tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48933019521425067212024-02-07T15:53:33.856-08:00Manning Mayhemtomorrow is a gift...what will you do with it?girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-87288057976265316002012-03-21T14:17:00.003-07:002012-03-21T14:18:22.854-07:00just for clarityin case it wasn't clear, i just wanted to make sure. no more posts will be added here on blogger. any family related posts will now be listed under the "mayhem" tab on <a href="http://www.dgirlfriday.com/">www.dgirlfriday.com</a><br />
<br />
please bookmark that site and remove this one.<br />
<br />
thanks.girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-59423407889910828412012-03-15T12:21:00.000-07:002012-03-15T12:21:43.264-07:00ready for traffic<span style="font-size: large;">I have a real dot com. It has some content now. I think it and its bare bones are ready to be seen. <a href="http://www.dgirlfriday.com/" target="_blank">ENTER</a> at your own risk.</span>girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-62506877599207773692012-03-14T19:14:00.000-07:002012-03-14T19:14:42.031-07:00sticks and stonesconstructive criticism is a tricky thing. words aren't supposed to hurt, are they? but they do. i wish somehow i could change that switch inside of me that allows that to happen. <br />
<br />
this job-hunting process is becoming such a chore, and more torturous than anticipated. the process started back in september of last year and there's no telling when it will end. our last interview was towards the end of february. they have chosen to hire "the other guy". and the feedback we received is that i'm too intrusive, not interactive enough at dinner, and the talk of the alabama situation was too negative. i wish i knew what to change. i guess i have control issues. it's so tough to find people that will accept you as you are.<br />
<br />
as the hunt continues, with no clue of when we will find permanency, i think my faith is waning. it would be nice if someone could tell me what we are meant for, where we could be of some help, and what is in store for us.girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-26083739665403372372012-03-08T09:47:00.000-08:002012-03-08T09:47:45.332-08:00to create, or not to create...i am now the proud owner of a domain name. i'm not sure what that means yet. i've had visions and sugarplum dreams of having my own fabulous, highly trafficked website for years now. too bad i haven't put much effort into it. i've collected color schemes, graphics, ideas, etc. but i haven't put any of them to much use. and now that i actually have some skeleton of something that i can add content to, i feel stuck. i originally wanted to share all this info that sits in my brain. all the hours i spend researching a topic until i've beat it to death...i wanted to find some way of helping someone else to avoid the same time consuming process. but now i stare at the screen and wonder what i would even type that would be useful to someone? the web has a plethora of sites that contain endless information. what makes me think that i could actually put something out there that someone couldn't find somewhere else?girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-65211170671767151732012-03-06T17:02:00.000-08:002012-03-06T17:02:15.855-08:00marzism #73092marz: that friend of yours, that was just in the car, was he in the street show?<br />
luigi: what street show?<br />
<br />
marz: the street show that we watched at the church that you guys were in<br />
luigi: you mean the youth roadshow?<br />
<br />
marz: yeah, that one.girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-25996988365802072252012-02-09T10:56:00.000-08:002012-02-09T10:56:07.871-08:00marzism passed ontopeka returned from her trip to utah last night and of course everyone wants a piece of her. marz won't leave her side and luigi wants the scoop on every detail of her trip. <br />
<br />
in discussion last night as marz was getting ready for bed, the marzism from yesterday came up. we told topeka what the original question was and her response was...<br />
<br />
"well, are there birds in china?"<br />
<br />
the doc and i just looked at each other and burst out laughing...girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-58969041142265314712012-02-07T17:50:00.000-08:002012-02-07T17:50:37.718-08:00marzism #28401marz: mom, do they have birds in china?<br />
me: yes<br />
<br />
marz: well, it just doesn't seem like there could be birds in china<br />
me: why is that?<br />
<br />
marz: i just don't know of any birds that are called chinese birdsgirlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-25968254391262949122012-01-30T13:11:00.000-08:002012-01-30T13:13:10.649-08:00just keep swimming, just keep swimming...it's a day at a time around here. i expect it will be that way for the next few months. but the countdown is on...just 12 days 'til we board the carnival liberty. that means i have to crack down and get shore excursions planned and packing lists done. so i'm happy to say that will keep me busy for the next 12 days (along with school and housework since our topeka is away) and provide a break from my "one-day-at-a-time" mentality.<br />
<br />
the weather around here is at least warming up during the day. still under 40 at night, and still can't seem to keep the house warm. i wear my coat (i use the word loosely as i don't even own a REAL coat) and my feet sleeping bags inside; and my scarf on occasion too. i'm sure someone might think i grew up in south america. oh well.<br />
<br />
and that kid that is new, but not so new anymore...still need a nickname for that one. can't seem to come up with anything clever for him. bluedog, southern boy, nkotb, hmmm.... at any rate, he started riding his bike to school today. hip hip hooray! now it's just 2 schools in the am and 2 in the pm. hopefully we can get dash to remember the way soon and then i'll be down to 1.<br />
<br />
i miss montgomery weather. i miss vegas friends. i miss caribbean water. i miss san diego activities. i haven't a clue where i want to live anymore. impossible to have it all in one location. it's beginning to seem as if one place is just as good as the next and it doesn't really matter. 'tis a puzzlement.girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-86311195817448072762012-01-25T16:31:00.000-08:002012-01-25T16:32:33.196-08:00solitary confinementi have my very own bedroom again!!! ok, i have to share with doc macgyver, but only for a few hours each day ;). shared a bed in vegas with dash for a week, and then a hotel room with rotating kids for another week. so glad to have my own space back!!<br />
<br />
we were in stockton for 5 days before we could move into the rental house. then it was another 4 days before the washer/dryer and fridge showed up. laundromats sure make quick work of laundry. too bad they're so darn expensive! and after not cooking a real meal for almost 3 weeks, i'm not sure i can get back into the swing of it.<br />
<br />
boys finally went back to school this week. AGAIN. who knows how long this time. we're anticipating 3 months here, but anything can happen.<br />
<br />
family vacay scheduled for mid-february. we will be in belize on valentine's. how perfect for the doc and i. although i'm always excited at the thought of ignoring life for 8-10 days, i'm SO not looking forward to seeing the inside of another hotel room!! but at least it's not for too long. and i suppose it's worth it, since it facilitates a week of unlimited food 24/7 and visits to 4 different countries in a week. not to mention 7 days of sun and heat and humidity! yippee!!!!girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-90865516973610200232012-01-14T11:29:00.000-08:002012-01-14T11:29:09.721-08:00january foolsjust kidding! wocka wocka wocka! just when we thought we were making some progress and announced it to the world, it became not so.<br />
<br />
contract that we thought would be signed is now being changed. who knows when we'll see it again, or if it will even have satisfactory terms in it when we get it back.<br />
<br />
as of next friday we will no longer have a place in vegas to stay. and the only paycheck we've found so far is in stockton. doc macgyver has been up there without us this week and it's been absolute torture. since the agency will cover our housing expenses, we're moving up there with him. not sure of the time frame, but at least until the school year is over so we don't have to move the kids yet again. <br />
<br />
cons:<br />
-can't stay in vegas<br />
-kids have to switch schools AGAIN!<br />
-belongings still stuck in alabama<br />
-still no perm job<br />
<br />
pros:<br />
+family will be together <br />
+paycheck guaranteed until end of july<br />
+no more sleeping on cots or pull-out sofas or floors<br />
+4 bedrooms, 3 baths<br />
+rent and utilities all paidgirlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-31317952201207741422012-01-06T12:51:00.000-08:002012-01-06T12:51:15.975-08:00i see the lighti think there is some sort of faint light within eyeshot from the inside of the tunnel. i'm fabulous at tunnel vision. it's one of my specialties. such a great talent to have.<br />
<br />
doc macgyver finally has a contract to negotiate with. hooray! of course there still is licensing and credentially to finish after that. who knows how long all of that will take. and no, i'm not disclosing location just yet. i'll wait to announce that until after all is signed, sealed, delivered, and whatever else have you.<br />
<br />
on top of having something to negotiate, there has also been some temp work offered through the end of july. great news! now we know there will be a paycheck until permanent work can be started. yippee! we might actually be able to sneak in that family vacay this year after all!!<br />
<br />
now if only i could find a permanent place for us to live and get all of our belongings back from alabama!!! this hotel-style living is getting old. and i sure miss my crockpot.girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-39670195963689039622012-01-02T14:43:00.000-08:002012-01-02T14:43:13.114-08:00all lit up<span style="font-size: large;">click <a href="http://www.tqualizer.com/tqualizer/t-qualizer-flashing-equalizer-t-shirt-ladies-heart.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see what doc macgyver got me for christmas. so fancy!!</span>girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-65187071292016253592011-12-31T11:23:00.001-08:002011-12-31T11:23:23.126-08:00christmas day 2011<div style="padding: 0; overflow: hidden; margin: 0; width: 500px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584380415/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5767" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6584380415_4344c53d79_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5767" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584380787/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5759" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6584380787_6f6b2634b1_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5759" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584381049/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5755" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6584381049_694bfa89ef_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5755" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584381577/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5753" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6584381577_0408cb87c9_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5753" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584381997/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5748" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6584381997_ec33057d57_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5748" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584382409/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5747" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6584382409_bb1c52fbdc_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5747" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584382873/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5818" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6584382873_af1f0c1eb1_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5818" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584383211/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5813" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6584383211_946a1e4a48_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5813" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584383589/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5810" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6584383589_fc7496f297_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5810" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584383991/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5798" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6584383991_64d514f84d_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5798" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584384331/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5795" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6584384331_c0a288929c_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5795" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584384737/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5793" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6584384737_f8fbc169c0_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5793" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584385137/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5783" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6584385137_3c5aef4cc4_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5783" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584385539/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5782" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6584385539_5938f8be91_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5782" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584385847/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5779" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6584385847_2b6cacdcf6_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5779" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584386519/in/set-72157628596537617/" title="DSC_5777" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6584386519_acef9dc0d0_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5777" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><div style="padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><div style="padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><br clear="all"/></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/sets/72157628596537617/">christmas day 2011</a>, a set on Flickr.</p></div>girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-15615726300560198562011-12-27T15:18:00.001-08:002011-12-27T15:18:32.196-08:00pre-Christmas 2011<div style="padding: 0; overflow: hidden; margin: 0; width: 500px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584409149/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5673" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6584409149_a1070e1f63_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5673" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584402475/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5635" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6584402475_88b5425c30_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5635" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584402147/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5638" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6584402147_a07ed54882_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5638" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584401739/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5645" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6584401739_401e149d78_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5645" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584401359/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5649" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6584401359_c0ba4373cf_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5649" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584400937/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5650" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6584400937_8d8178b8a8_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5650" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584400513/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5653" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6584400513_2a2827f49e_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5653" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584400001/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5664" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6584400001_2532e47dd1_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5664" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584399379/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5667" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6584399379_97e9d60d2d_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5667" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584407935/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5674" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6584407935_72946a23b3_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5674" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584407225/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5683" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6584407225_e6cb410919_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5683" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584406759/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5685" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6584406759_6b6e788372_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5685" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584406313/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5695" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6584406313_1f8852afa1_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5695" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584405681/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5707" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6584405681_cc58a3193f_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5707" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584405319/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5723" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6584405319_4a7a904a39_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5723" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584404809/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5726" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6584404809_99c78ddb8b_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5726" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584404343/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5729" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6584404343_3d6c4c5146_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5729" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584403837/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5730" style="display: block; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6584403837_de99848d8b_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5730" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><br clear="all"/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584403337/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5739" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6584403337_a864f971df_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5739" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/6584402899/in/set-72157628596587619/" title="DSC_5742" style="display: block; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6584402899_a87204e438_s.jpg" alt="DSC_5742" style="border:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"/></a><div style="padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><div style="padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><div style="padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><div style="padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px; height: 75px; float: left;"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/g/images/gallery-empty-icon.gif" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px; height: 75px;"></div><br clear="all"/></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px"><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlfridayami/sets/72157628596587619/">pre-Christmas 2011</a>, a set on Flickr.</p></div>girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-51763047541388760832011-12-26T11:04:00.000-08:002011-12-26T11:04:36.735-08:00traditions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xJAxRVeKnTE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-34960133155071409452011-12-25T23:07:00.000-08:002011-12-25T23:07:53.757-08:00nomadicMARZISM OF THE DAY:<br />
<br />
"mom, we move so many times i can't remember what our house looks like very well."girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-49227640388151612592011-12-11T10:29:00.000-08:002011-12-11T10:29:13.858-08:00as i should be leaving the house for church, i'm sure blogging isn't the best thing to be doing. and all the chaos in my head doesn't seem to be spitting out in the form of words. so i'm not quite sure while i'm sitting in front of the screen typing. <br />
<br />
christmas approaches fast. there will be no tree, no decorations, no presents... well, at least in the abode where we are crashing at the moment. but we'll have christmas. just someplace else. we'll visit the strip on christmas eve as we did a few years ago. we'll be together. and i'm trying to remind myself that is what's important. although, i think i approach a nervous breakdown every other day. <br />
<br />
soon we will have a place to call our own. not a house i mean. just a place. a place that means something to us and a place that is special to the 7 of us.<br />
<br />
i did have a great birthday celebration with some absolutely fabulous friends. some that i hold very dear. and even though i wasn't crazy about getting older, my doc is still crazy about me and i'm grateful.<br />
<br />
howz that for some random spew on a sunday morning....girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-48194341557269185382011-11-26T09:07:00.000-08:002011-11-26T09:12:49.476-08:00do overi guess i don't hate christmas in and of itself. i should restate. i hate christmas shopping, christmas lists, christmas presents, christmas in stores before halloween, christmas traditions that have no purpose, christmas candy, christmas stress...<br />
<br />
thanksgiving came and went in the blink of an eye as it always seems to do. but this year i didn't bake a bird. i didn't spend hours running around the kitchen trying to make sure there was something to eat when people arrived. it was pretty sad. it was mucho fun to see so much family that we hadn't seen in such a long time. but i sure missed having the party at my house. it has become our tradition.<br />
<br />
last night we met up with friends to tour the holiday lights at temple square. and man was it COLD!! (not according to everyone, just me, of course) i can't remember the last time i braved the cold for something. there's something different about christmas this year for me. as i walked through temple square looking at all the different nativities, hearing the music, seeing the lights...i wasn't dreading dec 25 as i usually do. it was definitely a comforting feeling.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg-NF28FDLBEKeBgrA3Uas7TtF0Ee9zEaOuIN6XwnhgRoHaw7bH2tjCll1ddAvU8WRe3arL0RX08JgS-DNGtz1VEFz7B0gXNrJdhrm8lQl3oU-resviV2qI6VgN-_CcGmvLkHCDW0R4k/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg-NF28FDLBEKeBgrA3Uas7TtF0Ee9zEaOuIN6XwnhgRoHaw7bH2tjCll1ddAvU8WRe3arL0RX08JgS-DNGtz1VEFz7B0gXNrJdhrm8lQl3oU-resviV2qI6VgN-_CcGmvLkHCDW0R4k/s400/IMG_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-42205231117471575212011-11-24T11:52:00.000-08:002011-11-24T11:52:11.391-08:00gobble gobble<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I HATE CHRISTMAS!!!</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">ok. good. i got that off my chest. i feel much better now.</div>girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-71785794321688852232011-11-16T07:45:00.000-08:002011-11-16T07:46:04.111-08:00home sweet homeevery day i drove to or from the boys' school in montgomery, i would pass this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23r9hSiz8Z-MXL3kxj7_SW12VvCroH5ynvQcsp3d6bF_FSjxcrAzkk9PCrYi_-wfoV_9eansE7jTcufGXCVVu0uhtMe9m6bUmNXWVUxV1FtOuLc9ZS-UOEuqRPmMcT4IEuMqzDfUtx9A/s1600/DSC_5477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23r9hSiz8Z-MXL3kxj7_SW12VvCroH5ynvQcsp3d6bF_FSjxcrAzkk9PCrYi_-wfoV_9eansE7jTcufGXCVVu0uhtMe9m6bUmNXWVUxV1FtOuLc9ZS-UOEuqRPmMcT4IEuMqzDfUtx9A/s400/DSC_5477.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicwp3qIdcvAAdKOz-qPMYe-3yR6MclzcsyJ5HPSzyVDdB4lh8D8AMssX9mIN9sLv2XN0hZ9LRzjIxi37ESR7cvNZeakGP_rDZTjeCwr-yYlXcj5NVjYImCHnO6FHRJSIf-kZ9jy5S7zo/s1600/DSC_5481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicwp3qIdcvAAdKOz-qPMYe-3yR6MclzcsyJ5HPSzyVDdB4lh8D8AMssX9mIN9sLv2XN0hZ9LRzjIxi37ESR7cvNZeakGP_rDZTjeCwr-yYlXcj5NVjYImCHnO6FHRJSIf-kZ9jy5S7zo/s400/DSC_5481.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>when i first saw this place i thought it was just something someone had abandoned. but then every once in a while i would see a truck parked on the side of it and there is a barking dog that can be seen on the north side of the structure. so we started assuming someone lived there.<br />
<br />
i've been so frustrated with our temporary situation. it really stinks to throw clothes into drawers or hang them up in a closet, not knowing when they'll have to just be put back in a bag again. and it's such a bummer not know where we'll be in a month. but then i pulled these pics off my memory card and had to remind myself that at least we have a warm place to sleep each night. we have a front door that locks and no barking dog outside. we have grocery stores and gas stations nearby. so i suppose wherever you hang your clothes, you can make a home.girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-91845811711520020972011-11-10T10:03:00.000-08:002011-11-10T10:05:01.497-08:00montgomery for goodi'm horrible at goodbyes. i do have to say that it's much easier to be the one leaving than to be the one being left behind. even with that said, the past 2 days have been tough. leaving montgomery was a breeze. leaving the people we met...not so much. i completely embarrassed the yahoos at our last crossfit class by acting like a big gigantic cry baby in front of the trainers. it's not just leaving my crossfit family. but it's knowing that there will be no new crossfit family for awhile. not that i can't crossfit. just that everything will be so temporary for the next few months or more. no real home. no real ward. no real crossfit gym. no real school. no real desire to meet or talk to or interact with people.<br />
<br />
anyway, many apologies if you didn't get a goodbye, or if i was grumpy when you came to help, or if i ignored your phone calls, or if i didn't act like i would miss you. no worries. i cried while you weren't looking. and because i lack the communication skills to tell you how i feel, i have this:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzrGFQysfYU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzrGFQysfYU</a>girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-83812328413579323562011-11-06T18:33:00.000-08:002011-11-06T18:33:44.455-08:00three blues in a crowdabout a week after we returned from kauai/dallas, we took off again to chicago for a medical conference. i had all this shopping planned, but i was too cold to leave the warm kimpton room. we did venture out to dinner at whole foods with some half-off blue man tickets. i've seen it twice before, but still love it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouZ730aBqsk4cGbiXRgFUacitX9MfHo8GUICiMyJVp3U-BqgY99sV7jnd_GLPQJdKbGlZ25E75U7P1GGrI7bj4Hfoldjy8iGUU49adaHXrJxVUvoYDGopsTA396jhXRBOFj9y5NuMrSs/s1600/bmg2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouZ730aBqsk4cGbiXRgFUacitX9MfHo8GUICiMyJVp3U-BqgY99sV7jnd_GLPQJdKbGlZ25E75U7P1GGrI7bj4Hfoldjy8iGUU49adaHXrJxVUvoYDGopsTA396jhXRBOFj9y5NuMrSs/s400/bmg2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXJm4mkKXfokLgCY6gXzPmwpkhbAHhNJ04vJ99_PNLBoanzaCKONV1Jxbsh1K3iIgZwVCPLTUQ5MMIWBtSRwqLk5QA9tH3SS0h0ODl053O-nMzV1OTXGDCO2ZVKTwowXRzHIur4SyPx8/s1600/bmg1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouZ730aBqsk4cGbiXRgFUacitX9MfHo8GUICiMyJVp3U-BqgY99sV7jnd_GLPQJdKbGlZ25E75U7P1GGrI7bj4Hfoldjy8iGUU49adaHXrJxVUvoYDGopsTA396jhXRBOFj9y5NuMrSs/s1600/bmg2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EsO6W9bpce0uky7m7TBxqT3vNOBUyJ6-JghfimzdFREE3SgtjAZPXjQm55LtK4Ku2Fq4QR-rOz5gTL5eI-JDccNrSomJzw4-W8AoeVWgKCB6rk26WRSb8bqhEaQr96Ked5zPe_no2lQ/s1600/bmg3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EsO6W9bpce0uky7m7TBxqT3vNOBUyJ6-JghfimzdFREE3SgtjAZPXjQm55LtK4Ku2Fq4QR-rOz5gTL5eI-JDccNrSomJzw4-W8AoeVWgKCB6rk26WRSb8bqhEaQr96Ked5zPe_no2lQ/s400/bmg3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXJm4mkKXfokLgCY6gXzPmwpkhbAHhNJ04vJ99_PNLBoanzaCKONV1Jxbsh1K3iIgZwVCPLTUQ5MMIWBtSRwqLk5QA9tH3SS0h0ODl053O-nMzV1OTXGDCO2ZVKTwowXRzHIur4SyPx8/s1600/bmg1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXJm4mkKXfokLgCY6gXzPmwpkhbAHhNJ04vJ99_PNLBoanzaCKONV1Jxbsh1K3iIgZwVCPLTUQ5MMIWBtSRwqLk5QA9tH3SS0h0ODl053O-nMzV1OTXGDCO2ZVKTwowXRzHIur4SyPx8/s400/bmg1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-11719040687828371782011-11-04T17:55:00.000-07:002011-11-04T17:55:00.494-07:00if you give a marz a parrot...marz: if i had a bird i wouldn't cut its wings off. that's mean.<br />
me: well, they don't cut the wings off. they just cut them shorter so they can't fly away.<br />
<br />
marz: yeah that's mean. just put it in a cage.<br />
me: but what if you take it out of the cage to pet it and it flies away.<br />
<br />
marz: well then i'd just let it go. it would come back when it wants.<br />
me: what if it doesn't?<br />
<br />
marz: that's ok. [pause] i want a bird that talks.<br />
me: you mean margalo? [they had just watched stuart little 2]<br />
<br />
marz: no. like a real bird that can talk.<br />
me: oh. a parrot?<br />
marz: yeah, a parrot.girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-15227616454621994652011-10-29T11:47:00.000-07:002011-10-30T18:30:38.943-07:00customer servicethis is sprint calling to follow up on a customer service call made on october 28th. for english press 1, for spanish press 2.<br />
<br />
overall, were you happy with the service that was provided? please rate service on a scale of 1 -5, with 5 being extremely satisfied and 1 being extremely dissatisfied. [BEEP] you chose 3 on a scale of 1 -5 with 5 being extremely satisfied and 1 being extremely dissatisfied. if this is correct, please press 1. if not, press 2.<br />
<br />
please rate the listening skills of the last representative you spoke to on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being highly skilled and 1 being not skilled at all. [BEEP] you chose 3 on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being highly skilled and 1 being not skilled at all. if this is correct, please press 1. if not, press 2. <br />
<br />
please rate how knowledgeable the last representative you spoke to was on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being very knowledgeable and 1 being not knowledgeable at all. [BEEP] you chose 3 on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being highly skilled and 1 being not skilled at all. if this is correct, please press 1. if not, press 2.<br />
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this continued on for 3 more questions. i was too tired to listen to them all. i'm even more too tired to type them all. this, boys and girls, is how good customer service is determined in our world today. such efficiency.girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4893301952142506721.post-63244549098242663702011-10-27T09:30:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:31:17.629-07:00mayhem smoothlyi know mayhem is chaotic and bumpy and whirlwindish and all the other synonyms that go along with. but us mannings also know from experience that it can be all of that in a very smooth manner. <br />
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i'm really sick of getting quotes for packers, movers, autoshippers, storage, flights, rental cars, hotels, and more flights. i'm tired of boxes, packing tape, sharpies, sorting, organizing, unpacking, labeling, storing, decorating, rearranging. i'm sick of talking to recruiters that don't listen and explaining to potential employers what went wrong with montgomery. i'm tired of tracking down transcripts, diplomas, certifications, identification documents, reference letters, verification forms, postage rates, signatures, test scores, and addresses to schools from 10 years ago. i'm sick of looking at maps to find driving distances for restaurants, stores, groceries, churches, schools, hospitals, houses, airports, and county lines.<br />
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sometimes i'd love for it all to end. but having an ending isn't really the goal, is it? our perspective is supposed to be eternal. our attitude should be focused on progress and learning. there are a million things i could list that i don't know. there are a gazillion questions that everyone is asking right now that i can't answer. but what i do know is that our time in montgomery has not been a waste. we have few regrets. i know that something can make you happy for a time and it might not make you happy forever. i know that God can change emotions and feelings in an instant when he wants to and sometimes it's to make things easier on us.<br />
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this family knows how to adapt and change when necessary. i have faith that the sharp edges of these up and coming chaotic changes will be smoothed out by God and we will come out of it stronger and wiser and ready for the next adventure thereafter.girlfridayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902179474479779775noreply@blogger.com0