Can Can

So on 11/11/11, I got a call from my mom. She is the school nurse at my siblings’ school. They did a food drive. The office decided that they needed to donate more. Well I get the call “CatMan, can you do me a huge favor?”. In the past, I have been asked to do a lot of crazy things, but this was by far the craziest!

I swapped cars with my mom (yes!) and was woman on a mission for as many cans as $260 would get me. And this is where the post really will make you laugh.

Oh the irony of a 4ft nothing little bitty with two carts. Case upon case upon case. “Some sale, huh?” people were saying….I just nodded my head and agreed. Then after about getting the second cart filled, I though why not have come fun!?

Next person just shot a glare my way. My exact comment? “oh it’s 11/11/11…worried the world’s going to end….must be prepared don’t ya know!” Then they moved on…for whatever reason they didn’t take me seriously! As if…

Now when I got up to the checkout line, I just politely said sorry to all those poor souls behind me…

Ha…ring, ring, ring…pretty soon it was an assembly line. The cashier, God love her, kept ringing items up with a smile on her face. The woman behind me asked if she could help load the belt with the rest of the items into the other cart. It was a great process!

This is where it gets so funny. There was a man sitting at the other end amazed at all the stock I had! He looked at me like I was a damn nut case. I just looked at him and stated quite bluntly, “I am an extreme couponista and I bet you the total will be under $5!” His eyes got even bigger. I just laughed. Just then there was an abrupt halt. At 395 items it maxes out their transaction! Who would have thought?! I told her then at that point, “I will need someone to help me get these items out to my car please.” I paid for the first bunch while she paged for someone to help. Then she continued with the last transaction of $4 with of cans. Ha!

(upon paying) I ran out to my car and pulled up to the entrance. We loaded everything in and 10 minutes later I was on my way! I called my mom…”Santa’s Elf is on her way! Got gifts securely in hatch. Stand by!”

When I arrived at school, there were several people there to help unload. It was awesome and what a sight to see!

The receipt was taller than me! How great is that!? (please laugh because I am also standing on the cart).

Doing the can can was in support of not only my mom and siblings’ school, but the soup kitchen as well. What an amazing event all around!

So next time you are asked to do something, don’t roll your eyes just do it. Do it with humor and joy because you could single handedly make everyone think your a nut job and that’s alright! 🙂

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Paint fumes and Pasta

Today, my mom and I painted my whole room.  It looks beautiful.  It is like a tealy-greenish-blue.  Very summer like and beautiful.  Well what you are seeing below is all of the painted room.  What do you think?

🙂 Painted pretty...sigh

Can you believe all of this fit into one little room???? Yeah there will be some downsizing....

I am still very much in a funk…but, I must say this funk has allowed me to have a cleaner house that eventually will look 1000% better.  Much better huh?  Well that’s life…turning the music up and pressing on thru this madness called life!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XxBbcrs5KY

Something to look forward to….Super Woman and Nomad are going to be in town in just a week!  YAY!  I might have just tinkled a little bit…..shhhh!  Don’t tell anyone!  😉

Till the World Ends…..

This is my empowerment song of the morning:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e_i4l4sBv8.

Yesterday, was a crazy day.  First off, I was just exhausted come the morning.  I had some head pressure in the base of my neck, down my spine, a raw throat, and some fluid in my ears.  The only thing I could think of is to roll back over and sleep it off.  I got up, got moving, and took some appropriate medicine that helped huge.

Then, I got an email from an ex of mine.  It was really kind of pathetic.  I sent a very assertive response back but, not bitchy.  I asked after the fact if I was out of line.  Well, I also told Nomad about the interaction.  It would eventually affect him in a possible social setting and the last thing I want is that to be awkward.  I sent him an email explaining it.  Past is past but, when you are trying to build a future it helps keeping things honest.  The song I left you with is in reference to this situation.  (ON THAT NOTE: Don’t send someone an email to ‘get in touch’ given that you might be seeing someone more often…it comes off like you are avoiding a confrontation

I totally wish I could have seen this dude on the street....I think I would have lightened up....

I worked on a big project all day.  80% of my day was spent with this one project only to realize in the last hour that I had written it up wrong not just once, but 4 times!?!?!?!  I sent the documents off to our vendor confirming it and HA….poor vendor!  So I looked like a royal dumb ass….when it was brought to my attention the 3rd time, I adjusted it and sent it off….then the 4th time I fell dramatically, upon sounding the “Eff my life” call thru the office, in kind of a laugh/cry mode.  Kind of collapsed to the lobby ground. Tears were streaming as I was laughing at the luck of the day!  How nuts is that?!  Then Herb called twice looking for me…that is all I will say about that one.

As I was clocking out and running off to help mom, I still had a smile on my face.  I might have just had a mini-meltdown but, I wasn’t going to let that defeat me.  Keep on pushing little engine….keep on pushing on thru….

Just as I was finishing up at work I get a frantic call from my mom…poor thing.  I had typed out a Track schedule earlier with all the dates and practice times.  Well the schedule at school changed and they couldn’t hold practice.  So my mom and I ran over to the track to catch people and send them home.  A lot of them were OK with it.  My mom felt horrible.  I found out later that she too had a pretty crazy terrible day!

I came home after that and slept then Nomad texted me.  “Do you want to talk about your day? Are you still stressed?” (me) “A little bit but it’s ok.  I don’t want to damper yours at all.” (Nomad) “Nonsense…we are here to saddle each other’s toil.”  (me melting at this point)  “hmmmm…” (Nomad) “?  We are here to hear each other.” (me) ” Thanks doll. 🙂  You are a good team player!” (Nomad) “:) Your welcome”  Then, when I was done getting ready for me I called him.

Then I sat and created a post followed by a sound, VERY SOUND, sleep.  Sometimes it takes a circus day thrown in there to make you appreciate the calmness in our own lives.  It makes me savor the moments to which I can sit in silence and hear nothing.  I just zone out.  I needed to have 5 minutes of that yesterday…but, if I need to slow down today that is exactly my course of action.

Here is a good song to end on…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXrFBsYKrgE.

PS: perfect end to the night is run/walking 5 miles with Katherine (using mile markers as food items…pancakes, waffles, coffee….etc) then proceeding to go to IHOP!  All is well in the Universe!

About that…(cough cough)

Currently watching Mean Girls.  You know the one with Lindsay Lohan…prior to all of her time in jail.  It’s like I have ESPN or something…

3 rice crispy treats later…OK this I can justify because they had the perfect ratio of marshmallow and crispness.  They weren’t too hard, they weren’t so mushy that they just get your fingers and everything so sticky.  It was fantastic.  They were just wonderful!

 

nom...nom....nom....

 

 

Well for those of you who don’t know….I am in Aspen Co. until Jan 31st.  I am here with work.  This morning I got in and we consider this first day “set up” day.  Not bad really.  We are training and getting everything set up for the rest of the week.

Today I realized that life can be made so much better by keeping things in perspective and being organized.  I was super organized, had a list to go down, and I feel that it was a positive start to the day.  I am not sure how our “newbie” thought it was.  I think he is one that does better moving a ton instead of staying stationary.  But, he is doing well.

HA.  So following all of this madness….I am digging that I can relax.  I kick my feet up.

NO, I just got off the phone with my mom.  I really don’t like mean girls.  This cheer squad I coach has just got me all in a funk.  These girls are mean.

Yup....these are my girls....oh wait!

 

I am sorry but there is no reason to be mean….what is there to be mean about at 13 and 14~!!!  (ironic that I would be dealing with this tonight huh?)  WTF mite!  UGH.  Yeah about that….Not thinking about it….think happy thoughts…..happpy happppy thoughts!

I leave you with this little quote from Shakespeare…  🙂  OH happy day….

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.  ~William Shakespeare

(Princess)Ogre…to Birthday!

Room clean……..check!

Party had…………check!

Teeth brushed……check!

Old………..check, check!

Saturday-ay? was a wonderful day.  Truthfully.  Aside from the minor attacks from the neighborhood dogs, cake attacks from the siblings, or the blind dodgeball game my little brother and our cousins decided to play……OR flat out being called an OGRE in the middle of the mall today!  That was probably the highlight.

So, this will definitely make you pee your pants with laughter…adult-dipers in place….check!  Ok you ready for the story?

I met my friends Katherine (Special K) and Catherine…..which is confusing on its own accord! (the really bad thing is that I am by birth right a Catherine too!  ThankgoodnessIgobyyyyysomethingelse!) at the mall today.  I was finding them a million and one things to try on–they all looked fabulous!  So needless to say I was enjoying playing Barbie’s and getting them new clothes.  Well as you can imagine yelling “K/Catherine, how’s it going?” over in the changing room direction would be not so smart.  I did that about a billion times!!  I really don’t know what my deal was!

So then we walk into this accessory store and I am looking at rings.  Then this little almost 4-year-old girl walks up and we start to converse.  Mind you, I was half asleep when I got dressed this morning…but I was wearing a neon green shirt and a grey zip up.  I also was holding my bright green puffy jacket.  Our conversation literally moves from “wow, that ring is beautiful!”, “oh I do like that one, but this gold swirly one is pretty neat too…WHOA YOU LOOK LIKE AN OGRE!  I quickly proclaim….”AN OGRE????? What constitutes ME looking like and OGRE?”  She then states, I am wearing all green.  I gave her the “I am offended” look and she goes, “NOOOOOooooooo! You look like princess Fiona!”  OH Great…at least now I am Princess status!  As I was walking out she blew me a big kiss and it made things all better!

Aren't I beautiful??? hehe....that stance is very familiar to the feisty CatMan...dun dun dun!

Well I must say I had such a wonderful birthday weekend.  I went shopping with my girls.  What could be better??  All of Sunday was really low-key.

SIGH. 🙂

Went to church and family breakfast.  I then had my cousins help me clean up my house from the party we had the night before….next SUNDAY NAP!  Oh that was totally my favorite!  Next, my mom asked me what I wanted to do for dinner because it was my day.  That was really sweet of her to ask.  🙂  I love my mom.  Well I briefly told her lets just make all the left overs up and let’s have a feast!  No fuss just company and good food.

I was trying to get a group of girls together to get some wine…nothing worked out and everyone was so busy.  I must say I really didn’t get all that disappointed!  Well I invited my friend Laugh-a-lot out and the two of us ended up at the most random of spots!  We laughed, chatted about all of the idiot boys in our lives who will never realize how wonderful we really are….and ease dropped on the table behind us talking about onsies….”They have a onsie for that!”  It was such a random and beautiful day!

It was an amazing transition to a Quarter of a Century!  YAY!

I realized that I am above all blessed with such great people in my life.  I love my girl friends for all that they are and what they give me as far as perspective and hope goes.  Truly, to all the men who think I’m going to give you the time of day when you treated me like I was no greater than a speck of dust:  Skip You!

I just thought this was funny.... hahaha!

LOVE YOU GIRLS!

xoxo

Fail. Fail. Fail.

OH the irony!  I swear something funny always must happen to the CatMan!  I was trying to behave myself today too!  So today, I decided that I was going to help my mom make a cake.  I really felt like I was helping when I realized I was doing it all wrong.

 

I definitely bake like this lady...High heels and all...

 

 

The problem is I really don’t bake…now cooking is another story!  But the last time I baked anything it was in college and my Zucchini bread ended up smoking out my kitchen, exploding everywhere and making quite a mess!  Definitely wasn’t what I had planned.

This mess started as soon as I tried to pull the flour out of the freezer.  Being vertically challenged causes all sorts of grief let me tell you.  On my tippy toes reaching as far as I could…I was closer, and closer, and finally had the little booger in reach when all of a sudden my toe cramped and the darn thing fell on my face!   Now I always teased about being a white girl before but now I really was a white girl!  🙂

Next issue was mixing all of the items together.  Granted I was having issues before hand but now it really became apparent baking was not for me!  I mixed the eggs, box of “mix”, water and the oil started stirring when I realized I was totally mixing the wrong proportions!  How could this happen?  2 eggs instead of three…1-1/3 cup water not 2 cups, 2 tteaaaaasssppoooonnnss of oil not 2 tablespoons……then I learned this after the fact….when something is too liquidy…like soup for an instance if it is too runny, add some flour to it to make it thicker.  Guess what?  In this circumstance, you can’t!  Why doesn’t anyone tell me these things!?

 

OH NO!!!

 

 

Next, I forgot to preheat the oven in all my dismay.  That was the easy fix…next I got everything established .  It called for a 2-9″ round pans OR 9″ pan greased.  I made do with what I had…let me tell you it was totally not either of those options.  Minor details.  I then shoved that thing I called a cake in the oven!  AH-HA!  I will show you my little friend what it’s like to be baked!  I was praying that it tasted alright!  My mom mind you is laughing at me the whole time!  Not just a little tee-hee laugh either.  It was more like a deep belly laugh.

5 minutes later, the oven was smoking because apparently the pan was too small…sigh.  It was too much for me.  It blew up, then I blew up!  I couldn’t even bear to look at the mess that was surrounding me.  I actually laughed at my stupidity.  Today was not the day for me to bake a cake apparently!  At this point my mom felt a little sympathetic and helped me address this “hole” we called a kitchen.  It was a hole because that is what happened when I tried to jolt thru baking a cake.  (HEAVY)  Sigh.

 

It was like a party in the oven if you ask me!

 

My mom gave me a big hug as we laughed at such horrible baking skills!  She did say that I could be on the one Food Network show, “America’s Best Baker. Wink!”  HAHA.  Oh well what to do but just laugh!  Life is still good whether you can follow directions, bake, or preheat an oven….I think I need to get new glasses!

I don’t smoke but, if I did…someone hand me a cigarette!!

CatMan