Sleep

I am a big fan of sleep. I make it a priority to make sure I get to bed with enough time to potentially get 8 hours of sleep. I don't oversleep as I hate to waste the day and to be sluggish. But one of biggest joys is a comfortable bed, a cuddly blanket, and a comfortable room temperature.

Lately, with my 7-8 hours of sleep, I have been waking up like I have been knocked unconscious. I wake up with a headache, cranky and feel like I just mixed a lot of drinks the night before.

Last night, I didn't get to bed until 1am, knowing I was off today.

What time did I get up? 5 am. 5 FREAKIN' AM! No alarm, no phone call, no nightmares...nothing! I woke up like I had a full nights sleep.

I felt like I had energy and tons of time! Around 4:30, I got a little sluggish and wanted a nap. But after going to dinner, I was just fine.

So, my question is....how much sleep do you personally need to feel rested and full of energy?

I know everyone is different, and I know the mom readers I have will skew the results ;-) .... but I'm curious as to what is actually "average"

My Personal Microwave

How often do you cook shellfish?

How often do you cook shellfish in your microwave?

As I was waiting the 90 seconds for my Beef-a-roni, I saw one of the quick buttons for "shellfish."

How often do people cook shellfish to justify it's own quick button?

If they made a microwave for me it would have:

- Beef-a-roni
- Easy Mac
- Hot Pocket
- Pizza

Shellfish? No!

Wal-Mart Trip

Went to Wal-Mart tonight. Trust me, it wasn't the highlight of my day!

As we were looking for a parking space, we played "count how many license plates are from Mexico in one aisle"

Wanna guess?

Answer in the extended entry....

14...

14 fucking license plates in one aisle from Mexico. Multiply that times how many aisles are at Wal-Mart. Thinking each family has about 15 kids....you can only imagine the chaos at Wal-Mart.

The World Can Suck Sometimes

Yesterday my friend B and I were putting together a little birthday surprise for my friend and roommate, Angel.

Angel got up early to drive to San Diego with a friend and planned to be back in the early evening.

Meanwhile, B and I went and saw the Padres vs Diamondbacks here in Yuma and I got a great little sunburn.

Afterward, we went and got a cake, gift bags for her gifts, flowers, and a birthday ribbon she would have to wear. We had planned on dropping everything off at the restaurant we were going to take her to, but decided against it since it was risky on what she may want to do that evening.

We even considered having a couple of her friends come over to surprise her when she got home. But again, since no times were solid, we decided against it.

It's a good thing we did!

While at Wal-Mart, I got a call from Angel, and she was crying. Now knowing Angel is to know all of her worries and her panic attacks here and there. She tries so hard and prepares for hardships by worrying about them. Usually they are funny, but sometimes they cause tears.

But these weren't the normal tears. These were heartbroken, chaotic, scared tears. She wouldn't tell me what was wrong on the phone. As soon as we hung up I told B we had to leave now and get home.

B wondered what was wrong. I said I hated to say it out loud, but the only thing I could imagine that would upset her that bad would be a miscarriage.

I got home, went straight to her room where she was on the phone with her husband. I knew the instant I went in there. She handed the phone to me to talk to her husband (he will be gone until July). He told me they were no longer pregnant and I knew it took everything he had to tell me that.

I asked him what I could do and he said just to be there for her, listen to her, hug her and distract her some.

Meanwhile....B is in my room getting her gifts and stuff ready.

So, I sat there in the dark with her and just held her. It took everything I had not to cry for her...I wanted to so bad. This is my best friend and they want a baby so bad. This is her 3rd miscarriage.

They've talked about adopting in the past. I asked her if she thought maybe this was because she was meant to save some child from another home. She thought it was possible. I know she was trying to look for some things that made this ok. She could go on a diet and start walking with me, she wouldn't be God-awful sick anymore, there wouldn't be any issues with her getting to Hawaii (where they will be stationed) in her 3rd trimester. But none of it seemed to be right.

It happened yesterday morning on their way to San Diego. They got 30 miles out and was just in unbelievable pain. They drove back to Yuma and went to the ER where she was poked and prodded. She looks like a drug user now they poked her so much. I can't even describe the horrors she went through at the ER.

And I wasn't there. I was at a fucking baseball game drinking beer and taking pictures of the players stretching.

She couldn't use her cell phone in the hospital. So she couldn't call her husband, she couldn't call me.

Then, to make the calls afterward. To call her husband, and her mom. To know when she walks in at work where people knew she was pregnant. To get calls from friends and family checking on her pregnancy. How do you handle that?

I hate it for her. Last night, I told her we had some surprises for her for her birthday (we were celebrating last night but her birthday is Monday), but if she wanted to just stay home we would stay home with her.

She hadn't had anything to eat all day except for crackers and flat ginger ale at the hospital...so she was ready for something eat and found some kind of silver lining in the fact that she may not throw her dinner up.

So, we all got dressed up...nice clothes, make up and a little bling. Our best attempt at being normal. We put a bright pink Birthday Girl ribbon on her. We went to dinner and passed out presents. We made silly jokes and tried to keep the silence to a minimum.

Afterward, we took her to see Failure to Launch. They did a good job of having enough laughs in there to keep your mind entertained. I was concerned her mind might wander. I'm sure it did, but not as much as it could.

Then, we came home to where we looked at some old pictures and brought out a birthday cake that most of us were too full to eat. Then, we all just sat there and flipped through TV channels. B had to go home as she had to work tomorrow. So then it was just me and Angel. I wanted her to be able to get to sleep without having too much time to think. So, we both sat there on the couch watching crappy TV until we fell asleep.

Today will be another day of trying to keep busy and listening. And the selfish part of me is thinking I have homework that must get done today, laundry that needs to be done and job searching that needs to be done.

But, I couldn't imagine the pain she is feeling right now. So, that stuff will be there for me to deal with later. A bad grade in a class, dirty laundry and a shitty job just don't come close to comparing to what she must be going through. And I can't fix it for her!

Pregnancy Payback

My roommate is 2 months pregnant. Her husband is away to TBS at Quantico.

She is constantly sick, the poor thing. I can't imagine puking that much!

But we did decide that it is lucky her husband is not here. Otherwise, she would be giving him ipecac, making him wear his old clothes and underwear that are a size or two smaller, and pinching his chest each morning.

Yea...I think I'll just stick to dogs....

Commitment

I got an email from a friend that I haven't talked to in several years. We went to high school together for about 2 years and of course I have moved 8 times since then.

She is getting married to my high school boyfriend's, best friend's younger brother. Kind of funny!

And she asked me to be a bridesmaid. I am flattered!

But there are a couple of funny things about that.

First of all, the wedding is in June of 2007. I can barely plan ahead next month, let alone next year! I have no idea where I will be, what I will be doing or how much I will weigh then!

Secondly, weddings require dresses. My roommate said she'd fly from Hawaii to the wedding just to see me in a dress. The last time I wore a dress was in 2000 or 2001 to the Marine Corps Ball.

Thirdly, I've been to one wedding! My dad's and stepmom's. I was 12, my stepmom's Maid of Honor and had no idea what a big deal that was! Needless to say, I'm a little under educated in these types of affairs.

Those that know me should get a good laugh. I'm going to write her back tonight. Don't know my decision yet but I will tell her my concerns. I would just hate to say yes and then end up moving to frickin' Japan or something! It's just scary to commit to something so much in the future. But hell, I can't commit to plans for a month from now!

Where to This Time???

It seems every time I either get my vehicle registered in another state and/or my drivers license, and/or order new checks with my new address....I move!

When I moved from Arizona to North Carolina, I kept my Arizona tags as long as I could as well as using my checks with an Arizona address. Once I changed my address on my checks, it wasn't much longer that I moved to a new city in North Carolina. When I got there, I ordered new checks and about a month later got my truck registered in North Carolina. The day after, I found out I was moving to South Carolina. I moved to SC in November. The following June I got my SC license and registration. By late August/early September I found out I was moving to Arizona in October.

Well, now I'm trying to get the hell out of here! Looking for jobs in NC, SC, GA and TN. Then I forgot, all I have to do is change my registration or order new checks.

Well, I bought a new vehicle a month ago and they asked if I wanted to keep my SC plates. "NO!" I replied. Give me Arizona plates! Yes, $500 down the drain....but I don't know where I'm going yet!

Well, I finally got my new plates just the other day. They've been sitting in my room. I wonder if I actually have to put them on for me to find out where I'm moving to?

I know I'm leaving as my boss freakin' found out I was looking for a job elsewhere! I don't think it's fair if you apply for a job internally that an email gets sent to your boss UNKNOWINGLY! Oh well. So, they've already put in a job requisition for my position and the tentative date is May 1st.

Scary! But maybe it's just the push I need!

Meanwhile, I may consider ordering new checks and getting an Arizona driver's license. At least in Arizona, your driver's license is good until you're 65 (which would be 2046 for me).

Oh...and someone asked me the other day if I was in the witness protection program. Hmmm....that's just sad!

Another Drunken Escapade

I went to Mexico the other day to have tacos with a friend. We went to the Patio Bar to have a margarita.

Only 4 Tacos and 5 LARGE margaritas is not a good formula!

I tend to buy more from the little Mexican kids selling crap the more I drink!

Our waiter was cool, he kept bringing shots of tequila and pouring it into our glasses.

I think he may have been in cahoots with the kids.

I think I know Spanish after 5 margaritas.

It's not a good idea to text message practically everyone in your phone with a picture of your new ugly temporary tattoo "I'm drunk in Mexico and got a tattoo!"

No matter how drunk I was, I still declined every offer for a "Mexican boyfriend"

No matter how drunk I was, the strippers at the Green Door were still dirty!

No matter how drunk I was, I still recognized one of our customers at the club. Eck!

No matter how drunk I am, I guess I still know I'm a US citizen. But I don't remember that part!

And the kicker....

driving 3 hours one way the next day to play softball with your new boss and co-workers SUCKS!

I'm not sure which is worse....the hangover or the muscles that are crying out in pain from softball!

DNA

Still not much time...but here's something to get rid of naked blog. Thanks Spurs.

You are a Benevolent Leader.
About You
You are a Leader

Your solid grounding in the practicalities of life, along with your self-assuredness and your willingness to appreciate new things make you a LEADER.

You're in touch with what is going on around you and adept at remaining down-to-earth and logical.

Although you're detail-oriented, this doesn't mean that you lose the big picture.

You tend to find beauty in form and efficiency, as opposed to finding it in broad-based, abstract concepts.

Never one to pass on an adventure, you're consistently seeking and finding new things, even in your immediate surroundings.

Because of this eagerness to pursue new experiences, you've learned a lot; your attention to detail means that you gain a great deal from your adventures.

The intellectual curiosity that drives you leads you to seek out causes of and reasons behind things.

Your confidence gives you the potential to take your general awareness and channel it into leadership.

You're not set on one way of doing things, and you often have the skills and persistence to find innovative ways of facing challenges.

You are well-attuned to your talents, and can deal with most problems that you face.

You're not afraid to let your emotions guide you, and you're generally considerate of others' feelings as well.

You tend to do things on the spur of the moment, not sticking to a set schedule.

Generally, you believe that you control your life, and that external forces only play a limited role in determining what happens to you.

If you want to be different:

There's more to life than the practical - take some time to daydream and explore the aesthetic sides of things.

How You Relate to Others
You are Benevolent

You are a great person to interact with—understanding, giving, and trusting—in a word, BENEVOLENT

You love being in crowds, as you feel comfortable enough with people to be yourself.

Your caring nature goes beyond a basic concern: you take the time to understand the nuances of people's situations before passing any sort of judgment.

You're a good listener, and even better at offering advice.

You're concerned with others at both an individual and societal level—you sympathize with the plights of troubled groups, and you can care about people you've never met.

Considering many different perspectives is something at which you excel, and you appreciate that quality in others.

Other people's feelings are important to you, and you're good at mediating disputes.

Because of your understanding and patience, you tend to bring out the best in people.

If you want to be different:

You spend a lot of time taking care of others, but don't forget to take care of yourself!

Sometimes you can get overcommitted, and when you sacrifice spending time with those close to you, it can make them feel unimportant.