Who does that?

When I first started my job, I immediately noticed all the birds in the big tree right outside the main doors. The chirping was relaxing and reminding me of walking through Willow Park as a child. Not too long had passed when I realized how LOUD these birds could be. Trying to talk on the phone outside became a challenge. The person on the other end would ask where I was because it sounded like a rain forest. This was nothing compared to the planes flying over Discover Card, that was LOUD!

I was just outside taking a little "oxygen" break and I think the birds were in the middle of a Gang War. It was so loud, I YELLED at the birds to shut up. Who does that? Who yells at birds? Apparently I do and it was a little embarrassing when I turned around to find some guy walking up the sidewalk.

GeekMail

I layed down my Kool hat and picked up my new Geek hat. Joey now has a GMail account. I knew by entering the world of IT, the dreaded Geekory would spread. I was right.

I'm So Smart!

This was so my idea last night, just ask Jory!

An estimated 1.8 million people are being told to evacuate Gulf Coast communities as Hurricane Rita threatens a large swathe of Texas and Louisiana. Many Texan evacuees were caught in traffic jams and the state opened southbound carriageways to northbournd traffic. Rita remains extremely dangerous despite being downgraded to a Category 4 storm. It is forecast to make landfall Saturday between Galveston, Texas, and the Texas-Louisiana border.

1.8 Million Ordered To Leave

And they said there's no such thing as Global Warming. Give me a break!

10 Months

Happy Birthday Mazzy Star!

You have been in our lives now for 8 months. I can't imagine a day without you. You are such a smart girl and you love entertaining us with your tricks even when we're not looking. I melt when you climb up on my chest and hug me. When you don't cuddle up with me at night I have a hard time falling asleep. Even though your barking drives me nuts, it makes me feel so loved when I come home for work and you're jumping at my feet doing your best "Barker Posey" impression. Thank you for filling the hole in my heart by being the baby I haven't been able to have yet.

Hugs & Kisses, Mommy

Tattoo Solicitation

For our 8th Anniversary, I decided I wanted another tattoo. I wanted to get it done on our trip to California, but we didn't have enough time and I didn't really know what I wanted. I want it on my ring finger and I want either Jory, JDJ, J or Jory Dan weaved into a band all the way around. But I don't just want the letters J O R Y etc.. to be tattooed, I want it to look like a design or at the very least in a Celtic/tribal/design-like font. Before the comments flood in, I'm not superstitious, so keep your negativity to yourself.

This is my solicitation for help on finding the right tattoo. I want someone I know that can DRAW to sketch me up some ideas because I want it to be original. So pick up your pencils and pens and draw me something! If I don't find something I like with his name or initials, I've come up with another idea. I'm not sure how feasible it is though. (See the picture above)

We didn't do traditional wedding rings, I found our rings at my favorite store, "The Dancing Cranes" in SLC. They were made by local artists and cost me a whopping $13 a piece. They are puzzle rings of a man and a woman intertwined. Tell me what you think.

THANK YOU Dr. whatever your name is!

Jory isn't herniated or dying, THANK YOU Dr. whatever your name is! He wrote about it this morning when he got home, you can read it here. I love you Jory J! You have to stop falling apart at least until they invent robot parts for transplant.

Robiwan Kenobi

Happy Birthday Robby!

Sorry we couldn't be there to celebrate with you. We miss you both & the boys and hope to see you in Decemeber when we come for a visit. I'm sure your birthday party was excellent as always, and I promise I won't read any Martha Stewart mags at the next one we attend.

Love you guys!

No Jory, I'm not trying to kill you!

Not a lot has been happening around here lately other than Jory's mysterious hernia pain and I've been experiencing some serious fatigue. This of course is one of the many draw backs of having PCOS. Those of you that have read by blog from the beginning know that I have shared with the world that I have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome). I'm also Insulin Resistant, Bipolar and have Hyperthyroidism. All these combined with my healthy diet of Mt. Dew and cigarettes have caused me to currently be fat and infertile. Most recently I have been "outed" for being the biggest RENOB on the planet for missing the deadline to sign up for health insurance with my company this past May. No Jory, I'm not trying to kill you! You know how shitty I felt that night, there were tears. If there was anyone on this planet that needed health insurance, it was ME! After being diagnosed in September 2001, I had been taking a daily regime of 20 or more pills. I had lost about 60 lbs and we decided it was time for fertility treatments. Six unsuccessful months later I quit my job which meant no more insurance and after my last month of fertility drugs which did nothing but make me fat, we bought a house and moved to Nibley. Warning GIRL TALK forthcoming. My period and any chance of ovulating immediately disappeared as it had before I was diagnosed two years earlier.
Over a year later, without my medication, my metabolism dropped to a sleepy crawl and all the symptoms came back one by one, full throttle. 2nd Warning GIRL TALK forthcoming. Oddly enough on our trip to Humboldt my period arrived unannounced but very welcomed. Who knows what this means.

Week 16 of the Whoop, I think? It's been so long I'm loosing count. I wonder what the record length is, not that I really want the award. I'm sure if the smoking habit was completely annihilated the cough would go too.

Jory's doctor appointment is Monday, we'll let you know how he's doing after they pull the alien from his belly.

Becky & Ryan Sitting In A Tree...K I S S I N G!

Ryan & Becky

Sorry we missed the wedding, we would have been there if at all possible! We were in Arcata, CA at Eric and Athena's wedding Sept. 2nd (the day after yours). I'm sure it was an awesome experience and I'm sad I missed out. Wish you all the best and hope to see you in the future!

All Hippie'd Out

After an extremely looong night, the photos from our trip to NoCal have been posted here. Pictured above are some of my favorites.

Ahhh...I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again...

Things You Wish You Could Say At Work

1. Ahhh...I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again...
2. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.
3. How about never? Is never good for you?
4. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.
5. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me.
6. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.
7. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.
8. I don't work here. I'm a consultant.
9. It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.
10. I can see your point, but I still think you're full of crap.
11. I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid.
12. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
13. I have plenty of talent and vision. I just don't give a damn.
14. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
15. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.
16. I'm sorry, you must be mistaking me for someone who cares.
17. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.
18. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
19. What am I? Flypaper for freaks!?
20. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.
21. It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.
22. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
23. No, my powers can only be used for good.
24. You sound reasonable. Time to up the medication.
25. And your crybaby whiny-butt opinion would be...?
26. Do I look like a people person?
27. This isn't an office. It's Hell with fluorescent lighting.
28. I started out with nothing & still have most of it left.
29. You!...Off my planet!
30. Does your train of thought have a caboose! ?
31. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
32. A PBS mind in an MTV world.
33. Allow me to introduce my selves.
34. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.
35. Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.
36. Not all people are annoying. Some are dead.
37. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.
38. A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.
39. Stress is when you wake up screaming & you realize you haven't been asleep yet.
40. Can I trade this job for what's behind door 1?
41. Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
42. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
43. Chaos, panic, & disorder -- my work here is done.
44. How do I set a laser printer to stun?
45. I thought I wanted a career; turns out, I just wanted the paycheck.

Nine Eleven

I woke up, showered and dressed for work. Got in my car and lit a cigarette, plugged in my stereo face and didn't hear music. Just talk, I thought I was on the wrong station so I changed it and it was the same. This time I listened and heard them say, "Airplane flew into the World Trade Center". I continued to listen and immediately thought this was a joke like that radio broadcast in the 50's. I turned the station a few times and it was all over the place. I grabbed my cell phone and called my mom. "What's going on?" I asked her, "Is this a joke?" As she explained to me what she was seeing on TV, that feeling of...I don't know how to describe it, I'm fairly sure everyone was feeling it when they heard the news. I honestly thought this was the end of the world, that it was actually happening in my lifetime and I wasn't ready for it. My thoughts immediately changed to my brother Jason who was flying out of New York. "Where's Jason! Is he OK?" At that time my mom had not heard from my him, but was trying to assure me he was fine they didn't think he was on that flight. My heart sank and tears began to well up just as they are now. My mom and I talked about our visit to the Twin Trade Towers years ago and from the 107th floor looking down everyone looked like ants. The glass was tilted out so you can lean up against it and see straight down. Not really thinking clearly I continued to drive to work. I was like a zombie walking into the building and going up the elevator and down the hall to my desk. I logged in, sat down and it started to really sink in. As the tears started welling up again, I got up and went to the bathroom. As I walked into the corridor I notice a few people watching the news on TV, that was my first sight of what was really going on. Then the second plane hit, I stood there in complete shock, jaw on the floor, eyes bulging. It hit me that Jory was home sleeping and didn't want him to find out when he got to work so I grabbed my phone. When he answered I apologized for waking him but it was really important for him to turn the TV on. Of course he was confused and half asleep so I knew it would take him a minute to wake up and turn the TV on. I tried to talk to him a bit and slowly explain what was happening before he actually saw it for himself. I think I started with, "I don't want you to walk into work and not know what's happened." Then it all just came out. I don't think he understood what I was talking about until he had the TV on and saw it for himself. He didn't say much but thanks for letting him know.
I went back to my desk and just sort of sat there, thinking, worrying. After a bit I realized I hadn't taken a call for over 30 minutes, this was unbelievable for Discover Card. We never went a minute without calls in Que. Then it hit me, people aren't calling in, they weren't going to call in because everyone is home watching the news or trying to get in contact with their friends and family. No one is concerned about their stupid credit card bill. The messages starting coming from management that Morgan Stanley had offices in the World Trade Center and so far 3,500 were unaccounted for. Anyone with family living in New York was allowed to go home. But those of us with family visiting NY, flying or otherwise had to stay. It hit me that I should not be at work, I should be home or in Logan waiting for news on Jason. I went and talked to our Department manager and told him this was ridiculous, it's been 4 hours and I've only taken 3 calls. He promised we could go home if we didn't get a call in the next hour. Literally 58 minutes later I got a call. When I was done I went and talked to him again and said I was leaving, there is no reason I should be there. Hundreds of employees called out that morning and I actually had a family member missing. He agreed and sent our shift home.
I spent the next week hours glued to the TV. Going back to work wasn't just weird because this major event just happened but our building is the direct flight path to the SLC International Airport and when we would go out for a smoke or lunch and the planes flying over were so loud it was hard to keep on a conversation. But now there were no planes, they had been grounded. The silence was erie. The attack would have dominated the conversations out there, had it not been for the spooky silence. A week or so later when that first plane flew over you could have heard our heart beats. Everyone stopped talking and watched with fear as it flew so very close right for us, then over head. It took a few more planes for us to stop holding our breath while watching so closely.
There is no chance of ever forgetting that day and those that followed. Our lives were changed forever. I feel for those who lost a loved one in the attack, no one wants to imagine what they went through. My brother was fine, he finally got cellular service and called home.

Thanks to the photographer for the picture.

Happy 8th Anniversary, LoveR!

Breaking News

Took photo from this flicker page.

We're Baaack!

The Trip was great, the drive was looong, the wedding was beautiful, and gas prices were/are outragous! Stories and photos coming soon.

Went back to work yesterday, found out I had until this morning to schedule my 3 remaining vacation days!? It would have been nice to know before I came back from my vacation! I was told I didn't have any vacation time and that's why I had to use my 3 personal days to go to CA. We would have enjoyed a few more days up north.

On the other hand, I have 3 vacation days to use and only had one option if I wanted them together. So I think we'll be making a trip to Utah Dec. 6 - 10th to celebrate Thanksgiving, my birthday and Christmas. For those of you thinking of coming to sunny Arizona this "winter" I have a 3 day weekend over Thanksgiving and possibly a 4 day weekend over xmas so feel free to come see us. Bring your shorts and t shirts!