Land of Oz

I am now calling my place of employment the Land of Oz. Why? Well, you have a wizard who is a fraud, you have wicked witches, good witches, annoying munchkins, and pesky flying monkeys. I am sure you can figure out who is who.

Today is Leap Day. This is a day I love. It always gives me more time. But I won't get into that. I just like this day.

We are going to my family's house this weekend. We plan on leaving tomorrow morning around 7 with the arrival time of 9. I need to pick a couple of things up for my mom at the store. I figured we would get there in time to make breakfast for everyone.

Well, I am off to see the wizard again. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

I'm Off To See the Wizard

Good morning. I am off to see the Wizard. I'll explain more later.

ABC Photograph Wednesday

Fish - Monkfish from Pike Fish Market in Seattle, Washington




Funky - smelling cheese from Murray's Cheese Caves in Greenwich Village




Fields from the Kansas Turnpike




Foliage in NYC




Firehouse in ChinaTown, NYC.



These photos all represent the letter F. Since I was not able to participate last week, I did several photos today. Please stop by Mrs. Nesbitt's Place and check out all of the participants from ABC Wednesday.

Joy, Great, Bummer

I am listening to a conference call which is completely boring me to death. Today starts our three day manager's meeting. Joy.

Our company is being told that the price of gasoline and the price of beef will be skyrocketing by the end of this year. Great.

I did go to dinner last night with a very good friend of mine. We had so much fun. Josh went with us and I think he was still trying to hear this morning. We were pretty loud, but it was oh so fun! I love meeting with friends, wining and dining. It is good times. I wish some of my blogging friends lived closer. Bummer.

So, I guess I better get going. It should be a pretty long night, so I probably won't update until tomorrow evening. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Sooooo Enthusiastic

Well, we went to my mom and dad's house yesterday and returned to another snow storm. It really wasn't a storm, but we did get the white stuff again. Joy.

I am anxious for spring to get here. I can't wait. The fever has set in. Spring fever is the worst. Damn Ground Hog. Too bad I don't have a trap. Speaking of Ground Hog, Cheryl, do you still have that little pest in your yard?

Anyway, I have a busy week ahead of me. We have a meeting Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. All of the store managers will be in town and we are having an awards banquet, plus a workshop. woo.hoo.

Can you sense the enthusiasm? I do need to get with Phelan sometime soon so I can get my baked goods. I have been anticipating her homemade cinnamon rolls for awhile. Even though I have about 20 boxes of unopened Girl Scout cookies in my kitchen, nothing beats the taste of a freshly baked cinnamon roll.

Okay, enough for tonight. It's off to work I go tomorrow. Oh, and the kid is doing well. Thanks for all of your kind words. And Andrew - Thanks for commenting. I miss you!

Night!

Very Sick Kid

Sorry for the lack of posts. The kid has been extremely ill. He is getting better. I will post more later today.

Back To Work

Good morning. Well, although my head and throat are not 100%, my stomach and body are. Thank goodness. I just have a nagging cough with the usual gunk to go with it.

Tomorrow is ABC Wednesday and I am unsure of what picture to post for the letter E. I am sure I will come up with something.

I was going to cook last night, but decided to go out to dinner with a friend who is here working with us on the conversion process. She is from Omaha and I consider her a dear friend. None of my co-workers or friends from work know I have a blog. The only one who knows is Josh. Anyway, we ate at Outback last night and it was divine. I had the char-grilled rib eye, baked potato and side salad. Very good indeed. She is driving back to Omaha today and will have to meet up with the rest of the team in Topeka. I am so glad I don't have to go.

Well, I still have a towel around my head, so I better get finished getting ready for work. Hope you all have a great Tuesday!

For Bonnie

My dear blogging foodie friend, Bonnie, tagged me for this meme.

Here are the instructions:

Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (No cheating!)
Find Page 123.
Find the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.
Tag 5 people.


Here are my three sentences:
Prepare the food while water heats in the canner. When the water is hot, fill each jar following recipe directions, and place on the rack in the canner so it can heat as other jars are filled. Jars should not touch.

My book next to me this morning was Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook. It's old and practically falling apart in its' red plaid glory. I was under the water-bath processing for canning. This is something Phelan may enjoy.

Okay, now consider yourself tagged.

New Blogs Added - Please Read

I have added some new blogs and updated the blogs on the side. If I have forgotten anyone, please accept my apologies and just send me a friendly reminder. Take a look at some of the new ones I have added. I urge you to visit Kevin, Mrs. Nesbitt, Jonna, and Chelf. Great people with great blogs.

I am sitting here eating some clementines, trying to get in some much needed Vitamin C. I have a flat-iron steak marinating in Daddy Hinkle's marinade, baked potatoes in the oven, broccoli ready for steaming, and a lettuce wedge in the fridge, waiting to be drizzled in ranch dressing. My appetite is back which is a good sign that I am starting to feel better.

I am planning on making some chocolate chip expresso scones later for tomorrow morning. Yumm-O!!!

Well, I am off to read some more. Catch you later!

Artistic Phlegm Ahead

Well, I bet you have been wondering where I have been? Since Valentine's Day, I have been in bed with no other than Influenza Type A, aka, the flu. Not the most attractive thing to be in bed with, if you know what I mean. Today is the first day I have actually felt decent enough to get on the computer. My head still hurts and I am coughing up the most artistic concoctions of phlegm imaginable.

Just wanted to check in this morning to let you know I am still alive, barely. I have never been this sick. And guess what? I actually did not go into work yesterday or today. First time in 12 years I have ever called in sick. Yes folks, I was that sick.

Well, I am headed off to catch up with the rest of you. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I am taking it easy today. I still have to work, but it should be a lax day. To all who visited from ABC Wednesday - Thank You!

ABC Wednesday is when a new letter of the alphabet is introduced each Wednesday. You post a picture you have taken that shows the word you chose for that letter. D was the letter, so I chose dawn. Next week, the letter will be E. I have no idea what word/picture I shall post.

Well, gotta get going.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!

ABC Photograph Wednesday

This is my first attempt at ABC Wednesday. The letter of the week is D.

D is for Dawn.

I shot this picture of Kansas City on our way to a Chief's football game this past November.

It was around 6:30 am. I love that time of morning.

I'm Back!

As you can see from my lack of posts, I have been one busy woman. We were able to convert these stores over successfully. It should be slowing down soon. I say that now, but as you know, it changes every day.

I have not had a chance to read the blogs out there. I hope you all have been doing well. I will be spending some time today catching up.

Social Bore

It was a long day. My feet hurt, my legs hurt, my back hurts, but I had fun. I am suppose to be off tomorrow. We shall see.

I have no idea what is going on in blog land. I have not been by most of your blogs to read. Sorry, but work before pleasure. I will be back to normal after Tuesday.

I am going to bed early this evening. I am such a social bore. Oh well, at least I won't be a tired social bore. Good night.

Feeling Better

I am feeling a bit better today, although my throat is still froggy. I came home and crashed yesterday after lunch and found myself unable to fall asleep last night. I finally found refuge after 2 am. Thank goodness for reruns. I watched Little People, Big World - one of my favorite shows.

Josh wanted to eat at Red Lobster last night, and although it's not a favorite restaurant of mine, we enjoyed our dinner. Red Lobster can be counted on to provide good customer service and consistency on their food. I usually get the seaside shrimp trio and have to bring home half of it.

Aah, this hazelnut coffee is hitting the spot this morning. The warm liquid is quite soothing to my raw throat and the slightly sweet coffee is hitting the spot in the tummy. I am also enjoying a cheddar biscuit from last night's leftovers. Sounds gross, huh?

I have to turn in my vacation schedule today. I have no idea if it's what I am actually going to take, but we shall see.

Hope you all have a wonderful Friday! I can't believe it's already here!

Working Through A Cold

I've caught a blasted cold. So, I am working my ass off and now I have to deal with drainage and a sore throat, plus sneezing.

Work is getting better. We soft open our first store on Friday. The second store will open on Sunday, and the third store will open on Tuesday. After the last soft opening, we will have a city-wide celebration on Sunday and then our newest expansion store will grand open on the 20th. Yeah, I know, it sounds like blah, blah, blah right now.

I will try and update on more this evening.

It's been very stressful and very busy. I will not be posting much this week due to work. Hope you are all having a fantastic week!

Well, it's going to be another long work day, but it will finish nicely. I have to finish up at one of the stores this morning, promote one of the associates at my home store, head to lunch with my fellow co-workers, hit the competition before 3 pm, then head to the Superbowl party at the Hyatt around 5 pm. Busy, but fun day!

Whatever Happened To The 9 To 5?

Good morning! How are you doing today? I am so tired this morning. I worked from 4 am to 6:30 pm yesterday. Whatever happened to the good ole 9 to 5? Certainly, this does not exist anymore. My body hurts just a little. Oh well, that's the job sometimes.


Today I am visiting some of the stores we are taking over. One is close to downtown and could totally be a great store once we remodel. The area it is in has the urban feel to it. The other store is in an area where there are a lot of Hispanic and Asian clientele. We can certainly cater to that.


After that, I have to meet with my boss. He is suppose to go over some stuff with us. I am not sure what to think of this new boss, but I am always willing to give people a chance.


Josh and I went to a hockey game last night. I had to meet him there because I was running so late. We lost, of course, but there were three good fights toward the end. I missed those because I headed home early. I was so tired I don't remember anything about the game. The three periods flew by and I don't have a clue as to what happened.


Josh's BIL (brother-in-law) was there with his son. That kid loves my lime chiffon dessert. Every time I see him, he hugs me and tells me how much he loves the dessert. How cute. I only make it on special occasions, so he is excited for Easter dinner this year.


I am taking my time going in to work today. The body is in slow-mo. There is another hockey game tonight I am going to. I will try and update later, but if not, have a great day!