So in 6 days I'll have been at the Record Courier for 2 months! I cannot believe how quickly it has gone by. I didn't realize how large and diverse the paper is. The Record Courier is our daily paper covering Portage County, but there are also 10 weekly papers in 3 zones that go out across Portage & Summit Counties. The North Zone is Northfield, Twinsburg, Macedonia & Sagamore Hills. The Central Zone is Aurora, Streetsboro, Mantua & Hudson. The South Zone is Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Tallmadge & Hudson... Hudson gets two papers. We also have our on-line edition, recordpub.com.
I work in the Classified department so I place ads like "Found Bike-Dog-Cat-Log Splitter on Pioneer Trail in Mantua 5-12-11 call 330-444-3932 to claim." Not really joking about the log splitter either! Oh and just FYI if you do find a lost animal, we put the ad in for free for ya :) But if you've lost an animal, please, please stop crying before you call me. I get paid on commission and listening to you sob for 15 minutes really cuts my productivity down. I feel for you, I do, but get a GRIP!
I also put in free bee ads. It's for 1 item between $10 and $99, so "Green leather sofa, Good Condition, $75. 330-987-3763." Let me tell you, it's been really tough not to call on some of this stuff! There was a wrought iron bakers/wine rack that I WANTED but I just didn't have the extra $99. The thing about free bee ads is because they are free to put in, we don't take them over the phone- only via e-mail, mail or if someone stops in and writes it down- it's so we can enter the free ads at our leisure after we're done putting in the paid ads. Generally after our 3pm deadlines. People just do not grasp the concept. Dumb Customer "I'd like to place an ad, but I need you to tell me how much it will be." Me: "Ok, what kind of ad?" Dumb dumb "A free bee." Me: after a pause..."It's free..." Dummy "Ohhhh haha." Me: "Yeah, they weren't kidding when they called them 'free bee's'."
Pretty much anything people want to sell or buy, I place ads for. Along with the ever lovin garage sale ads. I also do apartment/house rentals and sales. So pretty much if anything (legal) is changing hands in Portage County, I've got a bead on it.
I also place service ads. For plumbers, landscapers, babysitters, electricians, painters... you name it. These people faithfully run their ads, sometimes every day all year round. The amount of money they spend is astounding. I can honestly say, in our department, it's not the Doctors and Lawyers that bring in the money, it's the Painter who runs his ad every day in the Record Courier. I've already established rapport with faceless people who I speak with weekly. I'm rarely Erin but often "Honey, dear, darling, sweetie, sugar..." I guess they could be calling me worse :)
I also place Employment ads. All help wanted ads that are in print also go online under the general Jobs tab on recordpub.com, my job is to get the customer to not only run the ad in print, but to also put the ad in a preferred position online.
So if you're looking for something, be it a product or a service or a job- let me know! If I find it for you, I wouldn't say no to a bottle of wine :)
And I can honestly say, from what I see on a daily basis, I think the economy is coming back. I place ads for people who are desperate to hire every day. Right now especially if a person has a Class A CDL, can weld, is a machinist/CNC/lathe operator, or is a nurse, STNA or HHA there is no reason not to have an amazing job. Those are the IN DEMAND jobs right now.
So when I was driving to Akron recently and saw all the bums with their cardboard signs I really just wanted to hand them the help wanted section of the paper and tell them to get off their asses and go to work. I had no sympathy. If you don't have a job right now, in my opinion, it's your own damn lazy ass fault. It may not be your dream job, but you could land a job.
This weekend I ran into two kids who grew up with my brother. While exchanging pleasantries, I asked what they were doing these days... they both told me the were working in factories- but they were both almost embarrassed by it. The one said it well though, "it's not my dream job, but it pays the bill and I have health insurance." I couldn't help but think of this video I'd seen of Mike Rowe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-udsIV4Hmc
It's 20 minutes long, but worth a watch if you have the time. I wish he'd run for president, I'd vote for him in a heartbeat after this video alone. But what he says makes sense. It's about how the problem with our country is no one wants to do the blue collar jobs anymore- so there's a deficit of welders and plumbers and pipe fitters- all occupations we need to keep this country rolling. It's not really our fault, it's our grandparents fault. They taught their kids, go to school, don't be a farmer like me. Then our parents, taught us, go to college, don't be a plumber like me, be a doctor or lawyer. Now we've got too many damn doctors and lawyers and not enough skilled tradesmen.
I have a college degree, but I could be making double what I'm making right now if I could weld or drive a truck. Shit. I just realized that. Now I'm kind of bitter. Here I was trying to make a point, but I am the point! I went to college and got a degree and "did what I was supposed to do." But if I would have had to learn a skilled trade, I'd be doing better than I am now.
In the video Mike talks about following your passion. In theory, thats great. But honestly, who is passionate about plumbing? Who is passionate about driving a cement truck (though when I was in kindergarten I wanted, more than anything, to be a cement truck driver) or working in a factory? If you're lucky enough to do what you love- that's just it, you're lucky. For the rest of us, the best we can ask for is a job we don't hate, one that gets us what we need to follow our passions; be it friends, family, vacations or simply a nice home, a good meal and a cold beer to come home to at the end of a long day.
Stepping off my soap box now...
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Great Ideas
How Great Ideas are born:
"We need to clean the kitchen"
"If we're going to clean the kitchen, I want a milk shake"
"Hey, why aren't we drinking? If we're going to clean, we might as well get drunk"
"Lets buy alcohol and ice cream and make alcoholic milkshakes!"
High five!
The kitchen got cleaned. We had milk shakes. And got a lil buzzed. We all won.
So side note, found out today that this could possibly go down in history as one of the best summers ever- A.) I got a new job! I start Monday at the Record Courier in Ravenna selling classified ads and help wanted ads. I get commission and bonuses and INSURANCE!! B.) I'm going to see Jimmy Buffet at Blossom!!!!!! C.) I'm going to see Journey AND Foreigner at Blossom too! D.) Do we need a D? Weren't A, B & C enough??
Side side note, I got to thinking about my favorite summers- starting with the most recent:
Summer of 2010- Had amazing pit weather, every weekend was a blast. Wasn't in a fight with my best friends! Fell in love :)
Summer of 2008- First moved into my house with the boys. Had parties literally almost every night. Was the QUEEN of flip cup! Was skinny!!
Summer of 2004- Daily trips to West Branch beach, discovering the swimmin hole at the pit, best trip to Mohican EVER, Bro's graduation party, being inseparable from my friends, knowing I was leaving in August for 5 months in Florida so just making every moment count.
Summer of 1996- Silly, I know, but I was CRAZY into softball growing up and we had an undefeated team that summer :)
Summer of 1995- Softball again- all of my best friends were on my softball team, every night was a giant sleep over at someones house, sleeping in the tent in my back yard, bon fires every night, laughing too hard and having too much fun.
Lets face it, as a kid, every summer is amazing... but for me, those were the stand out summers. Last night I slept with my window open for the first time this year, it's such a 'summer' thing to do... so I've had summer on my mind :) I can't wait, I hope this one's gonna go down in the record books as an Outstanding Summer!
"We need to clean the kitchen"
"If we're going to clean the kitchen, I want a milk shake"
"Hey, why aren't we drinking? If we're going to clean, we might as well get drunk"
"Lets buy alcohol and ice cream and make alcoholic milkshakes!"
High five!
The kitchen got cleaned. We had milk shakes. And got a lil buzzed. We all won.
So side note, found out today that this could possibly go down in history as one of the best summers ever- A.) I got a new job! I start Monday at the Record Courier in Ravenna selling classified ads and help wanted ads. I get commission and bonuses and INSURANCE!! B.) I'm going to see Jimmy Buffet at Blossom!!!!!! C.) I'm going to see Journey AND Foreigner at Blossom too! D.) Do we need a D? Weren't A, B & C enough??
Side side note, I got to thinking about my favorite summers- starting with the most recent:
Summer of 2010- Had amazing pit weather, every weekend was a blast. Wasn't in a fight with my best friends! Fell in love :)
Summer of 2008- First moved into my house with the boys. Had parties literally almost every night. Was the QUEEN of flip cup! Was skinny!!
Summer of 2004- Daily trips to West Branch beach, discovering the swimmin hole at the pit, best trip to Mohican EVER, Bro's graduation party, being inseparable from my friends, knowing I was leaving in August for 5 months in Florida so just making every moment count.
Summer of 1996- Silly, I know, but I was CRAZY into softball growing up and we had an undefeated team that summer :)
Summer of 1995- Softball again- all of my best friends were on my softball team, every night was a giant sleep over at someones house, sleeping in the tent in my back yard, bon fires every night, laughing too hard and having too much fun.
Lets face it, as a kid, every summer is amazing... but for me, those were the stand out summers. Last night I slept with my window open for the first time this year, it's such a 'summer' thing to do... so I've had summer on my mind :) I can't wait, I hope this one's gonna go down in the record books as an Outstanding Summer!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The best thing
One year ago January 21, I did the second best thing I've ever done for myself. I got out of a toxic relationship with a complete douche bag. Looking back now, I kick myself for getting into it in the first place, let alone letting it last 10 months. What I learned from that experience- there is never a good time to break up with someone. There is always SOMETHING coming up, a birthday, anniversary, holiday, illness, money trouble, car trouble, job trouble... next time, it could be Valentines day, his birthday, our anniversary, the day he fell down and broke his arm and lost his job- but if it's not right, he's gettin the boot.
I also learned that life is too short to go through unhappy.
So one year ago today, February 2, I did the best thing I've ever done for myself and brought lots and lots of Happy to my life. I adopted Floyd. Well, Bro and I did it together, but he's in my name and he likes me better (I feed him more). Its kind of ridiculous if you knew how I felt about animals before, to how I feel about Floyd now. Don't get me wrong, I still don't like your dog or your cat, but I LOVE mine.
For instance, this morning I realized I had dog poop on my jeans when I got to work. It was a very small spot, but regardless, it was poop. On my jeans. Before this last year I would have wigged out, gone home, showered, changed, wondered how the hell I ended up with dog poop on me to begin with... now, I was just glad it wasn't dog poop puke and went on with my day. You haven't lived til your dog is puking up turds in your car. The memory of that evening still makes me queasy.
This last year Floyd and I have gone through some high's- he (very rarely) gets car sick anymore, he doesn't want to eat every dog he meets (just the little ones), he is awesome on a leash (with his gentle leader), he's a great cuddler, he loves to play dress up, he will sit and not eat his food until I tell him it's ok. That's our best accomplishment with him. He was starved when he was brought into the shelter. For him to trust me enough to know he'll get to eat, no matter how long I make him wait... that's amazing to me.
We've also had some lows- he ate my bathroom (including the water hose to the toilet- can we say flood?), he puked dog poop in my car, he got poop on my jeans, my boots, my socks, my bed..., he's got separation anxiety and would tear up the house, poop and piss every time we left if he wasn't crated, he tripped me when we were running and I rolled my ankle because he was an idiot on the leash, he manages to find the one protruding object in the yard and get his line wrapped around it in the rain.
Even though the lows list is longer than the highs, I wouldn't trade him for anything. I hate sounding like such a nerd, but he really is the best thing. I can't wait to see all the highs I can list by next year!
Don't believe the Bull, Adopt a Pit!
I also learned that life is too short to go through unhappy.
So one year ago today, February 2, I did the best thing I've ever done for myself and brought lots and lots of Happy to my life. I adopted Floyd. Well, Bro and I did it together, but he's in my name and he likes me better (I feed him more). Its kind of ridiculous if you knew how I felt about animals before, to how I feel about Floyd now. Don't get me wrong, I still don't like your dog or your cat, but I LOVE mine.
For instance, this morning I realized I had dog poop on my jeans when I got to work. It was a very small spot, but regardless, it was poop. On my jeans. Before this last year I would have wigged out, gone home, showered, changed, wondered how the hell I ended up with dog poop on me to begin with... now, I was just glad it wasn't dog poop puke and went on with my day. You haven't lived til your dog is puking up turds in your car. The memory of that evening still makes me queasy.
This last year Floyd and I have gone through some high's- he (very rarely) gets car sick anymore, he doesn't want to eat every dog he meets (just the little ones), he is awesome on a leash (with his gentle leader), he's a great cuddler, he loves to play dress up, he will sit and not eat his food until I tell him it's ok. That's our best accomplishment with him. He was starved when he was brought into the shelter. For him to trust me enough to know he'll get to eat, no matter how long I make him wait... that's amazing to me.
We've also had some lows- he ate my bathroom (including the water hose to the toilet- can we say flood?), he puked dog poop in my car, he got poop on my jeans, my boots, my socks, my bed..., he's got separation anxiety and would tear up the house, poop and piss every time we left if he wasn't crated, he tripped me when we were running and I rolled my ankle because he was an idiot on the leash, he manages to find the one protruding object in the yard and get his line wrapped around it in the rain.
Even though the lows list is longer than the highs, I wouldn't trade him for anything. I hate sounding like such a nerd, but he really is the best thing. I can't wait to see all the highs I can list by next year!
Don't believe the Bull, Adopt a Pit!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Cosmic Coincidence
So Monday morning I got in my car and there was a penny on the seat. I'm not Superstitious, but I am a LittleStitious, so I picked it up and put it my pocket. I had a really really good day- I even got a tip from a customer for an installation I worked on (which is very rare). Which is weird because I used to live on tips- but whatever. Needless to say, after the good day I had on Monday, I had that penny in my pocket again this morning!
As I was making my long, exhausting, nerve wrecking 3 mile commute to work- Tim McGraw was singing his song, "Live like you were dying" I was thoughtlessly humming along as Tim sang
"I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And man I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I watched an eagle as it was flyin"
I kid you not, just as that lyric was playing, a bald eagle flew over the road in front of me. It was a pretty powerful moment, not something that happens every day... let alone with musical accompaniment!
As I was making my long, exhausting, nerve wrecking 3 mile commute to work- Tim McGraw was singing his song, "Live like you were dying" I was thoughtlessly humming along as Tim sang
"I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
And man I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I watched an eagle as it was flyin"
I kid you not, just as that lyric was playing, a bald eagle flew over the road in front of me. It was a pretty powerful moment, not something that happens every day... let alone with musical accompaniment!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Home Made Bread and My Heart
Hi. I know I've been absent for awhile, but you'll have that sometimes, I guess. Hopefully not so much anymore now that I'm coming to you live from my new laptop! (Thanks Santa!!)
Christmas was amazing this year, I got everything on my list AND THEN SOME! And besides that, I spent a lot of quality time with friends and family.
I plan on posting a lot more often. It'll just be easier now that I've got a laptop again. And I've had a few months to thing of some good stuff to say :)
So the last post I left you with was that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Here's the story. I fell in love. Completely Swept Off My Feet. Yes, those letters are capitalized for a reason. The only problem with being swept off your feet is it hurts when you fall. Really hurts. My brain is able to rationalize everything and I'm pretty ok with it being over. There were signs, things that just didn't add up quite right- so it's a little easier to be ok with. My heart on the other hand, still just misses him.
When I was a kid I went through this whole Laura Ingalls Wilder phase. I read and re-read all the books and watched the Little House on the Prairie tv show faithfully. I was just into it. So I decided to make home made bread, like the Ingalls had to. Mom bought the yeast, I read the directions so carefully, mixing and kneading, forming the dough. It was winter time, so we had the wood burner going- which was perfect because we put the dough next to it so it could be warm and rise correctly. It smelled so good! When the dough had done its thing and rose properly, I brushed the top with melted butter and put the loaf pans in the oven. 45 minutes later the whole house smelled simply amazing The bread looked fantastic all golden brown and perfect. We had butter and jam set out on the table, ready to spread it on the warm bread. Mom cut the first slice, I buttered it and took a bite. It wasn't good. I took a second bite. Yeah, still not good. How could something that smelled so amazing and looked so perfect be so wrong?
I put 2 tablespoons of salt in the dough instead of 2 teaspoons. So essentially it was doomed from the beginning, I just hadn't realized it yet.
Why did I tell you that story? Because that's pretty much how my relationship with Beau was. It looked perfect, it sounded perfect, but when you got down to it- it just wasn't what it was supposed to be.
The good news about the bread was my grandma's mule, Mike, LOVED it. So I just have to find the man that will love my bread- even though it's not as perfect as it looks. And hopefully this time, he won't be a jackass.
Christmas was amazing this year, I got everything on my list AND THEN SOME! And besides that, I spent a lot of quality time with friends and family.
I plan on posting a lot more often. It'll just be easier now that I've got a laptop again. And I've had a few months to thing of some good stuff to say :)
So the last post I left you with was that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Here's the story. I fell in love. Completely Swept Off My Feet. Yes, those letters are capitalized for a reason. The only problem with being swept off your feet is it hurts when you fall. Really hurts. My brain is able to rationalize everything and I'm pretty ok with it being over. There were signs, things that just didn't add up quite right- so it's a little easier to be ok with. My heart on the other hand, still just misses him.
When I was a kid I went through this whole Laura Ingalls Wilder phase. I read and re-read all the books and watched the Little House on the Prairie tv show faithfully. I was just into it. So I decided to make home made bread, like the Ingalls had to. Mom bought the yeast, I read the directions so carefully, mixing and kneading, forming the dough. It was winter time, so we had the wood burner going- which was perfect because we put the dough next to it so it could be warm and rise correctly. It smelled so good! When the dough had done its thing and rose properly, I brushed the top with melted butter and put the loaf pans in the oven. 45 minutes later the whole house smelled simply amazing The bread looked fantastic all golden brown and perfect. We had butter and jam set out on the table, ready to spread it on the warm bread. Mom cut the first slice, I buttered it and took a bite. It wasn't good. I took a second bite. Yeah, still not good. How could something that smelled so amazing and looked so perfect be so wrong?
I put 2 tablespoons of salt in the dough instead of 2 teaspoons. So essentially it was doomed from the beginning, I just hadn't realized it yet.
Why did I tell you that story? Because that's pretty much how my relationship with Beau was. It looked perfect, it sounded perfect, but when you got down to it- it just wasn't what it was supposed to be.
The good news about the bread was my grandma's mule, Mike, LOVED it. So I just have to find the man that will love my bread- even though it's not as perfect as it looks. And hopefully this time, he won't be a jackass.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Life Lesson #37
"If it seems to good to be true, it probably is."
My big regret? I didn't keep Match Man #6's phone number...
My big regret? I didn't keep Match Man #6's phone number...
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sowwy
Sowwy I haven't written in two months- I've been a busy girl!! And I can't really get comfortable in front of my desk top computer... my laptop was awesome. I could just lay in bed and write til my hearts content. So hint, hint, nudge, nudge- Best Buy gift cards for Christmas so I can get myself a new laptop!
So here's what's been going on since the beginning of August! Well, I'm going back to the end of July because that's where the story really starts.
Friday July 30: my cousin Serenade and her friends put together a murder mystery dinner- kind of like a live action game of Clue. Very fun. I had been talking to Match.com Man #6. We wanted to get together that weekend, but I had plans Friday and he had plans Saturday. I told him I was going to a dinner party then drinking and playing flip cup. He was like, well where's the party? So I called him and said if you'd like to come, you're more than welcome- HOWEVER- you have to dress up, it's a 40's themed party, and if you have a problem with gay guys, don't show. My cousin has a few gay friends and I didn't want to be the asshole that brought the asshole to the party, ya know? He had no problems, so we met up for a drink before hand (just to make sure he passed the creeper test-he did) then we headed on to the party. We had a blast. He was fun, sweet, good looking- we just really hit it off. Match.com only took 6 tries to find someone I had real hopes for. I couldn't wait to see him again!
Saturday July 31: A few years ago, I needed cash BAD. I had a check to cash, so I headed to Sky bank where I had an account. I did not have my ID so they wouldn't give me cash. ANY cash. Not even let me deposit most of my check and just have $20 "You're still getting cash, aren't you?" was their direct quote. So I pulled all my money (I say that like I had a lot) and went bank hunting. I walked into Home Savings and Loan in Streetsboro said "I hate those bitches at Sky, they made me cry." And it's been great ever since. My favorite banker, Ta-Ta, is only a little bit older than me and we always chit chat when I go in. We've been myspace and facebook friends and have each others numbers, but we've never gone out before. Well when I deposited my check Friday afternoon Ta-Ta was telling me that her brother in law was trying to set her up with this dude who was having a bonfire Saturday night, she wanted to go, but didn't have anyone to go with her. I didn't have plans, so I said, hey, I'll go with you. That was Friday, come Saturday I really wanted to back out. But I already told her I'd go, so I went. And that's where I met the amazing guy that brought me the flowers from the last post on our first date. We've been dating for about 2 months now. It seems like I've known him forever!
Monday August 2: My new Beau took me on our first date, surprised me with the flowers dyed my favorite color, played "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen- which up til the moment he played it had been my dating anthem, took me to dinner, kicked my butt at putt-putt, then took me to a book store where we each picked out books that meant something to us then swaped them and read each others books. I picked Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawlings, he picked Why We Suck by Denis Leary. 2 months later, he's pretty sure Little Ann and Old Dan are still puppies... maybe someday he'll finish the book and they'll get to grow up. It was the thought that counts!
Tuesday August 3: I called Match Man #6 and told him I had met someone. Beau left for 9 days for work. He works on a drilling rig in Pennsylvania, drilling for natural gas. He usually works 7 days on, 7 days off- but he had to work 9 days because of a mandatory sensitivity training course. FYI the top three most dangerous jobs are 1.) Alsakan Crab Fishing 2.) Coal Mining 3.) Drilling Rigs. Yeah. Awesome.
Friday August 13-Sunday August 15: Camping! 9 of us went down to Mohican River to go camping and tubing, including Beau, Bro, his girl Cutie, my best friend Darla, her boyfriend lets call him Nemo, and some kids we grew up with, JP, Junior and Junior's friend Twin (seriously he looks just like Junior). We had a BLAST Friday night. Everyone got along, no one from the campground bothered us, we were camping by a river with a ton of beer- it was amazing. Saturday we got up and (after an hour detour) went tubing. 6 miles apparently = 4 hours by river. We had beer, we had booze, bring it on! Then about half way through it starts pouring rain, lighting, thunder, wind, the works. Crack open another beer and keep floating. FINALLY we got off the freaking river and headed back to camp. Darla & Nemo's tent was blown over, Jp, Junior & Twins tent was completly flooded, our tent that Beau and I were sharing with Bro and Cutie was half flooded- Bro and Cutie's half. So everyone but Beau and I packed up and headed out that night. We had dry gear, and it had stopped raining so we stuck it out.
Tuesday August 17: The 5th anniversary of my 21st birthday! Beau brought coffee and doughnuts to the shop for me and everyone I worked with. They told me he's a keeper. I said, DUH.
Friday August 20- Sunday August 22: Bubble Gum's Bachelorette Party! We went camping in Presque Isle New York- had a blast. Bubble Gum, Ruby and Ganker lived together in Mantua after high school, during college. I was the un-offical "dude on the couch." We've all been through our ups and downs and all arounds since then. I haven't hung out with all of them in years, so I was a little apprehensive, but we picked up right where we left off. We laughed, drank, ate, talked too much all weekend. Friday we stayed at the campsite and played games and talked, Saturday we tried swimming and laying out but it was overcast and chilly. By 3 it was raining. 2 weekends in a row I went camping and it rained. I was starting to get a complex. We went to the casino Saturday night, none of us really won, but we had a great time. And I saved Bubble Gum's life- she somehow managed to drop her engagement ring and I somehow managed to spot it (I was checking out the floor to see if anyone had dropped any dollars or chips!).
Sunday August 30: Went to a fund raiser Cutie and her mom put on- Rollin for Rescues. We bowled and all the money went to the Berea Animal shelter. Beau came with me, Mom, Bro and met Gram (Mom's Mom) for the first time. She liked him because he gave me a hard time, even though he didn't buckle his seat belt on the way to Cleveland. I won the 50/50 raffle, but I donated it back to the cause. Bro won a bucket of doggie goodies and Gram won 2 baskets of doggie stuff. Floyd is one lucky pooch! The stuff Bro won was doggie clothes- a Browns jersy, an OSU tee-shirt, an OSU sweater and an OSU hat. Floyd LOVES wearing the clothes! One night Bro and I stayed up til almost midnight playing dress up with him- I'll have to post pictures.
Saturday September 4: Went to visit Darla for the first time in a long time! Beau asked what we were doing since he was at work- I told him we were drinking wine and eating icecream. He told me I was a nerd. See why I like him so much?
Sunday September 12: Beau and I went to Mom & Dad's for dinner and so Beau could shoot his new bow with dad. You don't know how relieving it is to have a boyfriend my dad wants to shoot WITH instead of shoot AT.
Monday September 13: Grams (Dad's Mom) made spaghetti dinner for Bro, Cutie, Beau and I for Bro's birthday that was on the 8th. Meeting the second grandma went well- we had a really good time and brought home a ton of left overs.
Wednesday September 15: Beau and I went to Pittsburgh for his favorite musician's concert- Hank Williams the third or Hank 3. He's not my favorite, but it was a fun mid-week trip. And I got to meet one of the guys Beau works with and his wife. Ash and I really hit it off and we all had a really good time- despite waiting for an hour for a cab and being late to the concert then me almost getting in a fight with a Life Size Barbie and Beau ordering seven 7&7's on accident because the bartender couldn't hear what he was saying. It was pretty funny.
Monday September 20: Got a text at 12:30 from Beau saying "there was an incident at work, I got hit with a couple thousand pounds. I think I'm ok, but I'm going to the hospital to get checked out. WIll let you know when I know something." Remember when I said his was the 3rd most dangerous job? Yeah. He was just in the wrong place at the right time. A 2,000 lb cylander hit him in the back and sent him flying off a 10 foot platform where he landed on his head. THANKFULLY he only had 2 cracked ribs, slightly sprianed ankle and bruises from head to toe. That was a bad day for me. He was very lucky to walk away.
Thursday September 23- Sunday Sept. 26: I was on my way to Washington PA where Beau was working. He was getting off work for the week, we were getting a hotel room in town then I was taking him on a surprise weekend get away for his 26th birthday on the 24th. For those of you keeping track, yes, I am 6 weeks older! In conversations we've had since we first met, Beau had told me twice in passing, that he'd alwasy wanted to go to Gettysburg. I have a few friends in the hotel industry, so I made a phone call, got a discounted room and decided to surprise him with a weekend get away. He almsot ruined it because he was being such a baby (stubborn ass would substitute well for baby but I was being nice) about me not telling him where we were going- oh and the whole getting blown up thing almost threw a wrench in the works too. We worked through it though, and his eyes absolutely lit up when I told him Thursday night where we were going. Neither of us had been before (well I guess I was there when I was a kid, but I have no memories of it). Gettysburg deserves its own post, but I will say we had a great weekend.
Friday October 1: Rehersal dinner for Bubble Gum & D-Man's wedding. Since Beau was working, I took Gram as my "plus one". Plus she had made them a really nice afghan and I wanted her to be able to give it to them when it wasn't so hectic like I knew it would be Saturday.
Saturday October 2: Wedding day! Beautiful, emotional, hysterical, long awaited! This, also deserves its own post.
Monday October 4: I came home at lunch and made chicken noodle soup because it's freaking freezing- and my whole house smells amazing. I didn't have any chicken bouillon so I used the seasoning from some ramen noodles (you can take the girl out of college...), along with carrots, zucchini, onion, chicken (duh) red pepper flakes and the ever lovin Garlic Salt (Garlic Salt gets capital letters since its my favorite and I put it in everything I make) Then when I got home I threw in the ramen noodles. It was no joke the best soup I've ever made.
And now, you my friends are caught up on my life for the past 2 months. I've done a lot of laundry, trying to get my room cleaned. Somewhere in there I finished crocheting a blanket I started like 2 winters ago (its awesome). And I've spent a lot of time texting and talking to Beau while he's out of town. The weeks he's gone drag and drag, the weeks he's home just seem to fly.
Oh and Floyd's doing great- we'll probably have to put his OSU sweater on him since it's getting so cold! We love having a pit bull that loves to wear sweaters. Even my dog's a nerd! Though he did wake me up last week, crying, because he had his head stuck between the bars of his cage at 7:15am. Apparently he didn't want to be in his cage anymore. I had to call Bro home from work with a pair of wire clippers to cut him out. Bonehead.
Oh well, that's it. More soon. And pictures from the past two months too! PINKIE SWEAR!
So here's what's been going on since the beginning of August! Well, I'm going back to the end of July because that's where the story really starts.
Friday July 30: my cousin Serenade and her friends put together a murder mystery dinner- kind of like a live action game of Clue. Very fun. I had been talking to Match.com Man #6. We wanted to get together that weekend, but I had plans Friday and he had plans Saturday. I told him I was going to a dinner party then drinking and playing flip cup. He was like, well where's the party? So I called him and said if you'd like to come, you're more than welcome- HOWEVER- you have to dress up, it's a 40's themed party, and if you have a problem with gay guys, don't show. My cousin has a few gay friends and I didn't want to be the asshole that brought the asshole to the party, ya know? He had no problems, so we met up for a drink before hand (just to make sure he passed the creeper test-he did) then we headed on to the party. We had a blast. He was fun, sweet, good looking- we just really hit it off. Match.com only took 6 tries to find someone I had real hopes for. I couldn't wait to see him again!
Saturday July 31: A few years ago, I needed cash BAD. I had a check to cash, so I headed to Sky bank where I had an account. I did not have my ID so they wouldn't give me cash. ANY cash. Not even let me deposit most of my check and just have $20 "You're still getting cash, aren't you?" was their direct quote. So I pulled all my money (I say that like I had a lot) and went bank hunting. I walked into Home Savings and Loan in Streetsboro said "I hate those bitches at Sky, they made me cry." And it's been great ever since. My favorite banker, Ta-Ta, is only a little bit older than me and we always chit chat when I go in. We've been myspace and facebook friends and have each others numbers, but we've never gone out before. Well when I deposited my check Friday afternoon Ta-Ta was telling me that her brother in law was trying to set her up with this dude who was having a bonfire Saturday night, she wanted to go, but didn't have anyone to go with her. I didn't have plans, so I said, hey, I'll go with you. That was Friday, come Saturday I really wanted to back out. But I already told her I'd go, so I went. And that's where I met the amazing guy that brought me the flowers from the last post on our first date. We've been dating for about 2 months now. It seems like I've known him forever!
Monday August 2: My new Beau took me on our first date, surprised me with the flowers dyed my favorite color, played "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen- which up til the moment he played it had been my dating anthem, took me to dinner, kicked my butt at putt-putt, then took me to a book store where we each picked out books that meant something to us then swaped them and read each others books. I picked Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawlings, he picked Why We Suck by Denis Leary. 2 months later, he's pretty sure Little Ann and Old Dan are still puppies... maybe someday he'll finish the book and they'll get to grow up. It was the thought that counts!
Tuesday August 3: I called Match Man #6 and told him I had met someone. Beau left for 9 days for work. He works on a drilling rig in Pennsylvania, drilling for natural gas. He usually works 7 days on, 7 days off- but he had to work 9 days because of a mandatory sensitivity training course. FYI the top three most dangerous jobs are 1.) Alsakan Crab Fishing 2.) Coal Mining 3.) Drilling Rigs. Yeah. Awesome.
Friday August 13-Sunday August 15: Camping! 9 of us went down to Mohican River to go camping and tubing, including Beau, Bro, his girl Cutie, my best friend Darla, her boyfriend lets call him Nemo, and some kids we grew up with, JP, Junior and Junior's friend Twin (seriously he looks just like Junior). We had a BLAST Friday night. Everyone got along, no one from the campground bothered us, we were camping by a river with a ton of beer- it was amazing. Saturday we got up and (after an hour detour) went tubing. 6 miles apparently = 4 hours by river. We had beer, we had booze, bring it on! Then about half way through it starts pouring rain, lighting, thunder, wind, the works. Crack open another beer and keep floating. FINALLY we got off the freaking river and headed back to camp. Darla & Nemo's tent was blown over, Jp, Junior & Twins tent was completly flooded, our tent that Beau and I were sharing with Bro and Cutie was half flooded- Bro and Cutie's half. So everyone but Beau and I packed up and headed out that night. We had dry gear, and it had stopped raining so we stuck it out.
Tuesday August 17: The 5th anniversary of my 21st birthday! Beau brought coffee and doughnuts to the shop for me and everyone I worked with. They told me he's a keeper. I said, DUH.
Friday August 20- Sunday August 22: Bubble Gum's Bachelorette Party! We went camping in Presque Isle New York- had a blast. Bubble Gum, Ruby and Ganker lived together in Mantua after high school, during college. I was the un-offical "dude on the couch." We've all been through our ups and downs and all arounds since then. I haven't hung out with all of them in years, so I was a little apprehensive, but we picked up right where we left off. We laughed, drank, ate, talked too much all weekend. Friday we stayed at the campsite and played games and talked, Saturday we tried swimming and laying out but it was overcast and chilly. By 3 it was raining. 2 weekends in a row I went camping and it rained. I was starting to get a complex. We went to the casino Saturday night, none of us really won, but we had a great time. And I saved Bubble Gum's life- she somehow managed to drop her engagement ring and I somehow managed to spot it (I was checking out the floor to see if anyone had dropped any dollars or chips!).
Sunday August 30: Went to a fund raiser Cutie and her mom put on- Rollin for Rescues. We bowled and all the money went to the Berea Animal shelter. Beau came with me, Mom, Bro and met Gram (Mom's Mom) for the first time. She liked him because he gave me a hard time, even though he didn't buckle his seat belt on the way to Cleveland. I won the 50/50 raffle, but I donated it back to the cause. Bro won a bucket of doggie goodies and Gram won 2 baskets of doggie stuff. Floyd is one lucky pooch! The stuff Bro won was doggie clothes- a Browns jersy, an OSU tee-shirt, an OSU sweater and an OSU hat. Floyd LOVES wearing the clothes! One night Bro and I stayed up til almost midnight playing dress up with him- I'll have to post pictures.
Saturday September 4: Went to visit Darla for the first time in a long time! Beau asked what we were doing since he was at work- I told him we were drinking wine and eating icecream. He told me I was a nerd. See why I like him so much?
Sunday September 12: Beau and I went to Mom & Dad's for dinner and so Beau could shoot his new bow with dad. You don't know how relieving it is to have a boyfriend my dad wants to shoot WITH instead of shoot AT.
Monday September 13: Grams (Dad's Mom) made spaghetti dinner for Bro, Cutie, Beau and I for Bro's birthday that was on the 8th. Meeting the second grandma went well- we had a really good time and brought home a ton of left overs.
Wednesday September 15: Beau and I went to Pittsburgh for his favorite musician's concert- Hank Williams the third or Hank 3. He's not my favorite, but it was a fun mid-week trip. And I got to meet one of the guys Beau works with and his wife. Ash and I really hit it off and we all had a really good time- despite waiting for an hour for a cab and being late to the concert then me almost getting in a fight with a Life Size Barbie and Beau ordering seven 7&7's on accident because the bartender couldn't hear what he was saying. It was pretty funny.
Monday September 20: Got a text at 12:30 from Beau saying "there was an incident at work, I got hit with a couple thousand pounds. I think I'm ok, but I'm going to the hospital to get checked out. WIll let you know when I know something." Remember when I said his was the 3rd most dangerous job? Yeah. He was just in the wrong place at the right time. A 2,000 lb cylander hit him in the back and sent him flying off a 10 foot platform where he landed on his head. THANKFULLY he only had 2 cracked ribs, slightly sprianed ankle and bruises from head to toe. That was a bad day for me. He was very lucky to walk away.
Thursday September 23- Sunday Sept. 26: I was on my way to Washington PA where Beau was working. He was getting off work for the week, we were getting a hotel room in town then I was taking him on a surprise weekend get away for his 26th birthday on the 24th. For those of you keeping track, yes, I am 6 weeks older! In conversations we've had since we first met, Beau had told me twice in passing, that he'd alwasy wanted to go to Gettysburg. I have a few friends in the hotel industry, so I made a phone call, got a discounted room and decided to surprise him with a weekend get away. He almsot ruined it because he was being such a baby (stubborn ass would substitute well for baby but I was being nice) about me not telling him where we were going- oh and the whole getting blown up thing almost threw a wrench in the works too. We worked through it though, and his eyes absolutely lit up when I told him Thursday night where we were going. Neither of us had been before (well I guess I was there when I was a kid, but I have no memories of it). Gettysburg deserves its own post, but I will say we had a great weekend.
Friday October 1: Rehersal dinner for Bubble Gum & D-Man's wedding. Since Beau was working, I took Gram as my "plus one". Plus she had made them a really nice afghan and I wanted her to be able to give it to them when it wasn't so hectic like I knew it would be Saturday.
Saturday October 2: Wedding day! Beautiful, emotional, hysterical, long awaited! This, also deserves its own post.
Monday October 4: I came home at lunch and made chicken noodle soup because it's freaking freezing- and my whole house smells amazing. I didn't have any chicken bouillon so I used the seasoning from some ramen noodles (you can take the girl out of college...), along with carrots, zucchini, onion, chicken (duh) red pepper flakes and the ever lovin Garlic Salt (Garlic Salt gets capital letters since its my favorite and I put it in everything I make) Then when I got home I threw in the ramen noodles. It was no joke the best soup I've ever made.
And now, you my friends are caught up on my life for the past 2 months. I've done a lot of laundry, trying to get my room cleaned. Somewhere in there I finished crocheting a blanket I started like 2 winters ago (its awesome). And I've spent a lot of time texting and talking to Beau while he's out of town. The weeks he's gone drag and drag, the weeks he's home just seem to fly.
Oh and Floyd's doing great- we'll probably have to put his OSU sweater on him since it's getting so cold! We love having a pit bull that loves to wear sweaters. Even my dog's a nerd! Though he did wake me up last week, crying, because he had his head stuck between the bars of his cage at 7:15am. Apparently he didn't want to be in his cage anymore. I had to call Bro home from work with a pair of wire clippers to cut him out. Bonehead.
Oh well, that's it. More soon. And pictures from the past two months too! PINKIE SWEAR!
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