I'm Just Saying . . .

Okay, so I know it has been a while since I have posted but I don't really have anything good to say, so I have avoided the blogosphere. But today, the country has been saved. We finally have a balance in our country. Thank you Scott Brown for winning tonight. We can now force the democrats to negotiate and make some of these bills of theirs more bi-partisan. I think we need to redo health care, but this current bill is not the way to do it. I hope the Democrats don't pull a fast one and pass the Senate bill to avoid Senator Brown.

ESPN College Game Day comes to Provo, Utah (brought to you by Home Depot)

I was shocked to read that ESPN Game Day was coming to Provo to do their morning show before the BYU vs TCU game.

Granted both teams are ranked but the game will be on Versus and not on ESPN. In fact, the MWC even spurned ESPN and created their own network. So why is ESPN doing this? I think it is because this is the only ranked game of the week. I looked at the college football schedule and this is it. http://espn.go.com/college-football/schedule/_/week/8 There are no other games of interest going on that week. Well I guess we got to take what we can take. If it takes a loser week of football games for ESPN to come to Provo, then I guess that is good for BYU football. I sure hope we don't screw it up and lose like we did against Florida State. Good Luck Cougars!

BTW, I use this old BYU Logo because it is the one I grew up with and love. I just cannot accept the logo. I know it has been years but it is just not right.

What has been on my mind lately!

1. Obama wins the Noble Peace prize - What is up with that? He just started the job. They gave it to him for his potential not his accomplishments. Alfred Noble must be rolling in his grave right now. I also think he was given the prize because the is not George Bush. Bill Clinton deserves this more than Obama. What is up with those Norwegians, they are crazy!
2. Creigh Deeds - I am so sick and tired of his commercials. If I hear one more time about how many bills McDonald sponsored that restricted a woman's right to choose, I am going to go crazy. All he is try to do is scare women into not voting for McDonald. He has no concrete plans and all he can do is focus on a thesis paper written years ago. I am not surprised that McDonald is winning the state election so far. Glad to see Virginia is going to have a Republican Governor again.
3. This lady on my bus to work - She is so coordinated it is crazy. She has rings, ear rings, bracelets, necklaces, sweaters and coats that all match. So far I have seen her in Green, Red and maybe Orange. I am interested to see what else this woman has. It is unbelievable, she must have cleaned out one store of all of its stock.
4. Work - I have been so busy it is crazy. But I am glad to have a job and keeping busy.

Home Depot: Don't believe them!

When Home Depot tells you, you can do it with their help, don't believe them! Home Depot said I could paint the walls of my apartment using a paint sprayer, boy were they wrong. Painting my apartment before my move was a horrible experience. I got paint everywhere (body, hair, clothes and plastic covering the floor) and this paint sprayer did not cover as well as I thought (see examples). I should have just used a paint roller.

Anyway, if Home Depot tells you you can do it, they are wrong. You really cannot, hire someone, that is my next plan. What a bad experience.

On a brighter note the carpet cleaner I bought worked wonderful. That thing really did clean well. I plan on using it again :)

New Apartment in Arlington, VA

We signed the lease today. Here are some pics of the new place. I am so excited to be back in VA. The air feels fresher!

The outside of the building

Living Room

Dining Room




Kitchen


Bedroom

Random Info!

To continue my post on idiots at self check-out, I found another reason why these people should not be using this feature at grocery stores. I was buying salad today and got into the self check-out line. There was a huge sign covering the bill taker stating Debit and Credit ONLY, no cash. The guy in front of me was shocked, after scanning all his food, that he could not pay by cash. Come on buddy, could you not read the sign. Granted he was a late teenager/early 20 something but that sign was pretty obvious. Because of his stupidity, he had to wait for the clerks to come fix his mistake. These kind of people should not be using self check-out.

After reading one of my favorite blogs, www.foodnetworkaddict.blogspot.com, and his subsequent tweet about CVS that I realized I had not blogged about how horrible CVS really is. They have tags everywhere in their stores that say WOW, as if it is on sale, when in all reality it is not on sale. These tags are easily mistaken for their actual sales tag. It is the most deceitful advertising ever. I got to figure out how to report them. Ugh I hate CVS!

Okay that is it for now, but to random bits of info.

Wow!

So in my last post about 10 days ago, I had had my bad passport experience. Well today you will never guess what came today . . . .










My freaking passport. Who would have guessed. I was so shocked, I never knew they could process it so fast. I cannot complain about the U.S. State Department now, they did such a fast job. BTW, I never asked for expedited service. I am just speechless.

What a day

So it has been a while since I last posted but nothing exciting happened to me until today and boy what a day it was.

1. Since I work in International Education and I was going to Canada on vacation, I thought it might be a good idea to finally get my passport renewed. It had been 15 years since I got my last passport (I was just 18 and boy did I look bad). So I went to the State Department's website to fill out an application and got all the necessary information. This is from the travel.state.gov
   
   STEP 1: Complete and Submit Form DS-11: Application For A U.S. Passport
   Complete Form DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport. To submit Form DS-11, you:
   Must apply in person at an Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency
   Must include the additional documentation required by Form DS-11 (See Steps 2-5)
   Must not sign the application until instructed to do so by the Acceptance Agent
   Must provide your Social Security number
   
   STEP 2: Submit Evidence of U.S. Citizenship
   When applying for a U.S. passport in person, evidence of U.S. citizenship must be submitted with Form DS-11. All documentation submitted as citizenship evidence will be returned to you. These documents will be delivered with your newly issued U.S. passport or in a separate mailing.
   Primary Evidence of U.S. Citizenship (One of the following):
   Previously issued, undamaged U.S. Passport, Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state* Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth Naturalization Certificate Certificate of Citizenship
   *A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrars signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Please note, some short (abstract) versions of birth certificates may not be acceptable for passport purposes. NOTE: If you do not have primary evidence of U.S. citizenship or your U.S. birth certificate does not meet the requirements, please see Secondary Evidence of U.S. Citizenship.
   
   STEP 3: Present Identification
   When applying for a U.S. passport in person, acceptable identification must be presented at the time of application.
   Primary Identification (One of the following):
   Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport Naturalization Certificate Valid Driver's License Current Government ID (city, state or federal) Current Military ID (military and dependents)
   
   I completed DS-11 and went to the post office with the necessary documents (completed application, 2 photo's, my previous passport and my Maryland drivers license along with payment). I was shocked when I got the post office and they they could not help me because I did not have my birth certificate. NOWHERE on the website does it say I NEED my birth certificate. I then called the toll free number and they said due to 9/11 and after June 1, the U.S. State Department requires more information for passports. I totally understand the need for more security but I did as the website and application said. This is very misleading and frustrating. Now I have to go back to the passport office, with my birth certificate (thank goodness I got it from my parents) to get this completed.
2. For some reason I kept spelling photos with an apostrophe. I even sent out an e-mail to 250 people with photo's spell like this, ugh that was bad
3. I guess I had been taking the S9 express bus too much but I forgot how bad the regular bus is to take. When I got on the S4, the bus was packed. At one stop these two women decided that myself and the other 20 or 30 people packed in front of me were not moving fast enough and had to push their way through the crowd to the back of the bus. I was shocked. Come on ladies, wait a second give us all a chance to move, you will get a chance to sit down in due time.

Anyway, what a day. I hope you all had a better day than me :)

Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone out there has a Happy 4th of July! There is nothing like celebrating our country's independence by blowing stuff up. I am going to get some KFC and watch fireworks. Anyway, Happy 233rd Birthday USA!

KFC/Taco Bell was at DEF-CON 5 last night

Okay, so on Wednesdays I try to do laundry and while my clothes are washing I run across the street and go to KFC/Taco Bell. Well last night was a unique night at the KFC, I have never seen so many strange, angry, upset, unsatisfied and just plain honery (sp?) customers. People were complaining, turning food back, running out, getting impatient, it was crazy. One lady asked for a "fresher" Frutista Freeze, I am sorry, but when you go to KFC/Taco Bell, fresh food does not come to mind. We are all looking for fried, greasy food. Was it a full moon last night?

Signed a deal with the devil on Sunday

Okay, so I broke down and I did it. I finally signed a deal with the devil and joined Facebook. Ugh, I cannot believe I did it. But while curious one day, I started to see if I knew anyone on this thing, I saw my brother was on it as well as some old friends. So, I broke down and did it. I am not proud but I am excited to see who I can get in touch with.

Anyway, if you know me, look me up on facebook, if you don't then don't look me up, I won't add you anyway.

One of my favorite things in this world

One of my favorite things in the entire world is a good salad bar. I know that this is totally lame but even as a kid I loved to eat at a salad bar. Granted, as a kid, the highlight was the pudding in the salad bar I got for dessert. Today we went to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner. I got a regular meal with a salad bar. I totally got filled up by the salad bar.

Moving

Okay, so I think I am going to move out of Silver Spring, MD and move to Arlington VA when our lease ends in September. We need to lower our rent and moving to Arlington, might help us to achieve it. So this past weekend I went to Arlington to check out apartments. I guess I have been slumming it in Silver Spring that I forgot how yuppie Arlington is. I forgot how young and perfect everyone is in Arlington.

I totally miss my other poor people.

Utah

Okay, so I got back from Utah. I had a great time. As tradition falls in my family, it rained almost every day we were there. Even though I am from SLC, I have now moved away and I am considered a visitor.

We did a lot, we saw:

1. Downtown Park City
2. Park City Ski Lift (which was windy and rained on us)
3. Kamas - Dicks Drive-in
4. Olympic Sites
5. New Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple
6. Temple Square
7. Top of Church Office Building
8. New Church History Library
9. Chuck a Rama
10. BYU
11. The Great Salt Lake
12. This is the Place Park
13. Last but not least, lunch with my friend Maury, who looked fabulous. We felt like schmucks next to her.

It was a great trip and we had the best time, in spite of the weather. Many thanks to Maury for coming up to Orem to see us.

Wow, it has been a while

Okay all ya all, I just noticed that I have not blogged in quite some time, I am so sorry. But I am headed to Utah to go to the Temple Open House, see my friend Maury, among other things. I will try to blog more when I get home. Sorry all ya all.

What I learned in an hour

So today I took a walk and I learned more during my one hour walk than I learned all day long.

1. I don't throw that much garbage down the garbage shoot. I went to go throw way some garbage and I inadvertently threw away my keys. So I had to go with maintenance to get the keys out of the garbage shoot. I am amazed at what people throw away; they throw everything away. I try to avoid doing that so, I either recycle what I can, put food in the garbage disposal and throw away stuff I cannot recycle or garbage disposal.


2. I thought Silver Spring only had one crazy man who walked the streets, but I saw the two of them at the same time. Each were in different locations about a minute apart but they were two separate people. That dispeled the rumor that we only have one crazy man. One looks like a monk and walks around in robes, while the other is a cowboy. Who knew!


3. I always wondered where the vets stayed when the come to DC for rolling thunder. Little did I realize that the Comfort Inn in Silver Spring was a hot bed for bikers. I have never seen so much action at one time at that hotel. I have stayed at many Comfort Inns, I am cheap, and they are not all that, so I was surprised to see so many bikers there. They even stayed away from the cheap hooker hotel that is a house of ill repute.

RIP Longfellow Park Ward Building

Before moving to Washington DC, I lived in Boston, MA. I loved it there and attended the Longfellow Park Ward in Cambridge, MA. I found out today that the church I attended just caught on fire today.

It was so sad to see the building I attended Church, met good friends and had good fun was destroyed today. They say it started in the attic and then spread to the rest of the building. Read the following story from Boston.com http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/05/fire_breaks_out_1.html. I had just been up there in April last year and went past the old building. I hope they can rebuild it. My heart and thoughts go to those in the Longfellow Park Wards who called that building home. Good luck and God Bless ya!

What I learned from therapy

So, anyone who knows me, knows I have a lot of anxiety and a lot of issues. To cure that problem I have been seeing a psychiatrist and a psychologist. I have been seeing my therapist for a few months now and I have learned a lot about myself. The top being:

1. I am very needy
2. I think way too much
3. I set unreasonable expectations
4. I really think a lot of myself and people should do everything the same way I do
5. I exhibit irrational behavior
6. I am very suspicious and paranoid
7. and I am definitely crazy

But so far therapy has been very helpful, but so has the prozac. I am realizing my mistakes and I am trying to fix them. It helps that I have good friends, who are a lot like me, and can be a good sounding board. Thanks for putting up with me, I do appreciate it.

Self Checkout

This is me at self-checkout

Self-checkout is a great convenience at the grocery store. I love it, it makes it quick and easy and it is one less person I have to deal with. But some people should not be allowed to use self-checkout. They are:

1. The elderly - They are slow enough already, we don't need them jamming up the self-checkout line. Just because you can still drive does not mean you can operate self-checkout


2. Stupid people - you know who you are. You are the people who cannot read, understand a bar code, find fruit or vegetable codes, follow instructions, use a touch screen, or scan your items fast enough. My goodness people you don't have to look at each item, find the bar code and scan. Speed it up people


3. Families - If there is a long line, do not let your children scan the items or process the transaction. I know it is fun for the kid, hell it is fun for adults too, but it slows us all up. You are the adult, show some restraint and do it yourself. Allow the kid to scan an item the next time nobody is in line behind you.


4. People with a lot of crap (ie fruits and vegetables) - I know I mentioned it above but it needs extra consideration and it compounded when someone has a lot of food to checkout. If you do now know how to find the items code or find it on the screen don't use self-checkout. You are too dumb to operate it. Plus if you have a lot of food it slows up the line, specially when it all bags up and you have to run and clear the end area to make more room. Come on, use a checker, it will save us all time and frustration.


5. People who cannot learn a simple lesson - these are the people who throw their food half way down the conveyor belt, where the system checks the item, only to have it come back because the system could not register it. First you are an idiot because you threw it. Just gently place it on the belt and move on. Throwing it does not help anyone, particularly me, if I am waiting behind you.


6. People who take their bags out of the bagging area before you are finished. The system will freak out if it thinks you are trying to take stuff away. Be patience, pay for all your stuff then remove the bag. (this happens at Safeway and CVS a lot)

Anyway, these are some of the things that drive me up a wall about self-checkout. It is a wonderful thing, but you have to realize your own limitations and know when to use a checker. Self-checkout is a privilege not a right. Not everyone has the right to use self-checkout and you should know who you are.

Bad Idea

So, I thought I had some good ideas this last week but they all turned out to be bad ideas!

1. Wear my cute new Cole Hann Loafers to Georgetown - only to walk back and forth 3 or 4 times, about 2 or 3 miles. I got a big blister.
2. Walk all over NYC for my birthday on a bright sunny day - only to have said blister break and spread blood and blister water all over my sneakers.
3. Wear my tan pants on a rainy day - walking into work with wet tan pants is really impressive
4. Drive to NYC with a car starter that I thought was still working- only to buy myself a $355 starter.

This reminded me a lot like the SNL Commercial parody for Bad Idea Jeans. If I can get my computer to work I will post the video, check back soon.