Now THAT'S a pizza!

Last night our friends Davy and Annette came over and delivered a mouth watering HOT DOG pizza! Nette and Andy share a love for the unique cuisine and after 2 pieces, I have to admit- I'm addicted! This one was from Big Tomato- a great pizza joint in DSM. We haven't had it since our wedding night so it was the perfect treat!

Andy's friend Crawford came over next, and soon to follow our friends- Jen and Burt- and before we knew it, there was a party going on! Nothing like friends to start the weekend off right!

Math problem of the day

Now children, please explain this math problem to me:

Losing a job + having to pay in thousands for taxes= ??

Hmm...I think I have the answer- 'Totally screwed!'

If anyone got a different answer, I would love to know! And to think I got a 'C' in high school math.

'Local girl sparks fire by wearing pantyhose'

I was fully expecting to see this headline on the morning news today. Why, you may ask?

Last night, Andy and I attended Andy's annual company banquet. Translation: Take off sweats and squeeze into little black dress. And we all know what goes with a little black dress; none other than a woman's worst nightmare: pantyhose.

Fresh from a shower and having caked on the lotion (don't forget I live in the arctic) I laid out my pair of pantyhose and just stared. It was showdown time (think old-time Western, guns and all). I was not going to let myself succumb to the pantyhose. So I took a deep breath- and stretched and pulled and pulled and stretched. Finally, after 30 minutes of grunts and groans- success!

No runs, no tears just.... the urge to pee! Why hadn't I done that before the war of the pantyhose? I'll never learn.

Needless to say, we had a great time at the banquet- free cocktails, great food, fun schmoozing.. and even though my thighs were screaming from the pantyhose, I didn't start any sparks. Imagine that.

In my own words

Dear Mr. President:

Congratulations on a campaign well run and welcome to the White House. I admit, I had my doubts (and maybe still do), but I want you to prove me wrong. I want you to show me what 'change' means exactly. I want you to show us all how we can recover from such madness in our society today.

I had my first full-time job at age 10. I gave up cheer leading in high school to work 40 hours at McDonald's while still making the honor roll. I worked through college and since graduating in 1998, have worked 2 and 3 jobs for more years than I have only worked one. I slaved away in graduate school while holding down a full time and part time job. Do you see the theme here? Do you get MY 'message?'

I refuse to sit on the couch and collect unemployment. I want to work at a job that utilizes my skills and resources. I want to be a contributing member of society. But that can't happen if I can't find a job, if I can't land an interview...

I know this is a lot of pressure. I know we are looking at you to make great things happen. And in some regards, you have made us all promises that I'm hoping by the grace of God, you can accomplish. I stand up and support you- not as a left wing or right wing, conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican- but as an American that wants to get us all back to basics, as an American that wants my dream back, as an American that refuses to keep 'doing what we've always done.' May God grant you the abilities to help us one and all.

Oh and the last time I wrote to the President I was six years old and I got a signed 8X10 glossy back in the mail (Reagan and I shared a birthday). I'd be happy to settle for a letter of recommendation. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to land an interview nowadays.

Best Regards,
Mrs. W

What's on your list?

HBO is having a free viewing weekend this weekend and you know what that means- it's movie time! (Free AND frugal, my new motto!)

So Andy and I hunkered down last night and caught The Bucket List. Now- I have to be honest. I never really wanted to see this movie. I knew the general theme and to be honest, my state of mind hasn't been the cheeriest lately. But alas, there were no "Earnest Goes to Camp" movies on HBO last night so we settled for The Bucket List.

I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is a very sad movie but at the same time- got me thinking a little bit. Now am I in NO way equating the loss of a job to a terminal illness but there were 2 questions in the movie that I think everyone should ask themselves. I know I did.

1) Do you have JOY in your life?

2) Do you bring JOY to others?

I do feel like I have joy in my life- and I need to keep reminding myself just how much joy I actually have. My husband, who makes me laugh til I cry, amazing family who always lends a supportive ear, true good-for-your-soul friends who know when to be right by your side...

I think the 2nd question is a little harder- and since the answer doesn't jump out at me, I think it's time I remember that too, how important it is to bring joy to others. It's not just all about me- it's about being there for all the people in my life, uplifting them the way they uplift me.

I think it's time I get to work on my own bucket list and wallowing in self-pity is not listed. What's on your list?!

Armed and Dangerous Part 2

The cookies were oh-so-out-of-this-world-good!

(And by "cookies" I mean the one cookie that I was able to bake out of the remaining cookie dough.)

Armed and Dangerous

Yes, I am armed and dangerous. Dieters everywhere: beware!

I came home from the grocery store touting a ginormousincrediblyhuge tube of chocolate chip cookie dough. And I'm not afraid to use it. And by use it, I mean eat it.

Good thing the string in the waistband of my sweatpants has been lost years ago... Okay seriously though. I have to find a new job soon or else be forced to get a new larger wardrobe, and who has that kinda money?!

You know the feeling?

When you rip off a band-aid?

Fall backwards and get the wind knocked out of you?

Stub your toe?

Yeah... I feel all of those right now. Got my first rejection notice for a job I applied for. A job that I really wanted. I'm not sure how many of those my ego can take.

Hipleasedtomeetyoupleasehireme

Did you know that an employer takes exactly 5 seconds to decide, based on your resume, that they are going to:
1) burn it, 2) use it as Kleenex, or (and this is a loooong shot) 3) call you for an interview.

FIVE seconds. To skim my two pieces of paper that I have agonized over for the past 72 hours, 'should I put a comma here?' 'should I add a bullet point there?'

Truth be told, they really don't care. They have 5 seconds and you're either in or you're out. Just like Heidi would say (think Project Runway). I have an idea- maybe I should hit up one of those Glamour Shot places at the mall, the ones where they throw a pink boa around you and make you look like a Vegas dancer from the '70's. Yes and then I'll attach a billfold print of that amazing picture to my resume.

How's that for beating the 5 second rule? Ah...gotta always be one step ahead.

Who needs therapy?!

Who needs therapy when all you need is a birthday party to go to?

Andy and I headed over to my good friend, Jen's place last night to help her celebrate her birthday. It was a nice break from the 'Debbie Downer-down and out-wearing 10 year old sweats-going through boxes of Kleenex' persona that I had taken on these past couple of days.

We enjoyed a delicious champagne cake from Highland Park Bakery as well as some well-deserved cocktails. We had a great time and more importantly, were able to celebrate Jen's birthday- who, by the way, is not a day over 28.

Happy birthday girl!

When life hands you lemons...

You're supposed to make lemonade, right? Well what if you don't have the recipe...

In one short, teeny tiny minute, my life has been turned upside down. My job, no wait- my career as I know it, is over. My first 'real' job after college, for the past 10 years...gone. My company is closing and that's that. No begging, no pleading...and more importantly, no more paycheck.

I'm running a million quotes in my head, bible verses, funny thoughts and anecdotes- but they are not helping. Not one bit. All I can think about is ending up living in a van down by the river.

Can I have a shot of vodka in my lemonade? That might take the edge off. Better make that two.

21 Weeks

A lot can happen in 21 weeks...

I could gain weight, I could lose weight, I could lose my job, I could win the lottery, but the real question is: can I train myself to run a marathon? I was chatting with my good friend Annette today and we thought, why not?! Let's do it! So yes, here it is for all of blog-o-sphere to remind me: I am going to run the 2009 Des Moines Dam2Dam on May 30, 2009.

This from the girl who hates to sweat, who- after 8 looooong months of daily exercise, still.hates.to.exercise. I guess I just need to put on my big girl panties and go for it!

Who knows- I may even cross the finish line.

One good thing about ice storms...

They can change travel plans for the better!

Friday night my parents drove down to DSM for some family bonding time. We ate supper at Noah's Ark, which was fabulous as always. They were planning on heading home on Saturday and then the ice/sleet/frozen rain came and well... they got to stay Saturday night as well! We ordered pizza in and had fun playing the Wii and a great little card game known as 'Crap on your neighbor.' It was such a fun weekend! Thankfully, the sun came out on Sunday and they were able to make it home without any problems.

Here are some pics of Precious, their cute little pooch!

2009 wouldn't be complete without...

Hawkeye football!! Or should I say, a win for the Hawks!!

We got together with a group of friends to spend the day cheering for the Hawks! Let's see...after a day of eating, drinking, playing Wii, and watching a movie- oh yeah, we did watch some of the game I guess. And good thing because they won!!

We had a great time, enjoy the pics!
And GO HAWKS!