• Gorged on sushi with T.
• Sent the Jumpin' Husker Ferrets with T for a 3 week vacation.
• Slept 2 hours.

• Awoke at 3:00 AM to pack for the trip. (Only forgot to pack one shirt, I believe...we shall see.)
• Caught flights in BR, Memphis and Minneapolis.
• Shook hands with Bobby Flay (Food Network god) @ MN Airport.
• Arrived in Omaha around 2:30 PM.
• Rode home to SD with family, stopping only twice (once for fuel & Twin Bings and once for supper at The Keg...mmmm...chicken).
• Crashed around 10:00 PM.
• No Boulevard yet.
  

• Broke fast with my parents at Perkins.
• 1st trip to Campbell's Supply of the vacation.
• Went to Dell Rapids to make final arrangements for the memorial service.
• Played whist and Scattegories with the family.
  
• Witnessed my father eat asparagus (grilled) for probably the first time in his 54 years.
• Boulevard was consumed.
• Culver's frozen custard was eaten by myself, my sister and her special friend.
• Crashed early.
• Rained.
  

• Memorial service.
• 1st ham sandwich eaten. Many more to follow.
• Spent most of the evening at my aunt's house filling out Thank You cards.
• Boulevard was consumed at Old Chicago's with the sister and her sig other.
• Rained.
  

• Breakfast at Panera Bakery with my parents.
• 2nd trip to Campbells Supply of the vacation.
• Checked out books from the....library, I think that's what it's called...it's been awhile since I have been to one.
• Finished reading the SRP book for work. It's pretty good.
• More ham sandwiches.
• Grilled out with the sister again.
• Went to Best Buy. Nothing good every comes from that trip.
• Nacho Libre is 'eh'...I'd suggest waiting until it's on DVD.
• Rained.
  

• Church with the parents. So much cooler than it was in the past due to the a/c.
• Introduced my parents to 4 episodes of Wonderfalls. Figured out where I get my kookiness from.
• Celebrated Father's Day at Famous Dave's with my family.
• Boulevard was consumed.
  
• Wandered around Target aimlessly for an hour.
• Snickers Blizzard = happiness.

• Lunched with my mother and sister.
• Visited Kohl's for the first time during my vacation. (Bought a new shirt and a pair of jeans for $30...can't wait until Kohl's opens in BR.)
• Drove for the first time in a few months. Kinda weird.
• Watched the first season of Entourage. Liked it a lot.
• Watched another 4 episodes of Wonderfalls.
• Rained.

• Clean my office. Dust. Throw things away that need not be here anymore. Stuff like that.
• Clean my apartment. Dust. Throw things away that need not be there anymore. Stuff like that.
• Read a book. It's been awhile.
• Call friends in SD and NE to let them know I'll be home soon.
• Watch one more disc of Veronica Mars Season 1. Just because.
• Celebrate Anita's birthday. She's like 3 months older than me.
• Put together a donation bag or two for Goodwill. Lots of clothes in my closet that I don't wear anymore.
• Sleep.

Have a great weekend!

Current Mood: Happy

Currently Listening to: You're Beautiful by James Blunt

• There is another Bring It On movie. Yes, you have read correctly, there will be another installment in the cheerleading series. This one goes back to the high school realm. I'm kinda interested and disgusted at the same time.
• Paris Hilton doesn't have that bad of a singing voice. I know that I've already mentioned this earlier this week, but it still freaks me out. What's next? A Simpson (Ashlee or Jessica, not Homer or Bart) having enough talent to get a real manager that's not related to them.
• The media fury over pictures of Brad & Angelina's new baby. She's a cute enough baby, but why all of the fuss? I do appreciate the fact that no one has talked about TomKat and their alien spawn for the past week or so, but all babies are cute and all new parents need some rest. Plus, I'd rather see pictures of baby Kingston (Gavin & Gwen's little bundle of joy).
• MTV Movie Awards were not completely crap this year. I actually enjoyed them a lot. I am more than a little frightened.
• Completion of part one of my annual report. Finally.
• This week's ultimate sign of the apocolypse: I have procured plane tickets that will allow me to fly home to the Midwest in less than two weeks. Now, here's the big shocker (Dane Cook placement): I will be home for over 2 weeks!

I will give you all a few minutes to catch your breath.

Yes, I will be returning to the Nebraska/South Dakota region on Thursday, June 22, 2006. (Which incidentally is the one-year anniversary of my blog. Good times. Good times.) I will be flying into Omaha, NE, in the early evening. I tried to get tickets into Sioux Falls, but they were about $500 more expensive. I have not made official plans yet, but here is my tentative itinerary:

• June 22 - 24/25 - Nebraska time - Lincoln, Omaha Zoo, OVCSA staff, Runza, the basic stuff
• June 24/25 - July 8 - South Dakota time - 10 year class reunion, family trip, time in Dell Rapids, friend time (MoSus, Thor & others...I will be calling soon)
• July 8 - 9 - Airport time - I leave really early from Omaha on July 9, so I will most likely be returning to Omaha on July 8, stay at a hotel and then board a plane 

It should be a good time, overall. It will be strange being away from work for so long, but I truly need the time off. Plus I really need some family time.

Now comes the fun of figuring out ferret care and transportation to and from airports. I have a feeling that it will all work out. It usually does. (Plus, I have great friends.)

Current Mood: Hyper

Currently Listening to: Attack by 30 Seconds to Mars

Today's Goals: Clean office. Set dates for classes (work-related). E-mail people about my upcoming trip. Sing along with the radio. Be happy. 

Today's Funny:

Source

• If Montel Williams were to play a character from a Steve Miller Band song, he would most likely be the midnight toker. (He admitted to smoking pot daily for its medicinal properties yesterday.) I still want to be the space cowboy.
• Stubbing one's toe on the way to work leads to an ugly toe. I am currently looking at the ugly toe and wondering if I should cover it up with a Band-Aid (product placement) or something.
• Sleep may cure most ailments, but it really doesn't cure a stressed out soul.
• Apparently Vermont is a pretty place to visit.
• I want to take a real vacation for my birthday this year...no hurricanes, no canceled plans...a real get-out-of-dodge type event.
• Should I be concerned that plans are being made in my name by people that claim to not like making plans? Or should I just go with the flow?
• Do I want a venti iced tea or a venti iced white mocha from Starbucks (product placement) today?

Current mood: Distracted

Currently listening to: Through the Iris by 10 Years

Today's Goals: Clean off desk. Clean bathroom in my apartment. Count the daddy long legs in the bathroom at work (at least 10). Finalize Midwest plans. Figure out a bday gift for Anita. Smile.

 Source

• Since my hair is kinda orange colored already, should I get a Mystic tan and just be orange all over. Or is that too 2005? Or too oompa-loompa?
• The final sign of the apocolypse is the fact that Paris Hilton isn't that bad of a singer. Her lyrics, however, are pretty lame.
• Why don't I crave carrots? Or celery? Or something healthier than ice cream?
• Why am I addicted to Last Comic Standing? Last night's show was pretty good, I agree with 3/5 of the comics who were placed in the house. Still not sure about how one of them made it...other than the fact that she kinda looked like Kathy Griffin - one of the judges.
• Will I survive without a new episode of Veronica Mars for another three months? Season 2 comes out on DVD on August 22.
• Why am I suddenly self-conscious about how many name brand products I use? I am a child of the 80s, 90s and today? Wasn't there a Sesame Street episode that taught us that consumerism was good? I think it was the episode brought to us by the letters G-E. Or was it A-T-T??
• Why can't you accidentally bite your tongue just once? Is there scientific research on this topic?
• Where did all of my energy go? I'm too lazy to search for it.

Current Mood: Eh - nothing in particular.

Currently Listening to: Dirty Little Secret by The All-American Rejects

Today's Goals: Exercise. Avoid the snack machine and B&N. Clean off my desk. Clean the Jumpin' Husker Ferret cage.

• Bath & Body Works Brand Hand Repair Creme
• Wrigley's Orbit White Bubblemint Gum
• Kleenex Brand Kleenex
• GNC Brand Vitamins, Calcium and Acidolphulus
• Bath & Body Works Brand Lip Balm

• Garnier Fructis Shampoo & Conditioner
• Biore Shine Control Cleanser
• St Ives Energizing Citrus Body Wash
• Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
• Secret Brand Deodorant
• Q-Tip Brand Cotton Swabs
• Kleenex Brand Facial Tissue
• Colgate Toothpaste
• Oral B Toothbrush
• Bath & Body Works Body Spray
• Bath & Body Works Lip Balm
• Brita Filtered Water
• LG Sprint Phone
• Conair Comb & Brush

That was all prior to 7:00 AM. I have already used 14 different products that have a brand name attached to them. (The list doesn't include clothing, as most clothes have a brand associated with them.)

I'm not sure if I'm proud, embarrassed, shocked, annoyed or sad by this brief commentary into my life. I had thought that I was above the reach of advertising. (Since I mock many of my friends for purchasing items just because there was a pretty picture in an ad.) But it looks as thought I am just as drawn to products that offer healthy hair, smoother skin and cleaner ears as the average American. It's kind of sad.

I am uncertain on how to break this addiction. Do I buy all generic products? Do I stop washing my hair? Do I stop trying to fight snarls? Should I even worry about this at all? Consumerism is what makes the world go 'round afterall.

Oh, well! I should get back to work. I'll be heading to the Coke machine or Barnes & Noble to pick up caffeine (Starbucks Brand @ B&N) soon, I'm sure.

(I will be continuing to monitor my brand abuse for the day, stay tuned for updates.)

Today is a celebration of 3 events:

1. My cousin's 32nd birthday! Shout out to Nikki!
2. National Beat Down an Emo Kid Day. Watch out, John!
3. Satan's Holiday (6-6-06). Hence the horrible commercials for the remake of The Omen and a lot of bad humor on late-night television.

I will be celebrating the day by placing the finishing touches on the main part of my annual report, followed by counting more things. I'm exciting! Woo-hoo! (I may be convinced to celebrate with a decadent lunch, who knows?)

Well, I should get to working. If not, how can I afford all of my name brand products?

Current Mood: Slightly nauseous

Currently Listening to: MakeDamnSure by Taking Back Sunday

Today's Goals: Monitor my abuse/use of name brand products. Support my emo kid friends. Finish my report. Be happy.

Why am I a little bit shocked?

1. Waking up at 5:00 AM with a sore back. Without a good reason for having a sore back.
2. Deciding what to wear to work. Business casual. Dressy. Dressy casual. Jeans. Lots of choices to make so early in the day. (Today's decision: long jean skirt, short-sleeved brown button up shirt and brown flippy shoes.)
3. Holding your breath while checking your e-mail accounts. You just never know who tried to contact you over the weekend.
4. The smell of an unopened office. Humidity plus an 'older' office building equals interesting smells. Even with ceiling fans and the a/c running all weekend.
5. The look on the Jumpin' Husker Ferrets' faces when I leave the apartment. They have puppy dog eyes, I swear!
6. Grumpy bus drivers. (Although the bus isn't running this week, so I have a reprieve.)
7. Finding motivation to begin work projects again. I really, really don't want to look at numbers again. Honestly. I don't.
8. Convinincing myself that I don't need a coffee break at 8:40 AM. I can make it without caffeine today. I know I can.
9. Voicemail.
10. Deadlines. I have a big one today. May or may not make it. We shall see.

I had another low-key weekend. Which was much needed.

• Friday - dinner at a great Mediterranean restaurant in town with Anita, BigMac, Amtrak, Emilie and Jennifer; followed by a trip to B&N where I purchased a new book (Freakonomics) - which I haven't finished yet. Almost though.
• Saturday - cleaned the apartment, watched Dodgeball and Old School. Enjoyed being random and lazy.
• Sunday - lunched with T at Corky's Bar-B-Q, purchased groceries at Target, read some of the book that I purchased on Friday, supped at Champps with Amtrak, KD, Brandon, Karen & Kristy; bought ice cream (Cherry Garcia) at Whole Foods, texted people late into the night.

All in all, a great weekend.

Well, time to start prioritizing my week's agenda.

Current Mood: Warm - I walked to work today, since the buses aren't running.

Currently Listening to: Hash Pipe by Weezer

Today's Goals: Finish my report. Finalize travel plans. Finish reading book. Vacuum my apartment.

1. Stressful - Phone calls from SD at random times of the day and/or night. Basically my grandma's health is on the decline.
2. Tedious (aka Boring) - Not much going on at work or in my personal life. (Not complaining, just saying.)
3. Numerical - End of the year reports = counting, recounting, averaging...lots of math. I see Excel worksheets in my future. Lots of them.
4. Literary - I've read 3 excellent books this week.
5. Caffeinated - I  iced tea, iced white mochas...Starbucks is my homie.
6. Strategic - Plans for world domination (B's leading this effort) have been plentiful this week.
7. Drowsy - Due to the stress, I'm not sleeping well. Not well at all.
8. Abbreviated - Three-day work weeks ROCK! Especially when they are not planned. And you get to feel somewhat better after moping around your apartment for a day or two.
9. Introspective - With multiple discussions including the words hospice, final preparations and Last Comic Standing, it's been an insightful week.
10. Frustrating - Not knowing the right thing to say or do has always frustrated me. This week has been full that feeling. (Should I stay or should I go? Should I make the first move? Etc, etc...)

Last Night: After a discussion about life with a wonderful co-worker (Jill) on the ride to my apartment, I made dinner (tomato soup), finished a book (Bed Rest), talked on the phone (Mom & sister) and eventually fell asleep around 2:30 AM. (I woke up around 5:00 AM, and have been wide awake since...I need sleep.)

Plans for today & the rest of the weekend:

• Finish counting things for my end-of-the-year report.
• Lunch w/B today.
• Coffee with Anita later today.
• Light housework.
• Groceries.
• Reading.
• Not really sure.

Well, I should get to working on my report.

Current Mood: Awake-ish.

Currently Listening to: Youth by Matisyahu

Today's Goals: See above, plus sleep.

Only squirrel that I'm not afraid of:

(plus he makes me smile...a lot!)

• How can a person who claims to dislike reality television find herself addicted to Last Comic Standing?
• I need to paint my toe nails.
• Indian food sounds soooo good right now.
• Secrets truly don't make friends.
• Did you know that FERPA does not require an institution to share information with a parent even with the student's permission?
• I need to make a list of things to do before I'm 30 (before I'm 29).
• Parents with cell phones = phone calls at random times. (Last night's random time was around 11:00 PM.)
• In the soap opera of my life, I would currently be in a week of flashbacks.
• Sometimes even google cannot answer a question to my satisfaction.
• I need to buy a new exercise ball. (I am admitting defeat on the search for my previous one.)
• My favorite cereal of the moment is Honey Nut Cheerios.
• I actually agree with Bravo's #1 Funniest Movie Animal House and VH-1's #1 Hard Rock Artist Led Zeppelin. (I watch too many shows that are lists. Shocking!)
• Is it just me or is Denis Leary hot?

Current Mood: Drowsy

Currently Listening to: Rock the Casbah by The Clash

Today's Goals: Clean out e-mail. Finish report. Dance. Finish book. Smile.