Holiday Pie

I picked up the McDonald's Holiday Pie on my way home from work tonight. When I originally saw it advertised I thought it sounded potentially awesome. I believe it was described as a sugar cookie style pie filled with Bavarian cream. That sounds a bit like a Eclair and a Sugar Cookie had a baby. I LOVE Eclairs and Long John Donuts and I like Sugar Cookies. Had to try this. I stopped a few weeks ago and they had not arrived yet. I then promptly forgot about it. It was on the menu when I stopped tonight and I remembered how great it originally sounded. In tasting it I think it is OK. Not great, but not bad. The crust is flaky and sweet. I really like the sprinkles, but I'm a sprinkles kind of girl. The filling is the part I'm not so sure about. I read a review that described it as tasting like yellow cake and I agree with that. The gooey texture means that it really seems like raw yellow cake batter. I like batter, but not when I am looking for Bavarian Cream.  Final Judgement - Interesting to try, not worth the calories, I'd rather have the cherry pie. I do not feel the need to get it again.

Homework Sucks.

I am really really sick of homework. I should be doing homework right now, but I am finding all sorts of other things to fill my time. This semester is almost done and the end is near for my Associates Degree and I am seriously considering not continuing once that is done, but a number of people have told me to keep going and get my Bachelors and make logical reasoning as to why I should continue. Stupid School.

All the Lonely People

I finely figured out how to articulate my issues with 'people'. Not specific people, but people as a whole or as a group. I always expect people to be smarter than they are. I'm constantly surprised and disappointed by peoples inability to use their common sense or their brains. People driving, or shopping or working. My current most used statement is that 'people are silly' and by that I mean 'people are stupid' but saying silly is much more political correct and I don't upset as many people.

Juried

I had my last call in for jury duty this morning. Amazingly, I only had one half day that I actually had to go to court for the whole month. The whole jury pool was there and the judge went over the the different courts and types of trials we might be asked to sit on. It was really quite interesting. They did sit one civil case, which is only 6 jurors. I kinda wish I had another opportunity to see the process.

Ironically, we watched 12 Angry Men in class this week. 



Mirren

One of my favorite cats passed aways at Crash's this weekend. She had heart failure from a condition that we didn't detect before she passed away. I literally cried when I read the email. This is the stuff that makes love hard. I really love a number of the cats at Crash's. I'd take a few of them home if I thought my own cats would cope well. I do seriously consider taking home some of the older cats that have never really known a real home, so they can have that experience. But then my heart will just break all the more when they die. :( It's sad, but at least they know a warm, happy place with all the food, water and shelter they need to live a better life.

A Honor and A Privilege

I vote. So now I get notifications for jury duty. I am potentially on call for the whole month of September. Originally I was dreading the idea, but after talking with HR at work, I think it will be really interesting. Work will compensate me so I will make the same amount either way, so I don't have to worry about that. HR was also telling me about all the really neat people watching that goes can go on at these things. The cases can be interesting and the questions that the lawyers ask can lead you to figure out what the cases might be and the other jurors can do and say odd, interesting, or funny things. Now to see if I actually get picked.

RumChata-licious

I'm busy, and I'm tired. I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this additional "second" job. But I really enjoy it and I don't want to quit it. So I will stick with it for a while, I'm hoping to make it through the end of the year at least.... I really like the extra money. I use it for fun, food, and drinking. :) Let's see how things shake out when next semester starts and I have two college classes instead of only one I am taking now.

Also, I am having fun working with cakes/cupcakes, but this takes more time too.

Have you all tried RumChata? It's so tasty. Fun as a shot or over ice. Maybe I'll make RumChata cupcakes next...

Where Everyone Know Your Name

I'm not sure if the blog world saw my Facebook post about my favorite bar closing. But I feel the need to write a little more about it. I am deeply sadden by the turn events that causes what I call 'my neighborhood bar' to close. It's not really in my neighborhood, not even close if fact, but this is the first bar I have found that I can go to anytime and sit at the bar and get a drink and feel completely comfortable. The atmosphere is relaxed and sarcastic. The drinks are cheap and strong. The owner is fun and a really great guy. The bartenders have been competent and social.  The music is local, free and usually pretty good. Any trouble makers get kicked out quickly and efficiently. In fact, trouble makers don't even bother coming in anymore. I think I will feel more than a little lost when it finally closes at the end of July.

Skirts and Dresses

I feel like I have posted something like this before, but I looked (briefly) and didn't see it in my history. But I do have 200+ blogs to look through. That in itself is a bit amazing to me. Anyway, I always want to wear dresses and skirts more frequently. I mean to. I have a whole bunch of them. They are so cute and easy. A whole outfit in one item for dresses. But dress wearing is much more complicated to me than it needs to be. I don't get much sun, so my legs are seriously white. Like blindingly white. I mean to get a little sun, but that takes time and effort too. And lets not mention all the extra careful shaving that goes along with showing ones legs as a female. I suppose I could go "European" and not shave. But that is just kinda gross.

While in DC last week, I ended up buying 2 more dress from H&M. I really like them, just like all the other dresses I have that I have never or rarely worn. I have really started to embrace the whole legging thing. I can wear a dress with leggings and feel a bit less self conscious about it. Or I could do tights, but with summer coming, tights seem like a bit much.

Sometimes being a girl sucks.

Michigan Bigfoot?

In listening to the radio while driving around on my lunch, I had to laugh when the DJ mentioned that a documentary crew was in town to shoot a segment on the Michigan Bigfoot. Apparently Michigan is a hot bed of Bigfoot sightings. Who knew? Not me, that's for sure. Animal Planet's "Finding Bigfoot" is in it's third season and I have never seen an episode, but I might have to catch the Michigan episode.

Friend? Friend!

I got rid of my first Facebook friend the other day. I am pretty selective on who I am FB friends with in the first place, so it's not really been an issue before. I doubt this person will ever notice, as it was just someone I meet at college, at least as long as we never have another class together...

It's kinda liberating.

March is an Odd Month

It's been interesting around here the last few weeks. Even the weather has been a little off. 80 degrees in March? Record breaking.

I've been making a bunch of cakes and have more on the calender for the next month or two.

After this semester I have 4 classes left til I get my Associates degree in Business Administration. Now I need to decide if I want to start heading towards a Bachelors degree. GRCC offers a neat program called 3+1, which mean I can take 3/4 of the classes I need for a Bachelors at CC and the last 1/4 at Ferris or Davenport... One of my issues with that is that it has taken me 6 years to do 2 years worth of schooling. I only take one class at a time, so I don't get overwhelmed. I guess it can't hurt to keep going to school for the rest of my life. *sigh*

I'll be 30 next month. I am not looking forward to this birthday. I don't look forward to any birthday, but this one is even more dreadful. I am hoping that having a big get together, having fun with friends, and probably getting tipsy will help me cope better. :)

Matt and I are going to Washington DC in May. I am excited to go to the National Zoo and a bunch of the Smithsonian's.

Also The Black Keys concert was AWESOME!

Simon's Cat

Sometime life is overwhelming and you just have to go online and watch cat videos.

January 2012

I'm not to sure what I think about 2011. Let's review my goals...
1. Lose Weight. - Kinda? I think the hot yoga has really helped, but I've lost more inches than pounds. Which works I guess.
2. Learn French. - Nope. Not happening. Sigh.
3. De-Junk House. - A little. I got rid of a couple of things, but not nearly enough.4. Learn to play Guitar. - On my way? I know the basics and I am working on more...

I guess I did better than I thought I did.

I had a mostly uneventful year. Looking back there was not too much to remark upon.
-The UP was fun. I liked seeing all the neat nature related things and just kinda chillin.
-I decided to pursue the cake thing and start trying to sell more cakes and things to people, including non-family members. I like the challenge and the positive feedback.
-I still really enjoy the trips to Traverse City.
-I got to go to a bunch more music related things this year then any other year. I really like the music scene around town.

Looking ahead to 2012:
Goals
1. I want to learn at least 3 songs to be able to perform at an open mic.
2. Make a website for the cake business.
3. Get my "junk room" organized.

These things are pretty important to me at the moment. Let's hope I get them accomplished.

Aaah! So Short!

I got my hair cut again Saturday. About a foot taken off. It hasn't even been 2 years since I got my last haircut. I don't think it's been this short since my mom gave me a bob in the 3rd grade. I personally prefer my hair on the longer side, but I also really enjoy donating it since I am able to grow it out..

It's actually quite interesting to hear and see people's reactions to my hair being so short. Some like it and some don't - like any change.

Please note: This is one of many reasons I didn't "whip my hair back and forth", when I had long hair.


see more epicfails

Low Budget Band

This is great.

Christmas Cookies 2011

I took a picture of an almost complete tray of cookies this year instead of my dining room table covered in cookies. From twelve o clock - clockwise.

Soft Ginger Creams w/ Vanilla Frosting
Monster Cookies
Cranberry Walnut Cookies
Chocolate Fudge
Peanut Butter Fudge
Salted Caramels (not pictured)
Lemon Gems
Pecan Goody Cups
Peanut Butter-Nutella Cookies
Raspberry-Almond Foldovers

My Brain Hurts

There is a gentleman I work with that makes my brain hurt, almost daily, with his questions and such. I always have thought of that one clip from Family Guy when Lois suppresses her issues with Peter and a tumor pops up in her head. I now think I might have numerous fake tumors in my head for different people/issues and they all sing the 'I'm a tumor' song in harmony.

Jeans Genes

There is not a much better feeling then when the next size down of jeans fit. :)
I had picked up some new jeans during my massive black Friday shopping, in which I only bought stuff for Matt and I, and I decided to just pick up the next size down since my normal size have been a bit baggy recently. And they fit! It made my day. :) That means some of the pants I have been saving for being too small, now fit. That is just awesome. Yeah for hot yoga!

Crashing Thru to Drama

Man, I hate drama. Long story, short version - They are changing the structure at the cat rescue that I volunteer at. They have 2 separate buildings with 130 cats at each house and I volunteer at one of these houses. The new layout would have us switch houses every month. I don't really want to learn about and love 130 more cats, making it 260. The cats at this other house have FIV. It's like HIV only for cats. Immune deficiency means they get sick a little easier and don't recover as quickly and can die a bit easier too. These cats are great and loving and wonderful, but people don't adopt a "sick" cat very quickly. So most of the cats that come to live here, will die here. I think all the added issues that would come with volunteering here would be too much for me. I wouldn't see the original cats as often either and would lose some of the connection I have with them.

I sent a long detailed email to the main vet and board director about all my concerns, as I was asked to do, and was berated for not accepting change and for not wanting to volunteer at the other shelter. I sent another email further explaining my position and trying to clear up any misconceptions about my point of view they might have and was berated again. I originally signed up to volunteer at the first shelter and was told I would not have to go to the other shelter if I did not want to. Looks like that will not longer be the case.

I don't think that the freely giving of my time and resources are very appreciated anymore. Which makes me sad. I love volunteering here and I love my shift mates and all the cats too and it really is still a great place to adopted a cat. But I really don't need the added stress of all this drama. But it's OK, I was told that this organization doesn't need volunteers with my attitude anyway..