I'm Sneezy

  I've been sneezing all morning.  AAAACCCchhhhoooOOooooo.  (Do you know how scary it can be driving down the highway, while your nose is tickling you for a major sneeze?--It's pretty frightening!) Sometimes I give out little baby sneezes, and at other times, my sneezing makes the windows of this office building shake.  Yes, they can be powerful.  At least I don't have that awful sinus headache anymore--no, now all that yucky sinus stuff has made way to my nose, making my nose red, runny, and sneezy!! 

May be I shouldn't be here to infect my fellow co-workers.  Oh well..  I may call it a day later in the afternoon.  I'm the Sneezy Drawf. 

I don't know how exactly how this played in conversation the other night, but during dinner, my daughter asked my husband if he knew about a certain person I used to date.  No, she didn't know it happened to be our wedding anniversary-I mean, the roses and cards should have clued her in, as I looked at her, with my glaring eyes, and said, "Lizzy---please..this is embarrassing.."  Yes, it is embarrassing.  I dated quite a few "duds" before meeting my handsome prince husband, and the he really doesn't need to know about them either.  Anyway, my daughter went on to tell him about the 7 other Dwarfs I dated (Thank God she didn't meet them all..)  There was:  Hippee, Stinky, Fatty, Yellow Teeth, Ugly, Chip, & Geeky..  Lovely.  My husband replied, "Gee, honey, I only dated "normal" people."   I think my husband was the ONLY normal person I met while single. 

CAUTION WOMEN:  It's slim pickings out there!!!! 

Oh well... 

It's Thursday, and it's PAY DAY!!!  YIPPEE YAHOOOOOO!!! 

Happy Administrative Professional Day!

I came into work today with flowers, chocolate, and cards on my desk! 

It was a welcome surprise!  I already was having a rushed morning, and my head hurt and ears hurt.  I think I may be coming down with the cold my kids have been having for the last two weeks...  Anyways, it's nice to be appreciated at work now and then.  It's only one day a year, so I might as well enjoy it.  Don't get me wrong, my co-workers treat me well here all year long, and I really enjoy working here, despite the ghetto building, the lousy plumbing, and the smelly clients.  They are for the most part genuinely nice people, and I do enjoy working with them. 

My rushed day, is getting better..  We even got traffic to stop as I and two other clerical co-workers were waiting to jay walk.  Hey, the sheriff deputies around here, the attorneys, and the other county staff jay walk all the time, and usually the people in cars try to speed up when they see us...but not today...  Nope, today we clerical women had the "Administrative Professionals" radar on us--we had that certain aura that told the passing cars, "Hey, stop, and let these poor, lowly, underpaid, county clerical women, holding their paper cups of hot steaming coffee, cross the street.  Let's not try and run them over this morning..." 

Do I feel like an "Administrative Professional"?  Um...not really, although I did send an official letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this morning...  HA HA..  I'm not wearing jeans today either.  With a title like that, "Administrative Professional", you would think I'd be paid more.  It's just a fancy word for what I do. 

They are taking us out to lunch today.  We are having Asian food.  Lovely..not my favorite, but I will be "professional" about it, and "administer" as much salad as I can fit on my plate, so I don't look like I'm not enjoying the cuisine.    Hey, it's free, and I can waste a whole entire lunch hour..I won't complain! 

Happy Day to all the Administrative Professionals out there!  I hope you are getting spoiled silly!

Blame Canada!!!

I just got a distressing email from Teeisme57.  Seems like Flat Scalzi has crossed the border into foreign soil----CANADA!  Read the entry below!

http://journals.aol.com/teeisme57/OhMyWord/entries/1770

That little stinker!  He better get his little paper self back to New Jersey and do it quick!  Thank God he is good hands!  PLittle at :

http://journals.aol.ca/plittle/AuroraWalkingVacation/entries/1940

 got his hands on him, and is treating him with some good Canadian hospitality.  Flat Scalzi is lucky he caught up with him and not the border line police!  Scalzi is not only out of the country, but now he is an illegal, undocumented, alien!  Be careful out there flat one!!! 

Weekend Assignment #108: Lesser-Known Art

Weekend Assignment #108: Lesser-Known Art :

Weekend Assignment #108: Show off (or link to) a lesser-known work from a favorite painter. Because there's more to Da Vinci than the Mona Lisa, and more to Van Gogh than Starry Night.

Extra Credit: When was the last time you were in an art museum?  Oh Gosh..  This is embarrassing..  I would have to say it was 1999--a museum and historic church in the Azores.  I live in a city with so much art, but I have to travel to actually go to one.  Wait, I went to a museum in Maui a few years ago...but still, I think that was in 2000!  I went to a photography art studio where my daughter had her pictures on display last Fall, does that count?  My husband and I were just talking about taking the kids to museums this summer---something we definately need to do! 

I like Van Gogh...  I like him alot...  :)

A copy of the above painting, "Fishing Boats On The Beach, Saintes Maries" hangs on my wall at work!

But I LOVE the colors in this lesser known one: "Blue Cart".  You can hardly see the blue cart though..  I mean... I think he could have found a better name for this one, but what do I know... 

Red Roses are My Favorite Color..

I just got a box of roses from my sweetie pie!  I got a dozen of red, and light champagne colored roses...sooo beautiful.. :) 

Wow..my office smells like a garden right now...sigh...  Yeppers, my hubby is a keeper!  Happy 3rd Anniversary!!!  I love you Rich!!!  The day I met you turned into the happiest day of my life.  I'm am such a lucky girl to have you in my life!

The Rose

Some say love it is a river
that drowns the tender reed
Some say love it is a razer
that leaves your soul to blead

Some say love it is a hunger
an endless aching need
I say love it is a flower
and you it's only seed

It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of wakingthat never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
who cannot seem to give
and the soul afraid of dyingthat never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been too long
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winterfar beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed
that with the sun's love
in the spring
becomes the rose

Bette Midler

Happy Easter

Thank you Diana for the beautiful picture you made :) 

Easter has come, and gone..  It was a nice weekend.  I got out of a dentist appointment that I shouldn't have cancelled, but I was able to take a nice little shopping day with my daughter and did some dress shopping for myself, with no 2 year old at tow.  It was nice to just shop and relax and have a nice lunch with my daughter, although I did all my shopping at one store.  We should have gone to see a movie than spend the rest of the time at that huge mall.  I'm not a Valley Fair person...(it's a huge mall in San Jose)  Nope...  No thanks...  Just too overwhelming for me.  I like the mall near my home--it's big enough, but not too overwhelming.  Nope--I don't shop at Nordstroms, Tiffany's or Coach----you can spend your money there--not I. 

Anyways, I went to church on Sunday with my two oldest children, and despite the really annoying married couple that took control of the Easter hymns, it was a beautiful service.  We exchanged chuckles each time the wife kept on saying, "Y'all, and "heehaw", and "cool"...  I'm sorry, but---I just am not used to hearing those terms during a church service.  It feels too much like a made for T.V./reality show...  Oh well, it was entertaining to say the least..  It just takes awhile to get used to it, I guess.  The sermon was short and sweet, and touched me.  Unfortunately, I've always had trouble not chuckling in church, since I was a child.  There was always someone who sang to loud, or had their clothes worn inside out, or had their hair piece out of place..  But oh well; that is what makes us human afterall. 

All and all, Easter was nice.  I did miss a few people; but some things are just out of my control.  I must not let it upset me too much.  People can hide for just so long.  OH well..that is all I'm going to say about that. 

I just realized last night that my wedding anniversary is coming up..  :)  Has it been three years already?!  Sigh....  Time flies when you are having fun...

I'm Hooked on Jackie Collins Books...

It's been so slow at work lately, that I've managed to read 3 books of one of Jackie Collins' L.A. Connection mini series of books.  I'm missing #4 (Revenge) and I'm pretty pissed now!!  How will I know if Kristin is going to be Mister X's next victim?!  Will she get that call from Jake?  What will Jake do when he finds out Max's plans for Kristin?  What will Kristin do?!  Will Max survive his gunshot wounds?!  Will Diana confess to Freddie her hidden desire for Max? 

This is so very frustrating...  I've checked the "office library", and #4 book of this twisted mini series!!  Is this some cruel joke?!  I'm guessing I'll never know what will happen.  Sure, one day, I'll see the #4 book somewhere, but by the time I get to it, I probably will have forgotten what happened in books, 1, 2 & 3!  I don't have time to read at home!!!  Damn!! 

Oh well...  I guess it serves me right for this to happen.  I shouldn't be reading these books....  They are a little naughty, but entertaining nevertheless..  Hollywood people are sooooo evil...it's great. 

You're Beautiful......

I have that James Blunt song on my brain again....  The radio station I listen to plays it CONSTANTLY, so much in fact, even my toddler child knows the words to it.  I drive a comute of 45 minutes each way from home and work, so as you can imagine, Nicholas knows a lot of lyrics to many a song---especially when he hears his mother singing along to the radio out loud.  Poor thing--I can't sing very well...  I'm so glad that my van is voice insulated so people can't hear me. 

It's raining AGAIN.  What else is new?!  It's almost mid April, and I think we have only had two days of no rain so far.  This is really depressing.  No longer will California be known for tan skin and white teeth..  No, we Californians will now be known as the pale people with brown teeth--just like the people of Seattle. 

Nothing beats a cup of coffee though..  One of my friends from work gave me a Starbucks gift card for my birthday.  Whoohoo!  Now I can finally try out those drive thru Starbuck coffee stores around town!  I'll look so "preppy" now driving down the lane with my van...  Whoohhoo!! 

Well, there aren't any drive thrus here in Santa Cruz where I work.  The closest is the Jack In The Box.  Hiding behind the building near the ordering speaker sign was a sorry looking fellow asking for money.  When I had placed my order, he came up to my window with outstretched hands and a bowed head.  It looked as if he was coming up to me for holy communion.  I gave him a dollar after he reassured me that he would be buying food, and not hopping at the bar around the corner.  "Now I can buy a Breakfast Jack!" he happily exclaimed.  I later saw him inside the store waiting for his food, and I pretended not to see him, as he rushed to the window to wave goodbye to me. 

I hope I didn't just make a new best friend.  Will he be waiting for me tomorrow?!  Doesn't he realize that today I had actually more than a dollar fifty in my wallet?  This doesn't happen too often, and I hope he doesn't expect me handing dollars out everyday.  I had to hand over $10 to my daughter for her field trip, so now I'm totally out of cash!

I finally got Flat Scalzi in the mail today, and boy, am I relieved.  He was a lot of work (ha ha ha) and he kind of overstayed his visit..(ha ha ha).  My family members were already questioning my sanity...  The pressure is finally off, and his out in the mail; destination, unknown..ha ha ha... 

A Final Goodbye to Flat Scalzi

It's time for Flat Scalzi to hit the road on to his next adventure.  I hear that he is up for quite the trip!  It was fun while it lasted...  I hope Flat Scalzi enjoyed his visit to California....  Boa Viagem Joao!  (Have a good trip John!) 

More Birthdays...

I got more email from the Azores this afternoon!  This is always a treat for me!  My cousin Adelaide just sent me some pictures from her son Miguel's birthday party!  I had to share!!  :) 

More Adventures of Flat Scalzi

You asked for them...you got them...

There will be more tomorrow, and off Flat Scalzi will go on to his next destination...  Will he be at your house next???

 

 

 

A Birthday Suprise!

I got something unexpected last week!  In my birthday card from Teeisme57 (aka: Teresa from Noo Jersee) sent me the autographed signed FLAT SCALZI!!!! 

Above are some photos of the "FLAT ONE" during his visit here in rainy California.  At the moment, he is sitting safe in my kitchen drawer.  Sorry, John--I would have taken you to see more places, but it's still raining over here.  I don't want to get you wet! 

Thanks again Teresa!

 

 

Saturday...

It's Saturday...  And the sun is out!!  This is GOOD!  I pulled some weeds out from the front of my house...  Can you believe that one of them was almost 3 feet high!!!  Eeekk!!!  I couldn't finish because I found my youngest going stealing strawberries and other items from the fridgerator....

I got a cute suprise in my mail today:  The above bunny picture is from "SAZZY", aka:  Diana :)  Thank you again, girlfriend! 

Rabbits :B Coelhos & Coelhas

I came to work this morning to an office decorated with numerous chocolate Easter eggs, and boxed chocolates, a box of brownies along with a chocolate cookbook.  My friend Maria knows how to treat her friends well.  My office now looks fully decorated for Easter--but then again--IT ALWAYS looks like Easter in here because of all the stuffed rabbits and rabbit nick nacks I have all on my desk, counters, file cabinets...  Yes, I'm a rabbit collector---hence my screen name:  "Coelha"  (Portuguese for female rabbit).

As I have explained before in a past entry from long ago, "Coelha" is a nickname I adopted from my cousin, "Coelho", aka:  Jose Carlos Barbosa, aka: Sugar Daddy candy lover.  It's a long story..really--don't make me repeat it again.  Let's just say it happened when I was trying to convince him that the Easter bunny was real one Easter.  It involved me pretending to be the Easter bunny, and then nickname just got stuck. 

Anyway...  I LOVE this time of year.  Easter usually falls around my birthday, so you can imagine all the stuffed bunnies I've received throughout the years..  I've never had a rabbit as a pet; but I prefer the ones that don't bite--you know the ones I can put on my dresser drawer and not worry about cleaning up after.  My bunnies sit all in a row, their glassy eyes peering up towards me lovingly..  Easter means it's SPRING time for me, a time of renewal---both physical and spiritual renewal!  New beginnings...new life...new hope...  Not surprisingly, it so happens to be around my wedding anniversary as well...  We got married on Easter weekend three years ago on the 19th--very fitting I should say.  My cousin Coelho got a good laugh over that one... 

This reminds me of a very odd coincidence that I shared with a supervisor that used to share my office.  Not only did we share the same wedding anniversary date, but we also shared the same due date for both of our son's.  They were both conceived around Valentines Day to boot.  Weird...  But then again...weird things happen all the time. 

Now, if only the weather was more SPRING LIKE!  It was a beautiful day yesterday---truly a pretty Spring day, but..of course, the wind has picked up, and there is another chance of thunder showers this afternoon.  More rain for the weekend, and a new storm next Monday.  Lovely...just, lovely...   OH well, at least I have my chocolate and my rabbits. 

Oh my Lord--I just realized something...  I was looking at my profile on AOL, and I noticed that I've been a member of AOL since 4/19/97... Um...another coincidence---4/19 is my wedding anniversary...now that is just PLAIN WEIRD!

It's My Birthday -- yeah!!!

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR   ME..JULIE... 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE, (again) BUT I DON'T CARE... 

I GOT AN INTERESTING CARD IN THE MAIL...  THANKS TERESA!!---NOW IS THAT AN OFFICIAL JOHN SCALZI, AUTOGRAPHED COPY?