Day 331: Bills and Thrills

Aha:
Found out that some lab work/tests/appointments we had/have to have, that we didn't think were going to be covered by insurance (and we've been praying for help in affording), were/are covered by insurance and we'll owe next to nothing!!!  Woohoo!  Yay for visible miracles!

Ha ha:
Clinton brought the mail in from the mailbox.
Me:  What kind of garbage did we get today (all we ever get is junk mail)?
He:  (Holding an envelope up to his forehead like he's telepathically reading it)  Bills.
Me:  (Laughing)
He:  (Holds another to head forehead)  Bills.  (Another)  Bills.
Me/He:  (Laughing)

Day 330: Money Makes My Honey Funny

Aha:
Clinton gave a fantastic talk in church on Sunday about tithing.  He's a very good public speaker and he always has the audience's full attention.
He shared an experience from when we were first married and had very little money but always paid our tithing regardless.  We were living in Canada and Clinton was working at a job that paid basically what we needed each month and nothing more.  Clinton has always been very diligent about watching our account and could explain all deposits and withdrawals therein.   At one point we needed to have some work done on our car but knew we were going to be about $200 short.  By the time the repairs were made, Clinton checked our account to plan for repayment and discovered we had exactly $200 extra in our account.  He looked back through our statements to see where the extra money had come from but could never find a difference--no additional deposits were made and there had been no raise in his income--it was as if the money had been there all along.  We attribute/d this monetary miracle as a blessing for paying our tithing.
Writing a check for 10% of one's income each month may seem like a burden at times, but I honestly feel like I can't afford to NOT pay my tithing.  We have been so richly blessed (financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc.) from obeying this commandment and I'm thankful for it each day!

Ha ha:
During Clinton's talk, when he'd finished explaining how he couldn't locate where the extra $200 had come from, he said, "Now, maybe I was just mistaken, though I believe my wife will be the first to admit I'm practically perfect and I could not have erred--but then again, maybe not--we chose to see this as a blessing for paying our tithing."
Naturally, everyone laughed...and then turned to see my reaction.  Needless to say, I was shaking my head back-and-forth at him...and also laughing.  What a funny boy. :)

Day 329: Happy Birth-d'oh!

Aha:
He's had a birthday, shout hooray!
I'm gonna sing to him today (yesterday).
One year older and wiser too.
Happy Birthday, to you (Clinton)!

That's right!  My little H.B. celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday!  We got lunch at McDonalds, went to see The Avengers in 3D, came home for a quick clothing change and then headed out to Lake Michigan for some paddle boating, and then went to Guadelupe's for dinner!  After dinner I dropped Clinton off at a friend's house for some guy time with his friends and returned home to bake him a cake (even though it was 80+ degrees outside).  When he got home, he opened his presents and I sang him "Happy Birthday" as I presented him the batter bowl for licking clean (he loves cake batter).
It was a pretty great day and I'm so thankful for him in my life!  I love you H.B. and I'm looking forward to celebrating many more happy days with you!

Ha ha:
Clinton LOVES The Simpsons.  He quotes it to me at all times (in fact, if he ever says a quote and then asks, "What's that from?", by default I'll reply, "The Simpsons" and generally I'm right).  He even has a "special knack" for quoting lines from it when I'm looking for comfort after a bad day.  Many times I've heard him say, "You know, this reminds me of an episode from The Simpsons."
Anyway, for his birthday I got him Seasons 1, 3 and 5 (already has 4 and 11, so I'm filling in the blanks) from his most-beloved show.  1 and 3 were here, but 5 hadn't arrived in time, so I wrote him the following I Owe You:

Your gift I’d hoped to have here for you,

But a later delivery will just have to do.

I was the highest bidder, but my bidding was late

I guess this just means an anticipatory wait.

Please don’t fret, and please don’t cry-

The wait will be worth it for Simpsons Season Five!

Happy Birthday Honey!

Day 328: Window of Opportunity

Aha:
You ever have those moments when a small project turns into something much, much larger?  Well, Friday night I decided to take the plastic off our back window so we could get a nice cross-breeze in our place.  Then I noticed how dirty that window was, so I got a rag and some Windex and started to clean it.  Then I noticed the track was filthy so I got the vacuum, vacuumed up the dirt, sprayed it down and then wiped it clean.  Next thing I knew, all but three of the windows in my whole house were given a deep and thorough cleaning.  (The only reason these three weren't cleaned is because two of them still have plastic on them and the other was behind the couch that Clinton was sleeping on, but don't worry, I'll get those on Monday!)
When I had finished with the bathroom window, I realized I should probably just clean the bathroom while I was at it.  Man, I was feeling great!
When I got downstairs to put the broom back, I looked at my kitchen and thought, What the heck?  I'm on a roll!  Before long my kitchen was buffed and shined like the rest of the joint.
My 3-second project turned into 2 hours, but boy did I feel like a total rockstar!!

Ha ha:
Ever since I saw the commercial for Burger King's new chicken strips I've not been able to stop craving the dang things.  They were on my mind every time I thought about eating (pathetic, I get it).  Anyhoo, Clinton had a free dinner at Red Robin for his birthday, so he graciously took me there for their Clucks and Fries.
DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I literally "Mmm-mm"-ed at every bite.  I made a concerted, conscious effort to stop moaning, but just couldn't--I was in heaven!  It's been a while since I've had a craving (for food) that was that satisfied! Ha!  At one point Clinton said, "Is it really necessary to moan that much?"
"Yes." I said.  And then I thought to myself, I wonder how many people are telling their waiter, "I'll have what she's having."  Ha ha!

Day 327: Catch Up & Ketchup

Aha:
I got a sweet little surprise visit today from my friend Emily and her daughter Elise.  They were out for a walk and decided to stop by for a chat.  It was so much fun!  Elise was literally laughing out loud playing with Peter, and Emily and I got to catch up.
It was so nice to know I was being thought of!  Thanks Emily!  Please do come again! :)

Ha Ha:
Every day for lunch I have a huge salad and 2 grilled-cheese sandwiches with ketchup, and every day someone mentions how good my lunch smells.  But Danielle, how is it that you are able to enjoy fresh grilled-cheese from the comfort of your desk?  Glad you asked; I keep a sandwich maker under my desk.  I know.  I know.  It's quirky and a weirdo-type thing to do, but once you smell and taste how delicious my sandwiches are, you'll go from thinking "that's weird" to "I wish I had one too".
Anyway, today was much like any other day, one of the docs came out and commented on how delectable it smelled in the room.  I told her it was my sandwiches and she asked why they smelled so good.
Me:  Because I have a sandwich maker under my desk and I make them fresh.  I know.  It's weird, but whatever.
She:  (dons a questioning look)  Huh.  Yes.  But what is more, I can't tell if you're being serious.
Me:  (reaching under my desk and pulling out the sandwich maker)  I'm being very serious.  See?
She:  (cocks her head side-to-side)  Ok.  (walks away)
Ha ha ha!

Day 326: Day Dream

Aha:
You know how karma says that "you get what you give"?  Well, I was the benefactor of good karma today!
We have another faculty candidate in our office this week and things have been really busy for my coworker.  I offered to take the candidate across campus to one of his meetings so my coworker didn't have to worry about getting lost since she'd never been on that part of campus before.
Well, when I arrived with the candidate at the appointment we were offered refreshments in the kitchen.  The candidate graciously declined and I emphatically accepted.  One can of Diet Coke and a handful of M&M's later, I got to thinking to myself, I'm sitting here relaxing and snacking-it-up while my poor coworker's slaving away in the office...and I'm LOVING it!!

Ha ha:
I think I'm having Vampire Diaries (VD) withdrawals (I got caught up last week and don't have any new episodes to watch till the new season starts in the fall).  How pathetic am I???  Night before last I had a dream that I was talking with this overly-effeminite guy about which of us loved VD more.  I was telling him how I've seen all the episodes, wrote about it on my blog and am "totally in love with it".
He rolled his eyes and said, "Check this out!"  He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a VD pen.  It was one of those cheapy logo pens, but it was deceptively awesome.  He started to twist the top and out popped a telescoping poster of the three main characters.  Needless to say, it was a little weird, but I was impressed.  "That's not all," he said, "take a look at THIS!"
He walked me down a small hill, had me turn around and out of nowhere a huge projection screen arose out of the hillside.  On it was a PowerPoint presentation about the show.
I couldn't believe it.  By this point I was beginning to think this person was a bit extreme, not to mention obsessed.  And then I woke up and realized I was the one dreaming this all up in the first place.  I'm the one who's extreme!  I'm the one who's obsessed!
I panicked for a moment and then realized I'm okay with it.  120 days till season four baby!!

Day 325: Stick a Cork in it!

Aha:
I learned today how grateful I am to be understanding and tolerant of other people and their differences.  I also learned that I am not as big of a grump or kill-joy as other people in this world.  Why do I write these thought-provoking moments of enlightenment?  Because today, I was the recipient of the opposite of me.
I got an email from my supervisor this morning asking me to speak with her before I sent out one of my weekly announcements.  I was confused, but sent her an email to let her know I was about to send it out anyway.  A few minutes later she came to my desk, grabbed a chair and said we needed to talk.
Apparently, someone complained to HR about the signature at the bottom of my email at work: "Hoping to Adopt: https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/26001939/ourMessage.jsf".
"I don't understand," I said, "I contacted HR myself to get approval and they said it was up to you.  You gave me approval."
She nodded in agreement, apologized and then finished with, "I know.  I guess they changed the policy.  Either way, someone complained about it.  I'm sorry, but could you please remove it?"
I told her I would and I did.  And then I sat at my desk and fumed for a while.  And then I got up to clear my head.
After some time away I came to the conclusion that whoever complained must just feel like they have a really crappy life.  I began to feel sorry for them.  I'm sure they're going to be watching for my next email to make sure my signature is "Hope" free, feeling like "they've won" when it appears to be so--but that's where they're wrong.  If anything, this jerk has taught me to rise above the lows in life by looking to heaven.  When one door closes, another opens...and I hope it opens right in Email-Nazi's face! ;)

Ha ha:
After today, I was Jonesing for a good laugh--fortunately 30 Rock delivered.
 “I love Jamba Juice!  Having ice-cold diarrhea from drinking too much Jamba Juice? It’s everything I ever wanted!"
(Jenna Maroney, Episode 4.3, Klaus and Greta)
As a long-time sufferer of lactose-intolerance, this quote made me laugh out loud!