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August 31, 2005
Restlessness
This morning I woke up so late. My mom had to call me and get me out of bed because I was going to miss work if I didn't get moving! She sent me off with a cup of tea that she made for me while I was getting dressed. I ran out to my car (in the pouring rain). I put my sweatshirt over the top of the mug so the rain wouldn't get into my yummy tea. Well, by running to my car, I ended up spilling the tea all over the sweater. So I headed up the driveway and onto my usual morning route to work. When I hit 590, it was raining like crazy but still, as usual I moved to the left lane intent on passing the slower cars (because I was late you know?) Well...over the mini-hill, I realized that the lights in front of me were all brake lights!! So I had to slam on my own brakes to avoid smashing into everyone else. After sitting in the 590 parking lot for 15 minutes (still not past the Empire Blvd. exit!) I ended up calling Jess at work to let her know I was late. I finally made it to work and ran from my car to the door...but as I was running, I realized I forgot my swipey card. Great...There was a women going in but she was too far away to hear me call to her. So I stood outside in the rain until the next person to drive up could open the door for me. Luckly it wasn't too long. The worst part about it is that I had my swipey card in my purse the WHOLE day, and I didn't even notice until DINNER tonight!!!
Anyway, even after the rough start to the day it was a really great day. I had a little bit of trouble focusing. Jess was sitting at my cube most of the day, so we could work on our project together...but we were both slap happy so it was kind of hard to stay on topic ;-) but we pulled together and got our work done, with even an hour to spare!
Oh my god. Golden palace is on TV right now, and Stan died! I have to go watch to see what happened! BRB! Don't go anywhere OK?!?!
OK, I'm back. False alarm. He isn't really dead. Anyway...where was I? Oh yeah, Jess and I being slap happy at work. So Jena has been pretty busy at work and we took a few breaks to go over and visit her, eat some animal crackers, make her start laughing, you know the usual. Well, after much discussion we've decided to start Girls Nights. Not sure exactly which nights, but we're going to have dinner nights, happy hour nights, shopping nights, and sleep over nights once in a while --on weekdays :-) So we can have enough time to talk and not have to "go back to work" :-) I'm psyched for that. I've been missing my Girlie nights :-) I LOVEEEEEEE girlie nights. When I was in Texas we had Girlie Nights with Shelly and Liz at Liz's house, and then of course GNO in New Hampshire with Maki and Erin. So, I'm very very happy to have Girls night reinstated. Jena has even suggested that we should go to the Roost (Country bar in Rochester) and do Thursday night Line Dancing! (They teach you on Thursdays)
Anyway, after work I taught English to my turkish student. It's been a while because last week I had to cancel Wednesday night due to babysitting Michael, and the past three weekends I've been out of town...so we had a lot of catching up to do. Afterwards, we all went out to Shiki for dinner. It was a night for couples at dinner. Chau and Thuan, Nate and his friend Jessa, Shaemus and his girlfriend (Toni I think?), and Seymen and I. It was actually a really nice dinner and everyone was really into trying the desserts :-))) That's my FAVORITE!! We had Mochi ice cream, ginger ice cream, and chocolate cake (that wasn't chocolate?) hehhee :-) Sooooo yummmyyyy!!
Anyway, I better get going off to bed. I have some more reading to do. I'm almost done with my book. I don't want to be up all night....again...hehehe. I was up till 2AM last night reading my book. I couldn't put it down. :-) OK! Nighty night!
Posted by beth at 10:54 PM | Comments (0)
August 29, 2005
BOSTON!
OK! My second Big City in two weeks!! Seymen and I just came home from a nice weekend in Boston! Erin and Kevin drove down from New Hampshire on Saturday and we spent the day and evening together. Sunday morning, we spent time together eating and shopping, and then at quarter to three, we had to begin the horrible, terrible, most dreaded process of saying GOODBYE :-(((( It was sooo sad...but we survived. It was so much fun to see ERin and Kevin. Seymen and I really enjoyed ourselves, laughing and talking all weekend long. And of course we took pictures (See Photo Albums for Pictures!!).
We actually ended up not doing so much on Saturday. Seymen and I woke up (early for us since we arrived in Boston at 2AM) and walked around Newbury Street at 11-1:30. We had lunch and did a little shopping. Seymen was trying to convince me to buy SOMETHING from one of the stores, but I felt too uncomfortable...Plus, I wasn't sure if the tag was saying that the skirt I liked was: $59.00 or $5900.00 :-) I was too embarrassed to ask Seymen inside the store ;-) hehehe.
Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel to wait for Erin and Kevin to show up. Seymen suggested that we each have a bloody mary...When Erin and Kevin arrived we each decided to have one more...and then another...and then another :-) We actually had a GREAT time, just catching up, telling stories...Most of them Maki stories, because by the end, our bar tender Trish, told her we better bring Maki back with us the next time we come since she heard so much about her!!! :-) It was sooooo nice to be with one of my bestest friends ever. It has been so long since I've had Beth and Erin bonding time :-) Where we talk and laugh, and just have a great time being goofy and stupid :-) It's so nice too because Kevin and Seymen get along really well together so the four of us just have a great time...Usually being mean to one another...Well actually, me and Kevin being mean to one another, and Erin and Seymen trying to have a conversation without me interrupting them ;-)
We actually found something really intersting out during this vacation together. Kevin is a planner, as am I. Erin is not, as is Seymen! We were trying to make dinner plans, and Kevin and I were doing all the work, debating, and making plans. Seymen and ERin were just lounging around, talking, TOTALLY not planning ;-) WE ended up having a conversation about Planning vs. Not Planning...and realized that we have exact opposite views in both our relationships! I guess that's how things work right :-) You can't be exactly alike :-)
The only part of the weekend that I regret, is not getting to see Gina. We talked all weekend though, but couldn't actually coordinate. Probably because we had NO PLANS whatsoever ;-) heheheh just meeting up and playing it by ear :-) and because she has a life too :-) Anyway, we decided that it was OK since we had just seen each other less than a month ago when she was in Rochester. Hopefully next time I get to Boston, we'll be able to get together.
The last thing that I want to comment about my weekend is this book on tape that I became obsessed with during our road trip, and forced Seymen to listen to the ENTIRE story. It was really really good!!! Riviting!!! It was the story of Carmen Bin Laden - The Sister-In-Law of you know who. (I don't want to say too many bad names in here, as to avoid the big S in my comments) Anyway, I highly recommend it! It's called Into the Kingdom. It was extremely enlightening about marriage to a Saudi man for a women, and living as a foregin women in Saudi Arbia. Very intersting. Definitly reminded me of "Not without my Daughter" the movie with Sally Fields --only less dramatic. No bombs while being locked in a room :-) Seymen was making fun of me, saying maybe our next vacation should be to Saudi Aribia so I can have 100% full experience of being a foreginer in Saudi :-)
Posted by beth at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2005
Flying Ninjas!!
My nightmare has come true!!! It's flying ninjas on the East coast! Ryan sent me this article tonight:
Ninja Invades Williamstown Home
Aug 24, 2005 3:58 pm US/Eastern
WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ. (KYW) Police in Gloucester County, New Jersey, are on the lookout for a suspect who broke into a home early Wednesday wearing a ninja suit.
Officials say the armed man cut the phone line to a Williamstown home, entered the residence, and then tied up the male owner.
The ninja got away with the victim's wallet and a change jar. The wallet was later found on a nearby jogging path.
Police were able to recover fingerprints from the door of the home and other objects.
Contact police if you have any information that can aid in this investigation.
For those of you who don't know about my FEAR of being attacked my flying ninjas...well now you know. I have a fear of flying ninjas. It was always a joke that everyone used to make fun of me about, but there was seriously one day when I thought my apartment was being broken into during work, by flying ninjas...and at the time I dragged my friend from work home with me to attack them with my two snow brushes in the back of my car. As it turned out, something must have just moved my mouse therfore forcing my IM to come back from "idle" status, and we weren't in fact being attacked by flying ninjas.
Anyway, aside from random fears...I had a GREAT night tonight. Actually, it was a pretty good day, considering I was trying to do things way too fast and didn't have any time to breathe, but still a pretty good and productive day. But anyway, away from work...I babysat for Michael tonight! It's been so long!!! I can't believe that he's already 6 years old! I picked him up from Day care, we went swimming at my moms, took the puppies for a walk and had dinner. It was so much fun :-) He's so cute. He taught my mom and I how to properly hold the leash when walking the dog ;-) and when we were taking the cover off the pool he said: "Beth, your such a kid." (Yes, a 6 year old made this observation and told me!!) and I said: "Why do you say that?" and he replied: "Because you have this funny chair for the pool. You such a kid!". How cute is that?!?! :-) Oh yeah, and when I came downstairs after putting my bathing suit on, I had shorts and a tank top on and Michael goes: "Wow, Beth you look so pretty, you could be my daughter" LOL! My mom and I were in stiches all night with his little comments.
Anyway, when I brought him home we started the evening routine. Bath time, story, and finally off to bed. His mom came home in the middle, but he made me finish the entire routine. Including reading him a book and tucking him in bed. Afterwards, like always Wendy and I got to talking and ended up talking until 10:30PM. Unfortunately, my cell phone doesn't work in her house, so I didn't hear the rings when Seymen and Chrissy called. I thought I'd be done by 9PM, and told Seymen so. Well he got nervouse (Yup!! Just like I do!!!) that maybe I died, and so he called my sister, and then my sister got nervouse, and then my mom got nervouse. When I finally made it out to my car, I had a ton of missed calls and a voicemail from each, wondering where I was! I felt so loved :-)))
Posted by beth at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2005
Good Friends Converge
Hi!! Well yesterday I thought I was having a really bad day. I was tired and depressed all day and after work, I started in on Seymen "nagging" him, making his life heck too ;-) But I quickly decided that it wasn't very nice, so took my leave of him, and went to meet Jena and go walk for exercise. Maki called, and we all decided to go down to Park Ave for some coffee (tea for me), so Maki and Jena could meet. (I've been dying for Jena and Maki to meet, and Jena was sooooooo excited to finally meet Maki --after all the talking I did about her) Anyway, it was a successful meeting :-) Maki and Jena hit it off right away, and pretty soon, Jena had Maki and I cracking up :-) When we were sitting there, my cell phone rang and low and behold...it was ERIN!! Calling from New Hampshire!!!! It was awesome!!! SO Maki and I Erin had a chance to talk on the phone (because Maki can't make it to Boston this weekend with Seymen and I). Erin was almost crying because it had been so long since she talked to Maki and was so happy to hear her voice! When I spoke to Erin, she relayed the message that her parents are really excited that I'm coming to Boston and want to join us for the night on Saturday night!!!!! So, they and her brother Keith (my Keeffersss!!!) are maybe going to come down to visit tooooo!!! I"m so excited!!! I feel so honored that I will get to see her parents twice in a month!!! (They were just in Rochester because their truck broke down in Geneva, so Maki and I went out to meet them one day, and see them). I'm pretty sure I haven't seen Keith since Erin's wedding...ummmm 2 years ago! (I know! It's been SOOOOOOOOOO long since Maki and I have made a trip up there!!!) Anyway, I'm really excited. It's going to be the reunion of the CENTURY!!! Seeing Erin, Kevo and her whole fam...and now that Gina's living in Boston, we'll be able to see her too!!! Can't waitttttttttt!! I'm so excited!!! I can't believe it's only 3 days away!!!
Anyway, I'm actually having a pretty good morning so far. Not that I've done much. We received feedback on both projects...the PETCO POC, and Topspin DD...so the business (that ended yesterday afternoon) will resume again at 10:30...but I had a great chat with Jessica, and we made lunch plans for the outside picnic tables and our brought lunches...can you believe it? I actually packed my lunch!!!
And two other things...1. I'm addicted to Mint tea. Jena think's it kind of disgusting...Like drinking gum ;-) 2. Seymen's meeting with a green card lawyer today!! Wahoooooo!!!! Life is good, especially considering that today is my first official day of quitting all the things that are BAD for me...So far so good. We'll see how the rest of the day pans out for me. OK, gotta get to work now. Adios!
Posted by beth at 10:02 AM | Comments (1)
August 21, 2005
Toronto
Well we just got home from Toronto. Jena came with me and my family (mom, bill, and grandparents) for a fun filled weekend in Toronto. We were supposed to take the fast ferry, but it was all sold out so we had to drive instead. It was such a nice weekend! We had a great time (even though Jena and I were EXHAUSTED most of the time.) Friday night Jena came over to my mom's to sleep over so we could get an early start. We ended up staying up all night talking until 3:30AM!!! When my mom tried to wake us up at 8:00AM, we both hated ourselves for staying up so late!
Anyway, it was a great time. We had rooms at the Westin Harbour Castle. Jena was able to experience the Heavenly Bed for the first time!! We also went to Richlee's (Bill's favorite restuarant and Seymen's when he was introduced to it a few years ago by Bill.) I hadn't had a chance to go to it yet (Seymen and Bill went to Toronto together when he was getting his H-1 Visa) so I was PSYCHED to try it. And of course it exceeded any expectations that I had. It was DELICIOUS. My stomach is gurgling just thinking about it.
Today, we went to see the blue man group, and Jena and I headed back to Rochester after a quick dinner at the Greek Restuarant next to the hotel. (Again delicious). We had a pretty unventful drive...except our "dumb girl" experience at the border. The custom's guy asked us the usual questions:
Custom's Guy: Hi, where are you from.
Beth and Jena in unison: Rochester, New York
Custom's Guy: What were you doing in Canada
Beth: Going to see a show!
Custom's Guy: All citizen's of the U.S?
Beth and Jena in unison: Yes!
Custom's Guy: Can I see your IDs? Where in Canada were you?
Beth: Seeing the Blue Man Group <--Dumb girl answer
Jena: In toronto seeing a show.
Custom's Guy: Oh? That must have been a fun concert.
Jena: Well actually it was a show on Broadway.
Custom's Guy: Oh really? Is it good?
Beth and Jena in unison: Ohhhh yess! It was excellent <--Dumb girls answer
Beth: You should DEFINITLY see it! <-- Dumb Girl answer
Jena: Yeah! It was awesome!
Custom's Guy: Umm...OK...Who's car is this?
Beth: It's my car (while petting the door) <-- Dumb girl.
Custom's Guy: OK. Go ahead... (Slightly smiling)
So, at least we got him to smile!! We both started cracking up afterwards. We then started driving and had to make a U-iey on the Robert Mosely Parkway...and then again on Route 18 when we thought we were lost, panicked and turned around and then called Jena's Dad, and then had to turn around again. But it turned out OK, and we made it back fine :-)
Anyway, I'm off to bed. Talk to you later!
Posted by beth at 10:40 PM | Comments (1)
August 19, 2005
Phew!!!
Wow, I was a bit over-stimulated during my earlier posting today! ;-) Well, everything turned out after all. We had a tough first few minutes when I arrived at the collaboration meeting. The GDs/MPs/Video peeps had a conference call with the customer earlier in the day, and he brought up the subject of content (Which they freaked out about because they didn't feel comfortable speaking to that subject) but basically relayed a message of a more detailed request of what he wanted to see...Wellll...that certainly would have helped us out a BIT more yesterday BEFORE I stayed up all night to write the content! ;-) But that's what we had, and at first thought we had a scare that all the content would have to be re-written...and that YES weekend work would be required to get it done...which meant weekend work for ONLY Beth...In my mind I was crying internally about having to cancel the Toronto trip, and also crying that I had just completely failed on trying to impress my new boss with my work. But, as we continued talking and looking at the content that I had written, it turned out OK! Actually, I had nailed it pretty closely, and although my intro/WIIFM page needed a little tweaking, we were actually right on target. What I thought would be a weekends worth of work, turned out to be only an hours worth of edits once I made it back to my desk! WAHOOOOO!!! Yipppeeee! What a relief.
So I ended the work day by running (actually driving...but very quickly) to a dinner meeting my Volunteer group...for the first of our newly established monthly dinners. We ate at Shiki and when we were kicked out because it was so busy and they needed our table, we moved down the street to the South Wedge Diner. It was GREAT! I love my group! And once we start talking we just can't stop! We met at 6 and I left to go home around 9!!! Anyway, I gotta run again because Seymen's waiting for me to get moving back to mom's house. I'm so busy, I don't even have time to relax and make my blog entries! :-(( Next week hopefully!!!
Posted by beth at 09:36 PM | Comments (0)
Here goes nothing!
Hi! I know I've been totally incommunicado for the past few days. Work has blown up on me. I was pulled off of my current project temporarily to help them create a Proof of Concept for another potential customer. It's been crazy. We received content (if you can call it that ;-) yesterday, and I had to re-write all the content for Video host, and business simulation by 2PM today. I just finished and sent it off to the team. I'm so nervouse. My armpits are sweating (I made Jena touch them so she could see first hand how nervouse I am). Anyway, I feel like this is HUGE because my new boss will be seeing my work for the first time (I think). She hasn't seen anything that I can do yet since I've been mainly still on the Cisco team. Anyway, I HOPE She likes it!!! Also, a bunch of big-wigs are in on this, all going to be reviewing my work before we send it off to the customer on Monday. I'm shaking I'm so nervouse.
Last night Seymen got me all set up at the apartment. I had my wireless connection, two monitors, his big comfy chair...and I hammered out the content. He just called me 5 minutes ago to see how it went. Unfortunately, I'm leaving to go put my head on the line RIGHT NOW!! So I gotta run...but I just wanted to tell you how NERVOUSSSSSss I am!!!!
Posted by beth at 01:49 PM | Comments (1)
August 16, 2005
I miss you
So my sister left for her Florida vacation with Jake, last night :-( I'm sad. I mean I'm DEFINITLY looking forward to sleeping the bed all BY MYSELF!!! But I'm gonna miss her attention after work. We have special rules about missing each other when one is gone. Last night, we had to re-outline the rules:
atmosphhere: Beth sitting in the computer chair at her laptop...Chrissy sitting on the floor in front of the mirror doing her hair...
Beth: Are you gonna miss me while your gone
Chrissy: No.
Beth: God! That's really mean.
Chrissy: You know the rules. I don't miss you when I go away...I only miss you when YOU go away. Did you miss me when you went to Arizona?
Beth: No...Well, I guess I forgot the rules. Well...I'm gonna miss you.
Chrissy: OK. Well I'll miss you when your in Boston.
The part that makes me the saddest, is that when she comes back, I'll be going to Boston, and that Sunday she's moving back to Buffalo. The days of Chrissy and I living together again at Mom's, sharing a room, sharing a bed, sharing a computer...are almost over. I will hopefully be moving out the week after. My poor mom is getting nervous about both of us leaving. She REALLY doesn't want me to start moving clothes over to the apartment. She kept looking at my empty suitcase last night when I was packing it up all "sad-like". (I'm cleaning out my closet because my grandparents are visiting and are taking over my room and closet for the next two weeks) Bill is going to be travelling alot during September...so everyone's leaving...
Anyway, off the depressing note! I just had a really nice lunch today! Jena, Jessica, Deb, Susan, and I sat outside in the sun at the pinic tables for lunch. It was so nice :-)) We had a lot of fun just chattin' it up, laughing...(mainly at me ;-) I somehow became the BUTT of the jokes by the end of lunch ;-)...But that's OK. I'll take one for the team today...Just watch out next outside picnic girls!!!! >:-P None of us wanted to come back inside. I'm planning on bringing my lunch more often so we can have more outside picnics :-)
Posted by beth at 01:07 PM | Comments (0)
August 14, 2005
Camp Fisk
Well we're back from Camp Fisk (Nate's Parents cabin). Anyway, we a partial Fish C reunion with our friends from RIT. It was a great weekend. Please check back for more pics.
I've decided that I am going to work on a project of uploading and creating albums for all my pictures (dating back as far as my Ireland Trip a few years ago). Anyway, I'm testing out Flickr until I get my new software installed, and Seymen builds us a server so we can have TONS and TONS of pictures...because you know that I can't just have a little...I need to go all the way. Anyway, this of course will take MUCHO time...but that's the latest plan...and until then I will be switching between Flickr and my Web Album Generator (depending on the Laziness factor).
So for your current enjoyment...Here's Camp Fisk Pictures from this weekend (Only a few because it's late)
Posted by beth at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2005
EXCITEMENT!!!
Hi!!! I just got back from my team meeting for my current project. The project manager just informed us that Cisco is requesting that one of us from LMNK go to either San Jose or Amsterdam for the video shooting!!!! So!!!! There's a 50-50 chance that I'll be going!!!! They are trying to decide if they want the video person there, or a content person...and if they want a content person, then they will send me because Jonathan is too busy with another project!!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I'm crossing my fingers for the INTERNATIONAL FA's to be chosen for the video so that way I get to go to AMSTERDAM on LMNKs TICKET!! :-)))) Wahoooooooooooooo!!!!! (Yes, I am counting my eggs before they hatch...probably I won't get to go to either place)
On a 2nd note, I just received pictures from the LMNK Survivor Pinic (from Dave Pesce's camera)
And a special picture of Jena, Jessica, and I :-) (Jessica is new to LMNK and our newest friend. We always drive the three of us together to lunches at Wegmans on Fridays --I've adopted myself to the Wegmans Lunch group now becuase I've gone 3 times now ;-). Anyway, Jessica is working on the latest project with me :-)))...So we get to work together!! :-)
Posted by beth at 02:39 PM | Comments (1)
August 11, 2005
Back in Commission
Hi! I'm getting back to regular Beth! I woke up this morning feeling pretty good. I think the anti-biotics are helping...That and the sudafed, the clariton, and the cough medicine. When I was taking all of the above yesterday, I started thinking about that commercial where they teach us about "ODing" on over the counter drugs, and how it can be dangerous because some meds have the other meds in them. Anyway, it kind of freaked me out, but I still did it, and I still woke up this morning...so I guess that's a step in the right direction. My doctor called me back this morning about some concerns I've had on the side effects of my anti-biotics. I confessed that maybe I over-reacted yesterday, and have just started eating non-solid food, and I am fine until I finish the pills. :-)
So, today is the BIG Element K Survivor Picnic. Yup, it's exciting. We stop working at 12 noon, and start with the Survivor activities. Jena decided to sign me up for the raft building event. I then changed myself to an ALTERNATE for the event, but low and behold, two team members had to beg out 1. for a work COE 2. out sick...so now I'm on the raft building team. Great :-) I'm nervous now. Ohh well. At least I didn't have to alternate for the pie eating contests. I'd been in deep *hit (LITERALLY --- EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW) if that were my event. Anyway, it'll be FUN. Jena Promised. I'm really excited because we got free t-shirts. I love free t-shirts.
Posted by beth at 09:57 AM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2005
Lung Infection
I finally went to the doctor's today. Last night my mom kind of freaked me out, so I was convinced to find a doctor and go see him. I ended up calling my dad and going to see his doctor because my dad LOVESSSS his doctor (even though he never sees him!) and even my sister goes to him...so I thought I'd give it a shot. Turned out that he's a really nice guy. Kind of hippy, but not so hippy like. I can see why my dad really likes him. He was talking to me about how smart my dad is ;-) But anyway, after listening to my list of symptoms, and my chest, he sent me home with a prescription for anti-biotics...I should be cured in 2-weeks! :-) (If not I have to get a chest X-ray) But I'm just so excited that I'll be allowed back into my beds once my cough goes away. Too bad Chrissy's last two weeks of work and waking up early were fun filled nights of me coughing in my sleep. Poor Chrissy :-)
Posted by beth at 12:58 PM | Comments (1)
August 08, 2005
Pictures Pictures and More Pictures!!
I uploaded more pictures tonight! (Finally I know!) Anyway, there's two new sets...
1. Bill and Chrissy's Birthday party (Including more PUPPY pictures :-)
2. Six Flags Darien Lake with Fuji trip.
Yeay! Anyway, that took me all night...I was hoping it would only take me an hour so I took a sudafed before I started and now I feel tired. I'm going to call the DR tomorrow. My mom thinks I might have walking pnenomia (spelling??) or something...because I've had a cough that won't go away...and I'm EXHAUSTED. Could be that...or that I really just need a weekend of REST where I lay around in my PJs watching trashy lifetime movies. ;-) Oh well...Goodnight! And enjoy the pics.
Posted by beth at 11:35 PM | Comments (0)
August 07, 2005
Dairen Lake
Just a quick note tonight...We just came home from Darien Lake. We spent SOOO much time there! This morning, everyone met at our apartment and we walked across the street to Cracker Barrel for breakfast (yes breakfast at 11:15AM). We then headed out to Darien Lake in time for free food and beer at the Pavillion where Fuji had a tent. We ended up splitting up for the rest of the day, Seymen and I switching back and forth between Chrissy and her friends, and Johnny and Seymen's other friends. After a bit of a rough start (I cried a little...because I was scared of roller coasters and wanted to go on my kind of ride...which no one would go on until I went and found my sister) but after we were totally soaked on the Grizzly Run, I was much better and we ended up having a really nice day :-) Seymen even won a HUGEEEEEEEEEEE dog during the ring toss. It's so big that we had a really hard time stuffing it in the trunk. Anyway, we ate alot, drank alot, and had alot of fun. So look for pictures tomorrow!! Hopefully, when I get back home after work I can post some :-)
Posted by beth at 10:52 PM | Comments (0)
August 05, 2005
Busy Beth!
My schedule has "thrown-up" on me!!! :-) I'm totally booked for all of AUGUST!! Every weekend for the entire month I have something to do or I am travelling somewhere! This weekend is my sister's 24th birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISSY!!! We are continuing (we started last night at my dad's) the celebrations tonight with a lobster dinner (steak for me...the picky one) at my mom's, followed by a party by the pool. It's definitly true in my family that our birthdays last for a full week! It's also my step-dad's birthday (out of respect I won't write how old he's turning ;-) HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL!!! So tonight is some major celebration. In addition to the excitment of birthday cake and presents for Chrissy and Bill, I am bringing my Caydunlik and turkish tea and coffee cups for Turkish tea and Turkish coffee. (I think I'm the only one who's really excited for that, but oh well).
Tomorrow I'm teaching, and then CLEANINGGGG my new bathroom. I have some bathroom furniture shopping that I need to do. (Maybe I can even convince Seymen that he needs to come with me to do that!!) And I have to start unpacking my box of pots and pans. It has been sitting in the middle of the hallway floor for a week...where I left it last Sunday, when we were rushing around...trying to clean and get back to my mom's in time for our Sunday night dinner. Anyway, this is the last Saturday that I will be available to do any cleaning, moving or unpacking.
So...anyway, the BEST part of this weekend is our planned trip to Darien Lake with Fuji! Chrissy, Jake, and two of her friends are coming...and Jena is coming too!!! It's going to be really fun! I'm excited (well kind of not so excited...because I'm scared of roller coasters, and I just remembered the last time I went on a water slide was like 8 years ago in Colorado with my sisters. I was going down this half covered/half open water slide...and as I got close to the bottom I guess I was really excited or something, and I ended up punching myself in the stomach and knocked the wind out of myself. I almost DROWNED! I wasn't the same after that...and I've not had the courage to try any water slides since them. I think the Lazy River is calling my name ;-) But we'll see. With Jena there, she seems to make me conqure my fears, and try new things that I usually in my own right mind wouldn't do. I also have to add this one last memory of my last time at an amusement park. A group of us in New Hampshire went to Six Flags New England (Erin, Kevin, Maki, Vir, Brian and Dana, and me --I think that was all of us) I was of course scared crapless...but they talked me into going on this wooden roller coster. So I went...and you know how they take pictures of you as your going? Well...in this particular picture, it happened to get a great shot of me. I was hanging onto the handle for dear life. My two braids were sticking straight out like Pippy-Long-Stocking, my eyes were squeezed shut, and I must have been screaming soooo hard because I sware to god, you could see the fillings in my teeth on the picture ;-)...And actually come to think if it...I'm starting to panic so I have to change subjects.
The next weekend, Seymen and I are supposed to go to Saratoga with some college buddies to go camping in a lodge (yes, they have BEDS!!! MY kind of camping!!! None of this tent crap! ;-) (just kidding Jena :-) Anyway, the weekend after that Grandma and Grandpa are coming to visit for a while. We are going to FINALLY go on the Fast Ferry to see a show and go to Bill's and Seymen's FAVORITE restuarant. The weekend after that is our Boston Trip! (EKEKKEKEK!!! SOOOOOOO EXCITEDDDDDDDDDD!!!) And the weekend after that: IT'S SEPTEMBER!!! And I can finally have a free weekend to move into the apartment.
Off the subject, at work someone sent a link to a blog of a collegue in our Chennai, India branch of Element K (I bet you didn't know that we are so large that we have an international branch huh?!? LOL) Well anyway, we just had two people come to Rochester to visit. This person let one of the visitors make a guest posting about his first trip (ever!) to the U.S. It's really a cute entry. It makes you take a look at Rochester and the United States with fresh eyes. I loved it...so I thought I'd share it with ya'll.
I think what I found the funniest, is that he was in the U.S. for three weeks, probably saw so many different things, and a portion of his entry is about our grocery store -- Wegmans :-)
Posted by beth at 04:22 PM | Comments (0)
August 04, 2005
BOSTON TRIP!!!!
Ohhhh my godddddd!! I talked to Erin tonight and we had an impromptu planning session ;-) We're having a vacation weekend in Boston the last weekend in August!!! Erin and Kevin are coming down from New Hampy-ville to Boston, and Seymen and I will come from Rochester! I'm sooooooooooooo excited!!! Erin was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited that she booked the hotel while we were on the phone together :-D (Ahhh...the luxaries of high speed internet access...right? hehehe) Anyway, we are SOOOOOOOOO excited. It's been over a year since I've seen her! I've moved to Texas and back to Rochester since the last time we were together. Now all I have to do is convince Maki that she needs to come toooo so we can have the "Original Charlie's Angels" back together again. (Not to take away from to Steph and Janet, because we were the Charlie's Angels "Full Throttle") But, the Original Charlie's Angels go WAYYYYY back...to Winter/Spring Quarter 2001 (Back in the day when Maki and I both lived in New Hampshire), when Shawn from Aprisma offically named us three "the Angels"...where the theme song for us: Independent Women played 24/7 in the office (well actually 8 hrs/day, 40 hours a week...but close enough, right? hehehehe)...Anyway, the Angels take on Boston!!!! (In 2001, Maki, Erin, and I took on the state of Florida in a week long road trip between Delray Beach (Beth's Grandparents home), Naples (Holiday Inn), Palm Island (Beth's dad's home), and back to Delray--in a mitsubishi eclipse spyder convertable--with scary old men yelling: "You girls got it GOIN' ONNNNNNNNNNN....And you KNOWWWWWWW it!!!!" :-)
I'm soooo excited. I was sssoooooooo pumped, that I kept my mom up until 12:30AM talking to me, while Bill passed out in bed, and Chrissy on the couch. (Mom and Bill just flew in from Spokane, WA tonight...after a week long visit with my niece LuLu!!! Who is SOOOOOOOOOOO cute and has GROWNNNN so much since we saw her in June!) And now I'm STILLLLLLL pumped as it's 12:47pm, and I'm sitting in complete darkness in my bedroom while poor Chrissy is sleeping away in bed, writing to you so you are alll PUMPPPPPPPPPPEDDDDD toooo!!!! YEAYYYYY!!! (God I'm gonna hate myself at 7:15 tomorrow morning).
Ohhhh and the next best part of my conversation with Erin is that her parents are stranded in Waterloo!! Only 3 thruway exits away from me!!! Their transmission died in their truck, so they have been holed up in a hotel with a rental car, and nothing to do, and no where to go until friday when their truck should be fixed!!! So I am hopefully going to see them tomorrow...Which will be AWESOME because I haven't seen them since Erin's WEDDING. (I think...yeah, because the last time I saw Erin, we met in Boxboro, MA when I was on a business trip for LMNK --Pre-Texas time, and she was in Marlboro, MA for a business trip as well!!!) I'm so excited to see them. It's almost as if I'm seeing Erin herself!! Her parents are the coolest ever. They are all about going out and travelling it up...and both her mom and dad say: "Wicked" all the TIME :-) It's so cute :-) I love them so much. EVerytime Maki and I visit Erin, we always have to go to her parents and hang out ;-) They are like Mine and Maki's parents away from home. (They took in Maki, Vir, and I for the holidays when we all lived in NH together...like one big happy family...Awwwwwwwwwwww...I miss New Hampy-ville now that I"m writing about it!!!)
Anyway...I guess I should go to bed...hopefully I'll be able to sleep. I think I may have drank too much sprite or something. My leg keeps shaking. I may have to go sleep in the basement so I don't bother Chrissy with my PUMPED-UP-NESS!!
Posted by beth at 12:36 AM | Comments (0)
August 03, 2005
Blood Sucking Creatures
I made a huge mistake last night. I had my door open during PRIME misquito hour :-( This morning I got in my car and drove to work. At the top of the flats, I noticed a misquito flying around the passenger seat so I tried to kill it. I thought I was successful, but unfortunately, the blood sucking little *bleeper* must have stayed alive because I received 3 more bites by the time I got to work. The last one, I terminited the little *bleeper's* life, but unfortunately I was too late...He had his last meal before death. And now I have a misquito bit on my inner thigh (yes. up my skirt) so I look like a jerk at work, itching myself. Great. ;-)
**Actually, he bit me TWICE up there! I just realized it was 2 bites.**
Posted by beth at 09:19 AM | Comments (1)
August 02, 2005
Surprising Lunch
Jena and I decided to go to Shiki for lunch today. We tried to recruit LMNK people to come with, but everyone backed out. So off we went, the two of us. As we were sitting there, all the Fuji peeps made a surprise appearance. The biggest surprise was that AnG joined the group! So Jena and I moved our seat over to their table and ate lunch with them.
That was the most exciting event of the day. Oh yeah, last night I slept in my mom's bed. It was amazing. It's the first time since the end of June that I've slept in a bed alone. I was in HEAVEN! I'm kind of thinking about getting a storage unit to move my stuff into this week, and set up my bed there so I can sleep all alone in my nice big bed....until Seymen's apartment is fully cleaned and I can move in... I really miss it. I'm going through withdrawal. It's been since April that I've slept on my bed.
Posted by beth at 05:08 PM | Comments (3)
August 01, 2005
INDECISION
HELP!!! I can't decide which blog design I like better. I LOVE this blog because it is familiar to me...but maybe it's time for a change. eblogger has made set-up, customization, posting, etc. EASY! I started a sample site to see how to set it up so I could help Jena with her blog...but now I have spent some time customizing the site so it's to my liking...now I like it :-) But I am sad to remove this one...
SO GIVE ME YOUR OPINION! Which one do you like better? Leave me a comment.
1. www.bopsbeth.com
2. http://bopsbeth.blogspot.com
Posted by beth at 03:47 PM | Comments (2)
I'm the WINNER!
Wow! I had a crazy busy and productive weekend! I can't believe it's already monday again :-(. Friday night we had dinner and Shiki (yes, I'm addicted...2nd meal of the day at Shiki). Afterwards, Seymen and I went home to rest and maybe prepare to go out. We were talking about meeting up with Jena and her sister, but they ended up staying in, and I was already laying down watching TV...so there was very little chance that I would get up and go out ;-) I just read my book for a little bit and went to bed.
Saturday morning I woke up bright and early for our last day of training at the literacy volunteer. We offically graduated on Saturday!! We each received a pin and a card signafying that we completed our training! It was very exciting. We were all so excited to see one anotehr again (it's been 4 weeks since our last class). It was the first time we were all together since we've met with our students. After class a buch of us went to Brugger's and had lunch. We had great conversation, and we all decided on a date for our "Monthly Catch-up Dinners for Tutors". I've been deemed the organizer for the group because I'm so e-mail crazy ;-) We decided that we should get together for dinner at Ethnic restuarants every month. We are also going to plan Student/Tutor activites for our group so our students can meet one another. It's going to be so FUN!! Everyone in my class is SOOOOOOO enthuisastic, and we have all become fast friends. Our teacher said that we are the BEST workshop because we all have formed such a bond and actively kept in touch throughout the workshop period. Anyway, it's really exciting and everyone in the class comes from so many different backgrounds that we have the most interesting conversations.
After lunch, I ran back to the apartment and started coordinating with Chrissy and Seymen for our "cleaning party". Seymen left to go help Nate with his door (? LOL I don't know what they needed to do with it, but it sounded important ;-). So Chrissy and I started the cleaning party ourselves while Seymen was gone. WE worked until about 5:30 and then met up with Nate and his childhood friend Josh at Shiki. (surprise surprise?!?!) Poor Maki was waitressing all alone for the first time in a while. Her friend/co-worker Kazooe just moved back to Japan. But she seemed to be doing pretty good. We actually had a really good time. Nate's friend Josh was really nice. Chrissy and I decided that he was a mix of our step-brother and her friend from High school. It was really funny. But again we had some intersting conversation there.
Afterwards, we headed to the "supply store" and bought the essentials for cleaning. (Two bottles of white wine, vodka, and cranberry juice-hehehe) We then commenced the cleaning party (for real this time). Chrissy ended up staying untll 11. I basically passed out from exhaustion the minute she got into her car (I was trying to pretend I wasn't that tired :-) It was a nice night though and we made some MAJOR progress on the cleaning of Seymen's apartment.
Sunday, I convinced Seymen to go with me to Halal the Turkish Grocery store. I've wanted to buy a "Caydunlik" (that's a turkish teapot) so that I can make Authentic Turkish tea in my Authentic Tea cups (present from Seymen's parents when I was in Turkey). A Caydunlik (pronounced: chai-done-luck) has two teapots, one on top of the other. You boil water on the bottom and the top contains a concentrated mixture of tea and a little water. When you pour the tea into the cups, you have to add a little tea from the top and boiling water from the bottom. So, we bought a nice and SHINY Caydunlik, Turkish loose tea, a tea strainer, apple tea bags (they didn't come as loose tea), apple drink mix (this is a hot drink, where you add this powder to the water, and supposedly really YUMMY. I haven't had it yet.) When we returned to the apartment, I set up the tea pot on the stove. It looks so cute. We moved over some of my wine glasses, Turkish tea and coffee cups, and my dishes...so I was very excited to see how cute the tea pot looks with the tea cups!! :-) I can't wait to learn how to make the tea (actually, I really just need to learn the amounts of each to put into the cup so that it's not too strong or too watery.)
Anyway, we then headed back to mom's for regular sunday night dinner. My childhood friend Gina was in town for the night, so she came over for dinner with us (her parents live a few houses down the street from us). We had a YUMMY (and healthy) dinner, and threw it all away for Abbots :-) When we came back, Seymen, Gina, and I got into a COMPETIVE game of Dog-opoly. It was a GREAT game! Seymen and Gina were being all "cocky" at the beginning, thinking that no problem, Beth will loose because she's the WORST business dealer. She always gives out silly deals because she feels bad for people. Welll...let me just tell you!!! I knocked their socks off!! I totally BEAT THEM!!! It was my FIRST TIME EVER beating Seymen at Monopoloy. It was really funny :-) I basically had death row, and no matter how many dog houses or hotels they put on their property, I would just win their money back when they landed on my "death traps" ;-) HEHEHEHE :-) It was actually a pretty quick game too. We finished around 11PM, which was perfect because I had to go to bed for work today :-(((
Posted by beth at 10:13 AM | Comments (0)