Monday, April 30, 2007

Snapfish Help

Not sure if this has ever happened to anyone, but it's totally freaking me out and was always one of my biggest fears. I went into my Snapfish account this morning to order the prints I uploaded over the weekend and guess what? It doesn't recognize my user name and password. So I, of course, click on the forgot my password link, and discover that, according to Snapfish, my e-mail address is not registered. Of course it's registered!!! I've had the account for more than 3 years!!! and, AND - have years of photos on there - most of which aren't backed up anywhere else. I am not pleased. I sent them an e-mail wondering if they can help me out. I'm just hoping, and PRAYING, that they are having a technical issue and it will all work itself out. Fingers (and toes) crossed!

Friday, April 27, 2007

New Photos!

It's been a long time since I posted new photos of Baby Anthony. The once squishy little baby is now all boy and growing by leaps and bounds. He's so cute I just can't stand it!
Enjoy!

This is my favorite! High-fiving with Papa


Showing Auntie his "touch down!"


Little mall rat


With Auntie at Easter


I love everything yellow!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Rachel Ray Go Away

First she took over my cuddling, loving Sunday mornings with C. We'd lay in bed and talk and then one day found ourselves watching the Food Network and my lazy Sunday mornings were then spent listening to her scream at me with her big loud mouth! Not to mention that big grin similar to the one I used as a child posing for photos. (If I had one on me I'd post it right here). Talking about "man overboard" if something fell out of a bowl and "EVOO." Give me a break!

I'm talking about Rachel Ray.



Then, a few months ago I head to the market (which anyone who knows me knows I do my best to avoid as I detest the supermarket) to pick up a few things including my standard Wheat Thins. What do I see? Her chubby face smling at me on the box thanks to a recent endorsement deal with Nabisco. Fine, but looking at her automatically puts her gruff, loud, obnoxious voice in my head. Now I'm looking for another cracker for my cravings.

But the worst was the other morning when I was getting ready for work. The TV is on the bedroom as I get ready so I can listen to the local weather and traffic reports. Next thing I hear - at 7 a.m. in the morning mind you - is her horrifying voice over my TV. Apparently she's now the face of Dunkin Donuts. Why! Why for all that is holy is this woman everywhere?

Give me Giada De Laurentiis any day!



She's soft spoken, sweet, adorable and man her recipes rock!

And one word about Rachel's "30 Minute Meals" - sure they take 30 minutes, but that doesn't include the 30 minutes you need prior to chop everything!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Coffee Conundrum

Here’s one for the books. Now usually my only gripe with Dunkin Donuts in the morning is the fact that every day I order the same thing – a large iced coffee, half regular/half decaf, skim milk and one Equal (I know slightly complicated but usually not a problem as I go to the same one every morning for four years now). However, at least once a week I’ll pull into the parking lot at work, take that first sip and find it’s hazelnut! The one flavor that literally makes me queasy. They couldn’t screw up with coconut? – That I could handle.

But this morning was something I NEVER encountered. I ordered my usual large iced and after I paid, the girl put down on the counter in front of me two coffees – a small and a medium. I looked at her like WTF. She informs me they ran out of large cups so she put it in two. Are you kidding me! How the hell was I supposed to drive to work with these two coffees, not to mention my little travel cup from home that I had been drinking from for the past half hour. Then I start to realize there is no way I’m going to be able to get out of my car, load up my work gear and carry TWO coffees into the building, while swiping my badge to get in. I literally stood there and stared at the two cups of pure stress staring me down in the coffee shop for two straight minutes. She looks at me and pulls away the small. “Did you just want the medium?” No, I paid for the large. (I’ll admit it, I’m cheap). So off I went, stomping my feet and bitching under my breath. Only to get in the car and realize – wow – who would have thought. I didn’t have enough cup holders in the front seat to handle it all.

Ugh. Thank God a co-worker pulled into the parking space beside me when I got to work this morning and helped me bring it all in.

The end.

Note to Dunkin Donuts girl – when you order a large iced with one Equal – you don’t necessarily need one Equal in the small one – nasty!!!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Reality TV Junkie

C calls it the "dumbing down of America," I call it a release. Yes, I'm addicted to reality shows - but sadly many of them aren't even what someone would consider a "good" reality TV experience.

By day I'm the executive editor of a major technological design magazine with a circulation of more than 180,000 worldwide. Give a girl a break. I work hard during the day and aside from catching up on some of my reading at night, I like to escape and watch non-thinking, mind-numbing if you will, television.

I love Amazing Race All Stars (but can't stand Charla and Mirna), totally had it with Survivor, and can't stomach the ridiculousness of the Bachelor (although I was a big fan of the Bachelorette which seems to never be coming back).

Now here is where I'm concerned. I'm a big fan of The Hills, and I know I'm not the only one. I did stop watching Laguna Beach after the second season. But, as a seasoned 90210 fan how could I not program my DVR to record Tori & Dean Inn Love (you've got to love the Oxygen channel) - it's such a train wreck I can't stop watching!!!! And this is before her baby is even born. I imagine it will get much better. I am also one of those people who actually caught Rob & Amber's (of Amazing Race and Survivor fame) reality show Rob & Amber Against the Odds - where they move to Las Vegas so he can see if he can make a living being a professional poker player. Really folks - some of this stuff you have to see to believe.

C was actually speechless the other night when he was going through our recordings to find I'm now also taping Run's House. I'm giving you all the same answer I gave him - I do not know.

So yeah, train wreck reality is my escape, well that and shopping, but sometimes there isn't that much disposable income burning a hole in my pocket, so curling up on the couch is the better way to go.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

What to Do about a Puking Cat?

So Miss Molly is again making a liar out of me. I swear to God she only throws up for C's benefit as I very rarely encounter it myself. Which brings me to this morning. Apparently she threw up on the stairs and poor C - stepped in it and dragged it up a couple of steps. Needless to say he was FAR from happy and spent the time he should have been spending getting ready for work cleaning up cat puke, washing the runner on the staircase, etc...

While I believe Molly isn't tossing her cookies as much as she did before we moved, C will say differently. Again, he's finding more than I am.

I need to - MUST - solve this problem.

I read somewhere that if you put a ball in her bowl it makes her eat slower as she has to eat around the rolling object. Does anyone think this will work? I have to do something. She doesn't get furballs thanks to the food she eats and the fact she's groomed regularly. I also know she does it to herself - she's notorious for going to her food bowl, gobbling it up like it's going to disappear if she doesn't and then immeditaely run around the house like a fool. I know if that was me and I was doing the same thing I would be yakking - so it makes sense.

Help!

Monday, April 16, 2007

What Is It They Say about April Showers?

What ever happened to April showers bringing May flowers. That's certainly not the case here in the Boston area where the forecast is a chilly 40 with rain set for every day this week.

The rain we had last night into this morning though - now that was interesting. First off they recorded 50 mile per hour winds with, as the television meteorologist said this morning, a low pressure similar to a category 2 hurricane. Need more proof? C and I woke early this mornign to the sound of crashing down our street. Would you believe it was a piece of siding from teh house next door? It was wicked. Throughotu the area lawn furniture has been tossed about like dollhouse pieces. And my commute to work, although light thanks to the holiday, was like playing a video game dodging trash barrels, fallen limbs and flooded out roads all the way in.

Give me summer! I don't need spring - I just want some sunshine, but from the looks of it we won't be seeing any of that until next weekend. My fingers are crossed.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Where is Spring?

Folks, for those of you not living on the East Coast or in Boston. Here's something to keep in mind. We've had snow twice in the first two weeks of the month. Temps haven't been above 40 for weeks (although Saturday is supposed to be in the 50s) but come Sunday - it's back to chilly weather and a monsoon-ish storm coming through Sunday and Monday.

What does this mean? Well a couple of things. In Boston Monday is Patriot's Day and the running of the Boston Marathon - in very cold, very wet, very windy weather. There was even talk of postponing the Marathon - something that has never happened in the 100 + history of its running.

Add to that the records.

I just heard on the radio that April 2007 in Boston is the coldest April on record in 113 years.

Perhaps Spring might just escape us this year and we can cut directly to summer? That wouldn't bother me a bit!

I'll Never Use an Airport Bathroom Again

It's official - thanks to a story I just read in the Boston Herald, I will never, I repeat - NEVER - use a bathroom in an airport again.

According to the story,boston.cragislist.org is being used for matchmaking for those travelers "trolling for casual sex in Logan’s concourse as a last-minute souvenir of their trip to Boston."

Wait, it gets better. It talks about some of the posts:

“Looking for a quick airport encounter now at gate d, airtran,” one man broadcast Sunday at 7:06 a.m. on the popular online classifieds site.

"Last Friday, at Terminal B, shortly before 7 p.m., “Horny married guy looking (for sex) with another discreet dude."

"Earlier that day, a gay passenger with a schedule to keep wrote, “Can’t travel far so another guy at Logan would be best.”"

Logan Airport officials say they are aware of the situation, and are working with state police.

And apparently Boston isn't the only venue for this type of "hook-up." The article says at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, undercover cops have arrested more than 30 people in the past three months, usually in public restrooms, for "pulling down their pants instead of pulling out a good book." Lovely.

This is just so wrong!

I have nothing more to say on the subject.

The Imus Saga

Check out my brother's post on the firing of Imus* this - to me it's right on the money about the hypocrisy of the whole situation.

I just have one thing to add. With everyone and their brother coming out of the wood work and voicing their opinion on the subject on national television, you have to wonder why there is such a double standard.

Whoopi Goldberg was on the Today show yesterday talking about it, yet (in case you didn't know) the name of her production company is actually "One Ho Productions." So basically it's OK for her to use the term but not him? Granted his comment about "nappy headed ho's" was highly offensive - but they did suspend him to show him he was wrong - but my question is why is everyone bowing to those against his comment, from the Al Sharptons of the world to the advertisers who threatened to pull ads if they didn't fire him? I know money talks and shit walks, but come on folks!

Not to mention last night on Larry King they had everyone on from Serena Williams to Delta Reese (not sure where they dug her up from). The legs this incident has is truly amazing to me. And I'm sure we will continue to hear much more about it in the upcoming weeks and months.

*Just for the record, not a fan of Imus or a non-fan.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Unbelievable!

I can't believe it - CBS actually fired Imus!

More to follow.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

What to Do at 1 a.m. on a School Night

I haven't been feeling well lately, and while I tend not to get sick, my body does decide to revolt in other ways - from severe joint pain (thanks to the Fibromyalgia) to migraines. Lucky me, Monday kicked off a week of both.

Monday night - I could barely move. The pain which began at my left shoulder and then found it's way to the side of my neck, decided to settle intensely at the back of my neck leading its way up to a killer migraine and basically the inability to move my head in even the slightest way without searing pain.

Needless to say I went to bed early and while normally I'd read when I do this, those of you who know what it feels like know you can't even have the lights on, yet read when you have the searing pain, never mind the throbbing headache. So into bed I went early. And medicated myself with everyhting from Aleve to my prescription meds, and an ice pack. Nothing was working. Then I passed out - whether from being tired or the pain I didn't care I was sleeping!

Now there's a problem with going to bed early when you're body is only used to so much sleep. You wake up. So there I was 1:30 a.m. Still suffering from a dull headache, yet WIDE awake. I swear the cat looked at me with a "what is she kidding?" look when I had to move her to get out of bed. Thankfully C didn't stir at all. Must be nice to sleep so deeply :-).

I took another pill, read almost an entire magazine, checked my e-mail, folded some clothes, everything I could do upstairs. I actually considered going down to the living room and catching up on some shows hanging out on the DVR, but figured if I did that I would be doomed.

So I headed back to bed. It's now 3 a.m. Nothing, still can't sleep. Started running mental lists of things I had to do at home and at work. Running your mind in the dead of night is sure to keep you awake.

Needless to say I finally fell asleep around 4 - only to be woken at 5:30 for the day. Thankfully since I used to be completely nocturnal I was able to get through my day. Though last night it hit me - and sure enough I was in bed super early yet again, but this time I didn't rouse until C woke me before he left at 7 a.m. Bring on Wednesday!

What do the rest of you do when you can't get back to sleep? I think I could use some suggestions because I know it's going to happen again at some point.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Five Answers to Five Questions

Thinking I'd open myself up a bit (though I do tend to keep my walls up a bit at times) here are the answers to five questions from Kristi. (Thanks Kristi!)

1. What is the most important lesson anyone has ever taught you?

The most important lesson I think I’ve ever been taught is to be yourself. Don’t go along with the group. Be your own person. Set your own goals, believe in your own ideals and don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. That also goes hand-in-hand with the fact that what it all comes down to in terms of finding the right someone to spend the rest of your life with, you won’t be able to find him or her until you know who you are, know what you want and are happy with the person you are. Only then can everything fall into place.

2. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?

Oh man, this is a tough one. It’s a toss up between Veal Saltimbocca (I know, I know, veal isn't very PC) and olives. I LOVE olives!!!!

3. What current social issue is the most important to you?

To be honest, I’m so up in the air with social issues right now although I'm definitely a socially-responsible being. Maybe it’s my age or where I stand in terms of having a child in the future, but I can’t honestly tell you what issue is at the forefront at the moment until I can wrap my hands around it. But I promise I will answer this sometime in the very near future.

4. If you could get away with a criminal act, scott-free, and never have anyone know about it, and never be charged for the crime, what would it be?

To be on the safe side, and remember, this is hypothetical, I would find a way to get my hands on at least a few million dollars to sock away in the bank. After all, $1 million garners about $50,000 annually in interest :-).

5. If you could go on any game show, past or present, which one would it be?

Jeopardy – I was always the couch champion of this!

Thursday, April 05, 2007

CVS - Friend or Foe?

Let's, for a moment, talk about the hassle of picking up a prescription. Now I know it's not like it used to be - with big companies taking over and running smaller, family-owned ones out of town we are pretty much stuck. No more running to the local corner pharmacy when you have an emergency and getting the help you need. Like many years ago when my cat actually ate one of my birth control pills (it fell on the floor and she gobbled it up before I had a chance to grab it). That day I went down to my local family pharmacy, explained the situation to the pharmacist who knew me by name and she gave me a pill. Had it been CVS, there is no doubt in my mind I would have been forking over $50 for a replacement pack just for that one pill. But I digress.

On Tuesday my significant other went to the doctor and needed to me to pick up his script for him after work. No problem. I stopped by the house when I got home - about 4:45 - dropped off my work stuff and headed the three blocks over to our local CVS (his doctor had faxed the prescription over at the end of his appointment about a half hour prior). Terrific! I was thrilled - as we all know that if you have your doctor call it into the pharmacy at CVS you usually aren't required to wait the requisite 20 minutes (where I swear they intentionally make you shop the store to buy unecessary items while killing time).

I pull in - grab a spot - pretty much a good feat at this location and walk on in. Here is where it starts to get ugly. Nothing is ever easy so I should have known that up to this point things were moving ahead way to smoothly.

I walk down to the back of the store where the pharmacy line is four people deep, not counting the couple who are half asleep in the "waiting" chairs to the right and the woman sitting there hacking. Great, now I'm exposed to some strange person who probaby has Sars.

Ten minutes later it's my turn. I tell the pharmacist I'm there to pick up a prescription and give him the name. "I don't have anything under that name," he tells me abruptly. I tell him the doctor faxed it in within the past half hour to 40 minutes. He goes to the computer. "There was no prescription called in." No shit sherlock, I said it was faxed in. So I tell him again, it was faxed in. He walks ever so slowly in that indignant I work in retail way, pulls about 20 sheets of paper off the fax machine and comes across ours. Terrific. I know it's two scripts that come in boxes - all you have to do is slap a label on each. How long could it take? Five minutes max? I'm thinking again, I'm in good shape. Whammy! (as Nikki would say)

He informs me it will be at least 45 minutes before it will be ready. 45 minutes! You have to be shitting me! I'm ready to pull a Shirley MacClaine in "Terms of Endearment" - give my boyfriend the pill!!!!! I explain he needs to start this medication today and that it's imperative I have it. He tells me I'll have it but it will be 45 minutes. He couldn't have given a care in the world.

So I go home. Tell C the whole story. Take a shower. Make something to eat. and get ready because I had a friend coming over in an hour to pick up some stuff. I figured it would be fine. I could go over to CVS to pick up the script and be back in plenty of time. He said 45 minutes right?

Fifty minutes go by and I decide to pick up the phone and call before heading back over. I'm very nice, "hi I'm just calling to see if a prescription is ready?" I give him my name and I get a nasty "you were just in here" as a reply. I said yes, like an hour ago. "Well, he says, "I just put it in the system two minutes ago." What does that mean? You guessed it! It would be another 45 minutes to an hour. That makes it nearly two hours to pick up two items that again, all they had to do was slap a sticker on them and I'd be all set. Assholes. Then he adds that one of the scripts isn't covered by insurance and will cost $55. Whatever, at this point who cares. I told him it was fine.

So I hang up the phone, bitch a little, Ok I'll be honest, I bitched a lot. And then decided when Sasha came over (her husband was dropping her off) I would drive her home and stop by CVS - safety in numbers right.

So an hour and a half later, I again pull into the CVS parking lot - the place is jammed there is only one open parking space - so different than the good sign I had pulling in nearly three hours earlier. Oh, and did I mention this CVS actually has metered parking! Yep, metered parking meaning that not only to I have to deal with the ignorant assholes who work there, I have to pay for it. The fun never stops.

We head on down to the back of the store. Again, the line is multiple people deep and it's finally my turn. As I'm asking for the prescription there is a woman to my right who looks about as unhappy as I who offers up a "good luck" as she's been there 20 something minutes and they can't find hers. Shocking!

I give them my name. She finds nothing. Can't spell the last name even though I spell it out for her twice. Then goes to the computer, still can't find it - although she's telling me it has been filled. In between all this she's pissing and moaning to her co-workers that she's worked 16 hours and has to leave. And then they all start laughing and almost having fun at my expense! I'm steamed!

She has me move out of line and over to the "consult" window. Probably to keep me from causing a scene :-) and again starts asking me the spelling. Ugh! Still can't find it. More time passes, she calls for someone up front to help her and then turns around to the counter where there is a paper bag and sure enough - C's prescriptions are sitting right there and ready to go.

So by 8:30 that night C was finally on his way to recovery. Ugh.

Honestly, where's the humanity. Why are people so ignorant and uncaring and selfish. And further more, wouldn't it make more sense in this industry to have someone who speaks and reads English handling prescriptions? You'd think so right?

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Tag! You're It!

OK so my brother tagged me (thanks a lot). That being said you bloggers know what's coming next. I have to tag you as well. Plus it is a way to learn more about each other right? Man this is worse than one of those chain e-mails:

(Cut me some slack folks - I had to take a break from trying to organize the closet. Still working on it and will keep you posted)

Here we go:
Some people like this shit, some don't but I guess it's a good way to learn more about each other. YEEECK! So here it is....

Three Things That Scare Me

- Spiders
- Movies about people who are possessed
- The phone ringing in the middle of the night (it's never a good thing)

Three People Who Make Me Laugh

- My boyfriend (C)
- My brother
- My nephew

Three Things I Love

- My boyfriend and my family
- The scent of vanilla
- Miss Molly and Miss Daisy

Three Things I Hate

- Mean people
- Bad drivers, particularly all of you on my route to work everyday who find it necessary to take three point terms in the middle of a main street during rush hour
- The supermarket

Three Things I Don’t Understand

- The shelf-life of cream (why does it last so long?)
- People who work in retail but aren't nice at all
- Liars

Three Things On My Desk

- Photos, photos, photos (me and C, my nephew, my brother, Daisy, Molly)
- My pink crystal heart-shaped paper weight mom bought me many, many years ago
- Hand cream (always)

Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die

- Travel to Italy and explore every region
- Have a family of my own
- Taste fame, even if only for a moment

Three Things I Can Do

- I have the answer to any obscure question possible (I may be full of useless information, but it does prove useful when I least expect it).
- I can still do a split even though it's been years since I've taken a dance class
- Kick your ass in tennis (sorry Anthony - stealing it from you - though you can definitely kick my ass)

Three Things I Can’t Do

- Keep a neat closet
- Be scheduled enough to get my car to the carwash more often than three times a year
- Drive on the highway (long story)

Three Things I Think You Should Listen To

- Conversations going on around you - you never know what you'll find out
- Your soul - it will never fail you
- Your heart

Three Things You Should Never Listen To

- Vanilla Ice
- Unsolicited advice
-

Three Things I’d Like To Learn (but won’t)

- How to knit (though I may - course I keep saying that)
- How to drive a standard
- How to change a tire

Three Shows I Watched As A Kid

- Laverne & Shirley
- Eight is Enough
- The Love Boat
(yes folks, I'm old)

Three Blogs I’ve tagged

- My Wombinations-
- Interrupted Wanderlust
- Daddyrific

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Coming out of the Closet

Just to give you all a real view of what I'm talking about - I documented the problem. It's embarrasing but I feel that I have to share this with all of you to get the best range of advice from all who can offer some.

I came home Saturday afternoon and decided to spend a good hour going through my closet, packing up my winter clothes (though with this week's forecast I'm thinking that may have been a bad idea) and actually putting items aside for Goodwill (believe it or not).

Here is what I was greeted with when I entered the room that houses my closet. Several containers of summer clothes, not to mention one and a half that still had items I hadn't found a home for since I moved.



Then I went to the closet. So, not what a closet is supposed to look like. Too much jammed into too small a space with no room to breathe. (though they are hung by garment type - so I guess in some weird way it is a bit organized). Plus the fact I can't find a thing. I think what freaked me out most about the closet were the scary piles of clothes stacked precariously on the top shelf (lets just say I need step stool to get up there without having everything tumble down on top of me).



The shoes, of course, are another problem. They are stacked in boxes along the walls of the closet - right now in no order whatsoever (which made it really difficult to find a pair of flipflops on Sunday. They really need their own closet, but until then I definitely need to come up with a solution.



So I packed up the winter sweaters and turtlenecks, pulled out a ton of stuff I haven't worn in quite some time and bagged that up to be given away. Started thinking about where to put my dozens upon dozens upon dozens of pocketbooks and then my room looked like this.



I'll admit it - the scene frightened me. All I could think is that the closet may begin to revolt and start throwing up more clothing at me and I still don't have anywhere to put it. I managed to sort through some piles, and organize the drawers of the other two dressers I have for storage, but I was afraid. So I took a break.

Even Molly was stunned.


I did manage to clean up the room by the end of the afternoon. Now I just have two more containers of clothes to find room for, along with the pocketbooks, and then I can start trying to make my closet somewhat functional. It will certainly be a challenge and I'll take any advice anyone can offer as to how to make this work.

Until then ...