Drumroll, please...

I'm here to satisfy your anxious anticipation for the results of last week's poll:

"Do you think recent natural disasters may be a sign of the impending apocalypse?"

Yes, I realize you can see the results for yourself any time you feel like clicking on the "view results" link, but you can't get my priceless commentary and in-depth analysis on the subject unless you keep reading.  So keep reading!

First off, there were a total of 30 votes.  To answer your question, no, I didn't vote.  Why?  Because if you'll recall, I couldn't decide what I thought and I wanted your input in order to make an educated decision... about my own opinion...  Anyway, yeah, so 30 votes.  That seems like a lot considering I only average about 5 comments per post.  Who are you mystery people voting but not commenting?  (I kid, I kid.  Read, comment, vote, do what you will.  I'm just glad you stopped by!)

The results:
3 People (or 10% of voters) answered YES.
20 People (or 66% of voters, also known as an overwhelming majority) answered NO.
6 People (or 20% of voters) are as indecisive as I am and answered MAYBE.
1 Lonely person (3%) asked if I would REPEAT THE QUESTION. 

Here's a pie chart for you visual learners (sorry for the fuzziness, I'm working in MS Paint here):

Let's break it down now, shall we?

To the YESes:  I applaud you for your conviction, though I hope you're wrong.  Which I guess makes me one of those hellbound folks, because if I felt sure of my heaven-bounded-ness I suppose I wouldn't fear the apocalypse.

To the NOs:  I tend to side with you on this one and not just because you're the majority.  I'm also siding with you because I'm afraid the YESes might be right, but I don't want to admit it.

To the MAYBEs:  What kind of answer is that??  Do you secretly agree that recent natural disasters could be a sign of the apocalypse, but are too afraid to say so?  I'm guessing that's what it is.  And I don't blame you one bit.  If that's the case, my pie chart should look more like this:

Unfortunately for the YESes, the NOs are still in the lead by a long shot.

And to whoever voted I repeat the question - bless you.  If I had a prize to hand out, you'd get it.  I always think I'm hilarious but it's nice to know someone else appreciates my humor too.  Unless you really wanted me to repeat the question, in which case, please see the hot pink bit up above.  Too bad voting's closed now so yours won't be counted.

So my OFFICIAL opinion on whether or not these natural disasters should cause me to fear the apocalypse... 

I'm going to go with option D: "Can you repeat the question?" 

A cop out?  Maybe.  Sure.  Probably.  But if the apocalypse is coming, it's coming regardless of whether or not I think it is.  So I might as well spread a little humor around while I can.  And if I can't spread it around, well at least I made myself smile!

Oh, and since I'm sure you want the OFFICIAL official pie chart, here you go:

Amalgamation

FYI: This is my 400th post! Jeez I talk a lot.

Hubs bought this book called Eve.rything is Going to Ki.ll Eve.rybody and I've been reading it in bits and pieces. Each chapter describes a different way that the world could easily be destroyed by something already in existence: supervolcanoes, weird diseases, nanotechnology, etc. It's actually a really funny book, but I think it's starting to give me nightmares. This morning I woke up from a dream that my little brother was trying to kill a Smart car that had achieved sentience and was out to get us.

Or maybe I just drank too much wine with dinner...

Anywho.

Happy Friday!! Well, to me. Apologies to those of you that are only halfway through your workweek. I'm pretty excited to be going up north for a couple of days, but even more excited to be able to sleep in for four days in a row! I'm tired!

What would a 400th post be if there wasn't some smack-talking?

I mentioned there's a lady at work who's pregnant; she's about 10 weeks along, and I'm sorry, but she's really starting to tick me off. I would like to tell her, "Look. You don't need a belly band at 10 weeks, what you need are new pants. You're not 'showing,' you just gained 15 pounds because you've been eating way too much for the past 2 months!" But what really bothers me is that she'll go into my two employees' office and talk their ears off about her pregnancy. One of those two employees is the one who just miscarried. I don't think she knows about it (she definitely doesn't know about mine), but it's still a. annoying and b. unprofessional. If it happens again I am going to ask her to kindly knock that shit off.

And to wrap things up, a brief TTC update! Wee...

So yeah... we're TTC this C. I think I ovulated somewhere between Sunday and Tuesday. I'm trying not to think about it very much, to be honest! It would be really easy for me to start obsessing and I don't want to do that. So I'll just listen to my C+B meditations, and enjoy what will hopefully be a lovely and relaxing long weekend!

Bummer day

It's too early for all this bad news today. My employee who just found out she's pg started bleeding, and now she thinks she's miscarrying. It is still very early, so it would technically be a chemical, but she's going for betas this week so we'll see. She's bummed, but not devastated. Still, I'm sad for her.

Right after she told me that I got an email from a friend who just found out she has PCOS. (She has two kids and wants at least one more.) She wants to read up on it, so if anyone knows of any good, informative web sites to recommend please let me know.

Knock on wood I don't hear any more bad news today. I thought it felt like a weird day this morning. Do you ever get that? Every once in a while I'll be on my way to work and I'll think, "It's going to be a weird day," and everything turns out to be just a bit off. That's how today feels.

Hopefully this is as 'off' as it gets.

The balls (And some other pics)

Hey, check me out! I actually remembered to post photos! I figured while I was on a roll, I might as well post some others I've been meaning to show you as well.

First up: BALLS!

Here's the "egg." What'd I tell ya? Looks just like a ping pong ball right? Except for the metallic gold stamp of some Chinese characters of course.

And here's the egg after I cracked it open. You can sorta see the wax coating. Exciting!

And of course, the multitude of black balls. I should have counted sooner, but after I took several I counted and there were still 37 left! I'm thinking there's more like 50 in there. FIFTY!!

Okay, these are the "centerpieces" I put together for my friend A's non-engagement/engagement party. She and the groom wanted nothing resembling wedding-y, but I thought these were festive and also practical! Except that the flower boxes leaked, even though I lined them with plastic bags. Oops!

And finally, here's Atticus with his Easter Bow! He absolutely HATES having anything around his neck, so it was pretty funny watching him try to figure out how to take it off! But it was a HUGE pain getting a photo of both his face and the bow. I have like 30 pictures of his back and side now. (I know, I'm a weird cat lady.)

Have a great night!

My semi-psychic powers

I have this theory that I'm a little bit psychic. I get "feelings" about certain things. It's probably just standard-issue intuition, but it's fun thinking I have a tiny bit of ESP.

Mostly my feelings are limited to unimportant things. Like, I can usually tell if the Dodgers are going to win a given game. It has also worked for football games, which I rarely watch. But there have been two or three times I've had strong feelings about some IFers getting pregnant, and I was right. (I also have a very strong feeling that my SIL is carrying a boy, and I never guess baby gender right, but I've also never had a feeling about it, so we'll see in a couple months...)

Not surprisingly, I can't force the feelings; it either happens or it doesn't. And I can't really try to "ask" it anything either. Like, "Will I get pregnant this month?" usually yields me nothing.

But I've always had a feeling that I will eventually get pregnant. I don't know when or how, but I feel like it's out there. Of course, I've been wrong before. And it seems like the more I think about it, the less I feel sure of it. It's sometimes hard to tell if I just really, really want (or don't want) something to happen or if it's actually intuition, or premonition, or what have you.

Anyway, I'm ready for this 1WW to be over now. I'm analyzing everything and making myself crazy. Today for example - my boobs don't hurt, I still have a bunch of lotiony/creamy CM (it didn't dry up like I previously thought), and I am irritable as hell. Oh and I think I have some cramps forming now, a couple days later than usual. I want to believe some of these are good signs, but who knows? And I have a feeling that I WILL be starting acupuncture for fertility next week, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high.

Then again, maybe my "feelings" don't mean anything at all!

Friday mash-up

As much as I'm a tad annoyed that I never saw a truly positive OPK this C, I'm equally relieved that I at least got a definite negative last night. I just wanted it to be different than the previous three! We've been DTD every day since Sunday. I am tired. My mysterious lady parts are tired. And I am taking tonight OFF.

And how am I going to spend tonight, you ask? (You did, I heard you.) I'm going to curl up on the couch with hubs, Atticus, and a big bowl of popcorn, and watch the original TRON! Oh man, I'm a little giddy just thinking about it! Oops, is my inner nerd showing?? (Who am I kidding - I'm all nerd!)

Hubs also requested that I make homemade mac and cheese for dinner tonight. Help! I've only made it once before and it was a tad bland. Does anyone have an amazing recipe that will knock his socks off?

Speaking of dishes that knock off socks, last night hubs made a simply scrumptious shrimp risotto. He used this recipe, with asparagus and mushrooms. I love it when he makes risotto, but this was even better than usual. I highly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing, and seriously, who isn't into shrimp risotto?

I'm a little all over the place today, if you couldn't tell. Probably because I'm just so darn excited that it's FRIDAY! Finally! My boss is out today so maybe I'll let my minions head home early (which means I get to leave early too). Yeah it's a cheap trick to be well-liked (and get to go home early), but whatever. So I'm cheap! I can deal with that.

Snug as a bug

Okay people, enough with the Snu.ggies already!

The Snu.ggie is possibly the most hideous invention ever. And it's not even a truly original idea - it's a glorified housecoat for goodness sake! It's a bathrobe on backwards! But everyone is crazy about the $30 (okay, 19.99 + 7.95 s&h) blanket with sleeves.

And now my beloved Wee.zer is in on the action!! For shame!

Okay, okay, I admit it does look cozy and handy, and I would probably use it if I had one in the house. However, that will never happen unless someone gives us one, because I refuse to spend good money on something so heinously ugly!

Talking to myself

Does anyone else talk to themselves?

I do. All the time! No matter where I am or who can hear me.

Let me paint you a picture: At work I sit in a barren wasteland. It's a section of the floor that has a row of cubicles lined up against each wall, and out of 7 cubicles only 3 are being used. Even though the entire floor is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, I can't see the light of day from where I sit. My desk is one of only about 3 on the floor that has no natural light visible anywhere near it. All I see are beige walls, beige desks, beige cubicles, and the beige top-of-the-head of the temp who now sits across from me. Oh, and if I turn around I can see the plant perched atop my cube wall. We're not allowed to put pins in our cubes, so I can't even dress up my space. It's like Communist Russia in here. Only newer and cleaner. Or so I imagine anyway - I always pictured Communist Russia as a cold, dark, dirty, sad place.

My two employees, who are the only two people here that keep me entertained, occupy the office next to me and have to keep their door closed for the security of their work. It gets very lonely out here. So, I do what I can to keep myself entertained, and sometimes (okay, often) that includes vocalizing my thoughts. Like at normal conversation level; most of the time I don't try to subdue my outbursts. I say stuff like, "Holy good gravy, can this computer go ANY SLOWER?" "Woohoo, I finally figured out this GD pivot table!" "Seriously, my phone never rings while I'm sitting here, but I get up for TWO MINUTES and I have two new voicemails??" And of course, the understated but always appropriate, "Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."

Used to be my cube-neighbor, who is now on maternity leave, would occasionally respond to or laugh at my remarks. Now that she's gone it's crickets. Sigh... my inanity is wasted on these humorless people. Either that or they have too much work to do. (But I'm betting it's the former.)

My mom used to tell me that only crazy people talk to themselves. I really hope that's not true, although I wouldn't be surprised to find out I am actually crazy. So do any of you talk to yourselves without restraint (or with restraint), like me?

To you, from me!

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me, especially for you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make but I hope you will.

2- What I create will be just for you.

3-They say I have a year to get it to you. But I promise it will NOT take that long.

4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It’s a surprise to both of us at this point.

The catch? You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.

So the first five people who post, and are willing to pass it along,will get a handmade gift in the mail from me. When you get it, make sure you post a pic on your blog! Let's have some fun!

And another thing!

There is no single thing to blog about today, so here are a few little things for your enjoyment.

1. Today was a crazy ass day! I started a post about how boring my job is, and how I never have enough work to get me through the day, then I ended up getting slammed with enough work for three days! I secretly love these kinds of days though, they make me feel useful.

2. My department is being audited internally, and my cube neighbor is convinced the auditor has the hots for me. I say let him! And what's more, I'll even be nice to him (okay, I'm actually nice to everyone). Maybe he'll give us preferential treatment!

3. I live a pretty drama-free life, but people are stirring it up lately and I am sick of it. I think I'm gonna fly under the radar for a bit.

4. I'm ditching a baby shower in a few weeks to go to a Dodger game for my birthday. How many of you would spend your birthday at a baby shower?? Not me. (Okay, technically it's 2 days later, my b-day is the 23rd - Thurs, and the shower is Sat the 25th. But still.)

5. Hubs wants to go check out another A4 tonight! Oh, how I am lusting after this car. Only now he wants me to pick up dinner at the grocery store. I loathe the grocery store, especially after work. :P

And hey, it's time to go home! Happy Hump Day Eve!

Two...week...waaaaaiiiiiiiiitttt...

I checked my calendar and I'm about 8 DPO. I'm over the hump! But I was right in thinking this is going to be a LONG two weeks. Every day I'm analyzing my body. For example: I was extremely tired the past two days (I feel fine today, I think I finally got a good night's sleep last night), yesterday I felt a little crampy (but it was probably gas), my boobs don't hurt (a little odd but not unheard of), and I have had zero interest in the ice cream sandwiches currently residing in my freezer. Okay that one is actually pretty weird, I always want ice cream. Still, not wanting ice cream does not = baby in the belly.

So I guess since I have nothing else to talk about right now, I'll jump on the "sharing random stuff about me" wagon! You're welcome ;)

-I'm the middle child. I used to totally have MCS (middle child syndrome, hehe) but I'm over it now. (In case you're wondering, Hubs is the oldest.)

-I love writing. LOVE it. I embrace proper grammar and spelling (unless I think it will make me look snooty), and have been known to secretly go through memos and emails from upper management with a red pen, just for the satisfaction of correcting someone who gets paid way more than I do.

-I know I'm not as smart as I once was. I forget words when I'm in the middle of a sentence, I have to take more time to think about things, I can just feel my brain not functioning as quickly as it used to!

-I went to a private university for the sole reason that I wanted to be in their choir. And I was. That was the only good thing about the school. I hated it so much that I left after the first year. But at least I got to be on the Hour of Power at the Crystal Cathedral! :)

-I love beer. I think it's genetic. My dad loves it too and so did my maternal grandmother (before she found out she had celiac disease), so I've got it from both sides.

-I have been endowed with 10 different nationalities, but I'm mostly Greek (1/4). And yes, gatherings at my relatives' houses are strikingly similar to those seen on the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

-My cat's full name is Atticus Archimedes Aloysius. That was in response to my brother naming his cat Lebowski Leviticus Whitepaw. He later tacked "Excelsior" onto the end. I have yet to think of a fourth name for my boy.

Alrighty. Now can somebody please tell this day to HURRY IT UP?? This is the longest damn day of my life. Sheesh.