Merriment on a Monday

Ok, not so much, but one can hope, right? So as I try to channel my thoughts on getting some work done, more randomness snuck into my brain:

• Parking lot findings: Today I managed to score the VERY LAST up-close-to-my-office parking spot and was not able to view much of the lot on my way into the building, but I DID see a baby-sized blue glove and wad of gum.  While having that much coveted up-close parking spot is a good thing, it does take all of the excitement out of new parking lot discoveries.
• Daylight Savings: After turning clocks back 1 hour over the weekend, I'm feeling somewhat time-warped and confused.  Love that my Apple watch and iPhone reset themselves without complaint, but the car clock and 2 others in my office weren't as smart about the switch.  That and my office was freezing, so the heating system must not have gotten the memo.

Alrighty then.  Finally posting this after 8+ hours of meetings, web coding, and fielding end-user computer issues.  Meanwhile, let the commute home begin!

Life and Times

Family Weekend just happened, but let's back up a bit.  Oldest Peep is now a COLLEGE Peep, hence the reason for our family's participation in the big-time event.  This was HUGE because not only was I unable to join in on Move-In Week last month, but I haven't even SEEN our College Chica since she trekked all of her stuff 6 hours from home!  So we dragged her brother with us to the college, then he decidedly took off to the driving range with his Grandpa who happens to live in the area.  Not a problem for Hubs and I who actually took part in Family Weekend by shopping for dorm stuff at Target and eating all the free food we could find on campus.  Granted, we did all join back up to attend mass at the beautiful on-campus chapel, but the weekend sure was better enjoyed without teenagery complaints from the bro.

Meanwhile, this little voice in the back of my head keeps murmuring, "You don't even LOOK old enough to be the parent of a college student, woman!"  Keep talking - I'm good with that.

Christmas Break was Blessedly Divine

Still floating after having a week and a half off from work with PAID HOLIDAY TIME home with the peeps.  If that isn't the best reason ever for taking the new job, then I really don't know what is!  Well, besides the personal office with a window and excellent pay and Starbucks coffee in the lounge area... pinch. me. now.

TGIF?

Since I love my new job, TGIF takes on a whole new meaning for me now.  On the one hand, I look forward to heading to my office on campus each day where there's always a new adventure waiting. But on the other hand, sleeping in is another one of my favorite things to do in life and I would sleep until 8:00 a.m. every single day given the opportunity.  (Unfortunately, weekends and holidays are the only times I get to sleep in these days.)  So for me Friday is just the big "heads up" that sleeping in is just around the corner - but that also involves missing my campus office.  *cue the sappy violins*

The Life of an IT'er

Today I've been blessed to "man" a student lounge and a college art gallery so that students will have tech support while accessing wireless internet hot spots.  (That really should be "woman" or "person" the places, but somewhere/somehow "man" became the term for doing what I'm doing.)  And it's all good.  Not only am I helping these college women by answering their questions ("Is the lab open for printing?" and "Can I sit here?"), but I'm getting all kinds of emails answered from my multitude of mailboxes and catching up on Words with Friends.  Oh and facebook, let's not forget that one.  All of this while eating my favorite Vic's popcorn and Cheese-It Party Mix salty snack.  This IT'er is really feeling all spoiled-like.

Being All Thankful

This week is the week of Thanksgiving, and I have so much to be thankful for this year - including actual holiday pay!  As a self-employed person, holiday pay did not exist unless I worked during that time.  But this year, I will have 2 days of lounging in the comfort of my home and getting paid while doing so.  Now if that isn't a good reason for being employed than I really don't know what is.

Meanwhile, I've been fighting an online "fire" so to speak and getting pretty annoyed by it, as a solution is not forthcoming and I feel like I'm beating my head against a wall.  The worst part is that it seems to keep growing and becoming a worse headache for me as time goes by.  What is it?  Well, our merchant account on Authorize.net disabled SSLv3 support and now when a user attempts to make an online payment, they receive the error, "The client and server cannot communicate, because they do not possess a common algorithm."  I'm googling and working with the server dude to try to come up with a fix for this problem, but it's not coming easily.

Did I mention that I love my job?

Speaking of NEW

... I got a new job starting at the end of September 2014!  Woohoo!!  Which brings me back to blogging again since I'm not all distracted by other activities in and around my Home Office.  So things have changed dramatically over the past couple of months, but for the good of everyone involved.  Besides the fact that I'm bringing home a big fat paycheck to add to our family income, here are some other noticeable changes that have taken place:

• Replaced our old junker van with a fancy new Honda CRV so we're no longer struggling to transport everyone here and there, including to school/work/home
• Added 3 new cell phone lines to my Verizon line changing it to a shared family plan so we now have reliable lines of communication, another problem we've been fighting against with previous AT&T GoPhone service
• Mixed up chores with Hubs so that laundry and diswashing are ongoing, thankfully because my biggest fear was that "house would fall down" with me no longer home to keep things going
• Paid off recently aquired debt (Peep's wisdom teeth extraction) and in the process of paying of medical bills associated with emergency surgery that took place the week before I started my new job (oldent Peep's unexpected event)
• Adjusted work/commute schedules so that we can still have a decent home-cooked meal on the table before 6:00 p.m.

And with that I must get back to my work, in my away from home office, where I'm fighting a website "fire" so to speak.  TGIF!

New Year, New You

Here's my recommendation on this whole "new you" topic: Spread some goodness in the world all year long instead of focusing on weight, success, smoking, etc.  In case you haven't already figured it out, the universe does not revolve around your personal wants, needs, and/or fitness goals.  Everyone has a personal "fix" they need to address, unless you're Angelina Jolie or George Clooney, of course.  Instead, why not make the new year about being a better person to others?

Pay it forward. Give a compliment. Say a prayer for someone. Expect less. Be nice. Open a door. Offer up your seat. Tip generously. Say "thank you" and "you're welcome."  The list goes on and on.

I'm thinking a ginormous amount of happiness could result - as opposed to the inevitable breaking of a resolution too unattainable to keep.  Alert the media?  Let me know how you do on this.

Blogging Continues

... over there.  Yes, that's right.  I'm still blogging (in random spurts) via tumblr at:

marriedwithpeeps.tumblr.com

The insanity is neverending.

 

Summer 2012 Update

Well, hello again.  This is yet another public service announcement for anyone out there reading Married with Peeps' Blogspot blog - possibly, all 3 of you who haven't quite given up hope on us Peepsters:

I am currently blogging in another place this summer, also on tumblr. Find me here: survivingsummer2012.tumblr.com

Why another blog?  Basically to curb the need to shake things up, thus satisfying my geeky creativity gene.  So far, so good.

 

Blog Migration

This is a public service announcement for anyone out there reading Married with Peeps' Blogspot blog:

I am currently blogging elsewhere, namely on tumblr. Here is the address: marriedwithpeeps.tumblr.com.

Why the move? Quite simply, I've been testing the new service via iPhone and it just plain works for me. So there you have it. Meanwhile, this site will stay live (albeit collecting dust) until future notice. Thank you and have a nice day.

Chandeliers at Risk

The Peeps and I have been locked up (sort of, we went to the grocery store) for way too long after a couple of snow days were imposed upon us by the local school district, thus the lack of content here in bloggerville. But wait! There's a light at the end of the tunnel with kids going back to school tomorrow and mom (Me) being all free from endless meal-cookings, dish-washings, clothes-launderings, snow-mess-cleaning-upings, etc. etc. etc.

You get the drift.

So I'm back tomorrow with a belated Monday Me Day turned Wednesday Free From Peep Sloths Day. What in the world will I do with myself? Oh yeah wait... put together a birthday party. Yay! My vote? TABLE DANCING!!!

She's lost it. Completely.

Last Sunday of Holiday Break

So what's a family to do on the last Sunday of Holiday Break? Let's see what's happening as I post:

• Hubs: Examining our leaky dishwasher in an attempt to save us from spending hundreds of dollars toward the replacement of that 10+ year old overworked piece of machinery.
• Kid Peeps: Capturing video of their own homemade version of American Idol, appropriately called Werdian Idol. (Huh? No idea.)
  
• Me: Taking care of miscellaneous bill-paying activities (such as funding Go Phones) between checking on Hubs who is getting increasingly frustrated with the state of our stupid leaky dishwasher.
• The Cat: Napping amongst a cluster of Webkinz on the comfiest fuzzy blanket in the entire house, oblivious to all of the wild craziness taking place in the lower level.

mrow.

Holiday Down Time at the Homestead

Time flies when you're having fun, right? Well, that's exactly what we're hoping to avoid as we enjoy some much needed time off from all of the hustle and bustle of busy family life. With several days home from school and work, we're all just playing around with our electronics & board games, constructing Lego sets, eating goodies out of our stockings, catching up on reading... the list goes on and on and on.

Meanwhile, here's a video capturing yet another fun family moment:

Recipe for a Happy Marriage

This has been sitting on my desk ever since Hubs and I received it in the mail last month. We've already surpassed 17 years of wedded blissfulness, but adding another prayer to the mix couldn't possibly hurt - especially if it's a Tried-and-True one. 49 years? Really?? Amazing.

What Did I Do?

God apparently sent me a message today in the form of a Cloud Face, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. What... is this face the result of my blogging lapse? Or maybe it's His complete disgust with humanity, thus the whole 2012 end-of-the-world apocalyptic premonition? I really shouldn't have watched that documentary on the History Channel.

Getting Goulish

Halloween was a low-key one for us this year with classroom parties a thing of the past - the downside to leaving elementary school behind. Although personally, I stopped liking those classroom celebrations after the kids were in @2nd or 3rd grade... it just plain started getting old. Anyway, trick-or-treating was still a go and it was all good, thanks to hubs who bravely weathered the cool outdoor temps and took the Peeps around the neighborhood:


Ninja, Witch, Luigi

Candy for the Soul

My soul is feeling all light and joyful after witnessing Peep Daughter's youth orchestra concert last night, especially since I was finally able to sport my latest OPI acquisition called Lincoln Park After Dark. Even though photo/videotaping was banned from the concert, at least I could admire my sweet manicure whilst jamming the night away.

Bravo to an amazing concert!


Far right - OPI 'Lincoln Park After Dark'

Last Full Day in New Mexico

Our last full day visiting family in New Mexico landed on Friday, October 15th, 2010 - and we made it an adventurous day to say the least. Starting off on a casual note, I woke up @7:00 a.m. and cleaned up for the day, then popped into the Peeps room to find them both being all leisurely, complete with Nintendo DS gaming, reading and writing "stories" on the laptop computer. Then to get Peep Son and Peep Daughter powered up, I fed each of them a MONGO SIZED banana muffins & juice while I swigged a double shot of espresso. Heavenly!

And we were off and running:

• Drove through Jemez Mountains, entered Pueblo and savored some delectable fry bread from local vendor's home beside the highway. The Peeps and I made a few off-handed remarks about how Jillian Michaels threw away this particular food item on a Losing it with Jillian TV episode. Good thing we only ate ONE piece of bread and divided it up between all 5 of us - that stuff is a big 'no no', apparently.
• Toured Jemez State Monument where we walked through the trail and photographed ruins. Granny and I took it slow while Grandpa and the Peeps climbed all over the place.
  
  
  Peeps & Grandpa Explore Jemez State Monument
  
  
• Drove to Soda Dam where we found more walking trails and took even more pics. A guy and his son were fishing down by the water oblivious to the Peeps as they climbed all over the place once again, a theme they had going on throughout our adventures.
  
  
  Peeps & Grandpa climbing around Soda Dam
  
  
• Took off toward Los Alamos where we gratefully found a Subway to satisfy our appetites for lunch before our next trek through the nearby museum.
• Toured Bradbury Science Museum where we learned more about the history of nuclear weapons, a seemingly favorite topic amongst the Peeps.
  
  
  Hands-on Activities at Bradbury Museum
  
  
• Shopped at the bookstore and found some interesting nuclear-related souvenirs to take home. I bought hubs a shot glass baring the picture of a big mushroom cloud on its side and a t-shirt for Peep Daughter that said "Get a Half Life" with a chart of a radioactive particle's half life. Convenient, I know.
• Drove to Santa Fe and shopped our hearts out at the Fashion Outlets, or at least it was the best we could do in the span of 30 minutes since everyone was ready to head back home for the afternoon. And wouldn't you know I found a Nike outlet store? Yep, and bought a few t-shirts and a pair of workout pants. Go me!
• Headed back to my folks house where we started packing up our stuff for the early flight home in the morning, then heated up our Olive Garden leftovers for dinner. (It was amazing, even the second time around.) Grandpa started up a movie for the kids while I resumed washing clothes and packing, the perfect way to round off our day.
  
  
  Family Movie Time
  
  
• Finally it was grand finale time where we roasted marshmallows over the backyard fire pit and made s'mores while Hubs joined us virtually by way of Google video chat, which was AWESOME by the way. How great to have all of us together even though it was with the help of a webcam.
  
  
  Roasting Marshmallows over Fire Pit
  

Packing... packing... packing... zzzzzz...

Day #2 Visit to NM

Today we were on a mission to find some activities everyone would enjoy, especially the Peep Son who really didn't care for site-seeing and shopping the day before. And guess what? We achieved like nobody's business! So here's what happened:

• Awakened before the grandparents and ate big huge banana muffins with juice.
• Broke in the new Wii game controllers by playing several rounds of Wii video games.
• Ate lunch consisting of favorite kid foods such as EZ mac, ramen, raspberries and Nestle chocolates.
• Headed out to gemstone store for jewelry paraphernalia (Grandma making custom gemstone goodies for secret anniversary stuff) while PS & Grandpa snuck out back to Burger King for refreshments.
• Went to National Museum of Nuclear Science & History for a few hours of education and insight on nuclear history.
• Drove over to Sonic for a lil snack of slushies, pop, tater tots & chicken nuggets before making our way to Sandia Mountain tram.
• Toured Sandia Mountain peak on a tram with the help of a National Park guide, taking video & photos throughout the trip.
• Enjoyed dinner at Olive Garden, one of Mom & Granny's personal favorite Italian restaurants of all time.
• Found our way back to the homestead to play Wii games, family-style while Mom worked off a few calories on the treadmill.
• Homemade apple pie & frozen yogurt dessert, reading, bedtime.

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Tomorrow: More tourist-style (educational) FUN.