all grown up?

After some discussions, thoughts, number crunching, but (surprisingly) no arguments, we came to an agreement to buy out my father, since he is moving out by June anyway. We are refinancing. Its exciting, a relief that we are not getting screwed (again...hmm). But it's a bit scary too, I mean sole owner of 'my' very own house...
Gulp, does this mean I am all grown up now?

seriously, i'm not being a jack@$$

Is there something wrong when you write something to someone and at the end you have add that you are not being rude. I have been known to say "I don't mean to be rude, but..."
You know, I am working on those aspects of my personality. Learning to bite my tongue, choose my words carefully, walk away...
Just today there was a discussion going on in the lunch room. I walked in to get a coffee and a bunch of people were already in conversation. Right there I acknowledged that I was "not part of it." But I had to wait for coffee to finish brewing, so I was flipping through the newspaper... I could not help but over hear. I knew that my 'opinion' of the subject is highly controversial, and in my office, I am by far the minority with that stance... So I said nothing. I literally gulped. This conversation was something that I recognized as a trigger.
Then the 'prompt' came. Though I know in my heart that this person had the most honorable intentions, at the time I knew my perception of it was - why is she egging me on? She said to me "Jessica, keeping biting your tongue."
So I said, "I am, I'm doing pretty good. And in a moment I need to leave the room." And that's what I did.

a view of the rear

The other day I got rear ended. I was almost home, three driveways away... This lady, I don't know what was going on with her, but she didn't seem to be with it. Basically, I braked for the cat, and she didn't. In fact, I had just turned left from a complete stop (yes, at a stop sign) and she had commented that I stopped and wouldn't let her by, then all of a sudden I went left. Um, yes, that is what happens when you come to a complete stop at a stop sign... Hmmm.

Anyway, I am fine, no affects to my body, no mental affects (though I was pretty mad at first...) The car goes in this week for a new bumper and other work, thanks to comprehensive insurance I will have a rental while my car gets fixed. Could be a lot worse, its drivable now, I am fine, no insurance increases for me, and a waived deductible.

Still sucks though...

the early birthday present

Yesterday I went shopping for a birthday present for my husband. I found exactly what I was looking for, an electric fireplace, and it was on sale! But there is only one left. Its on the highest shelf possible in the most inconvenient spot (talk about planning...) This older guy is helping, but the box, which is about 60 lbs, has a little label that says team lift. He goes and gets a 'young' guy and a ladder. The ladder is way to short, doesn't even reach the shelf, but still they are struggling to grab hold of the box. Finally they get a taller ladder, the old guy gets another young guy.
Now these two young guys are up there. Oh boy... I said to them that it didn't look very safe, and they probably shouldn't do it. I thought of looking away, but I needed to see in case the whole thing came crashing down on me. They manage to get it off the shelf, partly, then it slips and crashes onto the top of the ladder where the box cracks and snags on the edge of the ladder. By now there is another customer watching, she wants that fireplace.
One guy is trying to lift the box but the rips keep getting bigger, then I hear the scratch, yes, they scratched the fireplace. After some more comical wrestling, the three of them (the old guy is helping again) finally and roughly get the box to the ground. We inspect the box and the scratch, the other lady hovering to see if I still want it, quite annoying actually. There was a small scratch on the back side, I bought it anyway. They load it on the top of my cart. This took about 25 minutes.
I wheel to the cash, which was an adventure in itself - people when you see a cart with a big box coming down the aisle, don't cut it off, don't stop in front of it, and please oh please, if your yapping on the phone and get hit cause your in your own little world, don't gripe about it afterwards.
Whew, out of the store now, I get to my car. Okay, how to get this 60lb awkward thing into my car by myself. Gravity and momentum. It slid right in the back seat in about 1.5 minutes. Makes me wonder about those two guys on the ladder.
I get home. Can't get it out of my car. Why could I get it in but not out? I didn't want my husband to have to help me unload his own present so I ask my Dad. Now it ends up by the front door. How to get it inside without it being seen? There's no way... So after all that, he got his present last night, even though his birthday is two weeks away...
Whew!

going to see my brother

I am looking forward to seeing my brother and his family tomorrow. Have seen and talked to them some, but haven't been to their place in a long time.
This is exciting on many levels - time with family, time AWAY from home and the computers, but also time to mend wounds from history. You see there has been, and still are, some problems in my family. You're thinking, who doesn't have problem families? Maybe my family is no worse than yours, but to me, I want to see it better than it is, that is what I am committed to working towards.

the ride is over

I've been on vacation for 2 weeks. Its been great, not overly busy. Got lots done. But tomorrow its back to work, that sucks...
Don't get me wrong, I am happy to have a somewhat decent paying job, but I do like being at home even more!

last day in my 20s

Should I have something profound to say on the last day I will spend in my twenties? I do not feel old, nor am I all anxious over this milestone. I have spent the past few days reflecting on the first 30 years of my life - overall I could say its good.
Do I have any aspirations for the next 30? Well, no different than usual - improve on the things I need to, continue developing the skills I have, and of course to always walk side by side with the two greatest guys in my life: Jesus and Jeff.
30 coming soon!