Shocked, I tell you!

I wrote a blog entry on Tuesday night, and so haven't worried about updating it, because I knew I just had. Imagine my shock when I logged on tonight & saw what you all have been seeing... NOTHING!

It wasn't a very interesting entry that I had written, but I'll give you the brief version...

WHO HAS TWO THUMBS... (Was the title)

... and just had her last scheduled day of taking phone calls???

THIS ONE!!! (To be said with a loud voice & energetic pointing of thumbs to one's chest)

Now that was worth waiting for, wasn't it?? :)

Christ is Risen INDEED!

Yes, I know Easter is tomorrow, but I'm in such an Easter-y mood. I was just talking via IM with dear friend who is in Jerusalem right now, and she was giving me an insight on what it's like to celebrate in the land where the Ressurection took place. She is actually going to a sunrise service tomorrow morning at the Garden Tomb. Just thinking about being there where Jesus ROSE FROM THE DEAD brought me to tears.
And yet, being there is also bittersweet, because Katie is surrounded by Jews who don't believe. They choose to ignore the fact that Jesus did all this for them. Here's an excerpt from our chat.

ellishaeva: Guess what Lindsay?
blondeFBIgrad: what?
ellishaeva: HE really did rise from the dead!!!
blondeFBIgrad: He really did! And it was for US!
ellishaeva: In a city that doesn't acknowledge him it is so much more precious and real to me
ellishaeva: I want to run about the streets and grab people and
ellishaeva: oh I wish they only knew the depth of HIS love for THEM!!! and they don't need to try so hard
ellishaeva: He died for them !!! and better yet, he is alive and praying for them
blondeFBIgrad: One day, Katie - One HAPPY day they will all know - and I can't wait!

Praise the Lord that it's true - there will be a day when EVERY knee shall bow. And each day that we live brings us one day closer to that day!
Happy Easter - this weekend may we all bask in the knowledge that the grave no longer holds our King!

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad

Today my parents celebrate their anniversary. They've been married for 33 years! I wrote their names & the year on my calendar at work & people are SHOCKED that they're still together. The comments from my co-workers are all positive & all in wonderment at the idea that a marraige can, and has, survived this long.
And the more I think about it, the more I realize how much I have to be grateful for. Mom & Dad made it very clear to us kids as we were growing up, that divorce was never an option. I remember countless times hearing one or both of them saying, "Divorce is not in our vocabulary." And they never stayed together just for us kids. They still truly love each other, and cherish the time that have together.
I took it for granted growing up, but I certainly no longer do. I realize with each new person I meet who has a sad tale about parents breaking up, that I am a very lucky girl. In a world where I look around & see marraiges falling apart, it's easy to be afraid of marraige. Then I focus on Mom & Dad and see that if a relationship is built on a foundation that can't be shaken, like their's is, then it can be successful & a true glory to God.
Congratulations, Dad & Mom - and thanks...

Giving Birth in a Cinema

Warning: For people who always play by the rules, this may not be your favorite post. In fact, you may want to skip over it! :)

This weekend my cousin Lisa & I went to a movie. We didn't know where the theatre was (as we were out of town) so we stopped at a gas station to ask directions. While we were there, we decided to get snacks instead of spending a small fortune on popcorn, drinks or candy.
Lisa got a Snapple & some M&M's. I got a juice & some Baked Lay's. We paid for our purchases & drove to the theatre.
Now seeing as there are always signs posted stating that outside food is not welcome, we decided to hide our contraband. Lisa stuffed her drink & M&M's in her purse, and my juice into her coat pocket. I didn't have a purse & this bag of Baked Lay's was posing a problem. So, I unzipped my coat & stuffed it in there, creating a nice little "pregnant belly."
While we were buying our tickets, I kept rubbing my belly & Lisa asked, "Oh - is she kicking??"
By the time we were in our seats, we were laughing uncontrollably. As we settled in, I whispered in a dramatic voice, "I'm about to give birth" and unzipped my coat. An easy labor, by any standard!

It's All About the Packaging

I'm a sucker for packaging. If it comes in a cute little tin, or if it's wrapped in pretty, gauzy stuff, I'm all about it! But the other night on the way home from work, I saw such a sad attempt at packaging, that even I was not interested. Parked by the side of the road was the ugliest car ever. Propped up on it's windshield was a hand-written cardboard FOR SALE sign. And taped to the cardboard sign was a huge Christmas bow!

I could just hear what the person had been thinking. "This is a wicked ugly car. And the poor handwriting on the FOR SALE sign doesn't help much, but if we put a very large, very red, very pretty bow on the sign, it will make it a little more snazzy, and then people will want to buy this car. Yes, that will work! Let's do it."
I can't wait to drive by that house again & see if it worked!

Randomness

~ I drove 45 minutes to Old Navy tonight, specifically because they have great, long jean skirts. There was not one long jean skirt in the store! Then I went next door to Gap. "Do you have any long jean skirts?" I inquired. "Yes," the salesgirl replied. "We have skirts that go to about here," she said, pointing midcalf. Seeing as she was taller than me, I figured that would be about ankle length on me. Excited, I followed her to the clothing rack. She pulled off a jean skirt & handed it to me. It didn't even clear my KNEES. Don't know where she found the whole mid-calf thing, but whatever. I have a plethora of short jean skirts, I just want a long one. She didn't seem to be to concerned about my dilema.

~ In the last week we got over 20 inches of snow.

~ Kerin was here this past weekend. Now I no longer look like trailer trash, with blonde hair & dark roots. And, she was here for the big snow storm, where we got over a foot of snow. It was beautiful, though it wrecked all our carefully laid plans. I do love it when she comes to visit!

~ Last night I was chatising a friend via IM to update their blog more faithfully. Then I realized that I hadn't posted since last Thursday, and decided I had no leg to stand on in blasting him. I hate it when that happens!

~ Yesterday on the phone I had some lady tell me, "My name is Jane - as in Tarzan & Jane. Today I sound more like Tarzan, but that's just because I have a sore throat. Trust me, I really am Jane!" I never doubted you, Ma'am.

~ Jill came over last night & we finished reading "84 Charing Cross Rd." I've read that book so many times, and each time cannot keep from crying at the end. That book tops my favorite book list.

~ Anwar is my favorite contestant on American Idol. (Not that I watch it or anything!) I wonder if he plays the guitar & rides a motorcycle??

Dr Cuteness, Miss Hyde

The Cuteness has never been an acceptionally affectionate cat, but she does her best to show me that she tolerates me. She'll sit on my lap while I watch TV, but heaven forbid I pet her while she's there. She just likes me to lay a hand on her back & leave it there. I guess in her mind, being petted is admitting that she's an animal, not a grouchy, four-legged human.
This past weekend she went above and beyond her usual aloof behavior. My cousins were over after church, and Wesley, who is like the "Horse Whisperer" of cats, and probably the person who likes The Cuteness more than anybody but me, found himself being attacked by Her Majesty for no reason. She started hissing & laying her ears back, and she would bite & claw at anyone who came even close to her.
I was petrified, and knew that I could no longer have a cat like that in the house, because of all the people I have over, especially children. I called the vet on Monday, and they wondered aloud whether maybe she had been hurt in her escepades outside, and that's why she was lashing out. Having seen no wounds, I was about to start calling animal shelters on Tuesday.
Well, when I got home early from work on Tuesday, to climb into bed and try to get rid of this nasty cold, my cat became the most cuddly she's ever been. She never left my side the whole evening, and slept on my feet the whole time I was in bed. While I was petting her, I felt a little "ouchy" by her mouth. Poor Cuteness. If she had just told me, instead of lashing out! I should have sent her up to my friend Cherilyn's house, because I have heard Cherilyn tell her children countless times, "Use your words!"
The Cuteness wrote an email to Uncle Wesley yesterday, asking for his forgiveness.

Angels Among Us

Subtitled - "Reason 7,853 that I LOVE living on Chestnut Hill"

This evening I was curled up in my chair, reading a book, and feeling grateful that the day was over. I had gone for a half day of work, and that pretty much sapped all my energy. I heard a car door, then the crunching of feet on snow, and then... my doorbell!
There was Bria, my neighbor from down the road. In her hands were gifts. "We read on your blog that you were sick, so here's some chicken soup, some echinacea tea, and because you can't be healthy all the time that you're sick, an ice cream sandwich!"
Bless that family's hearts! After she left, I don't know which was stronger - the delicious smell of chicken broth that permeated my apartment, or the feeling of being oh-so-loved-and-taken-care-of.
Living by myself, every once in a while I'm panicked by the thought of, "What if I fell and no one knew, and then I'd never be rescued, and I could die alone, and no one would know for days." Then I remind myself that I live on Chestnut Hill, and there is no chance that this would ever happen. And now I am doubly reassured. Because now I know that if I do fall, as long as I can drag my broken body to my computer & post on my blog, someone will be by shortly to rescue me!

"Hours after receiving great promotion...

... New Hampshire Woman loses all sense of fashion!"

I didn't feel well yesterday... at all, so I came home from work early, and will go into work late today. Thankfully I'm on the upswing this morning. It's certainly not because of the fashion statement that I'm making now. I'm wearing a gingham nightgown, plaid pajama bottoms, a gray sweatshirt, and just for kicks I have a black fleec winter hat on because it sounded cozy. And we all know, you get better faster is you're cozy! (Dressing like this is definitely one of the great things about living by oneself! No one has to see you, or even know that this occured... except that I can't keep my mouth shut, so I just told the whole world!!)

Oh - by the way. We had another snow storm last night. I'm not sure how much we got, because I live at the very top of a tall hill, and my front lawn is the place where all the snow drifts. I looked out this morning & my car doesn't even have to be cleaned off because it's been so windy. BUT I might have trouble getting to my car, because the drifts in front of my house are up past my shoulders.

You're Looking At.....

... The newest full-time trainer that Oxford just hired!

After waiting for a very l-o-n-g 18 (but who's counting) days, today I received an offer to take the position as trainer at Oxford, starting on April 3! And I said YES!

So tonight I am one happy, thankful, excited little girl, who finally has a big kid job, and one that I truly enjoy! It's definitely much more fun to train others to take calls from angry people, than to take them myself.

Thank you to all who were praying. God heard & answered in spades!

A fly on the wall heard this last night

Derrick was over for our weekly "LOST" fix. I was eating as he walked in.

Me - "You're welcome to have some dinner - it's dry cereal."

Derrick - "No thanks, I already had dinner. I had hot dogs & yogurt."

Me - "We are so single..."

Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

Four times a year Oxford has an employee appreciation month. We get to wear jeans all month, and during the first week we all get a present on our desks. Sometimes the gifts are nice, but more often than not, they make me shake my head & wonder, "What WERE they thinking?" March starts an appreciation month, so we all recieved a token of Oxford's gratitude today - it fell into the WWTT catergory, but I'll cover that in a second.

Some of the nicer gifts Oxford has given:

- A fleece blanket with the Oxford logo on it
- A really nice gym bag with the Oxford logo on it
- An insulated lunch bag with the Oxford logo on it
- A disposable camera & a photo album - bet you can't guess what was emblazoned on both of them!

Some of the more random gifts:

- A talking pedometer (yes it was emblazoned with the Oxford logo) I ask you.... what good does a pedometer do those of us who are penalized if we get up from our desks too often during our eight hour shift??
- Microwave popcorn with the Oxford logo on it - now to be fair, this one did come with a $5 Blockbuster card, but it still made me laugh
- A "Stress relief" kit - stress ball, hand-held massager & a little card that you put your thumb on to see how stressed out you are

The best one was a couple weeks ago. We came in & on our desks we had a little present. It was a Power Bar, a bottle of water & another little hand-held massager. Oxford had just changed our benefits to where we no longer get any reimbursement if we go to a gym, but instead we can go on-line to a special website just for Oxford/United employees & read about how to live a healthier lifestyle. So, as an incentive to live healthy, we got this "desk-drop" as they call it. I walked into work & one of my friends greeted me with, "Don't eat the Power Bar before you read your email." A company wide email had gone out from CAPTAIN WELLNESS saying to please dispose of the Power Bars that had been left on our desks, and if we had eaten them, to please call the nurse's hotline. Gone was gift number one! Then I drank the water... Gone was gift number two. The next day I accidently knocked my hand-held massager off my desk. It broke. Gone was gift number three. (Yes, I do know what was wrong with the Power Bars... it seems some of them had *whisper* worms in them) So, there I was - First gift poisoned, second gift went right through me, third gift broken.

Which brings me to today. We came in to find something that looked like a highlighter (with the Oxford logo on it) on each of our desks. Only, it wasn't a highlighter. You took the cap off, and sprayed it, and it was hand-sanitizer! How clever is that??