March 6, 2000 - Monday Evening

            I'm having a hard time even wanting to write.  I don't want to give up on my
            website because I really enjoy being creative with the graphics and things like
            that.  I just haven't wanted to come online at all.

            So I have a new computer at work.  That was okay once I got all my programs
            back up and running and all my links and bookmarks in place.  But I have a new
            keyboard and I am NOT happy about it.  My enter button on my other one was
            bigger and the keys were more clicky.  I'm just not happy with change at all
            and have been whining all day.  Then besides that, the network went down so we
            couldn't use any of our programs.  It's kind of hard to help customers with
            their accounts if we can't get into their accounts.  I don't know... I'm just
            complaining about everything.  I'm a joy to be around today.  (Not)  And one
            other thing that is really bugging me is that my keyboard isn't perfectly level
            so when I hit some buttons it tips ever so slightly.  That ain't good at all.
            Waaaaaaah.

            One good thing... Kathy is letting me use her gel thing.  You know the wrist rests
            that feel like jello inside - the ones you can't stop touching?!  So far it's
            comfortable.  Thanks Kath!

            I'm not the only one who is grumpy today.  Not to mention any names.
            (Jennifer)

            Oh I MUST tell you what JungleJim did the other day.  Let me re-explain what
            Jim is like because otherwise this won't be funny.  He's very particular about
            his desk.  He's the one who brought his own box from home to put his feet up
            under his desk because Jennifer kept hiding the crate he was using.  He's the
            one that rides a two seated bike.  I don't know what you call them... tandem
            bikes?  His bike has a little headlight the size of a flashlight and it also has a
            basket.  He looks like the wicked witch from The Wizard of Oz.  He's the one
            who is growing plants at his desk.  He started out with one tiny plant and now
            they've multiplied.  He's the one who taped a baggy of water with a plant slip
            sticking out of it to his computer tower.  He's the one who also planted a little
            slip of plant into a shell.  He's just very funny and we like to pick on him.
            Well... the other night he had to sit at a different desk because there was
            something wrong with his phone so he grabbed the little shell plant and took it
            with him.  It was funny because he had to bring a plant with him to a desk that
            is maybe 8 feet away.  We laughed and laughed and laughed about that.  So his
            nickname is JungleJim now.  =o)

            Oh... fair warning... Manda has enrolled herself in Drivers Ed and soon will be
            practicing her driving.  If you're on the roads anywhere in town, be careful.
            For that matter, if you're on the sidewalks in town, be careful.  If you're in a
            plane you should be safe.   =oÞ  Hehehehehehe!

            Hey, we went to the movies the other night with Tim and Shari and we saw "The
            Whole Nine Yards".  That movie was so funny I laughed my head off.  I could
            have laughed harder and longer but I didn't want to be disruptive so I held in
            alot of my laughter.  I wasn't expecting to like that movie so much.

            Bob likes to be held now.  The first couple of times we held him he wasn't real
            thrilled with the concept.  We kinda figured that out because of the time he
            jumped off Manda's shoulder.  Now he just kinda sits there in your hand and
            wiggles his little whiskers and nose around.  He's absolutely precious!

            Okay... I'm outta here!  See ya!

                                       important useless facts:
            ** they sell blue raspberry icees at the food place in walmart
            ** they are not as good as the ones at the movie theater
            ** the lunch I brought today looked like throw up
            ** yet it tasted like chicken broccoli casserole
            ** that's because it was chicken broccoli casserole

                                          quote of the day:
                     "I have a funny phone - it's not making me laugh, I just can't hear you."
                                ~ JungleJim on the phone with a customer
 

March 16, 2000 ~ Thursday Night

            Well, I've been hard at work on my new look for my site.  I have been
            feeling quite bored with it lately and maybe that's why I wasn't writing
            any journal entries.  The other day I was talking with a friend and he was
            explaining to me in a nice way, that yes, it was boring and that it needed
            some color.  I spent days trying to make a pretty, colorful index page and
            playing around with new names and in the end only two things stuck, a
            black and white theme and a name with the word "eclectic" in it.  Eclectic
            because it describes me.  I don't have a theme for anything.  Most people
            collect things or have a special hobby, me... there are millions (okay only
            hundreds) of things I like.  Nothing seemed to fit.  At least not just ONE
            thing.  And the colorful index didn't work.  For some reason I like my
            index page to be plain and black and white and then I like my daily
            entries to be pretty and colorful.  That is just how I like it.  And above all
            this is my special place to express myself as I want to and in a way that I
            enjoy.  So for now this is what you're stuck with and what I'm enjoying
            immensely!  Maybe I'll write more often now.  I hope so because I sure
            have put alot of work into this site for the past year.

           Anways... what else has been going on in my life?

            I had an awesome birthday!  My co-workers spoiled me rotten and then
            went right back to abusing me the following day.  Oh well, it was fun
            while it lasted.  They had balloons and streamers and confetti and flowers
            and cards and gifts and cake and ice cream.  And the best part of all was
            the crown they bought me.  It still sits on my desk as a reminder that I'm
            queen every day, not just on my birthday.  =oÞ

            The day before my birthday, which was a Saturday, I went in my room to
            take a nap.  When I came out Dwayne had decorated the whole living
            room with blue and green streamers and gave me gifts and stuff.  That
            was fun too!  I guess all in all my 30th birthday wasn't completely bad.  I
            enjoyed the day(s), I just didn't want to grow any older.  Oh well, I guess I
            don't have a choice.

            Well, I have to get going so I can go to bed.  I'm exhausted from working
            on this site for like 5 hours!  I hope to write more!  Nite!

                                      important useless facts:
            ** my scanner isn't working
            ** i'm not real happy about that
            ** there have been a million things I wanted to scan
            ** today at work I was reading my old entries
            ** i giggled alot
            ** it used to be funnier
            ** hmmmm

                                          quote of the day:
                               "See how stupid I am?  I even knew THAT."
                                             ~ Manda
 

March 17, 2000 - Friday Evening

            I'm really grumpy today.  I get really frustrated at work sometimes.  I have
            a hard time too because I censor my feelings in my journal when
            otherwise I would lay it out on the line about what frustrates me and
            what doesn't.  Because my co-workers read my journal and because I am
            a supervisor.  So if you work with me beware because I am going to be
            honest here in my personal journal and I hope I don't offend anyone.

            I feel I am a very laid back supervisor.  I'm very flexible.  If people need to
            leave early I allow it, if people need to come in late I allow it, if people call
            in sick I don't lay a guilt trip on them.  We have the type of atmosphere
            where we can joke and laugh and goof off (as long as the work gets done)
            and just have fun doing our job.  In being that way as a supervisor I'm
            afraid I have become lax and not strict enough in other areas.  It's hard to
            be a friend and a supervisor to the same group of people - oh and now
            add to that aunt as well.  It's a constant balancing act.  I want to be a
            good supervisor and do my job well, but if it means making my
            co-workers (friends) unhappy I try to avoid it at all costs.  I feel very much
            in the middle and frustrated in my position.  I guess it's my own fault
            because I'm a "push over" pretty much.  But I also don't even want to be
            the type of supervisor that doesn't allow fun and isn't flexible.  I always
            feel like I am being questioned as to what tasks I'm doing.  If I log off the
            phones to work on a "supervisor" project I feel guilty that I'm not "in the
            trenches with them" so to speak.  It's really not a very easy position to
            hold when you are friends with the very people you are supervising.  Not
            that I don't absolutely love them and appreciate all the hard work they
            do, because I do.  But things are just difficult sometimes.

            I have been thinking about (and missing) the Giggler.  It's been a while
            since I have talked to him.  It's funny how so much time can go by and
            then all of the sudden I'll think about him.  I haven't been chatting with
            any friends online at all.  Even when I was chatting with him I didn't chat
            with many other people.  I guess I have outgrown the "chatting scene".
            It's for the best actually because when I have friends that I chat with
            online I don't get much else done.  It's very distracting in all areas.  But I
            still miss and think about the people that I made friends with.  Once in a
            while I think about beginning to chat again and meeting more friends
            but I really want to save my emotions for my husband, family, and real
            life friends.  Not that I have many of those either.  What a loser I am!
            =oÞ

            I have absolutely ZERO desire to do anything around this house other
            than working on my website.  The fridge needs to be cleaned out.  There
            are some green leftovers in there and let me tell you, it sure as heck isn't
            in honor of St. Patrick's Day!  The dishes need to be done, a load of
            laundry needs to be folded, the desk needs to be straightened and
            organized, the shower curtain is slimy, the toilet still to this day doesn't
            work right, and the ability to measure the dust in inches is fast
            approaching.  Wahhh!  At a time like this I could really use a nice hot tub
            and some candles and soft music.

            I think it's possible that I could have PMS.

            Not that anyone could notice that and see beyond my bright and chipper
            mood.  ~ yeah right
 

March 21, 2000 - Tuesday Evening

            Danielle (my niece) and I knew we were in trouble when we walked in the
            house tonight and smelled rotten eggs.  All evening Keisha has been
            blessing us with her lovely smelling flatulation.  What in the world did
            Dwayne feed her?!  I need some Doggie Beano!  How disgusting.  Don't
            you just love it when I share this personal information with you?!

            So things have been pretty quietly lately.  Well, all except for the recent
            flatulation disturbance.  But I didn't mean literally quiet... I meant, well,
            you know what I meant.  Work is still boring, Dwayne and I haven't been
            on a movie date in a while, we're still busy with church stuff, and there
            isn't anything new or exciting going on right now.  I guess I don't mind
            that.  If there were exciting happenings going on it wouldn't necessarily
            be good things.

            We made pizza with my new baking stone tonight.  I washed it with the
            smallest, tiniest, littlest bit of dish liquid and was informed that I'm not
            supposed to use ANY soap on it at all.  Oops.  But I think it will be okay.
            The pizza was good anyways.  And I didn't taste any soap.  That thing
            works good as far as cooking pizza goes.  I like it alot.

            I'm QUITE behind in my electricity bill.  Yikes.  That thing builds up fast
            if you skip paying it for a month.  Or two or three.  Hehehe... Aren't I
            naughty?  It really isn't funny.  I am so procrastinatorish.  It's like even if
            I have $100, I won't pay a partial bill with it.  I will only pay bills if I have
            the full amount.  So I take the left over money and set it aside thinking
            that the next paycheck I'll just add some money to it to make the full
            payment.  But by the time I get paid again I'll have spent the $100.  It's a
            vicious cycle and one I have to break because I'm going to get into serious
            debt handling the bills this way.

            In other procrastinatorish news...  tomorrow I am finally having Dwayne
            drop off our tax info at the accountant's office to get that taken care of.
            To see how much money we unjustly owe the federal government.  It's
            not fair that married couples have to pay SO much in taxes.  It's quite a
            bummer actually.  I guess I could continue to whine about it but I'll spare
            you that torture.  I'm just praying we don't owe alot because I would only
            have 26 days left to come up with the money, which would be quite
            difficult considering I've already put off paying all my other bills, not to
            mention my car needing to be registered and inspected before the end of
            this month.  Wow, I'm bad.

                                          Bobservation...
            (This is the part in my journal entry where I give you updates on my hamster, Bob.  I
            mean Amanda's hamster, Bob.)

            Danielle and I thought he might be dead today because when we got home he didn't
            come out of his cottony pile of batting.  But then we finally saw the shavings move a
            little and he stuck out his little head.  He's so cute.

                                         Quote of the day...
                              "Flatulation... it's not just for men anymore."
                                         ~ Keisha the Dog

                                     Important Useless Facts...
            ** manda and danielle are arguing over who can draw cuter poop
            ** i didn't even know poop could be cute
            ** especially in light of the odor we have been smelling all night
 

March 22, 2000 - Wednesday Evening

                 I am missing my friends today.  I have no idea why.  So I sent
                 them emails.  I probably should just let go but I have a hard
                 time doing that.  One I sent to the Giggler and he wrote right
                 back.  I sure do miss him.

                 Hey I forgot to write about the Fed-Ex Guy.  He's leaving his job
                 in September to become a stay at home Dad.  =o(   That's very
                 sad for us.  He's the best delivery guy we have.  But we are
                 happy for him that he can have that opportunity.  I guess that
                 means we're not COMPLETELY selfish.  Sad, sad day.  =o(

                 Can you tell that I REALLY like today's background?  I made it
                 on PSP at work today and almost pee'd my pants from being so
                 excited!  I really really love it alot.

                 It really bugs me when people stick their middle finger up.
                 Sometimes my co-workers will joke around and do it and it
                 doesn't bother me then.  But Amanda and I are watching Mtv
                 and this rap video comes on and this stupid rapper, who shall
                 remain nameless, sticks up his middle fingers.  It's disgusting,
                 annoying, and devoid of ALL CLASS, degrading, low life-ish,
                 just plain nasty and detestable.  I can't say enough bad things
                 about flipping the bird.  It bugs me that much.  Okay, I'll shut
                 up now.

                 And since I can't think of anything else to write I am going to
                 list all the CDs I own right now.  Why?  Because I can.  (Ooh I
                 have a little bit of an attitude today it would seem.  Sorry!)

                 Ginny Owens - "Without Condition"
                 LeAnn Rimes - "LeAnn Rimes"
                 Jessica Simpson - "Sweet Kisses"
                 Natalie Grant - "Natalie Grant"
                 Celine Dion - "Falling Into You"
                 REO Speedwagon - "Hi Infidelity"
                 Backstreet Boys - "Millenium"
                 Backstreet Boys - "Backstreet Boys"
                 Edwin McCain - "Messenger"
                 The Nixons - "The Nixons"
                 Bryan Adams - "On A Day Like Today"
                 Jennifer Paige - "Jennifer Paige"
                 Celine Dion - "Let's Talk About Love"
                 Sarah McLachlan - "Surfacing"
                 Michael Bolton - "All That Matters"
                 Christina Aguilera - "Christina Aguilera"
                 Kiss - "Greatest Hits" (I only listen to "Beth")  =oÞ
                 Michael English - "Gospel"
                 Alison Krauss - "Forget About It"
                 The Kinleys - "Just Between You And Me"
                 Deana Carter - "Did I Shave My Legs For This?"
                 Bryan White - "Between Now And Forever"
                 Clint Black - "Nothin' But The Taillights"
                 John Michael Montgomery - "Greatest Hits"
                 Travis Tritt - "Greatest Hits"
                 Shania Twain - "Come On Over"
                 Shania Twain - "Shania Twain"
                 Soundtrack - "The Prince of Egypt"
                 African Tapestries - "The Smoke That Thunders"
                 Yanni - "Tribute"
                 Various - "Acoustic Worship"
                 Nsync - "Home For Christmas"
                 Brian McKnight - "Bethlehem"
                 Alison Krauss - "So Long So Wrong"
                 Kirk Franklin - "The Nu Nation Project"

                 And that's it.
 

March 23, 2000 - Thursday Evening

            See?  I tried to tell you people that I was made of sugar and spice and
            everything nice.  But actually a little too much sugar.  Cause the doctor
            called and told me my glucose count was a tiny bit higher than normal.
            He told me it's nothing to be alarmed about, rather that I should just
            keep an eye on it.  And then he said those dreaded, words... the d word
            and e word.  Diet & Exercise.  Hmm.  He said that helps to lower the
            count.  Which everyone is aware of.  Which I'm aware of.  Which I ignore.
            (Okay Kathy, now would be a good time to be ready.)

            Oh how I wish I could wake up tomorrow morning and be thin and
            beautiful and healthy and rich and have no problems and that there
            would be world peace.  But then that would mean I'd have died cause
            that would be heaven.  Is it really going to take dying and going to
            heaven to find out what it feels like to be thin?  I hope not.  Cause I like
            living.  But what's the point if you can't eat lots of sugar??  Just kidding
            people!  Gee whiz.  Can't a girl joke around anymore?

            Hey, how do you like today's blinding graphics?  Pretty nifty huh?  I
            made them myself in Paint Shop Pro.  I'm beginning to think they should
            start paying me for endorsing their product!  I can't count the amount of
            times I've said love and Paint Shop Pro in the same sentence.  But I like
            it.  I like it alot.

            Gee whiz, I'm dwelling on this sugar thing.  What about blue raspberry
            Icees?  What about fruit flavored Mentos?  Waah!  I'm feeling sorry for
            myself.

            Moving on...

            We have a new guy at work.  His name is Scott.  I, of course, can't call
            anyone by their regular name, so to me he is Scotty.  I asked him if he
            minded me calling him Scotty and he said no, that I remind him of an old
            man he used to know when I call him Scotty.  Yay.  I like reminding
            people of old men.  That Scotty sure does know how to flatter a girl!  But
            he at least told me that he was a very kind old man.  That makes me feel
            a little better.  (Not.)  Anyways... Scotty is our latest victim.  We like to
            pick on our co-workers.  What a lucky boy!

            Amanda was being her obnoxiously charming self this evening.  She
            rolled up some papers to make a megaphone and, in a Tom Green type of
            sports caster-ish sort of way, began to state everything that was
            happening outside.  Things like, "There is a man getting out of his
            truck."  "There is a woman walking down the street."  "Oops that's not a
            woman, it's a man.  There is a man walking down the street."  "The man
            in the truck has disappeared.  The truck is still there."  Jeff began to pray
            to God that she would go home.  I giggled.  Typical response.  She cracks
            me up.  Only because she is as queer or possibly more queer than I am.

            The Fed-Ex Guy came in today.  He wasn't delivering anything... just
            stopped by to say hello.  He "claimed" he stopped by to replace a sticky
            that fell off the map shrine, but we know he just can't get enough of us.
            He's getting all the visitation in that he can before he stops working in
            September.  But then he said he would bring in his little boys to meet
            us.  Again... another excuse just to be near us.  Hahahahahahahaha!  I
            crack myself up.

            Wow this is bright.

            Milk is good.  But it has 12 grams of sugar.  What the heck is up with
            that?  You know life becomes complicated when you begin to worry about
            drinking milk.  And I'm not talking no whole milk crap.  I'm talking
            measly 2% milk.

            I shouldn't use that word "crap".  It's not very lady like.  Besides that, I
            sound like Amanda.  All she ever does is talk about poo.  She's fascinated
            by it.  But sometimes "crap" is fun to say.  Uh oh... I'm feeling a little
            rebellion coming on.

            Sorry, I'm a little hyper this evening.  I better leave while I'm still ahead!
            Bye bye!

            Wait... One more thing... Happy Birthday Jennifer!!!  (My niece's
            birthday!)  =o)

                                      important useless facts:
            ** the sticky that the fed-ex guy picked up was the label for "God's Country"
            ** benjamin threatened to deface my crown this afternoon when i insisted that i was
            right and he was wrong
            ** i love my crown
            ** there is also a new guy named calvin
            ** every time he comes in the room he bows
            ** yikes
            ** i love how my co-workers humor me
            ** what about ice coffee?
            ** more whining
            ** leaving now...