Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Because of Romek

I just finished reading Because of Romek, A Holocaust Survivor's Memoir by David Faber. Hmmm, now I find myself at a loss for words. How do you say that you really enjoyed a book that is all about human suffering? I didn't enjoy the suffering, but I think it is important for us to read about what happened, to face what humanity is capable of. I've grown up knowing what the holocaust was. I knew about the gas chambers and the concentration camps; but it was much different reading about someone's first hand experience.

I'm also listening to IBM and the Holocaust by Edwin Black. It's a long story, but Bren and I met a lady at the Dollar Tree store and she highly recommended it. And who could pass up an audio book for $1? (Of course my tape #1 didn't work so I had to borrow Bren's LOL) I started listening to tapes 2 and 3, but now I'm going to start over again with tape 1. It's kind of scary to realize just how organized Hitler was.

I haven't really discovered a sudden interest into all that is the Holocaust... it just kind of happened. Two different people recommended these books to me at the same time, and I'm definately the type to notice that kind of coincidence and follow-up on it.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Sven

Sven Posted by Hello


Isn't he cute?? We made Sven in knitting class so that we could learn some finishing techniques, like sewing seams. I actually finished Sven a long time ago, but he's visiting with Linda right now. When I found out that he (gasp) was still in her car.... I made her get him out so that I could take a picture of him for my blog.

Linda assures me that Sven was not troubled with being in the car for so long because he had...Helena to keep him company. Of course Helena doesn't have a face, or legs, or arms yet so I'm not sure how entertaining that was for Sven, but I'll take her word for it.

(I know, I know... I get far to attached to inanimate objects)

Hello Kitty Backpack is done.

Posted by Hello


Happy Birthday to Jane!! I finished up her backpack yesterday and I can hardly wait to give it to her tonight. Most of it has been done for a long time, but I misplaced the pattern for a few days and had a little bit of a panic. It's amazing what you can find when you eh hem... clean house. It was on my stamp table under a bunch of papers...sheesh....

Backpack was crocheted with pink cotton tots and white peaches n cream. Inside is lined with...Hello Kitty material of course. LOL

Monday, March 21, 2005

Missing Pens

This morning I came into work and right away the phone started ringing. I reached for my favorite pen and IT WAS GONE. I had to grab a mechanical pencil in order to take the message. Monday morning craziness kept me from investigating the missing pen for quite some time. Later I was working out on the counter outside my office. I reached for my pen and again IT WAS GONE. Two missing pens was a tragedy that could not be ignored... and so I began my investigation. (Of course in reality, I had already tried and convicted the culprit in my head.)

In an effort to perform an honest investigation I collected evidence and interviewed other possible suspects.

#1 - When I went to the cupboard to get two new pens...gasp.... there were only 2 left!!! My pens were not the only ones missing. We now have somewhere in the neighborhood of 7-10 pens missing. This is turning into a major crime.

#2 - Debbie was cleared of all possible connection to the crime and she suspected the same person as I

#3 - As Debbie and I discussed the crime (through laughs), boss #3 heard and started showing me all his pens. He was absolved as well.... Now I think he knows he's missing out on some good pens.

#4 - I jokingly interviewed boss #1. When he CONFESSED!!! That'll teach me. He did not take the ones from my desk, but he did take 3 from the cupboard. Since he followed office protocol...he is not being charged with a crime...

Which leaves Boss #2. The ONE we knew pulled the scam.

Several things implicated him...

#1 - He's the only one that would take things right off my desk.

#2 - One pen escaped kidnapping by jumping onto my office floor, below the cupboard. No way boss #2 would pick it up. He's the type that leaves cupboards open after he's retrieved what he wants...

So prepared with evidence, I interviewed boss #2 and he said....

"Well Debbie has like three or four in her desk!"

Yea, shift the blame. That works.... Hrmph.....

I'll be ordering more pens now that they are the new office favorite. If only they came in purple. I know none of them would dare take and write with a purple pen. Then it would be mine....all mine.....

And now you know why I never...never....never.... use a pen until it runs out of ink. I don't get the chance. My pens appear to be common office property.

Ok, back to boring tax returns.

Friday, March 18, 2005

Poor Neglected Blog...

Well, I guess you can tell we are in the thick of tax season. No time to write. No time to think. No time to blog....

But I'm making time right now because.... I need to share the good news. Gail and I have been officially selected to teach at the 2005 Close to My Heart Convention. Woo Hoo!! Las Vegas here we come. I wanted to share the news on our company bb, but there are quite a few people that have posted that they were not selected and they seem pretty bummed. My news can wait.

Friday, March 11, 2005

I'm a Paper Pusher

Some days it feels like all I do is move large stacks of returns to various places throughout the office. They start out on the counter until I put them together, then I move them to the appropriate partner's office so they can sign and review....and then they give them back to me...grrr....

Then I put them in new stacks...

stacks by the typewriter to type bills or mailing labels
stacks on my desk to call
stacks on my credenza waiting to be picked up.

Of course I didn't dare take a picture of the stack of accounting work I have yet to do. I'm pretending it doesn't exist right now.

It's a good day when there are no stacks in my office.
Posted by Hello
Unfortunately this is usually what it looks like this time of year.  Posted by Hello
This is my goal every day...to see this counter completely empty Posted by Hello

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Scarecrow Body

I'm almost afraid to write this, for fear that the phones will start ringing and all heck will break loose...but today....today is a good day.

I don't know quite how it happened, but somehow I can breathe. I've put together all the tax returns. I've even restocked my shelves with envelopes and tax folders and get this...as soon as I'm done with my break I'm going to ......work on my accounting clients.

Ok, well that didn't happen. A client showed up with a little mess to sort out and now the time has flown by. It's still a good day though. I'm still leaving the office with less on my desk than when I showed up and tonight is knitting class. (oh crud, another client just dropped off work..this is soooooo not fair!)

Workout Update:
Saturday
1/2 hour treadmill, 1/2 hour elliptical, 15 minutes weights and abs
Monday
1/2 hour treadmill on random (that was a new kind of torture, thanks to hubby who reached over and pushed the button on my treadmill) 1/2 hour elliptical, 30 minutes weights, abs, stretching.
Tuesday 1/2 hour walk around church this morning

My new mantra is "I want my scarecrow body." (In case you're wondering, my old mantra was I want Jennifer Garner's body. Ok so I don't want her body, I want my body to look like her body. )

So what started the new mantra? A trip down memory lane. Apparently I dressed up as a scarecrow my senior year and there are pictures to prove it. I'm not exactly sure why I don't remember it. I mean I still don't remember it now that I found TWO pictures of it in my annual....but there I am with all my Wizard of Oz friends and my scarecrow body. And that body looked pretty good.

Ok, so I know that my new mantra isn't any more realistic than my old mantra, but it gives me something to strive for....

Chocolate or Scarecrow body.....
Fried Zucchini or Scarecrow body....
Outback Aussie Cheese fries or Scarecrow body....

Oh man, I gotta go. I'm hungry!

Thursday, March 03, 2005

Ugh, It's Tax Season

Ok, just a quick note to say I'm alive but buried... The worst part of tax season is now upon us and I'm struggling just to keep up. The good new is that we only have 6 more weeks and if I can get my accounting work done this week, I should be able to breathe a little easier.

Knitting news - I'm getting ready to cast on AGAIN for the Hello Kitty Knitalong. I think my skills have gotten better and I may be able to do it this time.

Crochet - workin on my second Hello Kitty backpack..

Ok, I know it's a little HK obsession isn't it??? It's just that I have an adorable niece and a good friend that I'm making stuff for.

Joshua is off to desert camp with his school. I can't wait to hear about his adventures and see his pictures. There ought to be some amazing flowers out there by now.

Workout news: back to the gym again.
Friday - one hour treadmill, 30 min elliptical
Monday - 30 min treadmill, 30 min. elliptical
Tuesday - 40 min. walk in the morning
Wednesday - 30 min elliptical, 10 min. treadmill
Thursday - 40 min walk this morning and

I'm thinking about going to the gym tonight. Joshua's gone, Rick's at school... hmmm... I could sleep. hahaha....