Last night, I went to tutoring, but there were no kids there, so we cancelled it. On the way home, I thought, "Since I am driving right past the auto parts store, I might as well get what I need now." Went in, got fuel system cleaner, an air filter, and ordered spark plugs. Yes, the spark plugs for my car? The store had none. So I had to order them. I would have been quite annoyed if I had gone to get them on Saturday.

I've figured out what the PCV valve* is, and if I can figure out where it is, I will totally change it.

*Auto Repair for Dummies

Or, actually Friday finish these sentences. Thanks Meg!

1. If I could....
   
2. I wish....
   
3. I am....
   
4. Yesterday....
   
5. Once I...
   
6. This weekend I will....
   

1. go back in time, I would take the job I was offered at Wooten 2 years ago. I couldn't (possibly wouldn't) forsee what a bad career decision staying here would turn out to be.
2. that my mom lived closer. Sometimes I need a hug from my mom.
3. considering moving. Hopefully things will work out.
4. all my troubles seeme so far away. Kidding! Actually, yesterday Heather and I had a long talk about my goals for this show season/year, and I told her that she was letting me get away with not working hard enough, and that she needed to push me more. She agreed.
5. figure out what I want to be when I grow up, I'll let you know.
6. change my spark plugs, my air filter, and my wiper blades. Maybe replace the blind in my room. Try to talk D inot helping me bring a very large plant home from my office. Clean up the side of a highway.

Friday night Cdub and I went to see a band in which one of my co-workers is the lead singer. Well, first we went to the Hibernian for dinner. And then we went to Lowes and bought blinds. The band was great; the bar was smokey and loud, so we left around midnight.

Saturday morning I went out to change my sparkplugs. Had some trouble breaking the first plug loose, but eventually I got it. I had to call my dad in a panic when, after putting the first one in, the socket wouldn't come out. (I had to take the plug out, WD-40 the socket, and then put the plug back in.) The first one took an hour, but once that was done with, the others took me a total of about 20 minutes. And the car runs! Yay!

So, D came up, and I thought he might have to help with that (Ha! Am cool independant woman! Except for calling my Daddy!), but he didn't, so we went out to A Southern Season. I got coffee, wine, and some Foster's Market five pepper jelly. Also met Sara Foster. We picked up the plant from my office (I was mercilessly mocked, because apparently it's not that heavy) and then hung my new, room-darkening (except not so much, thanks to the spotlight that can be seen from the moon that is behing my house) blinds. Lonestar dinner, which will be turned into steak salad tonight.

Yesterday was my first outing as the 2006 Raleigh Jaycee Adopt-A-Highway chair. We have a wicked busy stretch of highway (some of which is in a construction zone, which we are not cleaning), so a good day is when no one gets hurt. Also, I have a slight fear we might find a body. Which, technically we did, but it was a deer.

Oh, and I applied for at least 7 jobs yesterday. One big application to do tonight.

How was your weekend? (Janet, no whining about how you weekend was terrible because you had to come home from your cruise.)

But in reality, the reason I don't shop at WalMart is because they suck.

I needed new tires for my car. My dad bought them online at WalMart and had them shipped to a store down here. Monday I got a call that my tires were in, and I ran over to the store (to the Tire and Lube Express) to see if I could have them installed. This was at 5PM. The sign says they close at 7PM. I was told that it would be 2.5 hours before they could even start on my car. (Brings an entirely new meaning to the word "express".) I told the guy I had things to do, and I couldn't hang around WalMart that long. I asked him if it was possible to make an appointment to have the tires that I had ordered from them put on.
"First come, first served. Do you have to work tomorrow?"
"Yes, actually, I do. And then I have someplace to be every other evening this week."
"We open at 7- you can get here right when we open; there shouldn't be much of a wait."

So, I head over there at 6:45 AM yesterday morning. At 7, I go inside. Register is not open yet. The girl walks up to the register and opens it at 7:05. At this point, the manager walks in. She asks, "Can I help you?"
"I ordered tires, they came in yesterday, and I'd like to have them put on."
Manager: "We don't start tire work until 9AM."
Me: "But you open at 7AM."
Manager: "I'm a little short-handed."
Me: "I really need my tires put on."
Manager: "Why? Do you have to go to work?"
Me: "Yes."
Manager: "What time do you have to be there?"
Me: "I'm usually there now."
Manager: "I guess I can put them on for you. It will take about an hour."

Gee, guy! Thanks for agreeing to do your job. Especially since no one else was there to have their car serviced at the time! That was absolutely stellar of you! Rock on!

Also, why did they keep asking if I had a job? I don't think I look unemployed. And I don't know if they've heard this, but many women today have jobs.

Found at Janet's (apparently together we will come up with great ideas, but the execution will be lacking.)

You Are a Dreaming Soul

Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all... But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you. Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses. Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others. Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life. Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul

Everyone's favorite- the bulleted entry!

• We volunteered here this weekend, helping to build a tiger cage. It was a lot of work, but the tour we got afterwards made it worth it. But I did nap when I got home.
  
• Had a job interview last week that I think went well. I hope it went well.
  
• It was in the 80s here last weekend. 2.0 and I went hiking in Umstead. Was lovely.
  
• It also reminded me that I need to get my bike fixed.
  
• I joined la familia 2.0 for dinner at an Indian restaurant Sunday night. Totally forgot my wallet. Worst friend ever!
  
• This weekend, highs in the fifties, lows below freezing.
  
• Tiki party invite came today. I love the Tiki party! It's the same weekend as the Jaycee camping trip. What to do?
  
• Leaning towards Tiki Party. Camping trip sounds like big boozefest. (Not that there isn't drinking at the Tiki Party. But less.)
  
• Normally I would stay away from the bars on St. Patrick's Day. But the Dublin City Ramblers are playing at Tir Na Nog, and oh, how I love the Irish music. Cdub and I are going. (Also? Tir Na Nog? Serves Boddingtons. Yes, I know it's not an Irish beer. Shut up.)
  

Monday, nothing big.

Tuesday, I got a haircut. It's too short. I then had a riding lesson. I rode Solie, for the first time in a long time. Old Man, how I'd missed you! It was very windy, so we worked on hunter patterns. I can now get him to halt and stand still (much like me, Solie is not about the patience), which is very important for the dressage tests. I didn't canter him, but that's coming. I can now keep Bruno at a canter. Note that it is an ugly canter, especially on my part.

Wednesday, seminar on the new Stage II DBP rule, with some info on LT2ESWTR. (Seriously, only Angeler will really understand that. Pheobs is all, "I've heard of those.")

Thursday was the day of suckitude at work. (Hi, I am now a licensed PE. I am therefore extremely qualified to scrape mold off of soil.) Thankfully, I met up with another contact at the seminar. Mom: "Are you sure he knows who you are?" WG: "I've drunk beer with him on several occasions." Beer: the key to successful networking.

Friday, found out that the City of Raleigh has deemed my application worthy for further review. Cdub and I went to TirNaNog to see the Dublin City Ramblers. The band was great, but it was very crowded, and I wore the wrong shoes. (Usually comfortable, but not on the stone floor!). We left early.

Saturday, D came up. As usual, he got to go grocery shopping with me! Lucky man! We met up with some of my Jaycee friends at the 42nd Street Oyster Bar. I had raw oysters, for the first time ever. I'd also ordered the fried oyster platter, but D's MahiMahi special was better. Much better.

OK- off to do more car work. I've some posts floating around in my head, so more later.

I rent.

Some people are very excited about this. I don't really want Martha Stewart to have anything to do with my house. Think of the pressure!

The IT guy here at work went to tour the houses along with his wife, and found that they had the same problems common to new homes in this area. Namely, poor use of space. It has become quite fashionable to have these high-ceilinged, open floor plans. I don't like it- the houses feel very cold to me. Very non-homey. Also, why do bathrooms have to be huge? A 10' x 12' bathroom is overkill. I mean, I'd like one larger than mine, which is crowded if one of the cats comes in, but I don't really need to be able to put a guest bed in it.

Further proof that I am a dork: I don't even like the fashionable houses.

For most of the readers of this blog, today will be like any other day. Work, family, friends. In the developing world, March 22 will be like any other day as well. That's because 14,000 people — including 11,000 children — will die because they lack access to clean water and adequate sanitation. Women and young girls in developing countries will spend more than 200 million hours walking to the nearest water source just to get enough of this basic necessity to support their families for one more day.

For information on World Water Day, click here.

For more information on the global water crisis, visit WaterPartners International.

Tuesday night, I hit PetSmart to get food for the boys. I also got Jasper 2 Mylar balls. He loves them! I must get a picture of him playing with them. Orion has no use for such toys. (As you may recall, his favorite toy is a pencil in a box.) Jasper had lost one of the balls last night, and I thought it was under the couch. However, the only thing I found under the couch was a mousie, which when I pulled it out and gave it to Jasper, he was all, "I've been looking for that!" (The ball was later found under the end table.)

I sleep on my side, and tend to do so on the edges of the bed, facing out. Ri likes to curl up near my stomach, so he will pat me on the shoulder to get me to move over so there's room for him.

Ri: Excuse me, I want to sleep there.
Me: You have 3/4 of the bed.
Ri: Excuse me, I want to sleep there.

He's very persistent (See: still asks to go outside, even though in 5 years I have never let him outside. (He has snuck out.)), but I got him to give up last night. At least until I fell asleep, at which point he can get me to move over.

Little Matty and I went to lunch today. As we opened the back door, I yelled "Get in the house!"

Which is what I yell when I open my front door. To keep Ri from sneaking out.

Thanks, Meg!

• My next pet will be named... [thanks Maribeth]
  
• This weekend I plan to...
  
• Breakfast was...
  
• Last night at 8pm I was...
  
• I deal with stress by...
  
• I forgot...
  

• My next pet will be named... after a place I want to visit. It's a tradition started with Jasper.
• This weekend I plan to... Go to a wine and cheese party tonight, a Hurricanes game tomorrow. I'd like to go out to Chapel Hill and pick up my earrings, and also go to REI and get a cockpit cover for my kayak.
• Breakfast was... Honey Nut Cheerios, some cheese, and coffee
• Last night at 8pm I was... just getting home
• I deal with stress by... Depends. Venting to friends mostly.
• I forgot... to buy butter at the grocery store yesterday.

On Friday, Jbabe (and fiance) had a wine and cheese party. Cdub and D came with me. Also there- 2.0. (No spouse, no boo.) The party was most excellent, and they had really done their research- the pairings were great! We had a really good time.

Saturday, D and I ran errands and then went to see a Hurricanes game. (Capitals 3, Caines 1). Thus, I have accomplished on thing on my 101 in 1001 list this year. I think the easy things are done.

I thought I would take the time to help out some of the people arriving here from search strings.

1. moravian spice cookies recipe Because I love y'all, I will share my secret recipe. Ready? Here it is: Go to A Southern Season. Buy Moravian Spice Cookies.
   
2. 2006 raleigh tir na nog st patrick s day photos I was there, but took no photos. Sorry.
   
3. culpeper walmart march 22 in line you were behind me black toyota brown I was not in Culpeper on March 22 (I can prove it!). Also, I do not think Toyota makes a black-brown car.
   
4. i saw you culpeper walmart daughters No, because I saw you first.
   
5. kezar lake maine blog One entry. Not the entire blog.
   
6. songo pond Actually, it's a lake. A big lake.
   
7. gapsim I so cannot help you.
   
8. orion nicknames Ri, RiRi, You little brat!
   
9. stuck in customs fedex As I have tried to explain to my boss, there is nothing I can do about it.
   
10. watergirl glasses They are reading glasses with an anti-glare coating that I mainly use for working on the computer. Nine West frames.
    
11. puerta vallarta dentists Well, my teeth were fine when I was there, so I can't help. Also, it was over 10 years ago.
    
12. stage ii dbp This I can help with! E-mail me!
    
13. if you were stranded on an island with a friend what would u bring First of all, it depends on the friend. Second of all, we know we're going to be stranded? And we've agreed to this?
    
14. plus sized z cavaricci jeans My advice on this is NO! Don't do it! They are so late '80s Jersey, and also, not really flattering.
    
15. get some sleep tonight Will do!
    
16. 40 gal. water heater vs.5 0 gal. water heater The difference is 10 gallons.
    
17. ultimate strength hand salve review kiehls It's the best hand cream ever!
    
18. janet weight loss/ 2006 photos I don't know if she's trying to lose weight or not. I don't really care about her weight. And if she were trying to lose weight, as her friend, wouldn't it be really sucky of me to post pictures on my blog?
    
19. watergirl tv show Boring, or Theater of the Absurd?

    (Please note: this is the clean stuff. Not only do I attract the crazies in person, but also on the internet.)

    06:16 PM - Comments (2)
    
    
    

2.0 and I went for a walk yesterday. We wore shorts. The Boo was bundled up.

They are predicting thunderstorms for Saturday. Jasper says yay!

Thanks, Megan!

1. When I grow up...
   
2. Dear Spring....
   
3. Thank you...
   
4. If I were a color I would be ... because...
   
5. I miss...
   
6. I don't need....
   
7. Dude, this weekend I'm....
   

1. When I grow up... I'm thinking of becoming a professor at a community college.
2. Dear Spring.... please stay. Even though you bring the pine pollen.
3. Thank you... 2.0, for calling me for a walk yesterday. I needed that.
4. If I were a color I would be ... because... green, because I like green.
5. I miss... having a dog, sometimes.
6. I don't need.... to actually have a dog. Too much work and I'm not home enough. And also, I like spur of the moment trips.
7. Dude, this weekend I'm.... not too sure what I'm doing. Playing it by ear.