Navigating and proving Cingular wrong

Greeting my dear readers,


With each passing week without a car (my husband uses the car to get to his work, his car runs but not very well) I learn more and more about the bus routes of Austin. Also, I learn more and more about the people of Austin. I see the people that society would deem poor, crazy or unfit. I see young mothers shushing babies, old men shouting Shakespeare, and wannabe thugs trying to catch a few moments of sleep. What is it about owning a car in this country? Why is it if you don't have a car, people gasp or say they worry about you? What kind of social signal does it send to the outside world? Well, to me it sends one of poverty. Those I see in their idling cars at stoplights next to the bus stop, they pinch their faces as if digusted or they try to ignore the pack of people standing not three feet away from them. I want to tap on their windows and say something to them. Something prideful, something witty or just ask for a smile. After all, aren't I the one playing a part in helping the environment?

Anyways, I have digressed. I have lots to do today. I am putting together everything the mortgage company needs with the loan application. I am also sending in a proof of payment to Cingular as they think we didn't pay last month and have already disconnected our phone once.

Much to do and I need to make haste and just do it. Kinko's or Bust!

Ciao tutti,
Michelle

Whoosh, there went the weekend.

Hello to all.

This weekend was probably the fastest weekend ever, but I guess I am also comparing that to a super long week. Anyways, like I said, last week took forever. I didn't work out all week and I also didn't do much studying. My grandmother wsa released from the hospital on Thursday, so that is good news. She is staying at Deer Creek Nursing Home in Wimberley for the duration of her physical therapy.
Speaking of physical therapy, I have been thinking of going into that. It would be like social work except more physical (needless to say, uh?). I am still working on that idea though. Apparently, Texas State has a pretty good and cheap MS program in therapy.

For the weekend, Chris and I went to Bill's in San Antonio for his birthday and we all had lots of fun...and we stayed up until 3am! Can you believe that? And Chris and I had both gotten up on Friday morning at 530am, so we were almost up for 24 hours. Saturday we drove back to Austin, I did some errands with Ginny while Chris played his RPG with Joe and friends and then we cooked dinner and watched a movie. It was a good day. Sunday I worked and then went home and slept...and slept...and slept. I was going to clean but sleeping just sounded so much better.

I worked out today! Hoorah!

No deep thoughts for today...boo...

Anyways, more next time,
Michelle

Lent, lots of prayers and lacking energy

Salutations.

I am tired and today promises to be a long day. Alas.

I will survive. As long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive.

Great words to live by, even when you are not singing about your ex who is stalking you. Sometimes love is how I get through the day. I try to think of those I love, those loved by people who come through my line, and why we all need it.

Work has been hard for me lately. I am so tired of dealing with 200+ people a day. It is the same thing over and over again. Let's review:

Me: "Hi, did you find everything you were looking for today?

Them: "Yes, and them some! Ha ha!"

Me: " Yes, that does seem to happen quite often. Will you be wanting paper of plastic today?

Them: (if they are not on their cell phone and actually listening) Paper, I like to take them home for my recycling, plus they have handles! (As if I didn't know that and also I don't care what they are using the bags for, just tell me what you want to put your damn groceries into!!)

Me: Your total is ____

Them: How much! Geez, how much were those blueberries!!! Take them off. Geez, no wonder why people call this place "whole paycheck". Ha ha! (First, the blueberries at this time of year are NOT IN SEASON and also ORGANIC meaning it is twice as hard to grow them out of season without using pesticides or plant food. Geez. Second, did you not look at the price before you blindly threw them in your basket! Come on people)

Them again: I am kind of in a hurry. (See second comment above. Look before you put into the basket, and saving two seconds at the checkout will not help you be on time).

And that is my complaining about work for the week. I do hope you enjoyed.

But I do have more comments. Hopefully, complaints won't sneak in.

My grandmother Lala is recovering. On Thursday she was in a car accident, breaking both legs at the femur. Actually her right knee ball joint was completely shattered. She might not be able to walk again, but everyone is handling the situation extremely well. I have been to the hospital at least two times a day since she arrived (she is at Brackenridge).

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Good news: Chris and I were approved for a mortgage. Pre-approval is definitely a good thing to have when house shopping. We are going to be offering our landlord a price for the house on Wednesday after the foundation peeps come out. We also want to get the walls tested for lead paint too before we offer. I am going to have to do some major research on that in case we have to clean it up.

School is going well. I am going, so that is a start.

Anyways, as I stated earlier, I am exhausted. So I must stop typing for now. Tata.

Michelle

Scary processes and peeking sun rays

Hola amigos.

This weekend was a hectic, but fun one. We left for Tyler on Friday night and didn't get in until around midnight. And we hung out with Chris' parents on Saturday until it was time to go to Miss Elizabear's birthday party, which was the best 2 year old birthday party I have ever attended. Lyssa was the only 2 yr old there! It was great. However, she is going through this shy phase. As if she wasn't shy enough around Chris and I since she doesn't see us very often, now she won't even look at Chris before running away. But Chris' feelings are not hurt, he knows that one day she will be able to at least look at him.

We returned to Austin in the evening on Sunday, just in time for church.

The only bad thing about this weekend is that I didn't get a chance to clean the house, it desperately needs it. The living room is a mess and I won't even comment on the kitchen lest my blood pressure rises.

I filled out a mortgage pre-approval application online today. I almost cried it was so scary. I had to fill in all of our debts and creditors, what we have in our account (which is not much), fill in Social Security numbers so they can get our credit report (Yikes! I don't even know what it is!). All in all, very scary. I just wish this whole process was over. That we are moving into our new house, making definite plans on remodeling and moving on with our life. Is this the most painful process of buying a house? Please tell me it is.

Ok, I think I should get ready for work. Plus, I started worrying about the mortgage stuff again and I can't think of anything else to write.

Love,

Michelle

Where does the sun go when clouds crowd the sky?

Salutations.

I am in a very serious and yet restless mood today. Could be the lack of freakin' sunshine. I don't think I have seen the sun for about a week now and it is too darn cold to ride my bike...which usually has me bummin' rides of off people (usually Lance) and feeling stuck...literally that is. But I do miss the sunshine. If it were cold with sunshine, then I could handle it.

My face has been doing something very strange lately. Whenever I eat something hot, like soup or baked potato (like I had for lunch today), my face gets flushed. Not just a little bit, but flushed as in a bright, almost purple, pink. And it stays for about an hour or so after I have finished eating. I was planning on getting a coffee after lunch to help me with my studying, but I am afraid that my face will stay this neon pink color even longer if I have coffee. Oh, the troubles in my life...what to do.

We drive to Tyler this weekend to visit Chris' family. I am looking forward to that. I have both Saturday and Sunday off, which is always nice.

Oh! I got my embroidery kit yesterday and I have already started it. I am embroidering a little teacup into a corner of a tea towel. I am still learning the different stitches and what not, but it doesn't look that bad.

Okay, I must go now. I think I will get some coffee, who cares if my face color competes with Pepto Bismol. Speaking of which, where did that name come from? Isn't there a word like bismal or something meaning dreary or awful? Why would anyone want to name their stomach soothing product that? Oh, when I was little, I was so confused as to what Pepto was supposed to do. On the commercials it said it calmed the stomach (remember the quivering lines representing the stomach and the oh-so-cool computer graphics.?) and everytime I took it, I threw up. In fact, I would take it to throw up. So, as you can see, I was a very confused little girl...pondering the existence of Pepto and stuff and things.....

Maybe I should take a walk. Less extreme than bike riding and maybe it would help the soreness in my legs (I started exercising regularly again and I did an extreme leg workout yesterday...I hurt like hell today but I like it!)

With my warmest regards,

Michelle