My Week PLUS I Need Suggestions

I'm not going to complain much. I'm just going to list everything that happened and how much it cost to make it through this week. I have done my share of crying. It's Friday. Only 6 1/2 hours left of work. It's sunny and in the 80's. Things are looking up. Right?

Tuesday - nail in the sidewall of my tire. Nail in the middle of other tire. Oil change. - $183.00

Wednesday - Jamie the wonder dog digs out of fence. Someone calls the doggy Po-Po. Pick up from pound - $110.00

Wednesday - Jamie getting kicked in the head by pound person or someone else. Swollen, bleeding eye. Emergency Vet visit - $128.75

Thursday - Jake - physical for camp. Should have been $20.00. Ex stopped paying for their insurance and I didn't know about it until I got to the Doctor's office. Jake's Physical - $122.40

Tracy bawling her eyes out and having a breakdown in the doctor's office - priceless.

It was a traumatic week dealing with Jamie. he is part of the family and it killed me to see him hurting. He'll be okay though.

On to other things.

I bought an ipod shuffle on ebay last week for $20. It's used but the other person's songs have been wiped off. I bought new ear buds and it's in great shape. SO - it can only hold about 250 songs which is perfect for me. I'll probably only listen to it when I'm working out.

So, what I'm asking is that when you leave a comment, you'll let me know your top 5-10 or more songs that you would put on your ipod or that you already have on your ipod/mp3 player.

I'm not big into Country music but I'll probably put a few classics on there. Anything else is fine.

Thanks for your help and I hope your week was better than mine!

Trace~

Snagged

I thought I'd do this just because. I snagged it from Heather and Laura. they are sisters and they are so cute!

1. First thing you wash in the shower? Hair

2. What color is your favorite hoodie? Grey

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? most definitely

4. Do you plan outfits? no, I grab what is clean. If I have somewhere important to go, then I will plan

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? I feel great. I caught up on sleep last night. Cleaned and grocery shopped and now I'm going to the gym... well, when I'm caught up on blogs

6. Whats the closest thing to you that's red? jake's yearbook has some red in it


7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? I dreamt about Adam losing AI? Can I get H yes?!

8. Did you meet anybody new today? nope, but I do like meeting people!

9. What are you craving right now? hahahahaaaaaaa

10. Do you floss? Yes, but not nearly as much as I should.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? and corn beef! and St. Patty's Day

12. Are you emotional? very, very emotional. I cry at the most random things

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? Look, I only have 10 fingers and 10 toes and that is as high as I can count!

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? I suppose I lick.

15. Do you like your hair? I love it! I wish I had the dough to go to the one place who knows how to cut hair, but I don't so it's not as great as it could be

16. Do you like yourself? usually

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? Absolutely. I love W.

18. What are you listening to right now? Jake playing Guitar Hero 3

19. Are your parents strict? They used to be - maybe more demanding

20. Would you go sky diving? the ONLY way I'd go sky diving is if I were on a Reality TV show and I was winning money

21. Do you like cottage cheese? I just threw up in my mouth. If I even get it on my hands I will spew

22. Have you ever met a celebrity? Brett Favre - sigh

23. Do you rent movies often? not usually - we go through kicks when I get them from the $1 movie thing at the Kroger

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in? my personality

25. How many countries have you visited? Mexico and Canada - but I REALLY want to go to Scotland, Italy and Spain

26. Have you made a prank phone call? Hahahahaha - OMG - my girls Kathi and Tricia and I did it as recently as 2 years ago. All the time! so funny. Yes, I was 37 when I did it. But I felt like I was 12

27. Ever been on a train? yep, to Chicago from Milwaukee to see Blake

28. Brown or white eggs? white

29. Do you have a cell-phone? I feel naked without it.

30. Do you use chap stick? yes--every day at work

31. Do you own a gun? Nope and I don't want to

32. Can you use chop sticks? of course!

33. Who are you going to be with tonight? just the boys, I suppose

34. Are you too forgiving? I think so

35. Ever been in love? yes
36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow? all of them will be going to various churches.

37. Ever have cream puffs? yeah, but not a fave

38. Last time you cried? yesterday

39. What was the last question you asked? "What song are you going to play, Jake" (he's playing Cult of Personality)

40. Favorite time of the year? Fall, Fall, Fall, Fall - Halloween, Football, thanksgiving!!! Cool, crisp weather!

41. Do you have any tattoos? Yes, two.

42. Are you sarcastic? yes, but I think I'm more of a smart ass than sarcastic - or are those the same thing?

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? no and don't plan to

44. Ever walked into a wall? I did yesterday at work. I also run into walls with my toes on a weekly basis. I think the only reason they are still attached is that they are attached by skin!

45. Favorite color? depends on the day - blue, pink, green, yellow - I prefer pastels

46. Have you ever slapped someone? yes, in high school and the B**** deserved it!

47. Is your hair curly? Yes. Quite curly.

48. What was the last CD you bought? I don't buy myself CD's but my most Awesome Secret Pal bought me Kings of Leon and Matt Nathanson and I can't get enough of them!

49. Do looks matter? Well, yes, but that's not ALL that matters.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater? I have

51. Is your phone bill sky high? No. It stays about the same each month.

52. Do you like your life right now? Most of the time.

53. Do you sleep with the TV on? I fall asleep to Nick at Night every night

54. Can you handle the truth? of course - I'd rather have the truth than be lied to

55. Do you have good vision? yep

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? I don't "hate" people - I can name 3 people though that I dislike

57. How often do you talk on the phone? Often. I LOVE talking on the phone!

58. Who was the last person you held hands with? Mike

59. What are you wearing? gaucho pants and a white tanktop

60. What is your favorite animal? DOG.

61. Where was your default picture taken at? Amanda and Luke's wedding

62. Can you hula hoop? of course - these hips don't lie!

63. Do you have a job? yes and I love it

64. What was the most recent thing you bought? groceries

65. Have you ever crawled through a window? yes and I've taught my kids how to also. When Cole (15) was in 2nd grade, I went to pick him up and went to the window of his classroom and his teacher Ms. Book came and chit-chatted and dismissed him through the window. We almost got busted by the principal but we didn't.

Reality TV

I'm addicted. I can't help it. I'll watch almost any reality TV Show.

Survivor, AI, Celebrity Apprentice, Amazing Race, Real World/Road Rules Challenge, The Bachelor/ette, The Hills.

I do not apologize.

I watched the Amazing Race for the first time this year. I cried when Margie and Luke came in 3rd. He is deaf but they continually came in first until the end. I think everyone was pulling for them.

Celebrity Apprentice. I loved this season. It had Jesse James and Tom Green. I am a huge Tom Green fan. His humor is "different" and he makes me laugh out loud. Jesse James is hot. He is a man of few words but what when he does speak, he is well spoken and intelligent. And he's hot.

The finally of C.A. was on Sunday. It was Joan vs. Annie the Poka Playa! I'm so glad Joan won because Annie was a snake.

The girls at work and I want Kris or Danny to win AI. Adam is good. But he doesn't need the title. I think I'm going to go with Kris.

Then there's the Real World/Road Rules challenge. I think I may be the only person over 30 who watches this. It is embarassing to admit. Maybe I need help.

The Hills. Mike called last week and asked what I was doing. I hesitated because I didn't want to admit that I was watching the Hills. But, I told him and it took him a minute or two to quit laughing. I blush thinking about it.

Should I just delete this post? I'm scaring myself!

I love Ole Miss

University of Mississippi. Ole Miss.

I tear up any time I drive on campus. Heck, I tear up anytime I hear "Are You READY" or when someone even mentions the great town of Oxford, Mississippi. To me, it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is where I went to college and it truly was the best time of my life.

Vaught Hemingway Stadium.

The Grove - where summer school students lounge around or play frisbee.

Anyway, apparently there are Flash Raves going happening on college campuses during finals week. The student body goes to their school library and have a rave. They dance like mad (no alcohol allowed in the library - and the kids aren't destructive) for 10 minutes to get the tension out. Then they go back to their studying (or partying). I think it's a fun idea and I love the videos from Ole Miss - especially the Hotty Toddy! I love the Penguin leading everyone in a great Hotty Toddy! The UPD (university police) estimated there were about 2,000 students in attendance and while it was rowdy, no one got hurt nor did anything in the library get damaged.

Swine Flu

So, there's a possible case of Swine Flu here in our county. The school where the child goes has been closed.

I know that a lot of people think this is nothing to worry about - my mom included. But I'm worried. It's in the back of my mind a lot and when I think about it, I feel a little panicky.

But, I'm also an admitted hypochondriac. My friends and coworkers make fun of me when I'm sick and joke that I probably have the bird flu. I laugh with them because there is a story behind it.

A few years ago, when the bird flu was all that everyone could talk about, I got sick. I ached all over, my head felt like it would explode, my back hurt from coughing, running fever and even my eyelids hurt.

So, I was letting the FedEx guy in and he said, "boy, you sound terrible. What's wrong?" So, I told him. He stepped back and said, "You've got all of the symptoms of the bird flu. I'd get to the doctor asap"!!!

That did it. I was off to call my doctor and beg them to fit me in. I had a panic attack on the way over there. I just KNEW I was going to be the first case of the bird flu in the US. Now, while I'm probably one of the most competitive people EVER, I did not want to be the first in this. I'm divorced and raising two kids alone. I didn't want me to die and leave them without me! Sheesh!

Finally, after paying the extra $30 as a walk-in plus my co-pay (and an hour and a half later), the nurse called me back.

She took my temp (101) and listened to my back and chest and took my blood pressure (which was sky high due to the fact that I had the bird flu and I was panicked about it).

She asked me why I was there and what my symptoms were and how long I'd had them. I told her my symptoms and then I told her matter of factly, "I think I have the bird flu". I didn't crack a smile. In fact, I think I was about to cry.

She looked at me warily and completely surprised that those words came out of my mouth. Then she burst out laughing. She got up and told the other nurses what I said. They all peeked around the corner to see the girl with the bird flu. They laughed until they cried. I just pouted.

Finally I get shown to a room amidst snorts and giggles and belly laughs. Whatev.

Then the kind doctor comes in. Blessedly, he kept his smirk to a minimum. He listened to my list of symptoms, listened to my heart and chest, looked down my throat and up my nose and in my ears.

I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and two ear infections.

So now, with this swine flu, you may understand that I am a little paranoid. I'm going to buy the boys alcohol based wipes to take to school to keep their hands clean. I want to completely steralize my house. I want a storm/germ shelter to retreat to. Really.

I went to the CDC site and they say to wash your hands after you sneeze or cough. Use alcohol based hand sanitizer. Don't pick your nose. That kind of thing.

BUT - you can eat all the pork (cooked at least to 160 degrees) you want - since you can't get it that way.

Go figure. Stay healthy!

Sonic - To Tip or Not To Tip - a public service announcement

I have many things to blog about but this will be my post for the day because of it's importance.

My girl Whitney and I had a conversation about Sonic and how much, if any you are supposed to tip. Do you just tell them to keep the change, even if it's 4 cents? Do they make at least minimum wage and the tip is extra cash? Or do they make waitress wages and rely on tips to get by. You can read about our more in depth conversation here.

Over the weekend, I did some research. I went to Sonic for a large diet coke. It is delicious. They have the best ice in the whole world. When "Lindsay" brought out my drink that was $1.79, I asked her. She told me.

The car hops at Sonic make more than waitress wages but less than minimum wage. They do rely on their tips to help make that amount up. You CANNOT add a tip on the debit/credit card machine attached to the menu. So, her suggestion was to either pay in cash and give a tip - even if it's just the change from a dollar - or pay by debit or credit but make sure you bring a little change to help a girl (or guy) out. I gave her $3.00.

So. Now you know.

You're welcome.

Green Day

Happy Earth Day! Many people are thinking greener as the years go by and while I'm not hugging any trees, nor do I want to ride my bike to work, I do recycle and try my best to keep it green as much as possible in our little world.

I love Earth Day because I love the planet we live on and how wonderous and beautiful and HUGE it is.

The boys and I are going to check out the above movie. We love movies like this and frequent the local IMAX. This movie, made by Disney, should be powerful. I will most likely cry through the whole thing, but that's okay. I have a tender heart.

Have a wonderful, beautiful, green day!