I'm moving

Hi guys! I've moved all my stuff over to Wordpress. Visit me there and tell me what you think.

My favorite

It's still summer because I have 3 pairs of flip flops in the kitchen.

It's still summer because I can hear the cicadas whirring outside.

It's still summer because the air conditioning is running.

It's still summer because the huge fan is in the living room.

It's still summer because the kids can go to the city pool.

It's still summer because school starts on Wednesday, not today.

It's still summer because it's not my birthday, yet.

It's still summer because I can go outside in my bare feet.
And it will be summer until I have to put on winter boots.

August already?

After my Blackberry went through the washing machine in February, I had to make a few decisions. I had two cell phone contracts. One with Verizon and one with AT&T.
I know, I know. That's one too many.

The second contract with Verizon was for a business cell. I hadn't been with that "business" since December. The contract had 22 months left on it but I was compelled to cancel. I'd had the same cell number since 2001 so that phone number and contract won out. And later on, when the AT&T contract renewed, I could get an iPhone. If I really wanted one.

Initially I was torn. I'd been a Blackberry gal forever. Forever.

Now I can't believe there was even a question.


I went to the Apple Store yesterday and bought an iPhone.

I'm so excited to have a phone that did not come over on the Mayflower. I'm excited to have my contacts in one place. I'm even more excited to have a calendar and "to do" list somewhere other than on paper.

Pardon me, I've got to go. I have a huge hole of online data I need to fill. I'll see you sometime next week.

Just for a few....

I've been helping my Grandmother through a tough transition. She moved into a nursing home in January. I helped her move, liquidate most of her personal belongings and helped her through some complicted financial matters. It's been a long haul physically and emotionally.

I celebrated about 2 weeks ago when I received a letter that her Medicaid had finally been approved. I began applying for Medicaid, which pays the balance of her healthcare, in mid-February. Three months of applying, processing insurance, providing documentation. Three months of working with a government agency was stressful. There was always a threat, however slight, of "your application can be denied". That's what every document I received said.

Today I received a really official looking document that stated Your Medicaid Application XcIMo 19 XGeoKl has been denied.

I muttered to myself, "Wow. I'm pretty sure I got a letter saying the exact opposite thing. Now where is that letter? It was right here..."

A little panic ensued. Just for a few minutes. I dug to find the original letter. I found a bunch of random things. But no letter. Hmmmmph.


Carefull re-read the new letter. It was much more official looking. And a lot of it was in all caps. So, basically the Fed was shouting at me and telling me I'd been denied.

I finally found the original letter. I compared the two. Yes, part of her application had been denied. Both letters confirmed this fact.


Then I turned the new letter over. It continued, in all caps of course, to say that the majority of my application had been approved. It shouted out to me that I'd done a good job and had been approved. All was right with the world.

Jesus Horses and other things

I spent 3 hours with an old friend on Thursday night. We met at Caribou Coffee in Columbus. The one on Lane Ave, right by his house. I could have spent hours longer with him, but we both had places to go. A couple of things really struck me while we talked.

Wow, I thought, we're still friends. We're catching up with each other like time has hardly passed. I didn't doubt our friendship, I just didn't know what kind of turn it would take. The turn it took is great.

We had a blast! He is funny as hell. He told me the "latest" phrase. I'm not sure it's a PC term or maybe a "churchy" term. Doesn't matter, really. It's funny and I like it. The latest term is "jesus horse". Dinosaurs? The new term for them is "jesus horse" Ridiculous and funny all at the same time.

We laughed about politics, the state of things USA. We talked business a while. We "people shopped". We talked social media...me=yay, him=nay. We even had a gossip session about people from 25 years ago.

We caught up just like old friends do. I'm glad we had the chance to get together. I'm glad we caught up. I'm so grateful to still have him as one of my dearest friends. Welcome back, my friend, welcome back.

7 Random Things About My Work History

Jill's recent post about work inspired me today. So, here goes.

1. My first job was as a lifeguard for the Boy Scouts. I was 15 and fresh out of my Advanced Life Saving class. We had to lifeguard while Boy Scouts took classes to get their swimming and canoeing badges. It was also my first experience working for cash. That's right, 15 years old and getting cash under the table.

2. My first summer job was lifeguarding at a local athletic/raquet club. I showed up for the orientation meeting drunk. I was 17 and had just graduated from high school the day before...I had been up all night and I was still drunk. I got away with it, no one caught on that I was wasted.

3. In college I always wanted to work on a home construction crew. Grandma wouldn't let me. Maybe girls don't "do those kinds of jobs". She would never explain why.

4. Job I never returned to: Siding and window sales. I didn't go back for day 2. It had been billed as a job selling "home construction" projects.

5. Job I never should have returned to: A local temp agency selling "temps". It was a churn and burn telemarketing job. And the corporate trainer was a lecherous weirdo. I have great stories though

6. Always wanted to be: Chrissy Hynde

7. Another job I'd love to have: pilot

no wonder

Tim Kolln Photography

I think this is why a size large cycling jersey doesn't fit me, or really anyone else I know. Dude needs to grab the extra pork chop.

I viewed this photo at a cool website that chronicles pro cyclists immediately after races. Tim Kolln provides us absolutely stunning cycling related black and white photography. Enjoy.