Thoughts from Babs

Moving: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Tuesday, December 30, 2003 10:36 a.m.
I have some free time at work today (meaning: I am wasting time at work today because I am pissed for them making us work longer than we should have had to yesterday) and I have had a request for an entry (I think that is my first ever!) so I am updating. Yay! After spending last weekend moving, I am again reminded of all the changes that brings and the good and bad things that come with it. Here are just some of the things (the ones I can remember!)

The Good

Getting a fresh start
Buying new stuff with a better excuse than usual (But I need it to move!)
Rearranging your stuff
Saving on cell phone minutes since now I can just walk over to Steph's room to talk instead of calling her
Having a Christmas/ House-warming party
Friends coming over and saying "Oh, cute house!"
Getting the big room
Cleaning out junk that I don't need and is just cluttering up my life

The Bad

The physical act of moving
Having to beg people to help you
Packing up all your stuff
Being so tired
Doing 87,000 sets of stairs a day with heavy furniture in tow
Getting used to how new people do things

The Ugly

Having to scrub the kitchen
The "color" of the kitchen
"Discussions" over dish-washing
Stephanie rupturing a cyst on her back and having to have a black hole cut to remove it

The Ugliest of All

I have to change the bandages on the black hole for 2 weeks since she can't reach it!

Reason # 48
Saturday, December 13, 2003 12:45 a.m.
First off, I promise this won't be an every entry type of thing. Anyway . . .I suck. Here is my Friday night agenda.
Go to Wal-Mart to purchase cleaning supplies and pizza.
Go to Shell station with intention of just buying Cokes to go with said pizza. Make additional impulse buy of Smirnoff Ice in (drum roll, please) 40 oz. cans!
Go to new house and proceed to eat pizza, drink Smirnoff (in 40 oz. cans!), do house inventory and scrub, scrub, scrub the kitchen.
Unpack kitchen boxes.
Go to old house to pack more boxes.

Boy, I hope Saturday night is better than Friday! Guess we will all just have to wait to find out.

Reason # 47 why I am a loser
Wednesday, December 10, 2003 04:58 p.m.
I cried on the phone today with the Time Warner Cable Representative. Literally, cried.

It's like Freaky Friday! (kinda)
Monday, December 8, 2003 07:48 p.m.
So, I kinda feel like my writing isn't really the most entertaining thing on this blog anymore. Guess I am going to have to up the standards for content on this place. Don't worry guys, I will come up with something really great sometime in the next few days and I promise you will not be disappointed.

Now, how would I know that?
Thursday, December 4, 2003 05:34 p.m.
I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent human being. Graduated high school with honors, went to a good college, graduated from there also. I read regularly (books even, not just magazines!) I watch the news and I pay attention to what is going on around me. However, there are some things that I have just not been exposed to and thus, have no idea how I would learn about them. The subject that I was ignorant about today was none other than Christmas trees. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not Jewish or anything, my family celebrates Christmas and we have always had a Christmas tree in my house. The thing is that my parents think that live trees are too messy so we have always had a fake one. Last year my roommates got a real one, but it was really their thing, so I didn't pay much attention to it.

This year, my 2nd grade class went on a field trip to a Christmas tree farm to choose our own Christmas tree. But, I still didn't learn any thing about them because, you see, I was sick with the evil mysterious disease on the day they went, so I could not go tree hunting. So, today one of the teachers went to pick up our trees and another one was telling me that he was going to have the trees there in the afternoon. Now, I got all that fine, but then the confusion began.

She says "You have your tree stand, right?"

My response was "Tree stand?"

"Yes," she repeats slowly, "tree stand."

Me: Stare. Stare. Stare.

"You know what a tree stand is, right?"

Well, of course I get the point of the tree stand, I just didn't know that you needed one for a real tree. I made the mistake of telling her this and then things got really messy.

Me: "Don't they come in a bucket of dirt or something?"

She and the group of teachers who had gathered by now laughed uproaoriously at the bucket comment. However, I wasn't done yet.

Me: "What happens to the roots if there is no dirt bucket?"

At this point, the group looked at me, then at each other, then back at me, pityingly. Finally, one of them stepped forward and almost whispered "You cut the tree down, it doesn't have roots any more." Well, damn. I am surrounded by Christmas tree experts, apparently. Afterwards, 2 teachers felt the need to explain that you don't water a Christmas tree from the top, like you water grass or other plants, you just fill up the tree stand with water and it sucks it up that way. Well, thanks a lot, jerks! Did you really think that I would pour water over a tree with lights on it? Actually, I didn't even think about the light/ water combo until they mentioned it. Ha ha.

I decided in the end to be content with my tree ignorance, as well as my small amount of newfound tree knowledge. There are worse things that I could be ignorant about, such as how to count money or the fact that embarazado means pregnant and not embarassed in Spanish. :)

I really do have a thing for hockey (players, at least!)
Tuesday, December 2, 2003 05:43 p.m.
I was so upset by my first results that I decided to take the stupid test one more time. This time was better.

You're Canada!
People make fun of you a lot, but they're stupid because you've got a much better life than they do.  In fact, they're probably just jealous.  You believe in crazy things like human rights and health care and not dying in the streets, and you end up securing these rights for yourself and others.  If it weren't for your weird affection for ice hockey, you'd be the perfect person.
Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid

Texas is cool but . . .
Tuesday, December 2, 2003 05:37 p.m.
I'm kind of INSULTED!!! Is this really me?!?!?!?

You're Texas!
You aren't really much of your own person, but everyone around you wishes you'd go away, so you might as well be independent.  You're sort of loud-mouthed and abrasive, but you do have a fair amount of power.  You like big trucks, big cattle, and big oil rigs.  And sometimes you really smell.  But it's not all bad, you're big enough to have some soft spots somewhere in all that redneck madness.
Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid

You never know what could scare you!
Monday, November 24, 2003 04:19 p.m.
After watching Gothika this weekend (loved it, by the way, as did my 2 cohorts), I have come to the following conclusion. There are tons of things that, while they generally do not strike fear in even young, wimpy children, when shown in the exact right situation during a scary movie, frighten the holy beejesus out of me, a normal, non-wimpy adult. You don't believe me? Well, I thought that maybe you wouldn't. So, here is what I did for that. I compiled a list (below) of things that, while not scary in everyday life, are amazingly scary in the movie Gothika. So, do a little science experiment and see if you agree with me. Read the list and commit it to memory, or hell, you can even print it out if the mood strikes you. Mark all the things that normally scare you on the list. Then go see Gothika. After you see the movie, consult the list and see which of the things scare you now. I am betting that more things scare you after seeing the movie than before. Go on, try it. But now, the long-awaited "Barbara's (and Stephanie's) List of Things that are Normally not Scary but are Hella Scary in Gothika".
electricity
cardigans
tattoos
police officers
wind chimes
swimming pools
bridges
rain
video cameras
barns
sunlight
shoulder-length haircuts with bangs
bathtubs
rear-view mirrors
showers
boss' daughters

Talk amongst yourselves, I'll give you a topic.
Friday, November 21, 2003 08:32 p.m.
Is anyone else ever curious about where the RED brick road goes in the Wizard of Oz? You know, the one that starts where the yellow brick road does in Munchkinland but unwinds the other way? Just curious . . . cause I do.

As per Steph's request
Tuesday, November 18, 2003 09:29 p.m.
Stephanie took this and wanted me to post my results. Kind of a weird but fun quiz. Here goes:

Also known as the Smiling Tree Frog or Dumpy Tree Frog due to the nature of its appearance, this frog is a very hardy creature and a favorite pet of amateur frog owners, although some pet owners complain that they are not active enough. These frogs love to eat, which can make them quite fat, hence their "dumpy" appearance. Unlike many frogs, these frogs do well with other frogs of their species and are fairly friendly. They like a warm and moderately humid habitat and eat larger insects like crickets, cockroaches, locusts, moths and beetles.

What kind of Frog are you?

Realization
Monday, November 17, 2003 04:43 p.m.
On Saturday night I realized something that I have been failing to notice (or maybe trying not to notice) for some time now. Although I am a bit ashamed about it, I am going to share it with you because maybe you also have the same problem and knowing that someone else is afflicted will help you through your pain and embarrassment. Alright, here goes: Sometimes when I am drunk, and I don't even realize I am doing it, I go off on ridiculous tangents that have nothing to do with anything that anyone has ever talked about in life. Ok, so they have something to do with something, obviously, but it isn't anything that is going on at the time. Luckily, the only person who got exposed to this on Saturday night was Steph. Unluckily for her, I talked for about 45 minutes about when I had surgery to get my wisdom teeth removed. Now, can you imagine if I had done that in the middle of a party? Can anyone say killjoy? The stuff that I am talking about always seems really important to me and I think that it is really interesting, but upon review the next day, I realize that it is all crazy babble (more crazy and babbly than usual, even) that no one cares to hear. Every once in a while I get lucky and find someone that does the same thing. Then we stand there in the same place for about an hour talking about God knows what and not moving. Recently it has been teaching. I never want to talk about my job until I am drunk and then I want to tell every Joe Schmo about it. Especially if they are a teacher too. Watch out then! You won't get me away for the whole night. If this happens to you too, maybe you should let me know and we could form a support group of some kind. Or, maybe I could just carry around a pacifier or a blow pop or something at parties and people could just stick it in my mouth when I talked too much about random crap (no nasty comments about that last idea, please). Anyway, I am off to get drunk to prepare me for an alumni event, so prepare for the crazy talk!

Hmm, interesting.
Wednesday, November 5, 2003 09:50 p.m.

You're Jackie!

Which That 70's Show Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Nobody wants to live in Kentucky or Mississippi!
Tuesday, November 4, 2003 05:49 p.m.
Except for me today. Those people got to vote for a new governor today, Election Day. Meanwhile, us Texans are stuck with Speedin' Rick Perry (also known as Governor Good Hair to members of my family). I mean, this is the biggest case of one idiot getting a higher position because an even bigger idiot got voted into a still higher position. What kind of jerk-o wastes his state's money on oh, a billion special sessions to push through the important issue of school funding, no that wasn't it . . . health care, nope not it either. Oh yeah, he was trying to get them to vote on Congressional redistricting, every Texans top issue. What a retard. In unrelated news, thank you to everyone who made my birthday spectacular! All the calls, cards, well-wishes, and especially my party people made it a great time. And now I can say that I: 1) drank a margarita out of a bag, 2) was injured by a gladiator, 3) gave the rest of my pizza away to Captain America, and the piece de resistance: 4) had a guy offer to beat up my abusive boyfriend (in case you are wondering, I have no boyfriend at the moment, not even an abusive one). I can only hope that all birthdays can be as fun and eventful as this one!!

It's a guest blog!!! by: Steph
Saturday, November 1, 2003 10:48 p.m.
OK, as any good friend knows, I have an obsession. OK, I have many, but one that I developed while working, is my obsession with the window washer man. He comes about every 4 months and well, he's here again. I got to work this morning to find that cone in the parking lot that says "caution - workers overhead" which means "THERE'S A MAN HANGING FROM YOUR BUILDING!!!" Now, most of the people I work with close their blinds because it freaks them out, but me....I run around opening them watching him work. We have a 7 story building so I only get to see him on floor 3 but I know he's coming by the banging his shoes and trusty suction cup thing make against the window. This morning I was walking back from getting coffee when I saw his feet, which means that he's one floor up. I stood there staring so long that a few of the ladies I work with noticed that I'm a little crazy about this, so they called me when he was actually on our floor. They laughed as I moved along window to window (opening blinds as needed) to watch the window washer man. Now, the window washer man TRIES to not look in and notice that I'm stalking him, but he has to be a little freaked out. I've long been tempted to write something and put it up on the window to attempt to communicate with him. I mean, really, who isn't excited by A MAN FREAKING HANGING FROM YOUR BUILDING???? There's so much I could ask him. I mean, does the glare from the sun ever blind him? Does he get cold in the winter? What does he see in the executive offices? What's the highest he's ever been? How does that hanging contraption work? Do his shoes not get the window dirty? I mean, there's so many more. I start to breathe faster, my chest feels tight, my eyes get big, and I get little red splotches on my neck, and those of you who know me well knows this only happens when I get really excited. It takes a few days for him to do the whole building and he's been here 2 days now, and I think maybe tomorrow he'll be on my side (and yes, I have a window cube so that means I get my own private time with window washer man - go me!) OK, so my question is...tomorrow is Halloween...what do you think the chances are that mr. window washer man will dress up as say...spider man? :) OH MY GOD! If he wore that and swung in front of my window to wash it I would be the freaking most entertained person in the world. I might pee my pants! Not that I regularly do that when happy, but I have no control when it comes to the window washer. OK, so everyone cross your fingers that window washer wears a costume and swings by because I would be totally spastic! OK, that's enough entertainment for now. Thanks Barbara for sharing your thought space with me! :)

Promises, promises
Tuesday, October 28, 2003 05:05 p.m.
Ok, so I swear that the long-awaited (at least by me) Homecoming update will come, but there have been so many other things that I have had to do in the meantime. These include, but are not limited to the following: 1) sleeping all day on Saturday and feeling certain that those were my last hours on earth, 2) getting a phone call from a really cute boy :), 3) having the longest (and a very enjoyable) lunch in the world with good old friends and my sister, 4) having to explain (read: lie) to everyone at school about why I look like I am Marcia in that episode of the Brady Bunch where she gets hit in the face with the football, 5) using so much concealer to cover up abrasions on my nose and forehead, not to mention 2 black eyes, that I am considering purchasing stock in Cover Girl, 6) worrying about my Halloween costume, 7) GOING TO SEE THE SPURS WIN THEIR SEASON OPENER, and being essentially unproductive with a large amount of my time. But, I promise that everything, phone calls, black eyes and all, will be sufficiently explained in due time. Until then, keep yourself amused by watching the Bachelor tonight and hoping with all your might that Bob gets rid of stupid, annoying Kelly Jo!

HC
Friday, October 24, 2003 08:42 p.m.
At homecoming . . . crazy! More later.

Re-do
Wednesday, October 22, 2003 04:38 p.m.
Alas, I have found that my Queer Eye quiz results were lost forever. So , I took it again. And, I didn't cheat this time and I still got matched with hottie Kyan! Here we go:
Kyan: Grooming Guru

Which Member from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is your type?
brought to you by Quizilla

WTF?!?!?!?!?
Monday, October 20, 2003 04:30 p.m.
Ok, I don't know what the hell is going on with pitas right now, but I am freakin tired of it sucking! First I couldn't even see my page, much less update all weekend, and then I finally can and I am missing like, the last 2 of 3 entries. Listen, website assholes: I WANT MY SHIT BACK SO YOU BETTER GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am missing my ever important entry containing my quiz results for which member of the Fab Five I am most compatible with and also a funny entry. I want them back, so you better be able to retrieve them or prepare to suffer my wrath! On a side note, look for entries from a guest writer soon!

I've held off as long as possible!
Tuesday, October 7, 2003 09:29 p.m.
Alright, here it is . . . I have put this off as long as possible. But, I can control myself no longer. Boys are hella confusing to me, and I am ready to bitch. I really want to whine about them, but I feel like I can't even do that. The classic girl whiny thing would be to say "No boys like me." Well, that is just not the case. Boys do like me. In some cases, they like me way too much. This is part of the problem. There will be a boy that I think is ok and he will go totally crazy over me. This really annoys me. I mean, I am a big fan of the three-day call rule. Guys, listen up. If you meet a girl, say when you are out on Saturday, and you dig her, go ahead and get her number. Go home and go to bed. Then, wake up and WAIT!!! Sunday counts as one day, Monday as 2 and Tuesday as 3. This means you do not call until at least Wednesday. The ideal thing would be to call the girl on Thursday so that you can ask her out for the next weekend. Sunday is not the best day to call! This will freak her out! Needless to say, this has happened to me several times and totally turns me off. Now, this is not to say that I never like anyone. So often I like the exact people that don't like me. Now, sometimes it is just the people that I have convinced myself don't like me. I am hoping that this is the case with my latest crush, but we will just have to see. Now, I am sorry that I had to do this, and I promise not to do it again any time soon. But guys, I just felt like some of you out there needed to know!

Weekend News
Monday, October 6, 2003 09:47 p.m.
Every Monday my kids write in their journals about what happened since we were at school on Friday. We call it their weekend news. I decided to write my own weekend news. Friday I had a little too much fun on 6th Street, and, as often happens, a little too much fun swiftly turned into no fun. (Let's just say that everyone walking in front of Cheers got to see what I had for dinner. But, the funny part is, a cop walked by and just gave me a thumbs up. Or so I hear, I don't really remember anything. I was also informed on Saturday that I was talking jibberish on Friday, a sign that Barbara is, as Jill would say, done and done.) Well, I survived Friday night and got home, only to wake up still drunk on Saturday. I proceeded to run into doors and fall off the scale while weighing myself. I sobered up enough to get ready and go have some more beers at a tailgate party before going to the UT game and sitting with my sister, her friend and my principal's son. It was the best game ever! Well, Saturday I had to go out and celebrate, and luckily I didn't get out of control. Some interesting things happened, but those didn't get out of hand either. ;) Sunday was pretty calm, but I am totally wishing the weekend was still here now. Only 4 days left this week!

Unintentional humor: gotta love it!
Wednesday, October 1, 2003 04:51 p.m.
Today in second grade we were practicing our spelling words for the week. This week we are working on short and long u words. The kids all had dry erase boards and markers and I would call out a word, they would write it and show it to me, then I would say if it was right or not. Now, sometimes they don't here so well, or just because of the way they say it in their head, they might hear sounds that are not actually in the words. Well, I told them that the word was cute. Well, the really smart ones all wrote it down quickly and showed me and it was right. Then, about 5 more kids held up their boards. Now, I swear this was true . . . every one of these 5 or so kids had spelled cute like this: C-U-N-T!!! Oh my god! I almost died. Of course when stuff like that happens, they don't know what was going on, but I was trying to compose myself and they just kept asking me what was wrong. Seriously, people, these kids are just like a certain guy that I know: the unintentional humor factor is off the charts!!!