Yesterday I mentioned my incredibly annoying, rude and inconsiderate upstairs neighbors. So today, you get to hear all about them.
These delightful people moved in sometime in February and I knew instantly there was someone new upstairs. If anyone had lived up there from the time we moved in November until February I didn't know they were there. But these people you knew. When they were moving in there was loud and constant crashing going on. I assumed it was just moving noises and it would go way. A few weeks later nothing had changed, there was still almost constant crashing and not just normal walking noise either, like seriously loud wake you up in the morning crashes. Sometime in March after I had been woken up three mornings in a row before 7 a.m. by this noise I went up there to see what was going on. A child, maybe 9 or 10-year-old boy, answered the door. He was there alone and was apparently jumping around like a monkey and then tried to say that they were hearing crashes too and that it was probably just the blow dryer.
Things seemed to settle down for a while and I didn't have any major problems (just minor annoyances) with them until the end of April, I again was woken up by loud crashes before 7 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, so I called the apartment managers and they said they would call them and remind them that quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
That seemed to help, until they decided to start dumping water off their balcony, which incidentally runs onto my balcony, multiple times a week. Lucky for them they have yet to do it when I am actually on the balcony, because I guarantee if that happens I might go ballistic.
I have actually come to a conclusion about the water. These people now have a dog, I know this because it barked for hours on end a few days ago while they were gone somewhere.
One morning after I had gone running I was sitting on the balcony and heard the kid come outside and tell the dog to go potty, because naturally if you are going to leave your 9-year-old home alone all day you don't want him to walk the dog. So I think they let this dog do its business on the balcony and then wash it off down onto my balcony!! So instead of just water I am getting dog-crap water washed onto my balcony, grill and the chairs I sit in!
I swear these people have no idea they live on the third floor. They stomp around, literally stomp, I can follow their every move in their apartment based on the noise coming from upstairs, drop things or jump around on a regular basis making extremely loud crashing noises, let their dog bark incessantly and throw water off their balcony without any warning whatsoever. John decided people with children shouldn't be able to live on anything but the first floor because kids naturally make a lot of noise.
If I could afford it, I would break my lease and move right now that is how bad it is. I have even considered moving to a different apartment in the complex if the managers would let us transfer our lease. That is how much I hate these people upstairs, that I would consider making an unnecessary move.
Lucky for me there has been very little noise the past two days and I have finally been able to get a little peace and quiet. Unfortunately, I don't expect the peace to last.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Being obsessive has its benefits
I have an obsessive personality. When I get an idea, plan or anything exciting in my head that tends to be my main focus for a while.
Sometimes my obsessions drives me crazy, like when all I can think about during the day is how much noise my neighbors upstairs might make when I get home and if they are going to dump water off their balcony while I am cooking dinner on the grill (the problems with the neighbors is another post for another day).
But sometimes being obsessed about things pays off big time.
I recently decided I am taking a trip to NYC this fall to visit some friends and have been obsessively checking flights every few hours since I decided for sure when I was going and today my craziness paid off.
Yesterday a non-stop flight with Delta (the flight I wanted, at the time I wanted) was $399, today when I checked, the exact same flight was $258! I don't know how that is even possible but I'll take it, $140 less than I was planning on paying equals a win for me.
Next task, finding a way to stop obsessing about the neighbors and their shenanigans.
Sometimes my obsessions drives me crazy, like when all I can think about during the day is how much noise my neighbors upstairs might make when I get home and if they are going to dump water off their balcony while I am cooking dinner on the grill (the problems with the neighbors is another post for another day).
But sometimes being obsessed about things pays off big time.
I recently decided I am taking a trip to NYC this fall to visit some friends and have been obsessively checking flights every few hours since I decided for sure when I was going and today my craziness paid off.
Yesterday a non-stop flight with Delta (the flight I wanted, at the time I wanted) was $399, today when I checked, the exact same flight was $258! I don't know how that is even possible but I'll take it, $140 less than I was planning on paying equals a win for me.
Next task, finding a way to stop obsessing about the neighbors and their shenanigans.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Precious Memories
It has taken me a few days to work up the emotional stability to be able to write this post without breaking down completely, don't get me wrong I'll still be crying by the end but hopefully I can write something well composed and thoughtful, instead of the jumbled mess of emotions I would have written a few days ago.
It has been two weeks since my Grandma Connie passed away. I think about and miss her everyday and still struggle with the reality that I will never get another phone call just to check in on me from her again.
I have so so so many memories of Grandma Connie and I want to remember every single one of them.
I want remember how she used to sing, "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" to me. I want to remember the bright pink visor she used to wear when we moved the cows and how Grandpa Bob used to yell that she was scaring the cows off with it because it was so bright. I want to remember how we would pick hundreds of carrots from her garden and then wash them in the washing machine. I want to remember splashing through her irrigation flooded lawn in the summer time and getting in trouble when we fed Sooner too many Oreos.
I remember we used to go on family camping trips to Yellowstone and how the cousins would rotate turns getting hot chocolate in the camper because there was only room for 4 of us at a time. I remember having family cookouts at Grandma's house and playing baseball in the backyard and that if the ball went over the fence it wasn't a home-run but you were out because Grandma and Grandpa wanted to make it fair to the little kids. Of course I remember all the Christmas parties with the Oreos and Lucky Charms, cheese, chocolates and nuts.
I remember sitting at the bar while Grandma cooked dinner and eating bread and gravy with Grandpa. I remember how we used to sneak Grandma's tiny sample Avon lipsticks out and try them all on while she wasn't watching us but then of course she knew because we never got all the lipstick wiped off our faces. I remember watching Jazz games with Grandma and how mad she would get when they didn't play well. I remember going with her to get her hair done and to watch the WBBA baseball games in the summer.
I remember sleep overs at Grandmas and how whenever me and my sisters would fight she would start singing, "Let us Oft Speak Kinds Words," I can still hear her singing it to us.
I remember countless hours of making chocolates. Or rather Grandma making chocolates and us eating as many as possible while we were boxing them up. When I got older and got my own box of chocolates she would always call and see which flavors I wanted in my box. I remember bringing the tiny baby lambs into the kitchen so they could get warm. Grandma loved music and always hummed or sang as she did many of the things I remember.
I remember when I first died my hair in 8th grade and it came out a little darker than planned and Granmda wanted to put peroxide on it it make it lighter. I remember her cheering me on at volleyball and basketball games and being there when I graduated from high school.
I have more recent memories too. Riding from Altamont to Salt Lake with Grandma while Grandpa was flown on LifeFlight, just so she wouldn't have to ride alone and picking out the fabric for my wedding quilt.
The summer after I graduated from high school I lived at my Grandma Kay and Grandpa John's house in Farmington and took a class at the U. Grandma stayed will me for most of the summer because Grandpa Bob was at LDS hospital. We watched, "King of Queens" most nights just because it was always on and it was funny. Grandma always called Doug, doofus. One night I was busy doing something and hadn't turned the show on when I heard Grandma call from the living room, "Paige, we are missing doofus." It was so funny that she remembered at 9 p.m. we were supposed to watch TV together.
Grandma was there waiting for me when my roommate Emily had to take me to the ER because I had a kidney infection. She held my hand while they put in my IV and paid my co-payment because I didn't have enough money. She took me to her hotel room and let me sleep uninterrupted for almost 24 hours so I could get better.
She always loved John too, just like he was her own grandkid. She loved Willy too and would always ask me how he was doing when she called me.
Just a few months ago, Sammie and I, spent the morning helping Grandma cook lunch for cowboys. She taught me the right way to make Texas Sheet Cake because I had failed miserably in an attempt to make it for John for Valentine's day, I just hope I can get it even close when I try to make it again. Sammie and I ran to the store for a few minutes and left Easton sleeping, when we got back Grandma was holding him on the couch trying to get him to stop crying, it was such a sweet moment and it makes me so sad to know she'll never hold my babies.
More than anything I remember how Grandma was always there for us. She always called just to check in and stopped at my parents house just to say hi. We always knew if we needed her she was just a phone call away.
I could go on and on about all the things I remember about Grandma Connie but I'll always remember how much she loved me, John, Willy, my sisters and everyone around her. She radiated love and kindness and compassion wherever she went and that love is what I want to remember the most.
I love you Grandma Connie.
It has been two weeks since my Grandma Connie passed away. I think about and miss her everyday and still struggle with the reality that I will never get another phone call just to check in on me from her again.
I have so so so many memories of Grandma Connie and I want to remember every single one of them.
I want remember how she used to sing, "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" to me. I want to remember the bright pink visor she used to wear when we moved the cows and how Grandpa Bob used to yell that she was scaring the cows off with it because it was so bright. I want to remember how we would pick hundreds of carrots from her garden and then wash them in the washing machine. I want to remember splashing through her irrigation flooded lawn in the summer time and getting in trouble when we fed Sooner too many Oreos.
I remember we used to go on family camping trips to Yellowstone and how the cousins would rotate turns getting hot chocolate in the camper because there was only room for 4 of us at a time. I remember having family cookouts at Grandma's house and playing baseball in the backyard and that if the ball went over the fence it wasn't a home-run but you were out because Grandma and Grandpa wanted to make it fair to the little kids. Of course I remember all the Christmas parties with the Oreos and Lucky Charms, cheese, chocolates and nuts.
I remember sitting at the bar while Grandma cooked dinner and eating bread and gravy with Grandpa. I remember how we used to sneak Grandma's tiny sample Avon lipsticks out and try them all on while she wasn't watching us but then of course she knew because we never got all the lipstick wiped off our faces. I remember watching Jazz games with Grandma and how mad she would get when they didn't play well. I remember going with her to get her hair done and to watch the WBBA baseball games in the summer.
I remember sleep overs at Grandmas and how whenever me and my sisters would fight she would start singing, "Let us Oft Speak Kinds Words," I can still hear her singing it to us.
I remember countless hours of making chocolates. Or rather Grandma making chocolates and us eating as many as possible while we were boxing them up. When I got older and got my own box of chocolates she would always call and see which flavors I wanted in my box. I remember bringing the tiny baby lambs into the kitchen so they could get warm. Grandma loved music and always hummed or sang as she did many of the things I remember.
I remember when I first died my hair in 8th grade and it came out a little darker than planned and Granmda wanted to put peroxide on it it make it lighter. I remember her cheering me on at volleyball and basketball games and being there when I graduated from high school.
I have more recent memories too. Riding from Altamont to Salt Lake with Grandma while Grandpa was flown on LifeFlight, just so she wouldn't have to ride alone and picking out the fabric for my wedding quilt.
The summer after I graduated from high school I lived at my Grandma Kay and Grandpa John's house in Farmington and took a class at the U. Grandma stayed will me for most of the summer because Grandpa Bob was at LDS hospital. We watched, "King of Queens" most nights just because it was always on and it was funny. Grandma always called Doug, doofus. One night I was busy doing something and hadn't turned the show on when I heard Grandma call from the living room, "Paige, we are missing doofus." It was so funny that she remembered at 9 p.m. we were supposed to watch TV together.
Grandma was there waiting for me when my roommate Emily had to take me to the ER because I had a kidney infection. She held my hand while they put in my IV and paid my co-payment because I didn't have enough money. She took me to her hotel room and let me sleep uninterrupted for almost 24 hours so I could get better.
She always loved John too, just like he was her own grandkid. She loved Willy too and would always ask me how he was doing when she called me.
Just a few months ago, Sammie and I, spent the morning helping Grandma cook lunch for cowboys. She taught me the right way to make Texas Sheet Cake because I had failed miserably in an attempt to make it for John for Valentine's day, I just hope I can get it even close when I try to make it again. Sammie and I ran to the store for a few minutes and left Easton sleeping, when we got back Grandma was holding him on the couch trying to get him to stop crying, it was such a sweet moment and it makes me so sad to know she'll never hold my babies.
More than anything I remember how Grandma was always there for us. She always called just to check in and stopped at my parents house just to say hi. We always knew if we needed her she was just a phone call away.
I could go on and on about all the things I remember about Grandma Connie but I'll always remember how much she loved me, John, Willy, my sisters and everyone around her. She radiated love and kindness and compassion wherever she went and that love is what I want to remember the most.
I love you Grandma Connie.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
It's been a while...
I know it's been a while since I blogged but sometimes when something gets me really riled up I just have to let it out.
This is happened today. In my spare time at work I read a lot of articles from other newspapers on various topics. I happened to read a few about breast feeding a while back. One of them said breast feeding is the only way to go, one advocated for a mother's choice and why breast feeding may not always be the best option and I think one was simply we shouldn't judge other people (especially other moms) for their choices.
I can't agree with the last one more.
My sister asked me today if I thought it was a bad thing that she wanted to wean her new baby off breast feeding before she returned to work in a few weeks. She said she knew her first kid was fine on formula but she felt like she was being selfish because she didn't want to deal with the hassle of pumping.
Why should she feel selfish? Is her time and effort worth nothing? Doing what is right for you and your baby should be the most important thing, no matter what anyone else says. Moms who want to breast feed should be able to do so in public (provided that they cover themselves) without being shamed, moms who don't want to breast feed at all shouldn't be made out to be selfish and moms who can't breast feed shouldn't feel bad because they can't.
I know I am not a mom and therefore shouldn't really have an opinion on the topic but I do. Why can't people just mind their own business? If I want to feed my baby formula from the minute its born I should be able to do so without being made to feel like I am a bad mom. What and how I chose to feed my baby has no impact on your baby so why do you care?
There is mass amounts of research on the topic of breast feeding, so let moms-to-be do their own research, make a decision based on what is best for her and her baby and family and then respect that decision. There is no reason for making people feel bad just because they don't do it your way.
This is happened today. In my spare time at work I read a lot of articles from other newspapers on various topics. I happened to read a few about breast feeding a while back. One of them said breast feeding is the only way to go, one advocated for a mother's choice and why breast feeding may not always be the best option and I think one was simply we shouldn't judge other people (especially other moms) for their choices.
I can't agree with the last one more.
My sister asked me today if I thought it was a bad thing that she wanted to wean her new baby off breast feeding before she returned to work in a few weeks. She said she knew her first kid was fine on formula but she felt like she was being selfish because she didn't want to deal with the hassle of pumping.
Why should she feel selfish? Is her time and effort worth nothing? Doing what is right for you and your baby should be the most important thing, no matter what anyone else says. Moms who want to breast feed should be able to do so in public (provided that they cover themselves) without being shamed, moms who don't want to breast feed at all shouldn't be made out to be selfish and moms who can't breast feed shouldn't feel bad because they can't.
I know I am not a mom and therefore shouldn't really have an opinion on the topic but I do. Why can't people just mind their own business? If I want to feed my baby formula from the minute its born I should be able to do so without being made to feel like I am a bad mom. What and how I chose to feed my baby has no impact on your baby so why do you care?
There is mass amounts of research on the topic of breast feeding, so let moms-to-be do their own research, make a decision based on what is best for her and her baby and family and then respect that decision. There is no reason for making people feel bad just because they don't do it your way.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Hibernation
I have been in hibernation. It has been too cold and my brain has been frozen but today it actually got above 20 and it feels like summer, not really but it did feel warmer and my brain has unfrozen slightly.
I think bears got it right with the hibernation thing. You get to sleep all winter during the freezing cold, get up when it is warm, eat as much as you possibly can for 6 months and then go back to sleep. It seems like an amazing plan.
On on side note, where has January gone? Time is flying by so fast! It seems likes Christmas, New Years and the whole month of January have been a blur.
Christmas was great. It was a little sad to be away from my family for the first time but it was also really nice to spend the whole day just John and me, relaxing and spending time together! We did pretty much the same thing on New Year's Eve and it was awesome.
I am excited for the new year and the adventures it will bring! I have already been able to cover a murder trial for my job and I have to say it was really really interesting. It wasn't all drama and craziness like you see on TV but it was still pretty awesome. And because the trial ended really late and I was on a tight deadline I got that adrenaline rush, like I used to get when I wrote sports on a super tight deadline, that I have missed so much. My face gets all hot and my heart starts pounding and it is just exciting and nerve racking wondering if you are going to make deadline! I love it.
As you can see by this post the cold weather and my partially frozen brain have made me super scatterbrained, hopefully my upcoming trip to South Carolina will help me thaw out.
I think bears got it right with the hibernation thing. You get to sleep all winter during the freezing cold, get up when it is warm, eat as much as you possibly can for 6 months and then go back to sleep. It seems like an amazing plan.
On on side note, where has January gone? Time is flying by so fast! It seems likes Christmas, New Years and the whole month of January have been a blur.
Christmas was great. It was a little sad to be away from my family for the first time but it was also really nice to spend the whole day just John and me, relaxing and spending time together! We did pretty much the same thing on New Year's Eve and it was awesome.
I am excited for the new year and the adventures it will bring! I have already been able to cover a murder trial for my job and I have to say it was really really interesting. It wasn't all drama and craziness like you see on TV but it was still pretty awesome. And because the trial ended really late and I was on a tight deadline I got that adrenaline rush, like I used to get when I wrote sports on a super tight deadline, that I have missed so much. My face gets all hot and my heart starts pounding and it is just exciting and nerve racking wondering if you are going to make deadline! I love it.
As you can see by this post the cold weather and my partially frozen brain have made me super scatterbrained, hopefully my upcoming trip to South Carolina will help me thaw out.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Best. Idea. Ever.
I literally just had the best idea ever.
When you are driving somewhere do you ever take a different route in hopes of avoiding traffic or an accident or construction but then arrive at your destination and wonder if it wouldn't have been faster to just stay on the original route? Since I commute daily and there are frequently traffic jams and I am the kind of person who would prefer to be moving on a slower, light-filled street than not moving at all on the freeway I wonder this often.
This is where my idea comes. You design an app that lets you input two routes and it will tell, based on current traffic conditions, which would be faster.
It would have be a combination of Google Maps, which already use current traffic conditions to predict travel times, along with some voice recognition software because it would be useless if people were trying to input all this information and got into a crash themselves. There would also have to be some way for the app to know how the light systems on streets work because if you hit all green lights on a road it is going to be significantly faster than if you hit all red lights.
In my mind the app would have a favorite routes function so if I am traveling home and there is a crash on I-15 all I have to do is say which would be faster route 1 (I-15) or route 2 (getting off somewhere and taking side streets) and the app would magically come back and say, "Route 1 will take 5 minutes less than Route 2."
Alternately the app would be able to just tell you the fastest route to any given address, so if you are in a unfamiliar place and don't really know the side-street routes the app can tell which way is faster and then guide you in getting there.
I really don't know why no one has thought of this before. Doesn't everyone want to get to where they are going the fastest and most efficient way possible? Doesn't everyone hate sitting in traffic jams?! I obviously don't have the technical knowledge to make this happen but I would definitely buy the app if someone else created it.
When you are driving somewhere do you ever take a different route in hopes of avoiding traffic or an accident or construction but then arrive at your destination and wonder if it wouldn't have been faster to just stay on the original route? Since I commute daily and there are frequently traffic jams and I am the kind of person who would prefer to be moving on a slower, light-filled street than not moving at all on the freeway I wonder this often.
This is where my idea comes. You design an app that lets you input two routes and it will tell, based on current traffic conditions, which would be faster.
It would have be a combination of Google Maps, which already use current traffic conditions to predict travel times, along with some voice recognition software because it would be useless if people were trying to input all this information and got into a crash themselves. There would also have to be some way for the app to know how the light systems on streets work because if you hit all green lights on a road it is going to be significantly faster than if you hit all red lights.
In my mind the app would have a favorite routes function so if I am traveling home and there is a crash on I-15 all I have to do is say which would be faster route 1 (I-15) or route 2 (getting off somewhere and taking side streets) and the app would magically come back and say, "Route 1 will take 5 minutes less than Route 2."
Alternately the app would be able to just tell you the fastest route to any given address, so if you are in a unfamiliar place and don't really know the side-street routes the app can tell which way is faster and then guide you in getting there.
I really don't know why no one has thought of this before. Doesn't everyone want to get to where they are going the fastest and most efficient way possible? Doesn't everyone hate sitting in traffic jams?! I obviously don't have the technical knowledge to make this happen but I would definitely buy the app if someone else created it.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Extreme Planning
If there was a TLC show called "Extreme Planning" I would definitely be on it.
I know there are many people who hate planning things (John would be one of them) but I am just the opposite. I LOVE planning things. At this point I have my meal plans for next week already figured out and they have actually been mostly done since Monday. In my defense planning out my meals helps me stay on track throughout the week, helps me avoid having to go to the store multiple times a week by not having all the ingredients I need and helps save money because we don't go out as much because there is no food in the house. I also have workout plans through the end of January in the works and I have most of my vacation scheduled for next year (and that was done weeks ago).
I usually set up my bill pay well before things are actually due and make plans about how much money to save based on how much our bills our each month. I have even been working on budgets for next year based on the insurance changes that will be taking place in January.
I like planning so much that I actually got in trouble last week for filling out my time card in advance. I would go in on Monday or the Friday before and fill out my plan for working that week. When I have to go to court everyday this helps keep me on track and helps me plan when I will have time to work out and what meals to cook on which nights based on what time I might get home but apparently this is a no-no and now I have to fill out my time every day like a normal person and it has been bothering me all week!
I don't know what it is but I like having a plan and knowing what my schedule is on a day-to-day basis, that way when I have down time I know for sure that there is nothing else I should be doing because everything is already done and I can just relax.
Unfortunately, that also means when things pop up and change unexpectedly I can get a little stressed. I would like to pretend that I am flexible when things like this happen but I am pretty sure John would say just the opposite.
But there is an upside to being a crazy-obsessed-planner lady. My mom and John and really anyone else involved in my wedding would tell you that it went pretty smoothly, thanks in part to my obsessive list-making and planning. I always have the ingredients for some sort of meal in my house and I rarely forget about important dates or things that need to get done.
I can't help it, I guess I am just a planner at heart!
I know there are many people who hate planning things (John would be one of them) but I am just the opposite. I LOVE planning things. At this point I have my meal plans for next week already figured out and they have actually been mostly done since Monday. In my defense planning out my meals helps me stay on track throughout the week, helps me avoid having to go to the store multiple times a week by not having all the ingredients I need and helps save money because we don't go out as much because there is no food in the house. I also have workout plans through the end of January in the works and I have most of my vacation scheduled for next year (and that was done weeks ago).
I usually set up my bill pay well before things are actually due and make plans about how much money to save based on how much our bills our each month. I have even been working on budgets for next year based on the insurance changes that will be taking place in January.
I like planning so much that I actually got in trouble last week for filling out my time card in advance. I would go in on Monday or the Friday before and fill out my plan for working that week. When I have to go to court everyday this helps keep me on track and helps me plan when I will have time to work out and what meals to cook on which nights based on what time I might get home but apparently this is a no-no and now I have to fill out my time every day like a normal person and it has been bothering me all week!
I don't know what it is but I like having a plan and knowing what my schedule is on a day-to-day basis, that way when I have down time I know for sure that there is nothing else I should be doing because everything is already done and I can just relax.
Unfortunately, that also means when things pop up and change unexpectedly I can get a little stressed. I would like to pretend that I am flexible when things like this happen but I am pretty sure John would say just the opposite.
But there is an upside to being a crazy-obsessed-planner lady. My mom and John and really anyone else involved in my wedding would tell you that it went pretty smoothly, thanks in part to my obsessive list-making and planning. I always have the ingredients for some sort of meal in my house and I rarely forget about important dates or things that need to get done.
I can't help it, I guess I am just a planner at heart!
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