Preppy Girl's Guide

If you need a laugh (or are just into freaky entertainment), take a peek at Mr. Social's latest entry.

No Mere Mortal Can Resist...

If you read Princess's blog then I'm sure you've heard the rumor - PGirl landed a new job! I'm super excited - and a little scared - but I suppose that's to be expected. I'm not scared about the job itself, I'm more scared about stepping outside my usual routine. But hey, if we do not move forward we move backward, right? I'm quite certain I'm doing the right thing, despite several higher ups at work telling me otherwise. Note to said higher-ups: Your sudden concern for my well-being is too little, too late.

Having said that, I'm quite seriously not bitter. I am happy to be moving on. Maybe the next person who takes the job I've been holding won't expect growth the way I did. I guess I was just there long enough to know - it wasn't gonna happen for me, not there anyway. Good Luck trying to replace me! (okay, I totally realize I am not indespensible, no one is. Still, how can you replace the PGirl? Word.)

On some separate notes:

• Mom has finally left town after a 3 week visit. We all miss her terribly, but it's nice to get back to just the four of us.
• I got a new pair of MaryJane Crocs (courtesy of mom). After a not so successful attempt at wearing the original Cayman style (never fit me quite right) I am TOTALLY lovin' the MaryJanes. They get the PGirl seal of approval.
• I've been watching "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares" on BBCAmerica. As much as the *bleep*-ing annoyed me in the first few minutes, (Ramsay is a potty mouth to the nth degree) I didn't even notice it anymore by the end of the episode. It's like a car wreck, can't.stop.watching.
• Another favorite from BBC - "How Clean is Your House?" Which should probably be called, "How Nasty, Dirty, and Disgusting is Your House?" If you need to feel better about the state of your own home, watch this. Guaranteed to lift your spirits (and probably make you vomit).
• Galoot already finished the new Harry Potter in record time. Geek. I really have no interest in reading it (although I will surely see the rest of the movies as they come out). I still want to know how it ends though, and Galoot will tell me nothing - uber geek.
• Did anyone see the Simpsons's movie? Is it okay for my kids?

How's things with y'all?

Our dining room table sits SQUAR in front of the door where we enter the house from the garage. Due to it's unfortunate location, it ends up as the drop off point for anything in one's hands when they enter the house with an armful. Here are a few things resting there tonight:

1. My 6 year old's new rainbow framed eye glasses.
2. Cheap two piece tankini bathing suit from Wal Mart (for above mentioned 6 year old)
3. Piece of white paper with several cotton balls and a popsicle stick stuck to it (I think it's supposed to be a lamb puppet that my 3 year old made in summer school).
4. While we're on the subject, there's a huge pile of pipe cleaners, construction paper and glitter from way too many school art projects
5. Empty Big Lots bag. (yeah, I shop there - what of it?)
6. Lavender conditioner (formerly inside the Big Lots bag)
7. Lotsa junk mail
8. A "sorry our meter reader missed you" hang tag
9. A receipt from the company that had to come fix our almost new elliptical machine (yes, we were hella pissed it broke but at least Nordic Trac sent someone out to fix it - HOLY CRAP, just noticing this company came here from OHIO to fix it - WTH?)
10. BonTon charge bill from the new suit (and shoes) I HAD to buy.
11. Baby gift for The Mick and wife
12. Rogue Lincoln Log
13. Naked baby doll

Happy Thursday!

Just checking to see if once again, anyone is still listening. Since last post I successfully completed the garage doors (*phew*). Fourth of July came and went (rainy and dreary all day long), Mom and Aunt Mary hit town (my kids are being spoiled beyond belief), and I have purchased 3 pairs of shoes on sale at Bon Ton (we are talking 70% off people - I HAD to buy them). My feets is feelin' fantabulous.

Last Friday night, I actually attended a show at the amphitheater where I work. Now, I had attended tons of stuff in the Amp when I was a kid (Neil Sedaka, Don McLean and Rita Coolidge to name a few - yeah, I'm old) - but I have never found the time to take in a show since starting this job 6 years ago. So who was the lucky performer? - Ronan Tynan, and he was hot, white hot.

I'm going to guess about 3/4 of you have just said under your breath, "Who the fuck is Ronan Tynan?" (I'll assume the expletive was less severe for those who find it necessary to censor themselves). Ronan Tynan, my friends, is 1/3 of the original Irish Tenors (my Irish-geek flag is now flying). He's amazingly talented, hitting each note with perfect pitch, every time. Take a sec and read his bio (in brief, he's also a doctor, has two prosthetic legs, was a paralympian, and loves the Buffalo Sabres - he's a god in this neck of the woods!) This concert was a departure from his usual stuff and he was totally spot on. He did a little Springsteen, a Leonard Cohen song (I thought of you Princess) but didn't disappoint, throwing in a few Irish favorites. The highlight of the evening for Preppygirl was when Mr. Tynan and the band (also phenomenal) returned for an encore and performed Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2 - brilliant.

How was your weekend??

So I'm totally convinced that things always take 3 times longer than you thought they would. For instance... I have been wanting to paint my garage doors for over a year. In fact, my mom came to visit last August and actually scraped them down for me - and yet, but still - I did not paint them. August came and went, then September and I still held out hope through October. But unpainted they remained. All spring I was embarrassed every time I looked at them. I would quickly drive into the garage, shut the door and walk into the house, hoping never to make eye contact with any disapproving neighbors. It was sad and a little pathetic - but hey - ignoring the problem always makes it go away, right?

Anyhoo, jump forward to July 2007. My mom is coming to visit again and I KNOW the second or third thing out of her mouth upon arrival at my house will be, "You STILL haven't painted those doors?!" This is not something I want to endure - and soo... my procrastination (on this project anyway) has come to an end. I decided I'd paint it on Sunday come hell or high water. If it were only that easy.

I made a trip to wally world where I planned to get some latex paint and a new brush. A quick phone call to my dad indicated I'd probably also need some spray primer and some rollers. My shopping list has doubled in a matter of seconds. I get to the paint aisle and realize I might also want to get a real scraper (instead of the putty knife we've been using). Now the old guy working the paint counter tells me he'll need to shake the paint - fine fine fine - I still have 4 hours before the cookout we're going to later. I've got time. I'm heading toward the check out - cell phone rings - it's Galoot, "Can you get some butter too?" Surrre. I trek back to the opposite corner of super wally world for the butter. After a brief stint in the check out line the cell phone rings again, this time my dad, "Why don't you come by and I'll give you a special brush for cutting in." What the hey - I'm already behind schedule, what's a few more minutes. Finally, around 1:30-ish I get back home. How long could it really take to slap some paint up?

After some closer inspection of the doors, it is clear that they need to be scraped again. Fun. I scrape for a good 45 minutes, brush off any loose paint then wipe everything down. Around 3:00 I'm ready for the primer. Spray primer rocks but you should make careful note ladies not to get it too close to your nice french manicure (dangit). Next thing I know it's 3:45 and not one garage door has actually been painted.

I decided to press on, this evening after work, figuring I'd could pump out the actual painting in no time - ha! After cutting in 6 windows, and rolling paint on the whole door I barely had time to go back for touch ups. Soooo... one door down, one to go. Phew.

What's the moral of this story? Buy your husband a paint sprayer for Father's day and maybe he'd do it himself? NOW I think of it!