Flip Flop and Scoop of Vanilla

The Blog is Back in Town..

2010-09-26T15:33:00.000-07:00

Shame is the Shawl of Pink
In which we wrap the Soul
To keep it from infesting Eyes
-Emily Dickinson

Shame is what I feel. The bitter shame of Neglect.

Oh How I have neglected you dear blog.
My anonymous outlet of sorrow and strength.
My one true electronic legacy.

So, yeah, I haven't posted in a while. Almost a year to be a bit more accurate.
I am afraid that I will have to rebuild what little readership may have existed.

The reason for my absence?...... Shame.
The reason for my shame?......Nothing!

Vanilla and I have moved to a new, and for once, exciting place and what have we done... Alas, nothing.
We have not found our dream jobs, we have not explored all the magic that this wonderful city has to offer, we haven't done anything. We barely leave the house.

I blame DVR.

Yes, DVR. The ability to record and watch any show, any movie, any documentary, any baseball game and watch at will is truly debilitating!!!

I humbly apologize and beg your forgiveness.

So, a little ketchup to go with the humble pie???? If you are interested??

Hmm, where to start....

Last December we were blessed with a new niece.. She is PW's little sister and we haven't had the opportunity to meet her yet, but are looking forward to it.

In January, we lost Sweet William. He and Dot married in their 80th years and had 14 wonderful years of marriage. In August, we lost Dot as well. She fought long and hard, but couldn't be without her sweetie pie.

Vanilla has enjoyed being so close to his beloved baseball team and we have made several trips up to the Ballpark in Arlington.

I signed up for a seasonal job at the most wonderful store in the world, Target last Christmas (you know, while I looked for a real job) and I am still there. Red, not really my color.

Yesterday I felt guilty for skipping the Old Pecan Street Festival, but felt much more productive by doing four loads of laundry.

We are still young'un-less. We have had no "signs" one way or the other, but are beginning to realize that it will probably stay this way. My personal goal is to have a house. Not to raise kids in, but I really just want the backyard so I can adopt every small dog that needs a home.

We bought a dining room table, we don't really have a dining room, but finally a table!!!

Well, I must be doing this right, because I already feel as if I am boring you. You one lonely, probably non-existent reader.

So, I will stop for now..... and hope for the strength to return shortly.

Flip Flop

Oh Pioneers

2009-11-11T15:13:00.000-08:00

Ha Ha.. fooled you guys.. I waited only minutes to post again, instead of the usual weeks.. Clever, eh?

So, I thought I would fill everyone in on our adventure driving out west.

Well, Packing didn't go exactly as planned as I got a nasty bought of the stomach flu on day one of packing. I was down for the count. 33 hours in bed to be exact.

We eventually got everything into a box (or at least into a trash bag) and onto a 16' truck. The truck doors were locked down around 10pm EST on Wednesday night. About 10:15 we decided that sleeping on the floor would not be fun and to just see how far we could get.

Vanilla decided that he would start the drive. 15 minutes later, having survived the adventure, I forced Vanilla to pull over, before he turned over.. I should mention that his car was being towed behind the truck.

I took over the driving at that point. It was a bit difficult to handle. I was surprised because I had driven much bigger vehicles while towing other vehicles and had never had so much trouble.
I dreaded the morning when I knew I would have to call the rental company and our only option would be to switch trucks.. from the truck we just spent two days meticulously loading..
A bit later, I remembered seeing a button on the dash with a picture of a vehicle being towed.
I dared to take one hand off the wheel to search for this button and when I finally found it I pressed the button with only hope in my heart..
It took a minute but seemed to better the driving experience. Still had to take it pretty slow and removing a hand from the wheel was a bit of a chance, but suddenly, we were drivable.

The first night was four hours of driving and we only made it just north of Tampa. Normally this would have been a two hour drive.. We were in for a long haul and it looked like I would be the one hauling while Vanilla listed to my ipod in my car. I didn't even have so much as a tape player.

We got some sleep and in the morning, Vanilla kept his promise of letting me dine at the Cracker Barrel..... Didn't let me shop though.. hmph...

Well, it was time to get back on the road and we weren't looking forward to it..
We were up and running and I was starting to feel comfortable on the road when Vanilla called and said that his biscuits and bacon were putting him into a food coma and that we needed to pull over.

So we did.. I followed Vanilla and he led me into a tight parking area with no exits. I guess my shouting woke him up enough and we got on the road again.

We managed on surprisingly were able to get the truck up to the speed limit with the all powerful button.

We passed the exit for my hometown zip code, but knew that we wouldn't be able to stop. Our time was becoming more and more limited.

We eventually made it to the state line, and I won't lie.. There was a little tear shed in memory of my beloved state.

It was getting dark, but we kept pushing on and made it through another state..

Unannounced to me, Vanilla was cooking up a surprise for me.. He was making calls and booked a room at a hotel in state number 3. It was a wonderful room in a hotel I have wanted to stay in for years. Not necessarily in state number 3, but in other areas of the country.

It was a very good deal and sure beat the highway hostels that were dotting the side of the road.

There was one flaw in the plan. The lobby of this fine establishment consisted of a casino. Hmmm.. Vanilla and I, uh.. we like to play the odds.

After all was said and done.. it wasn't a very good deal after all, but I enjoyed it all the same.

We slept in a bit that morning and enjoyed the buffet for brunch as a reward for making such good progress the day before.

It was time to move on to state number 4. The rest of the day will be a memory that I plan on repressing.

THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE BRIDGES OF TERROR

No folks, not a fictional novel.. real life and real fear.

I don't have a huge fear of bridges, but I do have a fear of huge bridges. And the state of Louisiana is nothing but one huge bridge after another!!!!!

There was one in particular that I could actually hear the "tic,tic,tic,tic" as we drove upward. I could only imagine going off the side of the bridge to be forever entombed in my Budget rental truck in the bottom of a dirty river.
My only hope was that the roller coaster engineer that designed this stupid thing was in the car next to me and would go over with me.

Finally the bridges ended and we found ourselves welcomed into The Great State of Texas!
We drove a bit and decided to stop for the night. We ate some TexMex and settled in.

We woke to find ourselves just outside of Houston and I found myself not impressed.... I thought.. "uh, oh"

We "trucked on" and stopped for TX bar b que for lunch.. and I will admit.. the best turkey I have ever had in my entire life.

After lunch, we were back on the road and headed towards the capitol of this very large area. We made it into town about 3 in the afternoon and realized we had no where to go. We found a motel and hunkered down.

On that first day, we caught up with old friends and witnessed one of the most amazing Halloween celebrations ever.

The next day we did find a place to live, but they don't just let you walk in and move in so we paid for another night in a hotel and another day for the truck rental.. yay!

We got moved in ... and that's another story.. and now we are here.

So far.. I like it..
I have never moved anywhere that I immediately liked.. .Well.. except for Gatorville.. So we are hopeful that we will be here for a while and that we will be able to call it home.

Need to buy some shoes with toes..
Flip Flop

Bad Flip Flop, Bad... Tut, tut..

2009-11-11T15:02:00.001-08:00

Okay, okay, okay....
I know, it's been a while and I have definately left some unanswered questions out there...
Let's just go basic for a while.

I left a big announcement out there dangling. The reason for all the mystery was that it was still sort of hush, hush at the time, and things tend to get around on the internet.. Big surprise..
And then it wasn't hushy, hush, but more towards confusing. I was confused enough without getting everyone else all swirly.

So... Drumroll.....

We moved to the Lone Star State.

Things weren't going as planned in the "Land of the Bored" and our lease was up.... so, what better thing to do than drop everything and move half way across the country!!!

We decided that our toes would take us further out West, so we wiped off the sand and took off.

I am still looking for a job I am passionate about.. ha
but Vanilla is working while I explore this new land..

As guilty as it might make me feel, I may have a little time during my job search to keep ya'll up to date.. I'll try at least..

Do they sell Flip Flops with Spurs?

Uncomfortably Numb

2009-09-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

This earth is too small for all the souls that we love. There is much more room in Heaven. In order to introduce a new soul for us to love, we sometimes have to say goodbye to someone we already love.

I said goodbye to my namesake when I was five. In a scary and dysfunctional living environment you were my escape. I love you Linnie.
I said goodbye to my best friend when I was fifteen. In a lonely school environment, you were there to always be honest. I love you Seasons.
I said goodbye to my grandfather when I was seventeen. In a difficult relationship you gave me knowledge. I love you Hall.
I said goodbye to my cousin when I was nineteen. In a family full of cousins much older than me, our similar age connected us and a friendship grew. I love you Forever Young.
I said goodbye to my Granny on the last day of my 21st year. In this wild, crazy, scary world, you were my rock. I love you Grower of Violets.
I said goodbye to my brother when I was thirty two. In a world with few very close friends, you were my closest friend. I love you Drummerman.
I said goodbye to someone I never met last Christmas. I only knew you existed for what seemed like hours and you were gone. I loved you no less for never having seen you. I love you Raspberry.
I said goodbye to my father just a few days ago. I had lived for almost two decades before I ever sought comfort in your arms, but when I did, they were open and waiting for me. I love you Junior.

Although I miss all of these souls terribly and the love I had for them can never be replaced, I must remember that God has given me so many wonderful individuals in my life that I love and that love me. Though our time was short, I have been blessed to be a part of these people's lives.
Less than flippy,
Flop

To Everything there is a season

2009-09-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I do not have much information to offer in this post except that Flip & Scoop are headed for a big change.
Vanilla is ready for a change in career environment and it comes at a time when we are not bound by contractual agreement to stay in our current abode.
In the past, when it has been time for a change we have been "stuck" where we were.
Now, we have a great opportunity and are able to do whatever we want with it!
No decisions have been made at this time, but we'll keep you posted!!!!!
Excited and scared,
Flip

FellyTones

2009-08-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

When I was young, if I wanted to tell a friend something, I stood up, walked out the front door, walked in the direction of the house where that friend lived, strolled up the driveway and knocked on the door.
Those who were not within walking distance received letters sharing whatever mundane news I felt the need to disclose.
While others in my classes received notes home discussing little Johnny or Sally's disruptive behavior, I had to deliver to my parents notes stating how I didn't talk enough.
I can remember going to lunch with several co-workers one day and in the middle of the meal, one of them leaned across the table, looked at me and yelled "Talk!"
While this behavior in my youth exhibited just how shy I was, in my adulthood it is just the way I am.
I have always been very good at reading people and I believe it is because I am so much more content with listening to others speak and tell stories. In thirty minutes of permissioned eavesdropping I can tell someone's likes, dislikes, what they think is funny and gross and their overall attitude towards mankind.
Now, if after my "silent interview" is over and someone makes the cut, they often find themselves amazed by how entertaining I can be.
I don't usually let most in on this little secret, but I am really not that entertaining but two things have occurred here.
One, I have already figured them out, I know what will entertain them.
And two, my slightly entertaining self is such a dramatic shift from the person who originally just sat there and watched them talk that these people feel that they have been the one's to awaken this sleeping phenomenon.
What do I have to say to this?
Eh, whatever.

Now, to where this all began.......
I absolutely, without a doubt do not like talking on the telephone!
It seems no matter what, there is always one friend who insists on calling three times a day to tell me... nothing..

Caller: " Hey, what are you doing?"
Me: " Nothing, what's up?" ( I should put that a "what's up" means "what do you want?")
Caller: "Nothing, I was just calling to see what you are up to."
Me: "Nothing"
Caller: "What did you do today?"
Me: "Nothing"
Caller: "What are you doing right now?"
Me: "Nothing" (Here I should interject this: I might actually be doing something, but I don't really want to engage the person in conversation further)
Caller: "Well, I went to the grocery store today and the cart was dirty and beets were on sale and a kid was crying, my coupon wouldn't scan, ...........
and on and on and on and on. .

Or, or, or...
Sometimes the caller insists on rehashing the same conversation that occurred 3 hours and 10 hours and 18 hours before.

Don't get me wrong, I love my friends. I love hanging out with my friends and talking to them.
And those friends that I never get to see and rarely get to speak to I love to talk to.
And maybe I love to talk to them, because I don't talk to them every four hours or so.

Later,
Flip Flop, not Flip Phone

Fried Green Ta-maters

2009-07-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

This morning Vanilla and I had a the best breakfast... ok.. well, lunch actually. After a very long time, Vanilla was able to make it to one of my family reunions.
It has previously been referred to as the Spring Break Capitol of the World, but home is also the land of a cool breeze, tall pine trees, a beautiful sunset and best of all, family.
This morning, we met up with many of the members of my very large family at a good ol' southern restaurant (also the scene of the horrible disaster also known as my first job).
Going home is something I always look forward to, but is also very stressful.
Having so many people that I enjoy seeing and being around makes getting to everyone as well as having any alone time (which is a precious gem in my book) very difficult in this neck of the woods.
One day, and I say that with very little hope, one day Vanilla may think of planting roots in this special place. Unfortunately, all the running around and demands of seeing everyone in such a short period of time, doesn't leave a fantastic impression.
Vanilla is very patient and is very willing to be a part of all the chaos, but I am not sure if he realizes just how loved he is in these parts.
I have often told Vanilla all the details of my dream home. I have even pointed it out on previous visits. But I think that I have realized that it's not just the house, not even the street (although, it's a nice street), but maybe the dream actually extends to the zip code itself.
Nostalgic as always,
Flippy

Feelin' Lucky

2009-06-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

I feel blessed today. My close friends and family members are healthy and happy. We have a friend who burried his father 24 hours after his grandfather died, only to have his best friend's father die from a freak accident two days later. Our souls are designed to handle many emotions including large amounts of grief, but to digest so much in such a short span of time is a test that many would have difficulty passing gracefully.
We pray for their strength at this time.
Sad shoes
(PS.. Vanilla and I went to the funeral for our friend's father. It was at his request that attendees wear hawaiin shirts and shorts. It truly is a celebration of life when you can wear 'flip-flops' to a funeral)

Come and Knock on our Door, We've Been Waiting for You...

2009-04-30T18:57:00.001-07:00

Okay, okay, okay... With weeks of work and no play I have had no exciting revelations, stories, thoughts or just plain interesting news.
But alas some excitement has entered my life!
On Sunday, Vanilla and I were treated to a trip to San Diego!
The managing company for his restaurant had a conference for all the managing partners and chef partners... and their spouses!!!!
With the bad economy going on, all you hear about is how companies are foregoing expenses like this. Well, after this weekend, I don't believe it! There were 3,300 of us total and they went all out!
We took up almost all of the Grand Hyatt and most of the Giant Marriott next door! There were parties every night. On one of these nights the company closed down two blocks and rented out every bar and restaurant for us. All food and drinks were free. Another night shut down an entire Marina and a full carnival was set up just for us. I have never in my life seen so many midway games (and growing up in a tourist town and having worked in an amusement park... that's saying something). The best part was that all the games were free.
Again, all the food and drink were free as well, ice cream too... I think Vanilla over-enjoyed the bottom-less cooler full of ice cream treats.. He got his name somehow.
The company was also generous enough to pay for us to stay a full day extra so that we could enjoy the city.
Well, there is no question how I decided to spend that day.
The San Diego Zoo!!!!!
My list of places to see before I die includes Egypt, Spain, a waterfall and the San Diego Zoo!!
Amazing. This place not only offers tremendous things to see, but is doing good things for animals all over the world. They cannot do this alone and rely on income by donors and $4 soft drinks, but they don't just take the money and send a thank you note. All over the park signs and monuments were set up with names of contributors. I do, however, wish they would have used some of that signage to tell you where you are in the park and how to get to where you are going, but hey, no one is perfect.
I do respect that animals do what they do, but I would have like for a few more of them to have been awake and for the one's that were not snoozing to have not been pooping in front of me.
I did learn a lot in this city, that is more than what I already knew from the opening credits of Three's Company.
I was terribly unaware of rich military history of this great city and was in awe of the larger than life aircraft carriers that lined the water. I took the walk of the greatest generation, where I was treated to monuments and remembrances of those who served in WWII. I watched as white-haired men stood perfectly still looking at lists of names and places of combat. I was able to read their minds and let myself slip into a reverence for them that cannot be matched.
Speaking of reverence.. Vanilla would not let us leave without eating at the small bar/restaurant across from the hotel. Kansas City Barbeque as it is known.. and yes.. it is known. The bar is the same one used in the movie Top Gun, where Meg Ryan said those famous words, "Goose, take me to bed or lose me forever."
This bar is the Top Gun Bar. Every bit of the walls are covered with pictures from the movie (filmed 25 years ago by the way) and the bartender just repeats the story of that day over and over again.
In conclusion, if you're in the area, I strongly suggest a trip to San Diego. A suggestion though, to avoid all the blisters and soreness I am still dealing with, pay the $10 a person fee to ride in one of the bike-pulled tours of the city, it would have been well worth it.
Come and knock on our door, we've been waiting for you. Where the kisses are hers and hers and his, three's company too. You'll see that life is a party and laughter is calling for you...

Bruised, blistered and with a tan line to match her shoes,
flip flop

With Baited Breath...

2009-02-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

I don't really know how to bait my breath, but none the less I am waiting eagerly. Vanilla is on his way home. After about three weeks without a day off, I finally have him for an evening. We are going out for our "around Valentine's Day dinner."
Very excited!!!

And, and, and....

2009-02-25T16:59:00.000-08:00

I was just looking through some older posts and realized that I dedicated a lot of time to a certain set of books. I have failed to bring to everyone's attention that a couple of months ago, I discovered a new set of books.
From a boy wizard to a sparkling Vampire.. what a trend.
If you get a chance, it's definately worth the read!
Flip with Fangs

Go Green!!!

2009-02-25T15:03:00.000-08:00

Not many people know me as a hard core environmentalist, but in a way I am. One thing that anyone who knows me understands is that I abhor litterbugs. I don't want the Indian guy to cry, but I will make you cry if you throw that out the window!!!

Well, after the President's Speech last night, I decided that I would share some of my own Earth Friendly Ways. Some of you may be surprised. What may not be as surprising is that many of these offer ways to hold on to your moolah. As Flip Flop and Vanilla are putting every cent we have towards the never-ending debt we have accrued, it makes "cents" that I try to save the pennies we do have.

Let's start with WATER!! Over 85% of the surface of Earth is covered in this liquid so many take it for granted. But we have to preserve it.

There was a time when I used to hit the bottle pretty heavy. Yes, that's right, Spring Water was my crutch. Eventually I graduated to washing those cute little plastic bottles and refilling them. Today, I am happy to say that I am totally recovered. A glass, some ice and some refreshing tap water is all I need to take the edge off that forceful thirst.
Now, I know that it can be a long journey to get to this point, so here's a few tips to help. If you do use the bottle to drown your sorrow (or laziness), put them in the dishwater and reuse them. You can even wash the little caps. I always filled a bowl with hot, soapy water and let them soak. If that's not good enough for some of you germaphobes, then you can always purchase those little plastic things that go in the dishwasher to wash baby bottle parts.
If the idea of drinking tap water is what's driving you to the bottle, go out and invest in a filtered water pitcher.
If you just can't tear yourself away from the little plastic vessels and find that you have them all over the house with just a little bit of warm, unappetizing water left in them, don't pour them down the sink. Here's a couple of options.
Water your plants, indoors or out.
Use the water for the initial rinsing out of the coffee pot

Ok, so most of that was about plastic. I'll get back to the subject of water.

Vanilla is not as Eco-minded as I am and is always wondering why, after brushing his teeth, the sink is filled to the rim with toothpaste tinted aqua.
I on the other hand, have learned to turn the water off for the duration of the tooth-cleansing process. If I do need to turn it on, a small trickle will eventually rinse the brush out just fine.
The same concept can be applied to hand washing. It doesn't take the full force of the faucet to rinse those hands.

Staying in the bathroom, here are some ideas that may not be so easy to digest.
I heard many, many, many years ago that putting a brick in the toilet tank can save water. It's takes up space and less water is needed to fill the tank. I grew up in a house with a fickle septic tank and was never allowed to try this out, but if you just want to experiment, try a medium sized rock, over time you could save a dime!!
This next one is not so easy to discuss, but I will use a line from a Ben Stiller Movie.
If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown flush it down.
I am home a lot and make frequent trips to the restroom. I try to save a couple of flushes when I can. I'm no plumbing expert, but if you have a two-gallon tank and save just one flush a day, you will, not can, will save 730 gallons of water a year. Think about that!

Now, let's go back to hand washing. When at home, dry your hands with a dishtowel. You will save hundreds and hundreds of paper towels.
Utilizing public utilities can get a little trickier. Now the most earth friendly way of drying your hands in this situation is to wipe them off on the seat of your pants.
Depending on your day's fashion choices this may not be an option.
I have often wondered, and I am not kidding, I have spent so much time thinking about this that I actually looked it up, what is better, a paper towel or the hand dryer.
Both use electricity. (Paper towels aren't just plucked off the branches of a tree and well, electricity runs the hand dryer).
Paper towels are produced. Gas powered equipment is used to cut down the tree. Gas powered trucks are used to haul the trees to ... somewhere... The pulp is then driven from whatever place makes pulp to a factory. The factory uses electricity to make the paper towels. The towels are driven to stores and are then driven again to your favorite public restroom.
After usage, the towels are discarded and thrown into plastic trash bags. They are then driven to a landfill.
The traditional hand dryer doesn't use much electricity, but that seems to be changing. The high powered dryers of today seem to want to take the skin off your hand as much as the water. Here's the good news about these machines. They are motion activated and don't run as long as the old one's. They do however turn on every time you walk by them.
Personally, I'm a seat of the pants type of gal, but I will cheat on occasion, when the need to have a buffer between my fingers and the door handles requires a paper towel.

See, there's a lot to think about here.. Bet ya'll didn't think I thought about these things.

Since your out in the public, you may need to stop at an ATM. Press "No Receipt." If everyone rejected that little piece of paper, in one year, we would save enough receipt paper to wrap around the earth 11 times. I read that a while back, so my mileage may not be spot on.
Plus, I spent half an hour today changing the receipt paper in the ATM at the bank and it's a pain in the rear.

Paper or Plastic. All I know is that I have a closet full of plastic bags that I can't remember to take to the store (My local recyclers won't take them). I use them as trash can liners in the bathroom, the occasional lunch bag, packing material and other odds and ends. I have stopped collecting so many lately because I now have the world's coolest collection of reusable grocery bags. These things are great! Not only am I using less plastic, but they hold so much more stuff and are so much easier to carry up the stairs. Besides that's less supplies that Target has to purchase and eventually those savings come back to the consumer. Win, Win.

Since we are at Target, let's go down the aisle with the reusable containers. Forget all the Ziploc bags. I have had Tupperware-esque dishes since college that are still going strong!
Also, ditch the soda aisle and grab some drink mixes. Currently, I am a fan of Pink Lemonade and Peach Tea. You can save a ton of money and there won't be all those cans lying all over the house. I even recycle the little plastic cups the mixes come in.
By a coffee pot while you are there and don't forget the reusable filter. Talk about saving money. Your local coffee house will miss you, but those wax cups they use don't recycle. If you just can't stay away, the paper sleeve around the cup and the lid can go in the blue bin.
You can also visit the hardware aisle and buy some of those cool shaped eco-friendly light bulbs. Be wary though. I have read that you really aren't helping much with these unless you properly recycle them. I probably should have read the whole article, because I don't know where you are supposed to take them. Neither do the guys at Target by the way.

So we've driven to the grocery store and stopped at the ATM. How did we get there. We used gas. Everyone is feeling this pressure directly in their wallet. Here's some ways to save at the pump. First of all, don't drive like Vanilla. Second, get your oil and filters changed regularly, it's good for the car too. Here's one that you may not have already heard. Empty the trunk. All that junk you've got back there that you are just too lazy to go store in the garage, TAKE IT OUT. The extra weight in the vehicle makes your car work harder. I have heard that removing the spare tire can help dramatically, but even I am not ready for that move!

Let's go back home. Did you leave your ceiling fan on while you were out? Um, it's not cooling anyone off if they are not in the room. Turn off the fans in rooms that aren't being used. If you need to go in there, you can always turn it back on. I have heard that if you have multiple fans in your home, just doing this can save $4 to $7 a month on your electric bill.
Living in Florida I know that there is a time for the A/C. Don't turn it off when you go to work, but instead, just turn the thermostat up a few degrees. The house will be cool when you get home, and the unit won't have to work as hard as it would if had been off all day.
It gets cold here too. So invest in some fuzzy socks and a sweater. I have found that if this doesn't work, I can turn on the heater just for a few minutes to take the chill out of the house. This usually lasts for the whole day. Results may vary of course.

One last thing on today's rant.
Online statements. Almost everyone, from credit cards to banks to utilities, offer online statements. Not only will you save paper, but so will the people that you are paying. Once again, by cutting down on their supplies and stamps, you may end up passing the savings onto yourself. Don't worry though, most of these companies offer the ability to look up any month's statement so that you can print it out if you find yourself in need of it!

Well, I had thought about many more things, but they are slipping out of my head and this has gone on long enough for one day.. Ghost Hunters is on..
If I come up with more, I will let you know.
Just remember, don't be like Vanilla.

Reuse, Recycle,
Flip Flop

Oy, Oy, Oy

2009-02-17T16:01:00.000-08:00

Ugh, Ugh, and more Ugh..
So, this new job is CRAZY! My new workplace is incredibly busy and my new employees, while nice enough and competent, need a lot of attention. When I started there, I thought "how nice it will be to work around the corner and get home before the 5 o'clock news.
HA!!!
Even though this bank closes at the same time as the island bank and I live less than 10 minutes away, I haven't been able to leave before 5:30 or 6.
While my overtime pay will be appreciated, I am waiting for the slap on the wrist for obtaining so much overtime.
Oh well, hopefully it will smooth itself out eventually.
In other news....
I blew up my car.
YAY!!!!!!
I am now even more in debt now, but I am actually excited about it. I love my new car!!!
It's RAD!
Your New Car Owner,
Flip Flop

2009-02-03T16:13:00.000-08:00

Hello, Hello, Hello...
Hopefully there is still someone out there. I know I have been absent for a while, but I have a good excuse. Well, several small excuses that if you stacked them on top of one another they would be a giant pile of excuses.
First on the list is that I started a new job yesterday. It's really the same job just at a different location. I have exerted quite a bit of energy preparing the previous branch for my absence, while at the same time mentally preparing myself for the new place. So far, I am still alive.
Second, I have been concentrating my creative efforts into a new task. I am writing a book! It's sort of for fun, but secretly I am hoping that it will be really good and publishers will be calling me offering me million dollar checks.
The few people I have told seem to immediately ask what the book is about. Don't ask, I don't know yet. I am just writing. I will let everyone know when I get that first check though.
I hope all is well with everyone, I will check in soon.
Later,
Flippy

Happy Anniversary

2009-01-04T13:51:00.000-08:00

Well, we made it a whole year.
Flip Flop and Scoop of Vanilla: The only 2008 New Year's Resolution that made it.
I hate that I wasn't able to ring out the old with memories of the previous 366 days (leap year, people, leap year), but I was struck down yet again by microscopic organisms.
Only this time, it was bad, real bad.
Today is the first in six days I have not had a fever and last night I slept for four hours straight!
This is my fault, I failed to read the labels on the bottles of the five prescriptions I was given (side note: did you know that pharmacies close on new years day - except for those stores who are 30 miles between that are open 24 hours. And did you know that they only staff those stores with 1 pharmacist to handle all the sick and germy in a 30 mile radius).
Several of my medications had the familiar notation of "may cause drowsiness."
Some people find this rewarding and enjoy the restful sleep this brings them. For me however, it does nothing but cause drowsiness and strip me of the physical ability to sleep.
The last time I took NyQuil (on accident of course) I was awake in a cloud of sleepiness for three days. Barring the presence of an anesthesiologist, there is no "so you can rest medicine" for me.
After finding one of these stickers on Friday night, I discontinued use of all medication other than necessary and humph, I feel better.. Still tired, but whoa, tons better.
With that said, I found out today that I have already lost the first four days of 2009 and the last couple of 2008.
Normally I would have used the latter to decide what my resolutions for this new year would be. I guess I will be late on that one.. I already have an idea for a major one, but I'll let you know.
Well, go, get back to living life, I will talk to you soon.
Flip flop

I'm Still here.

2008-12-08T12:59:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone,
I just wanted to stop in and say that I haven't gone anywhere.. My time has been filled with Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping and cold medicine.
After thinking that my cold was almost gone, I overdid it for the weekend and landed myself at home on the couch instead of at work where I should be today.
Oh well, at least that gives me a little time to say hello.
My mind is working hard right now through the fog of benadryl and hot green tea just to form complete sentences, so I will keep this short.
I wanted to let everyone know that I had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I was unable to make it home for the Holiday and because it was the one year anniversary of losing Drummerman, I refused to go to Miami to visit Vanilla's family.
I also have a thing against bones in my dinner, so Vanilla and I made a ham. We made stuffing, potatoes and I made what Vanilla likes to refer to as a "hick dish," green bean casserole. He refuses to eat it, so I had my favorite all to myself.
We laid out our plentiful meal on the coffee table, sat on the floor and watched Oprah. (Vanilla had the remote). It was great!
For the first time in years, I am not wishing Christmas to hurry up and be over. All though I am looking forward to having money to pay the bills, less time spent trying to find gifts and more variety on the radio at work, but I am not wishing the season away. It's kind of nice.
Well, I think it's nap time now.
Later, flip flop (with socks on).

Easy Listening

2008-11-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

For almost a year now, there have been certain songs, certain albums and certain artists that I have blocked out. The CD's have remained in their cases and the radio dials have been quickly turned to another station.
Today, something made me put in one of those CD's. The morning drive was difficult and so was the beginning of the drive home, but at some point I stopped fighting the urge to turn off the sounds of memories and began to turn them up.
Of all the things that Drummerman and I had in common, music was the strongest and was in fact the core of our friendship. There were certain artists that were just ours and no one else was allowed in. Fourteen years ago we drove three states to see one of these musicians in an intimate setting and it is still one of my most vivid memories. That artist helped me break through some things today.
Through the sorrow and the regrets, I started to feel my own blood moving, my own nerves pulsing underneath my skin and I had to take my own advice and celebrate the gifts we are given.
This past year, I have not grieved. Instead I have blocked thoughts, distracted myself and acted as a pillar to others. I realized today that all I have to do is breathe.
The anniversary is approaching quickly and I find that my mind is bottling up more and more. Someone is shaking the bottle and if i don't open it soon, it will explode.

You've got to fight.. For your right.. To VOTE!!

2008-11-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

I had two questions posed to me today. Questions which are better left out of the workplace. The following are the posed queries and my respective responses.
Q: "Are you happy with the results of the election?"
A: "I am thrilled that so many Americans showed up at the polls and exercised the power which they have been given."

Q: "Who did you vote for?"
A: "I voted for America"

Those politically correct replies carried more truth than if I had given the answers they were actually looking for.

Yesterday, I drove past a polling precinct which was a very large church. The building spanned the length of about a quarter of a block. The line out the door was three times as long.
My pride swelled seeing so many individuals taking an active part in their country. Something I believe has been somewhat absent for a long time.

Sure, I cast a vote for one individual, but whether or not that person won or lost was not the most important part of yesterday for me. I have always said to people that I don't care who they vote for, I care that they vote.

On the other end of that, yesterday was truly a magical moment for America. This country is 232 years old. Women have only been allowed to vote for 88 of those years. That women have been allowed this right is only because courageous individuals fought hard and endured ridicule, mental abuse and even physical abuse so that their daughters would have this gift. Yesterday, millions of women exercised that right.
138 years ago, black men were awarded this same right after this country lost many, many of its own in order to gain that ground. Even though the Constitutional right came into law in 1870, it was years later before the majority of the country let it happen peacefully.

No matter which way the votes swung last night, history was going to be made. Either a Black Man would serve as president or a woman would serve as vice president.

Many have paved the road for this to happen (recurring candidate Jesse Jackson or previous VP candidate Geraldine Ferraro, to name two) and last night the country saw that road get crossed.

Way to go America. Pat yourselves of the back for not refusing to take this precious gift of democracy for granted. It is my deepest wish that in four years, twice as many voters show up and say, "I have a voice. It is my choice to use that voice. The only way my voice can truly be heard is if I am quiet for 5 minutes while I vote."

Flip Flop for America!!!!

The Whole Fam Damily

2008-10-27T15:46:00.000-07:00

Whew...

Well the last five days has been a blur of cousins, siblings, aunts, uncles, in-laws and other hodge-podged people.

Vanilla and I went down to Miami to visit his family while Serg, Sissy and PW are in town. PW is 10 1/2 months now and we got a fine lesson in child rearing. We found out that kids get up too early, eat when you want to do something else, put their greasy hands on your camera lens, cry when you are having a conversation and lick everything, even if it doesn't belong to you. Shudder.

I was able to slip away for a while and put an extra 700 miles on my little Nissan to travel to Gainesville and see some family of my own. It was really great to see everyone and made me miss them even more. The time with the relatives made the drive so worth wile as our event was watching the Gators stomp, crush, embarrass, overdo it to the Kentucky team. 63-5 is a bit one-sided.

Vanilla is still in Miami. Yesterday morning I got up and with a frowny face told Vanilla that I had to leave that afternoon. Within hours of chaos I went back to him with a big smiley face and said "I get to leave today!"

Everybody's workin' for the weekend...

2008-10-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

So today, I found out the best incentive to work is not working. I met a goal today that I normally wouldn't even have attempted in a successful effort for a free day off!!!

Wooo!!!

Wait.. To get a day off not working, I spent the day working four times as hard.

Something's not right here.

Flip Flop

What was I thinking???

2008-10-05T13:49:00.001-07:00

Since moving to Southwest Florida, Vanilla and I have avoided going to every one's favorite discount store, What-am-I-doing-here-mart. With a new, giant warehouse built just down the street, and by just down the street, I mean half an hour away, I decided to spend two hours of my Sunday afternoon sifting through bargains galore.
At first I was pleasantly surprised by the wider aisles and the relatively quiet store. It was a more than happy occasion to obtain a buggy with four functioning wheels and I quickly and easily was able to find a well-needed toilet seat for only $5 and change. After my find, I decided to visit the ladies room in the lay-away department. Having only a bottle of lotion and a toilet seat in my cart, I felt okay leaving my cart outside.
After returning to my shopping, I noticed that one my wheels was no longer functioning. Someone had SWITCHED my cart. I tried to deal for a time, but was forced to go ALL the way to the front of the store and switch the cart.
After this inconvenience, I started noticing that the aisles were no longer as accessible and sounds were louder. I could now hear no less than six kids crying/screaming/yelling. One little girl I noticed was not yelling at me, but when I passed by this cute little, pigtailed junior person, she looked up at me, waved and said "hola." That was a first.
I eventually made my way to the grocery side of the store where every turn was hindered by someone who's momma obviously didn't tell them that standing in the middle road with no purpose was rude. Down each aisle I went, I was met with the same family, going opposite the direction I was and with a cart that was being maneuvered by an eleven-year-old. No offense parents, but this is just not a good idea. I last sighted this particular adolescent stealing all the free cookies from the samples in the deli.
I am happy that I was smart enough to get a magazine prior to getting in line. I didn't have to pay for it, because I read the entire magazine before having to put even one item on the conveyor belt.
When all was said and done, I was $90 poorer and I had lost two hours of my life, not including drive time, to this place.
Ahhh. Another lesson learned. Well actually, I learned this lesson before, but today served as a reminder.
Next week, back to Target.
Flip Flop

Vanilla in a Lego store

2008-09-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

A man and his toys.

New Name??

2008-09-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

The other night our sweet tooth kicked in and Vanilla and I made a trip to the store. While there we each picked out our treats and after getting home, we looked at how different our teeth really are.

Apple Pie and Pin Stripes

2008-09-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

It's the top of the sixth, There's two outs, three balls, one strike with a runner on second. And suddenly, it's a full count. With that, ball four brings the batter to first. Suddenly, the pitcher's face looks like a child who's gotten in trouble and is trying to hold back the tears. The catcher and the manager approach the mound as the bullpen gate swings open. The tears that are hiding, are for the end of an era. Ball four is the last pitch he will ever throw in Yankee Stadium.

Just on the other side of the left field wall construction is well under way for the new Yankee Stadium. Barring a series of losses and wins by certain teams, the Yankee will not make the playoffs this year, giving no chance for another home game at the current 85 year-old "house that Ruth built."

Even if you don't know what a ground rule double is, you know the Yankees. You've heard of Reggie Jackson, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, and countless others who have worn their pin stripes to work.

I am personally not a fan of the Yankees, but I am a fan of baseball, of history, of sportsmanship, of camaraderie and good, old-fashioned rivalry.

I grew up watching my grandmother watch the Braves play at Fulton County Stadium. She would turn the volume all the way down and have the radio on the game so that she could hear her favorite announcers give the play by play. The phone would ring every time someone made it to home plate.

As the only girl in a neighborhood full of boys, I spent many summer days swinging for the fences, or at least for the line of trees that was considered the home run line. The water hose hanging on the wall served as a perfect strike zone, a sapling of a pecan tree made a weary first base. The part of second base was played by the grate over the ditch and sliding into third was not an option since it doubled as a driveway.

As the world has evolved with technology at our fingertips, communication has become just as more frequent as it has become less personal. But there is no denying the interaction between fans of two different teams on game day. Love of the game, love of a team forces people to profess their deepest emotion and ideas.

America would not be America without baseball and baseball would not be baseball without America. They are woven together like a blanket that warms our hearts in the crisp weather of October.

"It ain't over... till it's over." - Yogi Berra

"Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth." - Lou Gehrig

"I hit the first home run (in Yankee Stadium), God only knows who will hit the last." - Babe Ruth

Dropping a line

2008-09-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say hello and explain my absence lately.
Even though much has happened since my last post, I in no way find any of it interesting.
We have had a few storms which have been somewhat disruptive to our daily lives. I can't complain, it could be worse.
In the midst of all the wind and rain, Vanilla managed to tear an abdominal muscle. Yay!
The cost, in addition to hanging out overnight in the ER, seems to be running at about the $10,000 mark so far. Good thing we have insurance. I found out only yesterday that we only have to be responsible for about $3000. Yay!
The best part was that the whole ordeal prompted an impromptu visit from some family members. While it is always lovely to see our loved ones, but it's better when you have more than an hour and half notice to clean the entire house before their arrival. Yay!
Vanilla and I, he's fine now by the way, also decided that we in no way like where we live. Yay!
Ho hum..
Anyway.. Hopefully things will pick up soon..
Later Ya'll,
Flip Flop

Older and Wiser, In that order

2008-08-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

Here I sit, watching VH1 classic as I am too old to watch regular VH1.
As I watch these videos which are 20 plus years old, I am reminded of the time I used to watch these same videos on MTV and would not have been caught dead changing the channel from 50 to 49.
All that above was just the set up.
I am watching these segments of the past on a 53" television from about 9 ft away and I am having trouble reading the words on the screen.
(thank goodness I am a good typist, the computer screen is a whopping 18" inches away from my eyes)
Oy!!!

I have always said, "Things Happen For A Reason," I'm just not sure why I am never consulted on these things.

2008-08-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

An Update from a January Post:
Wiggles was laid off from the LA Times and he is going to take this free time as a sign from God. He is going to turn his experience into a movie. He has already spoken with execs and whatnot.
Ah, flip flop, again the spotlight hits where it hurts.

Fay, Fay Go Away

2008-08-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

Ho Hum,
We are hunkered down waiting for Tropical Storm Fay to get us all wet. I have to get on a conference call at 9pm to find out if I have to go to work tomorrow. Hopefully I won't have to and I can have fun at the hurricane party.
I bought a flashlight, a candle and peanut butter.
I feel prepared.

House of Boo Hiss

2008-08-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

Soooo....
Vanilla and I just got back from the O-R-L tonight.
We went to see a show at the House of Blues, aka, the House of Take all the fun out of everything.
Some of ya'll may know that last year I attended a fun little ditty called Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp with Drummer Man. Actually we attended two camps, one in New York and one in Las Vegas.
For those of ya'll that don't know, these camps are very expensive, week-long music camps intended for those who want to hang out a play music with Rock Stars. At the end of the week the campers put on a show and perform on stage with the rock stars.
For this summer, the camp is traveling around doing 1 day camps, Still fun, but only a third of the cost.
For those who are lucky enough to attend, this is a dream come true, something to remember for the rest of their life.
Since I didn't have a backstage pass this time I was forced to buy tickets. No problem, I have no problem supporting this event, anything to keep it going.
What I did have a problem with was paying ticketmaster $24.90 in "convenience charges" for two $25 tickets.
I also had a problem with waiting in line for an additional 20 minutes after the "doors open at" time.
Another problem I had was that people who spent $20 at the bar beforehand got to go to the front of the line.
Something else I had a problem with was being frisked and wanded before going into the venue.
Problem #32 was that we could not take our camera inside and had to pay $2 for a teenager in a bright yellow shirt, labeling themselves as "security" to "watch" our camera.
Now, this one really bugged me considering the nature of the event. These folks paid $3000 to play 3 songs onstage with Rockstars, some of them are just kids, and the venue isn't going to let their mom take a picture????
Problem: the teenager lies. The four foot tall, 98 pound "security" girl says that one cannot take a picture because of the artwork on the wall.
Issue number one, all the artwork on the walls of any House of Blues looks like it was done by a four year old.
Issue number two, I took about 300 pictures inside the House of Blues in Las Vegas (same stupid artwork),
Issue number three, the same stupid artwork is inside the restaurant and no one frisked me to go in there,
Issue number four, Britanee as we will call her also said that the musicians don't want cameras inside either. When I mentioned the confiscation of my camera to Kip Winger, he about had a fit.
Don't lie to me Britanee.
Here's another one, No Reentry. Unless there is a medical condition.
So you're saying that if I break my leg, I can go out to my car and come back in.
Sorry, but if I have a medical problem that requires me to leave, I probably don't want to come back.
So, I can't go to my car to get money or anything, I have to use your stupid ATM which has a charge of $3.75 per usage so that I can go to the cash only table and buy a bag of Fritos for $4!
My experience at this House gave me the Blues.

Google this!!!

2008-08-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

So from time to time, I like to do a search on the internet for.... me.
Come on, you've all done it, admit it.
So the most recent change is the number one link is one that lists me in the credits of a Thrash, Death Metal album.
Not my most shining moment, but I happened to be in the studio taking pictures for some friends when I ended up on the album.
Alas, I am known by Germany's metalheads as "the Black Queen."
sigh.

Estrogen gone wild!!!

2008-07-31T15:54:00.000-07:00

I don't have much going on today.. Vanilla has to do inventory at work, so I have the house to myself ALL night (which is sort of like every night).
So far, I have removed my toenail polish, however got somewhat bored and didn't finish. So now, I have short stubby toenails with little bits of pink on them.
I guess it was more important to go into the bathroom and put my hair into pigtails. Remind me not to go outside.

I should do some laundry, but I think I will go play in my makeup, find my favorite pair of heels and eat sushi.
I really don't need this much time on my hands.
Later,
Flips

Editors Note:

I know there is a hanger on the floor that I just haven't felt like picking up and clothes hanging to dry that dried three days earlier.

Don't Judge Me!!!

A Day in the Life of a Wife of a Chef

2008-07-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

5:05 am: wake up and help Vanilla get ready for an early morning TV appearance
5:40 am: sleep
7:46 am: wake up and realize I should have left for work 60 seconds before
12:32 pm: Vanilla calls and says hi
12:33 pm: Vanilla says "I gotta go, I'll call you right back"
4:48 pm: I call Vanilla
4:48:30: Vanilla says "I gotta go, I'll call you right back"
6:12pm: Vanilla calls and says, "see, I told you I'd call you back" and informs me that he's coming home
6:30 pm: Vanilla is home
6:31 pm: The house is now destroyed
6:42 pm: Vanilla is asleep on the couch
6:58 pm: Just waiting for Ghost Hunters to start

Glamorous isn't it?

Flip Flop

Boo!!!!

2008-06-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, two log ins in one month!!!
So, in a catch up from a previous blog, Vanilla and I have finally found a replacement for the West Wing on DVD.
GHOST HUNTERS!!!! I love it!!!!
The show follows a group of ghost hunters called TAPS. (The Atlantic Paranormal Society).
I love it!!!
They travel all over the country looking into homes and businesses that are "haunted." Most of the time the team ends up "debunking" the cause of the activity.
I love it!!!
There are different ghost hunting teams throughout the 50 states that fall into the "TAPS Family." These are groups that follow the philosophy that most cases are not actually paranormal, but are loose pipes, uncovered electrical boxes, broken locks and whatnot.
Turns out there is a member of the Family here in SW Florida!
I love it!!!
This team holds forums and "open haunts" where the general public is invited to join the hunt.
I love it!!!

So where is this leading???

I called my mom the other day.

Hi Mom, how are you? Good..
Blah, blah, blah.. etc, etc.
So, I think I want to be a ghost hunter.
Oh, that's good, I think that you'd be a good ghost hunter.

Now, Imagine the same tone of voice you'd hear if you told your mom you wanted to be an accountant.

I love the support, but, I am curious what it is about me that produces such a quick, positive response to the idea of me chasing after lingering spirits of dead people.

Hmmm..

Well, the TV is beeping rather loudly at me and telling me that a severe thunderstorm is headed to my house and I should unplug everything..

Better find the candles..

Flip Flop

An even more perfect rainy Sunday....

2008-06-08T16:07:00.000-07:00

Ahh, it seems we have once again been blessed with rain. I suppose this means the beginning of the rainy season. We didn't have much of one last year and so I guess I just forgot about it. Doesn't mean I don't like it.
I guess I just don't appreciate the sun like those who pulled up their roots and planted their big ugly branches in my back yard. My eyes are a bit sensitive, so a day at the beach usually ends in a throbbing of the brain and my skin is a bit more suited for the indoors, at least according to the dermatologists and the tourists who like to torment me with questions like "how can you live in Florida and be that pale?" Ughh.

On another note, Vanilla and I found another way to avoid the sun yesterday.
We had been invited to the beach wedding of one of Vanilla's old frat brothers. It was fine and all except that if I had ever even met this person before, it's been at least 10 years since I had seen him. To top that, he was marrying the daughter of the owner of a number of car dealerships in the area, so the wedding was to be all kinds of hoity toity. They actually registered for a $90 salt shaker, and, and and, a $90 Pepper Mill to match!!!!! I have become a master at managing a checkbook that is in the negative more than the positive, so to add that into the mix, huh, the nerve.
Now, here is the kicker!!!!! Per the invitation, guests were requested to wear all white for the occasion. WHAT.. I have plenty of white t-shirts, tank tops, shorts and the like, but for a wedding!.. I do own one white dress, but I have only worn it once and it weighs 15 pounds, so I think not.
Well up until about 15 minutes before it was time to leave, we had all intentions of attending this pretentious event, that is until, Vanilla tried to put on his pants (Khakis, wasn't about to buy white men's pants). Alas, they would not button up. I have never been so happy to see a little weight gain!! So, I took a nap on the couch instead.

When I awoke, we took a drive. We found ourselves at Lover's Key. A little inlet that leads straight to paradise. We walked out to the furthest tip, past the families, the couples making out and the mosquitoes that are of prehistoric size. Once there, it felt like we were in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico totally alone. As the sun was setting, it was just us and 3 dolphins casually swimming about 15 feet out. It was awesome. I told Vanilla that if we weren't already married that I would expect him to ask me to do so right then and there.

A Perfect Rainy Saturday

2008-05-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, Rain, finally Rain..
Most Americans would probably be shocked that a person in Florida would want it to rain. As it has been so rare here lately, and to be perfectly honest I am sick of waking up to the smell of the state on fire, this is a nice change.

Ok.. on to the more pressing issue.. It is the last day of May and this is my first post for the month. I really have been very anxious about posting and have therefore avoided signing on at all.. That being said, I am lowering expectations for the blog. Maybe a once a month type thing, unless something special comes up. We'll just see where it goes.

In the meantime, a little ketchup..
The wrath of the dermatologist took about 8 weeks to actually heal and left a scar that looks like someone put out their cigar on my skin. Yea!!

I finished reading the series a few weeks ago. The trouble with going through so many books in a row so fast is that it takes some time to get it out of your system. I've had withdrawals, very strange realizing that you are just a muggle.

Last weekend (Memorial Day) held great things for Vanilla. The namesake for the restaurant that he chefs (I don't like the word cooks - not until the student loans are paid off at least) came to town for a big dinner. It was a huge success and so much fun. Vanilla's folks (they would die if they heard me use that word) came in town for the event and we were able to spend some time with them, it was great fun. Ate way too much.

Well, now that expectations are at a lower level, I don't feel the least bit guilty about signing off without posting something profound. Who knows maybe this will help me to sign on even more.

I'm off to play minesweeper,
Flip Flop

Game On

2008-04-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

As I sit here watching Wayne's World on TV (I can't believe I thought I wouldn't find anything to do on a Saturday by myself), I figured I would check and see just how long it has been since I last posted. To my surprise, it has been a month!!!!
Good news, my neglect has not been due to frequenting the pogo website. It seems that the shine wore off soon after reaching the big goal.
I guess I should catch everyone up - as I have had feedback from some readers, seems people are actually interested.
I will first eliminate the suspense and just let everyone know right off the bat that I still have not yet hung any pictures up in our "new" place (it's not quite been 6 months).
Well, season is winding down here in the land of the dead, er, I mean the retired, so Vanilla and I have been able to spend a bit more time together.
One of the more exciting things we have been able to do is attend a concert. Now most that know me, know that concerts are somewhat of a regular thing for me, however they are not as frequent in this neck of the golf courses.
While sitting at lunch with another friend a few Sundays ago, we decided last minute to call and see if tickets were still available for the Def Leppard concert. Three hours and $40 in service fees later, we were sitting in an almost sold out arena (not that hard - the home of the Florida Everblades isn't really that big). Somehow, I just happened to call when someone had just given up their 3 tickets 8th row, center stage. I didn't have a voice for three days.
Huh, My Def Leppard Hat Trick was in a hockey arena!
I am still reading fervently.. I can't tell you what book I am on as I am currently reading two at once.
Some of my time in the last month has been filled with tending to the aftermath of a dermatology appointment gone horribly wrong. I won't go into details, but the doctor didn't do anything wrong (like the one last year), it's just been that what he did do has taken 5 weeks healing time and looks like I have another good week or so to go.
Here is a great flaw to not posting enough, I have possibly written enough to bore the beseegees out of anyone, yet I have covered nothing.
So, now that I have overcome the anxiety of logging on to see just how long it's been, I should be able to log on again soon and continue catching everyone up.
At this time however, I am going to tune in and catch the conclusion of the adventures of Wayne and Garth.
Party On,
Flip Flop

This is for all the Ladies out there..

2008-03-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

It is so easy for us girls to get so wrapped up trivial girl things like doing our hair, shaving our legs, making sure that our clothes look nice. On top of maintaining femininity, most of us have tasks required to keep the house from looking gross and smelling (i.e. laundry, dishes, dustbusting the little crevices in the coffee table, because it is so old that it repels cleaning spray).
Well, I would like to take this time in between, curling my hair and taking the sheets out to the river to bang them against a rock, to let a few of the ladies who have crossed my path that I appreciate them. In NO particular order!!!!
Anytime you have to thank anyone, you should always start with your mother...

So, Birdie, Thank you for making me strong, for letting me know that I never have to be wounded and I have the ability to take my own path.

To Crazy, Thank you for reminding me that the truth is always the right path.

To Smelly, Thank you for always listening and laughing (and for fake purses and tiaras) and for giving me the greatest story ever in college.

To Khakis and Pearls, thank you for always reminding me how to be a lady and laughing at me when I wasn't.. ok.. sometimes you frowned. I standby my frosty lipstick and get away from me with that hairspray.

To Babs, even though not all of them stuck, you tried to teach me four lessons: 1. You always love your first love, 2. Shave your legs everyday, 3. Always wear sunglasses and 4. It is just as easy to love a rich man as a poor man (I just think that this one is more fun the other way around)

To Motley, You have ALWAYS been there for me, even when I haven't been for you. Your friendship is the most steadfast I have ever encountered. Thank you for the listening to the music with me.

To my favorite Libra, WOW.. Thank you so much for going out to buy little scraps of yellow material on my wedding day.. I am so sorry that your shoes hurt you so bad though. You totally Rock!!

To Schmoopie, thank you so much for reminding me that sometimes I can be right.. you have shown me so much and I swell with pride when I think about all you have accomplished.. However you should thank me for holding your hair back in the front yard.

To P-Lane, Thanks for making me a gator.

To K-Lynn, thank you for wanting better for me. I know it's been hard, but you're the only one I got. I love you.

To Sissy, thank you for letting me see into another world. I never knew that families could actually be like that, I love it. I am always amazed to think of what you have done, just because you wanted to.

To Dee D, Thank you, thank you, thank you... A kindred spirit, one a short paragraph could never describe. Thank you for teaching me strength in the most modest form.

To Dean Martin, Thank you for taming my brother!!!

To Senora, Gracias para todo del informacion in espanol.

To Cindy Lou Who, Thanks for making me go out and not letting me sit at home.. I miss you.

To Miss E, Thanks for sticking by him, I wouldn't have.

To DAR, Thanks for singing that song to me when I was little, at least there' s one good memory.

To Linnie (actual name, because it's just that good), thank you for taking me away to fairy land every night and giving me your name.

And finally, to the grower of Violets, I am so proud to be your granddaughter. I think of you everyday and what you did for love. Thank you for my blanket and my very own violet.

Please take time to thank someone you know, even if they never hear it, it will do nothing less than remind you how lucky you are.

Thanks for reading.
Flip Flop

Should auld acquantaince be forgot....

2008-03-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

Here I am with my head hung in Shame.. I have been neglecting my post.
I have been very preoccupied with a couple of other tasks.
One of which was a goal I had set for myself. A goal I Achieved!!!
I have finally acquired 1,000,000 tokens in Pogo!!! Through a lot of hard work playing Word Whomp, Poppit, Stack em' and more I reached the number I previously only thought that losers had. I was either incorrect of my judgement of high token Pogo players or I myself am now a loser. I have a feeling it's the latter.
My absence can also be attributed to taking up an old habit. Reading. It's not really an old habit, since I only started "devouring" books in the past couple of years. However, I had not cracked a spine in a few months. (you can look over some previous posts and figure out the timing for yourself).
I have been an closet fan of a certain boy wizard (bordering on an inappropriate crush) since first seeing him on the big screen with B & J.

So Cute

Alas, I had never read about him. I was recently given a copy of his fifth adventure by someone actually known as Fernando. I am only on page 650, but I am so involved.
I apologize greatly for the lack of attention on my part, but I do have plenty of ideas that should manifest themselves in this week that is an hour short.
Before I take off, I would like to thank Cousin T for my very first Comment!!! Thanks T.
Catch ya later, F.F.

Corn Saute

2008-02-22T22:53:00.000-08:00

It's almost 2am and Vanilla is making me a snack. That's what I call love.

What do YOU want?

2008-02-12T15:50:00.000-08:00

Sunday provided me with an unfortunate view from the other side of the service desk. Vanilla and I visited a familiar big box electronic store recognizable by a by a giant blue and yellow tag above it's front doors. I needed to make a simple return for store credit (I don't have a receipt, it was a gift, store credit is fine).
"Hmm.. I can't return your ten dollar item without a receipt. I can't do anything. I know you are going to use it to purchase $50 more dollars worth of merchandise, but I don't understand customer satisfaction breeds goodwill, which in this downturning economy is the only advantage we can offer. You can sell it on Ebay."
Enter 20 year old supervisor. " I'm not putting my job on the line for your $10 item, if you know the credit card number that was used to purchase the $10 item we can look it up. But you can always just sell it on Ebay."
REALLY???
Now, I have been in the business of providing good customer service for about 15 years and I am fully aware that having a customer leave the store with the $10 item still on the counter and not purchasing the $50 worth of televison series DVD's, so that "policy" can be upheld to its highest standards, is not going to cost anyone his or her job. And if it is the policy of the microwave, cell phone, television, photo paper store to fire associates so that they may spend the money to train another personable employee to take their place, I emplore all of you NOT to support this electronic dictatorship.
I am currently drafting a letter to find out the exact implications of said policy. I will keep you posted.

At a Loss

2008-02-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

It seems that blogging is going to be a more difficult task that originally thought. I feel the need to update, but update what? Not much has happened since the last post, so, in an effort not to lose readership, here's just a few highlights of things that have happened in the past week. Interesting or not.

Yesterday I met a young man who happened to hail from my hometown, the spring break capital of the world. We were raised in the same small town, graduated from the same high school, but he could barely speak English. Not in the sense that English is his second language, I'm just not sure he knew any language. I did manage to find out that he has at least two daughters, one of whom has a birthday that equals the pin number to his ATM card. Oh, by the way, he was born in 1987.

The Patriots lost the Superbowl. I blame Jessica Simpson.

I had Chick fil A twice on Saturday and I loved it!

The complete series of the West Wing is one of the best investments one can buy. It's been almost 4 years since I put in the first disc of Season One. I am currently on disc two of Season 7. Vanilla and I have been discussing what we are going to do after the Bartlet presidency is over. Anyone have thoughts on Lost?

There is definitely a difference when you splurge for the 500 thread count sheets. Thanks Mom.

Valentines Day is a week away, and I just realized that wives are supposed to buy gifts too.. If it was only as easy for girls.. A simple phone call to a florist and done.. But nooooo, we are forced to think about it, What the hay!!!

I really didn't get the Thriller Life Water commercial, but the screaming squirrel still has me in stitches.

Ok.. this just happened.. There is a commerical for the the county fair on TV.. They just showed a little girl sucking on a passifier. I am not sure what upsets me more, a kid riding a zippy ride with a potential choking hazard in her mouth or the fact that she was like TEN YEARS OLD...
Fill in the blank..
We're going to the fair, the _______ County Fair, We're going to the fair, the ________ County Fair..

Peace.

Praying for Strength

2008-01-31T20:30:00.000-08:00

The past couple of days has been a wash. I don't exactly know what that expression means or if it's even appropriate for what I am trying to convey, but it sounds right.
I feel like I have been put through the washer and dried on high heat. You know, the really hot kind like when you take your jeans out of the dryer right away and the buttons burn your fingers.
Two months ago I lost a dear friend, my brother Drummer Man. I won't go into all the details because that seems to be the energy source behind the spin cycle that is making me bump my head into the sides of the washer.
Drummer Man touched a lot of people and just when I thought I was done consoling others I've had to dig deep. A very nice young man by the name of Wiggles (for reasons I won't disclose) was very touched by Drummer's spirit. No problem, except that he works for the L.A. Times. He's writing a front page story.
It's nice and all and I feel that I must contribute or regret it for the rest of my life, but I just didn't want to. I did though.
Now that it's done, I feel a huge weight is off my shoulders, but now, everything but my shoulders is spinning wildly, getting tangled with the dirty socks. I just hope that most of this comes off in the lint trap.
Flop

Babies, babies everywhere, nor anyone for me..

2008-01-28T15:49:00.000-08:00

Signs, signs, everywhere signs.
Well 2007 held a lot of signs that it was not time for a baby. 2008 however, a different story. My favorite being the drunk cab driver who chose the seat next to me in the bar a couple of weeks ago. An empty pool hall the size of a small Cosco and this guy chose the seat next to mine. It took a while to learn the language he was speaking, but after about 10 minutes, he started telling me about his younguns'. Grown of course, thank goodness since their dad was wasted in a bar on a Sunday night. His conversation kept curving back to him telling me not to wait and that having kids are the most wonderful things ( I had not told him that I was waiting ). Earlier that weekend someone reminded me that you should always be nice to strangers, you never know who might be an angel.
Here's where it gets tangled. The most important factor in the fright is the financial aspect. I don't even own a dining room table. Odd seeing as how Vanilla is a chef. Something else that scares the begeezes out of me are the dreams. Dreams all the time, about babies. Maybe they are a bit more prolific lately because we just spent time with P.W. Dreams are fine and dandy, but when the subject matter of the nightly infant wanderings is forgetting to feed the baby and not remembering where I left it, it's kinda scary.
Talk about mixed signals.

That's five tardies

2008-01-28T15:40:00.000-08:00

It is now secret that those who wear flip flops don't like mornings, but I am definately the definition of the late sleeper. Maybe working at a bank was not the smartest idea. Getting to work has been difficult, but survivable. However, since moving from four minutes away from my job to 54 minutes away has been nightmarish. ugh. I have taken to eating breakfast at work, after putting on my makeup in the executive bathroom. It's not so much executive than public. Well this morning was like the 10th time I was late in like eight days. So the point being, please forward an ideas for a job that pays a lot of money and you don't have to be there till 4 in the afternoon and out by seven. I would really like a creative outlet with lots of time to balance my checkbook and keep up with personal emails. All ideas would be appreciated.

Sleepy, sleepy

2008-01-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

Well, after a long day of work at job #2, I have realized something.. I'm tired. Maybe I stayed up too late, but 2:30 am is survivable. More than likely it was the party next door that went on until the sun came up. I can't believe I wasn't invited. More than that, I can't believe that I live next door to people who are able to do that.
People from all over the country flee from their snowy homes to this part of Florida so they can spend their twilight years playing golf and enjoying the early bird special at Perkins. But somehow, we managed to find an apartment complex where I am considered aged. How did this happen.
I think that another aspect of my weariness stems from Vanilla. I appreciate notification of his arrival home, even when I have just dozed off between thumps from the adjacent party. However, I am not sure if my grunts and snorts should be so easily mistaken for an invitation to a conversation.
Off to rest. Flip.

I had a dream, but then the phone rang

2008-01-21T09:23:00.000-08:00

As the country celebrates the birthday of a great civil rights leader, I am celebrating a day off from work. My plan was to sleep in, see a movie, read a book eat lunch at a quaint bistro, go shopping, hang pictures on the wall of our new apartment, finish the last two seasons of theWest Wing, work out and a run a few other errands.
Seems Murphy has thrown his law in my face once again.
As Vanilla had to work this morning, he left me sleeping soundly in the bed. Moments later, the phone rang. The blue bomb wouldn't start. vvvrrrrrvvvvrrrr.
Sleeping in, done.
Quaint Bistro, nope.
$160 at the auto shop later I suppose I will just do laundry.

Running Late

2008-01-19T22:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I thought that my posts would be a bit more frequent than this, but I had to take a break. Last week Vanilla and I had to cover our toes for a trip up to the frozen tundra known as Ohio. It was a happy visit with family. We had an addition to the family. Vanilla's brother had a son in December. His name is Pig Won't, aka PW. PW was baptized into the Catholic Church with Vanilla as his Godfather. It was very exciting and it got the the biological clock ticking. Tick Tock.
In other news, I am home alone as Vanilla is in the Bahamas. Hmph... He was lucky enough to go for a fun trip for work. In the meantime, flip flop is in the middle of a torrential downpour. Seems odd to have a hurricane in January.
Seems I am more tired than I thought.
Flip Flop out.

A New Year, A New Resolution and another blog

2008-01-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2008. As with everything in my life I am nine days late in my Holiday wishes.
I will introduce myself, I am Flip Flop. A lifetime resident of the Sunshine state, I choose to eternally expose my toes.
Scoop of Vanilla is my best friend, although he is anything but vanilla. We have been roomates for ten years and were married somewhere around 2004.

As I have not yet figured out the direction of this blog, I will leave you guessing on further details. But don't worry, it will all unfold and the layers of flip flop and scoop of vanilla shall unfold before your very eyes.

Blessings for the New Year,
Flip