**Oops. I wrote this and forgot to post it on Friday... here it is a little late...**
1. I somehow managed to schedule myself to do something every single evening this week. Now at the end of the week, I'm just weary and ready for the weekend and catching up on some important stuff at home, like throwing the ball for Suze, clipping Maggie's horribly long toenails, opening my mail and paying some bills, cleaning out the fridge, doing laundry, etc. The exciting stuff :)
2. This is not to say I didn't enjoy what I was doing, it was great to catch up with various groups and friends, next time I just need to not do it all in the same week.
3. I am definitely in the thick of the winter blues. This is the toughest season for me, and with everything else going on in my life right now, I better come up with a darn good project to keep me distracted. Though I have thousands of projects I need to do, none of them is really inspiring me right now as something I want to do. (Clean the garage, purge the storage room, paint the hall / stairwell, hem a bunch of chair covers... all so uninspiring...) Ugh. Suggestions?
4. I got the info for softball yesterday. It doesn't start until the end of April, but it was at least a sign of hope, that someday it will thaw and we will be outside playing ball. I want it to be now.
5. I made it to morning Mass 4 out of 5 days this week, yay! It's good to be back in the swing of things. and I am soooooo grateful for the gift of Mass and the Eucharist. I am always amazed at how much more peaceful I am if I start my day with Jesus.
6. The more I read by Pope Benedict 16th, the more I like him. We're currently reading some of his Weds audiences. He's got such great stuff to say and teach and in all of it, there is this tangible sense of the love of Jesus. Good stuff, I highly recommend it.
7. Babies babies babies... One good friend is now a week overdue, come on baby! My sister is due in a few weeks. I also need to brag that I saw a friend a couple weeks ago, hadn't seen her in awhile and I looked at her and instantly knew she was pregnant. This is her first pregnancy, so I can't claim to "recognize" it like I have in other friends, but somehow I just knew. I told my sister in law my suspicion, who told my brother and both claimed that I am insane. Last night I found out I was right, she is pregnant. Awesome (both that she's pregnant and that I was right)!! Though I have no idea how I developed this "gift" I am pretty good if I do say so myself. :)
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Funny
This sign was in the restroom of a Wendy's/Tim Hortons I stopped at on my way home from retreat. Seriously people, grammar!!! Is there only one employee? and why the quotations? Just wash your hands already.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Prayer Request
A good friend of mine starts radiation treatment today (combined with chemotherapy) for his brain tumor. Please pray for Nick and his family during this time. Thanks!!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Local celebrity
I just got home from my weekend retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemani in KY... more on that later, if I'm so inspired. On the way down, it took me a nice 6 hours to reach the monastery, no traffic to speak of, awesome. On the way home, it was snowing and the roads were icy for awhile in Ohio, so that slowed things a bit. And then I almost died of boredom in Ohio... I think on the way down is better because you hit the most boring stretch (Ohio) early on in the trip and the last hour and a half is in KY, which is considerably more scenic. Not so on the way home... ugh... and, incidently, usually talk radio gets me through really boring stretches and keeps me alert, but apparently Sunday afternoon the only talk radio in Ohio is sports, which doesn't help keep me interested or alert. Oh well. I made it fine, stopped to refill the gas tank in Saline and bought a Sunday paper. And lo and behold, look who made it on the front page!!!
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/01/ann_arbor_area_residents_unive.html
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/01/ann_arbor_area_residents_unive.html
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Clean is clean, right?
It was Thursday last week. I stayed home sick from work and spent the day on the couch (and refusing to let Maggie outside every hour). Blah. I looked like death warmed over- no shower, hair in pony tail, no make up, purple sweats with spills on them, yeah, nastified. Planning to spend the remainder of the evening in the same fashion, I was surprised to hear the doorbell ring around 7.30 pm. It was one of those bitterly cold nights, I think it went to -7 F and it was bone chilling. At the door was a college age guy and behind him, his boss. The kid enthusiastically offered to clean one room of carpet (or area rugs) and he really needed a few more appointments before he could call it a night, big promotion, etc. I think before anything else happened I said something about not feeling well, etc. but that didn’t slow them down. At least I felt better having an excuse for my appearance. Feeling bad about him being out in the cold, I agreed (thinking in my head that it was a bad idea, but what could it hurt and besides, getting the area rugs cleaned would be worth it, right?) They came in and checked out the rugs and said they’d send the cleaning team over sometime between now and 9 pm and would just take a half hour. Okay, that seems pretty harmless.
I did go put on mascara and change my shirt. I know, ridiculous, but it really was bad and though not “presentable”, I did feel a little better. 9.30 rolls around and I’m wondering what happened and why I said this would be okay. They arrive a few minutes later, the boss from earlier and Isaiah “one of his best”. As Isaiah gets set up in the living room, the boss asks me to just keep an open mind, not be deterred by price because they can help, etc. He also explains the big promo his boss is doing so they’re trying to make a big goal or something. Okay okay. He is about to leave and then says he’s got a new guy he’s training and could he come in and watch the presentation? I’m thinking it seems harmless, uh okay.
Anthony comes in. Wow. He’s a middle aged black man, wearing white pointy-toed leather slip on shoes. And (wait for it) light blue pleather pants. Oh yes my friends, light blue pleather (or maybe real leather) pants. Wow. He sits down to watch the demo. The dogs are in the cage in the dining room, very unhappy about strange men in the house. And at some point it occurred to me that here I was, sick, with 2 strange men in my house, invited in by me, and my protection was locked up in the dining room. I figured if they tried anything, I’d dash into the dining room and let Maggie out. And I know Maggie would give them what for.
Isaiah asks me to bring out my current vacuum (a cheap hoover that I bought for $60 about ten years ago). I myself know this is not much of a vacuum but considering most of the house is hardwood floors, it’s not that big of a deal. As Isaiah assembled the mighty Kirby vacuum, he told me that NASA has recently redesigned the engine for it, added a transmission (I think) and some other cool stuff. Okay. The demo proceeds- we vacuum the rug with my vacuum and then Isaiah proceeds to vacuum with the Kirby and pulls out the black cloth filters to show me just how much dirt was left in the carpet after vacuuming with crappy hoover. He does this numerous times, all the while asking me if I’d say a clean house is a priority. Confirming that all the way clean is better than not all the way clean. “Clean is clean, right?” Yes sir, clean is clean. He then dumps a box of baking soda and rubs it thoroughly into part of the rug, vacuums with crappy hoover, and then goes on to prove just how much the hoover misses that the Kirby cleans. “Clean is clean, right? You don’t want to waste time cleaning when it doesn’t get it actually clean, do you? Think about how much faster your rug and floors will wear out since you’re not actually getting them clean. Think about how much money you’ll spend getting them professionally cleaned, instead of just buying a vacuum that does get them clean. Think how much money you’ll save…” It goes on and on.
Once he asked me if I was ready to buy the Kirby, I had to be honest and tell him I can’t afford it. He went on to convince me that they’ll work with me to make it affordable, whatever payment I want, etc. I told him flat out I won’t finance because I don’t believe in going into debt, other than my house. Little did I realize this would start a long conversation / argument about the glories of debt, the ease of small payments, etc. Isaiah: “Wait, I know your type, you read Dave Ramsey don’t you?” I do, but my reticence to go into debt is more than Dave Ramsey. We argued (in good fun) for an hour. My favorite comment- “I don’t believe you. If your refrigerator dies tomorrow, you’ll go buy a new one and finance it zero percent interest without even batting an eyelash.” Me: My refrigerator did die, and I went and bought a used one for $250 because I had the money in my account. Isaiah gasped at that one and then tried to tell me that was a terrible investment and why would I keep buying used, etc. I was adamant about not going into debt. Isaiah: So you’re telling me I need to sell you a used Kirby? Me: Sure! That sounds great!! Isaiah: “We don’t sell used kirby’s, they have a lifetime guarantee. Think about how many cheap vacuums you’ll buy in the next 60 years and how much you’ll spend… you might as well just buy this good vacuum now since it will actually clean your house and will be cheaper than buying all those other vacuums in the long run.” I won’t finance. I could and should save up to buy one and pay cash for it, but I won’t go into debt for it. (What I didn't tell him is that I am saving up to replace the kitchen floor long before buying a very expensive vacuum...) He then tried to tell me that zero percent interest is the same as saving up… blah blah blah.
Meanwhile, Anthony the pimp is watching the whole thing, fascinated, and grinning through much of the exchange. Isaiah finally calls the boss, explains the situation, that I won’t finance, Dave Ramsey, etc. He hangs up and tells me the boss is offering me the whole package for $1300 (half the usual price) and with 0% financing for a year!! Surely I can’t turn this down!! I did, of course. It’s still financing it and I won’t go into debt for it even though i will acknowledge it is an awesome product. Isaiah finally starts disassembling the vacuum and cleaning up, obviously disappointed and thinking I'm crazy. Meanwhile it’s nearly 11 pm- definitely more than the half hour promised. I’m exhausted but loving how clean the area rug is now.
On their way out, Anthony stops and says “I tell ya, I learned sooo much just from listening to you. You’re okay, you are O-kay!” He reaches out and gives me a huge hug. The awesome vacuum and the salesmen leave. Reenie wonders how she gets into these things… but figures she’s got material for a good post. And a crappy vacuum. And a hug from a man in light blue pleather pants.
I did go put on mascara and change my shirt. I know, ridiculous, but it really was bad and though not “presentable”, I did feel a little better. 9.30 rolls around and I’m wondering what happened and why I said this would be okay. They arrive a few minutes later, the boss from earlier and Isaiah “one of his best”. As Isaiah gets set up in the living room, the boss asks me to just keep an open mind, not be deterred by price because they can help, etc. He also explains the big promo his boss is doing so they’re trying to make a big goal or something. Okay okay. He is about to leave and then says he’s got a new guy he’s training and could he come in and watch the presentation? I’m thinking it seems harmless, uh okay.
Anthony comes in. Wow. He’s a middle aged black man, wearing white pointy-toed leather slip on shoes. And (wait for it) light blue pleather pants. Oh yes my friends, light blue pleather (or maybe real leather) pants. Wow. He sits down to watch the demo. The dogs are in the cage in the dining room, very unhappy about strange men in the house. And at some point it occurred to me that here I was, sick, with 2 strange men in my house, invited in by me, and my protection was locked up in the dining room. I figured if they tried anything, I’d dash into the dining room and let Maggie out. And I know Maggie would give them what for.
Isaiah asks me to bring out my current vacuum (a cheap hoover that I bought for $60 about ten years ago). I myself know this is not much of a vacuum but considering most of the house is hardwood floors, it’s not that big of a deal. As Isaiah assembled the mighty Kirby vacuum, he told me that NASA has recently redesigned the engine for it, added a transmission (I think) and some other cool stuff. Okay. The demo proceeds- we vacuum the rug with my vacuum and then Isaiah proceeds to vacuum with the Kirby and pulls out the black cloth filters to show me just how much dirt was left in the carpet after vacuuming with crappy hoover. He does this numerous times, all the while asking me if I’d say a clean house is a priority. Confirming that all the way clean is better than not all the way clean. “Clean is clean, right?” Yes sir, clean is clean. He then dumps a box of baking soda and rubs it thoroughly into part of the rug, vacuums with crappy hoover, and then goes on to prove just how much the hoover misses that the Kirby cleans. “Clean is clean, right? You don’t want to waste time cleaning when it doesn’t get it actually clean, do you? Think about how much faster your rug and floors will wear out since you’re not actually getting them clean. Think about how much money you’ll spend getting them professionally cleaned, instead of just buying a vacuum that does get them clean. Think how much money you’ll save…” It goes on and on.
Once he asked me if I was ready to buy the Kirby, I had to be honest and tell him I can’t afford it. He went on to convince me that they’ll work with me to make it affordable, whatever payment I want, etc. I told him flat out I won’t finance because I don’t believe in going into debt, other than my house. Little did I realize this would start a long conversation / argument about the glories of debt, the ease of small payments, etc. Isaiah: “Wait, I know your type, you read Dave Ramsey don’t you?” I do, but my reticence to go into debt is more than Dave Ramsey. We argued (in good fun) for an hour. My favorite comment- “I don’t believe you. If your refrigerator dies tomorrow, you’ll go buy a new one and finance it zero percent interest without even batting an eyelash.” Me: My refrigerator did die, and I went and bought a used one for $250 because I had the money in my account. Isaiah gasped at that one and then tried to tell me that was a terrible investment and why would I keep buying used, etc. I was adamant about not going into debt. Isaiah: So you’re telling me I need to sell you a used Kirby? Me: Sure! That sounds great!! Isaiah: “We don’t sell used kirby’s, they have a lifetime guarantee. Think about how many cheap vacuums you’ll buy in the next 60 years and how much you’ll spend… you might as well just buy this good vacuum now since it will actually clean your house and will be cheaper than buying all those other vacuums in the long run.” I won’t finance. I could and should save up to buy one and pay cash for it, but I won’t go into debt for it. (What I didn't tell him is that I am saving up to replace the kitchen floor long before buying a very expensive vacuum...) He then tried to tell me that zero percent interest is the same as saving up… blah blah blah.
Meanwhile, Anthony the pimp is watching the whole thing, fascinated, and grinning through much of the exchange. Isaiah finally calls the boss, explains the situation, that I won’t finance, Dave Ramsey, etc. He hangs up and tells me the boss is offering me the whole package for $1300 (half the usual price) and with 0% financing for a year!! Surely I can’t turn this down!! I did, of course. It’s still financing it and I won’t go into debt for it even though i will acknowledge it is an awesome product. Isaiah finally starts disassembling the vacuum and cleaning up, obviously disappointed and thinking I'm crazy. Meanwhile it’s nearly 11 pm- definitely more than the half hour promised. I’m exhausted but loving how clean the area rug is now.
On their way out, Anthony stops and says “I tell ya, I learned sooo much just from listening to you. You’re okay, you are O-kay!” He reaches out and gives me a huge hug. The awesome vacuum and the salesmen leave. Reenie wonders how she gets into these things… but figures she’s got material for a good post. And a crappy vacuum. And a hug from a man in light blue pleather pants.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tired
He looks how I feel right now: TIRED.
Collin and Beth bought a new house in Milan. It was a foreclosure so they got it for a steal of a deal, but it was cheap for a reason and there's a lot of work to do on it (think total remodel, one room at a time probably). There's also a lot to do to get it liveable in the next two days. Last night I went over to help paint and helped move a truckload of stuff too. Tonight I'm also painting, moving, packing, etc as needed, probably quite late again. In a case of truely bad timing, C&B have to be out of their townhouse Sunday (I think) so the big move is this weekend, when everyone in my fam is either going on retreat to Gethsemane monastery in KY (the ladies), or the CTK Men's retreat, or watching kids because the wives are gone. Since help is limited over the weekend, we're trying to help them as much as possible before that. But there is a lot to do, packing the old place, painting, refinishing floors, and other endless stuff at the new place. Also, being an extreme "J" helping extreme "P's" move is tiring, even without all the projects!! We do things very differently, J's and P's... (I'm referring to the myers briggs personality styles, in case you have no clue what i'm talking about).
Then I've got a stressful meeting first thing Thursday morning. Then a friend is coming to chill Thurs evening while I do laundry and pack so I can go on retreat first thing Friday morning. Ahhhh...
I predict a lot of sleeping on this retreat. I usually sleep a lot, but I also usually go in the spring when it's gorgeous outside so I spend most of the retreat outside. I've never gone this time of year, but it definitely is winter there. So I imagine it's less conducive to my outdoor retreat...
Also funny: We are taking my sister in law Lindsey for her first silent retreat. If you know Lindsey, you know silence isn't really a regular part of her life or her personality. Her co-workers are predicting she won't survive. I think it'll be tough but she'll enjoy it at the same time. I had to kindly tell her I can't possibly ride home from retreat with her- talk about an abrupt end to the silence that I like to prolong for as long as possible. So we will have the talking car and the quiet car... and I will be driving the quiet car.
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