Open Letter

Dear Blog and Friends who Read my Blog,

I am sorry for my extended absence of late. I do not know why this happens, but I seem to be incredibly busy and yet non-productive lately. However, I have many random snippets of updates to share. And since we all know how much I love a good list, here goes:

1) My new job is still really challenging and still very busy, but I really do love it. Every day, I feel like I understand a little bit more and that there is hope that, one day, I will actually know how to do the job.
2) We got "early release" today, so I only had to work until about 12:30. YAY!
3) I have been cleaning and organizing pretty much constantly, although you'd never know it to look at the place. I have discovered that I need more furniture, specifically STORAGE and WORKSPACE.
4) This is all OK, because WE FINALLY PICKED OUT THE TABLE SAW!! And, JoeD paid for it, AGAIN. Which means that the money he gave me for the saw before can go to other things, which should probably be "savings," but instead, turns out to be "scrapbooking supplies". YES!
5) I love television. I am really hopelessly addicted to it, which again, is OK, because:
6) Last week, one of my co-workers hosted a "FRIENDS" trivia party, which was exceptionally fun. Here is a pic of my team wearing the t-shirts we made. I printed the decals out the night before and we ironed them on and made the sign during my lunch hour. Hee!
7) Boston Market prepared our Thanksgiving feast this year, and if you think that's ridiculous, just imagine trying to prepare your own Thanksgiving feast for 4 adults and one typical 3-year old and you'll know why we chose to have the Boston Market do the work. I would rather prepare a meal for 40 than for 4. At least you get some scale there.
8) The mirror from the baby shower is finished and it's here: http://www.starglazers.com/ - click on "examples" and it's the 3rd one. I think it turned out great! What a pheomenal idea from Jenn-Dub!!
9) I know I end up saying this a lot, but I really do think I have the best friends in the world and I'll be thinking of each and every one of you over the holiday weekend!
Love,
-Erin

"private" message to Rachel

I can't get this to go on your blog, so here's my comment on your latest LIT post:

Heidi is wickedly diabolical and awesome!
I have to admit that I was both sickened and delighted at the entire story. because I love to tell stories and talk about things that are gross.
also, i am especially delighted that SHE asked HIM to go out. And that their "date" entailed her lifting some grub and coming back to his place to get it on. I have to give you mad propers for thinking to make all the noise so they wouldn't be having all the sex on your sofa. Ew. Things like this make me miss you, yet, if you weren't away, you wouldn't have this particular story to share. Ah, the paradox!!

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

The Good: I think my voting precinct hit an unofficial record tonight. They were at 402 voters, and the most they've ever had, even in presidential election years, was 250. This is all anecdotal, from one of the poll workers. I thought I would be the "odd bird" as a Provisional voter, but there were 2 in front of me and 2 behind me, so I guess Provisional voting is the new Absentee voting. Although Absentee voting was supposed to be the new ballot box. So who knows where we're headed next?

The Bad: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/retirement/view/ Frontline's report on the sad state of retirement savings today. The last thing I need is to hear more bad news about how the middle class is getting pinched. Actually, it's possible that this is just the thing a lot of us need. I can say that my votes tonight went toward the candidates who seemed the most concerned with the issues of the middle class. I know it's very proletarian of me, and being proletarian is not en vogue these days. But I'd rather accept my fate and try to work toward a brighter day for all of us than live in denial, pretending that I'm part of the Bourgeoisie when I'm actually not.

The Ugly: I still cannot get my sleep habits under control. Sunday night, 2 Benadryl did the trick. Last night, 2 Benadryl caused me to oversleep through my alarm and be massively late to work. Tonight, I took 1 Benadryl and I've decided to talk to my doctor about Lunesta.

it's a love thing

This is a picture of my new baby. I am much more in love with this car than any adult woman should be with an entry-level sedan, but it's such a big upgrade from the 9-year-old Oatmobile that I don't really care. I need to come up with a nickname for her. One of my co-workers suggested The Bounty Hunter. Hee!

Please don't judge her too harshly from this pic - it's not her good side.

sendin' forget-me-nots

to help you to remember...me. I have been in absentia lately and i apologise. Not much time or space to catch up, so i'm just listing points to pique your curiosity.
1. My new job keeps me very, very busy.
2. I spent my first "whole day" with tommy last weekend. It went well. Next time, we're going to the discovery museum.
3. My dad gave me a birthday gift of cash to buy my table saw, but i haven't done that yet, because
4. I threw all reason and sense to the wind and bought a new car yesterday. Gulp.
5. The car salesman is missing an eye. He is also a bounty hunter.
6. My company has announced publicly that my division is up for sale. $5 billion, OBO.
7. I'm playing shuffleboard thursday nite.
8. I made papier-mache fall decorations last week.
9. If you haven't made it to firepit friday, you've missed out. However, there is no FPF this week. Stay tuned for the 11/3 edition, where we celebrate heidi's big 2-5!!

Insomnia...I can't get no sleep

In the off chance that anyone is even checking this blog anymore, I thought I would post...something. I don't even have a decent excuse for being so absent. I guess I've just been busy, with LOST and friends and house things and trying to get a decent night's sleep. Which finally happened, courtesy of LynnieT and her AMAZING cave-like guest room. I slept like a freaking ROCK and didn't even hear her doing dishes in the kitchen above me, or doing laundry just down the hall. It was seriously the best sleep I've had since I snuck down to the Quiet Room at work one morning and took a 45 minute nap in what can only be described as a sensory deprivation chamber. Another amazing nap to comment on.

LynnieT and her husband used to play a game called "there's Erin". It's similar to "there's JoeD," except instead of pointing out any guy who had a white beard, flowered Hawaiian shirt, and Teva sandals, they would point out any person who was totally punched in a public place. Because I used to be able to do that, very easily, and would often take naps in the park, or the front yard, or anyone's sofa, anytime. Now, I can hardly get any kind of decent sleep, which makes me exceptionally cranky for most of the time. ARGH.

PS - "A Thing Called Love" is on the radio right now and they just said that the band's lead singer died. Sorry, Heidi.

LOST in Emotion

the rumours of my LOST addiction are false. Obsession, perhaps. But addiction, well that's just silly.

I have been working since last Thursday to get caught up. Which means, watch every episode, because I am that far behind. I have been watching 8 episodes a day since Saturday. I still have 8 more from S2, so I won't be watching the premiere tonight. No spoilers, please. I'll be watching the premiere online on Thursday. Then, I'll finally be a real boy! Just like Pinocchio.