Trigger Happy

At work, we just had a major database upgrade go-live and everything really seemed to click with a few exceptions. This was the most concerning complaint we received:

[Sys-Admin],
I felt I needed to complain to you that [the system] is working too fast now. Before today, when attempting to change to another screen or when searching within [the system], I could kick back, stretch the arms a bit, maybe take some time to get to know my neighbor or even take in a quick movie before the data would appear for me to continue working.

Not today, though, it was flying from screen to screen and I was worried that I was going to get so much done that I wouldn’t have to work the afternoons. LOL

Seriously, I have seen a huge difference and just want to say thanks. I ran 2 [...] reports today. They were done right away as well. In the past when they were done running that fast, we’d see the word “failed” so I was skeptical when clicking to open it…..and there was the info I was looking for.

Anyway, nice job. Thanks!
[Happy User]

That made my day.

Three years ago today we officially tied the knot and I became the luckiest man alive. I married the sweetest, most caring, and absolutely the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Three years later and our relationship has only grown stronger. We’ve been through so much together and I’ve loved every minute. Here’s to many, many more years of happiness together. I love you Erika aka FoxxyLadie!

Today is Emma’s first birthday. One year ago today, we stayed up all night after some Gears of War 2 Horde rounds to welcome the youngest of our daughters into the world. Emma wasn’t as early as Payton, but she was about a month early so, once again, it was a little scary. This past year seems like it has gone by so fast. I can’t believe she’s one year old already.

Emma is a such a bundle of joy. She always smiles, loves cuddling, and giggles a lot. She’s quite a bit different than her big sister so it’s exciting to watch them grow up. Her birthday will always be special since it marks the day our family became whole (no more babies for us).

Happy Birthday Emma!

My wife surprised me yesterday with a Wii for our anniversary! We only have Super Mario Party 8 and Wii Sports but we’ll be adding more to our collection soon. We also had a GameCube way back when we started dating so we’ll dig those games out too.

So far the Wii is exactly what I’ve expected. Lots of fun, simple games that get you off of your chair/couch which is a nice change. I’m impressed with all the channels available but the community features are lacking. What the hell is with the Wii ID code thing? That’s just ridiculous.

Graphics, of course, could be better. Its hard to go from Xbox 360 to Wii but at least the graphics are very clean and pleasant to look at. I like the integrated WiFi (connection was a breeze) but I would have opted for an ethernet port since I already have a switch in my cabinet.

Overall, I’m really excited about having a Wii finally. I’m excited that Payton should be able to start playing some of these games. Of course, its every gamer dad’s dream of having kids that will game with them. My wife rocks!

If you have a Wii, feel free to add me. My code is: 4351-0219-0087-7428

If one more person makes a rude comment to me about how they believe I have it easy for being an at home mom/wife, I’m going to shove my fist down their throat. I’ve had my fair share of difficult jobs. I’ve worked as an assembly line worker for Rubbermaid where you have to be quick and on your feet… working 12 hour shifts at a time. I worked as a maid for the Holiday Inn scrubbing god knows what off the walls, cleaning up after people’s disgusting drug habits, and midnight joy rides. I worked on a greenhouse plantation (40+ greenhouses) where my job was to label every plant/shrub/tree that was thrown in my direction, most of which had thorns that i had to wrap my arms in or around, which left me with a few nasty scars. Last but not least, before becoming a mother, I worked as a pharmacy tech for Walgreens where my job was to fill prescriptions and interact with people and their insurance companies. These jobs were all difficult and stressful in their own ways, but nothing has been harder on me then the job I have now.

Every job requires a certain amount of responsibility and a certain amount of time and care, but when you’re a parent, you don’t have a time card, you don’t have a weekend off. Your day is spent tending to their needs and their calls and with a three year old with a 50 word vocabulary and an 8 month old, everything is a guessing game. They can only tell you what they are needing at the time with a cry, a whine or a grunt. Everything around them is brand new and they explore all of these new things first by using their mouth. It doesn’t matter what it is… a rock, a bug, a shoe… it all goes straight into their mouth. Then there’s the diaper changing and the potty training… neither of which would be so bad if you didn’t get the occasional accident on the floor, or the diaper that somehow managed to stay completely untouched while the rest of your baby seems to be covered from head to toe in baby poo. You also have the teething, the occasional boo boo, and then, of course, you have the responsibility to teach them everything the world has to offer, and to prepare them for life on their own, all the while trying to keep them safe and secure, making them feel loved and wanted, making them feel special and a part of something truly amazing.

It’s up to me to make sure they grow up to be the best person they can be. Whatever it may be, whoever they become… its up to me to make sure they get there and that they are happy.

If you want to believe that your job is more difficult… thats fine. All I ask is that you keep these opinions to yourself. I’m tired of rude people trying to make me feel worthless. My life means something to my girls and that’s all that matters. If the only thing I ever accomplish in my life is raising these two girls to be happy with who they are, then I can live with that.

Yup… so kiss my ass!!

It’s talk like a pirate day, so in celebration of this fantastic day, all our posts have been translated to pirate talk. Grab a drink, talk like a pirate, and enjoy this fabulous day (as much as us land lubbers can). Or else you’ll have to walk the plank!

I’ve come to realize that I will never be able to please everyone. I can only be who I am and not the person everyone expects me to be. And who I am… is a very kind, very giving, very loving, very forward and at times a very dirrty minded, creative woman and nothing turns me on more than a very kind, gentle, dirrty minded, video game lovin’, computer savvy geek;)

Five geeks I’m lovin at the moment are-

#1 Smurph “Mind if I defrag your hard drive?”

#2 Jay Baruchel “Every animal in God’s creation is pooing in the jungle and its raining 12 times a day so theres just a good ol influx of fresh feces for us to enjoy”

#3 Valerie Poxleitner “I’m lights- a fairly small-sized, Canadian girl who makes Intergalactic-Electro music”

#4 Mila Kunis “Oh yeah, you gotta be in a guild…every 12 year old boy knows what I’m talking about”

#5 Seth Rogen “I just wanna have sex with that bag right now” – talking about his love for ketchup flavored potato chips

I get this really strange itch every few years. One that can not be controlled by a frequent trip to my OB or by some topical ointment. This itch is more like a dire need for change or a need for adventure. In the past this feeling has usually led me into a moving frenzy. I love the overwhelming feeling of excitement you get when you’re about to experience something completely new and different. New places, new opportunities, new people… I’ve met people who have never lived outside their childhood homes and I could never understand why. This life is too short and the world is much too big to sit in one spot your entire life.

My husband and I are pushing for one more move before we need to settle down and give our children a chance to grow and live their lives. It has taken us close to two years, but we have finally made a decision and have decided to raise our family in Madison, WI. It wont be a completely new experience, especially since we will only be a few hours from where we are currently living, but it will give us a chance to experience some new adventures and opportunities. Once our children are old enough to begin their lives outside of our home, my husband and I will get the chance, again, to explore something new or see something completely breathtaking.

My top five places or things I wish to experience:

• The Greek Islands
• Alaska’s Northern Lights
• The Great Wall of China
• The Inca city of Machu Picchu
• Grand Canyon National Park

The rain falling outside my window woke me up at 3:00am this morning and I laid there for about an hour and a half trying to fall back asleep before I finially gave up.

My husband and I canceled our cable a while back so my options on what to watch was very limited. As I was flipping through our six or seven channels I noticed Jerry Springer was on and of course I quickly changed it and realized my only other option was one of those late night call girl ads. Ive always found those ads pretty amusing because every girl I’ve ever seen in them I’ve found incredibly unattractive and of course slutty. I’m sure that was their angle, but all I could think about was why they put the same type of girl in all of these ads. Where is the Princess Leia or the Lara Croft in our world of late night call girls? Then, in my attempt at trying to find a Lara Croft themed costume to surprise my husband with, I found this

I’m looking forward to the weekend, like most I’m sure. But what makes this weekend special is that its a camping weekend and what makes this camping weekend even more special is that its… kid free! If you’re like me and you’re at home everyday tending to children, a kid free weekend is a time for crazy celebration. That means beer, bonfires, cheddarwursts, tubing, and whatever else happens to come our way. I’m just praying that everyone keeps their clothes on this year, but you never know with a group of recently graduated college students. Public nudity isn’t always a bad thing, especially if you’re Mila Jovovich, but none of us were blessed with her ridiculously good looks.

Besides watching Mila Jovovich strip down one of my other favorite things to do is camping. I have not done much of it since I moved to Wisconsin, but back home in Tennessee I spent a lot of my time outdoors. As a lover of nature and the outdoors, it is definitely a difficult transition moving from Tennessee to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I am constantly missing the mountains, its rivers and waterfalls. The Smoky Mountains have some insanely, beautiful hiking trails! If your ever looking for somewhere to vacation its definitely a nice place to go.

Anyways, I hope everyone has a nice weekend! Maybe I will get a few good shots that I can post to our photo website. Don’t worry I’ll keep it PG