I'm cool, with attitude and ego to spare.

I named someone's dog for them today. It's a tiny white dog with brown around its eyes. They had no idea what to call it...so I made some suggestions and it ended up being "Lord Bijou Nikolai Justus". Bijou means something like "little jewel", Nikolai is in reference to "St. Nicholas" because the dog was a Christmas gift and Justus is derived from the Latin for "Justice" and the dog is a Libra (the scales), so I thought it was fitting.

So, Christmas was nice. We got a lot of really cool stuff for our kitchen and a couple hundred dollars worth of gift cards. We spent a lot of time with family, which we really enjoyed. My drunk Uncle Dan called my husband a "four foot giant" on Christmas Eve. Ahhh...good times.

It's been a very quick two weeks at work. Don't get me wrong, two four-day weekends in a row is nothing to complain about, it just seems like I haven't been able to get much done. I'm looking forward to this weekend. Tonight, we will go visit John's mom for her birthday. We'll probably bring a cake and some pretty things for her. We're bringing the PS2 and Jeopardy because we're geeks like that :) I don't have to work tomorrow but John does - so I figure I'll go shopping. I haven't been able to go antique shopping in a while and I think I'm going to go to Putnam, CT (lots of antique shops there)! Orrrr...I can go out and take some pictures if it's a nice day. I haven't done that in a while either. Well, check back on Tuesday, if I've taken new pictures, I'll upload them then!

John and I will be spending New Year's Eve at his sister, Sarah's house. They're having a party and there will be a large amount of my brother-in-law's famous punch. It should be fun...and that's all I'm going to say about that. (Note: I didn't say I was going to drink the punch). 2005 has been a really great year for me. I quit working for a miserable jerk who I could not stand, found a great job, had an outstanding review, raise, etc, moved into a much bigger and nicer apartment and celebrated one year of being married to the love of my life! It's just been fabulous. I can't wait to see what 2006 will bring!

~M

I'm in a holidaze and I need your spare change!

I just can't seem to get my mind to focus on work today! All I can think about is the 4-day weekend...

I'm thirsty right now and I have nothing to drink. I don't even have the 75c I need to get a drink from the vending machine. I probably have a total of 23c in nickels and pennies. I totally forgot about that and I didn't leave for lunch... I guess I'll have to be a bum and ask around to see if I can borrow from someone. Spare change, spare change?

...

Ahhh...refreshment. I now owe the Manufacturing Manager 75c but my thirst has been quenched by a delicious can of Diet Coke. Aspartame rocks my world.

So, John and I were thinking about moving to North Brookfield to a bigger and nicer apartment. However, after seriously considering it, we have decided to stay where we are until we're ready for a house. The new place would have been just a bit more expensive for rent but it was also heated with natural gas, which I hear is going to be expensive this year. I guess this means I'm going to get to work really unpacking our stuff that has been boxed for almost a year. I think I might do a bit of painting and maybe I'll make some curtains. The more I change the homely into homey, the happier I'll be while I live there. I have cobalt glass in my kitchen, which my friend Jenn tells me is bad because it supresses appetite. Wait...appetite supression is bad? Loves it. I'm keeping it and probably buying more cobalt glass dishes...just to spite Jenn!

I'm looking forward to erecting the Christmas tree this year! It's a smallish fake tree, but I love it. I'll just put it on top of a table or box to make it appear taller. We don't have a huge living room, so it would be stupid to get a big tree anyway. Last year, I went with red, gold and ivory. This year I probably won't change it much...maybe just add the "family" ornaments we got from John's parents last year. Also, I want to get a "2005" ornament. For our wedding last year, my mother's friend Judy got us a Lenox wedding couple ornament with the year on it...only one problem, the people are BLACK! They are light-skinned, so my mother's friend didn't notice...I guess she just thought they were a very well tanned wedding couple. We still hung it on our tree and (as long as it doesn't break) we will probably do so every year. It's a conversation piece! So...I want to have an ornament for every year, from now on.

I'm trying to figure out how to make an Excel sheet to add hours and minutes. It seems you can't just put (for example) 148:32 in a cell formatted for time and add it to something like 35:56. I'm thinking I'm just going to have to make separate columns for hours and minutes and the person using it will just have to do the math if the minutes are over 60...unless I do even more formulizing - which doesn't excite me.

I had a dream that my mother died last night. It's funny, really... Last week, I had a Dr.'s appt. scheduled which was subsequently bumped, but that's irrelevant. All morning leading up to the appt., I was freaking out thinking the Dr. was going to find something terribly wrong with me and tell me I had 3 months left to live. I have no mysterious aches/pains/ailments, so it's completely irrational and I know that, but there's nothing I can do about it. I try to make myself relax, take deep breaths, pray, etc., but nothing works. I am pretty sure I gave myself an anxiety attack a couple of months ago in a similar situation. As soon as the Dr. told me I was fine, I felt fine. I am going to give myself a heart attack. In my dream, my mother was doing the same thing (freaking out before a Dr.'s appt.) and she died. They told me there was no way they could do an autopsy and find out the actual cause of death because she had died in "terror".

Anyone know any tried and true ways of calming oneself?

Ursäkta!

Okay, so maybe the last post was a little over the top. It just seems like you can't do anything anymore without harming something or offending someone.

I guess I'm looking forward to the weekend...though it's going to be quite busy. Tonight, the hub and I are heading to a friend's house to watch some Monty Python's Flying Circus. For John's birthday, I bought him the box set! This is going to be not only an entertaining but also an educational experience for me. John is always quoting Monty Python and it's always right over my head because I had never watched anything from them until now. Soon, I will be able to join in the fun! I actually referenced Monty Python for the first time last night while instant messaging with a friend. We were talking about Jesus and he was calling Christianity "fairy tales" so I told him no they are not, "struth!".

On Saturday morning we have cleaning duty at the church. It's not bad, we only have to do it 3 or 4 times a year and it takes about an hour. Everyone takes turns and it really keeps the place looking beautiful. After we finish there, we'll be going out to Gordon College to see the Symphonic Chorale concert. Our great friend Bob is part of the Symphonic Chorale, so we're mostly going to see him!

Sunday is church in the morning and probably the evening. I think John might have to teach Sunday School again this week, which means I'd have to sit without him again, but it's okay, the kiddies love him.

Then it'll be back to work on Monday! I'm sure the weekend is going to fly by...but it's okay. I rather enjoy my job and anyway, it's a 3-day work week with 4 days off for Thanksgiving! How could I complain?

La boeuf

First of all, I am a paranoid person. There is so much whispering going on around here and I always, always think they are talking about me (which they never are).

So, I arrived at work this morning five minutes late, which is "on time" for me and a rare thing. I walked into my office to find TWO checks on my desk and I got all nervous thinking I was going to be fired and one of them would be my last paycheck. As far as I know, they like me here. I get a lot of praise for my work. I sometimes feel like a bit of a slacker at work...and that's all I'm going to say because I work with some people my age and some younger (one of whom is my boss) and I'm not going to get myself in trouble if any of them are on myspace. What I will say is that as soon as they give me work, I do it. I complete everything they ask me to do and I meet the deadlines I am given. As far as I am aware, that is all that is expected of me.

The big boss came into my office today and asked if I like steak. I said yes (of course!) and he said he wanted to buy me a case of steaks and asked which cut I would like. I told him that my husband does the cooking and I'd have to ask him. We decided on some New York steaks. I let the boss know and he told me to keep in on the qt because he was not buying everyone steaks, he just likes to do this for people that are doing a good job. Rock on.

Turns out, my direct deposit started this week. One of the "checks" was for the money going to checking and the other "check" was for the $50 going into savings. Yay!!! I'm not getting fired!!!

It burns!

I just got vinegar in my EYE. Also, I have a hangnail the size of the Auburn Mall on my right thumb.

Ka-nitting and Crotch-etting

I learned to crochet when I was 13. I was in "lock-up" for lifting a baseball hat from Caldor's. What security didn't know was that I also had clothing,a jacket, makeup, plastic jewelry, etc. stuffed into my winter coat. I was arrested (along with my "foster sister", Sam), cuffed and arrived at the Worcester Police Station via paddywagon. Sam and I were placed in a holding cell about 3x3', where we ditched everything else we had hidden on us. When they frisked me, they found nothing :)

I spent the night locked into a cell at the station with NO blanket, NO pillow and NO toilet paper! Sam and I got into a screaming match with an annoying girl in cell at the end of the hall - she kept crying and wailing and we were acting tough. I got a stale piece of bread with a runny egg and sour milk for breakfast. I was brought to the juvenile court and placed in another cell with a ton of girls tougher than I was. I stayed in the corner and kept my mouth shut, waiting my turn. One by one, the girls were taken into court until I was the only one left. Finally, I asked the twenty-something dred-locked guard when I was going to get out of there. They had forgotten about me and since I didn't have a probation officer to come get me, I was left there.

Late in the afternoon I was finally brought before the judge and I saw my mom in the courtroom. The judge asked her if she wanted him to send me to detention and she said YES! I was shocked...because she was never very tough when it came to punishment. All she had to do was pay $50 "bail" and I could be set free, but she chose to let them keep me.

I went to some detention center in Fitchburg or Leominster...where it was like a retreat. The worst part of being there was that I couldn't shave my legs. A few of the girls had beastly legs. They kept me there for two weeks. We basically just sat around watching television or drawing or reading. Once, a woman came to teach us how to crochet. I ended up making a little green and purple blanket that is now lost to me. I've moved too often and I don't currently have anything that's more than say, 5 years old.

I recently started to crochet again. So far, I've made three hats. A group of women from my church is making as many hats as we can and we plan to donate them to women who have lost their hair from chemotherapy. I made a white one, a blue one with a white brim and a green one. I bought this great fuzzy burgundy yarn to make one for myself but I am not yet adept enough to work with the fuzzy stuff because I can't see my stitches. The ladies taught me to knit also, so I'm knitting John a scarf that is brown, green and black and he's going to look so hot in it.

I hope you're all happy to have read about the time I learned to crochet back when I was a gangster youth!

Spatial Relations

Finally! We have a new car. Well...it's new-ish. It's a Buick and a grandpa car and rides like a dream and we love it. We have only had one car for months and months now and I'm the only one that could drive it (it's a standard). Of course, the day John's car was ready, something went wrong with mine. During the recent FLOODING in my town, I had the pleasure of driving through not one, but two ponds on my way home. As a result, my exhaust drank some water and is still having trouble breathing properly. It's being towed to a shop this week. John says it's the Magario curse. I believe him, because we have not had good luck with cars. I jokingly told him I was changing my name back to McEwen but I would stay married to him.

We signed the paperwork last night and left the dealership for my mother's house. When we got there, she came outside to look at the car and John had fun showing off the remote. He opened the trunk and said, "Check out the size of this trunk. You could fit 3 bodies side by side in here!" Since we all know John is prone to making comments like that often, my mom wasn't shocked a bit.

We said our goodbyes and set off for the in-laws' place to show off the new car to them. Johns dad was the first one outside. He took a good look around the car, checked out the tires then got in the drivers seat to have a look-see. Johns mom came outside about that time and was looking at the car when John opened the trunk remotely. He lifted the lid and his mother says, You could fit 3 bodies side by side in here!

Now, I know families usually talk like each other or use similar words and phrases, but this frightened me. It's a bit unnerving when one of the common phrases your in-laws use is, "You could fit 3 bodies side by side in there!" After a sharp intake of breath and my jaw dropping, I said to her, "That is EXACTLY what John just said to my mom!" She replied with a big smile, "Yeah, we have good spatial relations I guess!"

I'd just like to say, I love this family more than anything! Long live Magarios!

1 is not equal to 1/2!

The freaks come out at night, true. The freaks also come out when you put an ad in the help wanted section for "Light Manufacturing".

At the glorious DeTech, Inc., we are in need of a few new workers to assemble some small parts. We placed the ad in the paper and there has been a non-stop flow of applicants every day. Along with the application, we ask them to complete a small and simple math quiz. A few examples of questions are:

Convert 1/2 to decimal by dividing the top number by the bottom number.

Is .525 greater or less than 1/2?

What is 10f 150?

Now, I know not everyone is great at math, but you have to be an idiot to not get these! I can't tell you how many people say that 1/2 = 1.0. How about .525 is less than 1/2? Did you all know that 10% 150 is 7.50? I'll bet you didn't. Only the smart kiddies know that kind of stuff. A guy who just had a baby spells 8 like this: egit.

Animaversary

October 30th, I will celebrate one year of being married to the BEST AND MOST AWESOMEST HUSBAND!

I can't believe how quickly the time goes...

Regn

I'm in love with the weather. I want to move to a land where it's rainy and dark most of the time. I'd be happy seeing the sun only twice a month or so.

They've put up a list of potential venues for this year's office Christmas party. Everyone is supposed to put their name next to the one they choose. On the list, Boston Billiards, a VFW hall, Old Sturbridge Village and McDonald's. I put McDonald's on there yesterday to make the list interesting. To be quite honest, I could care less where they hold the party. This office is full of two-faced people whispering around every corner. They act like they're all friends and then talk about each other.

Blah

Back to work...

Murk

It's cold and dark outside today. I like it.

It's a gas.

I hate money.

How high's the paper pile on your desk, Melissa?

...3 feet high and rising...

I am so overwhelmed with work right now and the last thing I should be doing is blogging but I need a break.

We are experiencing a ridiculously high rate of return on one of the most popular parts we manufacture here. I am trying to sift through and analyze 5 years of testing, assembly, inspection and sales records to try and find out what is wrong with these parts. Aside from this mess, I have something like 10 other projects that I need to complete this week, one of which is a pile of accounting that I can't look at without twitching.

Oh, and I just got an e-mail from a guy named Shital looking for a lead time on a part. 6 weeks. His name is how I feel.

By the sixes

I've been tagged for this one:

6 Things I Want To Do:
1 - Visit Scotland
2 - Play the flute
3 - Have a darkroom
4 - Write a memoir
5 - Be more compassionate
6 - Be a mother

6 Things I Can Do:
1 - Cook Ramen
2 - Cross my eyes independently
3 - Hear very well, especially when people think I can't
4 - Spend money
5 - Beat anyone at MarioKart 64
6 - Spy

6 Things I Can't Do:
1 - Fly
2 - Eat raw onions
3 - Make friends easily
4 - Keep my mouth shut when I should
5 - Play an instrument (yet)
6 - Go one day without my husband

6 Things That Make Me Attractive
1 - Intelligence
2 - Twisted sense of humor
3 - My eyes
4 - Elegance
5 - My smelly feet
6 - The way I snore

6 Things I Say All The Time:
1 - Y'know what I mean?
2 - Whatever
3 - See ya
4 - LD!
5 - Ugh
6 - If that's a taint then this is a tisnt

6 Celebrity Crushes
1 - CHRISTIAN BALE
2 - Cillian Murphy
3 - Peter Steele
4 - Jason Momoa
5 - Wayne Static
6 - Matthew McConnaughey

That's it!

Stuffs

Someone tagged me and so I'm supposed to list 5 things about myself:

1. I am a born-again Christian.

2. I daydream way too much.

3. I do not clean bathrooms.

4. I eavesdrop and I'm good at it.

5. I'm a narcissist and a recluse.

I'm not going to tag anyone because I doubt anyone besides RH will read it.

Polska

I just want to say that the Warsaw Village Band is incredible.

I haven't heard anything so beautiful in a while.

Rotvälska

It's 100 degrees in this office today.

John and I bought a new Xbox game last night and it rocks.

I can't wait for the Xbox360 because it is going to be $400 of amazing awesomeness.

I am disappointed with the Halloween paraphernalia at the local stores. I bought a plush spider that says Happy Halloween and snickers when you squeeze it. It's on my desk keeping the bloody headless bird company.

Mike Doughty's new cd, Haughty Melodic, is pretty good. It's nice.

David Gray's new cd, Life in Slow Motion, is pretty good also.

Fulgor

John got his tooths fixed yesterday and his smile lights up the room! He's my sunshine.