it", and, "if you eat slower and take more time you'll be able to eat more". The boy is full! Let him be! Then I heard his dad say that he'll give him as much time as he needs in order to finish his burger. At the end, the boy said that he had to throw up and he left the table and walked outside to get air. When he came back in and said he couldn't finish the burger, everyone was disheartened. Then, his dad pulled out a five dollar bill, gave it to him and said, "this is for trying so hard".

So what have we learned here? We learned that not only was the waitress trying to help the boy along to eat more, but his dad was actually bribing him to "make him proud" by eating more. I was so disgusted.

Morgan tried to play devil's advocate and said that maybe the family didn't have a lot of money so the dad wanted him to finish all of his food. I quickly pointed out that if they were so hard for cash, I'm sure the dad wouldn't have dished out five bucks as a "good try" reward.

Only in America...

At last our castle is showcased!

So, seven months after we move in I finally have interior photos of our house. I haven't completed decorated it to my liking yet, but I thought I better get these photos out before we move. Enjoy!Living room, looking at the front doorLiving roomHallKitchenDining roomGuest bathOfficeMaster bedroom, looking into bathroomMaster bedroom, I installed the ceiling fan!Master bath

Treasure hunt

Last Tuesday evening, as I was taking the trash out, I had a miserable experience. As I removed my left hand from the trash can I noticed that my hand was wet (it had been raining) so I shook my hand and off came my wedding rings! They went flying right into the grass! You can imagine how I went through many stages of emotions. First I was stunned, then I was in disbelief, then I turned to panic, fear, you get the drift.

So, I went back in the house and found our flashlight and went back outside to hunt. This is where I remind you that it had been raining so the grass was wet, and everywhere I directed the flashlight each piece was illumintated and reflected the water, therefore it was impossible to see my rings. Luckily I had seen the general vicinity of where they landed so I directed my efforts to one spot and was lucky enough to find the ring with the diamonds. I was not so lucky with the other one.

After an hour of searching Tuesday night in the dark I turned my efforts back to the jungle the next morning, but I did no prevail. I searched again that night and Wednesday morning and decided that I was going to get a metal detector! I thought "that will do it, I'm golden!" only to do research to find out that it's next to impossible to detect platinum since it's not magnetic. Great. So I searched again Wednesday night and...nothing.

So, Thursday after work I took to turning into a crazy person. I took a snack (you know, because I can't work on an empty stomach) and a pair of scissors out to the spot in the grass and started cutting. I was 40 minutes in and I had cut a 4'diameter circle, and had blisters to prove it! I saw a patch of dirt and went to investigate. I dug into the grass and pealed back a piece of sod. Under the sod, standing vertically was my 5mm thin wedding band! I can't even imagine how it got in there. I blame it on the lawn knomes.

So after two days and a seemingly nervous breakdown (if you had been walking by a house and saw a girl eating a snack, cutting her lawn with scissors, wouldn't you be a little suspicious?) all is well again. So, I think I've learned my lesson. Sorry, hon, you'll have to take the trash out from now on!

5 years is longer than you think...

...Or so it seems at times. Morgan and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on the 17th. We've been together for over 8 years so it didn't seem like such a big deal until I sat down and really started to think about it. I realized that, yeah, it is a big deal, it's a milestone.

To me, it seems as though every anniversary before 5 years still felt new. 5 years to me signifies that we've accomplished something and our marriage is an enduring relationship - like we must be doing something right (amazing since we were both so young!).

5 years ago we were 21 and 24, I had only completed two years of my undergraduate degree, and Morgan was still a graphic designer (or glorified type setter - ha! sorry baby). Now, I have a Masters of Architecture degree, a great firm I've been working with for a year and a half, and Morgan is now an Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist and the Production Manager of The Island Packet newspaper! We have both come so far in our professional lives and I don't think we would have been able to come this far without the support from each other in our personal lives.

So, how, you ask, are did we celebrate our grand milestone? well, we went out to dinner and exchanged cards...

Oh, yeah, and Morgan gave me a voucher for a cruise to the Bahamas! We're planning on continuing our celebration of our lives together in the Caribbean this fall!

Morgan and I ventured to Richmond Hill, GA this afternoon for the grand opening and ribbon cutting for a new neighborhood that my firm helped develop. I worked on the pool/clubhouse and outer buildings. It isn't finished yet, but it's about 70% completed. This is one of the first projects that I've worked on that is being built so it's pretty exciting to see. I can work on the drawings all day long, but it's when I get to see it built that I really feel proud of the work that I do.

Blah...

Everytime I sit down and try to write a blog post I feel that I have nothing important enough to say and my life is pretty dull. Last week Morgan and I were in Lowe's and he said something hilarious and I got really excited because I finally had some material to add to my blog. Unfortunately when we got home we both forgot what it was. Typical...

So, I'm just going to ramble...

This weekend was "baby bonanza" weekend for me. I had a baby shower to go to on Saturday and Sunday. I've had a friend or co-worker give birth January, February, March, April, one due in May, one due in June, two due in July, another in September and one more in October. Holy crap!

Last weekend Morgan's mom was here and I put together the long awaited t.v. stand and rearranged the living room. I also hung some shelves above the t.v. I really like the living room configuration now. I guess I'll have to take some pictures now and post them. Ah-ha! Another blog post idea! I have yet to post any pictures of the inside of our house.

I turned 26 a couple of weeks ago. Not a very momentous occasion, but I had many calls from well-wishers. Thanks for that.

I'm looking for an independant/single dental insurance plan...if anyone has any advice or companies they would like to recommend it would help. My company doesn't offer dental and I can't get on Morgan's until January. I really need to get my wisdom teeth out, but that's over a thousand dollars.

Morgan's eating ice cream right now...I think I'll join him. Thanks for joining me!

Christmas for Easter

This past weekend I drove up to Asheville, NC to visit my mom for a long weekend. It was a chance to relax and go antiquing. It was an added bonus that my grandfather (my mom's father) and his wife and daughter were down from Pennsylvania as well. We had a nice time visiting, dying Easter eggs and the best part...it snowed! I haven't seen snow for a while. I mean, I saw it in Colorado in September, but that was just when we were driving through the mountains. I didn't get to climb out of the car and experience it. So, this was a very nice treat. Christmas came early(or late for that matter) for me this year.

The World According to Mister Rogers: First installment in a series

I bought Morgan the book "The World According to Mister Rogers" for his birthday more as a joke because he loved Mister Rogers growing up and I could never stand the guy. Morgan would say "How can you hate Mister Rogers? He's Mister Rogers!". Now, I must say that I don't think I've ever said that I hated him, but he did irritate me. This book that I bought has quotes from Mister Rogers' show and his philosophies on life. So, in Morgan's honor, this is the first blog installment of a series I like to call "Mister Rogers' tokens of wisdom".

Page77:

"Forgiveness is a strange thing. It can sometimes be easier to forgive our enemies than our friends. It can be hardest of all to forgive people we love. Like all of life's important coping skills, the ability to forgive and the capacity to let go of resentments most likely take root very early in our lives."

Now, I hope we all learned something here today...

This one takes the cake...

Today when I came home from work I checked the mail like I do every day. However, today I had a special surprise. Just one letter, that's all that was in the mailbox. But, as you will soon discover, it was the most important letter I have ever, or will ever receieve, and I don't even have to open it to know. No, I don't have x-ray vision...it's pretty much written all over the outside.

On the front:

"God's Holy Spirit instructed us to loan you this to start turning things around for you. So, here it is. Use it and be blessed."

On the back:

"Dear God,

With our Bibles opened to St. Matthew 18:19, we humbly and sincerely pray on bended knees for You to anoint this letter with Your precious and holy power to meet the most pressing needs that someone is facing as they open this church letter of prayer.

Heavenly Father, we pray that this one who needs this divine help will write their needs on page two of this letter and will place this blessed, biblical, Acts 19:11,12, Handkerchief and this sealed Bible prophecy under their side of their bed as they sleep tonight.

Let Thy power from heaven descend upon this home tonight and tomorrow night, after this one has mailed their most pressing needs back to this 56-year-old church ministry. We pray that they will break open this sealed prophecy after sunset tomorrow. Amen"

And that was just on the outside of the letter, imagine what's in store for me inside!

Now ask me why I don't have "faith" in religion...stupid scam artists.

side note: I know all religions, most religions, don't practice in this manner, but can you see how they can get a bad name? It's a disgrace to everyone I know who has complete and total faith.

Huh

So, on my way home fron work today I stopped into a sub shop to get some dinner. I placed my order and proceded to wait in line while the woman made the sandwich. I was the only customer in there so she decided to strike up a conversation. This is how it unfolded:

Woman behind counter: I really like your skirt

Me: Thanks, yeah, it's really comfortable (side note: I bought it in a upscale boutique in Atlanta when I was there with a friend a couple years ago - very cute)

WBC: Yeah, when I buy that kind of stuff my husband says that I look like a hillbilly, but I say, as long as it's comfortable then I like it. Whatever, he makes money and his money is mine to spend, right? That's what he works for, for me to spend it!

Me: (blink, blink)

So, I now pose this question: Did the woman behind the counter in the sandwich shop who thinks that her husband is just there to give her money call me a hillbilly?

She said she liked the skirt, but that her husband calls her a hillbilly when she wears things like it. So, is she a hillbilly and she says that I'm like her?

I can't decide whether I was insulted or complimented by her.

Any takers?

Guide to Living with an Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist

Patience – for how most of their communication consists of words such as OPI, RAM, USB, FTP, IP address, and even a “Heisenberg compensator” for good measure

Patience – for how most of their dialogue between each other consists of Star Wars, Star Trek, and various science fiction movies and television shows

Patience – for when they decide that yielding a lightsaber at work and fighting amongst each other is a grand idea

Patience – for when they collect computers like women collect shoes

Patience – for all of the times they make you watch clips of Superman in HD just because it's cool

Patience – for their clothing choices

Patience – for their insistence on having all the newest tech toys

...and most importantly:

Pride – for when they have to leave you at night, against their will, to go into work and not return until 2 am to fix other people's mistakes, knowing that their efforts will go unnoticed and unappreciated by those who caused them...