Mood Boost

I haven't had anything profound or even really all that interesting in my life other than the law suit which has put a damper on everything lately. I usually LOVE Thanksgiving, but even that was not as festive as it usually is (the weather didn't help either). So to put things in perspective and give my mood a boost, I've created a short list of things I feel really grateful for right now.

1. My Hubby. He's cute, he's funny, he's attentive. And he gives me fabulous gifts for my birthday (just an added bonus).
2. My family. Without my family I really think I'd need to be committed to a mental institution. They always seem to know right when you need a little extra love.
3. My friends. They keep me grounded. They keep me laughing. They keep things in perspective
4. My Grandma. She's still here dispite "coding" while having surgery. Miracle of Miracles! I am so happy that she'll be around for another Christmas.
5. My hubby's Grandma. She had a REALLY rough year with a battle with cancer at the age of 80!! She came through like a champ. She's cancer free and for that I'm extremely grateful.
6. I have a job. Many around here don't. Not only do I have a job, I have a job I don't have commute to.
7. My niece. Natalie brings me such joy. I love the pictures I get on a daily basis (thank God for digital pics!). They make a bad day seem better.
8. My kitties. I love them and they keep me warm at night.

So that's my short list. I could go on and on. You might think this is a kiss-up attempt at the holidays. For those who might think that, you don't know me very well. I truely mean the things I said here.

Happy Freakin' Birthday to Me

Monday was my twenty-ninth birthday. I welcomed the day in with open arms looking forward to not only what the day might bring but this coming year. My husband started the day off by giving the most beautiful necklace. (us girls love a pretty trinket!) Work was nice. Lunch and cake were brought in and funny card.

But that is where the pleasant day ended. Things got ugly. Real quick.

I was notified by my car insurance company that I was being sued in small claims court for bodily injury for an accident that occurred two years ago. TWO YEARS AGO. Let me repeat. TWO YEARS AGO. I can barely remember what happened last week let alone two years ago!!!

This sleezy lawyer-brother of hers has been trying to locate me by calling my friends and family posing as a long lost friend of mine from highschool. The ends that people will go to just amazes me. He has to locate me before he can serve me with the papers to appear in court.

This whole ordeal has me entirely stressed out. I don't have the means to fly back to California, pay for a hotel, a car, etc. because someone is angry about an accident that happened TWO YEARS AGO. Let me repeat TWO YEARS AGO. Not to mention that I don't have any vacation time at my new job so all this would be unpaid time off. It's crap.

There are some things about "the case" that have me realing in anger. I won't get into them but basically this lady is a liar. There is nothing in the world that crawls under my skin more than a freakin' liar. Makes me want to fight harder to prove her wrong because A) all the grief that they are putting me through, B) the lies being told to my friends and family, and C) she's lying about what happened to begin with. MONEY GRUBBING WHORES.

People wonder why their car insurance costs so much. It's people like this. People that abuse the system. People who try to get something from nothing when it shouldn't be theirs to begin with.

The only positive part is that no matter what the verdict is in court, the insurance company has to pay in the long run. So I may be out my travel, but at least I'm not out $5,000. (that's the max in Cali until the end of the year that you can get in small claims...but watch out, it's been signed in to law that the new amount will be $7,500!)

I'll let you know how this unfolds. For now I'm not going to devulge much more for fear of the wrong people reading this.

College for Everyone

http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/stories/news/20051110_kz_tuition.html

Last night it was announced on the news that every child that attends a Kalamazoo Public School will have the chance to go to college with all or part of her/his tuition paid for. Do you know how amazing this announcement is?

Yes there are some stipulations. If you only attend a Kalamazoo Public school for 2 years, then only a portion of your tuition will be paid for. The college they attend can be any state school in Michigan either 2 year or 4 year.

I really am in awe of this. This could really change the dynamic of the community forever. Public education will change with the thought of every child having an opportunity. The focus doesn't have to be on testing for state funding, but rather getting every child college prep bound. The opportunity set before these children truly is one where you can say anything is possible and reach for the stars.

Not only the schools themselves, but the community. It will be changed forever. It will be a desirable place to live again. People will want to live within the Kalamazoo Public School district.

For the past few years, industry in Kalamazoo has dwindled. Businesses have pulled out and Kalamazoo was looked at as a dying community. People who were moving to the area where moving outside the district to more desirable communities such as Comstock, Mattawan and Portage.

The pure generosity of these donors is pretty wicked-cool. They wish to remain anonymous which also is very cool. They want none of the joy associated with this other than the satisfaction of knowing that children are taking this opportunity and running with it.

Inappropriate Behavior in the Workplace

**Let me preface this with the word porn will be used in this post, but no porn will actually be shown**

I work in a pretty conservative office. It is predominately women. We have two men in the office. And it is an accounting firm...nuff said on the conservative nature of my office. You get the picture.

Today Ms. L came over to me and said "You've got to go see what is on the printer. Mr. J printed porn out. I can't believe it."

So I immediately walk to the PUBLIC printer and pull off what is on top. Sure enough a naked woman is staring at me in all her double DD glory. I really couldn't believe it. This was the work place. What the hell was he thinking.

Anyways, I tattled as did Ms. L.

Did Mr. J really think he could get away with this? It was like he was asking to get caught just to see what would happen. Why would you print to a public printer. And why wasn't he wasn't standing next to the printer to grab it/her.

Well he knew he was caught before the boss said anything to him. He approached her with it and promptly left the building saying he was embarrassed. Hell yeah you better be embarrassed!!! You were looking at porn at work. What were you thinkin'!?!

I'm curious to see if he apologizes to the two of us for scalding our eyes with that horrible picture.

Porn has it's place just not in our workplace.

Tricks or Treats

Halloween. One of my most favorite times of the year. I love handing out treats to all the little goblins that come to the door. I love the costumes. I love the smell of leaves in the air. I love the anticipation of the kids as they come to door wondering what kind of goodies they will get. Yes, Halloween.

We had a slight drizzle here in Holland but the air was warm for the end of October. I can remember many Halloweens where it was down right bitter out. The air smelled amazing outside.

This year we had a TON of tricker-or-treaters. I bought bags and bags of candy (7 big bags). I was stingey handing it out. One piece = one child. Last year I ran out and I didn't want to have that happen again. I had one rude highschooler call me out on my stinginess telling me "Only one piece, you should by more candy lady so you aren't so stingy." Nice. I of course didn't say anything to the kid as he was walking away for fear of getting T-P'd or something since it is the day for tricks to be played. I wanted to tell him "I didn't HAVE to give you anything at all you spoiled little brat. Didn't your mama teach you any manners?." Anyhoo....

For the most part the kids were polite, said thank you and looked great in their costumes. I'm sad that the day has passed already.

I lied

I lied. Our problems with SBC aren't over yet. More to come one that...

Our problem appears to be sporadic at best, which for DSL isn't suppose to happen because you don't share your bandwidth like you do with cable. But apparently something is wrong. They are coming out to test the line on Friday, hopefully.

I'll try to post when I can. Until then...

Check out my Mom's blog KazooHoosier. There's a link on the right.

Contemplating the Past

So I have a new job. I've been working there for 3 weeks now. So far, so good. Today I started on the monsterous task of organizing my tax season work load. You see, we do 3000+ tax returns. That's a lot.

As I'm inputting some data I came across a familiar name. I will use the his made up nickname, BCR. Good ole BCR.

I started to panic when I saw his name on this list. Could it be? I hope not, but it could be. This is one person I really hope I'd never see again.

I had to do a little investigating about this. I opened up the tax return to look at the birthdate. Yahoooo! Not BCR! Some old man. Yippeee.

It still amazes me that seeing his name sent me into a bit a panic. He isn't someone I want to see. Our relationship (if you can call it that) was anything but fun. We yelled, we fought, we screamed. We were in college and we were young. He had a temper and a "wandering eyes."...

Funny how after all these years, little things like this can cause a response you'd never expect?

I'm back!

After a week of my husband trying to figure out what was wrong with our internet, we seem to be back up and running. I think my husband ended up replacing our dsl modem, but I'm not really sure. I'm just glad to be back at full force.

I tried to write a couple of crafty posts last week but the darn thing kept timing out. It's frustrating when you think you have a post just how you like it and your computer/internet doesn't cooperate with you.

Needless to say, nothing too exciting happening over here. My life hasn't changed much.

We are experiencing fall in full affect now. I love it. The colors are awesome. I'm hoping to get some pics this coming weekend because we are just about at "peak color" according to the news report. Peak color. How awesome. Unfortunately after "peak color" we get the shower of leaves in the yard. Much raking and leaf blowing to come. Last year we had soooooo many bags of leaves. I couldn't believe it. This year we are staying on top of it so far. So hopefully that will help.

(okay I'm gonna have to post this now--my cat is licking the computer monitor! Yikes!)

Internet Probs

Damn that SBC!! We've been having internet problems. Sorry for my absence. Once it is cleared up I will write again. Until then, I'm not comfortable posting from work.

I'll write soon.

Cards Anyone?

I've been away from blogging for a bit. Life has been going fast. Every weekend there has been something to do. People to see. Places to go. Cards to play.

This past weekend we had a wonderful Saturday celebrating a friends birthday. We had a delicious meal at one of Kalamazoo's finer dining establishments and a couple of delicious drinks. Nobody seemed to be up for the raucous times we usually are so we went back to the birthday boy's abode to play Euchre.

Euchre is my favorite card game. I am a highly competitive person and this game is usually fast and competitive. I wasted many a college night playing cards instead of studying. I think it is essential to learn this game if going to school Michigan.

We laid the ground the rules as screw the dealer and no bottoms. (you would understand this if you have played Euchre) Anyways, birthday boy and his lady skunked hubby and I in the first game. It was embarrassing. Birthday boy really started with the table talk after that. He thought he was all that and more...until we won the second game. Now the true competitiveness came out. The game wasn't going fast enough for me. I was thinking too much...I made a couple of mistakes. The score was tied up. Birthday boy was talking trash. Whomever won the hand won the game...and the tournament (so to speak). Thankfully, the gods were in our favor.

I love a good game of cards. Anyone want to play?

Seasons-They Are a Changin'

Eventhough today felt like a warm summer day, the trees are telling me that the autumn weather is on its way. At lunch today I drove down to Lake Michigan to watch the waves crash in and catch that last little bit of summer.

I was pleasantly surprised that on the way home today there was a beautiful red, orange, yellow and green canopy over the roads. Fall is the most gorgeous time of year here. At least I think it is.

With the change in the weather also comes change in my life. Last week I accepted a new job and gave notice at my old one. Today was actually my last day of work there. It feels kind of weird. I'm excited to start my new job. I went from a 40 minute commute to a 5 minute. Can't beat that with a stick. Yes, the work is similar to what I was doing before, but I will have more responsibility and a fancy-shmanzy job title. Plus, hardly any miles put on the new car...or gas for that matter. I figure I'm saving in gas alone damn near $200 a month...that's a lot of $$$$.

So times, they are a changin'. Right along with the seasons.

Mixed Emotions

I'm very saddened over hurricane Katrina and what it has done to our country right now. Not only am I saddened for the victums, those poor innocent people who were completely devasted by this storm, but I'm saddened by our government.

I really don't care who's to blame for the relief effort not happening fast enough. Finger pointing should come later, much later. Let's help people first and figure out who's to blame once these cities are rebuilt. That's the time to learn from this. Right now. Help. Help. Help.

I was saddened to see that this was our Prez's first visit on the ground of this diaster. He should be inspiring people by getting in the thick of it; not cowering away.

I am happy to see how much money the Red Cross and other organizations have raised to help the people of the gulf region. We are a generous folk when it comes to helping our own. I have two to three bags of clothes to donate if they'll take them. I just have to figure out where to drop them off at.

Anyways, I do hope that we rebuild the Gulf region and are stronger because of it. I hope we learn from our mistakes and that the next time a natural disaster is on the way that we are more proactive. I hope that all those families find their love ones. I pray for us.

Fun, Sun, & Family

I had an absolutely wonderful time with my family this weekend at the lake. My parents, my sister, her husband and my niece all came up to the outlaws' beach house for some fun in the sun.

It was the first time (and probably the last this year) that my fam was able to enjoy Lake Michigan this year. We had a beautiful day. The water was a bit chilly, but by Lake Michigan standards it was pretty warm.

After the day in the sun we did some burgers and stuff for din-din. I'm so glad I moved closer to my family so I can have moments like these.

Here's a pic of my niece from the weekend sporting her new shades.

Prizes

Sunday night after a long afternoon of lounging by the lake, Hubby and I went to visit some friends of ours. Mr. & Mrs. G have a little girl that turns 3 today. She is a very smart and lucky girl. She was born 3 months prematurely and has suffered from some physical ailments since birth due to lack of oxygen during childbirth.

It has been a blessing to watch her grow up. Baby G starts preschool in a couple of weeks and is very excited about the prospect of going to school like the big kids. She doesn't seem the least bit shy or scared about the situation before her.

Somewhere in the middle of our visit with the G's, baby G asked if we had brought her a prize. I kind of laughed at her and said "Your birthday isn't until Wednesday. You'll get your prize then." Mrs. G said something like "Baby G, they didn't bring prizes with them." Baby G started to get upset that we hadn't brought her a prize. My thoughts of course are, is it a prerequisit to bring a prize to visit with the G's?

But what happened next has really gotten me a thinkin'...Mrs. G went and got a nicely wrapped prize, handed it to me from behind her back and whispered, you can give this to her. ???? Huh???? So I did as I was instructed.

I have been reflecting on that moment for a couple of days now. Apparently so has my husband. As we sat down to feast on our evening meal last night he looked at me and sad "If we have kids, they will not be asking the company for prizes. They will get a strong repremand from me if they ever do anything like that. It is unacceptable."

I agree. I may not have kids, but I do know that this little girl can manipulate her parents already at the tender age of 3. Feeding into behaviors like this only encourage it. I wouldn't have been embarrassed if they had addressed the situation in front of us. I actually would have liked to observe it. I do know that kids need to be disapplined in the moment when they are very young. They won't put the two situations together immediately unless you connect that behavior for them.

Anyways, I would be embarrassed if my kids started asking everyone for prizes. Greedy bastards.

American?

I believe that I am an American. Last I checked I was born in Michigan. My parents are both residents of the US. Thus, I am an American. I'm so American I even vote!!

Tonight on the evening news someone said "if you don't support the war you aren't American." What does that mean??? If I don't agree with the war, someones gonna come and rip up my citizenship? This is just stupid.

I don't agree with the war. I live in a gray area. I don't believe that our men and women should be fighting for the freedom of people abroad when we have our own problems here on US soil. I'm not saying I don't support the troops. (here is the gray area) I believe that all men and women who give there lives in the service of our great nation should be respected and honored. I wouldn't want that job and I'm glad that there are people that do. Therefore, I support our troops, but I don't support the cause.

I'm still baffled by the whole "not being an American" comment. Does this mean if I disagree with the Prez in any way, I'm not an American?

Last I checked our country was founded by people that questioned the status quo. That weren't statisfied with the way things were being run. I think that our founding fathers were about as American as they come. We are suppose to question our leaders. It more or less says so in the first amendment of the constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

So, yes I'm still an American eventhough I don't agree with George W. I'll be an American today, tomorrow, and forever. And I can question anything I want. And I don't always have to agree.

A beach is a beach

There are beach cities all over the US. East coast, west coast, and what I like to call "the other west coast"--that's right, the other west coast baby. I'm talking about West Michigan...and all it's glorious beaches along Lake Michigan.

This summer we were invaded with our fair share of tourists. Tourists from other midwestern cities that come to escape the hussle and bussle of city life for a quiet beach community. I don't mind the tourists too much. They keep the economy going around here. They keep the bars happenin'.

Recently I had a conversation with someone and we were discussing that how if you didn't know that Grand Haven was in Michigan the beach could have been on any of the coasts in the US, heck it could have even been in Rhode Island. It is complete with it's light house on the end of a pier. I love it. I think the view is gorgeous.

I have lived in on other coastlines. I love the crash of waves from the Pacific Ocean. I love the salty smell in the air.

Sure Lake Michigan has its down falls, but I still love it. I can still hear the crash of waves along the shoreline. The air is clean and the water seems clean. There are dunes to climb, waves to jump, and sun to catch. Yes sometimes the lake is cold...but it did get into the 70's this summer which is very nice on a hot day.

With that I must say, I don't regret leaving sunny So Cal for Michigan. I still have my beach. I still have my sand.

New Car Smell

So I bit the bullet and bought a new car last night. I'm not all that sad to see my Saturn go. But I am, however, excited to drive my new car. The Saturn was a great car but had seen better days. I'm just glad I didn't have to get that cracked windshield fixed.

Here are some pics. So far, I love it.

Thoughtfulness

This past weekend hubby and I visited with father-outlaw and his brother before he returned to California. I suggested that we take dinner with us knowing that they had probably cleaned out most of the fridge. So before leaving our house for the beach house we packed up all the fixins for spaghetti (garlic bread and salad included).

We visited for a while and then hubby and I started making dinner. Hubby commented that "This was all Jenn's doing. She's so thoughtful." Father-outlaw responded with "We could all learn a bit from her."

Damn right. That's because I think of other people besides myself. Ya'll could learn a thing or two.

Random Acts of Violence

I have a difficult time understanding acts of violence. How can people hate so much that they must inflict violence against others?

This past weekend my sister had her car vandalized. Her back window was smashed in and her back bumper dinged up. Nothing from her car was actually stolen. So what's the point of that? That's break in the window and not take anything. Hello? There were CD's and shit in there. Basically whoever did this just felt like destroying someone elses property for shits and grins. Pointless. I guess I could just understand it better if something was stolen. Then the criminals at least had a point to breaking in; they wanted someone elses shit. But no, these criminals just felt like busting up some stuff.

I'm sorry. I just don't get this random act of violence. Just like I don't get murder, rape, and hate crimes. What's the point. You really hate someone enough that you feel you have the right to mess them up? (yes, I know I already said this, but I really don't get it) Seriously, I have never hated anyone enough to even think of these types of things.

Well, at least my sis is okay and she wasn't in the car with her baby when this happened.

Wanted: Lack of Motivation

The months of July and beginning of August have been busy. Insanely busy. Although I did manage to finish the Harry Potter book, not much else has been done purely for myself.

I must say the tiling project is done, thankfully. And most of the family is gone; only papa-outlaw remains.

Eventhough this weekend I went to the beach twice (I even wore sunscreen this time), neither time was all that relaxing. Saturday was spent with the outlaws before mom-outlaw left to go back to Cali. Beach and the outlaws just isn't relaxing, despite the atmosphere being about as laid back as can be. After a few hours down by the water, we headed up to the homestead to cook dinner for the outlaws at their house. More work if you ask me.

Sunday we were at the beach again, this time with friends and their adorable daughter. Eventhough she is adorable, she is still work. A 3-year old at the beach is work no matter how you slice-or-dice it.

So at the end of my weekend, I was exhausted. I needed a weekend from my weekend.

Come Monday night, I had nothing to do. No plans. Housework could wait a day. I lack any and all motivation right now to do anything except recooperate from company and stress.

If anyone finds my motivation, please hold on to it for a while. I'm not ready to be motivated. I don't want to be motivated. I want to go drink a cold Newcastle on my newly tiled patio and then go to bed early...actually, I think I might just go do that now.