5 more days and counting...

Then my ass will be sitting on the beach with a book and wearing oversized sunglasses.

I could not be happier. (well unless I get the job I interviewed for, but more on that later)

speaking of oversized sunglasses... Mark asked me a few days ago what I was going to do when the trend of oversized sunglasses is over. I told him for me, oversized sunglasses will never be over. In fact, I'm thinking about going and buying a new pair today.

Well, it finally happened this morning. I let my obsessive compulsion for making lists over take me this morning. I'd like to say I'm a fly by the seat of my pants, no need for a plan, kind of a girl, but sadly I am not. I can't go to the grocery store without a list. Therefore, I cannot go on vacation without making a list, or in this case 5 lists. Yes, I said it correctly 5! I started out jotting things down on post-its (by the way, I should buy stock in post-its, I freaking love them) and it's now come to 2 excel spreadsheets. Yes, I've customized spreadsheets for my lists. I might have a problem. lol.

List 1: my to do list
things I have to do before I leave for FL.

List 2: shopping list
things I have to buy before I leave for FL.

List 3: Abbey's packing list

List 4: Madi's packing list

List 5: The packing list for things Madi and I will need in the car.

now lets be honest for a minute. could I do all the things I need to, buy the things I need to, pack the things I need to without a list? probably. Would I forget stuff? Maybe. Will I forget stuff on the list? probably. Would I go crazy if I didn't have the list? Absolutely.

Hopefully I hear from that job I interviewed for. If I don't hear anything today, I'm pretty sure that means I'm boned. I seriously may not come home from FL if I don't get this job. So I'll keep my fingers crossed all day, hoping for the best.

Ok, I think I'll get back to my lists now...

Please for the love of God...

let me get this job!
I had a "phone interview" yesterday. It's for a chiropratic office in Washington. I would do immoral things to get this job. Really. The house are a bit longer than what I'm doing now (well hell, anything is longer than 4 hours a day) but I think it sounds perfect. The dr. said he had 200+ resumes and the narrowed down to 25 to call. So at least I made it past the 1st cut, right?

The other happs goin' on in my life right now. Brother Ben comes home today for about 3 weeks or so, and of those 3 weeks, we are spending 1 in FL and let me tell you I cannot freaking wait. Do you know how lovely it would be to know that when I got back from vacation that I would be starting a new job? Pretty freaking lovely! While Ben is home, we will be seeing lots of friends and family and whatnot. I'm sure I'll be peer pressured into drinking alot. Not that I'll really complain too much about that. I'm just so ready to be in FL on the beach, I got ants in my pants.

In other random news:
Can I tell you how much I love Elliott Yamin. I've been listening to his new album (in between listening to NKOTB of course) alot. I just thoroughly enjoy him.

While I'm excited for summer, I hate that all of my shows are getting ready to finales. I hate cliff hangers and I hate that you have to wait until September for new shows. I'll miss my shows, but at least I have Mad Men to look forward to, does anyone actually know when it's supposed to start?

NKOTB concert is coming up. I saw they just had to cancel a few shows in the south. Hopefully that doesn't happen here. I'm so ready for some Full Service. No I have not considered what it will be like when there are no more concerts. I might just sit at home and cry for days.

My source of helping kill 4 hours a day Mah-Jongg at addictinggames.com hasn't been working for the last 2 days, it's been rough killing time. Fortunately I am a pro at it. Thank you swaptree, twitter, and facebook.

Speaking of facebook, it has officially made me decide to delete my myspace page. I can't even tell you the last time I check it. I will miss my blogs on it though. Sigh.... My mom signed up for facebook yesterday. I laughed.

This blog definitely didn't kill enough time but that's ok.

Swaptree.com, most awesome thing ever...

Ok, I'm really behind with the times and everyone probably already knows about this website but it is so freaking cool...

basically what it is (if you don't already know). It's a website where you can post books, cds, dvds, and video games that you own and you can swap them out for things that you want. For Free! Well, you have to pay for postage but to be that's a hell of alot cheaper than going to Barnes and Noble. (God, how I love BN). I've said it before and I'll say it again, I do not enjoy the library. Despite the fact that I read really fast, it's alot of pressure to have to finish a book by the due date.

One of the really great things about swaptree is you aren't obligated to repost what you've traded for. For example, I had this really good book that I either loaned to someone or lost, so I traded something else for it so now I have it for keeps! Awesome right!

Back in my morbid phase, I bought a bunch of serial killer books (I know, I know, I'm gross). There are a few that I really liked and would keep, Helter Skelter is a classic. And I have this really great book that I found at an outlet mall about a college student that made friends with killers in jail and actually went to visit John Wayne Gacy before it was executed. SOO good! (Man, I should find that book and read it again) But this website gives me a chance to get rid of those books that I won't read about again (I mean really, who really needs to keep a book about Jack the Ripper).

I became a member on Feb. 23rd (but I didn't post any books for a few weeks) and so far I've traded 18 books. I haven't really gotten into DVDs or CDs, although I am going to post a copy of Goodfellas (we have 3 copies) and I'll see what I can get for that.

I think the best thing about this website (other than it's free), is that it gives me an opportunity to read classics that I think I missed out on. How can a person not have read The Diary of Ann Frank or Catcher in the Rye? I don't know how I missed them but I did. Also, this website allows me to get lady porn (yes, I know, but hey damnit, I'm a girl), without being embarrassed at the counter at BN. lol

This website allows you to rate and review items, then based on your reviews it gives you recommendations. I've found quite a few gems in those recommendations.

Seriously check it out. www.swaptree.com

Oh to be pretty, but dumb...

I guess the age old question is "smart vs. pretty".
I'm not saying that pretty girls can't be smart. I know alot of them, but can we please get some smarter Miss USA contestants?

I think Perez Hilton had the best question (a question about legalizing gay marriage) of the night and the way that girl answered it was just ignorant. It seemed appropriate that Miss California got that gay marriage question, but her answer deserved to get booed.

"We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage," Prejean said. "And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

Her answer caused quite a stir in the lobby after the show, shouting matches, heated debates...
"It's ugly," said Scott Ihrig, a gay man, who attended the pageant with his partner. "I think it's ridiculous that she got first runner-up. That is not the value of 95 percent of the people in this audience. Look around this audience and tell me how many gay men there are."

Am I the only one who thinks the phrase "In the Bible it says marriage is between Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve!" is stupid? I freaking hate that saying.

I understand that people are entitled to their opinions and that not everyone agrees with same-sex marriage, I don't have a problem with her beliefs, but I think the way she answered the question was just stupid. Here's why....
- 1st of all what the hell is "opposite marriage"? - isn't that divorce?
- 2nd, we don't live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage, we live in a country that actually has a law banning same-sex marriage. This country does allow states to govern whether or not they choose to see same-sex marriage as legal.

Again, my problem with her answer wasn't her views on the subject as much as it was her ignorance. Last semester I wrote a paper on gay marriage, I had to write a paper about both sides of the argument so I know the views on both sides. My paper had to be strictly fact, no opinion in it at all and let me tell you how hard it was to find research that wasn't skewed on either side. I also had to make a presentation to the class about the facts that I had on gay marriage, Let me just tell you, people have very strong opinions on the subject and those opinions goes both ways, some of people in my class were very educated in their responses and some of the people were strictly "WELL THE BIBLE SAYS....", to those people I just want to say, "WELL THE CONSTITUTION SAYS ALL MEN TO BE TREATED EQUAL" lol. Doesn't the bible also say, love everyone...
I got an A on that paper.

P.S. I don't want to come off as "preachy" in this blog, but I think Perez Hilton has it absolutely right, "Religion has NOTHING to do with equal marriage rights under the law. NOTHING! Fair is fair. Demand equality now!"

Back to what I love

GOSSIP!!!

Ok, seriously Hulk Hogan, did you really think there wasn't going to be a backlash, when you said that you "get" OJ? My question is, are you really that stupid? 1st of all, did you think about how that would effect the families of the victims of OJ? (I don't care if he did get acquitted in my book, he'll always be guilty, come on people, he wrote a freaking book about it!). Did you not think your wife was going to respond badly to that? Seriously? are you that dumb? And do you really think that coming back and saying "oh well they didn't print the whole quote, just the bad part" was gonna make a bit of difference? You still said it. Regardless of what came before or after that quote. Idiot!

I normally don't watch American Idol, but for some reason, I did last night. I have to admit (guiltily) I kinda enjoyed it.
Ok, so Miley Cyrus. Wow. She's a super cute, super talented girl. I like her new song The Climb alot. (It's funny to listen to Madi sing it, she thinks she knows the words but it mostly sounds like she is singing in a foreign language). I thought she looked really pretty last night, it just blows my mind how she doesn't look or sound 16.
p.s. I totally called that Matt was going to be kicked off, but I'm happy they saved him, he's got a Justin Timberlake thing about him.

Well it's time...

to start blogging again. I've said it before and I'll say it again, people severely underestimate how hard it is to waste four hours.

I haven't blogged in MONTHS so it's time that I caught everyone up... (ok so I just checked and I actually haven't blogged since last May, that's almost a year! oops)

So over the past year, I've seen New Kids on the Block 4 times (yes this is the highlight of my life). I can't wait to go again. Not only is it awesome to see NKOTB, because I've been a fan pretty much my whole life. Yes, even in those times when they weren't "cool", but it makes it even sweeter to see them with my best friends, that quite frankly, I don't get to see as much as I would like. I've had more fun hanging out with them, giggling like school girls and reliving the Glory Days (cue Bruce Springsteen). I've had more fun in the last 6 months than I've had in a very long time. Mandie, Josie, Betsy, Sam, and I have had so many laughs and tears (you know who you are) at these concerts than anyone will ever know. And Yes, my love for Donnie Wahlberg knows no bounds. Because I think all of us are going to see them again this Summer. My theory is, as long as they are willing to tour, I'm willing to pay. Speaking of pay....

My hours at the hotel have been severely slashed. Just another sign of the economic times. While it sucks, I applied for unemployment so hopefully that will kick in next week. But this time off has given me alot of time to spend with Madi in the afternoons, I can take her to school and pick her up. We have lunch, we play, we read, it's almost like being a stay at home mom. Almost. I have been looking for another job, I had a couple of interviews, alot of rejection, and alot of no answers from places, again I think a sign of the economic times... things have to get better, right?

The last few weeks have been kinda rough. I've been feeling stuck in a rut, like I need to do something but I can't figure out what. Obviously I need to find a new job, unfortunately I don't think the hotel's business is going to be picking up anytime soon. Plus, I had kind of been feeling like it was time for me to pursue something else, but I was so comfortable in my position (perfect schedule, just the right about of work, etc.) that I was just too lazy so go find something. So I think this whole hours getting cut thing was kind of a blessing in disguise. It's time for me to get off my lazy ass and figure out what it is I wanna do. With that being said, it's time for me to make GOOD decisions about my life.

So for the last few weeks I've been seriously considering moving. I've been trying to talk Mark into moving to FL. He's resistant, of course. He just doesn't see the point in going and starting over some place new with nothing. To me, I think it's perfect. I feel like there nothing here, what do we have to lose? He never sees anything my way.

I'm constantly thinking about school, finishing it, figuring out what I wanna do. The problem is, I'm so indecisive and change my mind so quickly, I can't figure out what I wanna do. Something I had been considering before and put on the back burner for a while is cosmetology school. I thought about it when I got out of high school, when I was at ICC, about 2 years ago, about a year ago, and it has been sticking with me for the last few weeks. I sent out some emails requesting info from a couple of places. Maybe this will inspire me. I kinda feel like, well in this bad economy, people still need haircuts, right? I dunno, I'm rambling...

To get you up to speed on Madi, she's awesome! She's about to be done with preschool, and she starts Kindergarten in the fall (I know!) She's keeps us on our toes and makes me laugh everyday. I've seriously never seen a child with quite the comedic timing she has. She loves school, loves her friends, and is very excited about big girl school next year. She had her 1st dentist appointment yesterday, all was well with that. She's just so cute and funny. I love her to bits. Let me tell you, she is quite a music lover. She loves listening to the radio. The other day she had me burn her a new cd, for her Hello Kitty music player (which is a discman that has Hello Kitty on it.) I let her pick out all the songs for the cd. She is her mother's child... She picked Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga (ok, so I know I probably shouldn't let her listen to Poker Face, especially since I know what it's about, but she loves it), Natasha Bedingfield, Phish (yes, my kid picked Phish), and New Kids on the Block. Joe is her favorite New Kid (look out Mandie, that curly hair is is hard not to fall in love with).

Ben is coming home in a few weeks (by the way, did I mention Ben's in Japan?, well he is) and while he's home, the fam (minus Mark, hey someone has to stay home and work, plus he's going to Vegas this weekend, don't feel too sorry for him) is piling in the car and driving in FL, for a much needed vacation. I'm ready to take a book and head for the beach and/or pool. Madi doesn't really care for the ocean. She got knocked over one time and she was all done. I seriously may get to FL and just decide to not come back. Well except for the NKOTB concert of course. I am sooo looking forward to going to FL. It's one of my favorite places. Plus, this time, I have a new niece, Sunnie, that I'm looking forward to meeting. Congrats to brother Nick and his fiancee Angela.

In other news, on to the most important things, My pop culture obsession:
Mark and I have been come very involved with the show The Wire, we are about done with the series, I'm not sure what we'll do when we finish, but hopefully Mad Men will be about ready to start.

I've fallen in love with the show, How I Met Your Mother. Could Jason Segel be any cuter and funnier? and Neil Patrick Harris cracks me up. Still lovin' The Office and Grey's Anatomy. The DVR has been very busy lately.

My movie watching has been kinda down lately, with The Wire pretty much taking up every spot on our cue on Netflix, I haven't watched too many movies lately, but am always open to suggestions...

Books! I can't lie, when I'm not watching The Wire, I'm probably reading. I've read so much in the last year, it's crazy. The Number Series by Janet Evanovich is awesome. I read the books so fast (actually I've been through the series twice now). It's a bitch waiting for the next book to come out (June 23rd is a long way away). I've read some random chick lit (god I love it). And yes, despite my better judgement and some pushing from my sisters-in-law, I read Twilight. And LOVED IT! I've been through that series at least twice now. Thank god I read it after all of the books were released or I would've been crazy waiting. Ok, yes, I know, Vampire Love story, seems kinda lame, but it's so good. Yes, I totally wanna marry Edward Cullen and have a million of his 1/2 vampire babies. I know, I might have a problem. Sam and I decided for some reason, it would be a good idea to go to Wal-Mart at midnight to buy the DVD, wow, and I thought my obsession with New Kids on the Block was bad (and it is) but it's nothing compared to the die hard Twilight fans. Needless to say, I probably won't do anymore midnight Twilight events. (Probably. lol)

I was down to reading stuff I had already read and I begged Aunt Gina for some books, thank god she has read a million books and it's happy to oblige me for suggestions and even mail me some. Mandie also sent me an email about swaptree.com. You list all of the books you have and then you can trade with with people that have stuff that you wanna read. FOR FREE! (well you pay postage but that's a small cost compared to going to Barnes and Noble) It's awesome. I've traded alot of books. This website has made it possible for me to get rid of those serial killer books I bought, when I went through that phase. Not only have I gotten Chick Lit, I've also gotten some classics that I feel like I've missed out on. You can even trade music, video games, and dvds. So awesome. If you want anymore info about it, let me know!

Well, I think that's about all of the updating I can do for now. I do think I'll be blogging more, like I said, sometimes it's hard to kill those 4 hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. You can follow me on twitter. Yes I am a sheep and joined Twitter. I'll be completely honest with you, I totally joined Twitter so I could follow Donnie Wahlberg. Now I can follow Donnie, Joe, and Jon.
So anyways, follow me at twitter.com/abbeystenger

And until next time... Peace!

Neglect.

I know I have been quite neglectful of my blogs. Mostly because nothing interesting has happened to me in the last 2 weeks and because quite frankly, I'm too lazy to write about the boring stuff.
This week has been "just one of those weeks". I have been De-Ben-ing Madi. My brother was home for about a day and a half last weekend, so obviously Madi was extremely excited to see him. She finally had someone new to show all of her new tricks, so she sang her Taylor Swift and her Chipmunks, she told her new jokes, she showed off her bike, ya know all of the usual stuff. I think Ben was glad to be going back to MS. I think he had his fill of her. We had all of this build up for Madi for Ben to come home and I don't think she realized it was only for 2 days or whatever, so this past week she's been a little monster (even more than usual). Tuesday night, She peed the bed. I can't give her too much grief over this, she's been without pull-ups at night for about 2 months and this is the 1st time it's happened. It's partically my fault because I let her drink after she had already gone potty for the night. Of course it happened in MY bed. That's ok, my sheets needed to be washed anyway. I guess I was just looking for a good excuse.
I did get to go to the bar on Friday night to hang out with Ben and his friends. 1. I felt really old because even still it doesn't seem like he or his friends should be able to drink. 2. I was pretty much one of the oldest people there. My aunt and cousin came up to keep me company, which was awesome so it wasn't like I was just sitting there with my dad all night. Not that I don't love my dad but it makes me feel like a loser. lol. I did get drunk enough that I needed a ride home, Mark didn't answer so I had to call my sister, who sent some random kid that I didn't know. Thank God my dad rode with me. I'm too old for that stuff. That's just all there is to it.
Mark's been working alot of OT so I only see him about 2 hours a day before he goes to bed. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. lol. Work has been... well work. Monday it started when some random guy of the street was making a scene in the lobby cussing at me. Tuesday, the scene wasn't quite a large but still there was cussing. Wed, I got up to the pee bed. Thursday, was pretty boring, which was kinda nice. it was The Office night, so at least I had something to look forward to. And Today, This is the 1st Friday I've worked in like 3 weeks or something, I got up about 20 minutes late. No time for a shower, so I washed and dried my hair as best as possible, put on my dirty work clothes and scurried to the ATM to see if my Stimulus Check was there. NOPE! This is B.S. I'm dying over here. I still haven't gotten anything for the mothers in my life. I need to order NKOTB tickets tomorrow and I believe Mark is going to have to work now. SHIT! And tomorrow I will be racin' for the cure. So Madi and I will get up at the buttcrack of dawn, put on our pink t-shirts, and walk in the cold. It's gonna be great! I actually really enjoy doing the race for the cure. It's amazing to see how many people go out and do it every year. Every year, Erica and I say we are going to get in shape and doing the running part, every year we do not. Erica! Let's do it next year! for real!! When did May become busier than the Christmas Holidays. That's what I would like to know. I literally have something booked for every weekend until after 6/14. And it seems to be that the busier I am the more lazy I want to be. Well I suppose that's all I have for now.