The Cubicle’s Backporch

So yesterday.

I went shopping.

AND I LIKED IT.

I cannot TELL you how excited I was to like shopping again.

I know that sounds dumb, but when you gain weight, shopping isn’t so fun anymore. You got stuff that hangs out where it’s not supposed to and things just don’t fit right.

But anyway. Yesterday I went shopping for a dress for the wedding I’m in on Saturday (I’m the guestbook girl). I got this one from New York and Co for a cool $34.98

It doesn’t look that fabulous on the model, but I really like it on me. And to show how inexperienced at wedding-shopping I am, I almost tried it on IN WHITE. yeah. Like that totally wouldn’t have been lame. (”Hi my name is Jennifer, I’m the guestbook bitch and I’m wearing white! Like the bride!”)

As a side note, has anyone seen The Proposal? B/c I really want to see it. I love Sandra Bullock.

So it’s been forever, right? Well, don’t worry, I got lots of good stuff to tell you.

BULLET POINTS!

Memorial Day Weekend- Our Boat Group.

1.) Memorial Day Weekend was like that show Boiling Points for me. Really. I just kept it in, kept it in, then WHAM- I yelled at Mr. C’s mom. I wish I could say that I was all calm and collected and used big words to confuse her… but no, I was pissed off and shaking and used words like FUCK and SHIT.  Trust me, she had it coming. What finally pushed me over the edge was her taking one of our guests around MY LAKE HOUSE and pointing out things and saying “This is mine”. As in, the old entertainment center that she didn’t want anymore and shit like that. So I told her that under no conditions was she to take guests in MY house around and show them what was is ‘hers’. I then informed her that if she still considers the shit hers, she could take it back b/c I didn’t want of it in MY HOUSE.

And for the record, I told Mr. C to talk to her and he wouldn’t. In fact, he said “Don’t do this to me.” So I took it into my own hands. That’ll teach him.

And for another record, we talked afterwards and everything is fine. Or fine until she brings it up again, perhaps when Mr. C and I are fighting or she finds another girl she would prefer Mr. C to date.

2.) I got a new camera! And it’s fabulous! Mr. C got it for me for my birthday. (Or rather he sent me a text saying ‘I’m going to buy you a camera for your birthday but I want you to pick it out. Surprise!’ and I had said that he didn’t need to buy me anything since I was jobless, but then I got excited and took the whole ‘don’t buy me anything’ back. hee hee) It’s a Nikon L100. Anyone else have one? The zoom is amazing. I took a picture I liked of a hummingbird. It’s over on the farm blog.

3.) I had an interview today! I’m not going to jinx it but it seems like it would be a fun job. I’d be travelling some and doing design work. I find out next week if I get called back for a second interview.

4.) Since January, I have lost 15 pounds. This is the lightest weight I’ve been in 2 years. And my clothes fit again! (well, some of them) I was reminded today how great it feels when my interview suit actually fits. I was all confident and shit!

5.) Mr. C has been discussing buying a new (used) boat when I get a job. Which is fine and dandy but I’m counting on YOU internetters to remind me that I SHOULD NOT put my name on another joint product until we are married. B/c seriously? This is getting ridiculous. I mean, yeah, the lakehouse is in both of our names, but only b/c each of us (well, when I have a job) could easily afford the payments by ourselves. But really? I mean he’s willing to go in debt with me but not marry me? NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

6.) My cell phone broke and I was trying to convince Mr. C that it was really in my best interest to get a blackberry. (It would’ve been FREE with my phone upgrade!) But he didn’t believe me when I said I’d be looking for job openings on it. And he reminded me that (doh!) I don’t have a job and money is tight right now (blackberry’s require an extra $30 a month charge for internet and such). Damn his level head. But, I ended up getting a Palm Centro (didn’t have to buy an internet plan right away) and so far I like it. I play Text Twist like my life depended on it.  I wish there was more free apps, but I did get a shopping list app AND a job search app, (which is really all I do) so it’s all good.

I’ve been reading blogs, really. I just haven’t been commenting. Hopefully that will change. Starting tomorrow.

When Mr. C and I bought the lakehouse (which is really a manufactured house on a lake, but LakeManufacturedHouse just doesn’t have the same ring to it), I knew I wanted to decorate it and make it a fun place. I usually write about our remodel work on my farmblog. (Go here to see what we’ve done so far)

So, in the spirit of FUN… may I present The Orange Bedroom.

Bright, no?

I’m sure these sheets (found at JCPenney- the green/blue/yellow striped ones) will up the ‘FUN’ factor.

And for my inspiration (which I found AFTER I painted the room, but I like the colors that go with the orange)

Found on HGTV.com b/c I LOVE me some HGTV!

Eventually (aka when I get A JOB) we’ll add crown moulding (to cover up the spots on the ceiling that I hit with the roller… tee hee hee) and I’ll paint the ceiling fan to match the room.

So what do you think? Would you ever paint a room orange?

(Check out my farmblog to see how our garden and chickens are doing, plus fun remodelling ideas I usually see on HGTV!)

As I mentioned, I’m going through the suggestions that my readers made for what I can do while I’m job searching and doing something in their HONOR.

See the Goals-Part 1 here. (See how I’m doing on my sidebar- it shows what progress has been made)

I’m going to finish up the list of goals since I’m obviously a big slacker and it takes me a week to post.

For Mel (also known as #2 in the sibling lineup)

Going to Nashville would be fabulous, but since I’m on a limited budget, I will drink a mojito during the weekend of Memorial Day (okay, I’ll probably drink like 2. (Give or take 10)) in your honor.

For Helen G:

I will weed the garden. After the days of rain, it needs it!

For Jamee:

I will go to the library this week and get new books! (Gotta take back the ones that I check out two weeks ago- the Chick Lit ones in honor of Amber.)

For Mike:

While the cigar thing sounds tempting (I did used to love my Swisher Sweets while drinking! ), I will go buy a bottle of wine in your honor. (Thanks for the suggestion, it gives me a reason to buy wine!)

For Elly:

I will take the dogs for a long, meandering walk. Since we have a hiking trail by our house, that should be a fun one!

For Slynnro:

I will go shopping. During the day while everyone else is working (Suckers!). The lines are shorter, no one bumps into me, and a million workers ask me if I need help in finding something. Maybe there IS an upside to being unemployed…

For Jocelyn:

I will write at least two blogs this week. This one not included.

For Bekah:

I will donate $5.00 to a charity.

For Michelle: (also known as #3 in the sibling line-up)

I will attend one of #8’s baseball games. And if my nephew wants to go (the niece scares me- she’s a wild child! ) I’ll bring him along. Okay fine, if the niece wants to come, that’s okay too. But it better be during her nap time!

For Journeying Mama:

I will eat well this week. And exercise.

For Carla:

I will cook dinner for Mr. C at least twice this week. Tonight will be the first one: it’s a Mini-Meatloaf.

For Cee:

I will either catch a movie or make plans to meet a friend for lunch. (Depending on my mood!)

For Rachel:

I will plant more flowers at the lakehouse. I have seeds that I bought last year, so hopefully they’ll come up!

Well, that’s it! And just to show that I am (slowly) working on the goals, here is a picture of my desk: (spring cleaning it is thanks to Courtney!)

Notice the computer is open to my Google Reader.

You guys gave me lots of good ideas for things to do while I’m job searching. (And for the record, you guys are some cleanin’ fools- the majority said they would clean!) So, to show my appreciation, I’m going to pick something and do it- in YOUR honor! hee hee. Then once I complete it, I’ll post it as “DONE”. I’m going to split up my ‘goals’ into a couple of different posts b/c you guys had lots of suggestions.  (If you’re new to my blog, I asked for things I should do since my job kicked the bucket. If you have a good idea, go to the post and suggest it! I need help!)

So, for Goal Set 1:

Comment 1: For Courtney:

I’m going to spring clean my desk. (I know, it barely needs it, right?) AND go to the movie store and rent an old movie!

Comment 2: For Kel

I’m going to plan out two room designs for our lake house. This will include going through my TONS of home magazines and finding color schemes and decorating ideas that I like.

Comment 3: For Amber

I recently checked out four books from the library that I consider Chit Lit, including Remember Me- By Sophie Kinsella (author of the Shopaholic books), The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks, Something More by Janet Dailey, and The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory (author of The Other Boleyn Girl). And if the offer still stands to send me your Twilight books to read, leave a comment and I’ll send you my address! (And I’ll totally send the books back to you when I’m done!)

Comment 4: For Chris

I’m going to browse MaryJane’s Farm and learn a thing or two. (And maybe buy a thing or two too!)

Comment 5: For Jamie

I’m going to weed my flower bed.

Comment 6: For Reforming Geek

I’m going to set up a lunch date with one of my friends.

Comment 7: For Mrs. Kitty

Since we’re renting our house-house and lake renovations have been put on HOLD until I get an income again, I’m going to refinish this $30.00 dresser we bought at a flea market a couple months ago. It’s been on my To-Do list, I’ve just been slacking. It’ll eventually go in one of the guest bedrooms at the lake.

Comment 8: For Jess

Since the closest musuem is about 45 minutes away, I’m going to go browse the local antique shops. (That counts as culture, right?) AND, I’m going to watch The Price is Right. I don’t think I’ve seen a full episode since Drew Carey took over.

Comment 9: For Fiona Picklebottom

I’m going to workout every day this week! (Barring an unforeseen swine flu attack!)

Whew. Tune in tomorrow for other people’s dedications. I’m going to be one busy girl!

Are you guys sick of me whining yet? You should be. I mean, I lost my JOB. Thousands of people have lost or are getting ready to lose their JOB. But at least we can pay our MORTGAGE and our critters are in no danger of going hungry. I still have my DEGREE, and thanks to COBRA, I’ll have health insurance for up to 18 months. (For $230 a month. Well actually $101 a month for the first 9 months, thanks to Obama passing a bill that will only make me pay 35% of the COBRA rates. Now THAT was a great bill passing!)

Thinking back, I should have made a list. An “If my job kicks the bucket LIST” if you will. I’m sure I would have had all kinds of fun things listed. Of course now that I’m actually LIVING the ‘if my job kicks the bucket list’, it’s harder to think of things that the old, non-jobless (is that considered a double negative?)  me would have.

So, if you were in my shoes… where you can’t spend money (unless it’s like $5-$10) and you weren’t pregnant (ahem ahem ahem ahem) and you were jobless, what would you do? Let’s also pretend that your friends and family live 45 minutes away and they all work during the day anyway. And pretend that you live out in the country.

And just for fun, throw in what YOU would do if you lost your job. (Beside look for another job b/c that is B-O-R-I-N-G.)

I need ideas people. You don’t want me to start WHINING AGAIN do you?

AND cheaper, AND I bet your kids don’t like wearing bows on their ears. (Okay, mine don’t either, but they can’t figure out how to get them off. Yet.)

This is Molly (left) and Jolee after their grooming appointment where we had her shave them for the summer.

Winslow says “What up”

Since nothing has been happening that’s interesting enough for a full post, it’ll be another bullet point day.

1.) I had my first (and only) interview last week. With a company that deals with energy. It would be my perfect job: I could work at a desk, OR be more hands on and go ‘on site’. They asked me the question I get asked a lot: “You may get dirty, is that okay?” (Not in so few words) And I responded with my normal “I was raised on a hog farm, you can’t get much dirtier than that, so yes, I’m okay with getting dirty.”

2.) My sister (#3) had her baby shower a couple weeks ago too. The cake was so cute! I love the details of the basket weaving:

3.) I only have 2 paychecks left of my severance pay. I got my COBRA paperwork a couple days ago. Panic is starting to set in.

4.) My visit to the dermatologist was highly disappointing. It was partially my fault for scheduling it the day after we got back from Florida: Thanks to the sun my skin was blemish free. But I got to the doctor’s office waited for AN HOUR (no shit) and he walked in, looking at my face for 45 seconds (again, no shit), said he didn’t see a problem, wrote me a prescription for some pills and cream, asked if I had any further questions (um yes, I wanted to say, I hope you don’t charge me a hundred fuckin dollars for this 2 minute appointment) and that was it. When I had talked to the scheduler, she had said that it would be a 30-minute or so appointment where I would be examined. Honestly I wanted to have some moles checked out but I never got that chance. So, to those who have went to the dermatologist- what was your first visit like?

5.) Regarding #3, I’ve been a headcase in the past couple of days. Really. I bounce between telling myself to calm the fuck down and just trust that Mr. C won’t run off leaving me income-less, feeling worthless and like I’ll never get a job, and telling myself that I should be enjoying this time off. I mean, in two paychecks Mr. C will be my sugar daddy. (Not counting unemployment, which I WILL be drawing. Fuckers) Of course he’s a sugar daddy that doesn’t buy me fun shit, just pays the bills. So maybe that’s not a sugar daddy, maybe more like a Sweet-n-Low daddy or a Splenda daddy. 

6.) Did I spell edition right? For some reason it doesn’t look right.

As I mentioned, Mr. C and I fought while we were on vacation (The fact that many of you admitted to fighting with your significant others while vacationing made me feel much better…). Mr. C also updated his facebook status that night (unbeknownst to me) which led to some interesting conversations with my friends in the next couple of days.

Here’s what he actually wrote:

Mr.C is omg I am f’ed up!

April 3 at 11:28pm · Comment · LikeUnlike

He doesn’t use the f-word on facebook, but notice the apostrophe after the f? So he’s trying to say “OMG I am fucked up!”

JFriend thought it said:

Mr.C is omg I am fed up!

and KFriend thought it said:

Mr.C is omg I f’ed up!

 Since I didn’t know about that status, I was surprised to hear from JFriend that Mr. C was fed up, and surprised to hear from KFriend that Mr. C felt bad. Then I saw his status and realized what had happened.

Ah. Facebook.

So I got back from vacation (Panama City Beach, Floriday) on Saturday night and I’m just now starting to feel back in the real world. But you know me- instead of we did this, and this, and this blog entry about my vacation, here are a few highlights in pictures.

We had a 14th floor ocean-view room. The people we stayed with got the room through VRBO.com. (Where owners rent out their condos) The sunsets were always gorgeous. I was able to snap this one the second night we were there.

The seagulls were everywhere. I fed them Captain Crunch off our balcony. This kid decided to taunt them with a sandwich. hee hee. There was a whole flock of them chasing him down.

Mr. C went fishing in the ocean. That’s not very entertaining, but the fact that he is wearing a poncho and it is billowing in the wind, thus making him look like he is wearing a cape- a’la Superman style? THAT is entertaining.

We went to Coyote Ugly a couple nights while we were down there. You know the bar from the movie- Coyote Ugly? It reminded me of wanting to open up my own bar. So I did some research and I’ll need about $750,000 to open a Coyote Ugly in Louisville Kentucky. Anyone want to back me?

I got this on the last day we were there. The sun was shining and it looked beautiful. I love the ocean. (Or Gulf, whatever) It’s vastness is humbling.

There was also a little drama between Mr. C and I the last night we were there. The night ended with my mom offering me a place to stay (b/c you CAN go home!) and my two very best friends in the whole world, JFriend and AFriend, offering to drive ALL THE WAY to Panama City (11 hours) to come pick me up so that I wouldn’t have to ride back in the same vehicle as Mr. C (although I didn’t take them up on it, the offer meant the world to me). Thankfully Mr. C was hungover on the way home and didn’t end up saying much (although the fact that he was near-puking the whole time did give me some satisfaction) We ended up working things out once we got home (or rather I told him what an ass he was). But seriously? Fighting on vacation is NOT FUN.