A little help, please

Alright, kids, I could use some advice.
I'm shopping for new boots, you all remember when I bought these? A couple years ago? Well, they're wearing out (guess that's what happens when you wear them all the time), I have holes in the soles inside the boot, in the heels, going all the way down to the rubber soles, plus I'm getting holes under the toes.
I'm hoping to get something about mid-calf height, black, nice durable tread on the bottom, easy to care for, leather, less than 2 inch heels, and under $100.00 I love the style and everything about my current boots except that they're wearing out, if I could find something like that, I'd be in heaven. They don't need to be Harley-Davidson boots, it's just that those fit and were a great price at the time.

AAAAH! It's Friday the 13th

So, Sunday night I spent the night at Kevin's house (that's when I got the other huge frog), and in the morning we went to Earl May (OK by that time it was more like afternoon, as we didn't get out of the house until noonish, and after making some trips to the bank and somewhere for lunch, it was well after noon) and look at their critters, and they had a cute little guinea pig, so cute. The lady said they received it on Friday, and it hadn't really been taken out and played with that much, and while we were there it never made a sound (important tidbit there).
That night, I go home and Kevin calls later saying he's bringing me a Subway sandwich and to meet him downstairs, I'm wondering why I have to meet him downstairs if we're just going to eat the sandwich here. So, I go downstairs and starts walking towards me with something in his hands, turns out his was holding the guinea pig we saw earlier. He said he was going to keep it at his house until Sunday (this being before he decided to go to the conference, mentioned in last post), and then give it to me, but his roommate didn't want her staying there. Apparently after dropping me off at work, he went in search of a cage and then went back to Earl May and picked her up.
Her name is Val, for Valentine's day and the fact that she's got bright red eyes. I've been missing having a guinea pig since my last one died. Val is ours, though she stays at my house.

Love is in the air?

I hope you all are getting ready to celebrate Valentine's Day or Friday the 13th, whichever strikes your fancy, or both, that works too.
I have already received all my presents (and there were a bunch of them too), as Kevin is out of town at a storm chasers conference in Denver, CO. I was telling him he needed to bring me back something and suggested they should be giving away stress balls shaped like tornadoes. I don't think I'm getting anything though, oh well. You wouldn't think I needed something more after you see what all I got for Valentine's Day.
Last week he started by giving me this giant frog. He's at least 3 feet tall.
And after (or before, I don't remember which), he gave me this little one.

And this week he started (with something else, but that will be in my next post, as I haven't quite figured out how to upload more than 4 photos per post in the order I want them) with these guys, he picks me up from work Tuesday night with these 3 (or 4, depending on what you're counting) in his truck.

And then yesterday, we had to go out to his house to pick up the rest of the lot before he went on to CO.

Plus, the caterpillar

That equals 11 (there's another one at his house), well that's weird, I thought for sure there were 12, wait a minute, I forgot the one that's still attached to the mug he's in, guess there are 12. And the giant caterpillar, and.... Oh you'll have to look at the next post (or previous as it comes up on my blog) for that, it's the best present out of the lot.

Don't ever say that I'm not a team player

Tomorrow I get to work another basketball game. I sure hope it's a little less exciting than the last one. Last week we played Kansas and it was interesting, not because of problems by the fans, no the fans were very nice. But we had some very entertaining guests attend. I had Chewbacca come in my door and I saw a gorilla with a giant banana getting a drink at the water fountain.
I did have some annoying people too. I had a couple of guys that decided to go out and have a cigarette pretty much right after they were let in. Because of the law passed last July there is no smoking on public property (or something like that), all I know is you're not allowed to smoke anywhere on University property. They were smoking RIGHT outside the door, that's just annoying in itself whether it's legal or not. So, I go out there and yelled at them (it was windy, cold and I was annoyed to have to talk to them), I told them they couldn't smoke there and they better go to LWay or not come back in. I told the other person working the door with me, she'd have to deal with them when they came back in because I was so pissed. Apparently they weren't so nice when they came in either. I guess they were very rude to my co-worker.
I hate smokers, not all of them, I have come in contact with ones that are very considerate, but the ones that just disregard anyone else that gets in the way of their smoking. Those are the annoying ones.

Find what you loved about it and start there.

Ok kids, here's my late Christmas present.
Let's just say I am very giddy about having this.
I don't know much about it except that it's a .22 bolt-action rifle (?) and it's fun to shoot. Kevin says I should take a hunter's safety course to learn more.

I never stray too far from the sidewalk.

I started working full time at the bookstore for the university on Monday, it's whooping my ass. I stand for about 7.5 hours (actually for the past two days it's been 8.5 hours), and then I get home and sit all night. My feet still hurt this morning, I've noticed I'm walking on my toes.
Nothing like the -10 degree days to make you love Iowa weather. Tonight the low is -14 and tomorrow the high is -2. I hate Iowa winter. Plus we've pretty much had it snowing since Saturday. We got about 9 (maybe) inches on Sat, about an inch Sun, 3 or 4 Mon, and another 3 or 4 last night. Since it seems to be coinciding with me working all day and then night, I haven't shoveled that much, I shoveled on Sunday, and I'm guessing when I get home from the game tonight I'll be shoveling again.
I'm so tired.

Let's take our time, relish

OK, I am no longer allowed to look at buttons. I went to Hobby Lobby today to look for a shadow box frame (it's like a frame, only it has more depth to it for 3D objects) for this, before work, after finding a couple, I still had a few minutes before I had to be at work, so I went to the button aisle. They have these button bags that are just mixes of buttons, and I have a tendency to look and see something cool (like the tree button I saw today) and buy them. I did that and bought 3 bags. BAD WENDY!!!

Has anyone seen the Dr. Pepper commercial where the Diet Dr. Pepper 6pack of bottles "walks" to the candy aisle? During the commercial, the theme song to Cheers is playing, the one that starts "Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name...", everytime I see that I stop and listen/watch it, I can't help it, I'm drawn to the TV. I'm not going to go out and buy Diet Dr. Pepper, yet I'm mezmorized by the song.
The Marines commercial has that same effect on me, though I'm drawn to them, not a song.

Speaking of commercials, am I the only one that's sick of Campbell's VS Progresso and their MSG thing. You'd think they could come up with something better.

Hope all is well with my readers.

Fun with technology

How great is technology? I don't have cable and get my TV channels through an antenna. I have already bought the digital converter box and hooked it up. Tonight, CBS's local channel was having troubles with their digital connection and the only way to watch the channel was to unhook your digital box.
I certainly hope they figure out this before February.

Happy New Year!

Found this in my past posts:
What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? Began to seriously think about selling my art and sold some of it
Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t make resolutions, though I am planning on changing a few things in my life this year (we’ll see if they stick until 12/31/09
Did anyone close to you give birth? No
Did anyone close to you die? No
What countries did you visit? US of A
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A full-time job and a steady income where I didn’t have to worry about if I’ll have enough money for bills
What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? May 1st, that’s what Kevin and I decided is our anniversary for dating
What was your biggest achievement of the year? Somehow having money and getting by even though I was basically unemployed for 5 months
What was your biggest failure? Can’t think of one
Did you suffer illness or injury? No, but I’m sure I messed up my knee a few weeks ago when I walked into my radiator (that’s what happens when you have a small amount of room around your couch next to your radiator), I realized it was really bothered yesterday when I was standing for 4 hours.
What was the best thing you bought? All the Hotwheels and Matchbox cars this year, I’m loving being able to collect the cars I think are sweet, but aren’t thousands of dollars.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My parents. Just little things that they do without even realizing it.
Where did most of your money go? Food, health insurance, credit card (all the usual things)
What did you get really, really, really excited about? Any time I got to spend with Kevin
What song will always remind you of 2008? Nothing really comes to mind
Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder? Happier
II. thinner or fatter? Fatter, I’ve developed a stomach, which I’m hoping to get rid of this year
III. richer or poorer? Most likely poorer
What do you wish you'd done more of? Work, only because that gives me more money to pay off things
Did you fall in love in 2008? No, but still in love from 2007
How many one-night stands? None
What was your favorite TV program? A new one from this year would have to be Flashpoint, continuing one would be Supernatural
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Not that I’m aware of
Do I like anyone now that you didn't like this time last year? Probably, but no one comes to mind
What was the best book you read? I don’t remember reading a whole book this year (that’s pretty sad, seeing as I had all that time when I had no job)
What was your greatest musical discovery? Nickelback, but pretty sure I discovered them before this year
What did you want and get? Die Hard 4, new toaster oven, new coat
What was your favorite film of this year? I haven’t gone to a movie since last Christmas
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Nothing out of the ordinary, 25
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Getting a full time job
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Same as before. jeans and a T-shirt. Whatever's comfortable. I really love summer where I can wear my favorite outfit: jeans, tank top, barefoot.
What kept you sane? Music and Kevin and Loretta
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? None
What political issue stirred you the most? The election, just cause I’m not happy with the results
Who did you miss? No one
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Have fun in life. Plan ahead. Don’t take anything for granted.

I keep rolling on down that road

The other night, I had the scariest dream I've ever had. I saw the Grim Reaper standing beside my bed, and I got this really bad feeling, I tried turning on the light but it wouldn't go on and then I ran outside my room into a hallway and into another room that was filled with zombies. That part after getting out of my room wasn't what scared me. When I saw Death standing over my bed, it felt like it was really happening and then the light wasn't working. After waking up my heart was pounding (at least it sure felt like it, I felt my pulse and it was pretty much normal, nothing really fast) and I had to lie with the light on for at least 15 minutes.
But now, I feel as if something's going to happen to me, and when i close my eyes I see that robe and scythe.
FREAKY

Where you are is where I belong

Here's hoping y'all had a good Christmas and aren't planning to party too hard tomorrow night.
Christmas for me was pretty good. I got plenty of new snowmen, some Fareway gift cards (those will help out immensely), a new DVD player (I was really hoping for a VCR as my DVD player works somewhat and my VCR is totally down for the count), 2 toaster ovens (this is becoming a tradition, last year I got 2 vacuum cleaners), some frogs, 2 new coats (I'm favoring the one Kevin got me), new gloves, and a plaque at the new alumni hall on campus. Like I need a plaque, if you're gonna spend that much money (I don't know how much it is, but I'm guessing a pretty big chunk), spend it on something I need.
I'm trying to continue what I started last year, going to Kevin's parents' for Christmas and celebrating with them. I really hope that will be a lasting tradition.
I had my family Christmas on Christmas eve.
(Ya know I had this nicely planned out an hour ago, I don't know what happened to it)
A couple years ago, I received a Toshiba Gigabeat MP3 player as my graduation gift from ISU, the battery has become shot on it, and now at full battery power it lasts 30 minutes. It's so nice that things nowadays are built not to last, are built so you have to buy a new one every few years.

Idiotioc people

What kind of person names their kid Adolf Hitler, and then wonders why people are upset over it. Way to set up your kid for disappointment for the rest of his life. He's going to be teased or not liked at all, all through school. No one's gonna wanna date him, I think it'd be wise of him to change his name when he's old enough.

Thanks A Lot

Thank you old guy that decided to walk into the store with a lit cigarette hanging out of his mouth and not thinking that was bad. He realized it when I glared at him and now the store smells like cigarette smoke. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HELP!!

For all of my two readers, I have a question:

Am I required to get presents for my co-workers at the store I work at?
When I was in college I worked at the library and while we weren't asked to get presents, I always made something for my bosses (they also gave each of the student workers a basket of goodies). Last year, I wasn't going to do presents, but my boss told me she got a present for me, so then I made something for her and for my coworkers. I don't know if I'm supposed to do anything for my coworkers this year. Any advice?

Also, remember this post? Well, here are the pictures.

ugh

So, I've figured out that my mother thinks I know nothing. I think part of the reason I got my degree in CJ was because my parents didn't know much about it and I could speak my mind and be right, or at least listened to. But my mom always talks down to me, even when we're talking about opinions, there's always a tone about how she says things and she implies that I don't know what I'm talking about.
Like today, she leaves me a note on a container of ice melt not to use it, like I don't know you don't use ice melt on top of snow. It was because we got a 1/8 inch of ice last night, and I sprinkled it with ice melt and some sand. We have a new piece of concrete at the bottom of our driveway, and we're not supposed to use ice melt on it, something about the chemicals reacting with the new concrete.
Stole this from one of the blogs I read:
1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

I want a Designer frisbee

What is a designer frisbee you may ask. Well, my friend, Loretta's dogs cross bred to create one. Neither one of us thought it would happen, but I guess that's what you get when you have a female Burmese Mountain Dog in heat and a male Bichon Frise knowing this. I'm rather intrigued to know how big they'll get and what they'll be like.

I'll post a picture if she ok's it.

UGH!!

Why do the people in my neighborhood seem to be so stupid? Originally I was just going to complain about the people and thier stupidity in parking, but now people with dogs get included (and if you happen to be one of the people I'm complaining about, tough, since I know the things I'm saying are true, too bad for you).
So, I get the wonderful job of shoveling snow today, because we got about 2-3 inches of snow between yesterday and today and it's still coming down. My mom called me and told me there was snow shoveling to do. NO SHIT!!! Like I wasn't outside with you yesterday and I didn't walk through the snow last night, so I didn't know there was shoveling to do.
So, I'm shoveling and while taking my short breaks or just noticing stuff around my neighborhood, I notice 2 illegally parked cars. One being a van down the street that's parked in the parkway (that's the part of your driveway that's between the street and the sidewalk), that's illegal. And two, the jeep that's parked on the wrong side of the street, now they couldn't say they didn't know because there's a no parking sign 10 feet in front of them. If you can't read, you really shouldn't be driving.
DOGS:
In the city, it's code (or law) to have your dog on a leash at all times while you are outside and it's not in a fenced in yard. The guy down my street decided to take his dog on a walk while he was bicycling, and then let it run wild to go to the bathroom after they got back. And then as I was going to buy some pop, I run into a chick talking on her cell phone with her dog not on a leash. So, I tell her it's law to have her dog on a leash within city limits. Her response: "I'm not from Iowa", and I tell her she should research laws if she's going to live somewhere. She says her dog's very well behaved and that "she lives 2 blocks away" so it's ok. I love it how people always say their dog is well behaved when you tell them it's supposed to be on a leash. SO FRICKIN' WHAT???? Just because it's well behaved doesn't mean it might accidentally run in front of a car and get hit, to which point you would blame the driver. Or maybe someone has some really good food in their pocket and the dog really wants it, it could attack them because of this. And, some people don't like dogs running through their yards, I don't mind it until it starts shitting in my yard. I may look like just a normal citizen, but that doesn't mean I don't know city code. If I was a cop telling you this, you'd probably give me the same reasons and then something about I'll put it on a leash next time, because you obviously don't have a leash with you now. I think she was just really pissed that not only did I tell her the law (which she may or may not have known), I interrupted her phone call. BOO FRICKING HOO!! If I knew where she lived I'd call animal control and say that she was letting her dog run loose, they would most likely say they got a complaint and go have a chat with her.

The more I know about city code, the more I see people not obeying it and it drives me nuts. In some situations, too much knowledge sucks.

I am so disgusted

I was watching this show on ABC today, called the Dr's. and they have a segment on a 5 year old who weighs 135lbs. The mom "is desperate to change him". How is this not the parents fault? They weren't too thin either, but he's five, you control what he eats, he doesn't control it. She says when he doesn't get what he wants he throws a tantrum and tries to hit his parents. How hard is it to control your child, let him throw that tantrum, maybe he'd burn off some calories doing it. You hear of people saying things are not their fault everywhere you turn, but when you say you 5 yr old weighing over 130 lbs, his problem of being overweight isn't your fault, that is total BS. Try not giving him pop tarts and pizza and food whenever he wants it, make him go outside and play. When walking makes him breathless and you're afraid he's going to be diabetic by the time he's a teen because of his overeating problem, do something about it.
These dr's give them a book, a membership to a whole bunch of physical activity places and tell them they have to get rid of all the junk food. I'd be surprised if they actually did it, what's to get them motivated now that hasn't motivated to keep the kid healthy in the past?

And then they have this lady who believes she's so hideous she needs a total makeover and of course they do the surgery for her. She's not a hideous person, try starting with a little self esteem makeover and go from there.

They also had a segment of this chick that thought she had a gummy smile, her gums showed too much in her smile. So, they do this procedure on the show, and we watch them burn off her gums. That was nasty.

Stupid Hollywood

****CAUTION CSI: MIAMI 11/17 SPOILERS****
On CSI: Miami tonight, they had a baby kidnapping. At the end, they figure out the guy that planned the kidnapping was selling the child to a couple flying in from somewhere else. Horatio (head CSI guy) pulls up in his Hummer with his lights and sirens going when the kidnapper’s making the deal with the “adoptive” parents, so the kidnapper jumps in his SUV and they go on this chase through this tiny airport, and then the kidnapper hits a pile of boxes and flips his SUV several times.
That would never happen in real life. The cops would never attempt a car chase in that small of an area when they know (or are pretty certain) there is a child in the car because something like that could happen. If my child were kidnapped and that happened you can bet to hell I’d sue the PD, and I’m guessing with how people view cops, I’d win. Now you all know I love the cops, but if anyone would put my child at risk like that, I’d be throwing that love and appreciation out the window.
Also, if the cops actually knew where the people were flying in to, they would never show up in their lights in sirens. I won’t be watching CSI: Miami anymore.

Karma's a bitch

This is to the idiot in the blue car that ran the red light at 6th and Clark at about 8:10 tonight. I hope the next time you decide to be too impatient to wait 3 seconds for a green light, a cop catches you, or something.
If I were close enough, you can bet I would have crossed the street in front of you very slowly so you would have had to wait.
Maybe next time you do something because you're impatient it'll come back to bite you in the ass.