Random Stuff

I am so ready.

While we're on the subject of football, Omar implies he doesn't like Tom Brady yet he is pictured with him quite often.




You are in awe of his awesomeness....just admit it.

Normally my kids would have complained about being bored by now. They've been out of school almost 3 weeks and not a peep. I've even asked them if they were bored and they told me they weren't. Rats, I was really counting on someone complaining about being bored so I could tell them to clean the basement closet. I should be proud they finally learned that lesson. I'm sure I will be after I'm done cleaning.

Tomorrow the brood is being photographed together (insert dramatic music here). That's together as in all in one place and standing side by side. It is probably one of the cruelest forms of punishment a parent can inflict on a child. I'm sure Child Service's will be here soon. Hopefully no child will be harmed in the taking of said picture but I can't promise anything.

It's noon and I haven't done a thing yet. I did watch Godzilla this morning and plan on watching Creature from the Black Lagoon this afternoon which means I better get moving.

Have a good weekend.

Someone has not been forthcoming with info regarding the darkly deeds going on in his life.

In what can only be considered a stroke of pure genius, he teamed up with my favorite Patriot, Tom Brady, to compete in the widely-unpublicized, Midget Tossing Championships. Contestants come from all over a 3-block radius to participate in this highly competitive and ludicrous (not the rapper) event. Winners of this event have gone on to live in total obscurity.



After winning the whole kit-n-caboodle with what will surely go down in the tossing Hall of Insignificance as the ‘heave heard round the world’, this person went on to celebrate his victory with one very lucky lady.






They were overhead discussing topics such as why Chicken of the Sea brand Tuna does not contain chicken and how the sport of hurling is played on a field with a stick and a ball not in your bathroom after a heavy night of drinking.



Leaving us in the Dark, Lord, that just ain’t right.

Today is 7-11. I feel the need to gamble.

The following is part of a transcript of a conversation I had with the anti-help rep at AOL. I've added commentary (in red) to it. The gist of it is I requested a change on my account and everything was fine until they needed to verify information.

11:47:59 Will you please verify your full name for me?

11:48:21 Stephaine ****, the account is under Jose and Stephaine *****.

So far so good.

11:48:39 For confirmation, who am I chatting with right now?

Didn't I answer this question already?

11:48:48 Stephaine *****

11:49:09 I apologize, but the name you have provided does not match what we have on file for the billing contact of the account. As such we are unable to process any changes on this AOL® account.

My sisters named me. They didn't know the correct spelling, thus me having a lifetime of my name not actually matching anything.

11:49:50 Is it spelled Stephanie?

11:50:13 Or Stephain?

Stephaine doesn't fit on anything spelled wrong or right.

11:50:19 I am sorry but your answer still does not match what we currently have on file.

Me thinking WTF at this point because I'm looking on the website and I see my name.

11:50:29 Before we can discuss any account information or process any changes on the account, we will need to chat with the Billing Contact or Secondary Billing Contact.

11:50:39 Is the Billing Contact available to chat with us?

11:51:18 I don't know who the billing contact is according to the billing info on your website its me and my husband which you are telling me is incorrect.

They don't seem to have any problem billing me correctly.

11:51:49 I do apologize, but due to security reasons I cannot access your account without the proper verification.

11:51:52 According your information online it is JOSE & STEPHAIN.

11:52:39 Could it be possible that you are sharing this account?

At this point I look closer at the billing information and it has Jose & Stephain listed as the first name. I laughed. Because I thought once they look at it, they will realize it's screwed up. I gave them too much credit.

11:53:23 Do you really think someone’s name is Jose & Stephain? Yes Jose and Stephaine are sharing this account it is not a persons first name as stated on your billing information.

11:53:49 For confirmation, who am I chatting with right now?

I think they do it on purpose.

There's more but I deleted it accidentally because I was getting mad again thinking about the whole thing. I understand they have protcol. However, number one on the list should be to remove your head from your ass. Can we divert from the script and use our brain for 2 seconds? Apparently not.

While I was talking to the person I updated the billing info online to reflect my name and they eagerly made the change I requested. Good thing I'm not a hacker. So much for security.

Today I realized that Friday marked one year of blogging for me. It started out as a lark, something to do at work (only during a break of course)when I was bored. It was a way to rant without having to repeat myself. To torture fellow co-workers, which I did/do with wanton glee. I didn't expect to meet such an interesting and diverse group of people. Who knew the world was full of so many smart, funny, gifted-writers willing to let strangers accompany them on this journey of life? Thanks for the ride, folks. You guys totally rock.

In honor of my anniversary, which I really can't believe because I bore very easily, here is my very first post from AOL which is where I started.



Thursday, July 7, 20059:05:00 PM EDT
Feeling Anxious
Hearing Who are You?-The theme from CSI

My First Time

Anxious, shy, worried and numerous other feelings flow through you as the first time approaches. It should be special, savored, approached with apprenhsion yet excitement. Your body tenses with the anticipation of a new life-changing experience. Yet, here I sit, dumbfounded. My first journal entry and I'm drawing a blank. I'm waiting for that little help thing to pop up and say, "So you started a journal, what do you want to do now?" When the idea hit me to start this thing, I had many ideas but once I got to the point where I could actually make an entry, it was too late. As some of you will learn or already know, I lose my train of thought quickly. If I don't say it or write it down, its lost in the black hole of my brain that knows the reason I got up, what I walked into the kitchen for, and where I put my keys and passwords.

Speaking of passwords, I signed up for online bill pay. I must say it is easy and convenient if you can remember the stinking passwords that you use to sign up with. Common sense would dictate the use of the same password for each one. There might be a small variance depending on what the site allows but not that much of a difference. However, my paranoia of my identity being stolen (although it doesn't interfere with my online shopping) outweighed my common sense. Hey, you never know when someone is going to hack into your account and pay your bill. Common sense would also tell you to write this stuff down and keep it in a safe place. This is where that black hole comes into play. By the time I get the email mailed to me with the password, and log in succesfully, I'm so excited I'm in, all I do is pay the bill. As for the email, it gets deleted. Why, cause that's just how I am.

Well, that's the end of my first entry. Next time I'll write about something more interesting.

Unselfishly I agreed to come in to my place of employment today so a co-worker could have the day off. That’s just the kind of person I am. Actually, I figured why waste a perfectly good vacation day when I can go to work sans co-workers. It really is the perfect time to be here. Besides, I never actually said I would work, just that I would be here.

Tomorrow is Independence Day. There will be no cook-outs, barbecues, pool parties or celebrations in my neck of the woods. As someone with an inordinate amount of dependents, I’ve decided not to celebrate Independence Day until the last one has moved out. One would think that would go chronologically. In my house though, I believe child number two will be the last to leave, if he leaves at all. He’s told us repeatedly that he’s not. It may come down to us moving while he’s out one day.

Much to our chagrin, the 16 year old has a boyfriend. Frankly, how she managed to get a boyfriend in all her moody glory amazes me. Anyway, over the weekend she gave us the ‘I’m not a little girl anymore, I have a mind of my own and I know the difference between right and wrong’ speech. In return I gave her the, ‘You’re a teenager with teenage hormones and those hormones have a way of clouding the difference between right and wrong’ speech. We reached a mutual agreement. She is within her right to think she deserves more freedom and we are within our right not to give it to her. It was a very productive discussion.

When I was her age I remember thinking when I had a daughter, I’d let her go and do. She can go and do the dishes but going on a date alone with a boy? I think not.