The Plan Is That There Is No Plan

Yvonne: Where  were  you  last  night?  

Rick: That's  so  long  ago,  I  don't  remember. 

Yvonne: Will  I  see  you  tonight?  

Rick: I  never  make  plans  that  far  ahead.  

 -Casablanca (1942) 

Due to the craziness that surrounds life these days, I smile when I hear these words spoken.  Life goes by so fast, I constantly feel like Jack-Jack chasing his tail when he is unsure what to do. Maybe it is the items building up on my To Do Didn't List, or possibly the "pregnancy brain" I've been stricken with by the quickly growing mini-me getting ready to make her debut.  Though my situation is much different than Monsieur Rick, the man knows how to simplify and adapt.  

Whatever it is I have upcoming, planning just doesn't seem logical.  I'm a Research and Development kind of girl, so I'll stick with forming ideas and seeing where life takes me. It seems much more feasible than trying to be exact, since everything is bound to change!  

Though I'm sure I could fill much more than a blog making comparisons of how I feel like Casablanca quotes relate to my ideals and feelings about life (and I'm sure I will someday in the future), I will try to stick to updating since my writing has been fewer and far between.

Let's see, where does one begin?  I'll begin with a few items on my Didn't List.  Things I have yet to accomplish, but are definitely in the works:

• Finding our new home
• Deciding on a name for the little one
• Graduating college
• Find a more fulfilling job

The perfect one is out there!

The House Hunt Continues!  

We've had a few disappointments losing out on two houses so far, but we will persevere.  The hope we'd be in a house by December has just about disappeared, but we are kicking the search into high gear, determined that we will be in our new house before the baby arrives! We have about 20 weeks to go, but with school and work on both our plates, we seem to be easily distracted. 

Remember, I'm a baby not a pet!

What's In a Name?

Another area we've run in to hiccups.  Despite our similarities, Brenden and I have much different opinions on what constitutes a baby name, and what is just plain ridiculous.  It has been fun and entertaining throwing names around, but now comes the much more serious business of actually deciding on what our child will be stuck with for life.  Along with homework, and the crazy holiday season of retail, we want to pick out our name instead of simply saying "Baby" since I'm about to start making "nobody puts baby in a corner" references again.  Plus, having a name will appease me a little longer since I still have to wait 4 more months until I'll have her in my arms!

The day will come when I can say "I have arrived."

Stepping Stones to Success

Though I'm not opposed to continuing my education even further, the next step on my list so far is graduating from college.  I'm almost at my midway point to finishing my Hospitality/Tourism program, and have had to face the facts that I may have to take a baby break before getting my diploma.  I'm confident with what I've learned so far and hope to be able to use it for a better job even before I finish my classes, which will also help with the next item on my list...

Nothing is perfect, but something better is out there!

The Possibilities Are Endless!

I don't necessarily believe there is one perfect job for a person of my diverse interests, but I do believe there is a job out there best suited for my strengths and abilities that will give me fulfillment and help me provide for my family.  Though the idea of being a stay-at-home mom sounds fantastic and I wish I could pull it off, it isn't in the cards for us with our financial situation at present.  I want to contribute to our stability as a family to ease the financial stress.








What we have from this list here: the basis of a plan with the ability to adapt to unexpected changes.  I have no firm directions or timing on when/how it will be accomplished, just an optimistic demeanor and determination.  Goals and ideas--the keys to my accomplishments--are what keep me moving forward with the comfort in knowing I will arrive at the day when I can comfortably breathe a sigh of relief that another item is checked off the list.

Status Turned Rant: CURSES!

Good grief.  I realize I'm a bit of an old lady at heart, but the world is making me feel this way. 

Lets discuss a topic shall we? 

Swearing.


I'm not going to lie, I curse like a sailor from time to time (though I haven't met any sailors, I've heard things.)  I shouldn't do it, it's a personal choice that I would like to avoid using curses.  I despise the "F" word, yet here it slips out of my mouth at least once a day.  I try to find alternatives.  I say lots of "B" words for all occasions: blah, boom!, boogers, and when I'm really irked, "Balls!"  (usually to express my failure at life.)  I'm getting pretty good at just mumbling sounds or "grrrr's" under my breath.  

As a youngster, I hated swearing.  I would gasp at swears.  I never dreamed I'd let myself use the "F" word unnecessarily, but I am also a strong willed individual who gets angry and frustrated from time, so I lose my class here and there.  Thankfully I know there is a time and a place for everything and I have a decent filter.  I was raised to respect my elders, my peers, and to be a positive influence on those younger than myself.   Outside influence has been my biggest hurdle and is a huge culprit in my changing language that began its laps a few years back, but it is up to myself to choose my language and use my words better. 

I find it disrespectful and rude using horrible language for no reason, I don't care what your age is.  In a store, on the street, if I am not part of your conversation and I can hear your cursing, it is just a tad bit rude.  Our language has millions of words, personally I feel like I sound uneducated when I can't find a better one.  Making them up is also fun, there are bound to be a few in this blog, but I digress... 

My irritation that has led to this rant is the negative reinforcement for this bad habit is everywhere and has begun infiltrating my radio more than ever before.  I have been finding myself depressed at the amount of swearing that has moved into music we now hear on public radio, and that it takes more than a few "F" bombs to earn yourself an explicit rating on an album. In my job I am listening to music 100% of my work day whether I like it or not and I can't take a song seriously that is trying to relay a strong message, but chunks of the song have to get blanked out for "radio edits" (if you can even call them that anymore.)  I applaud artists who show actual creativity by singing alternate versions, or find creative ways of using their words to express their thoughts and emotions.  Cee Lo has shown some courtesy, Pink is good at it, even Britney Spears has impressed me a time or two.   Lots of customers get surprised to hear when certain artists have an EDITED or EXPLICIT option because that singer keeps their expletives under the radar.  I have a tendency to use the warning "situationally explicit" about a few albums to let parents be aware of content, especially when it lacks an advisory.

I am not saying there should be no swearing in music, or that innuendo needs to be toned down.  I hum along like many people do.  I am just trying to point out that with all the options of places to hear music online, satellite radio, or whatever newfangled techafied gadget or app you have, not to mention the hundreds and thousands of songs that come out throughout the year, why must my radio bleep swears at me? I get enough of it from customers and movies.  I don't like to be censored, hence this blog, so I will not be joining a "people against swearing in public media" group or marching the streets of the capitol to tell the entertainment industry to tone it down, but I will still attempt not to say the "F" word today, in hopes that I also don't say it again tomorrow.

That is all.  For now.  I'm sure I'll complain about this again in the future.

Puppy Love

2012 is here, and I think it's about time I start to get noisy again.  No more thinking or trying, just doing.  Instead of "thinking I"m going to blog again soon" or "trying to write more" I need to stop being a procrastinator and do the things I say.  I got all sorts of craziness on my mind (only a few words stuck in the dead zone from time to time) so a creative outlet is just what the doctor ordered.

It has been much too long since I have started and finished a blog.  I have started several over the last two years, then never stepped up to the plate.  Picking a strong topic to enhance with photos or humor is always a good idea and makes the experience more fun.  I seem to lack the discipline and attention span I used to.

Ooh, shiny...

What was I saying?  Oh, yes.  Discipline.  I have that.

Another thing I have.  Dogs.  Adorable, ridiculous dogs.  That is to be today's topic of conversation, especially since I have pictures to go with it.

Name: Jack    Age: 8   Personality: hyperactive dragon and duck obsessed, crotchety old man

A.K.A: Jackolaus McKracken M.D., Goober, Jack-o, the Jackle, or the Great American Jackalope (depending on with whom you are speaking.)

Name: Bella Posey  Age: 1  Personality: energetic chew-crazed bottomless pit & cuddle bug

A.K.A: Miss Bell, Bella Bean, Honey Bella, or Stinky Face

Bella is the newest addition to our household. She is fitting in well, though is not very talented in entertaining herself without some assistance.  She cannot wait until we can move from an apartment to a place with a yard.  Then she can chew all sorts of stuff outside too!

Did I mention she is a big, 65lbs. baby? 

She loves her name, but also responds to anything that sounds like you might be talking to Jack instead of Bella.  She doesn't like that so much, it just can't be right.  You would have much more fun if you played with her instead...in case you didn't know that.  Also, she is a lap dog, so if you need to cuddle, just say something and she will be happy to oblige.  No problems there.


Jackle on the other hand...

He just wants to get some sleep.  Life is exhausting when you're a Jackle. Having to teach a little sister what's what really takes a lot out of a dog. Especially when she weighs almost 60lbs more than you and always tries to eat your toys, occasionally succeeding.  Have you ever had to watch your mom throw away your rubber duckies or purple dragon?  Brutal. Thank goodness he still has Mr. Bump and crazy unicorn lobster pig to keep him company.