Health Stats with Edna

Why in the world must the elderly share their medical stats with us of a younger generation while slothing around a doctor's waiting room? I feel like an announcer is needed to properly display the lineup of "achievements" some of said elderly have achieved...

Now stepping to the window, Edna. With a strong series of procedures, she ails from an ulcer, diabetes, heart problems and spider veins. A ripe age of 76, she has earned the honor of clean colon several years running. Her 21 year stint with her current cardiologist is best in the county...

Yes, I met Edna and yes, her stats are true. While waiting for my mom to finish up her "in-depth" video shoot, I was graced with the presence and medical rundown of dear ol' Edna.

Have you noticed that older folks enjoy discussing their medical history? Our discussion began with her asking why I was "in here". After bursting her bubble of excitement by telling her I wasn't a patient, she began running through her recent accomplishments which concluded with her colonoscopy she was "prepped and ready for". Trying to remain respectful without running out of the office screaming, I quietly sat and listened to her describe her previous day. I'll spare you the details, but just know it involved her intestines and stomach to be totally emptied with excessive trips to the bathroom.

Is this something that all elderly share? Or was I just blessed this morning?

Fridays should be about yummy coffee & cute heels...

ridays should be about yummy coffee & cute heels.  That’s my mantra for today.  Shoot it should be my mantra everyday!  Who doesn’t love delish coffee and cute shoes, right?

After a super challenging week at work (challenging to me and my limited amount of patience, not tasks) today my brain seems to be wandering along, daydreaming of me strolling along a bustling street with “The Motown Song” by Rod Steward and the Temptations as my background music.  Street vendors selling fresh fruit and veggies, florists and of course a cute coffee café on the corner – I’ve got a skip to my step going along with the beat of Rod.  Sing it man…

Don’t you just love my mind today?!  I do.  It makes me smile.  Since I’m actually sitting in a not so fun, bland office, I will have to settle for my cinnamon coffee and cute heels while listening to some of my favorites on Spotify. 

So here is to YOUR super Friday.  Wishing you beautiful day dreams – if you’re strolling along a fall street listening to Rod, stop and say hey!

Much love,

Death of a Car Battery

Monday night was one for the books.  I mean, it wasn’t terrible, but after a long weekend celebrating with my step-bro in Tuscaloosa it sure was not needed. 

Every Monday I spend a few hours in my pink bubble learning new tricks and tips, sharing time with my MK girls and enjoying getting to know some of my customers a little better.  This Monday was no different, I arrived early to help set up, learned a lot, chatted and then strolled out to my car to head home.  I have a lot to look forward to when I get home – rest, my pups and most importantly, my husband who is ridiculously amazing… he makes dinner for me every Monday and this week was homemade chicken noodle soup.  Delish!

I hop in my car after a few “buh-byes” and turn the key.  In a flash everything sprung to life and then died away.  Thinking I had released the key too soon and that my 2000 starter needed a little more help, I turned the key again.  Nothing happened.  I just sat in darkness – in wet heat (did I mention it was raining?).

Being an independent woman, I scurried to the back of my Rav4 and pulled the jumper cables from their resting place.  Flagging down some assistance, I set off to resuscitate my car back to life.  I let it run for a moment and then sent the wonderful helper along her way.  I was ready to go home.  Making a quick call to report my status to home, I was on my way.

Pulling out onto the dark road, I felt like the car was sluggish.  It seemed like it just didn’t want to go.  Then. It. Happened.  Everything shut off, and I mean EVERYTHING.  No AC, no lights, no power steering and NO BRAKES!  I began struggling with the wheel and praying that I could get myself over into the ditch and out of the line of traffic.  Finally, when I was where I wanted to rest until Brandon could come assist I pulled the “E” brake.  Shaking and nauseated, I picked the phone back up to hear Brandon’s voice.  He was already heading my way, just needed to sit tight and he would be there to help. 

After reliving the resuscitation and the death of my car again, we made it home by the Grace of God.  (My car died again the minute I pulled into the parking lot, so when I say Grace of God, I mean GRACE OF GOD y’all!)

A $100 battery later, the reliable ol’ RAV4 is back in business.  I’m a little leery of other issues that may come, but for now it will do.  Besides, I have a goal to earn my free car… it just may need to be a little sooner than I thought. ;)

Artistic Touch

Check out this work by artist Guido Daniele - A.MAZE.ING!!

How to Tick People Off

Today, I'm in a mood.  No particular genre, just A mood.  While mindlessly roaming the net I found the below list that made me chuckle.  Useful tips, especially if you're looking to grind peoples' gears...

1. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 99 copies.
2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sexual favors."
3. Specify that your drive-through order is "TO-GO."
4. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.
5. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.
6. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."
7. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what you think."
8. Practice making fax and modem noises.
9. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc" them to your boss.
10. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.
11. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."
12. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears and grimacing.
13. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.
14. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.
15. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."
16. Staple pages in the middle of the page.
17. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a croaking noise.
18. Honk and wave to strangers.
19. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints at the cash register.
20. TYPE IN UPPERCASE.
21. type only in lowercase.
22. dont use any punctuation either
23. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.
24. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times.
    "DO YOU HEAR THAT?"
    "What?"
    "Never mind, it's gone now."
25. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.
26. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "No, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.
27. Ask people what gender they are.
28. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like a parakeet.
29. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.
30. Sing along at the opera.
31. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.
32. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological profiles."

Re: Gumption

I'll post info/updates from seminar - it was truly an adventure - but before I do, I had to share the swift kick in the rear I needed.  Funny thing is, it happened once I got home.  The push and promise I toyed with in Dallas were surely secured yesterday morning when I sat in my wonderful church. 

Seriously think about it... what have you previously strived for and failed to hit your goals?  Gumption is the character to commit and complete!  Check out the video:



reGumption Remix from 12Stone Church on Vimeo.

Oh Shutterfly, You Shouldn’t Have

After 10 months (yes, you read that right… 10 MONTHS) of being married I finally got around to getting my wedding album put together and ordered.  It arrived yesterday - the bright orange box safely tucked in box #3, the key neatly laid in our tiny apartment mail hole.  You see, I’ve been waiting ever so patiently for this little puppy to arrive.  It is my own creation, showcases the happiest day of my life thus far.

I had used Shutterfly once before, but did not want to spend an arm and a leg to have my COMPLETE wedding album printed.  I wanted a big book, with page after page of snapshots from the wedding.  I’m not going to lie, I wanted every shot taken in that book.  Pricing the books made my head spin.  Our photographer (who took some AMAZING shots and I would recommend him to everyone) had created an example book with his favorite shots and told me it would be another $100 - $125 for him to have it printed – leather bound with thick pages… errrr. No thanks.  Shutterfly’s options were much better, but then you get into adding pages.  WHERE was I going to find a place that could let me create the album of my dreams at a reasonable price!? WHERE, I ASK YOU!?!

Customize Your Heart Out

Recently, Shutterfly came out with a new option for book creation, a completely customizable path that allows your artistic expression to seep through your project in its entirety.  I fell in love immediately.

I still had one problem, pricing.  We don’t have extra cash just laying around asking to be sent off for fun projects.

Sign Up for Shutterfly = Discounts Baby!

I created a Shutterfly account previously (as mentioned above) and would occasionally receive offers for discounts and freebies.  None of them caught my eye until… “50% off ALL photobooks”.  You say what?! 

I began diligently working away, selecting pictures for each page, uploading photo after photo after photo (this goes on 700+ times).   I selected colors and layouts, special phrases and fonts.  With “and they lived happily ever after…” the book was complete.  I submitted it for print and began my wait. 

Here is my book, sitting in its new home in our living room for all to see.  It turned out better than I could’ve imagined.  The colors ring true, the pages luxuriously thick, the product is exactly what we were looking for.

Click here to view this photo book larger

I invite you to visit Shutterfly’s website and sign up for your own account.  Just for doing so, they will give you up to 50 free 4x6 prints.  

 

 This blog is not a promotion for Shutterfly.  All opinions are truly my own.  And no, I was not asked to review my product.  I just love it so much I had to share with you!