The Stolen Olive

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January 31, 2006

Gotta Love Those Old People

A tour bus driver is driving with a bus load of seniors down a highway
when he is tapped on his shoulder by a little old lady. She offers him a handful of peanuts, which he gratefully munches up.

After about 15 minutes, she taps him on his shoulder again and she hands him another handful of peanuts.

She repeats this gesture about five more times.

When she is about to hand him another batch again he asks the little old lady,

" why they don't you eat the peanuts yourself?".

"We can't chew them because we've no teeth", she replied.

The puzzled driver asks,

"Why do you buy them then?"

The old lady replied, "We just love the chocolate around them."

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 04:31 PM | Comments (1)

Inner Strength

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can get going without pep pills,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment

If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,

If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

...Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 09:06 AM | Comments (1)

January 30, 2006

I'm In Heaven

I got home from work, made some mashed potatoes to go with the Roast that had been cooking slowly in the oven since Saturday afternoon, and then I went to Fry's to buy 75' of ethernet cable.

I came home, ran the cable around the entertainment center, behind the couch, around the corner, under the door, behind the dresser, behind the bookcase, behind the desk and around to the back of my computer. I'm online finally. 384 emails later, over 150 posts on bloglines later, I'm back in the land of the connected.

I haven't called D-Link TechSupport back to figure out why my wireless isn't working, I didn't really feel like I could stay awake while I sat on hold for 45 minutes waiting for a representative. Maybe tomorrow night. Anyway, I'm online and that is what matters.

While I was standing in line at Fry's I saw it... Every time I have been to Fry's in the past 8 months they have had the white box and the gold box of Toblerone, but never the black box. Tonight, they had the black box.

I guess they knew that after the weekend I had, and the day I had at work, I really needed something to pick my spirits up.

Damn that stuff is good.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:43 PM | Comments (1)

Too True

Zero Gravity

When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside-down, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 C.

The Russians used a pencil.

Your taxes are due again -- enjoy paying them.

The Constitution

They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

Ten Commandments

The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a Courthouse is that you cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal", Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 04:11 PM | Comments (0)

Technical Difficulties

Wednesday my landlord and her maintenance crew went to my condo while I was at work and they were doing foundation work outside. In the midst of it all my computer was improperly turned off when the electricity was shut off. I ended up going home for an hour for lunch to turn the damn thing back on so that I could get to my computer from work.

Last night, about 11:50... my monitor started making these shaky squirming lines and noises that it had been doing for about a month. It did it twice and then the screen went completely black. I turned it off and took that as my hint that it was time to go to bed. I woke up this morning and turned it on. It did the same thing, squiggles and then completely black. My monitor died.

Today, I'm sitting at work. I connect to my computer, I can see it fine so I know its the monitor and not the video card. My computer goes off-line again. I call my neighbor but she said she didn't see anyone in my backyard working. I called the landlady and she said they weren't there working. So I guess either the internet connection just dropped or my electricity went off.

I get home Friday night and I figure out that it is indeed the internet that was not working. I call TechSupport after powercycling the modem, router, voip box, phone and computer. They tell me to go to their office and pick up a new modem. The tech support guy is in Canada, he tells me the office closes at 7 and he says he's not allowed to go onto google or anything like that to help me get directions to the place. Well, you know I would be more than happy to get my own directions if the DAMN INTERNET was working. While I was talking to CanadaTech I turned on my monitor, forgetting it had died. Within about 30 seconds I started seeing and smelling smoke. That can't be good. I quickly turned it off, yanked the plug from the powerstrip behind the desk, unplugged it from the back of the computer and tossed it in the backyard.

The CanadaTech guy told me that the office was at the corner of Highway190 and Summit. I am still fairly new to Dallas and I didn't know where Highway190 was. I found out later that Highway190 is the road that I so lovingly call "MonkeyHighway" (otherwise known as President George Bush Tollway.)

I get there at 6:04, after calling the Saturn service department and asking if they could help me find where I was going. They were closed. They were standing in there laughing at me knocking on the door. I walked around the side and waited for someone to come out. A really nice guy came out and I told him what was going on and he gave me a new modem.

On the way home I stopped and bought a new monitor. I went home and installed the montior and then the cable modem. The cable modem still didn't work. I called TechSupport back and they said they would have to send someone out to fix it but of course, it would be Sunday between 5pm - 8pm before they could get there.

Depressed as though I had been cut off from life as a knew it, from civilization, from the outside world, I sat down on my couch to watch TV. Turned on the TV. Guess what? My cable was out too. Now this is me we are talking about. I went from 6pm Friday till 7pm Sunday with no CableTV, Internet or Phone (well, I had my cell.)

Sunday evening finally came around. I was getting sick of solitaire and minesweeper and Lord forbid, cleaning and laundry. The guy walks in and tells me that someone must have switched the wires outside. He swaps the two coaxial cables coming out of the wall and Voila! My TV had pictures instead of static and my cable modem lit up like a runway. The guy left.

I powercycled the cable modem, the wireless router, the voip box, the phone and my computer. The phone worked. I went into my bedroom to the computer and much to my disappointment there was no wireless access. I tried everything I could think of. I finally called DLink TechSupport and told them what had happened. I should have remembered this from Ness(a)Lee's post, but I was basically told they couldn't help me until I directly connected a computer to the router to reset the wireless.

One small problem, unlike Nessa, I don't have a laptop. I have a desktop with a damn case so heavy I can barely pick it up. My condo only has one port for cable and internet and it is in the freaking living room. So, as of right now... I still don't have internet access at home. And I don't know when I will.

Someone shoot me please.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:53 AM | Comments (1)

Attack of "DaHood"

Well, let me tell ya. I hadn't planned on having to post another story about "DaHood", especially since I moved out of there 43 days ago.

This week I made more than a few of attempts to get in touch of my old next door neighbor who was still living in DaHood. There were a couple of items that he had borrowed while I was still living there and I needed to get them back.

Saturday night, he finally called me back. He was at his parent's house and had just gotten out of the hospital. He had been in the hospital since Monday.

Apparently Monday night he was taking out the trash to the dumpster and walked up on a drug deal. Apparently those involved in the deal didn't think they needed any witnesses so they proceeded to beat up my old neighbor and they left him behind the dumpster for dead. I didn't get all the details or how exactly the ambulance was notified to come get him.

This scares me and I don't even live there anymore. But I do know that he never let me take out the trash by myself. We would always take our trash out together. Had I not moved, I probably would have been with him, carrying out bags of trash. I don't want to think about what could have happened, but its hard not to.

I'm just glad that he is ok and at his parent's house recovering. His parents are supposed to come over to his apartment and pack up his stuff and move him out today. Then they are going to DaHood and telling them that they are moving him out, that they are not paying rent for February or March and they are breaking the lease and if DaHood has any problem with that they can contact their lawyer.

It also makes me feel so comforted to know that my CulinarySchool puts their students into these types of situations. Yes, I know that crime can happen anywhere... but the sheer number of incidents concentrated into this one complex is above and beyond what a sane and rational person would consider "random acts of violence."

Get Well Soon Neighbor.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:24 AM | Comments (1)

January 28, 2006

Happy Birthday OB!

My dear sweet and wonderful cousin, OB. I know that this is late, but I hope you had a wonderful birthday.

I had meant to post this on Saturday and put "that" picture of us up there but I have been experiencing some technical difficulties since Friday.

Love you!

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

January 27, 2006

Another Questionnaire

I stole this from Aimee over at The Twisted Minds of Aimee and Angie.

Appearance...

HEIGHT: 5 ft 8
HAIR COLOR: Reddish Brown
SKIN COLOR: Ghost
EYE COLOR: Hazel
PIERCINGS: 2 In Each Ear, One In Navel.
TATTOOS: Too Chicken.

Right Now...

WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING?: Blue Jeans
WHAT SONG ARE YOU LISTENING TO?: Heaven Let You Light Shine Down
WHAT TASTE IS IN YOUR MOUTH?: Dry! Need A Drink
WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE?: Dark Cloudy and High Pressure, hence the migraine yesterday.

Do You...

GET MOTION SICKNESS?: If I try to read a map or directions in the car
HAVE A BAD HABIT?: Sitting at the computer instead of going to Bed
GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS?: Most of the time.
LIKE TO DRIVE?: Love to drive, just not in Dallas.

What's Your Favorite...

TV SHOW: Growing Pains, Two and a Half Men, Will & Grace, House
CONDITIONER: Treseme or the Conditioner that comes with my hair color.
BOOK: Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen.
MAGAZINE: Baylor Line and Baylor Magazine. I like reading all the updates from the alumni that are in the back.
NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK: Promise Land Milk, Odwalla Orange Juice, Crystal Light Peach Tea, Panera Bread's IC Honeydew GreenTea.
ALCOHOLIC DRINK: Amaretto Sours, Scooby Snacks, Margaritas and anything with Khalua.
THING TO DO ON THE WEEKEND: Sleep and not have to do housework the entire time.
BAND OR GROUP or SINGER or RAPPER: Band or Group: Rascal Flatts, Chicago, CCR, Eagles, Dixie Chicks; Singer or Rapper: Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, John Denver, Barry Manilow, George Strait. I don't listen to that(C)Rap.

Have You?....

BROKEN THE LAW: I don't know how to drive my car and not go at least 10 miles over the speed limit.
RAN AWAY FROM HOME: Nope
SNUCK OUT OF THE HOUSE: Never had anywhere to go.
EVER GONE SKINNY DIPPING: Yep
MADE A PRANK PHONE CALL: Who me? Oh alright, yes.
EVER TIPPED OVER A PORTA POTTY: Um, No. That is Sick.
USED YOUR PARENTS' CREDIT CARD BEFORE: Yes
SKIPPED SCHOOL BEFORE: Yep, but unfortunately it was because I was sick with a migraine. Never skipped to go do something fun.
FELL ASLEEP IN THE SHOWER/BATH: All the time. I consider taking a nap in the bathtub a time saver. You get clean and get your nap.
BEEN IN A SCHOOL PLAY: I was in choir and we had a few talent shows at school that we would sing a couple of numbers for. One of them my mother and I actually made me a peach poodle skirt that had a big record on it (where the poodle should have been). The record said 'At The Hop' which was the theme that year for the talent show... all 50s music.
LET A FRIEND CRY ON YOUR SHOULDER: Absolutely.

Love...

BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND: Missing Him. I hate business trips.
CHILDREN: 2 furr-kids that live with my parents.
BEEN IN LOVE?: Most definitely.
HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OVER SOMEONE: Definitely. Some of them I will never be over.
BEEN HURT?: Many times.
YOUR GREATEST REGRET: Not telling one person in my past just how much I loved them.

Random...

DO YOU HAVE A JOB: Yes, I'm a pricing administrator for a liquor company. I send pricing contracts to grocery stores.
YOUR CD PLAYER HAS IN IT RIGHT NOW: Rascal Flatts Melt
IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?: Hunter Green
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?: My family, My friends, and Making to PayDay and still having money in the bank.
WHO MAKES YOU THE HAPPIEST?: My Furr-kids
THE NEXT CD YOU'RE GOING TO BUY?: I only have 6 of the 15 CDs that Jim Brickman has. I want the rest of them.
WHO DO YOU CONSIDER GOOD FRIENDS?: Too Many To Count. IRL: RJPF, GRN, ALHS, LKR, NMW, BDNC, TT, MN, SW, JMC, M&SC, SKBM, BTZ, VH, KK, KL, KVM, LAM, & YC. And my BlogRoll.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO?: Cook, Play on the Computer, Play Softball & Volleyball, Swim, Shopping, Riding Bicycles, Camping, Fishing.

Last...

PERSON YOU KISSED: CY
TIME YOU CRIED?: About An Hour Ago.
TIME YOU GOT A REAL LETTER?: I got a Christmas Card from JMC in December.
THING YOU PURCHASED: A new PillBox and dinner at Panera Bread
PROGRAM YOU WATCHED: Elvis Presly Birthday Cake Competition on FoodNetwork
MOVIE YOU SAW AT THE THEATER: LifeAquatic last year on New Years Eve.

Your Thoughts On...

ABORTION: No idiot in Washington has the right to tell me what to do with MY body. And as Molly Ivins says when Congress is in Session... "Many a village is missing its IDIOT"
TEENAGE SMOKING: I don't think smoking should be allowed at any age. But then again, the smell makes me nauseous and gives me a migraine.
DREAMS: Finishing School. Owning my own Restaurant, "The Stolen Olive" hence, this domain and blog. Being Healthy and without Migraines.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:33 AM | Comments (4)

How To Move A Computer

* How to move a computer *

Sometimes it becomes necessary to move your computer to a new location for whatever reason; installing/adding new hardware or just decided to move it for "easier access", for instance (note easier access in quotation marks).

Whatever your reason is, this handy guide may help you alleviate some of the stress that always arises in such occasions.

Keep in mind that this is a venture only to be undertaken by those who know what they're doing...and masochists.

1. Bone up on your cursing. You will need it later.

2. Pick a *good* spot to locate your computer. Don't be too picky; you will regret having started on this venture soon enough.

3. Disconnect all cables, cords, power sources, umbilical cords and plumbing. Look at the black, gray & white spaghetti mess on the floor and sob. Refer to number 1. While you're at it, it helps to focus on cursing Bill Gates and Steve Jobs for making all this possible.

4. Be sure to dust machine off, since it's been sitting for months in one spot, gathering a dust mound the size of Mt. Rainier. This is especially essential if you have asthma.

5. Now that you've picked a *good* spot, it's time to replace all the cables, cords, etc. Make sure it's in a dark, hard-to-reach location.

6. New computers have color-coded plugs and plugins to make assembly easier. This has no bearing on you since your computer is in a dark, hard-to-reach location and they're all the same color: gray. See number 1.

7. Get a flashlight. Look for new batteries for flashlight you've left in the junk drawer for months. Go to store to buy new flashlight batteries since you don't have any. Rule number 1 is coming in handy now.

8. While inserting various cords and cables, be sure to drop at least one on the floor behind the desk, where it will take a contortionist to retrieve it.

9. Find out that your printer cable is now not long enough to reach the computer (see number 1). Oh well, you didn't use it that much anyway..

10. Once you have all the cables, etc. back in place, turn computer back on.

11. Sit, puzzled why computer isn't working.

12. Plug monitor in.

13. Ponder why keyboard and mouse don't work.

14. Switch keyboard and mouse plugins.

15. Call spouse in to admire your handiwork.

16. Spouse informs you that he/she liked it better where it was, and to move it back.

17. When asked why you're banging your head on the monitor, don't reply. It would only confuse him/her.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 09:11 AM | Comments (0)

January 25, 2006

I'm Ashamed Of Myself

I am sitting here at work hanging my head in shame. I do not know what came over me last night, but I turned on the TV when I got home from work and went about cooking dinner and making out my grocery list and getting my coupons ready for my grocery shopping trip tonight.

About the time my fish sticks, tartar sauce and blackeyed peas were ready (yes, I admit it... I'm a chef and I like fish sticks, at least I made my own tartar sauce)... I sat down on the couch and this hour long TV show was on.

I am ashamed of myself because I didn't have enough energy to reach up and grab the remote to change the channel. So I watched it. The whole thing. My first experience of watching a reality TV show. I promised myself that I wouldn't do that to myself, and I let myself down.

Shoot Me Now!
(and while you are at it, someone put some duct tape over that female slut thug girl's mouth!)

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 04:20 PM | Comments (3)

Footloose

Chris Penn died yesterday, January 24, 2005 at the age of 40. An Autopsy is being performed since there was no evidence of foul play.

Ironically, he left us on the most depressing day of the year.

Thanks for teaching us that even Jugheads can learn how to dance.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:31 PM | Comments (0)

I Totally Believe This Happened

I was unemployed between November 7, 2004 and April 18, 2005. I had an account with Citibank since October 1992, I had never missed a payment and always paid at least double the minimum due. Before losing my job I had a spotless credit report. After going thru those six months of unemployment... I have absolutely NO DOUBT in my mind that this little story I received on email today happened.

"Priceless"

A lady died this past January, and Citibank billed her for February and March for their annual service charges on her credit card, and then added late fee and interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00, now is somewhere around $60.00.

A family member placed a call to Citibank:

Family Member: "I am calling to tell you that she died in January."

Citibank: "The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply."

Family Member: "Maybe, you should turn it over to collections."

Citibank: "Since it is two months past due, it already has been."

Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?"

Citibank: "Either report her account to the frauds division or report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!"

Family Member: "Do you think God will be mad at her?"

Citibank: "Excuse me?"

Family Member: "Did you just get what I was telling you - the part about her being dead?"

Citibank: "Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor."

Supervisor gets on the phone:

Family Member: "I'm calling to tell you, she died in January."

Citibank: "The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply."

Family Member: "You mean you want to collect from her estate?"

Citibank: (Stammer) "Are you her lawyer?"

Family Member: "No, I'm her great nephew." (Lawyer info given)

Citibank: "Could you fax us a certificate of death?"

Family Member: "Sure." (fax number is given)

After they get the fax:

Citibank: "Our system just isn't setup for death. I don't know what more I can do to help."

Family Member: "Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her. I don't think she will care."

Citibank: "Well, the late fees and charges do still apply."

Family Member: "Would you like her new billing address?"

Citibank: "That might help."

Family Member: "Odessa Memorial Cemetery, Highway 129, Plot Number 69."

Citibank: "Sir, that's a cemetery!"

Family Member: "What do you do with dead people on your planet?"

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:10 AM | Comments (0)

January 24, 2006

Sand Fantasies

SandFantasy.com

I received this little movie file on email today from my friend BDNC. I thought it was too neat not to share with all of you.

Enjoy.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 06:23 PM | Comments (0)

Who Said There Is No Such Thing

As A Free Meal?

Now after an hour long post yesterday about why my work was driving me to drink, today I am going to post something nice.

Prior to November 10th when I was rescued and brought to this nice new office with all these nice new people, I was in the office of Dallas Hillbillies. The people in the other departments were rude and would look at you like they were trying to figure out if you fell off of the turnip truck yesterday or last week.

It was a huge office and they had meetings all the time. There had to have been at least one catered lunch each week. And what did they do over at Hillbilly Hell, when the catered event was over? They threw the leftovers away. I can not begin to comprehend how a company, who experienced quite a few loses and employees during the Hurricanes of 2005, could be as frivolous and unhospitable as to throw away food, but they did.

Now, I am in a quaint little office with about 40 people. There is still room for us to grow in this office and we have quite a few large conference rooms for meetings. They seem to have meetings in the conference closest to my desk at least once a week, and again these are catered events.

The difference is, over here in "High-class Hummer-Land," when the meetings are over, the receptionist sits down at her desk, opens up her email, hits compose, types out a quick message and forwards it to the entire office.

What does that message say? It says:

"Leftovers are available in the kitchen, please come help us finish them off before the catering company comes to pick up the equipment."

Last week we had fried chicken, mashed taters, corn and banana pudding. Today was BBQ, sausage, turkey, cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans and pecan pie.

Now, THAT is my idea of a free meal.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:46 PM | Comments (0)

January 23, 2006

Isn't It Already Illegal?

This is what is being displayed on the Dynamic Message Signs all over the freeways in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

As many of you may know, we went 32 days without a drop of rain and we have been in a drought for the past 9 months. It finally rained Saturday night and all day Sunday. It was wonderful to see.

What rain we did get in 24 hours this weekend isn't even the tip of the iceburg on the amount of rain we need. We have a statewide burn ban in effect. There have been massive wildfires and grass fires across the state because it is so dry.

But my question is...

When is Arson not Banned? Are they going to make Arson legal after we catch up on rain?

Who dreams up this stuff and why does TxDot let these goofballs put this stuff on signs for all to see how dumb they are?

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:09 PM | Comments (2)

Happy Birthday CricketYank

Go tell CricketYank Happy Birthday and get on his case for not updating his blog since December 1st.

Shhh! Don't tell him I said that.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 07:52 PM | Comments (0)

Accusations

At my job, I stare at Excel Spreadsheets all day long. On these spreadsheets, the pricing and discount information for hundreds of different wines are shown. There is a different spreadsheet for each company (Grocery Stores) that I do their pricing. Most of these spreadsheets, otherwise known as Pricing Contracts, can be completed in half a day, or maybe even less.

Except for ONE. This one company has been a royal pain in my rear since I took over their pricing in June. Unlike the other chains, this one will not accept an emailed copy of my spreadsheet. No! They want me to go onto their website and put in their pricing into their system item by item. This company will for here on out be refered to as "PitaCo"

To start off I was handed a 200pg stack of pages, their price book, with every item they carry and which of their stores carry it. This book still had items in it that had been discontinued a year or two prior. None of my company's item numbers were correct and they had 4 or 5 different UPCs for the same item, and all of the UPCs were off but just by one digit, clearly they were typos and no one in their company was going to take the time to figure out which one was right.

It took me a good two weeks to transfer everything in that price book onto a spreadsheet. I then called and said, here are the changes and they said "Oh no, you must mark the changes on the book and SnailMail it to us. Then we will go in and make the changes and it will show up on the PriceBook we send you next week." I mailed it to them. That was in June. They STILL haven't made all of those changes.

Their website is slower than Christmas. For each item I have to enter what is called a "deal." It has you enter the discount amount, the valid dates, the applicable stores and then the item number. In between each of these tidbits of information you have to tell it to go to the next page. I can literally hit go, get up, go to the bathroom, go get coffee and come back it this dumb website is still thinking. Each month I get to put in about 180 deals. This process takes me a 5 or 6 days.

Each Tuesday I get a new price book. It shows the deals that are active that week. I go thru the price book every week and compare it to my spreadsheet. It never fails that they will have gone in and changed something from the prior week.

After receiving this massively annoying chain under my responsibilities in June, I finally felt like I had caught up and was on top of their pricing by the time the November contracts rolled around. I spoke too soon.

When it came time to put in the pricing for the December contract, the infamous "ExcelLady" who was my boss before I was rescued and brought over to the new office, told me to put in all of the December deals for all my contracts ending on December 31st, since it had yet to be determined what day they were going to end our fiscal year. This was no big deal for the rest of my contracts, because as soon as I was given the date January 7th, I just shot off a couple of emails and all was good.

But oh no. "PitaCo" said that I had to go onto the website and put in a new deal for every item with the dates Jan 1 - Jan 7th. Needless to say, I got a little behind there for a while trying to redo that contract that I had already completed and still keep on top of the other 9 companies I do pricing for.

Then I started the January contract, and I finished it. Two days later I receive an email from them saying.. we have added a new store, please go onto the system and put deals in for this store. This store will carry all of the same items as store #94. Um, Store #94 carries basically every wine we carry, or at least it seemed like it.

I finally got January done for the 2nd time. This was the second contract in two months that I had to completely re-do through no fault of my own and I was getting ticked. I get February half done before I get another price book and I noticed that there are all these stores showing no deals. I call and say "What the Heck?" and they are like oh, yeah. That store just finished remodeling and has a bigger wine section so we just added all those items to it. So NOW I get to go back and REDO January for a third time adding the wines to the newly remodeled store. And I have to go REDO the half the of February contract that I already had done.

Needless to say, I worked on NOTHING but "PitaCo" the past week and a half.

After getting some much needed rest and getting a lot of unpacking and organization done on my condo this weekend, and after changing my work schedule from 8am-5pm to 9am-6pm, I showed up at work, all dressed up in a *Gasp* dress and hose and high heels and felt comfort that I indeed would not have to look at "PitaCo" for at least another two weeks.

DAMN IT!

About 10:15 my boss's boss. The wonderful man who rescued me from the "ExcelLady" and brought me over to this nice new office with nice and friendly and social people came into my office to ask me a question. And what question was that do you ask?

"Why doesn't "PitaCo" have any pricing for January or February?" Gulp. This my friends is the third month in a row someone has come to me to ask why "PitaCo" didn't have their pricing. After being accused of not doing my job, I get out the price book and show them in black and white the deals that are in the system.

The price book only shows deals that are current, in this case January, if there was one. It only shows if there are February deals if there wasn't a deal for that item in January. I was able to show my boss's boss that there were indeed deals listed starting on 01/08/06 and deals showing starting on 01/29/2006

I am extremely anal retentive and obsessive complusive and a perfectionist when it comes to work. For anyone to walk into my office and accuse me of not doing my work just throws me off kilter and ruins my mood for the rest of the day.

I was finally, after three months, able to talk to the person who keeps starting these accusations. He works for our company, only in another branch office. He also gets a price book every week. After basically going page by page with this guy showing that my price book showed that deals were in the system and active, I realized that "PitaCo" has been sending this guy the wrong price book for the past I don't know how many months.

Apparently, the branch he works for used to be the physical location of a company that we bought out and took over, um SIX YEARS AGO. "PitaCo" has never bothered to move the wines and beers over under our company's name and just left them under the old name and added 'DoingBusinessAs' in front of it. So, since he is in the branch office of the old company he has been getting the old company's price book which hasn't shown any pricing for the past 7 months that I have been doing it.

So, today we called them and told them to start merging the two price books. I am not looking forward to seeing the new price book when it arrives. It is going to have quite a few new items and none of them are going to have deals for them in the system. So, therefore I am going to get to, you got it, REDO February for the third time.

Its a good thing I work for a liquor company because I need a drink.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 05:53 PM | Comments (1)

January 20, 2006

I'm Drooling.

I found the link to this article on the front of my work's homepage. They commonly put up links to industry-specific news articles and items of interest.

I have been working here since April, and I have to admit, this is the first article that I have read from our "Industry News" section that I actually got excited about.

Lets see here... my brain is churning already. How about a Chocolate Caramel Mudslide with Caramel Baileys? Or, Mint Chocolate Baileys in Godiva Dark Chocolate Truffle Hot Chocolate? Anyone else drooling yet?

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:31 PM | Comments (6)

January 19, 2006

Coming Home

Some of you who have been reading my blog for a while know that I was a bridesmaid when my wonderful cousin, "OB", got married in July. Two and a half short months later, her wonderful husband left for Iraq.

Well, OB got the call yesterday that he had left Iraq and had started the long journey home. He should be back in her arms on Saturday. Just 7 short days before her birthday. What a wonderful present.

I am so excited for her. We have been praying for this day for 4 months and are so happy it is finally here.

Welcome Home M.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 04:31 PM | Comments (5)

Episode # 1 "New Year, New Doctor" 2006 Season of

As The Tonsil Falls.

Well, I went to a new neurosurgeon today. I am going to nickname him "Mr.D" since he was featured a couple of times in D Magazine as one of the best doctors in Dallas. I took all my films and he listened to my symptoms. I really liked him.

He did agree with the previous two neurosurgeons that I had seen that my condition is just not bad enough for surgery. That was the reassuring opinion that I was looking for.

Next, he really made me feel better when he looked at the Excel Spreadsheet I had brought that listed all of the medications that I have been on since August. He looked at the list, looked at me, looked back at the list and said point blank, "How in the world are you functioning?" To which I replied "Not very well."

Since I don't need surgery we have to find me another doctor. He told his nurse to send my paperwork over to another doctor that he works with. I have to get my medical history files from "TheDrugDealer" sent to that office before they will let me make an appointment.

The new doctor, nickname to follow, "Mr.D" said was known as the headache doctor of Dallas. "Mr.D" said that he would personally call the new doctor that he is sending me to see and tell him his findings and that the number of drugs I am on needs to go down.

I'm glad "Mr.D" realizes that something in my medical plan needs to change and it sounds like he's willing to help me change it. I just know I cant go thru another week of migraines like last week.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:33 PM | Comments (2)

January 18, 2006

New Book I'm Reading

A little over a week ago I ordered a new book from Lulu Press. The book is called "Contents Under Pressure: One Man's Triumph Over Chiari Syndrome." It finally arrived today.

It is written by a man who after a year or two of misdiagnosis, he was finally diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation (the condition I have), had the surgery, and came back to run in a marathon in 2005.

I am looking forward to reading the book and maybe getting a better idea as to what my next step in my medical pursuit should be. A portion of the cost of the book is donated to the Conquer Chiari Foundation.

I will let you all know when I finish reading it, and if any of you are interested in knowing more about Arnold Chiari, please order a copy of the book. The money is for a good cause.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 03:18 PM | Comments (1)

January 17, 2006

Who's On First

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this.

For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on..

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out something like this:

*COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT*

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on "START"......

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 02:27 PM | Comments (4)

January 16, 2006

Cruel and Unusual?

Ok, Let me see if I got this story straight.

The man is 76 years old. He's legally blind. He's deaf. He's got heart problems (they brought him back from the dead to put him back on death row). He's in a wheelchair. He's got diabetes.

And they are trying to argue that giving him a lethal injection and executing him would be Cruel and Unusual Punishment? What the heck do you call his life? A Cake Walk?

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 02:44 PM | Comments (0)

Made An Appointment With A New Doctor

For the sake of any new readers I might have, I will go back and give a little background information. On August 10th and August 16th, 2005 I had two MRIs done and was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation I.

I went back to work and got online. I found the online support group for Chiari and I started reading the documented symptoms. All of a sudden a lightbulb went off. I'm not crazy! My brain is just falling out of my skull.

It was about this time that all my doctors appointments and drugs started. It is all documented in the archives starting in August.

I saw two neurosurgeon's who did not believe that my condition was bad enough for surgery. I was referred to a neurologist who I have nicknamed "TheDrugDealer" and I truly believe that her entire practice involves pushing the drugs that the pharmaceutical reps bring her.

I have been miserable for 4 months now. When you go to a doctor, you are supposed to feel better, not worse. The first drugs she gave me really did a number on me. The rest of the drugs have caused side effects that are not comfortable. And if you read my post from Thursday, they obviously are not helping my migraines at all.

My New Years Resolution #5 was to Get Healthy. Part of this included finding new doctors. There has recently been a new Neurosurgeon added to the WAMCA website of recommended doctors that is actually in Dallas. I am going to see him Thursday morning.

I am not fishing for surgery. Having a little scar tissue taken out of my knee is one thing, having my neck sliced open, my skull shaved off, a piece of cow skin sewed in to hold up my brain and my top two vertebre fused together does not sound like fun to me. I just want to hear the opinion of someone who apparently has experience with my condition. If I do, I will survive. I have a lot of friends who are on my side and only want me to feel better. The picture above of the purple ribbon with the zipper on it is the Awareness Pin for Arnold Chiari. After the surgery, you apparently have a scar that looks like a Zipper.

If I don't need surgery, great! But, if that is the case... I want this new doctor to actively work with me to find a new neurologist who isn't going to give me drug after drug with no consideration to the side effects or how they will counteract with each other. Especially I want a neurologist who at least knows enough about the drugs they prescribe to not give them to someone who has noted on their chart that they are ALLERGIC to the ingredients.

So, here we are at the new 2006 Season of "As The Tonsil Falls". 1st Episode is Thursday, January 19th at 8:45am. Any drama will be posted.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:10 PM | Comments (0)

Only Four? Not Enough

Four Jobs You've Had In Your Life
1) Summer Executive Gopher:

I worked for a consulting company in Houston the summer after my first year of college. I ran errands, delivered proposals, did all of the office supply shopping, and when I was actually in the office I helped with payroll and expense accounts.

2) Restaurant Industry - Hostess, Waitress & Manager:

I waited tables at Poppa Rollos Pizza, I worked as a Hostess and a Waitress at two different Casa Ole' locations, and then I worked as a Cashier/Server at McAlister's Deli before being promoted to Assistant Manager.

3) Teacher:

I taught Math for Kumon in High School in 1991-1992. I taught Internet and American Sign Language at a Kids College in 1999. I taught Computer Science and Webmastering in Smalltown, TX HighSchool in 1999-2000. I taught Computer Science, BCIS, Keyboarding, Digital Graphics and Multimedia at Hightower HS in 2000-2002.

Finally, I taught Webmastering, Organizational Skills, Manners, Animal Caretaking, Medieval History, and LegoLogo Programming for a 3week summer enrichment program for gifted and talented 3rd - 6th graders in 2000-2003. This was the most fulfilling and amazing 9 weeks of teaching I ever had. If this program was year round, I'd still be teaching.

4) Software Support Specialist and Accounts Payable

I worked for a small manufacturing company. We made corrugated sheets that we sold to box companies so that they could fold the sheets into boxes. We would get in trouble if we said the word "cardboard." I started out in the IT department. I got to set up a training center, buy new computers, and create curriculum to teach our employees how to better utilize things like Excel and Outlook to make them more productive in their jobs. I was the geek who everyone called when their computer acted up. If it was something involving software I could usually fix it and explain to them why it was doing that. If it was hardware I called in backup. Then my job was expanded to also take over the Accounts Payable after my good friend, BDNC, left us. About 3 months later the company let me take off 3 weeks unpaid to go teach that summer program (mentioned above) and they finally hired someone else for Accounts Payable. So, when I returned my position turned into "Special Projects" I got to do a lot of computer graphics work and going back and reconciling the company's American Express card against the expense reports that were turned in.

From the part of me that shows thru on this blog, you really don't get to see the REAL GEEK in me. The NetworkAdmin was desperate to get Lotus123 off of our computers company wide. There were still quite a few major files that were still being used on a monthly basis. My favorite "special project" that I got to work on my last 6 months or so at this company... I took the old Lotus123 version 1.0 spreadsheets (with macros) from 1980 that they were still using to keep track of monthly and yearly inventory... and converted it to Excel and reprogrammed all the macros. Back in the first few versions of Lotus123, they didn't have separate spreadsheets so the next "page" was just over to the right of the previous one. This meant I had to print out the entire spreadsheet, TAPE it together and hang it on a wall, label the columns ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZAAAB,etc. and figure out the formulas, put it all into Excel using the different worksheet tabs and then get the macros workiing. We tested the Excel version along with the Lotus123 version for 4 months and then they trashed the old version. That project was SO much fun. Yeah, I know. I'm a Geek.

Four Movies You Could Watch Over And Over
1) Somewhere In Time
2) Serendipity
3) The Notebook
4) Untamed Heart

Four Places You've Lived
1) Houston, Texas
2) Smalltown, Texas (not far from Houston)
3) TheArmPitOfHell, Texas
4) Dallas, Texas

Four TV Shows You Love To Watch
1) Two and a Half Men
2) Judging Amy
3) Growing Pains (what happened to my reruns?)
4) Good Eats

Four Places You've Been On Vacation
1) Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
2) Orlando. Florida
3) Nassau Bay, Bahamas
4) Lake Tahoe, Nevada/California

Four Blogs You Visit Daily (Just Four?)
1) Ness(a)Lee
2) The Dallas K's
3) Miss Zoot
4) Veering Off Course

Four Of Your Favorite Foods
1) Olives
2) Seafood
3) Royal Riviera Pears
4) DARK CHOCOLATE

Four Places You'd Rather Be
1) At Home
2) In Bed
3) Asleep
4) Till Noon

Four Albums You Can't Live Without
1) Neil Diamond - The Greatest Hits (1966-1992)
2) Barbra Streisand - One Voice
3) The John Denver Collection
4) Rascal Flatts

Four Vehicles You've Owned
1) 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera SL
2) 1993 Saturn SC2
3) 1996 and 2000 Saturn SL2
4) 2003 Saturn VUE

Four People To Be Tagged
1) Whoever
2) Hasn't
3) Done It
4) Yet

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 08:31 AM | Comments (4)

January 12, 2006

Uncontrollable

Pain that is. P. A. I. N. (Pick Ax IN (my eye))

I have had a migraine since Sunday night. Yes, you heard me. I said Sunday. And Yes I am completely aware that today is Thursday. 5 Days of Uncontrollable Pain.

I took one of my prescription migraine pills, Relpax, Sunday night. It wasn't bad but it was still there Monday... I took another pill Monday night.

Tuesday, I went to the dentist. I was there for about two hours. Xrays, New Patient Exam and Cleaning. By the time I got back to work my migraine had basically doubled in intensity.

I took another pill when I got home Tuesday night (about 7pm).

Wednesday I woke up, went to work, took another pill (about 8am) and turned off all the lights in my office. It was the only way I was going to make it thru the day.

My friend who sits in the cube farm outside my office remembered seeing an ice pack in the freezer and brought it to me. It was actually designed to fit around a wine bottle, but instead I velcroed it around my head. I'm sure I looked darling. Then I took 2 more pills about 11am.

For those of you who are keeping track. That is 6 pills since Sunday night... and 4 in the past 24 Hours. Now, lets see how many of you actually followed that link up there. What? What's that? You mean it says "do not exceed 2 pills in 24 hours"? Ooops.

About 1:45 yesterday I started feeling better, or that I felt comfortable enough driving to go get something to eat. I went to La Madeleine and had a bowl of mushroom soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. I went back to work and stayed till abotut 5:30.

Then I went home, changed clothes and went to meet CY at the mall. We ate dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. The migraine was still there but it had retreated back where I could actually function. The rest of my body was still overwhelmed by the pain it had been thru and I felt like I had been hit by a MACK Truck.

As I was sitting at my computer last night, about to go to bed, I felt it. It was coming back. And I was OUT of my relpax. So, I just went to bed. At 1:00am this morning I found out that my alarm system at my new place really does work. I had woken up and decided to go find some sort of medicine and I walked thru the motion monitor.

DAY Five.

I arrived at work. I took 4 Motrin Migraine and drank a can of caffeine. It was back with a vengance, for the second day. I went and found another ice pack and velcroed it around my face. Yes, I know I probably should have taken a picture of that.

I got the one contract that I HAD to get done today completed and then I 12:02 I clocked out for lunch. I went straight back to my office and curled up on the floor and took a nap for 30 minutes. I had set the alarm clock on my cell phone to wake me up and then I went to the little bakery around the corner to get Chicken N Dumplings. I only ate a little before I started feeling bad again.

By about 2:00, when my boss dropped by for his daily "how's it going" speech.. I was crying when he walked in and said... "Man you look horrible, Can't you go home?"

Since I only started working here in April, hadn't had any sick time at all until January 1st (And those of you who have been around a while you know how much I've been sick.) And since I wasn't here a full year I only have 32 hours to make it all year. I figured if I was already here, I could make it till 5:00. That and they wont let you take less than 4 hours of sick time at a time. It was 2:00 already before he said that, so I would have just been out of that time. I cant afford to do that right now. My paycheck this week wont even cover my rent since I missed 2.5 days the week of my surgery. I have got to have at least 40 hours these next couple of weeks.

It is 3:40. I have to make it another hour and 20 minutes. Then I'm going home. I'm hoping I don't end up in the emergency room tonight or like this another day. I don't think I can handle another day. I've tried everything I know. I've put banana peels on my forehead, I've popped my neck, I've taken Flax Seed Oil, I've rubbed in Eucalyptis Oil into my temples. I've drank caffeine after caffeine after caffeine.

This is also why yesterday I started in head first on my resolution to find another doctor. I just don't know what to do. Its uncontrollable.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 02:34 PM | Comments (5)

January 11, 2006

Progress On New Years Resolutions

Ok. Here is what is going on in the world of Resolutions.

1. Save Money.
I wil admit, I'm not doing to good on this front. Since I wrote my resolutions, I have had to buy a new keyboard for my computer, my monitor is going out, my VOIP phone box died and I had to replace that. It's like one thing after another. Will it ever stop?

2. Get Out Of Debt.
It's hard to get out of debt when you are constantly replacing things that are breaking.

3. Lose Weight.
Well, I'm trying. I'm looking for some sort of Diet Plan, Group, Program or something to join. I am one of those people who need comraderie and support when it comes to something like losing weight.

4. End PackRat Syndrome.
Believe it or not, I'm still unpacking from my move on December 19th. I am actively working on throwing stuff out or packing stuff (like old yearbooks) that I really don't want to get rid of, but I don't need in my small condo.

5. Get Healthy
I got my stitches out on Monday from my knee surgery on December 29th. Yesterday I went to the Dentist. Today I spent about 3 hours doing research online, making phone calls, sending faxes and stuff towards this goal. I sent off for all of my medical records and MRI Reports. I found a new neurosurgeon and have written my letter to accompany my medical records when I call to request a new patient appointment. I am determined to find a new doctor and get off of all these drugs.

6. TV Doesn't Count.
Well, I haven't made it to church yet, but it is still on the list of things to do SOON.

7. Catch Up.
I've been staying up late trying to get my new place in order and staying at work late to try to get ahead on my tasks. I'm hoping to take a few days of vacation soon. I need to spend at least one day calling insurance and bills and get that stuff in order (see # 2).

8. School.
As much as I love school, and as much as I was warned this would happen. I have pretty much decided that I am not going to go back until I find another job and get my health and finances in order. I just about killed myself trying to work full time and go to school full time. I need to get some things in my life in order so that I can work part time and go to school and not have to burn the candle at both ends. With my current health situation, a double-sided burning is not what the doctor ordered.

I'll keep you updated on my progress. How are you doing on yours?

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 05:34 PM | Comments (2)

Just Admit It!

You Eat Olives Off Your Fingers

It's National De-Lurking Week. Come Forth And Show Yourselves.

I don't know why I'm doing this. I don't know if I have any lurkers or not, but I would love to know if you are there.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 01:19 PM | Comments (3)

January 09, 2006

Cyborg Name

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 09:27 PM | Comments (1)

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:01 PM | Comments (0)

January 05, 2006

I Have To Agree With John Boy

I found this bumper sticker on over on Goodnight, John Boy. I apologize, but this was too funny NOT to post.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:34 AM | Comments (1)

January 04, 2006

Ok, I Have To Admit

That Was A DAMN Good Game.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:52 PM | Comments (2)

Just For Today

I can't believe I'm doing this... but... Just For Today.

AHHHHH! Sic 'em HORNS!

(Just for you... Kami, Nessa and Andevine)

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 01:39 PM | Comments (2)

January 02, 2006

My New Years Resolutions

Here we are, Tuesday, January 3rd, 2006. It's time for us to look at the new year as a new slate, a time to start over and a time to try to break the bad habits that we have acquired of the past year, or in my case.. the past 31 years and 4 1/2 months.

1) Save Money

Quit eating out so much and start cooking at home.

2) Get Out Of Debt

Get on a better path to financial recovery after my unemployment (Nov 2004 - April 2005).

3) Lose Weight

Be able to wear the clothes in my closet and not buy any more (see # 1).

4) End PackRat Syndrome

Get my apartment unpacked and sorted, go home for a weekend and go thru my closets and storage shed, and then have a garage sale, sell old clothes to consignment stores, and donate the rest.

5) Get Healthy

Find a new doctor who is willing to treat my condition (Arnold Chiari) and not just treat my umpteen different symptoms with twice as many different medications. (Also see # 1, $340 in prescriptions per month is a little much)

6) TV Doesn't Count

Although I have been very good about watching either Joel Osteen or Kerry Shook every Sunday morning on TV, it doesn't really count as going to church. I need to change that. Unfortunately, the two churches I would really like to go to are in Houston. 5 hours is a little far to drive for church.

7) Catch Up

I was born 10 days late and I have spent the past 31 years and 4 1/2 months trying to catch up. This year needs to be the year I get there.

8) School

Go back to school and get closer to finishing my culinary degree. Get homework done in a timely manner and not at the last minute. (See # 7).

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 04:01 PM | Comments (4)

January 01, 2006

My Mother's Newest Obsession

During and immediately after Hurricane Rita, Anderson Cooper spent a lot of time down in New Orleans. But it wasn't until he returned to the CNN offices and sat down at the desk of his own show, 360, that my mother became obsessed.

Why is she obsessed you ask? Because she swears he looks exactly like my dad did at that age. Take off 23 years of the picture below and I'll let you be the judge.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 01:25 AM | Comments (3)

The Bluest Eyes In Texas

Michael Pakebusch
January 23, 1975 - January 1, 1994

As some of you have seen, I have written a little tribute to those I have loved that have gone before me. Twelve years ago tonight, I lost a loved one, Michael, who's death has changed my life in more profound ways than I will ever be able to put into words.

In fact, I don't even know where to begin to put into words what the four short months of friendship with Michael meant to me or how much I have hurt over the past twelve years since he left. I know many of his friends are feeling a little sad or saying a little prayer for him tonight.

Saturday morning at 1:05am, January 1, 1994 Michael was killed instantly when his car left the road and hit a utility pole. I found out about his death around 8pm Sunday evening, January 2, 1994 and my life will never be the same.

So, instead of a any measley attempt that I could put together to explain that impact on my life, I am going to just end this post with this and a song.

Michael, I love you and no matter how many years go by, you will always have a special place in my heart.

Restless Heart: Big Dreams (1988) The Bluest Eyes In Texas

The lonesome Texas sun was setting slow
In the rear view mirror I watch it glow
I can still see the wind and her golden hair
I closed my eyes for a moment I'm still there

Chorus:
The bluest eyes in Texas are haunting me tonight
Like the stars that fill the midnight sky
Her memory fills my mind
Where did I go wrong,
Did I wait too long or can I make it right
The bluest eyes in Texas are haunting me to night

Another town another hotel room
Another dream that ended way too soon
Left me lonely Waiting for the dawn
Searching for the strength to carry on

Chorus

For every heart you break you pay the price
I can't forget the tears in her blue eyes