Who sounds like a broken record?

I sound like a broken record!

For the four thousandth time- I’m sorry for not keeping up with you guys. You were so sweet and encouraging over the whole family awkwardness situation and here I am not thanking you personally on your blogs!

I thought for sure I’d be a great blog friend and go back and make up for the last month, but you know what? I can’t. Because I suck. I’m pretty sure that’s why. Anyway- I figure I’ll just start fresh with blogging and reading blogs next week. Oh- and this time (unlike the last two times I’ve said similar crap) I actually mean it.

You know what’s the funniest part of all? I’m probably the only person that is annoyed with myself about not being a good psycho internet friend. The rest of you are probably like, “What? You haven’t been reading? Huh- I didn’t even notice… Who are you again??” ha ha.

For my own personal sainity, I’m turing off comments today.

Anyway, I had a great weekend in Texas! I don’t want to share too much yet because I don’t have any pictures on my computer yet, not to mention Theresa was the only one of us that consistently took pictures! So, I’ll have to write more on my girl’s weekend in my next post when I’m able to link to Theresa’s pictures (BTW- Theresa, I forgot to take a picture of retired blogger Sarah’s holy toliet! Bummer...)

Now, however, it’s time to pack up.

This trip has been insane. I went from Kuwait

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to Minneapolis, from Minneapolis
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To Dallas. From Dallas
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home. From home to
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Tulsa. From Tulsa back home
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From home
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to Will’s grandparent’s, and then back home.
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and then back to his grandparent’s house
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and then back home- (and I’m tired of trying to make a circle). And then to Dallas
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and then to Phoenix
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and then back to Dallas
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and then back home.
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and then to Dallas A-FREAKING-GAIN. Well- actually Ft. Worth, but you get my picture.
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and then back home.

Okay- I’m getting a little out of control here, but you see my crazy trip brought to the internet. It’s been craziness, and although I’m dreading the thought of going back to work (I’ve been getting emails from a coworker and just when I thought things couldn’t get worse- ha!- they did), I’m ready to go back and see our doggies and have our own space.

I am really dreading this return. Granted, I always lament returning, but this time it will be so much harder because of work. I still have to fill you all in on all that’s going on soon. It’s bad guys. I’ve had a few weeks to take it all in and sort of mull it all around and I say I’m over it all, but the real test will be once I sit down at my desk my first day back. I have troubles with letting things roll off my back, but if I’m to survive that’s what I truly need to do- be a stinkin’ duck.

Quack.

So I think I’ve covered all the restaurants I’ve been missing, I’ve been to Walmart a few times, I’ve mindlessly watched TV… I think I did pretty much everything I wanted to do while on vacation- in addition to all our running around to different states, that is! However, it doesn’t make it any easier. I know you guys watch me pour all over myself each time my vacation ends, but in a way, it’s a bit of a draining experience. It’s so easy to get accustomed to a “normal” life back home and all the wonderful things that go along with living in the States, and it’s easy to get those vacation blues knowing it will be a long time before I’m back enjoying these things.

It makes my heart feel bad. I hate the vacation blues.

So please don’t mind me- I’m just sulking. I’ll probably sulk for an entire week and be all pouty and unbearable to be around- but you’ve been warned. Luckily, most of my sulking will occur when I have no computer access and am on a plane, so let’s cross our fingers that you get me once I’ve achieved the acceptance phase of my grief.

Just wanted to pop in and let you know that I’m still here. More interesting information to come! I just felt the need to blow the dust off my poor blog. That terrible post about my inlaws was still up and it was growing cob webs. I look forward to catching up soon.

Beating the blues,

Brittny <3

I have this really neat opportunity that I probably won’t have any other time other than here in Kuwait.

I get to have lunch with my dad everyday.

I know that probably doesn’t seem like a big deal to most, but to me, it’s pretty special. I really like the guy.

We both work for the same company and at the same camp, which is nice considering my mom and Will are across the country. My lunch dates are special because I realize that most likely I will never have this opportunity to spend so much time with my dad like I do now. Chances are, after Will and I leave Kuwait we’ll settle in Texas or Oklahoma and my parents will end up somewhere else. Visits will be spread out between holidays and long weekends, and lunch dates will be a memory of the past. I feel the need to make the most of this time while my family is so close, and really take this opportunity to spend time and appreciate them the way a daughter should because there will come a time when they won’t be as accessible.

I’ve never been closer to my dad than I am now, and I think that’s because of our lunch dates. We don’t really talk about anything important- just sports, work, the weather, the dogs… yet it’s still nice to see him everyday and just be able to talk.

We usually go to Subway- because that’s where I always want to go. I’m sure my dad could go for a burger or pizza, but he’s so thoughtful to let me get my usual tuna salad each day. We rarely take an entire hour, but it’s nice just to get out of the office. Sometimes I’ll get a coffee, or we’ll go visit the PX. Whatever the case, it’s a nice time just to get away and hide and talk to someone that will just listen and won’t judge, even if I’m wrong. He’s such an interesting man and sometimes I feel like I know him well, and other times I feel like I barely know him! I’ve loved getting to talk to him as an “adult” now. It’s different from when I was a kid. It’s nice.

Sadly, it’s been 3 weeks since my last lunch date with my dad.

For some reason, that really upsets me.

I’m not quite sure why, but those lunch dates have become a staple in my day and having them taken away from me has really been a disappointment. Every time he texts or sends an email asking about my lunch plans I groan and respond that I’m chained to my desk and won’t be able to get away for the day.

I know it seems as though I’ve posted entirely way too much about work lately, but it seems as though it’s the thing that is consuming my life. These managers never see their spouses, they never have weekends, they work through holidays, and they look incredibly exhausted and unhappy. Why do I want to do that to myself? I don’t think the entire field is that way, but I think the nature of the requirements here make things much more demanding here than stateside. I just know it’s taking so much life out of me and I’m not sure if it’s worth it. I don’t want to look back one day and feel regret for putting my job above a lunch date with my dad.

Sure, it seems like in the grand scheme of life not going to lunch with your dad for 3 weeks is no big deal, but those little things are what really matter. I highly doubt I’m going to remember that on 13 December 2007 I was stuck in a meeting until all hours of the night. I will, however, remember that this past spring my dad and I were sitting eating lunch and out of nowhere he told me my hair looked pretty. That moment has been tucked away in my heart. Those things are the things you carry with you. Those are the things that matter. 

I think about how the last few weeks have gone in my life, and I think about how every now and then it’s okay to have to deal with such things, but when I take a step back and think about what I might miss out on if this becomes an all the time thing- I think about how much I love Will and my doggies and don’t want to come home night after night for weeks on end when they’re fast asleep and I’m trying to crawl into bed without knocking over the hamper, or a lamp, or stepping on a squeaky ball.

I miss my lunch hour with my dad. I’m really going to have to simply get up and leave the office and just make it a priority. Decisions like those are ones worth making and never cause regret.

God has blessed me with an amazing family. I cherish them very much.

Still counting down to vacation. It is desperately needed. <3 you guys. Jenny, I love you so much and my thoughts are with you, Jay, and Koda.

I’m a crazy woman desperate for a vacation. I found out today that my department is going to have to start working six days a week now (BOO!), so that news nearly put me over the edge.

Vacation.

I need to take a vacation!

Everyone around me needs me to take a vacation! 

If I don’t take a vacation soon I just might go crazy! Here are a few things that have made me realize how badly I need to leave:

1.I’ve been trying to find a way to download this as my ringtone

2.I forgot milk for my cereal this morning and was forced to use a Starbucks Frappucino- and loved it. The whole time I ate I was thinking to myself that cereal mixed with coffee will help take the sting out of the day. Uh- by the way- it didn’t work.

3.I’ve already got my Out of Office message ready to post. Is it bad to say, “See Ya Suckers!!!!!!! Ahahahahaha!” in a professional away message? (Theresa, at least I didn’t use one of the ones you sent me!)

4.I’ve seriously considered sending my resume to friends back home to post on bulletin boards, church newsletters, school newspapers, Craigslist, Lost and Found boards, and just about anything else you can imagine.

5.I find myself constantly making a mental list of all the places I’d rather be than at work: the dentist, Wal-mart on payday and/or Christmas Eve, jury duty… the list goes on and on.

6.I have an alarm on my phone that sounds like a baby crying. It goes off at the time I start work each morning.

Guys, I seriously need to get out of here for a while. The worst part of all is that I’ve become such a pessimist lately that I’m already dreading the thought of having to come back in January! <- Tell me I’m utterly ridiculous for being that way.

The countdown continues. If only I could speed up time (and then slow it down while we’re home!).

More to come…

I work with a lot of old people.

A lot of old Southern people.

Being from Oklahoma, I’m fairly accustomed to quirky sayings to explain things, but lately it seems as though I’m surrounded in the things!

I’ve been keeping list of every single one I hear. I thought I’d share a few with you guys today. Who in the world came up with these things anway!?!

This issue has become our long pole in the tent.
Don’t you want a long pole in your tent? Doesn’t it support the entire structure? I don’t know about you- but give me a long pole!

You’re really holding our feet to the fire on this one!
What psycho came up with this saying? I mean sure, I get the point, but all I envision are large pairs of hairy toed funkified feet next to a blazing fire.

We concede.

I don’t get a warm fuzzy from him.
Warm fuzzy? What about Hot Hairy?

Those sound stupid, so why is “warm fuzzy” acceptable?

If you can think of a better way to eat this apple, please let me know.
I can’t. I’ve never been good with thinking outside the box when it comes to eating apples. Perhaps I could peel it the way Meg Ryan does in Sleepless in Seattle? I have no idea…

It started to rain to beat the devil!
Um, sorry to burst your bubble, but the devil is not the Wicked Witch of the West. Upon seeing rain, he doesn’t melt into a smoky gooey green pool of witch while cackling, “I’m meeelting AaaaaHHHHHHHHH!” as crazy little vest-wearing flying monkeys stand by in wonder.

He sounded like death eating a cracker!
What? What the crap does this mean?

I don’t get it. Very random.

I’m like a dog chasing after my own tail!
Please, I beg you, show me what you mean. In fact, I would pay to watch you chase your own tail. In fact, I’m laughing at you right now!

Now it’s your turn- give me some funny sayings.

It’s been a piece of crap week here in Kuwait. I’ve come to learn something about myself this week, too. I would much rather just internalize everything going on right now instead of trying to type a novel that just wouldn’t make sense! There have been times when I’ve tried to sit and type a letter to a friend, or type up a post about all that’s going on in my life and I just don’t feel like putting nothing but crap into written words, you know? Phone calls are way better than trying to type stuff. Remind me again why I’m in Kuwait!?

Anyway-

I’m sitting here at work (on a weekend) trying to focus and all I can look at is my little calendar countdown screaming to me, “You’re so close to being on vacation!” It seems as though there is so much I have to do to get to that point, and it’s really discouraging. We learned earlier this week that management is trying to hire us help, but I fear as though we’re not going to get experienced people that can immediately walk in and make a difference. I have this bad feeling they’re going to hire internally and we’re going to have spend time training people that are getting paid a rate that should say, “Hey! I know what I’m doing!” only that’s not the case. I’m also forced to have to confront my boss about my own status with all these position changes. Do you know I’ve had an email drafted to him for 3 freaking days and have been too chicken to send it!? What a wuss.

Alright, I’m being a boring downer. No one wants to hear this crap, and I don’t blame you!

There’s really not much going on right now worth posting. I still haven’t loaded my Jordan pictures (boo), so I can’t show you guys those. What a bummer! I also have a really funny video for you guys to see, but I have to have my dad make the file size smaller. Hopefully I’ll get to show you guys that soon. I love it.

UPDATE-

Okay, I sent it. I sent the letter to my boss. I feel better, but I also feel sick. No going back now!

Alright, so as you can see you’re not missing much, and the things that might be blog worthy are being forgotten because of the above mentioned “crap.” I promise to get my act together soon- who do I think I am!? More BETTER substance (with Jordan pictures… hopefully!) to come soon… Sorry this post was painfully dull.

Can I just tell you guys how much I LOVE and HATE the little red exclamation point you can use to send Outlook emails?

I mean, I rarely ever use the thing, because, afterall, it’s like having the Ace and knowing you gotta be really selective when you’re going to slam it down. In that case, I love it. It’s a cute important little guy announcing, “Hey! This is urgent! Like the sky is about to fall and if you don’t forward this to 5 people in 7 minutes you will have really bad luck for 11 years!”

However, on the same token, I really hate the stupid little pieces of crap. I mean, who is so important that they need to have a loud red obnoxious exclamation point on

Every

Single

Email?

Seriously. 

Good “whatever it may be” friends (I figure if I say morning this post won’t be finished until the afternoon, and knowing me I may not even publish until this evening… we’ll just stick with “whatever it may be.” It’s safe)!

Well, here it is again- Thanksgiving. The good news is that this year’s holiday (hopefully!) won’t be another Angstgiving as in years past. We can only hope, anyway.

My family and I are celebrating a little early this year because of our trip to Jordan. The plan is to have Thanksgiving tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed. See, unfortunately there’s a chance I might have to work. I’m just going to put my foot down and tell my boss I’ve got a freaking 16 pound turkey that’s been defrosting in my fridge since Sunday night and dang it, that bird is getting tossed in the oven, and if not- HE’S going to be the stuffing!!

What do you guys think?

My coworker and I agreed we could come in Saturday, so hopefully that will suffice. I even said I could do some work from home while the bird was in the oven. While we’re on the subject of work, will you guys say a prayer for me? I just found out some disturbing news that might have me searching for something elsewhere. I really hope not, but please just say a prayer for me. My stomach feels yucky over everything.

Okay- this post is NOT about work. It’s about Thanksgiving! Let’s get back on track!

The original plan was for me to go over to my parent’s house tonight, bird in tow. I was going to stay the night with them so I could get up early and make the turkey at their house. You might remember last year’s Thanksgiving drama. As you can imagine, I don’t want a repeat of that, so I thought it best to let Will do his own thing in the morning and let me get the turkey ready at my parent’s house. Transporting the stupid thing was a sloshy juicy mess last year, and this plan will not only make for a happier wife, but a happier Thanksgivng overall.

I’m not sure I’m going to go over there now, though, if I’m going to do some work from home. I figure I’ll be distracted if I’m at my parent’s house. There’s no way I can resist goofing off with P. Besides- what loser tells their sister, “Now now, pipe down. I need to focus on my studies!”

Exactly.

I’m sort of bummed because I thought it would be fun. I know all I’ll do is worry if I go over there instead of taking care of my crap. We’ll see. Again- PRAYERS guys, please. I really want to seek God’s will for my life and job.

So- plans are still up in the air for tomorrow’s festivities. The plan is for me to make a desert tonight and the turkey tomorrow. We’re going with rather unconventional desserts this year. My mom is making key lime pie and I’m making a chocolate buttermilk pie- only because it’s from a Semi-Homemade cookbook and it was one of the first pie recipes I turned to. Plus it’s chocolate and you can’t go wrong with that.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Did I ever tell you my sister and I have a really morbid Thanksgiving tradition? We LOVE to watch The Shining Thanksgiving night. How random, right? I don’t really know what started this tradition, but it’s become a staple in our holiday fun. Will and my parents don’t get it, I can’t understand why. Will already informed us he won’t be participating in this year’s viewing. What a party pooper. Oh well.

Back to turkey. I’m making the same one I have the past two years- the orange-y one. I had pictures on my old blog, but when I had to transfer all the archives (copy and freaking paste. It took FOREVER) over to this blog, I got lazy and didn’t insert all the pictures. So- sadly, if you ever read the archives (ha ha yeah right), I have a ton of posts where I’m all, “Look at our trip! Here’s me with P doing such and such, and here’s Will skiing in Dubai!” only there aren’t any pictures underneath. I suck.

Okay- this post has literally taken me all stinkin’ day to write. I started this morning and got so busy that now it’s time for me to leave- and the best part of all is I GET TO WORK FROM HOME! 16 pound orange-y turkey… get ready to be basted!!

Love you guys. Pictures of the big day to come tomorrow! 

It’s funny to me how grown, professional, working women still resort to high school petty jealousies at the first sight of a newbie.

Why are we like that? I swear- we’re more territorial than a grizzly bear.

We might as well go around peeing on desk chairs and fax machines so we can properly mark our territory. “It’s Miiiiiinnnneeee. Alllll Miiinnee! Steal my job and I’ll rip your tacky coral cardigan to shreds!”

In some odd way, wizzing on a HP printer seems a little more dignified than the typical office games I’ve watched play out around here.

Guys, I feel like I’m in an episode of Man Vs. Wild. Survival I tell you - that’s what it’s about.

Remember The Beatniks (if you’re too freaking lazy to click the link- as I usually am- they’re the couple we went out with a few times)? Well, Mrs. Beatnik has temporarily been working in my department. She’s “on loan” the next few weeks, and if things work out she’ll probably get hired over here.

Nothing was said to any of us about her arrival, and they’ve sort of been hiding her away- like maybe we won’t notice that a grown woman is camping out in office 234.

That’s a whole other story.

Weird, I tell you. Weird.

When I found out she was here, I was sort of hoping we’d talk some, maybe go to lunch, but- no.

We’ve barely spoken.

We talked for like 15 minutes on our way from the BIDFY the other day, but that’s been about it. It’s been incredibly awkward. Forced. Uncomfortable.

I bet our football obsession turned her off. Or maybe it was dog thing (they don’t like dogs).

Note to self: get a new hobby and lose Boz and Lucy- they’re cramping your style.

Anyway- that’s another story and I’m getting off track-

I’ll admit I, like everyone else, was a little taken aback at her arrival. I mean, Hel-lo! What about the application I put in 2 weeks ago? My job had nothing to do with what she is doing here, but I was still hoping my managers would take some action since they went to all this trouble to bring someone else in for additional help. Aside from that, I’m laid back about the whole thing. What’s the big deal?

There have been some in my department, though, that have totally gone off the deep end about Mrs. Beatnik’s arrival.

Guys, they’re scaring me.

I’ve got the mother lion on one side of me licking her chops as she prepares to go for the jugular and feed the family, and I’ve got a freaking boa constrictor on the other side, ready to squeeze the life out of anyone that so much as looks at her the wrong way.

Please! Please dear God I pray- Just pee on the freaking chair already for crying out loud! I can tolerate your urine much better than your psycho-fly-off-the-handle employee relation complaint threats and whining!

Perhaps it’s because she’s pretty. Perhaps it’s because she wasn’t overly friendly to some of the staff. Perhaps it’s because she’s smart and good at whatever it is they have her doing in her super secret office. I don’t know. What I do know is that people’s panties are getting all wadded up over the fact that she’s here.

Can’t we all get along? Seriously- I’m having flashbacks to my awkward junior high days. Please don’t make me go back there. I thought this work relationship crap was supposed to be easier than junior high- why is everything digressing? Don’t they have seminars for this stuff?- “Love Your Cubical Mate” and “How to Foster Healthy Work Relationships While Maintaining Your Sanity” or “Killing Your Co-Worker: Why It’s Not Worth It.” I bet there’s one for “Chill Out, You Freaking Moron. That New Girl Isn’t Out to Steal Your Job- and PS: You Smell Like Icy Hot.” If there’s not, please, please somebody do something.

I don’t know. Maybe I’m the moron here. It could very well be. All I know is: Thank God for iPods. Seriously. There’s no better way to drown out the sound of high pitch territorial shrills like a good dose of Thievery.

Gotta go. People are continually loitering around my desk.

It’s as if their killer instincts have sniffed out this post and they’re circling me, preparing to pounce…

...

or maybe even worse…

the won’t invite me to the next office birthday party. (gasp!)

The difference between my check and Will’s.

I was actually higher! Wow.

He was so sweet and called to tell me that. It won’t ever happen again (probably), but it made me smile that he called to tell me.

More to come…

I think I’m starting a tradition.

This week’s confession deals with something totally stupid (I guess that’s why I have to confess).

I’m afraid of the blue tupperware container in my work refrigerator.

Not just afraid.

Terrified.

There. I said it.

I am seriously scared of the blue tupperware container in the office fridge.

If only I could insert a picture of it right now… that would be the best of all.

Okay, here’s the story.

The week Will went home for his big OU-Miami game, I had gone grocery shopping for me and P. I got lots of good stuff that Will normally doesn’t like to eat. I had made a tomato, cucumber, and feta salad for me and P one night and decided to make enough for me to take to work the next day. What a smartie, right? So, I put the remaining portion of the salad in a blue tupperware container and brought it to work with me.

Well, unfortunately I got extremely busy that next day. So busy, in fact, that I forgot to eat lunch! My poor salad was abandoned and neglected. I had totally forgot about it.

That was 8 1/2 weeks ago.

You would think after a day or two I would have thought, “Oh Yeeeahhh! I forgot about the blue tupperware container in the work fridge!”

Only I didn’t.

Then the weekend came.

Then Ramadan hit in full force and I barely used the fridge because of my fasting coworker.

So, before I knew it- a month had passed without any regard for the blue tupperware container of feta, cucumber, and tomato salad in the fridge.

Then one day, I remembered.

I remembered and thought to myself, “Oh wow- that’s really sick! I’m going to have to get that out of here!”

And that was about all that occurred.

I closed the fridge and went on with my day. The container never left its little nook on the right hand side of the fridge. It seemed so happy, so content to stay and grow. Why bother it?

So now it’s been over two months. Now I’m just sickened by the thought of actually picking up the container for fear that it has grown arms and will, in one split instant, swallow me whole to mold and spore and spawn with the remnants of what was a cucumber, feta, and tomato salad.

Every time I open the fridge now, it’s like this huge glaring reminder staring back at me. It’s as if the cucumbers are knocking on the lid saying, “Hey! I’m beyond slimy! Get me the crap out of here! I hate feta! I hate feta!” and then they try to get the tomatoes all fired up as if to start a riot.

And I simply respond by shutting the fridge door.

The way I see it, I don’t have many options. I could take the container home- stinking my poor coworkers out the whole ride to the apartment.

I could throw the whole container in the trash- stinking my entire office up for quite possibly the next 4 months- or at least until Christmas.

Or-

I could leave it be.

I’ve opted to leave it be.

Yeah, yeah, so the reality is that I do have more options, but hey- why mess with a good thing?

So now everytime I open the fridge I let out a little groan about how incredibly uber DISGUSTING it is for SOME FREAKING INCONSIDERATE SICK MORON to leave crap in the fridge FOR FIVE MONTHS!

I love how I blame it on someone else.

The trouble is that it’s just me and this other girl in my office.

I can’t be sure, but I think she knows it’s me.

So what’s a girl to do? I’ve simply ignored it for 8 1/2 weeks now, and as each day passes the more grossed out I get!

Sadly, I think my poor blue tupperware container is going to have to take a trip to the outside dumpster.

Eh…

What’s one more week?