Rantings and Ramblings

Why the world needs moms

2011-05-03T19:47:00.006-05:00

I had a perfect weekend, but on my flight home this weekend I ran into just about every traveling annoyance.

Annoyance 1: The cab driver was chatty and wreaked of smoke.

Annoyance 2: I checked in the night before, but was still in Group 5.

Annoyance 3: It seems everyone on my flight had trouble remembering they could only bring 2 carryons and they couldn't be the size of a small car. It took ages to board the plane while people tried to squeeze their super sized luggage in the overhead.

Annoyance 4: I was in a middle seat. When I booked the flight, that was the only seat available.

Annoyance 5: Apparently everyone also forgot that on flights, you need to turn off all electrical devices. No joke - it took 7 overhead speaker reminders, 3 walk bys by attendants, and I still heard a phone go off when we were on the runway.

Annoyance 6: I sat in the row in front of two kids under 8 and their teenage chaperon. The kids were in the wrong seats so someone had to give up their seat so the darlings could sit together.

Annoyance 7: The kids crunched on chips, the teenager listened to music on her cell phone speaker, the kids horsed around, farted, kicked our seats, and bounced on the tray tables.

My hero: The woman that sat next to me had enough. She first called the flight attendant and announced that she should inform the teenager to tell the children to stop kick our seats.

Some silence.....then another kick.

My hero whipped around and told the kids in a voice that made me sit up straight, "Please stop kicking my chair." It was perfect. She was polite, her tone was stern, and I'm fairly certain the kids didn't move the rest of the flight. (I know I didn't) It was glorious!!

This is exactly why the world needs moms. Moms to tell unruly kids to behave and tell adults to grow up.

Happy early Mother's Day! Thank you 14F and all the moms that never stop raising their own kids and the rest of us!

Playing catch up

2011-03-06T18:28:00.007-06:00

So, what's been happening for the last couple of months? Here goes

1. For our company Christmas party, I won an exec's Mavs tickets. 4 great seats to a game against Houston, so I took my family. Mom had never been to a Mavs game, Dad and Casey hadn't been to one at the AA Center, and I hadn't been over there since Boot Camp days.

I have been going to so many football games, I had forgotten how much I like basketball games! Good music, fun crowd, and we won!!!

2. Tommy and I wandered around Annapolis one weekend. It was cold and very windy, but a cute town! We had lunch in a building that had to be 100 years old, wandered around cute little shops, drove by the Navy campus and stadium, then took a driving tour of some of the neighborhoods. We will definitely be back (when the weather is a little warmer) to walk around some more.

3. Lawson and I have been hanging out lately. He's turned into my little buddy...and I've turned into a headrest.

Now that it's getting warmer, Auntie Beth bought him a grill so he can be just like Grandpa.

Ask and you shall receive...

2011-02-03T16:57:00.004-06:00

This week's temperatures and events:

Tuesday - High 19 / Low 12, sleet, snow, ice, media says it's the end of the world, work from home

Wednesday - High 18 / Low 9, ice hasn't gone anywhere, work from home, cabin fever begins

Thursday - High 20 / Low 14, roads are a little better, still lots of ice, reluctantly working from home, is the room actually getting smaller??

Weather forecast for Friday - High 25 / Low 18....and snowing.

Proof God is listening and laughing.

Winter in Texas

2011-01-25T20:18:00.005-06:00

One of the branches I support is in Detroit. The office manager asked me if people can lay out year round in Texas. (Apparently someone from the Dallas branch visited and was very tan.) I stifled a laugh and had to explain that people in Dallas like their tanning beds and spray tans.

Ok, I know winter in Texas isn't REALLY winter compared to Detroit or DC. We start the day in the 30's and warm up to 55-60 degrees. Yesterday I saw a guy driving with the top down. Really? At least pretend it's a proper winter!! People are starting to talk...

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-04T20:17:00.010-06:00

Every year I typically put together a list of new year's goals (not resolutions). Since I made a big goal this summer to accomplish 30 things in 12 months, I thought I would do a mid-point check in instead.

30 things in 12 months

1. ~~Talk to a teacher about Teaching Certification & Prep~~ completed 7/14/10
2. ~~Organize and print digital photos~~ completed 1/2/11
3. Organize photo prints
4. Pay off $7000 on my car
5. ~~Take a 5 day vacation!!~~ completed Thanksgiving and Christmas 2010
6. ~~Go to a batting cage~~ completed 4/30/11
7. ~~Run an entire 5K (no walking!)~~ completed 5/7/11..sort of. I ran almost the entire thing and walked just a little to avoid CPR
8. Sew Christmas Tree skirt
9. ~~Keep a plant alive for 1 year~~ completed 6/18/11
10. ~~Go to a driving range~~ completed 7/20/10
11. ~~Cook a holiday meal on my own~~ completed 12/5/10
12. ~~Toss the football with Tommy~~ completed 4/30/11
13. Go to a firing range
14. ~~Take a spontaneous weekend trip with no plans~~ completed 7/23-25 & 9/10-13
15. ~~Read a Christian book~~ completed 11/25/10
16. ~~Read a faith based book~~ completed 1/22/11
17. Plant a tree
18. Visit one of the 10 states I’ve never visited
19. ~~Make a bowl with dad~~ completed 5/30/11
20. ~~Go to a concert~~ completed 9/4/10
21. Write a short story
22. ~~Take a cooking class~~ completed 4/16/11
23. Design and order personalized stationary
24. ~~Go to a museum~~ completed 7/16/10
25. Join an Adult Bible Group
26. ~~Try Vietnamese food~~ completed 9/15/10
27. ~~Donate blood 3 times~~ donated 6/30/10 & 11/2/10 & ....
28. ~~Fix my bike~~ completed 4/5/11
29. Take Lawson to a park
30. Go fishing

Lawson and Auntie Beff

2010-11-13T18:14:00.004-06:00
Last night I babysat Lawson for a bit while Casey went to a school play. We played and played....dressed as Buzz Lightyear of course.....

We Raced, We Hope for a Cure

2010-10-17T20:00:00.001-05:00
On Saturday my friend, Annie, and I went to the Race for the Cure event in Dallas. It was simply amazing. Once we parked, it was a quick walk to the starting line and we were off! (along with 26,000 of our closest friends in pink)

The weather was absolutely beautiful. The race was packed, but everyone was respectful and patient with crowds and traffic.

The turn out was humbling. An estimated 26,000 participants for the same cause. All of us just because it's important but some wearing survivor shirts, some walking in celebration of a survivor, and others in remembrance.

The group we paced with consisted of mostly women participants. However it was so touching to see so many men in pink supporting wives, girlfriends, mothers, etc.

Race for the Cure

2010-10-09T19:45:00.002-05:00
On my list of 30 things, I put a goal to run an entire 5k. I had planned to try to run the whole Race for the Cure 5k, but since it's so close to LASIK I'm not allowed. (I actually have a doctor's excuse to not sweat! woo hoo!)

However, since the cause is so important, I'm still going to participant by walking. I even bought pink walking shoes!

If you'd like to walk, you can register up until day of the event. (Oct 16) If you don't want to walk/run, you can "sleep in for the cure." It's the option for those who flinch at exercise at 8am on a Saturday.

If you don't want to do any of those but you'd still like to give toward the cause, you can donate on my page. I'm really not pressing hard for fundraising but I'm putting my page out there just in case.

LASIK...round 2

2010-10-08T17:39:00.000-05:00
It's hard to believe is almost been 3 months, but enough time has passed that I can have touch up LASIK! I go in for surgery on Thursday, October 14. This time it has to work....well, because it just has to! (Mostly because I only paid for 1 other touch up and the thought of intentionally putting a laser in my eye more than twice just seems silly)

So here's to perfect vision!

(Um....keep your fingers crossed just in case...)

Bubbles 2.0

2010-09-18T18:21:00.005-05:00
This week I have joined the majority of the population and bought a laptop! I'm not really sure why I haven't bought one in the past, other than a desktop was what I always had. But over the last couple years I've been trying to downsize and simplify my life. That includes eliminating wires and peripheral computer junk.

I tend to tell people I'm computer literate and have a natural tendency to be a "computer person." Truth is, I can figure out just about any computer program and minor issues, but I have no idea what any of it actually means. So my poor dad was volunteered as the family techie to help me narrow down what I needed. He helped me with technical questions like - What's a reasonable amount of memory? What processing speed to I really need? Dell or HP?

So thanks to dad's expert assistance navigating websites and 5 trips to the store, I have Bubbles 2.0.

If you couldn't guess by the computer having a name, my mom helped in a big way too! She helped sort through the other important things like - What color should my computer be? Are the speakers loud enough for music and Netflix? And because my mom names everything, she provided the nickname for my laptop! (The shell is slick black with silver circles.)

Bubbles is Bubbles 2.0 because the original Bubbles suffered from CUSBOE Syndrome. (Compulsive USB Over Eating Syndrome) She ate dad's wireless mouse signal so dad exchanged her. Bubbles 2.0 has been behaving and running like a dream!

Pink Martini & DSO

2010-09-05T17:55:00.005-05:00
If you've never heard of the group Pink Martini you must take a listen. They are eclectic group out of Portland that fancies themselves a little orchestra.

And that they are!

Casey and I went to their concert with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra on Saturday night. For the first half of the concert, the DSO played some quirky favorites to get the audience in the mood for Pink Martini.

For as much as I enjoy traditional music that the symphony has to offer, the Pink Martini breathed life into a half full Meyerson. Their music was lively and funny one song, 1940's Samba lounge the next, followed by a sultry ballad in French. Yes French. They sang in English, French, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Turkish, and probably a few others. It was simply amazing.

http://pinkmartini.com/

To top it off, the DSO called before the show to upgrade our tickets. I bought tickets for the cheap seats in the nosebleed section because there's really not a bad seat in the house at the Meyerson. But since the show was barely half sold, they upgraded our seats for free so we could sit with everyone else. Our seats ended up here:

Not bad at all! I could see facial expressions clearly! The only downside to our seats was that we didn't get to join in on the conga line on the last song!! It was such a great show!

Bat in the office

2010-08-20T08:13:00.008-05:00
I started watching the American version of The Office when I joined Freeman. Thanks to Netflix, I was able to start from the beginning and watch every episode. In just about every episode there has been a moment, relationship, comment, or situation I can completely relate to.

Yesterday, I could relate to the episode where they had a bat in their office because we had a bat in our office!

BAT! BAT!! from Tardy Sauce on Vimeo.

Though we didn’t have a Dwight to save us, we had our own version with the maintenance workers. One guy is about 170 years old and another didn’t speak English. Through a series of gestures and pointing, they decided to catch the little guy in a net and hopefully take him to animal control.

That is zoomed in picture - he was about the size of my palm. He was so cute!!! The poor thing clung to the ceiling while about 50 people took pictures and video. I think he was happy to be captured and out of the limelight.

Top Golf

2010-07-21T09:39:00.005-05:00
This week is Stephanie’s birthday extravaganza. Typically the week of her birthday, she schedules local events and goes on a trip. Since I can’t make the trip this year, I joined her for the Tuesday activity – Top Golf, a driving range in Dallas.
I’ve never been to a driving range, but it looks like fun and fairly easy.

Fun, yes. Easy....Not so much.

My first attempts were surprisingly better than expected. I made contact with the ball and even managed to make a few points!

However, some attempts were less than successful. Exhibit A:

After 4 swings and 4 misses, I connected on the 5th try. However, the ball went straight up, hit the ceiling and landed about 10 feet from where we started. No casualties were reported.

We had a lot of fun, but I don't think I'll be on the PGA tour anytime soon.

Retired glasses called up for active duty

2010-07-12T09:06:00.002-05:00
My eyes are healing well!

However, impatient MB has officially kicked in. After hearing stories of people who have had LASIK and drove themselves home seeing 20/20, I'm frustrated with my process. I couldn't even open my eyes after the surgery. I wasn't too drugged up, but I have no idea how someone would be able to operate a car successfully!

When I get too frustrated, I just try to remember 3 short days ago they cut a flap and stuck a laser in my eye!!!

I really can see much better and can function without glasses, but can't see distances well. So I'm going in today to get a lens prescription to tide me over until I can get LASIK touch ups in 3 months. Looks like I can't retire my glasses just yet....

LASIK...the beautiful recovery

2010-07-10T17:12:00.006-05:00
Friday I went in for LASIK and traded my coke bottle glasses for a fashionable pair of goggles.

So pretty!

This morning I went in for a follow up appointment and my eyes seem to be healing nicely. The only disappointment is that I still can't see that well. It's better than pre-LASIK, but still not where I want it to be. Thank goodness dad has a ginormous TV because I can mostly see that to keep myself entertained. Hopefully I will be able see well enough to drive home tomorrow.

30 things in 12 months

2010-07-07T10:18:00.023-05:00
My sister and I were catching up over the weekend and got to talking about this past year. Both of us have lived the last year in limbo not really know where we’re going to be living the next year, not wanting to invest in relationship or “stuff” in case we move, and neither of us have gotten out much with people outside of our family. (which is not a bad thing, but we need other relationships too)

So she suggested something her friend Susan did. 101 in 1001. Susan put together a list of 101 things to do over the next 1001 days. Some were big commitments (visit a family member overseas) and others were things she just needed motivation to get to (clean out garage).

Casey and I are determined to make this year great and stop living in limboland. We are putting together lists of 30 things to do in a year. We’ll cross them off and date them as we accomplish each. Like Susan’s, my list is peppered with big and little things. (and I may have borrowed a few directly from her list…it was good!!!)

30 things in 12 months

1. ~~Talk to a teacher about Teaching Certification & Prep~~ completed 7/14/10
2. ~~Organize and print digital photos~~ completed 1/2/11
3. Organize photo prints
4. Pay off $7000 on my car
5. ~~Take a 5 day vacation!!~~ completed Thanksgiving 2010
6. Go to a batting cage
7. Run an entire 5K (no walking!)
8. Sew Christmas Tree skirt
9. Keep a plant alive for 1 year
10. ~~Go to a driving range~~ completed 7/20/10
11. ~~Cook a holiday meal on my own~~ completed 12/5/10
12. Toss the football with Tommy
13. Go to a firing range
14. ~~Take a spontaneous weekend trip with no plans~~ completed 7/23-25 & 9/10-13
15. ~~Read a Christian book~~ completed 11/25/10
16. ~~Read a faith based book~~ completed 1/22/11
17. Plant a tree
18. Visit one of the 10 states I’ve never visited
19. Make a bowl with dad
20. ~~Go to a concert~~ completed 9/4/10
21. Write a short story
22. Take a cooking class
23. Design and order personalized stationary
24. ~~Go to a museum~~ completed 7/16/10
25. Join an Adult Bible Group
26. ~~Try Vietnamese food~~ completed 9/15/10
27. ~~Donate blood 3 times~~ donated 6/30/10 & 11/2/10
28. Fix my bike
29. Take Lawson to a park
30. Go fishing

"800-Contacts" is losing a customer

2010-07-06T09:24:00.005-05:00
I have worn glasses since I was in second grade. My first pair was pink plastic with a Smurf on the sides. In 7th grade my parents let me use contact lenses. Since my eyes were so bad and only getting worse, my doctor recommended hard (gas permeable) lenses. In 2008 I switched to disposable soft lenses for comfort.

I don’t know why, but it hadn’t crossed my mind to get LASIK. Perhaps because it is elective and I thought I would be too expensive. (and let me tell you, it ain’t cheap!!)

My boyfriend, though he says I’m adorable in glasses, was the one who convinced me to do it. From his perspective, if the technology exists and I can afford it, why wouldn’t I want to be able to see? When put like that I couldn’t come up with a very good reason! So, I shopped around, decided on Key Whitman, and put some money in Flex Spending.

Friday, July 9, 2010 I am getting LASIK!

I have to go without contacts for 3 days before the surgery so yesterday was the last day I will ever wear contact lenses. When I took my contacts out, I still cleaned them and put them in their case. I’ve relied on glasses and contacts for the better part of my life. I guess I still can’t quite believe I won’t need them again.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Boston to NY to DC

2010-06-25T07:16:00.001-05:00
This week has been a whirlwind of travel. I started in Boston, then off to NY, and ended in DC.

Boston
I took a cab to our Boston (Braintree) office Tuesday morning. My cab driver fancied himself a stand up comic who tested his newest material on me. He had his moments, but being a cabby certainly wasn’t his calling. We took the scenic route around the Boston area because he got lost a few times. Thankfully his meter was broken, so my cab was a flat rate from the beginning to the end of our ride.

NY
From Boston I took a train to our NY office (Kearny, NJ). I’ve been on commuter trains, but not regional trains like this. It was great!! I felt like I should have been carrying a trunk and hat box. Prepared for what seems to be an old fashioned method of travel, I brought Cary Grant movies to keep me entertained. I took lots of pictures to brag to my nephew that Auntie Beth rode a train. (I hear I scored cool points!)

When I arrived at NJ Penn Station, all that “cool” feeling went away. I got confused which stop was mine, almost got of a stop early, then brought other passengers into my panic. “Is this Newark or NJ Penn Station stop? Anyone? Is this where I’m supposed to get off?!” Note to Amtrak – your stops are not labeled and no one can hear the over head speaker.

When I did make it off the train and was dumped out to the masses and more confusion ensued. I had no sense of where I was or I need to go. I called my poor driver and tried to explain where I was. He, not used to the MB panic, was just as confused then finally just said, “Call me when you get outside.” So I called my boyfriend who had traveled more recently than me. He, bless his heart, is more accustomed to crazy MB. I managed to make it outside, a little frazzled, near tears, but safe in the car.

While in NY/NJ, I spent some time at the Javits convention center. The Director of Operations was kind enough to let the HR girl tag along on a walk through and ask silly questions. Fun fact: The Javits is just off the Hudson and our guys actually saw the plane land in the water. Unbelievable.

DC
A little more familiar with the NJ Penn Station, I felt like a pro this time. I got my ticket, sat in the waiting area until my train came up on the info board. Then I calmly walked to Platform 3.

That was until the TV monitor at Platform 3 showed “All Aboard” next to my train info. But there was no train. Another confused traveler got my attention, asked if we missed it. I, the more seasoned train traveler confidently said, “No, we’re in the right spot and clearly there is no train. There must be a mistake.” But then others started asking where the train was. I checked my ticket, then my watch, then the TV monitor, and all over again 3 or 4 times. Is it possible I sat in the waiting area too long?! But about a minute later the train arrived. I gave a knowing smile to the other travelers and boarded.

Traveling in my 30s

2010-06-21T09:41:00.001-05:00
In my 20’s, traveling for work was fun, exciting, and a brag topic among my non-traveling friends. Now, though I still get excited about going somewhere (anywhere) outside of Dallas, I dread the whole traveling process.

Flight delays, cancelations, sleeping in hotel rooms with new noises, rental cars/taxis/public transportation….for some reason that was more tolerable when the excitement of traveling overweighed the headaches.

This week I am traveling to Boston, NY, then DC. A full throttle and efficiently planned week of planes, trains, and taxis/car service.

The night before my DIRECT flight to Boston was scheduled to leave at 9:15am, I got a call from American Airlines. Something like, “Your flight has been canceled. We have rescheduled your itinerary to flight number blah-blah leaving DFW at 11am and arriving at NY LaGuardia then connecting to Boston arriving at 7pm. To accept, press 1. To reject, press 2.”

REJECT!!! REJECT!!!!

Are you kidding? A direct flight I have planned for a month and the best you can do is an 8 hour travel plan??

After a temper tantrum that rivals any my nephew has dreamed of, I managed to get on a direct flight. I’m still annoyed with my arrival time since it is 6 hours later than I originally bought….I’ll take that over connections.

Ugh. Hooray for traveling!

The Bookcase Project

2010-04-26T08:49:00.014-05:00
My job at work is to be an HR Generalist. That pretty much just means I need to be versed in a little bit of everything related to HR – benefits, payroll, compensation, compliance, recruiting/staffing, leave administration, employee relations, employment law, policy administration, and anything else thrown on our plates. I’m not a specialist in any of those areas per say, but I know enough to be dangerous.

At home, I fancy myself a generalist as well. I can cook, clean, sew, decorate, organize, fix minor home repair and computer issues, paint, craft, garden (in progress), and open jars without help…usually. But what I haven’t spent much time with is something my dad has mastered – wood working.

So I decided to round out my personal resume by convincing my dad to teach me “how to build stuff.” I decided to start with a bookcase as our first project. It’s something I need and it seemed fairly easy to make. (besides the H&G shows build one in 5 minutes!)

After deciding on a design, dad created a drawing, cut list, and priced out our project materials. So far I have used a table saw, router, jig saw, skill saw, and power sander. I'm also learning the lingo! For example, notch thingys = dado.

(Dad has been a very patient teacher.)

We are not quite done, but here is our progress so far:

This was the dry fit to make sure our cuts were correct. Next step is to use wood glue and a nail gun to put everything together and add the feet. Then we stain and varnish!

Patio Garden...sort of

2010-04-22T21:16:00.026-05:00

I don’t remember a lot of plants around the house when we were growing up. Mom had some ivy plants, but it is only within the last 10 years or so that she has become a garden diva. My sister currently holds the family record of quickest kill. (killed an ivy in 4 hours flat) But she has also had more successes in recent years.

I love gardens, potted plants and fresh cut flowers, but have never had much success keeping plants alive. After college I bought an ivy plant for my apartment. That poor plant moved with me from Dallas to California, California to Kentucky, and Kentucky to Dallas. Against all odds and by no work of my own, it has survived.

April 9, 2010, the following e-mail was sent to our corporate office:

“The property management have some plants to give away that have been switched out in the lobby, they are in the media center, please limit yourself to 2 each, first come first serve.”

The details are fuzzy, but I just remember talking to a colleague in the training department, then being grabbed by the arm, and dragged down the stairs to the media center; a stampede of women from my office behind me. Confused, I picked up a plant and made my way back upstairs to my office.

The result – meet Frank:

I adopted Frank that day and made a promise to keep him alive through the week. (Anything outside of that I couldn’t guarantee) But first, Frank needed a respectable pair of pants.

I am happy to report that Frank is still alive today. Since that small success, I have added an aloe plant, some orange cosmos from my mom’s garden, a zinnia starter kit, and have reclaimed the original ivy plant (my dad was acting as a foster gardener for the last 3 years).

Ivy plant with 9 lives

Aloe plant from Aunt Nita and Uncle Jim

Orange Cosmos today

Orange Cosmos all grown up

Zinnias today

Zinnias all grown up

October Update

2009-10-14T21:29:00.006-05:00
Goodness, the last month-ish has flown by. Last post I promised a picture of the finished quite. I only have a picture that I snuck of him wrapped in the quilt, but I still don't have one of just the finished product. He loved it! I'm still just amazed that it got finished. Thanks again mom!!

I started my new job on Aug. 31 with Valero Energy. Since day one I've been running at full speed. I say that as a good thing because it's definitely job security! It's very similar to what I did at Fossil, but VERY different from what I've done so far. This is the largest and most established company I've worked for. With that comes adjustments to approval levels, the luxury of sophisticated systems, etc. My second or third week on the job I was included in the Cowboy kick off game at the Death Star. (aka Jerry World; aka Cowboy Stadium in Arlington) We had VIP parking, suite tickets, and invitations to Miller Lite tailgate party. It. Was. AWESOME!!! I was the only girl in the group, but I held my own. (thanks to my boyfriend explaining football and introducing me to The Ticket)

More pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/marybeth.knight/CowboysGame#

My 30th birthday is coming up this Sunday. 30. Really? 30 used to seem so old and mature. Everyone makes it out to be such a milestone and a big deal. I've not really made a big productions for my birthday and I'm having a hard time making one out of this.

I will say that my boyfriend has planned a fantastic birthday celebration. I'm not sure which one I'm more excited about - him planning something for me, or what we're actually going to do. Eh, either way, it's going to be glorious!! I'll take pictures!

New job and a hobby picked up and put down just as quick

2009-08-26T19:41:00.005-05:00
It has been just a little over a year since I started work at Freeman. I loved my job there - the work was challenging and interesting, I worked with great people (including friends like Stephanie!). Most importantly, I stretched myself as an HR professional and found my "work style." I was good!

However, on Aug. 31 I start a new opportunity that will open many doors personally and professionally. I will be a Human Resources Advisor for Valero Energy. They made an offer I would be foolish to turn down and let me take a week between Freeman and the new gig. (plus I get a company car!)

This week I've been holding mom hostage while she teaches me how to sew a quilt. So much for a relaxing vacation - this stuff is hard! (..."that's what she said.") Once it's finished I'll try to remember to post pictures of my first and last quilt. I'm actually pretty impressed that it is turning out so well. Thanks mom!

I paid off my car!

2009-04-19T18:11:00.002-05:00
Oh sure, people do it every day. But Friday was my day. After years of paying on The Beast I was able to pay it off 6 months early. Thank you tax return and incredibly cheap living for the last year.

It's just one more move towards my 2009 Goals. I'm making good on the others, and now I'm even more motivated to knock out the little remaining debt I have. Amazing what lifestyle changes, a little change of priorities, and a goal in mind will do for you.

The Hair Dilemma

2009-03-03T20:54:00.003-06:00
As you know, every few months (or weeks) I want to change my hair. This is usually inspired by looking at an old picture or realizing how much I spend in shampoo/conditioner for this massive mop.

My latest plan:
I miss my shorter hair.

Reasons why this is a terrible idea:
1. I can cut shorter, obviously if I change my mind I'm stuck.
2. My hair gets massive with the summer humidity. but really, short or long it's just huge...
3. Shorter also makes me want to go darker....again....after just lightening it. Frick!
4. I also want bangs again. Double frick!!

I really just need to go to someone who is good with hair. With all the gay men in Dallas you'd think I could just shine a scissor spotlight to the sky and they'd come sashaying my way. I attached some old pics of us that will help illustrate what I miss about my hair. Picture the cut with swooping bangs like the last one.

Anyway, I want fabulous hair by St. Patty's Day weekend so I'm on a time crunch. Time to start interviewing the girls for my hair.

Thank you tax return!

Where have I been?

2009-03-02T21:18:00.001-06:00
Well, I haven't been on here much, I canceled my My Space account, and have been neglecting my Facebook account. However, I've been making good on all my 2009 Resolutions so far – especially that second one.

Other than that, I just can’t believe it’s March already.

My friend Stephanie posted a great blog about our Lent Contract. Rather than duplicating her genius, I’ll just direct you to her page to fill you in. Enjoy!

http://notsosecretworldofstephanie.blogspot.com/

2009 Goals (not resolutions!)

2009-01-08T22:16:00.002-06:00
2009 is already of to a great start with lots of changes in MB’s life (all good things), lots of changes for the Knight family (all good-ish things), and that means it’s time for 2009 Goals (not resolutions!). As you know, I don't do resolutions. They don't work and they're typically shallow and short lived. (lose 10lbs, work out, etc.)

Here were my 2008 Goals (not resolutions!):

1. Love my job. Make a change to make it great or find the silver lining.

2. Set aside time to take a continuing education course. Either a language course, an art or cooking class, or something else that I enjoy learning about.

3. Set a good example for my nephew. I have so much to teach him! He may still be in the giggle and drooling stage, but he's going to learn a lot this year.

Let’s recap 2008's goal accomplishments:
1.I found a new job. It turned out to be one of the best moves I’ve made for a number of reasons.
2.I set aside time to take a class: Blueprinting Your Novel. I went to a few classes, but then family crisis kicked in (dad’s quadruple bypass) so I’m checking it off the list only because of the effort to actually sign up and attend 4 out of 9 classes.
3.I made several changes to my life because of my nephew. If he ever asks me about 2008, I feel like I can tell him without a guilty conscience. I didn’t make all the right decisions, I certainly wasn’t perfect, but I made changes to be a better example. I think he’ll be proud….once he stops drooling and learns to talk….whatever.

So for 2009, I’m going to cheat a little. I really liked my goals for the past 2 years, so I’m going to borrow from them and continue.

(drum roll please)

And now for the 2009 Goals (not resolutions!):
1.Continue to be a good role model for Lawson. This guy more than ever needs a support system in his family. I want him to grow up knowing he is loved, that he’s never alone, and that his crazy Aunt Mary Beth is going to be there to hug him when he messes up and whack him over the head when he’s a punk.
2.Let my guard down. No one will ever accuse me of not having a fun life, but I need to let my guard down more and let people in. No more “dead inside MB.” Ugh, just thinking about it makes me nauseous…. :)
3.Have a fiscally responsible year. That’s right shoe industry – this gal is on a budget. Save where it makes sense but splurge when I can. If I make a penny stretch, I can finally take that trip to Italy….maybe for my 30th birthday in October.

So there you have it. It’s going to be another great year!

2008 in Review

2009-01-02T22:45:00.001-06:00
Let’s recap 2008 - keep up, we're going to go fast:

January: Set out to love my job...that didn't work so I interviewed some places, didn’t fall in love with anything, made the most out of my job, Happy Birthday Casey!

February: A few terrible dating experiences, work got better, traveled for work, life is good, Happy Birthday mom!

March: St. Patty’s Day Mess (good times!), enrolled in Blue Printing Your Novel class, ready to take on the publishing industry.

April: Dad has a heart attack and quadruple bypass, life begins to spin around me but I’m not keeping up, life is put in perspective.

May: Moved in with Alison, love my apartment, dating again, work is so busy I think I answer e-mails in my sleep, serious about the job search and answering the question – is there life outside of Fossil?

June: One of my best friends came out of the closet (good for him!), Florida trip for cousin’s wedding/family reunion

July: Vegas for Stephanie's b-day, made a boy cry (again), dating someone new, I started my new job at Freeman!, my sister and Lawson come for an extended visit…

August: Lawson is walking, Knight family life in slow motion

September: Happy 1st Birthday Lawson!, Chicago visit for work, catch up with old friends in Chicago

October: Happy Birthday to me and dad!, I realize for once and for all that I can’t hang with the party/club scene, Casey and Lawson move back to VA

November: Happy Thanksgiving!, I voted

December: Casey and Lawson officially move back to Texas, Christmas with loved ones, Happy 37th Anniversay mom and dad!

Phew, that was fast but 2008 was a good year!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T07:00:00.002-06:00
We are truly blessed as we go into the Christmas holiday. This has certainly been a challenging year for my family as we've experienced some of life's hiccups. But at the end of the day we're family, we have our health, we are blessed with my nephew Lawson, we have a roof over our heads with food on the table, and my dad and I still have our jobs. There is much to be thankful for this year.

We are even able to exchange modest gifts this year and I'm so excited to see Lawson's face! Last year he was too young to really know what was going on.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Excuse me? I don’t have kids, but I’d like to contribute to the conversation…

2008-12-06T20:34:00.002-06:00
I’m discovering that most people my age have kids, are pregnant/trying to get pregnant, or want kids but lack a partner. I know very few people (besides Stephanie) that just don’t want kids right now, period.

Good for them! I hope I can have kids some day so I can regale coworkers and friends with their latest antics. Until then, I try my best to interject knowingly into conversations using examples of my nephew, “Oh yeah, when they’re teething they run fever and drool a lot.”

But what bothered me the most this week was a conversation with a few of my “married with children” friends. They were making their usual Oh-it’s-different-when-you’re-a-mom comments. Then someone must have noticed the glazed look I had over my eyes (or perhaps it was the heavy sigh of annoyance) and asked me how many kids I wanted.

All eyes turned to me. This was my moment. I was actually invited to the conversation!

I confidently answered, “If God blesses me with one, I’ll be happy. But I’d really like a big family so at least 2, maybe even 4 kids.” The table erupted with laughter.

Each mom between fits of laughter answered, “Oh, wait until you have your first.” “Yeah, I wanted 2 until I had (insert kid’s name here).” “That’s cute. Just wait. ONE is a lot of work.”

I had had enough. Crazy eyes and arms flailing, the real big ball of crazy MB came out. “REALLY? Really? Kids are work? Oh, God, thanks! I had no idea! I thought you just got to wear cute maternity clothes and then the nanny fairies came out to take care of the baby’s sleepless nights, dirty diapers, teething, temper tantrums, bad days at school, wrecking the car, and rebellious stages. I’m just in it for someone to take care of me when I get old. Thank God you warned me.”

(Ahem. Whoops. Reel it in MB….reel it in….)

But seriously, I’m sick of the exclusive conversations that I’m subjected to listen to but not allowed take part. Don’t invite me to lunch, strike up a conversation with me, or ask for my thoughts if you’re just going to judge me for my life choices.

No one said having kids was easy. It’s hard work. It’s why I don’t have any yet. I don’t judge you for wearing your kids like a big cross that you had to bear. So don’t judge me for not having any yet, but don’t judge me for wanting them someday.

I'm an adult...but forever a kid in my hometown

2008-11-24T20:42:00.004-06:00
I’m adult, I have a grown up job, a grown up apartment, and “big girl” bills to prove it.

Everyone once in a while I have to remind myself of that because of run-ins like the one I had this weekend.

I was visiting my parents in the town I grew up in on Sunday. I had planned to run some local errands, get my nails done, and make dinner for the folks. All very grown up stuff.

Ahem…anyway.

I walked in to the nail salon and saw one of my 6th grade teachers. Ms. McLaughlin. I immediately became 11 years old. I smoothed down my unruly hair, took my hands out of my pockets, stood up straight, and timidly asked one of the workers for a manicure.

I took my seat, every once in a while sneaking a glance at Mc. McLaughlin. Did she see me? Wait, she smiled?, oh, eyes front.

I pretended to act like a “big girl” and made a conscious effort to not swing my legs in the chair.

(gasp) Here’s my chance! She was getting up to leave and had to walk by me.

Apparently I was just creepy enough throughout the last half hour by looking over at her, waiting for her to recognize me, that she stopped by my chair.

In a tiny voice I said, “Ms. McLaughlin?” (You never know, she could be divorced by now) “I was your student at Story Elementary.”

“Hi,” she said in a teacher sweet voice. “Remind me of your name?”

“M-M-Mary Beth Knight.”

She swore she remembered, asked how old I was now, made a comment about her own age, asked what college I went to and where I was living/working. I think I managed to stutter something about working close to downtown in Human Resources. She told me to pass along her greeting to my folks.

“Yes ma’am,” I nodded as if I were sent home with a note from the teacher.

Seriously? Ugh.

I wanted to chase after her and tell her, “I’m an adult! I have a grown up job! A grown up apartment!”

But instead I sat in the nail salon chair, feet swinging, smiling big because she remembered me.

Open letter to a young HR professional

2008-11-10T22:01:00.002-06:00
Get out. Get out now.

Get out of the HR world for a while. Go run a function, manage a line, balance a P&L.

Got your degree in HR? Then you really need to go.

Getting an HR degree? Think about changing your major. Non-HR degrees enter HR all the time. Very few HR degrees go elsewhere. And take some statistics classes while you’re at it. They are more important for the future of HR than you might think.

Don’t be a career HR drone. Go see the world. Deal with the issues first hand. Understand business, leadership, employee problems, and what happens when people don’t play nicely with each other.

Then come back. We’ll need you.
_______________________________________________________________________

I wish I could take credit, but a networking buddy posted this and I really like it. For those of you who know me, this absolutely describes my career path.

Today I voted...and I have the sticker to prove it

2008-11-04T22:03:00.004-06:00
I'm one of the voters the news warns about. I didn't know for certain who I wanted to vote for until the night before. I was sick of the whole mess. Media coverage, campaigning for funds, scandals, name calling, etc.

How to choose? Flip a coin? Throw a piece of red gum and blue gum against a wall and see which one sticks?

No, like a good American, I did my research on the issues that were important to me. I'd say the War in Iraq is an issue for me, but was surprisingly not something that tipped the scales. I focused on the issues that I could wrap my head around - immigration, gun control, taxes, economic stimulus, the environment, etc.

Polling opens at 7am (and I'm insane) so I decided to get there at 6:30 to beat the crowds. Boy was I ever glad I did! As I walked up to the line of about 12 that had already formed, I had 5-10 people on my heels. By 7am, the line was wrapped around the building. Yet once inside, they were so organized it took 15 minutes. Amazing! Just 45 minutes total to cast my vote in this big mess.

So all in all, I feel good about my choice. I feel even better that I exercised my right to vote...

...and got a sticker on the way out. That's really what it's all about.

Pam Prank 2008

2008-10-24T20:28:00.005-05:00
I am coming up on my first 90 days with my new company, Freeman. Since I joined the team I have met some incredible people and one of those people is my coworker Tommy. See below.

Tommy and I share a sick and childish sense of humor. The image above is a mug I gave him that references one of our favorite TV shows, The Office. If you are familiar with The Office you know the characters Jim and Dwight. Jim likes to play pranks on Dwight. Putting his stapler in a Jell-o mold, moving his desk to the bathroom, convincing him the CIA is recruiting him, etc.

Well, Tommy and I were a little bored on a Friday afternoon. Our boss, Pam, was out of the office until the following Thursday so we decided to play a prank on her. After going through all the possible scenarios and copy cat pranks from The Office, he decided to do this:

Oh sure to the naked eye it’s just a keyboard. But look closely. He rearranged the keys to spell out “You Stink” and we left for the weekend.

Cut to the following week. I’m out of the office all week for an HR conference so Tommy sends me an update:

OK, thought you might like an update on the “Pam prank of 2008”. Remember how I rearranged the keys on her keyboard? Well, she came back yesterday to the office but didn’t get in until after 9 am. I had back-to-back meetings from 9 to 2 pm so I didn’t even see her come in. Evidently she docked her computer and tried to log into her computer using the keyboard, she was looking at the keys and thought she was typing it correctly but (of course) due to my GENIUS it kept registering “wrong password”. Well, she did it three times and got locked out of the system.

She called helpdesk and had them work on her “problem”. Was on the phone with them for over an hour, finally got them to get her into her computer and she tried to send an email to create a ticket on the problem and as she typed it was all garbled. She was still on the phone with helpdesk and neither helpdesk or Pam could understand what the problem was. They finally just said gave up and placed an order for a new keyboard. She went to borrow a keyboard and when she brought it in she noticed that the keys didn’t match. Then all of a sudden she realized she realized hers were messed up – then she screamed, “Tommy did this!!”

When I got back from my meeting she told me the story and I was crying I was laughing so hard. And best of all, this happened on Bosses Day!!!!

Changing the keys on your bosses keyboard – $0

Confusing helpdesk technicians - $0

Making a VP think she’s going insane - $0

Having it all happen on Bosses Day – Priceless…

Love like the movies

2008-10-21T21:06:00.002-05:00
There are a lot of things in life that give me a warm fuzzy feeling. Lazy, rainy days, watching a sappy movie in bed is one of my all time favorites. There’s nothing like the rain on the window, my freakishly chilly apartment, piles of pillows and covers, while watching someone else live out a great love story.

You know the type of movie I’m talking about. When they spot each other from across the room, instantly fall in love, music plays, and the scene closes on a classic lip lock.

Surely I’m not the only woman who has been looking for a romance like the movies. Where reason melts away with a kiss and he whisks her off to a perfect life together.

What the movies never show you are the moments after the big kiss.

Gasp!

I’ve discovered I have an unrealistic image of true love. That’s right folks…hard to believe that someone so in tune with her emotions (ha!) may not quite know how to fall in love…and stay there.

The great romantic movies don’t dare ruin the film by showing the first fight, the awkward transition from single life to coupledom/marriage, lost friends along the way, and the first time she comes home from a shopping spree.

And that is exactly why I love those movies! Carefree, easy, lighthearted, and effortless.

But I have to remember that great REAL loves like my parents didn’t get to 35+ years of marriage by a single big kiss. They make it look easy, but have been working on an epic movie that has had its twists and turns, heartaches and heart attacks, laughs and tears, deaths and new life.

As I am beginning a love story of my own, I hope I can take queues from my parents.

Celebrating my late 20s

2008-10-07T22:23:00.000-05:00
My mom has been teasing me since I turned 25 that I was in my late 20s. I refused to admit that, had a mid-twenties crisis, quit the corporate world, moved to California, and took a job in a retail store.

Totally rational as always.

But on Oct. 18 I will finally be forced to admit that I'm in my late 20s....mostly because I can't get much later than 29. Whatever.

So to give my late 20s a proper kick off, we're hitting the town. I have given all control over to Stephanie, party planner extraordinaire. If you can join us for dinner, let me know and I'll send you the details. If you want to just meet us out, hang tight while we make arrangements.

Eh, Screw Forgiveness

2008-09-22T20:07:00.002-05:00
In early August I wrote about forgiveness. I absolutely meant it. We are only human and we all make mistakes. However, some are more devastating than others.

Which brings me to the blog title.

Without revealing names, a person very close to me found out that her husband had an affair earlier this year. After a series of events, including forgiveness, lies, a continued affair, separation, emotional roller coaster, the husband (whom I now affectionately call "F*ckhead") has chosen the homewrecker. Now my friend has signed a lease for an apartment a thousand miles away from him.

Divorce is a reality for today. But what about tomorrow?

She's a fabulous woman – smart, beautiful, patient, and loving. She'll find a new life for herself that will soar above the years she spent with F*ckhead. But they aren't in this alone. They have a child together.

I had friends growing up that split time with their parents. It seemed to work, but they were typically in the same state at least. It seems so foreign to me that their little child is going to grow up this way. Not to mention the slim chance F*ckhead and Homewrecker will actually last. So how's that for a male role model.

The only thing that helps me see the silver lining on this is that my friend will come out of this better than he will. She has a support system that will help her cope through the ugliness of this situation. She has her family, her friends, her friends' friends, etc. What does he have?

So this is me officially removing the window of opportunity for F*ckhead to ask for forgiveness. If he doesn't want it, we'll do just fine without him in our lives.

American Heart Association

2008-08-24T21:46:00.004-05:00
Hi friends,

Please take a moment to read the scripted information I should be e-mailing out, then click on the link below to visit my personal donation page

----------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone knows someone affected by heart disease or stroke. For those I love, I will be walking in this year’s Start! Heart Walk. I have set a personal goal to raise funds for the American Heart Association and need your help to reach my donation goal. We are raising critical dollars for heart disease and stroke research and education.

You can help me reach my goal by making a donation online. Click on the link below and you will be taken to my personal donation page where you can make a secure online credit card donation. The American Heart Association's online fundraising website has a minimum donation amount of $25.00. If you prefer to donate less, you can do so by sending a check directly to me.

Your donation will help fight our nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers—heart disease and stroke. You are making a difference. Thank you for your support.

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support American Heart Association - Dallas, TX

******************************************************************************
Some email systems do not support the use of links and therefore this link may not appear to work. If so, copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=256369&u=256369-229540549&e=1851799990
******************************************************************************

When did I become “technologically challenged?”

2008-08-11T18:17:00.000-05:00
In some respects I am my mother’s daughter. I’m creative, get easily distracted by shiny things, get annoyed with convoluted instructions, and think that anything in the color red goes faster (cars, shoes, etc).

In other areas, I am my father’s daughter. I like electronics, I’m a natural with computers, I have wires strewn throughout my room connecting one electronic device to the next, and I like new and shiny toys.

So imagine my surprise when I bought a shiny new toy (Blackberry Pearl) and had absolutely no interest in trying to set it up. I guess I attribute some of the lack of interest to the time of purchase - I had just moved, I lost my other phone so I was annoyed I had to buy this one to begin with, dad was recovering from surgery, my life was chaotic in general and setting up a phone was the last thing I had on my mind. But I also attribute it to my boyfriend-at-the-time’s phone envy. He had the older model and tech savvy, so took special interest in setting my newer phone up. I didn’t touch it. I think I made 2 decisions – which was perfect. If it had been left up to me the phone would still be in the box and I would be using an old loaner. But now I barely know how to use it…and I don’t have any real interest in figuring it out. So unlike me!

I received an AT&T Blackjack from my new company. I got to pick the color so it’s shiny and red (so it goes faster) …but I have no idea how to use it. I received it midday at work so I’ve been trying to discretely tutor myself on the simple things like “volume.” I failed miserably – I pushed something and it rang at the highest volume with the most obnoxious ring. Awesome. Also, it has a full keypad which makes my head hurt after just getting used to the Pearl’s partial key pad. My test message to my dad took me about 5 minutes to type…and it just said “test.”

Oh sure, 5th graders nowadays know how to put together and take apart a computer. But I at least refuse to become one of those women who can’t figure out appliances and basic electronics. I won’t be a statistic!

So my homework this evening is to study my Blackjack User Manual and Online Tutorial. Should I be concerned it also comes with a Heath and Safety Information pamphlet? Is that for others when I get frustrated and launch my phone across the room?

Forgiveness

2008-08-02T10:16:00.001-05:00
The Bible teaches us about forgiveness, parents and teachers often share stories about the power of forgiveness, therapists will tell patients to release the burden of anger or shame and forgive.

I can forgive all day long for those who have hurt me. Afterall, I’m human and I make mistakes too. I know I’ve hurt people in the past and I hope they have forgiven me.

But what happens when you are faced with a situation that seems unforgiveable. Something so damaging that relationships are permanently severed, hearts are broken, and trust is called into question.

God would say to forgive as it is not our place to judge. We are all sinners. Turn the other cheek.

Is it ok to forgive the person but not the action? I don’t know if I can separate the two.

It’s easier to forgive when the person takes responsibility for their actions and ASKS for forgiveness…but when they don’t?

So this is my cry for help – please pray for me that I will one day be able to forgive. I will never forget, but I hope one day I will be able to forgive.

Outsourcing Romance

2008-07-31T00:00:00.001-05:00
I’ve been a supporter for online dating services for many years now. As a busy single, I want to meet Mr. Right, but when? Interoffice dating is out, and since most of my time is spent at work online dating often seems like a great alternative to bar hopping on the weekends. (nothing says love like shots of tequila and a cab ride to his/her place) I’ve met some great guys and though it hasn’t worked out, I’d recommend it for anyone just trying to get out there.

Though I don’t have an interest in getting back online anytime soon, I had to pause when a friend suggested I check this out – It’s Just Lunch. Curious, I went to their website:

“Welcome to It's Just Lunch Dallas, we are a specialized dating service for busy professionals….Our first date experts minimize stress and maximize efficiency by working with your busy schedule to coordinate Lunch, Brunch or Drinks after work as a fun way to meet some of the incredible single professionals living in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Plus we do all the work! We will tell you about your match, coordinate your schedules and make your reservations at a restaurant in Dallas/Ft. Worth that is convenient for both of you. With one phone call and a confidential face-to-face interview in our office, you're on your way to a fun, exciting and productive way to meet quality matches. All you have to do is relax and have FUN!!”

Just because I’m online doesn’t mean I have lost the appreciation for romance, personal connection, and chemistry. Sure I joke with friends and future ex-boyfriends that I’m dead inside, void of all human emotion, etc. And that is mostly true for people I’m not close to, it’s not true for friends and family.

I’d like to think those closest to me know that I get giggly about meeting a new guy, first date jitters, the first kiss, etc. But part of that giggliness is the anticipation after all the work trying to find this new guy. Isn’t part of the pay off of meeting your partner the victory after the hunt? To outsource the screening process seems so disconnected. Where are all the stories? I have countless stories to share with friends about bad dates, online matches that are terrible, creepy guys at bars, and other failed attempts at meeting Mr. Right.

Companies hire third party recruiters to find people for jobs they can’t fill – “Web Designer - Open since April.”

Isn’t it weird to hire a recruiter to fill the latest opening – “MB’s boyfriend - Vacant since July.”

Mid-week check in

2008-07-30T19:51:00.006-05:00
Monday was the big first day at Freeman. I spent most of Sunday afternoon through the evening preparing. Laundry, reading my new employee handbook, completing new hire paperwork, etc. I even planned out my outfit so I could just get up, get fabulous, and go to work on time.

Here's what really happened:

I woke up on time - good start so far. I spent about 5 minutes in the shower trying to decide whether to shave my legs or wait until tomorrow. Since my fabulous outfit was a pair of slacks, I finally decided to wait. Finish hair, suck down coffee, put on outfit....I hate it. Then I begin scrambling through my jam packed closet, screaming to no one in particular "I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!!" I decide on a skirt, which means I hop in the shower (fully dressed sans shoes) for a quick shave. 6 or 7 shaving accidents later, I run out the door (late) extra coffee in hand.

I slid into the office and was greeting at the reception desk with my perky recruiter Charlee who announce we were going downstairs for breakfast and Starbucks. I knew it was going to be a good day when they greet me with food and coffee.

When I got to my desk, I had several things waiting for me - a brand new laptop, travel case, travel mouse, travel battery pack, travel coffee mug, welcome sign, cube name tag, reading materials, training binder, fancy ink pen, supplies, etc. Charlee and my new boss fell over themselves that my monitor, cell phone, business cards weren't ready. "But here's the Office Depot catalog, order anything you want. Need a new chair?"

Seriously?? Coming from a company where even your own cube was a hot commodity, I was amazed so much was set up for me before I even got there. My massive flat screen monitor to go with my laptop came by noon and my new phone (that I got to pick the face color) should be in tomorrow.

Over the next few days I have been wow'd by my new company. They have invested so much time and resources in my first week of training that I'm incentivized to bust my hump for them. Not to say that my previous company did a poor job, it's a little eye opening.

I spent so much time and money as a recruiter trying to find the perfect person to work for us, and when I found them I dumped them on their manager and went on the hunt again for the next open spot. go, go, go. But chances are their manager didn't have time to give them a proper welcome either. Resources weren't ready on time, business cards are ready 6 months later, they still haven't been paid for expenses while interviewing 3 months ago, and can I get a pen around here?!, etc. Broken processes we never perfected...and in the 5 years I was there, I was a part of the problem. Ouch.

It's so nice to see a company that recognizes the first impression a new employee has will likely last their career. My first week so far has been flawless....it should be a good career.

Catching up

2008-07-24T14:09:00.013-05:00
Sorry, it's been ages since my last post. Here are the highlights in MB's life. Stay with me - we're going to go fast.

1. Back in May we participated in the Race for the Cure. We had a wonderful time, girl power, bonding fun, and touching moments. It was amazing to see so many survivors!

2. On Arbor Day, Stephanie and I got some friends together to participate in this event called Adventure Racing. It included a canoe race, obstacle course, planting a tree, a word find, and a 1 mile run. For those of you who know me well, I don’t run unless I’m running from something. It was definitely a challenge but lots of fun!

3. In May my family and I made a trip to Florida for my cousin’s wedding. It was so great to see everyone, catch up with cousins, squeeze Lawson (who decided he didn’t like anyone besides mommy), and get some sun on the beach.

4. In June I made a trip up to Canada for work. I was recruiting for 2 new Fossil stores we’re opening in that market. Since we don’t have a presence in Canada, it was a little challenging, but exciting nonetheless. I have now been to Alberta and B.C.

5. Right about the time my dad went into the hospital I had started dating a boy named Aaron. In July we went to Mexico with 20 of his closest friends....we broke up the day we got back.
So as my theme song goes, “Another one bites the dust…”

6. For the past two years, we’ve celebrated Stephanie’s birthday with a trip. Last year it was Mexico, this year it was VEGAS! A handful of friends made a weekend trip to Vegas for a long weekend of debauchery.

7. And now for the biggest news of all….(DRUM ROLL)…after 5+ long years, I quit Fossil. That’s right ladies and gents, no more Christmas and b-day presents filled with watches and handbags. On Monday, July 28 I start with a company called Freeman as an HR Generalist. http://www.freemanco.com/. I’m so excited!! The best part is that they actually believe in a work/life balance, I’ll have more time for my blog, my friends, hobbies, etc. No more 70+ hour work weeks! Hooray!

So my commitment to my readers (mostly Stephanie so she has something to do during the day), is to write more on here.

I'm back!

Race for the Cure

2008-05-19T10:04:00.001-05:00
Dear Friends and Family,

As some of you know, cancer runs in my family and several family members have lost their battle over the years.

Since I will likely not be discovering the cure, I recently accepted the challenge to raise funds to support the Komen North Texas Race for the Cure® on June 7, 2008 in the fight against breast cancer.

One in eight women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime and the more we raise, the more the North Texas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure can give back to fund vital breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in our own community and support the national search for a cure.

Click here to visit my personal page and pledge your support.

Please join me in the fight by pledging in support of my participation in the Race or contributing generously to the Komen North Texas Race for the Cure®. Your tax-deductible contribution will fund innovative outreach and awareness programs for medically underserved communities in North Texas and national breast cancer research. It is faster and easier than ever to support this great cause - you can make a donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message. Whatever you can give will help! I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress. (aka if my heart and lungs explode from running)

Sincerely,
Mary Beth Knight

My dad

2008-04-19T10:12:00.000-05:00
My mom got a call Thursday morning about an hour after dad got to the office that he was having chest pains....and was driving himself to the hospital. Being the hard head he is, he refused to call 911 or an EMT.

Upon arriving at the ER, they ask about his pain level. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being an elephant sitting on your chest) he indicated a level 8. At about noon he had an angiogram where they basically took an insider's tour of his heart to see the blood flow and narrow down the problem area. He had 4 clots are severe and require rather immediate attention before he suffers a major heart attack.

Dad had quadruple bypass surgery last Thursday night. The surgery took several hours but was successful. His heart should actually be working much better so he can be active and have a higher energy level.

He was in extreme pain following the surgery. Partly due to the breast plate, the incision, and also he has several tubes that are inside his chest to help with drainage so he didn't develop pneumonia. As of today, 3 of the tubes have been removed. However, the most painful tubes remain as they are the most effective. Doctors think those can be removed tomorrow.

They finally found a pain reliever that actually helped so he got his first bit of rest today. (As much as you can actually sleep in the ICU.)

Interesting part of this recovery process - though it's scary and he was still connected to tubes, wires, and monitors, he was sitting up about 9 hours eating eggs and toast after his visit to the OR. He was sitting in a chair using the pedals of a cycle to get blood circulating about 11 hours after surgery. He walked up and down the hallway today. Can you believe it? He was in extreme pain for the majority of these exercises, but the nurses are pushing him so he doesn't let fluid settle in his lungs.

Dad should be in a regular room by Monday and will likely be there for a full week for observation. My mom and I will have our hands full when he leaves the hospital and it's just the two of us instead of a team of nurses and doctors.

We are truly thankful that he is going to make a full recovery. The doctors and nurses have been amazing.

Thank you for all your continued thoughts and prayers. I know my dad appreciates them as much as I do.

My First Novel

2008-04-15T13:27:00.004-05:00
Last night I had to present 3 book ideas to the class. They loved one, and liked the other 2. The one they loved was also the one I really wanted to use.

It was an interesting exercise really. With 6 very different students, and 6 very different literary tastes, our book ideas were so diverse. Murder mysteries, sci-fi adventures, supernatural phenomenon, and then my chicklet/social commentary ideas.

Now I have an idea for a book to get started. But I tend to get hung up on character names. I have a name for the male love interest - made the class swoon just at his name. Ha!

But I don't love the names I have for the two female characters. So I've been going through my contact lists, combining names of friends, looking up names online, and probably spending more time on the name than I need. There's just so much in a name, I want them to be perfect. I'm up for suggestions!

Female #1: Vicious, backstabbing, career focused.
Female #2: Naive, seeking revenge, struggling to find her identity.

This week's assignment is to write a journal entry as the main character. It's supposed to be a pre-novel entry and not something we put in the book. Just something to get us thinking and writing like our character using their grammar, tone, vocabulary, etc.

Should be another interesting exercise to present to the class!

Single handedly keeping the US postal service in business

2008-04-06T21:13:00.002-05:00
Besides my latest obsessions with country music and jalapeno cheetos (don’t ask) I need to confess I have an obsession with stationary and note cards.

Now that I’m try to make friendships more personal by sending an occasional note here and there to say "Hi!" or "Thank you!" I’m on a never ending search for the perfect stationary to put to pen. I had a pretty healthy inventory already, but it’s quickly growing out of control. Not to mention I like to create my own cards when I can.

Good grief.

So if you haven’t sent me your address already and you’d like a note from me on fabulous stationary or a perfect little note card...send it my way.

I’ve given in to Facebook

2008-04-02T21:17:00.001-05:00
As a recruiter, it seems like I’m a part of numerous professional networking sites and like to tell myself that myspace is just another "networking" tool. I’ve been avoiding Facebook so I didn’t have yet another site to keep up with.

But since I’m trying to get back in touch with lost friends and classmates, I gave in last night and joined. Mostly for getting back in touch, also to network.

Like an idiot I stayed up until midnight searching for people. But I’m not sure if my contact lists imported correctly, and I think I’ve tried to add people a few times. So if you get a dozen or so add requests from me, just remember I’m a natural blond. Add me and move on.

If I haven’t found you on Facebook yet, please find me and add me. If there’s anyone you know from AHS, please tell them to add me too. I’m trying to find everyone from ’98 and friends from other grades.

Also, I’m on Linkedin.com so you can add me there if you’d like to be my networking buddy. http://www.linkedin.com/in/mbknight

Question for you:
I lost track of a friend that went to a different high school and University than me. The e-mail address I have is old, and I can’t find him on myspace, facebook (the main reason I joined), or linkedin. Does anyone know of another way to track down old friends...without being super creepy/stalkerish?

Measure of a friendship

2008-03-26T21:14:00.000-05:00
"The real success of our personal lives and careers can best be measured by the relationships we have with the people most dear to us. . . " – Mary Kay Ash

As soon as I read this quote, I got to thinking about the relationships I have with all of you.

I joke in my myspace profile: "I only add people I know. I’d say sorry, but then I wouldn’t mean it...and that’s not fun for anyone." Well, it’s true. I have added a few bands that I’ve never personally met, but I like their music. Other than that, I know everyone at varying depths.

I have my "myspace top friends" but in my growing list of friends, I have:
-Friends from work
-Friends from college
-Friends from high school
-Friends I’ve met in my travels
-Friends I talk with regularly
-Friends I wish I talked to more

A friend and I have been trying to find time to get together for over a year now. In college we lived across town and saw each other almost every day. We currently live less than a mile from each other and have not been able to meet up. At first it really made me nervous about our friendship – if we were stronger friends, wouldn’t we find the time to meet up even for a quick hello? But then I starting thinking about our relationship. We don’t have to see each other every week, month, or even year for me to know that he’s still a my friend. I would still do anything for him, and I’d like to think that if I really needed to see him he’d come running.

So the same goes to you. I may not be lucky enough talk to you every day, I may not see you often, but if you ever need a friend – I’m here.

You think you’ve got jokes?

2008-03-17T14:54:00.000-05:00
There seems to be some confusion in the world about what constitutes sarcasm, what’s mean, and what’s just a really bad joke. I keep hearing conversations and feel like it is my obligation to educate bad jokers.

Example 1: "Have fun at Target. No pun intended."
Reality: Nowhere in that statement is there a pun or even what might be mistaken as a pun. Maybe it was the word of the day and you don’t know how to use "pun" in a sentence. Bottom line - not funny, buy a dictionary.

Example 2: Asking someone after your first date for a discount at his/her job – even as a joke.
Reality: Not funny. Makes you appear cheap…and implies quid pro quo. Unless he/she actually provides a service for money/dinner, not a good thing to ask.

Example 3: Telling your girlfriend how many hot nurses were at your morning conference.
Reality: Plan to sleep at your place, or maybe one of those hot nurses will take pity on you and let you sleep there. Brag about this with your buddies, not someone you’re dating.

Example 4: While mingling at a party, someone you meet mentions she just started a new job. You ask, "Was your last job a stripper?"
Reality: This might be funny in your head or if you know the girl, but it is not what you call "sarcastic." It’s a bad joke that will leave you with a kick to the pants or a drink in your face.

I don’t claim to be the funniest gal out there, but I hope this provides a comedy compass for everyone out there. Good luck!

Blueprinting my novel

2008-03-04T17:22:00.000-06:00
I'm on my way to being one of the greatest writers of our time.

Well, kind of.

I've enrolled in a writing class. Specifically, it's called "Blueprinting your novel." I have some ideas, I've just always been terrible at where to start. I usually end up typing a bunch of stuff without a real plan or outline. Then I take twice as long just going back, gathering my thoughts, revising, etc.

So after this class I should hold all the secrets in blueprinting a novel and will write the next great novel.

Mary Beth Knight
Future Author Extraordinaire

Please, take this personally

2008-03-03T17:59:00.001-06:00
I have a few goals this year (not resolutions) but what I didn't officially add was to make my friendships more thoughtful and personal. It's such a small thing to some, but I plan to:

1) be more organized with birthdays and anniversary dates. Seriously, I never remember anniversaries of my own relationships and a few years ago I almost forgot my own birthday...so you can imagine how many of my friends' info I remember.
and

2) take the time to send personal messages. I love getting e-mails from friends, but there's nothing like a good ol' fashioned letter or card. Nothing can top a 41 cent little gift that speaks volumes by just saying, "Hello, good friend! I was thinking about you." It's a lost art and since I love stationary - I'm bringing it back!

How do I plan to achieve these added goals?

Well, I bought yet another daytimer/planner with high hopes of actually using it for more than a week. So far I've left it either in my car or on my dresser 4 out of the 10 days since purchase. Whatever. I'll use this thing....not like last time...or the time before...or...shut up.
One item I've managed to somewhat keep up with is an address book. But since so many of us are still in that point in our lives where we move around, I'm pretty positive every address I have is out of date.

So, no pressure but if you'd like to share your info, please send me your birthday, any anniversaries, and current address. I will promptly put your info in my planner and address book.

The Friend Rule

2008-02-27T20:51:00.003-06:00
The Friend Rule
I think it's safe to say that I run with a pretty sarcastic crowd with a good sense of humor. We can laugh at ourselves and can admit when we've done something moronic or embarrassing.

But what we don't do it make fun of each other. There are plenty of people in the world to judge and praise ourselves for being better/funnier/smarter than. Even if we may not be, it's easier to look at a friend and say "You're so much prettier than her." The other girl can go on thinking she's fabulous and you've just boosted a friend's ego. No harm done.

I was hanging out with Stephanie's new boyfriend recently and as the conversation went on I kept getting closer to strangling him. I couldn't explain it – he was nice enough and she likes him. But then it hit me – he was teasing me and being a jerk to Stephanie. He thought he was hilarious - I did not. There were plenty of other people to make fun of and he picked his new friends. Not ok.

Maybe he didn't know the Friend Rule.

But then I got together with an old friend last week. We hadn't been hanging out for a while and I couldn't really remember why. Until he started off picking on friends. And his specialty is not just teasing friends. He's mastered the art of picking out specific weaknesses, bringing them to the spotlight, and making fun in front of everyone….even when no one is laughing and I'm beyond pissed. Ah yes, that's why we don't hang out anymore.

I just don't understand. Friends are supposed to be there to support you and tell you how fabulous you are - not make you feel self conscious. To actually look someone in the eye and tease them for their hobbies, a recent break up, their hair, the phone they have, the car they drive, etc. It's personal and no one feels good.

So here's to my friends! I will always tell you how fabulous you look, how smart you are, and how special you are to me. Because it's true and that's what friends do.

El Paso

2008-02-22T11:02:00.011-06:00

Last night I got back from a recruiting trip to El Paso. Laugh it up kids, it actually wasn’t as bad as I was expecting.

We actually stayed at an old historic hotel downtown called the Camino Real. It was recently restored is the Dome is kind of an El Paso hot spot. I was the idiot taking 30 pictures like some tourist. It was just too beautiful to not share. I can't add all the pictures, but you get the idea.

The view from the outside to the top. We were on the 9th floor.

Fountain outside the hotel.

The pick up and drop off area.

The upstairs art gallery. I was afraid I'd get kicked out if I took pictures of the actual art.

The Dome. Hotel restaurant and bar.

Look at the detail - so pretty!

You can't be serious...

2008-02-16T01:13:00.002-06:00
Geez, I haven't written a blog in a while. Mostly because the week I posted the blog about work/life balance, I had to work that weekend and every weekend since, not to mention staying until 7 or 8 every week night. Screw work/life balance, right?

Anyway, tonight I had a recently rare opportunity to go out on a date. I met a guy last weekend at a friend's party - younger (25), but I thought could be entertaining at least.

He lives in Fort Worth and I live in Dallas, so we met in the middle. The date wasn't as awkward as I was expecting. Dinner didn't run out of conversation as quickly as I assumed, the standard "smile and nod" seemed to be working, and we even hung out for a couple hours after dinner playing pool and driving around downtown. I wouldn't say we clicked, but it wasn't the worst date I've been on.

So then I was on my way home when I got this text from him:
"Hey since I took you out, can I get some free fossil stuff? ;-) "

Well, as some of you may know, I have a bit of a temper and an especially short fuse when it comes to stupid boys. This was no exception.

But rather than going with my gut of driving back to Fort Worth just to bitch slap him, or responding with something to the effect of "You should count your lucky friggin stars you even got to take me out"... I've decided silence is deafening.

I will pretend he was joking and chalk it up to a really poor (and early) attempt at humor. Lucky for both of us, I will not be speaking with him again for figure it out.

Seriously - who says that??

If you want something done right...

2008-01-14T22:24:00.000-06:00
I've read a half dozen books lately that I realize about 150 pages in that they are a complete waste....but then I'm already 150 pages in - why not finish the book and get a much better one next time?

But it seems like I'm in a never ending cycle of finding a really great book and then 4 terrible books. Then I find a fantastic writer, I read all of his/her books, and 5 more terrible books looking for another great author.

So I've decided to pick up writing again. When I was a kid I used to write short stories and thought one day I'd get published (on the frig). It was fun and I wrote what I wanted to read.

I'm looking for something creative, whimsical, mysterious and timeless. I think I'm going to have to write it myself. Not for anyone else to read or in an attempt to get published, but to find everything I love about a really book. The kind of book you can curl up with a glass of wine, a blanket, soft music, and really enjoy.

Watch out Dan Brown and Lauren Weisberger!

They don't teach you this in college

2008-01-11T20:59:00.001-06:00
When I started my career with Fossil, I was the typical recent college grad. Naive, thinking I should be making lots of money with no experience, and completely willing to work 12-14 hour days/weekends/holidays to get ahead....

And then 2 years passed and I realized that it wasn't really working. All the hours I spent at work rather than with friends, traveling, or trying to be in a successful relationship. All gone.

Now that I'm even just a few years older, I've finally moved up in my career...by way of a mid-20s crisis and 2 cross country moves... Also, I am viciously protective of my personal time. I refuse to get a "Crackberry," I don't share my personal cell number, I don't check e-mail on vacation, I only stay a few nights a week past 6 or 7, and I only work weekends if absolutely positively required. (so far only twice in the past year)

The funny thing is, I feel more successful now than I did working 80 hours per week! I finally have a work/life balance.

I have strong friendships, I have been in a few relationships that have taught me more about me, and now I know what I want out of my life.

I'm happy!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T10:02:00.000-06:00
I'm not one to scramble around at the first of the year to make New Year's resolutions. Why make resolutions when you're just going to break them on Jan. 2?

So last year I made "New Year's Goals" and none of them included silly cliche resolutions like: Lose 10lbs.

Here are my 2008 Goals (not resolutions!):

1. Love my job. Make a change to make it great or find the silver lining.

2. Set aside time to take a continuing education course. Either a language course, an art or cooking class, or something else that I enjoy learning about.

3. Set a good example for my nephew. I have so much to teach him! He may still be in the giggle and drooling stage, but he's going to learn a lot this year.

"I want to be a good person and live my life the right way, keeping in mind that there might be a little kid who's watching what I do." - Rebecca Lobo, U.S. Olympic basketball player

2008 is going to be another good year!

Anyone know how to fly this thing?

2007-12-24T23:29:00.000-06:00
I've never really traveled for the holidays, and certainly not by myself. So when my folks decided to drive to my sister's house last week, I was pretty nervous about airport conditions. I left for Kansas Sunday morning - 3 days before Christmas.

But I was flying out of Lovefield, the smaller Dallas airport, so I figured I was in for a fairly easy holiday flight. Lovefield mostly flies out Southwest Airlines. I'm flying American - makes it easier to get through check in when you're the only person in line. Sweet!

Once I get through security (maybe 10 minutes later) I begin my trek across the airport, past civilization, past any signs of life, and make my way to the AA terminal...and all 3 of their gates.

After a brisk 1.3 mile walk, I'm at my gate. I have my book, we're scheduled to take off in an hour, I can entertain myself until then.

Wait, our flight is delayed? Yes, the plane was there, but the crew didn't want to take us back to Kansas. Union work must be where it's at. To be able to just toss the keys to the gate attendant and announce, "I'm out!" without getting fired...Nice.

So we were delayed another hour. Ok...no problem. This puts me in to KS around 1pm. I haven't missed much, but the family is gathered waiting on me.

An hour later, the crew who "has agreed to take us" to Kansas arrives and we quickly board. I get settled, I get my book back out, and text my dad - See you soon!

I'm in seat 1A so I'm pretty much in the pilot's lap and can hear everything. Don't ever sit in 1A - you don't want to know.

We were delayed AGAIN once we got on board. Why? Because they can't find the User's Manual. Excuse me...what?

Yes, they've lost the User's Manual and they've sent the maintenance guy to find it or apparently round up a "Flying for Dummies," "So you think you can fly?," or some Cliff Notes version of the manual.

On the various flights I've been on in my life, there's been a few where I've assumed someone was "In Training." But how often to pilots really need to access this manual? Should I be concerned even if they find the manual? What if it's missing a page like Landing 101?

After about an hour of searching, we either gave up or found a suitable solution. Brilliant. I said a few prayers, closed my eyes, and hoped for the best.

Luckily we made it to Kansas, but I'm seriously considering giving up flying for a while.

Saturdays with Stephanie

2007-12-24T21:03:00.000-06:00
This past Saturday, Stephanie and I tried a new club/bar. A guy she knew had table service at a swanky club called Clear. (Table Service: He and his friends dropped $300+ just to have a table at the club, add in the requirement to purchase 2-3 overpriced bottles of liquor, and you have a group of idiots with too much money).

We didn't get 5 feet in the door when I was reminded why I don't go to places like that. Girls in "gownless evening straps" as my mom would say, and guys in expensive designers I can't pronounce. Take 2 more steps - some ginormous black guy walks by and grabs me mumbles something and walks off.

Next we find the friend's table. At the table I see a girl we'll call "Tiffany" that I was friends with in high school, who also made my senior year miserable. If you've ever seen the movie Mean Girls, she was the blond ring leader. So unhappy with her life, that she was vicious to every girl especially those she called friends.

Luckily, "Tiffany" and I, without a spoken word, agreed to ignore each other the entire night. Done and done.
"Tiffany" + models + creepy ginormous guy + expensive everything = MB sticks out like a sore thumb
Then the ginormous black guy reappears. Surprise! He's friends with "Tiffany" and the guy who invited us. Wonderful. Not only is he menacing and terrifying, after a 15 minute (forced) conversation he admitted he remembers me from St. Patty's day. Oh God. I met him back in March after the parade on Greenville. He freaked me out then, and he gave me the heebie geebies when it clicked how I knew this guy. I grabbed Stephanie, and we left immediately. *shudders*

Of course I always have a great time when I'm with Stephanie, but I think we need to stick to going out in familiar territory. No more swanky bars, no more creepy guys, no more unwelcomed reunions.

Welcome to my blogspot

2007-12-18T21:37:00.000-06:00
I have been posting blogs on MySpace for a while, but not everyone has access. My life is full of adventures everyone should be able to read about, so I've joined blogspot.

If you're new to my blogs - Stay tuned, I promise you'll be entertained!

View my old blogs at myspace.com/mbknight

Bye Bye Bye!

2007-11-27T20:47:00.000-06:00
I'm 28. I don't know how that happened, but ok, whatever, I'm 28.

So as I'm letting that set in, I've been reminding myself…I'm an adult, I'm an adult….

It's bad enough being caught singing loud and off key with the windows down. But make sure you have good music on. Not N'Sync: No Strings Attached. Yes. Yes. I dug up the CD circa sophmore year when I "totally LOVED" Justin. I've been singing to that every day to work. Who is judging??!

I still watch the Disney Channel and discovered Hillary Duff back when she was part cartoon, and Shia LaBeouf before he was starring with Will Smith, Tom Cruise, and Transformers.

I still buy books based on their cover, buy wine based on how pretty their label/bottle is, and cook or order food that has a picture so I know what it's supposed to look like.

Apparently I still need my mother to remind me to wear a jacket, flip flops are not appropriate footwear in the winter, and "is that what you're wearing?"

I squeal like an idiot when I see a spider. Doesn't matter how big – I cry like a baby.

I still like meeting my girlfriends at the mall if we don't have anything to do ( just for funzies)...or when we get paid to buy stuff we hide from our parents.

I love playing with make up even though I'd rather only wear mascara and chapstick everyday. But show me the cheap make up section at Target, and I'll fill a cart full with colors that are fun but all wrong for me- sparkly and pre-teenish - that will end up in a drawer until I move again.

So I'm embracing my 28 going on 16 stage in my life. I'm smart, I'm successful, I have fantastic friends. Who cares about the quirks that still make me a kid?

Boston or Bust...again

2007-11-19T13:26:00.000-06:00
I leave bright stinkin early tomorrow morning for Boston. My sister and her hubby go there every year for Thanksgiving and this year we're joining them.

I'm so excited because you know what that means....more time with Lawson - the cutest nephew on the planet!

I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!

I think I've been bamboozled

2007-11-07T07:45:00.000-06:00
I think I’ve been bamboozled

I got a letter from this Cambridge Who's Who notifying me that I've been nominated as a successful and ambitious business woman making a difference in the community. How did they know?! ;)

I thought maybe my old boss nominated me – it seemed like something she'd join. So I submitted my application (which was advertised as no cost/fee) and got a phone call today for an interview. I'm thinking it's a really good deal – they're so selective I have to interview to prove my fabulousness!

At the end of the interview, the woman told me I'm fabulous (duh) and what membership package would I like to choose?

Wait, what?

Yup, it's about $800 to join this association. Bwaahhaahhaa, you've got to be kidding me! I just told you I have 4 years of post-college experience…do you really think I have $800 to drop just for funzies? Anyway, apparently she could hear the sticker shock in my voice and continued to bring the price down to finally $99. So now I think it might be a little shady.

I wanted to use it more as a networking tool. Connecting with other professionals to try to find great candidates, brainstorm HR stuff, etc. Maybe Fossil would even pay for it.

What do you think? Has anyone ever done this?

http://www.cambridgewhoswho.com/

Dirty Dancing

2007-11-05T22:53:00.001-06:00
Pretty much every weekend, Stephanie and I roll out of bed and crawl to the couch for some good trash tv before we start the day. What qualifies as trash tv? Stuff like Cheaters, Ninja Challenge, anything on MTV, bad 80s movies, etc.

Well, flipping channels last night I found quite possible THE BEST trash tv.

But MB, are you sure? There's so much out there. How can you know you have "the best?"

Well, because it's called Pants Off Dance Off. The premise (or so I've gathered) is you have would-be strippers dancing in front of a green screen. Behind them, is their favorite music video. Not that they do the choreography from the video, but I guess it makes it less creepy watching someone strip off their dignity when Usher is in the background.

Some of the girls were pretty ridiculous, but the guys on there?....priceless.

Example: "The Ladies Man" was devoid of all rhythm, he shook his groove thang to the beat...well, some beat not sure which one.

The website doesn't show the music videos like the show did, but you get an idea of the talent level.

http://fuse.tv/tv/pantsoff/index.php

Now don't you feel better about your sweet dance skills?

Best Birthday Ever

2007-10-21T07:34:00.000-05:00
This past week I turned 28. *gulp* To help me celebrate, I had some of my closest Dallas friends around me.

On Friday we went to a quiet patio dinner, shared good food, tasty wine, and even better company. It was absolutely perfect!

Saturday we had a long night beginning with Gay Bingo then off to dance. I can't remember the last time I went dancing much less boot scootin'. We did it all. It was so much fun! But I must admit that my feet are pretty unhappy with me today. Dancing and walking around all night in 4 inch heels...terrible idea.

Big thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes in my direction. I was overwhelmed by the cards, e-mails, texts, myspace comments, calls, etc. I am truly thankful that I have been blessed with such a great group of friends.

Meetings

2007-10-11T09:40:00.001-05:00
If you're one of my few friends who hasn't had the opportunity to sit through pointless meetings – let me take this moment to tell you I'm jealous.

Let me explain…..

In my new role in HR, my performance is based on how long it takes me to fill a position. I've been in my role for…maybe 2 months? But actually recruiting for about a month. Some of the positions I've been recruiting for have been open since April…which for those of you without a calendar handy – that's more than 2 months ago.

As I've been getting acclimated to the new role, I'm finally starting to make some progress with these tough to fill positions. I've finding good resumes, making good networking connections, using my resources, etc. It's looking good!

But I've joked that my day is often filled with meetings, meetings about meetings, meetings to talk about future meetings, and meetings about meetings from the past. Rarely are they actually productive, relevant, and to the point.

Why?

To make me crazy.

So let me get this straight. I need to fill positions within 3-4 weeks…but at least 15-20 hours of my work week is filled with meetings about recruiting/hiring, conference calls, meetings about meetings, and meetings about stuff that doesn't affect me.

Sadly, meeting will never go away. So I would LOVE to get feedback and tips from anyone who has been a part of or led a successful meeting. What did you do, how did you keep people on topic, how was it successful. Surely someone out there has had a positive experience or has seen it done well.

Welcome Lawson Alexander Wineman

2007-09-21T09:45:00.000-05:00
Lawson Alexander Wineman was born this morning! He is 7.4lbs and 21 inches. He has the Knight pug nose and lips, and red hair. My cousin has red hair, my dad had red hair when he was young...but mine was from a bottle. :)

Mom and baby seem to be doing well as of this afternoon.

Boston or Bust

2007-09-01T12:38:00.000-05:00
Monday morning I head up to Boston for a fun filled week of recruiting, opening a new store, and eating "wicked good chowda." This is my first trip since I moved back in to HR (no pressure) so I'm planning to hit the ground running.

But the best thing is I get to see my friend Gared. I moved back to Dallas, just in time for him to move to Boston. We so rarely get to see each other so it will be a good reunion.

It's going to be a good week!

I found "the one"

2007-08-29T13:48:00.000-05:00
Every year or so I decide I need to get more organized. Time for a new planner/organizer!

I have in my collection 5-10 planners/organizers of varying sizes and colors. I start off using them everyday for a good 2 months or so...then I use it here and there...but then it collects dust on my book shelf.

But not this time. No. This time I have found "the one." The PERFECT planner for me. I shopped at 11 different stores, returned 2 options, but finally find "the one."

It's black, medium sized, closes with a cute buckle, has month view, weekly view, addresses, appointments, etc.

This time, I'm going to stick with it, stay organized, find my own system, and use my new friend.

I am a lucky gal!

Driver’s Ed (circa 1925)

2007-08-24T13:08:00.000-05:00
Stephanie and I were heading home after a fun afternoon of Corporate Challenge goodness. We did the Great Walk, showed support for the Special Olympians, and left feeling good about life in general. On our way home, we ran in to some unexpected traffic.

When faced with 2 exit ramps merging to lane, there is a certain expectation. 1 car for 1 car. You go, I go, etc.

So we were merging, listening to music, waiting for the cars in front of us to follow the "merging rules." It came our time. The car in front of us went, so we started to merge behind them.

But then we heard honking. Surely this is a mistake. Doesn't everyone know the rules? Your lane, my lane, your lane, my turn. I looked in my side view mirror to see a grandma and grandpa flipping us off with a shaky boney finger while honking.

Clearly there wasn't Driver's Ed in 1925 - So to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, I decide it is best to signal to him what merging looks like using hand gestures while mouthing "MERGING." Apparently this didn't help cause he flipped me off again.

Normally it probably would piss me off to have someone flip me off in traffic. But it was just too funny!!! Grandparents are supposed to bake you cookies, slip you money, and spoil you - not flip you off and try to run you off the road.

Are you wearing my heels?

2007-08-14T12:40:00.000-05:00
I try to stay away from stereotypes, politics, fanatical obsessions. I went to Texas A&M for just about 4 years and for the most part resisted the brain washing that every school sucks but ours. For example, though the University of Texas will forever be t.u. I only recently started wearing orange or rust colors. (Though some people from A&M have threatened to cut me out of their lives for such offenses.)

However, there are a few jokes about the other school I find too funny to ignore. (especially as the proud recipient as the "F@g Hag 2004" tiara) Tonight at dinner, we saw something that absolutely fit the stereotypes.

A husband and wife were sitting on the patio with their toddler son. Mom blended in, probably wouldn't notice her except I thought her husband was either her hair dresser or coming out of the closet any day now. The saddest thing, is that their son was wearing head to toe Longhorn basketball stuff. As he's sucking his pacifier, he decided that he wanted to wear mom's heels. As mom and dad talked (and ignored their wandering son), mom slipped off her shoes and the toddler put them on one by one.

The son walked around the patio in mom's heels, neither parent objecting or paying attention.

Are the parents brainwashing him to be a fit for t.u.? Should I call child protective services so Johnny doesn't walk in the street wearing heels on his way to t.u.?

Or should I keep in touch with them so eventually I can borrow their son's shoes?

Ode to the CHI

2007-08-12T08:29:00.000-05:00
You've heard the expression that dogs are man's best friend, and diamonds are the woman's best friend. But there is nothing quite like the bond between a woman and her flat iron.

I still remember the day I bought mine. It was a sunny, but cool summer day in Los Angeles. Jessica and I were shopping at some of the boutiques around town. We stumbled in to a beauty supply store. Little did I know that chance meeting would change my life.

There, on the top shelf, almost out of sight was the CHI. Yes, the CHI. The shop owner let me hold it for a bit, and after a while even offered to let me take it home for a special price.

For two years the CHI has given me flawless, straight, non-frizzy hair. It's seen me through long blond hair, short blond hair, and even the recent various shades of dark.

Over the past 3 months, CHI hasn't been feeling well. I've had to go so far as to rig the cord with duct tape so it turns on, but it still works hard for me.

I'm sad to announce that 6:00pm Saturday night, the CHI blipped its last blip of red "on light." Though I already have a temporary replacement, nothing will burn my hair in to submission quite like the CHI.

CHI, you will be missed.

Corporate Challenge 2007

2007-08-09T13:22:00.000-05:00
Ah, yes. The smell of dirty gym socks, sweaty fat men, and out of shape cubicle monkeys attempting pitiful feats of athleticism.

Must be Corporate Challenge time!

We will be competing with other Richardson based companies for the coveted trophy. It benefits Special Olympics and draws a pretty good crowd.

This year I'm once again playing volleyball, and picked up a new "sport" called the Great Walk and a fancy Team Captain title (be jealous).

Tonight was our first volleyball practice. Now, as I've mentioned before, I've been working out a lot lately. Even had a personal trainer to kick me in to shape.

But I was sad to realize that I'm grossly out of volleyball shape. After the first hour, my forearms are swollen and tender. I can't lift my right arm from all the serving. I think I threw my back out trying to spike.

MB will be training from now until our game in October….but I might need friends to visit me in the hospital at this rate.

http://www.cor.net/CC/Homepage.html

It's the little things

2007-08-06T12:52:00.000-05:00
When all is said and done, it's the little things in life that make me happy.

a hug from my dad

my mom letting me ramble on for hours

a phone call from an old friend

a progressing career

a friend saving me from airport boredom

a future visit to my sister

a great dinner with girlfriends

a fabulous weekend with Stephanie

a drunk dial from college buddies

a movie in bed (which usually equals a nap)

a stressful but sunny day

and a new haircut.

It's the little things that make me smile. Life is good!

Adventures with MB and Stephanie

2007-08-05T10:59:00.001-05:00
This weekend started with a relaxing Friday at home. Finally watched the end of Batman Begins, and then moved to Inside Man. Both good movies – made for a wonderfully lazy night.

Saturday I cleaned, ran some errands, and met up with Stephanie. We started with some culture and went to the DMA. (Dallas Museum of Art) After a solid 45 minutes of all the culture we could handle, we rushed to the nearest mall to satisfy our inner Dallas chick needs. (Pitiful yes)

Our first stop was a store called Windsor. Seemingly innocent store, inexpensive, trendy, and all that.

Stephanie was the first one to be attacked by the lady who claimed to be from L.A with 2 sales girls in tow. We assumed she was the DM? She started gushing about Stephanie, calling her fabulous, what a hot body, etc. she moved to me. Again gushing about how fabulous we are.

Then she begins to throw clothes at the sales girls – "Stephanie will try this, she'll look smoking in this, hot in this, she'll love this…" After her girl had an armload of clothes she started with me. First she started grabbing pants in a size 6 (hahahahahahahahaha – cute.) then she started grabbing clothes that were so far from my taste or colors that look good on me. But I had no opinion apparently and was pushed in to a fitting room with all my hideous options.

I tried on some top that made me look like a Vegas floozy, capris that looked like knickers from a page boy, a baby doll top that made me look preggers, and a brown sweater that made me look ill. They put Stephanie in a sweet lace top (hahaha), skinny jeans, browns, and various items that were NOT her style.

As someone who has worked in retail since high school, this was a perfect example of "what not to do." We were attacked! Why? We were the only ones in the store that had this "personal shopper" experience. We had clothes thrown at us without anyone stopping to ask our taste, what we were looking for, what size we normally wear, etc. We ran out of the store as soon as the coast was clear and won't go back to that store again.

It was such a breath of fresh air to go to all the other stores in the mall and get ignored by the sales people, have to tackle someone to get a fitting room, and watch the cashiers force an awkward smile. Ah yes, it's good to live in Dallas!

Go crazy? Dont mind if I do!

2007-07-31T02:00:00.000-05:00
After tonight, I've accepted that I've gone absolutely, positively bonkers.

I've been either out of town or busy every weekend since April/May. Anyone who knows me well, knows that MB needs time by herself for quiet downtime and sleep otherwise evil MB comes out to play (and it ain't pretty) I don't get much sleep during the week, and I haven't had my weekends to catch up on sleep/downtime. So you'd think that I wouldn't volunteer to shave off any more weekday/weeknight free time.

(this is where the retardedness comes in)

I volunteered to help with inventory at our local stores. Inventory is painful, time consuming, and leaves you with a nervous tick from all the scanner gun beeping.

So bright and friggin early this morning I arrived and my buddy Robb's store. We counted inventory until about 12:30.

I took a 15 min lunch (some shopping then the drive thru) and headed back to the office to do 8-10 hours of my real job in only 4 hours. Everything that could go wrong with my work, went wrong and is completely out of my control. (but it doesn't stop the 487 questions from the groups I support...why isn't this working? what happened to ____, did you know that this isn't working?)

I left the office and fought rush hour traffic to meet my girls for dinner and catch up.

I left dinner and rushed to another store for their inventory. I just got home. It's 2:00am.

(You see where I'm retarded?)

I bet my boss still expects me in at 8ish tomorrow. Psshttt. No friggin way.

Oh who am I kidding. I'll suck down 2 pots of coffee and I'll make it to work by 9 at the latest.

This weekend – MB is hanging out with her girls and laying low. Lots of sleep, lots of downtime.

This is why I loved HR

2007-07-26T11:21:00.000-05:00
My friends in HR had the same sick humor as me. I probably would have even posted this in my store just to scare my employees. ;)

_________________________________________________

Effective January 2007

Dress Code

1. It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary.
If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a pay raise.

2. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a pay raise.

3. If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a pay raise.

Sick Days

We will no longer accept a doctor's certificate as proof of sickness.

If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Holiday Days

Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.

Compassionate Leave

This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend to the arrangements.

In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Toilet Use

1. Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the cubicles.

2. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the cubicle door will open, and your picture will be taken.

3. After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company notice board under the "Chronic Offenders" category.

4. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy..

Lunch Break

1. Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more so that they can look healthy.

2. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.

3. Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. Remember we are an employer of choice and we are here to provide a positive employment experience.

Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

-Management

The weary travelers have returned

2007-07-23T12:45:00.000-05:00
I'm back. I'm alive. A little crispy, but not too bad. We had a blast, and now I'm very tired.

I'll post pictures probably tomorrow.

I need to go burn my suitcase - it's so gross it's not worth saving or washing the clothes inside.

Mazatlan, here we come!

2007-07-18T12:30:00.000-05:00
Tomorrow morning - Stephanie, Darrah, and I are being picked up by a driver to take us to the airport while we drink mimosas. Then we're off to hop on a plane for the beaches of Mazatlan!

I'm so excited! I haven't had a girls vacation in such a long time.

Have a great weekend! I promise lots of stories when I return.

Love y'all!

Vonage and the Secret

2007-07-16T05:10:00.001-05:00
I finally took the time today to cancel my Vonage home phone. I've had it since I lived in KY and it was actually really helpful there….except the few times when my cable went out. Aside from a few hiccups, all around good deal.

I kept it when I moved here just to see how much I'd use it. But I use my cell more than anything and the home cable goes out every other day…just for funzies. (Rant on Time Warner is long overdue)

So I called to cancel Vonage today. No hard feelings, just didn't need it. I made the mistake of choosing the menu option "Billing, Account Services, and Customer Care." After being on hold for about 5 minutes (not bad) I spoke to a very friendly woman who explained she'd have to transfer me to a different account services to cancel an account and was that ok? Um…do I really have a choice?

She transferred me and after about 20 minutes I started picturing what was really going on at their office. Canceling services goes in to a whole different holding queue. I picture it a little as a party I'm not invited to where everyone is having fun at my expense. When I admitted the reason for my call, the woman places me on hold, announces to the floor that we have "another one" and everyone bursts into laughter, pointing at the phone. She puts me on hold for a while, goes to lunch (not before checking that the hold music is the appropriate level of annoying), and comes back to see if I've given up and hung up. Since I'm holding strong and still there, she keeps me on hold while she catches up on all the gossip, who's sleeping with who, can you believe she's wearing that?, and how she should be floor supervisor not her idiot boss. She checks again.

MB is still there. Still wants to cancel the account.

So she finally grabs the janitor to take over from here. I get the guy who has been in the country for all of 5 minutes to help me through this process. Am I sure I want to cancel? What if they reduce my rate to $4.99? (which pissed me off more that it hasn't been an option until now)

After repeatedly telling "Steve" that I'd like to just cancel my service, he finally gives in and starts the warnings. Once we cancel you can't come back to this number. Are you suuuuure you want to do that? I mean, when this is done it's DONE.

Confident that my decision wouldn't cause the end of the world, I thanked "Steve" for canceling my service.

I'm going to check my account tomorrow. Pretty sure lost in the translation somewhere instead of closing my account, I opened 3 more phone lines.

Checking in on my 2007 Goals

2007-07-11T22:31:00.000-05:00
Some of y'all might remember that on Jan. 1, I posted my 2007 goals (not resolutions). I hate resolutions because the are cliche and like 98% of the population, I break resolutions but I keep goals. So it's a little late, but here's my mid year check in.

2007 Goals (not resolutions!):

1. Make lifestyle changes, including but not limited to:

-active lifestyle

-move church membership to a church in town

2. Pay off big portion of debt

3. Start savings for a house

Mid Year Check-Up:

1. I have made progress with lifestyle changes, but I'm not where I want to be yet.

I definitely have more of an active lifestyle. I work out, I've lost weight, and I've been making an effort to find more to do in Dallas than just go out for drinks or dinner. But I'd like to play volleyball again. I played in a bar league in Kentucky and I miss it! We haven't been dancing in a while, even though we talk about it every weekend.

I have not found a home church. I've been going with my folks when I'm in town, but it's not a church I want to join. My membership is still officially in Kentucky.

2. I have paid off credit cards and a few other debts. I have started to make a dent in my student loans and the 1 remaining credit card.

Also, I haven't put myself further in to debt. I'm getting smarter with my money, I actually started using Quicken, and I don't shop nearly as much. It helps being out of the mall. Working in a store was just too tempting!

3. I'm not on my way to saving for a house, but I've been able to save money for more important things than a trip to the mall or drinks out with friends. I took a trip to visit my sister, Stephanie and I are going to Mexico in a week, I've had some quick weekend trips to Houston and Austin, and I'm going to Boston for Thanksgiving.

All in all, I'd say I'm doing pretty well this year!

I hate politics

2007-07-01T23:22:00.000-05:00
I hate politics. So much so that I avoid TV at all costs during election seasons. But I can't seem to avoid them this year.

From March - June, North Texans were pounded with campaign propaganda for Dallas mayor. Mayor? Since when was that a position that required countless fundraisers, smear campaigns, invading our St. Patty's parade, billboards, and back to back commercials?

I've been trying to avoid coverage of the democratic race on TV. But this morning Good Morning America aired a story that pissed me off to a new level. They were praising Barack Obama for passing Hillary's fundraising totals for this Quarter. See the break out below:

Barack Obama $31 mil

Hillary Clinton $21 mil

John Edwards $9 mil

So let me get this straight - they've raised MILLIONS just so they can run a campaign to try to convince me to vote for them? Yet we have people that don't have a roof over their head, food on their table, and a high school education - and we're excited about the campaign funds reaching an all time high?

It's a good thing it's all about the platform and the people.

True, may have it pretty good compared to other countries. But it still makes me crazy knowing that they're spending millions so I'll be hearing more of this for another year and others go without basic needs.

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Story?id=3336526&page=1

Lawson Alexander Wineman

2007-06-24T09:37:00.000-05:00
I can't believe how quickly time has passed. My sister is due in September with her first child. She and Brad have decided on a name for the little guy.

Lawson Alexander Wineman

Lawson is a Knight family name, Alexander is a Wineman family name.

Doesn't it sound distinguished? Such a strong name for such a little guy. Surely with a name like that he'll be some rocket scientist, writer, or doctor.

Road Rage and the Power of the B word

2007-06-18T11:06:00.000-05:00
I drive in rush hour traffic every day to and from work. To avoid getting violent with all the ridiculous drivers, I avoid all things angry:

On the way to work I listen to calm music, avoid morning radio shows (which alone often causes me to be violent), and just sip my coffee. On the way home, I usually call my sister to catch up on baby stuff, listen to calm music, and just think about how much closer I am to the weekend.

Tonight I left the office after a long Monday. I called Robyn to make plans for the weekend, and just as we're solidifying plans a woman almost hits me when she halfway cuts me off. One of those things where she tried to cut me off with her tiny Kia and actually decided to look in her mirror and saw my Beast of a car. I slammed on my brakes to avoid her and she (no kidding) yelled at me "Get off the phone you stupid b-tch!"

Ah yes, this is when all the calm music Death Cab for Cutie can provide was no match for my freakishly short temper. Me? Get off the phone? The one driving like a sane person? I should get off the phone? How is it that she drives like an idiot and I'm the b-tch??

Lucky for me I was on the phone with one of the calmest people I know. Thank you Robyn. If I hadn't been talking to you, I probably would have run her tiny little car over, teased her for driving a car that cost as much as my front passenger tire, and called her all sorts of names while giving her the Dallas Highway Salute. (Yes, I'm a lady)

So I managed to get home without clawing her eyes out and just kept thinking – it's the end of Monday. That means the weekend is just a little closer.

Seriously Jar

2007-06-13T23:08:00.000-05:00
I think I'm going to replace my "Seriously" jar with this one. With the folks at my office, this jar would be full by the end of the week!

Swear Jar

Just call me Martha Friggin Stewart

2007-06-12T14:40:00.002-05:00
My sister is coming to town at the end of the month. We're going to take advantage of the visit to host a baby shower in her honor.

Most sane people who work too many hours during the week and spend most of the weekend in a state of...well..."weekendness" would obviously go to the store and buy invitations.

That is the sane person.

Mary Beth, as you know, is not one of those people. Mary Beth decided to channel her inner Martha Stewart and make each individual invitiation by hand. That's right. Down to the bow, the writing, and the details. I definitely spent at least 5 times what a simple package of invitations would have cost.

But it's my sister's first baby so therefore everything will be overboard and we're excited to do it!

(Let it be known that kid 2 and 3 will get the generic package of invites for $1.99.)

Note to self...

2007-06-03T10:36:00.000-05:00
Note to self: Your skin is a lovely shade of pale white. Translucent even.

Spending 5 hours in the sun with 15spf isn't going to protect you from one of the worst sunburns of your life.

I hurt.

I got stood up

2007-05-31T14:06:00.000-05:00
I had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend that was full of friends, family, drinks, and lots of food. Since I splurged so much over the weekend, I've been tired and feeling disgusted with myself all week. So I was really looking forward to my session with my personal trainer today.

Today, I was going to be a trooper. I vowed that this time I was not going to whine, beg for mercy, or complain on the 85th set of lunges that my legs are tired. I was even prepared to run.

Anyone who knows me knows I only run if:
1. I'm running from something or,
2. I'm running toward food

I was going to walk in to the torture chamber Cory likes to call "The Gym" and take it like a champ.

But he never showed. Have I really scared him off? I wonder if he finally lost all hope that I'll ever be in shape. He's been working with me for 6 months now and I still won't run a mile without bringing the portable defibrillator "just in case."

(To be fair, last time we went running, we got lost and ended up about 3 miles away from the car.)

But I think my time with Cory may have ended at a good time. I was going to break up with him anyway so I can save more money. But I didn't even get to say goodbye.

So thank you Cory! We had some good times...

....or you had some good times laughing at me while I threatened to cry in the middle of the weight room if you made me do one more set....

...Whatever.

College Station again?

2007-05-30T12:42:00.000-05:00
I'm coming back to College Station! Why you ask?

Because I'm a complete moron.

Ah yes, despite my better judgement, I've volunteered to help a new store manager survive inventory.

If you've never been through inventory with a retail store before, it's a little bit like shoving a pencil in your ear while being forced to watch the latest Jamie Kennedy movie.

But the good news is that I might get to see old friends again. I'm coming down Friday, June 22. I'll be working all day Saturday and friggin early & late Sunday, then possibly Monday. I should have a few hours break during the day on Sunday.

Unfortunately for Northgate and the Tap, this visit can't be as wild as Bucky's graduation weekend…but it's a visit nonetheless.

If you'll be in town let me know.

Matthew 6:24 & 34

2007-05-27T11:25:00.000-05:00
This Sunday's sermon focused on a few passages about temptation. What distracts us from God, what is meaningless to take your attention away, and what should we continue to put our trust in God.

Matthew 6:24 & 34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?.......Therefore do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

This came at an interesting time. My cousin and I were just talking about career choices – with all things mostly equal, when does money tip the decision scales?

We put so much weight into our careers and let that define us. How much money we make, what our title is, what kind of car we can drive, how many toys we have, etc.

It would be so nice to be able to shed the stuff and the desire for stuff. But there have always been temptations that didn't include boob jobs, IPods, and BMWs.

I guess the best we can do is to pursue a life that makes us happy, but does not distract us from what's truly important. Family, friends, and faith.

Ah yes, and then there's the...

2007-05-24T13:26:00.000-05:00
Let me begin with stating - I love my mother. I am my mother 30 years behind.

But at what point to women sneak off to a training class, read pamphlets, or listen to books on tape, "How to make your daughter want to slit her wrists while keeping a smile on your face."

My mom and I were just talking about how I've lost weight (actually I believe she used the words "finally lost weight") after all the gym time and pain I've put in. In the same breath as giving me a compliment, asking if boys have noticed, are you dating anyone?, what about that nice boy so-and-so?, ....

Then she hit me with a knowing tone and asked "Is it the dark hair? What is the reaction of boys to the black hair? You used to have boys fall over themselves when you were blond."

That's how it goes with mothers. Compliment. Compliment. Compliment. Aaaaaand below the belt.

Pretend for a moment I'm Madden:
Let's see just what went wrong here. First she came in with the semi-compliment about "FINALLY" losing weight. But MB side stepped that one and kept moving forward. Then attacked from the side, MB is hit from both sides with the "single" comment AND the "hair" comment. Ooooh, that's gotta hurt. You just hate to see that happen.

(A little history - my hair was blond for about 24 years of my life. After a few "interesting" attempts at other colors I've always gone back to blond. But I have no intention of doing that again.)

So, let's just say -

Yes, I've lost weight. And yes, it's taken painful hours with a trainer and a treadmill. But I feel great and I'm healthy. That's all I care about.

Yes, my hair is black/brown. And no, I have no intention of going back to bottle blond like everyone else in Dallas. (no offense to my fabulously bottle blond friends)

I'm comfortable with me and I'm looking forward to the day when I can torment my own daughter.

Road trips, the Apocalypse, and Friendships

2007-05-14T08:16:00.000-05:00
If you felt the Earth below your feet rumble at 9:00am on Saturday, you probably felt it was the end of the world. Well, the bad news is it probably is. The good news is it's because Bucky graduated on Saturday from Texas A&M….after 9 heroic years of keg parties, missed finals, and Q drops he has a diploma. True, he almost slept through graduation. But he found a woman who keeps him in line, out of jail (mostly), and puts up with our group. Randa is a special (or crazy) girl for that.

This weekend was a blast. I've never driven the actual speed limit from Dallas to College Station. This time, I decided to take it slow and let the drive really sink in. I took my usual route down (I45 to 14 to Hwy6), stopped off at my favorite antique shops, and the half way point gas station. It really was a great drive. I've had a lot on my mind lately, and it gave me sometime to think out loud with out all the hassle of people giving me funny looks.

This trip got me thinking about temporary friendships and lifelong friends. I met all of these guys in '98 at Fish Camp. I was going off to A&M excited, but a little scared to start new. Then I met Scotty and Vrooman. Even after Fish Camp they kept me under their wing and are still looking out for me.

Now at age 27, I've lost track of a lot of friends. But I have a few close girlfriends that I cherish. They are my "Sex in the City" friends. We're young, successful, fun, and of course fabulous.

But outside of those girls, I've become so accustomed to fickle friends, work friends, seasonal friends, regional friends. It made me really thankful to have a group of great friends with me for one weekend.

So thanks for the weekend guys. I hope to see you again soon!

"A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be." ~Douglas Pagels

This is why I love John Cleese

2007-03-12T13:41:00.000-05:00
A Message from John Cleese to the citizens of the United States of America:

In light of your failure to govern yourselves properly, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately; Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (excepting Kansas, which she does not fancy).

Your new prime minister, Tony Blair, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.

A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following Rules are introduced with immediate effect:

(You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary)

1. Then look up aluminium, and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.

2. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'favour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters and the suffix -ize will be replaced by the suffix -ise. Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up 'vocabulary').

3. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as US English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of '-ize'. You will relearn your original national anthem, God Save The Queen.

4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent.

6. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

7. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.

8. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metriccation will help you understand the British sense of humour.

9. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) -- roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.

10. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

11. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as Beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

12. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

13. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

14. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable.

15. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

16. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

17. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper cups, never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; strawberries in season.

John Cleese

Music that makes me laugh

2007-02-15T13:49:00.000-06:00
Ok, there are songs that touch your heart and all that mushy crap from my last blog. But there are also songs that just make you laugh out loud. Some are good and some just don't make sense!

Here are some of the ones I could think of. Please add your favorites:

Which came first, The chicken or the egg?
I egged the chicken then I ate its leg.

-Beastie Boys, "Egg Man"

I think we're goin' crazy
Her left eye is lazy
She looks so Israeli
Nicotine and gravy

-Beck, "Nicotine and Gravy"

Your white tee, well, to me looks like a nightgown

Make ya mama proud take that thing two sizes down

Then you look like the man that you are or what you could be

-Andre 3000, "Walk It Out (Remix)"

…watch me make your face beat up my hands

-Dem Franchise Boys, "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It"

When you take a sip you buzz like a hornet

Billy Shakespeare wrote a whole bunch of sonnets.
-LFO, "Summer Girls"

Got a Bill in my mouth like I'm Hilary Rodham.
-Ali G, "Grillz"

Open up my mouth and you see mo carrots than a salad
My teeth are mind blowin givin everybody chillz
Call me George Foreman cuz I'm sellin everybody grillz

-Paul Wall, "Grillz"

When I started pushing 30, it started pushin back.

-Gary Allan, "Feelin' Like That"

Get sick,
get well
Hang around a ink well

-Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues"

I am the Eggman
They are the Eggmen
I am the Walrus
GOO GOO GA JOOB

-The Beatles, "I am the Walrus"

Music that makes me smile

2007-02-12T12:18:00.000-06:00
Have you ever heard a song that gets under your skin and moves your soul? Everyone should have at least one song or album that is like comfort food. I made a list to share. Please share your favorites with me!

1. The Rocket Summer - Hello, Good Friend

Hanna introduced me to this band and I fell in love. Every song on the album is absolute perfection. Fun, deep, Christian themes, and just good clean fun.

2. Jack's Mannequin - Everything in Transit

Yes, it's the guy from Something Corporate and he's great! Dark Blue holds a special place in my heart and I will always remember the KY crew when I hear it. Into the Airwaves, The Mixed Tape, and Rescued have taken on new meaning over the past few months. Check them out.

3. Bob Schneider - Lonelyland and I'm Good Now

Both are fabulous albums. Not only is he an amazing singer/songwriter, he's from Texas!! Besides, Bob is the kind of guy you'd just want to grab a beer with.

4. Garden State Soundtrack

Robyn can attest to this--I can listen to this over and over and not get tired of it. Each song was carefully selected by Zach Braff and takes you on a powerful journey.

5. The Last Kiss Soundtrack

Basically the follow up to the Garden State Soundtrack. The original is always a little better, but this still can make me cry and smile in the same song.

6. Blue October - Foiled

In to the Ocean is one of those songs I can't help but sing along. Plus, they're from Texas!

7. Paul Oakenfold - Transport

Back in my rave kid stage, this was my favorite album. I still remember watching Daryell, Evan, Chris, and the guys dancing to this.

8. Blink - 182

Always is probably one of my favorite songs ever. I can listen to on repeat and the video is really cool too.

9. Jimmy Eat World - Futures

I really only like 23 & Drugs or Me from this album. Those two songs are incredible depressing, but are so powerful especially if they are played very loud. :)

10. Lifehouse - Any Album

These guys are truly amazing. Every song seeps in to you and touches you.

11. Honeybrowne

More Texas boys! Texas Angel is really the only song people know by them. Probably for a good reason. But Texas Angel is a song that takes me back to my relationship with Varner. As crazy as we were, that song makes me think of him and smile.

12. Toad the Wet Sprocket - Dulcinea

Something's Always Wrong is amazing. Back in the day, Blockbuster used to rent out videos from MTV. This was one of the first videos I ever saw and the song is still one of my favorites of all time.

13. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

Disarm is another one of those songs I still love after 14 years. This is the song that made me want to learn how to play the guitar. It's amazing!

14. Teitur - Poetry & Aeroplanes

Zac introduced me to this guy. I listen to it non stop at work. He is so good! Amanda's Dream, Josephine, and Poetry & Aeroplanes and everything else on the album are such beautiful songs.

A week at the Gym

2007-02-08T23:09:00.000-06:00
A WEEK AT THE GYM: ONE MAN'S STORY

This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular
workout routine.

Dear Diary:

For my fortieth birthday this year, my wife (the dear) purchased a week
of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am
still in great shape since playing on my High School football team 25
yrs ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a
try.

Called the club and made my reservation with a personal trainer named
Belinda, who identified herself as a 26 yr. old aerobics instructor and
model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My wife seemed pleased with
my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to
chart my progress.

MONDAY:

Started my day at 6:00 am. Tough to get out of bed, but it was well
worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for
me. She was something of a Greek goddess -- with blonde hair, dancing
eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!!!!

Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. She took my pulse
after 5 minutes on the treadmill. She was alarmed that my pulse was so
fast, but I attributed it to standing next to her in her Lycra aerobics
outfit. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her
aerobics class after my workout today.

Very inspiring, Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my
gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around.
This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!

TUESDAY:

I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door.
Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air,
and then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the
treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it
all worthwhile. I feel GREAT!! It's a whole new life for me.

WEDNESDAY:

The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the
counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a
hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to
steer or stop.
I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Belinda was impatient
with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her
voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when she
scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.

My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the
stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an
activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help
me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other shit too.

THURSDAY:

Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her
thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being
a half an hour late; it took me that long to tie my shoes.
Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I
ran and hid in the men's room.
She sent Lars to find me, then, as punishment, put me on the rowing
machine -- which I sank.

FRIDAY:

I hate that bitch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any
other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic
little cheerleader. If there were a part of my body I could move without
unbearable pain, I would beat her with it.

Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And
if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the *&%#@^&**!!
barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition
teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach
or the choir director?

SATURDAY:

Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly
voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her made me
want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the
strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight
hours of the Weather Channel.

SUNDAY:

I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and
thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year, my
wife (the bitch); will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root
canal or a vasectomy.

Top 10 things that make me crazy

2007-01-21T10:05:00.000-06:00
I haven't ranted in a while. Everyone should now and then. So here's....

Top 10 things that make me crazy....this week.

1. The commercial with the female jogger and the guy following her in the car. $40 in gas per jog following your girlfriend is a better idea than a $40 IPod shuffle? I think walk mans are like 25 cents on EBay…

2. Tabloids in general. Therefore, the TV show Dirt makes me want to kick puppies. I've not forced myself to watch it, but the sheer number of ads for the show makes me want to poke my eyes out….slowly.

3. News stories that focus more on Brittany Spears going commando than…well….anything. Surely ANYTHING is more important. Honestly I'd rather hear about Madonna stealing another baby.

4. Rosie O'Donnell. I liked her during her cutie-pa-tutie stage, but now that she's become the unwelcome spokesperson for overweight people, gay people, single mothers, people with bad hair stylists…she makes me despise The View even more.

5. Friends that suck at keeping in touch….but seem to forget that they suck? They are the first ones to point out that you haven't called them back…after they finally return your 4th message. You lose all rights to call people out when you suck at the same thing.

6. Stupid people who breed. Nuf said.

7. Straight men who take longer to get ready than I do. And I have A LOT of hair to wash, dry, then straighten. Seriously.

8. Time Warner Cable. High speed cable? Psshhttt. Whatev.

9. Overused clichés rather than actual conversation. I don't play favorites with these and I don't put off tomorrow what I can do today. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and I'll throw that weakest link out like a baby in bathwater. There's plenty of fish in the sea so why not take the time to use actual conversation.

10. An hour show and 30 minutes of commercials. I've discovered that the only way to watch Grey's Anatomy and really any show out there, is by using Tivo or DVR. Rather than 2 min of show and 5 min of commercials, you can fast forward through all of the uncomfortable Tampax and Nuvaring commercials and watch your show. Good family fun.

Lucky for us all, there are lots of things that make me smile. I'll post an updated list this week. Hold your breath.

Karma

2007-01-09T23:07:00.000-06:00
So everyone always says that "Karma is a b---." "Live by the Golden Rule." blah blah.

I've tried to live a good life, I try to be good, try to be nice to others.

But if this Karma thing is true I've really pissed off someone. You may ask, "Why Mary Beth? What's wrong?"

1 word. Cory.

I joined a gym a few weeks after I moved back to Dallas. 2 weeks ago I decided that I needed a personal trainer to show me how to work out to accheive my goals.

Cory is my personal trainer. Oh sure, you meet him and he seems innocent and nice. So nice that I really thought we'd be friends if we met under different circumstances. Well don't be fooled my friends. He's pure evil.

I meet with him 2 times per week at 5am to use weights and cardio on my own 3 times per week. In the 3 times I've seen him so far, I've never known such pain.

session 1: Legs.

My coworkers and family can attest to the fact that I could hardly walk. I rolled down the stairs to avoid actually walking.

session 2: Arms

Not so bad. My triceps were not real excited about the whole thing, but overall not so bad.

session 3: Legs....again.

This session was this morning. I'm already in pain.

So as I sit here and wonder if being sore is a valid excuse for missing work, I warn you--do not get a personal trainer if you

-live on the second floor

-like to walk at all

-need to dress yourself without help from your mom

A New Year...

2007-01-01T13:09:00.000-06:00
Ok, so I hate when people ask me what my new year's resolutions will be. We all make them; we all break 99.99% of them. I just cut out the middle man and just don't make resolutions at all.

But this year, I have set some goals. Nothing cliché like lose 10 lbs (though I do have a personal trainer I like to call Satan), but some real goals to follow up on my previous blog about moving back to Dallas.

2007 Goals:

1. Make lifestyle changes, including but not limited to:

-active lifestyle

-move church membership to a church in town

2. Pay off big portion of debt

3. Start savings for a house

How am I going to meet these goals?

Well, I've joined a new fancy gym that is friggin fabulous, and I have a personal trainer that I pay to tell me I'm out of shape. YAY! This gym has 400 machines, rock climbing, basketball/volleyball courts, indoor/outdoor pools, saunas, yoga, Pilates, etc. I love it! http://www.lifetimefitness.com

I'm in search of a new church, but it's a little difficult to decide since I still don't know where I'm going to move. But it will all come together.

Living with my folks has helped me put money toward debts I've accumulated in college, after college, and moving all over the US. My goal is to pay off all debts except the college loans. Who am I kidding? I'll be paying those off until I'm 70.

Once I get my debts paid off, I can put the money I used to set aside for that toward savings. I don't want to rent forever! Owning is a long term goal that won't happen this year or even the next, but I can start preparing now.

So here's to a great new year!