Is it over yet?

So, New Year's Eve. Thank god. I'm so ready for this year to be over, it's not even funny. I can, without hesitation, say that this has been the absolute worst year of my life. Sure, there was good times, and there were times that it seemed great, but overall: worst. I just really can't wait for it to strke midnight tonight and I can say goodbye to 2007 forever. And I really hope that 2008 starts to look up for me, because I really can't handle another year like this. But! I'm not going to just wish it to happen and be sad when it doesn't get better. I've already made some life changes and will be looking to do more after the new year. I know you're probably asking yourself "what sort of life changes is she talking about?" Well, my friends, I shall tell you!

First off, it has been 44 days since I smoked my last cigarette. I had been smoking since I was 15 and earlier this year, I had tried to cut back and was doing well until this fall. Then I was up to over a pack a day again and couldn't really make myself smoke any less. I was in a bad place and knew I couldn't keep smoking as much as I was, so I made a doctor's appointment and got myself on Chantix. I was on it for 1 month and was done smoking after my 3rd week. I sincerely would recommend this to anyone who is serious about quitting smoking. If I can do it, you can, too! So, go-go healthy lungs!

Another change that I made, that was not voluntary but happened as a side effect to my misery, is that I lost weight, so yay. I'm wearing pants I haven't worn in well over a year and some I haven't worn in 2 years. I feel better about myself and want to work on fitting into some more pants I have stashed away in my closet that I haven't worn since before I had Jackson, so this brings me to one of the changes that will take affect in the near future:

I'm going to be joining a gym. What better way to stay in shape and feel good about myself than to join a gym and work out every day? I was hoping to start this back in November, but money has been tight and I couldn't justify the $40 a month yet, so I'm going to be starting that hopefully in early February when I have some extra money.

Other, non-life changing things that I've done would include learning to crochet, which is my new addiction. I started crocheting 9 days ago and have made 2 scarves and 1.5 fingerless gloves (I finished the left one and am 1/2 way done with the right). I watch entirely too much TV and felt that I was wasting so much time by doing this, so I decided that crocheting would be a nice hobby to do while I watch TV, so I don't feel like such a slacker. I really hope I don't tire of this, and I honestly think that I won't. I think this will be something that I will keep with for a while. And! once I get better at crocheting, I will hopefully teach myself to knit!
I know, I know. You're probably thinking "Neat..." but I am probably the most un-crafty person there is and never really would have pegged myself as someone who would do this as a pasttime, but man, do I love it!

Also, now that I'm going to FINALLY be getting a kitchen table (after 14 months....), I will be baking more and am going to take a stab at cake decorating. I'm not very artistic, so we'll see how that goes. I will, at the very least, be trying out new recipes and will hopefully make a blog about it (and, perhaps one for my new love, Mr. Crochet). I also would like to start to be more adventurous with my cooking, so be on the lookout for pictures of nummy food in the future!

So, to recap: 2007 can DIAF and helllooooo 2008, a year that will hopefully hold many good surprises for me! I plan to ring in the New Year with a clear mind and an open heart and hope that the stroke of midnight will wash away all the bad so I have room in my life for all the good.

Happy New Year, everyone!

^_^

Music pick for the Day: "Goodbye to You" by Michelle Branch
Beverage pick for the Day: mmmmm, coffee
Socks for the Day: black and pink knee highs

The Ninja-Monkey Collective

So, a while back, I took this test and it told me I was ENFJ. And, according to this site this made me a candidate for a first-class cult leader, which sounded quite promising.
However, I retake the test today and I get this:

You Are An INFP

The Idealist You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world. Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships. It takes a long time for people to get to know you. You are hesitant to let people get close. But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop. In love, you tend to have high (and often unrealistic) standards. You are very sensitive. You tend to have intense feelings. At work, you need to do something that expresses your personal values. You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist. How you see yourself: Unselfish, empathetic, and spiritual When other people don't get you, they see you as: Unrealistic, naive, and weak

What's Your Personality Type?

..which is pretty much me. However, according to the REAL Myer's Briggs site, it makes me an idealist...and, from the description, kind of offensive!

So, in short, I would do well as an offensive cult leader who has irrational ideals and likes to collect minions for fun.

*note to self: Must get resume on Monster in case mis-led minions are in need of a messiah*

Music pick for the Day: "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" by The Cast of Avenue Q
Beverage pick for the Day: Deja Blue agua
Socks for the Day: gray and black striped knee-highs

*UPDATE*
So, I took this test again on this site and I got ENFJ. So, apparently, I really am an idealistic cultist. Who knew!

Two?!?!??!?!?!

So, 2 weeks ago at work, I was sent an invitation to a focus group. Focus groups are held periodically to go over an issues we may have and what can be done to correct the problems. So, I accepted the invite and thought nothing more of it. So, last Thursday rolls around and I have my "focus group" at 1pm. I go to the meeting room, notebook and pen in hand, open the door and I'm greeted by applause.

O.o

What's this? People applauding me? Well, said people are the call center mangaers, the director, and the VP of Customer Care. Ok... so, no focus group. It was a ploy to get me and 4 others together for a celebratory meeting. The 5 of us received Champion of Distinction awards, which came with a certificate saying, well, Champion of Distinction, as well as... you ready? Brace yourself... a $2000 check for each of us.

Again... O.o

So, they go over what we won for (mine was for my work on collections and discovering an error with our combined statements... I won't go into details, since you wouldn't know what I was talking about, anyway!!) and we get food (Italian food from Ala Roma was delivered.. mmm.. ) and cake and chit chat and such.

So, here I was, $2000 richer. What to do with my monies? What to do??? Well, I mulled over it for about a day. Then decided I wanted to upgrade my computer so it would run smoother, a case to make it look prettier, and a new monitor so I could have a new monitor... or maybe 2. Crystal and her dual monitor set up has made me jealous for months. So, Saturday, I head to Best Buy and get a 20.1 inch LCD monitor.

Sexy.

I go home, order my 2gig of RAM and a new case. Then I get to thinking: Since I ordered my RAM and case, I will get them sometime this week and when I get them, I want to be able to set up my monitors right away so I can be all /fancy. So, to the store I go to get the 19 inch widescreen monitor I was eyeing the night before. And, while I'm there, I decide I need new speakers, so I get some Altec Lansing speakers + sub woofer to accent my new monitory goodness.

Pic of my new set up:

So, in addition to new computer stuffs, I also got Jackson some new clothes and the Flushed Away DVD, new silverware plus silverware tray, a toaster, hangers, a LotR Middle Earth map (not a geek...), and.. misc other things that I can't remember anymore.

All in all, this weekend gets 2 thumbs up!

^_^


Music pick for the Day: "The Future Soon" by Jonathan Coulton
Beverage for the Day: Cherry coke
Socks for the Day: Pink and black striped knee highs

("\(O.o)/")

Wednesday. Blah. Who needs Wednesdays, really? I mean, I almost feel bad for the Wednesday. It's not the beginning of the week, it's not the end of the week, it's not the weekend... it's just Wednesday. Kinda the Switzerland of days, really. The Neutral day. It's not as cool as Friday/Saturday/Sunday, obviously. But, it's not as bad as Monday/Tuesdays, since it's closer to Friday/Saturday/Sunday than Monday/Tuesday are. But, it's still a step down from Thursday, which is the pre-Friday, or, as I like to call it, Friday Eve.
Wednesday, *sigh*, why can't you be cool like your sister, Friday Eve?

But, speaking of things my boss said to me today... >.> I get into work today, and after our quasi-meeting, my sup/manager Jeni comes to my cube and says she has exciting news. The company who created/updates/maintains our billing system has agreed to do a 3 day conference with 12 Charter employees to go over pretty much everything collections/scheme related.
"Wow", I say. "That's pretty fancy! Are you one of the twelve?"
Jeni says "Yes, and I'm hoping I can get you to go with me!"
"Rawr," I say.
So, this 3 day conference is set to occur in May, after the AR summit in St. Loius, so I'd almost get a kinda of mini vacation in May! We'll just have to wait and see if Jeni can convince Mike that I need to go with her. *crosses her fingers*

And, for some reason, the word "rawr" has been in my head today. I used the Rawr! tag on our forum today and it got me thinking "How wide-spread is rawr?" Google knows! So, I Google rawr, and find an Urban Dictionary entry for Rawr. My favorties are below:

more sexually oriented version of the word "roar"
Girl: Boy, you are so sexy
Boy: Rawr!

a primitive sound emitted while becoming aroused during the process of sexual intercourse.
RAWR nice cock!!
RAWR i wanna SEX u

a sexy sort of growling sound
"I rawred at him cutely"

a word used to describe feelings of random anger or boredom.
Dude! Are you going to the mall with me? RAWR Um, what's wrong with you?

A word often uttered by zombies and other types of undead. Its inflection and context can give it many different meanings, and in the Zombie language, rawr has a myriad of uses.
"Rawr...ungh...brain s....rawr..."
"Um...aren't you guys at all concerned about the zombies everywhere?"
"Rawr....UNGH, BRAAAAAAIIIIINNNSSS!!!!&q uot;"
"Naw man, we got bats. Don't worry. It's all good."

To make you seem more scary.
RawR! I will eat your first born.

The sound the cats make. Also a sound the kids with too much engery make because, well, because they can.
"How are you doing Mary?"
"RAWR!!!"
"...wow"

1. an expression of surprise or disgust
2. a replacer for the word love
3. an expression of happiness
4. replacer for the word cool
ex 1. rawr!!! i can't get this phone to work!!!
ex 2. i rawr u honey
ex 3. rawrrrrr i'm so happy!!
ex 4. she is so rawr

And, my favorite:
1) A sexual sound.
2) ("\(O.o)/") <---- Rawr
1)Girl: You're so hawt!
Boy: Rawr!!
2) This is Rawr ---> ("\(O.o)/")

So, all in all, this Wednesday has been pretty good! I find out I may go on a business trip AND I learn something new about "rawr" from the internetz. Woot, I say! WOOT!

^_^

Music Pick for the Day: "There's a Girl" by the Ditty Bops
Beverage for the Day: Cherry Coke
Socks for the Day: yellow, gray, white, and black stripped fuzzy socks

*twitch*

Ah, January. The time for cold weather, more snow, and the return of the greatest TV shows that cable has to offer. Two weeks ago, we had the return of Grey's Anatomy. Last week, we had Rome. Last night, Heroes came back, better than ever! And, tonight? Tonight we have the best of them all. Tonight... we have Mars. Veronica Mars. And, for those of you without cable/CW Network, you can now watch VM online at CWTV.com. Hooray!!

While my shows were on hiatus for the holidays, I'd started watching House. I must say, House is a pretty darn good show! I love the snarkiness that is Dr. Greg House. Hugh Laurie... /swoon. He plays disconnected and bitter well. So good!

And, speaking of obsessions, now that I've talked about my TV addiction, I shall now talk about my video game obsession! Last week, The Burning Crusade was released! I got my copy via UPS on Wednesday, played for a bit in the early afternoon before work, then played most of the day Thursday, Saturday and pretty much all day Sunday! The new starting areas are just fantastic! I've completed the blood elf starting area (/cheer for Will and Crystal for putting up with me all day Sunday while we got our newbies to level 20)! I'm hoping to work on my Draenei tonight and tomorrow to get her to level 20 and out of the newbie areas so I can play Aluciel again. I've been on a hiatus from wow for so long, I miss my wow friends: /love Cleitus, Throm, Raz and Handor. They were there for me when I needed someone to talk to and I love them for that. I'm really looking forward to grouping with my wow friends, since I've been gone for so long and miss them like mad.
Save as Draft


^_^

Music Pick for the Day: "First of May" by Jonathan Coulton
Beverage for the Day: Cherry Coke
Socks for the Day: Gray "Sly Fox" socks (with, um, foxes on them)

....ow

So, Happy New Year?
HA!
Let's see! Where shall I begin!!? So, New Year's Eve was pretty good times. Hung out with the posse, played some games, good times were had. New Year's Day.. yeah, not so much!
So, New Year's Day. I slept until noon (which, is something that very rarely happens in Karen-world) and then went to go get Jackson from my parents' house. So, I'm driving along, minding my own business, everything is going good! I'm THREE BLOCKS from my parents' house and BAM! Some retard prison guard smacked into the front end of my car. My open soda that was in the cup holder was launched across the dash and coated my iPod and iPod holder in Cherry Coke goodness, and then took it's final resting place at my feet... along with my cigarettes, my lighter, my hat, my gloves and numerous other things that were in the front seat with me. The contents of my trunk were now in my back seat, due to the impact and the force of the crap in my trunk pushing the seat down. Thankfully, Jackson was not yet in the car with me.
After I realize what had actually happened, I get out of my car, walk over to the ass-cock who hit me and said "SERIOUSLY!?!?!" Although, in the defense of the guy with the obviously small penis, he was nice to me and made sure I was ok and let me use his cell phone to call my dad to let him know I'd be a teeny bit late. So, the cops show up, make sure I'm ok, take my information and find out what happened. The accident was clearly his fault, just from looking at the position of the vehicles. So, the nice policemen make it very clear to me that douche-ass would be the one cited in the report as causing the accident. So, they call a tow truck, I get a ride to my dad's from the nice policeman, and wait around for 3 hours before I can go home. Thankfully, my sister and brother in law are two of the most awesome people I know and they are letting me borrow their car until all the insurance crap goes through and I can get a rental/new car. During the 3 hours I was at my dad's, I was pretty much a wreck and bawling. I'd never been in an accident before, and I'm pretty much a cry-baby, so it's not totally out of character that I'd cry after my car (which, I only had THREE MORE PAYMENTS ON) was plowed into by a window-licking, walking penis (I know, it sounds really weird, but it's eerily accurate!). So, after I calm down, we call Roger (our family friend/insurance man) and tell him what's up. Finally, Mike shows up with a car for me to use and I get home at about 5:15.
Now, this whole time, I feel fine. A bit shook up, but that's expected. I look in the mirror later and see a mark on my neck from where my necklace dug into my skin. "Huh. I guess I did get thrown around a bit", I think to myself as I inspect the weird necklace mark. So, at this point, I know I was jolted from the accident, but still don't feel any pain or anything. As the night goes on, I get a headache and my neck gets kind of stiff, but not bad at all. "I can so deal with this", I thought to myself.
You know? I hate when I think I can deal with something and then be totally wrong about it. HATE.
I wake up today, and I was soooo stiff and sore, it was a chore to get out of bed. My neck was sore, my shoulders, my upper back, my chest. ...ow. I took 2 hours off of work today to go get checked out to make sure I'm ok. I go to the walk-in clinic at my hospital and got the doctor that I expected to get. He was in by me for less than 2 minutes and prescribed me 3 drugs: pain killers, muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory drugs. And, the pain killers and muscle relaxers cause drowsiness, so I don't get to take those until after I leave work tonight. Right now, I'm just trying my best not to move too fast or too much, for fear of crying out in pain and freaking Althea out.

And, on top of the accident, Jackson was sick last night and couldn't sleep (he was coughing sooo hard and his belly hurt.. I felt completely useless. No special mommy power to make it go away... it broke my heart. :( ).

So, yeah. New Year's FTL.

Music pick for the Day: "Santeria" by Sublime
Beverage pick for the Day: Bottled water
Socks for the Day: Black and gray argyle knee highs