Things that make life worth living

Okay so maybe this isn't a real true substantial blog post, but I don't know what to say. Literally. As a diversion, I've decided to compile some of the little things that have made me happy lately.

-Mom's clam chowder
-Red Raider football!
-The boots Dad bought me to keep my feet warm because I'm too stupid to pack something other than flip flops
-Live music I can sing/dance like an idiot to
-My friends. Especially the ones who sing/dance like an idiot with me. And especially the ones that let me crash at their place with little more than 24 hrs notice!
-My family....immediate and extended. They're way fun.
-Rice krispy treats. (Not the pre-packaged kind.)
-Potatoes. Don't laugh. I'm totally serious. Anything potato and I'm a happy kid.
-Taking the football pot. FINALLY!
-Clean sheets
-Slowly purging my closet of clothes I'm unlikely to wear, yet hang on to for YEARS on end.
-Long socks
-The Notebook. Totally girly cliche but that movie is always good!
-Finally owning Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin. Now I need the Christmas special.
-Candles
-My snooze button

Holy bejesus why is the air conditioner on when it's like a two degrees and wet outside!? My happy thought train has just skipped track and is now a massive pile of really cold wreckage. Time to adjust the thermostat and burrow.

G'night, friends.

The stars at night....

The stars at night really ARE big and bright, and they're one of the things that I love about being back in Texas.

I'm officially a resident again! I've received my last paycheck from Colorado, moved all my belingings (despite a noncompliant radiator in the Penske), unpacked (most of) those belongings, registered my vehicle, obtained a drivers licencse and plan to begin work on Tuesday.

It's been an exhausting week, but things have finally begun to fall into place. I complete my errand-running tomorrow and am looking forward to Josh's and my first regular life-in-the-same-place dinner date tomorrow night.

So far I'm still in a bit of a haze. Lots of mornings I wake up wondering if I really made all those decisions or if it's just been a strange dream. Having sister time, seeing family and being closer to Josh have all been really great things. I'm definitely excited to see how the work scenarios are going to unfold!

Barf

I'm picking up my belongings and moving them 650 miles south in eight days. I cast Josh in the role of 'muscular/automotive support' before he really knew what hit him. I still don't think he grasps the scope of his duties in this scenario, which prompted a conversation today about next weekend's schedule. When exactly will we be leaving? How is this whole packing/loading/moving thing going to happen? Where will we park a truck that large outside of my building? Will my car actually clear the tow ramp? Etc. etc. etc. He remained positive and chipper throughout the entire conversation - while I interjected a series of heavy sighs every few words. I was beginning to become seriously concerned about the strain that this scenario is capable of putting on our relationship.

Me: I don't think you understand how much stuff I have...I just see you getting really frustrated with me because of the whole thing.

Josh: I know. But I'm looking forward to it.

Me: (confused silence)

He proceeded to tell me how he's so looking forward to spending an entire day with just me and him in the van together, and how he's sure we'll probably get stressed at some point during the whole ordeal, but he bets it'll be really funny later because everything I do is 'cute'.

There are three parts of me that responded at that point. The first part coughed 'bullshit' under my breath and rolled my eyes at having landed in one of those romantic comedy relationships that I don't think exist on a real level. The second part melted into a puddle of helpless girlishness with heart-shaped cartoon eyes and reverted to my 13 year old self writing 'Stacie Haile' in curly cursive all over the pages of my Trapper Keeper. The third just gave a blank stare, thinking that he's completely out of his effing mind and only I would fine someone that crazy.

I'm not sure which one to go with at this point, but until things go south I'm all about the puddles.

How to properly flatter a stranger

I'm stressed. It's no secret. Read anything I've written/posted on any public networking forum in the past few weeks. Hell, listen to the tone of my voice and it's pretty evident. For an even better demonstration, go ahead and be the bearer of bad news and see how I react toward you (With the possible exception of Amber who has an uncanny knack of delivering it with flair, assumedly because she's so well versed in the art.)

I feel like I have no release valve up here on my own and see myself cracking at the slightest provocation. For example, I practically burst into tears this afternoon when Josh's excuse for ignoring my blatant text appeal for an 'I love you' was simply the fact that he was busy working. Under normal circumstances, such a scenario would not evoke so strong of an emotional response. Today, it absolutely did.

Not long after that I found myself walking in a ghetto industrial area of Denver (If you're familiar, Evans between Monaco and 25. Sadly that's not nearly close to the worst place I've been streetside in the past couple weeks) looking for the body shop where I could retrieve my car when a motorcyclist flew by me yelling 'OWWWW BABY!'

My first reaction was to give him the one finger salute and reply with a solid "F&#* YOU AND THE HORSE (or bike as the case may be) YOU RODE IN ON!"

Seeing as I was completely unarmed I refrained, but was seriously irked. I got the car, gave it some gas and headed home. Finally. On the brighter side of things, the cherry limeade that the accident splashed all over the interior had been completely detailed away.

Anyhow, two lights away from my destination (read: snacks couch and TV) a silver car pulled up next to me with a goofy freckled high school kid holding up a napkin with the words 'Can I have your number?' scratched in barely legible print. He rolled his window down and yelled 'how are you!?' We had a nice little exchange where I thanked him for the compliment and we went our separate ways. And just like that, my day got a whole lot better.

Now if only I knew where the office staff delivered the package containing my replacement cell phone, cause it definitely isn't in this apartment. *sigh*

Public Transit

I'm all about doing your part for the environment, but I will NEVER AGAIN rely on public transportation on a regular basis if I can help it.

The past couple weeks have been excruciating, and the things that I've witnessed on the bus are unbelievable. Really, it's only been the afternoon/weekend bus rides that have frightened me. I guess the weirdos aren't up at 7AM riding around Denver, although my morning commute today starred an underage-looking guy with an open Budweiser. Quite frankly I'm amazed that I don't have hepatitis and haven't been asked to be a police witness for any 'incidents'.



btw...I'm twittering now and I need some friends, so hit me up!

Like I didn't have enough going on already...

I apologize to those of you who may be reading this and feel that they deserve a phone call to learn the following…

I officially quit my job in Denver today and I’m moving to West Texas in July.

There are lots of reasons, but the main three are;
1) I have been offered a business proposition and a full time job that I feel are promising ventures (more on that at a later date)
2) I have fallen for a guy 650 miles away, and I feel that it’s important to see where things are headed in that department...which makes the job opportunities close to Midland particularly convenient!
3) Although I love the lab here, I do not love what I do at the lab here. When I weigh all the options, it isn’t enough to keep me from accepting other offers.

Things have all developed rather quickly! A family friend approached me with a business offer and I have decided that pursuing it would be a positive thing. Additionally, Medical Center Hospital in Odessa was looking to hire someone for their microbiology department. The position interested me because they're initiating their first DNA test for infectious disease and there’s room for advancement within the department. I like micro beause it's one of those sections that’s never short on tests to perform and analyze. I guess I’m mostly looking forward to being cross trained and multi-functional within the lab! Another bonus is that the hours are 6:30 – 3 which affords a good amount of time in the afternoons/evenings to take care of my responsibilities at the business.

Quitting my job at The Children's Hospital was incredibly difficult because this is a position that I hoped I would be happy at and stick with for at least a few years. I love the people here and I will miss them – but after weighing all my options I feel that I’ve made the right decision. It’s definitely the right thing for me, and ultimately I’m replaceable at the lab. I do feel badly about leaving them shorthanded until they find someone else, but I let them know as much in advance as I could.

While I’m excited about the upcoming changes, I’m also incredibly nervous - mostly because I’m a planner and life virtually never happens according to my plans. With everything that’s been going on lately I’m just about at my breaking point. My sanity comes from the fact that I’m taking these steps to make myself happy, but the thought of re-planning everything that I thought I had settled is overwhelming and intimidating. I’m trying to take things day by day. To be fair, I realize that life is generally what you make it. To a large extent these changes have come about due to my own choices. I have gotten some comfort in the midst of all my stress by realizing how naturally things have fallen into place to make these opportunities available. I’m thankful for my time here in CO and I’m excited to see what Texas holds. It’s hysterical – Midland is just about the last place on earth I ever thought I’d choose to be, but I’m genuinely excited!

VEGAS, Baby!

My best friend in all of eternity is getting married in THIRTY days. I'm pretty stoked for impending nuptials, but also for our weekend in Vegas. Unfortunately Steph and the other bridesmaids' weekend started about...9 hours ago. I just received a call detailing the fun I've missed out on so far feel like a total sad loser. DON'T WORRY, I'LL BE THERE SOON!! Stephanie (the accountant, mind you) just called me 'Biznatch' in her Redbull/Vodka induced state. I don't think she's called me that since the 6th grade. We're going to have fun, we girls. It's difficult to anticipate times rowdier than our last trip together, but I'm certain that we're up to the challenge.

I'm off to pack!

She was passed around like a bottle of Crown, but she was always sweet to me...

I'm listening to Casey Donahew and talkin to friends I haven't heard from in a while.

Y'know what sucks? Having to sign into AIM so that someone can IM you pictures of the guy she's crushing on. Pictures that may or may not have been pirated from his Facebook profile. Slightly creepyish, I know, but it's more about us than it is about him! (egocentric much? what's new?) In all honesty though, I want to be clued in to what's going on in her life, and she wants to update me! How else are we supposed to do that from a distance?

I miss being close to my friends. Sadly, everybody's so spread out that I'll never have my solid group in the same place. It makes me especially sad that they're all so far from Denver. I am thankful, however, that most of them are AT&T customers :)

I certainly hope there isn't anything to that cell phone/brain tumor thing because if there is, I'm utterly screwed.

Dry County?

I would like to bring the following to everyone's attention:

http://www.texasmonthly.com/2009-05-01/letterfromlubbock.php

The best are these quotes from my beloved LBK's spiritual leaders.

“I have struggled to find in Scripture ‘Thou shalt not ever take a drink,’” he told them on the Sunday I visited. “I wish I could point to words that said that. I can’t.”

"David Wilson, the pastor of Southcrest Baptist Church, told me that he believed Jesus had turned water into unfermented wine"

Hilarious.

My Little Sister

I've been missing some important people quite a bit lately, one of them being my super adorable little sister...so I decided to share some favorite quotables of my favorite person! Cam can always can make me smile, and if you've met her then you understand why!!

"Did you really hit a kid in the head with a brick when you were little? Because one day, in Tuesday/Thursday school, I threw a big rock over my shoulder and hit this little black boy in the head and he started bleeding. Then he told on me and I went to the principal's office - and hid it from Mom and Dad till I was in junior high. Hahahaha man we are SO sisters. Was the little boy black? Just curious...."

"Don't move to Minnesota. Because it's so cold in Minnesota that you'd freeze to death. And everybody knows that freezing to death is like ..... the fourth worst way to die."

"I think a good dating rule would be that if he cheated on me or treated me like shit or broke my heart I could run him over with a car. I think that's a good rule."

Why not??

Just checking to see what's new in your life...found yourself a girl yet?

Eh, not a stable one.

...Meaning you've found a booty call?

Why must you label everything??

Redemption

I found my silver lining! The awesomeness of today's skiing has vastly surpassed the suck of Thursday and Friday's work commute.

Today was by far the best experience that I've had on the slopes all year...with the possible exception of the time I spotted Jesus skiing down Peak 9 at Breckenridge. That was pretty awesome, too.

Speaking of Jesus and Breckenridge experiences....when I die I hope that one of my friends immortalizes their love of my memory in sharpie on the inside of a bathroom stall, right next where someone wrote 'Jesus is life' -- and a second someone crossed out Jesus to replace it with 'weed'.

I'll also have you know that the first time I typed that sentence it read 'if I ever die' and memory was spelled with an ie. It's been a long day and my brain is tired!

Blizzard!

It snowed a TON today in Denver. The road outside my balcony looks like an ice skating rink. Seriously. It does.

Whenever I see massive amounts of snow like this I'm reminded of The Shining. Before moving up here, that was the only way I was familiar with the concept of being snowed in. I actually remember being in the 7th grade when the film's remake came out as a television series. It was a big three day event. I watched the entire thing at my neighbor Whitney's house and just about wet my pants every night when it was time for me to walk the 20 yards from her door to mine in the dark. When there's this much snow out I half expect to see Brian Hackett from Wings jump out at me with an axe and a tepid Jack Nicholson impersonation. I don't know. My mind goes strange places sometimes.

Maybe I'll take a picture tomorrow morning before I slide to work on the ice and post it up here for you. In all honesty though, the chances of me a) getting out of bed early enough to play photographer and/or b) actually remembering that I made a halfhearted blog promise - are slim to none. My apologies to you blog followers at large. You can get on the weather channel and watch some Denver area webcams. If you're up around oh-six-hundred Mounain Standard, think of me. I'll be wrapped in a blanket and peering between my blinds, cursing not only my small car, but mother nature herself...and the plow drivers whose maps apparently don't include the large street adjacent to my complex. I'd hate to leave them out.

Irritated

With myself. For two reasons:

1) I insist on checking into any story that pops up on my facebook feed about people who annoy me. I honestly don't have a clue why I do this. While most people avoid people they don't agree with/don't get along with, I seem strangely drawn to them.

2) Although I have about 5 loads of laundry and 2 sinks of dishes to do, I decide to take on projects like organizing my desk drawers ... and uploading old pictures ... and ... blogging.

*sigh*

Nevermind the silver lining 'cause the clouds are fine.

It takes a special person to parallel their life to a pan of brownies. I'm that kind of special.

This afternoon I was attacked by a particularly demanding chocolate craving and decided to bake myself some brownies. Er, more truthfully I decided to mix up some brownie batter and dip my finger into it a few [dozen] times until the craving was satisfied, then bake the remainder. I suspect that I may have needed a serotonin surge after the emotional roller coaster that was The Secret Life of Bees* this afternoon. In any case, I'm always torn when it comes to baking things. I live alone, and really don't need an entire pan of brownies (tray of cookies, loaf of sweet bread, etc.) sitting on my counter - mostly because I have absolutely no self control. Anyhow, I managed to miss the timer and burned them beyond the point of salvage. As sad as it is, I inadvertently spared myself the guilt associated with an empty 9 X 13 pan, soiled spatula and scattered chocolate crumbs. All in all, I think that the situation worked out for the best. The chocolate demon had been silenced without leaving me victim to a weak resolve in the face of temptation for the next 3 days. (and that's probably a high estimate)

I suppose the point of sharing the story was that it made me think how often things in life seem to work out for the best, even if the outcome isn't something I had planned on. Come to think of it, the best ones never are what I expected. Obviously you can never be sure how alternative endings may have played out, but when the ending I wind up with fits under the 'happy' category I see no point in second guessing it. Without getting into too much detail, I'm happy to share that it seems I'm able to dust off my happy category and fill it with a few more items from my personal life than I have in a long, long while...and that makes me more cheerful than a bowl of brownie batter ever could.

*I loved Loved LOVED this movie. I almost opted out of it because I typically (with the exception of Chicago) dislike Queen Latifah films - but it was really great!

The Eternal Optimist

While I can be somewhat cynical, I realized this weekend that deep down inside I'm still at least part optimist. I'm reminded of that line in Hitch where she's 'a realist masquerading as a cynic who is secretly an optimist'. I'd typically choose the word realist for myself, but on Sunday I rediscovered my inner optimist.

I had an impressive pile of ironing accumulating, so Sunday afternoon I settled in for some quality time with my midget-sized ironing board and Cinderella (the animated version). Twelve shirts, three skirts and four pairs of slacks later I watched Cinderella cling blissfully to the prince just after they fell in love during a single moonlit dance. (On a realistic note, I'd personally want to at least see how the guy fares in daylight before expressing the sentiment - but apparently Prince Charming was just THAT good.) The clock tolls twelve, and she completely freaks out - at which point I think WAIT! If the guy's TRULY in love with you, he won't CARE that in about thirty seconds you'll be transformed back into the scullery maid and your servants are about to undergo some horrifyingly freakish conversion! JUST STAY THERE! Spare yourself the angst of being locked in the west tower while your one chance at happiness rests in the hands of 2 mice...one of which is arguably mentally delayed!

I've only seen the movie about a zillion times, yet there I sat...unable to iron o(r move for that matter) willing Cinderella to explain herself to the Prince with everything in me. I watched and hoped she'd wise up before fleeing down those stairs. (Without tripping, by the way. In glass heels. Had this been my fairy tale I'd have lost the slipper, tumbled down 3 flights and broken a leg before hobbling home. The girl's talented.)

I guess the upside to becoming so emotionally invested in a fairy tale is that I ultimately get to witness the happy ending and celebrate all over again with her.

I'm such a dork.

The ironing still isn't complete, but the pile has been reduced to a manageable height. With that admission I'm off to check some more things off of my 'to do' list before I lose all motivation. Happy Tuesday!

Dear 2009

So far I am not a fan.

Yours Truly,
Stacie

Karma's A Bitch

The biggest I know, as a matter of fact.

I took off on Christmas Eve to travel home. Just a few days after publishing that last blog, I found myself in the security line at DIA...wishing that people traveling with children under age 8 were required to fly a designated airline. Or at least stand in their own security queue.

Anyhow, I managed to maneuver myself into a line that was blissfully child free, only to get held up behind a woman who set the metal detector off 5 times. Each time she'd lift her arms, look around, go back and try again. She finally lifted her sweater enough to reveal an ass COVERED in rhinestones. It looked like someone had taken a Bedazzler and gone to town on her pockets. Part of me stared lasers through the back of her head.....and the rest of me tried to rationalize with the violent part, reasoning that it was really my own fault. Had I not vented about that VERY thing 2 days prior, she would have worn perfectly normal jeans. Karma...

Aside from the screaming children seated in front of, behind and across the aisle from me, the flight was relatively uneventful. (I won't even get started on the kids...) Suffice it to say that our descent began just as I was considering clawing my eyes out with the swizzle stick from my bloody mary. Once we were close enough to make out the mutlicolored irrigation circles I started to get excited. Being back in West Texas is comforting in a way that is impossible to grasp unless you've spent time there. Miranda Lambert got it right when she penned the lyrics 'The Texas sky's the biggest one I've seen...' At first glance, the scattered pumpjacks on empty pastures and fields of red sand (seasonally white with cotton) don't really seem impressive. It actually earned me the nickname "Desert Wasteland Girl" from a few friends. However, there's something about the sky that makes you feel like you can breathe again. (As long as we're not having a dirt storm)

In any case, it was good to be home. It was even better to be with family and to get to see a few friends and (of course) the boy with whom I spend essentially all of my free time on the phone. :) Christmas was pleasant, and it was time to come back all too soon. Thankfully, I had a travel companion to keep me occupied on the trip. As an added bonus, I ran in to my good friend Christie in the Dallas-Love Airport while we were making our connection. I actually sort-of hijacked her plane...but that's another story, and I've already spewed way too much on here for today.

Happy New Year!