Two Hundred and Forty Five

Posts!

I started to type a post yesterday but got insanely busy at work and afterwards with all the car shuffling and what not.

Both of our cars had to go in for repairs at the same freaking time... You'd think by having two vehicles the odds of this occurring are pretty slim... But noooooo!

It all started with Ricky (the truck) last week. I noticed that he kept going from 2-Hi to Auto 4WD all on his own. I guess I should mention that Ricky has on the fly push button 4WD. It got to the point where I couldn't get him out of Auto 4WD and he began to switch over to 4-Hi when the urge arose. In parking lots (like while trying to turn into a space) Ricky would kick over to 4-Lo. This was absolutely not necessary since I only drive on pavement. Yea, good times. We decided he needed to go to a shop for service, knowing to wait could mean much more damage to the 4WD system depending on the issue or that he could potentially just "break down."

We agreed that Friday I would leave work early to take Ricky in and I would drive the car to and from work, along with driving Collin to the Max station (and picking him up of course!). I noticed on my way to work (while stopped at 198th and TV Hwy) that there was the slightest bit of smoke coming out from under Lucy's hood.... NOT A GOOD SIGN... We knew that her seals needed replacing (instances of some blue smoke coming out of the tail pipe. As soon as I got to work I text Collin and said Lucy HAD to go in now, and about the smoke.

We both know enough about cars that we are confident we are looking at new seals and what not for Lucy, which is not cheap by any means... But it's better to get it repaired now while it's just wisps of smoke here and there and not billowing clouds accompanied by any "banging" or "knocking" sounds.

We got Ricky in, and since the service center we went to didn't have a loaner program we rented a cute Nissan Versa for the weekend (with our AAA discount it was just over $15.00 a day). We got Lucy scheduled to be dropped off Monday (last) night at the Beaverton Toyota Service Center, and they DO have a loaner program. We planned on taking Lucy in, picking up the loaner, going to fill up the rental, returning the rental, and then going home... As things tend to, that plan blew up in our faces.

Collin got stuck on a call and left work almost a half hour late. Then his train was delayed five minutes. By the time I collected him from the Max station I had to go fill up the rental and get it returned so it wasn't late. So , Collin had to take Lucy to the service place on his own and then come pick me up... It was great fun hanging out at the Hillsboro Airport for over a half hour.... Yea... LOADS OF FUN....

But, I must admit, Beaverton Toyota takes care of their customers and (depending on the rest of this experience) I totally see myself using them in the future. Not only were they really cool (according to Collin), like to the point that the tech was excited to work on Lucy (she is technically a classic by age), but they gave us a super sweet 2011 Rav4 LTD while they fix Lucy.

Ricky should be done and fixed, and we will be picking him up tonight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We did pick him up! And he is all better and it was fifteen dollars less than they quoted! Yay! He drives perfectly now. They did suggest the we do a fluid flush on the transmission, power steering, and cooling; we will do so in a few months. They also noted a slight leak in the power steering pump but it is not an emergent issue. This repair set us back four hundred and ninety dollars. Lucy, we know, will be much much more than that. The repairs are necessary though and cheaper than a new car (or used), and I happen to be very attached to our cars... 


Well, I am missing the hockey game and I should probably pay dinner some more attention than I currently am. Spicy teriyaki stir fry! Yum!

Do They Have RadioShack In Sweden?

Today has rapidly become a day where I wish I had stayed in my nice warm, safe bed...

It hasn't been a "bad" day really... Just a stupid and frustrating one. It was like on stupid person after the other wanted to call in today. Then, maybe because I was so flustered with the stupid people and stupid things I found, I started making a couple stupid little mistakes. Nothing big. And I have fixed all that were mine...

What kills me the most is that through the course of the day, while helping all the idiots, I have found a grip of other stupid things that I will have to deal with....

There are not enough hours in the day.

That's fine, I am letting it all go.

The maintenance dude is coming to fix our alarm system, I am going to go for a walk or attempt gaining access to the fitness center again, make dinner (orange chicken, broccoli, and brown rice. Yum!), and then we are going to the store for our weekly perishables. It will be a great evening...

Since it is raining I am hoping we can work out in the fitness center.... If not oh well, we went walking in a downpour on Sunday... Well, it turned into a downpour... It was actually kind of sunny when we first left for that particular walk....

Two more days until the weekend! We are going to see my dad and take him out to lunch. Try and get his mind off of some stuff he is dealing with. Plus, I get to see my niece and nephew and sister. And then the ultimate added bonus: I get to see K!! Which is good because I was starting to have withdrawals! It has been almost three weeks since I saw her!

Yea, lots of stuff going on... 

The title is a serious question from work today... I'd like to think that they do...

Collin is trying to sabotage my grocery list by throwing random nonsensical stuff in the wrong place on the list!!! (Have I mentioned I write my grocery lists based on the lay out of the store I plan to shop at? Yea... I'm special.)


Dinner awaits!

Ah! He Is Home Early

I forgot how addicting walking/working out in general is for me... I have been rather lax about it since the fall... But since the move I had been trying to get back into a regular workout schedule. I love it, and I find myself day dreaming about it... Weird, right? I imagine it is not unlike the way a drug addict feels when they are thinking about getting their next fix. I just know that I crave it.

I have always been a big girl, for as long as I can remember. Bear with me on this next part because this is where it really gets crazy: I feel like there is a runner trying to claw her way out. I know I am not quite there but I hope to be, and know that I will be. I am pretty sure I will be joining a run/walk group in the near future.

I know that I have already come a LOONNNNNNGGGG way from where I was at my worst, and I still have a LOOOONG way to go. Some day, hopefully soon, I will be comfortable enough share just how bad the "worst" was for me...

Anyway, let's steer clear of that dark patch for now....

I can't wait for Collin to get home so we can go for our walk. (But I will) Tomorrow I will probably start walking on the treadmill or elliptical in the fitness center when I get home and then we can go for a walk on top of that or Collin can come and work out in the fitness center. I attempted to do this yesterday and the key that was issued to us didn't work.... Like, it wasn't even the right style of key... I figure we will deal with it tomorrow...  Tonight I just want to walk through the park area and then watch the hockey game. Plus it's looking pretty nice outside right now, and I needs my vitamin D.

Oh, back to the walking/running group I am planning on joining. Collin's best friend and his wife are part of it (so Collin wants to do it too!). Since joining the wife has lost seventy pounds, she runs six to seven miles on Saturdays, and she is training for a 10k in June or July and a half marathon in September. She is really good inspiration for me. I want to get to that point, and I know I have it in me. Plus then I will have a running buddy other than just Collin (though he has been a really good work out buddy all these years).

I was going to add more but Collin is home now and I am totally distracted and derailed from typing any more on here... I will say this (since I have ten minutes until the potatoes are done anyways): Crap... I forgot... Hmm... Maybe I will post again later during the game...

WALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALKWALK


Now I know what puppies think when you grab their leash off the hook.... LOL!!!

This One Was A Two Parter...

Back in action.

Sunday night we watched our Netflix movie. It was called "Mirrors" with Keifer Sutherland... We were sadly disappointed in the movie. We had expected it to be halfway freakish or something... It ended up being rather predictable but (and maybe this is because we watched the directors cut) with one of those "M Night Shimalyan" (forgive the spelling) -esque twists at the end. Yea, lame.

So to help us forget the fact we just wasted almost two hours of our lives on this movie, we started to joke that it was the origin story for Jack Bauer. And as he exited the smoldering pile of rubble (***please note this next part is totally fictitious and a product of our demented minds***) he stretched and said, "I am no longer known as Ben; I am now Jack Bauer and I have twenty four hours to save the world!"

To us this was hilarity incarnate. Then, as we were in the kitchen getting our evening/desert coffee, Spaz happened to stretch and in my peripheral vision she reminded me of a lemur... I then said, "My name is Jack Bauer and I HAVE a lemur." We both broke into hysterical laughter. What made it even better (this next part is so awesome it still makes me have to hold back insane giggles... even three days after the fact) was when Collin repeated what I had said, or at least what he thought I said, "I am Jack Bauer and I AM a lemur." Crap, it still makes me giggle... Crazy, right?

It was one of those epic moments of hilariousness we both about died laughing. I had just peed moments before and I had to go again or I was going to pee the couch... Plus, we just couldn't stop laughing so we figured we needed to be in separate areas while we calmed down... I barely made it up the stares amidst the fits of laughter and insane giggling. That would have been great... Pee my pants and fall down the stairs while laughing like a crazy person...


Today the weather has been gorgeous. Naturally it's like this in the middle of the work week but oh well. The IT guy here came walking into the office (his office is in another building in the complex) and tells us we should really have the door open.

The following is a testament to how far I have come at being able to control my word vomit: The first thing that came to my mind for a response to his observation was, "You should really shut your mouth." The second response that came to my head was, "Yea, but having it closed barely keeps the riff raff out as it is. (implying him being riff raff)"

This is what I actually said in response: "Hmm, maybe." And continued on with my work.

Go me for not randomly insulting people as a knee jerk reaction... I now save this behavior for my husband or when I am driving or when I am watching hockey.

Speaking of hockey my boys, the RedWings, are playing tonight... They need to get their heads in this series. They are down 2-0... I really do have my heart set on seeing the Western Conference Finals coming down to the Vancouver Canucks and the Detroit RedWings. I heart both teams dearly and would be happy to see either one win the Stanley Cup (but with preference to the RedWings). But my boys need to get it together and put San Jose in their place. I am starting to think the nice "break" they had between the quarters and the semis didn't help them as much as I had hoped... Fingers crossed for tonight.

Tonight we are also going grocery shopping for the month (other than fresh produce of course!). It's so nice having the time to do these kind of activities DURING the work week. It makes the weekend that much more enjoyable, AND there are less people at the stores on Wednesday evenings.

Yea, about that TPS report... Did you get the memo about putting the cover on the TPS reports? I can get you another copy of that...

More and more I realize there is but a handful of truly mindful and intelligent people on this planet...

Can't touch this.

Mr. Zircon Is Coming To Kill You

This last weekend was AWESOME. We did a little exploring. Collin's friend came over Saturday and they hung out in the "Man Cave" aka the bonus room/office off the garage. Sunday was spent relaxing and doing laundry. We went for a nice little walk around the area. I realized I need to get new tennis shoes... Okay well I have known about this for a while, but after the walk it was obvious...

The shoes I have are too big... Not sure how that happened... Unless as I have lost weight my feet have got less fat.... Regardless, new shoes are going to be needed soon. I would like to get some of those nifty looking toning shoes. They look like they would be super comfy for walking.

Yesterday, after work, I got to go get my hair done and catch up with an old friend from high school at the same time! She happens to work at a place out in Forest Grove which is only about a half hour from my work. I love my new do! It is PERFECT! Everyone at work was gushing about it today. It was awesome.

I had hoped to write more tonight but I need to go put dishes away before bed.... There will be more tomorrow.

You thought you had seen the last of Mr. Zircon...

I Wouldn't Call It Slacking...

More like developing an artistic build up of anticipation....

Okay... So that's a shit lie...

We have been fairly preoccupied getting settled in up here and exploring our new surroundings. I love it up here. There are so many positives I can't even name them all.

The place is wicked awesome, and SOOO much bigger than the cottage in Salem. We have an amazing view, and it is so peaceful in this neighborhood.

Another major super awesome plus is my commute to work... It is now non-existent. I now only have a ten minute drive to and from work. We have so much more time after work now too. It's insane.

Our weekends are much more fun too and we have technically only had two of them so far... I don't really count the weekend we moved because that was mostly filled with manual labor. But the two weekends since then have been CRA-mazing (stole this word from the hubby!).

Our first real weekend up here we went to IKEA, Target, and lunch with some good friends. And then we worked on getting the house more set up. We got a couple bird feeders for the deck. The monkey LOVES birdwatching! It's great to watch her chirping and clicking at the birds.

This last weekend we rented an Altima Hybrid and went for a nice little day trip to the coast. It was seriously cheaper with our AAA discount to rent a hybrid than fill up the truck multiple times. It was great. We went to Indian Beach in Ecola State Park and then cruised down the coast to LC. Had coffee with my K, I missed her like crazy. I can't wait until she can come up here for a visit! Especially since we have a spare bedroom now for guests! Cannot go so long without seeing her again. I hadn't seen her in over a month with all the madness of the move and her insanely long hours at work.

Now that we are mostly settled in I really truly hope to start getting back to the blogging that makes reading this awesome. Posting about things such as marketing a laser guillotine... Want to know more do you?

My boss and I were discussing whether or not one could use the laser cutter at the metal shop to cut off a persons head. I felt that if it burned well enough that this would actually be a cleaner and more humane way to behead someone. So, we began to discuss how and who we would market the "Laser Guillotine." I said it would be easy; we would start off our presentation to investors as follows:

"Ladies and Gentleman, have you seen Star Wars?"

Hells yes that would totally sell it.

And then of course there is Collin bursting into flames from the inside out....

I don't remember how it got to this point... But for those who don't know us, it's just how we are. Over dinner (oh yea, we eat dinner at the table like semi-civilized humans now...Crazy, right?) the other night for some forgotten reason (I think I made a face at him or something.. Or asked him what he would do if... blah blah blah?) Collin said he would run me down with his car and I said I would take him out first. hen we were talking about him running my down with a completely silent hybrid car so all I would hear is him screaming, "I am coming for you!!!" At some point I turned it around so that I would manage to take him out as he runs me down with his car. That's when Collin said in my moment of death I would probably have the supernatural ability to cause him to burst into flames with a look, but he thinks he would survive... I told him if I had that kind of power he would burn like Johnny from Fantastic Four; from the inside out!!! Yeah!!! Survive that shit, ass... (before there wasn't a comment so it looked like I was calling him a shit ass... LOL)

I love him so much. We are so totally in sync with one another it is slightly disturbing even to us. Like this past Sunday morning, we had discussed going to breakfast after we returned the rental, and as we were waking up in bed at almost the EXACT SAME MOMENT we both had the epic idea (since the rental had to be returned to PDX) we should go to breakfast and then go to IKEA to get the last piece we needed: Collin's desk.

This plan would have been flawless... If it hadn't been Easter.... IKEA was going to be open... But an hour later than normal... And just about everything else was closed. This became a rather fun adventure, just I had hoped we wouldn't have been gone for as much of the day as we ended up being gone. But it still ended up being an awesome day.

Work has still been going great. I am valued by my boss and many of my co-workers which makes any job a little bit easier.

Okay, I keep getting distracted by the hockey game that is on. It's game seven of the Canucks/Blackhawks series in the Western Conference Quaterfinals. The outcome of this game affects my boys (the Detroit Redwings) in more ways than one. One, if the Canucks win they will play the Predators next and my boys will play the Sharks (this is something I want). Two, I want my boys to have a good team to play against in the Western Conference Finals (so maybe I am jumping ahead here) and I would like to believe that the Canucks would be the best team for an interesting series. Plus I would be happy to see either my boys or the Canucks win the Cup.

I am going to go now.

Seriously, I'm out.

There will be more soon, I promise.

=D

Deliriously Happy or Deliriously Tired

You choose.

I am in the home stretch. Two more mornings and then we have Friday off and then we move!

We went and bought our new furniture this past Saturday and set up the delivery. I was proud of myself, and still am, because I didn't/haven't had any panic attacks. I have a hard time buying stuff (other than necessities) sometimes... Especially when I am spending a large amount of money... At once... It's overwhelming and difficult for me... But that's another story, for another time... Assuming I ever share it.

It was hilarious to see us trying to navigate and maneuver our FOUR flat carts to the register and then to the "Home Delivery" counter... Thankfully the super awesome people at IKEA were way helpful. Everything will be delivered between five and nine pm on Saturday. First thing I think we will put together is the couch! The armchair will have to wait until we go back to IKEA because the cover was out of stock. We still got the armchair itself just not the cover, and I don't intend to put it together until we have the cover.

The weather is looking promising for this weekend. At least for the important times it is. I am keeping my fingers crossed. It is April... In Oregon... Yea.

I just can't wait. For everything. The new place. The new furniture. Getting to drive my "Ricky" (the truck) to work again. Sharing the pictures with all my friends. Having ALL of my life back (instead of losing five days of the week essentially). All the new places to explore. EVERYTHING.

Work is still heavenly compared to the collection agency. As of last Friday I now have medical and dental benefits! AND my day off this Friday will be paid thanks to the vacation time I have accrued so far! I know there will be bad days. It's inevitable, but I am not going to let them get to me. I am doing my job and I have learned so much. I haven't upset anyone that I know of. I hope should I ever do so whomever I tick off will tell me.

Today my boss is out sick, which is part of the reason I have time to do this. I really can't leave the front office if no one else is here... Which sucks because I really have to pee... But I am trying to hold out as long as possible before I ask my one person available to cover me while I run to the restroom... The other woman who works in the front office (though today is one of her regular work days) is long gone... She "didn't have anything to do" so she left right after my lunch was over at 11:30.... Yea... I have been trapped at my desk since then... I was able to get all my filing caught up which was nice.... God I have to pee... Just an hour and fifteen minutes of this workday left... I know I can't wait that long, but I can maybe wait another fifteen to twenty minutes..... I hope my bladder doesn't explode...

I wonder if Edgar is going to get the washer and dryer tonight... If not, no biggie... I am sure he will come get them in the next couple days... He lives in our little "complex" and does the maintenance. We told him he could have the washer and dryer if he wanted them since we won't need them (and I REALLY don't want to move them).

HALLELUJAH! My bladder is empty!!! I feel so much better. Now to make it through the last hour and go home to slave over a broiling hot microwave! We having hot pockets for dinner! Yea, I am not cooking AT ALL this week. The entire house is packed except for most basic of necessities. We have just enough clothing each to last the week, we have only a couple spoons and forks out, our bathroom stuff (shampoo, toothpaste, etc), and so on. All of Spazzer's toys are still out but that's because I don't want to freak her out anymore than necessary, and trust me, between the couches being gone the last couple weeks now, and everything else going into boxes or being "Goodwill-ed", the monkey is sufficiently agitated.

If I successfully remembered to post this, I am posting it while Collin takes his shower... And our bedtime is fast approaching... Only one more bedtime like this left... Tomorrow night...

I have found the best way to shut off my mind so that I can achieve blissful sleep: I start playing songs in my head, at random. Or I just start thinking random items/words and then I sort of drift... Incoherent thoughts is the best way to throw my mind off... Otherwise it would focus uncontrollably on EVERYTHING that is coming up this weekend, and then I wouldn't sleep a wink, and I would turn into a freaking zombie... Well, more of one than I already am.

Well that's it for now... We'll see what the next couple days bring!