Hello Again!

I have come out of hibernation to blog!

Shara proposed that we bring the blog project back! It's a little different this time around, we have some new bloggers added to the mix! Welcome Sara & Wendy to Topical Tuesdays!

This week's topic is courtesy of Shara, who asks:

"What do you like to do to keep cool on a hot day?"

Oh boy, Shara! I don't think this topic could be much more topical!

Well, the past few weeks in northern IL have been pretty darn hot! Today was no exception!

I wish I could say that I take advantage of the warmth, truth is - I HATE to be sweaty.

On a sweltering summer day, you can find me poolside or in my makeshift "meat locker" of a bedroom.

I am fortunate to have family in the vicinity with pools & my husband, Kosta, got so tired of me complaining about how hot it was in our bedroom and even though we have central air, he bought us a window air conditioner.

Yesterday, I got up a little earlier than usual for a Sunday because I knew it was going to be a hot one. I mowed the lawn, then Kosta and I went for a run - and I can't tell you how awesome it was to pop in the shower, then lounge on the bed for the afternoon in the delicious, crisp AC.

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I am Jenn's Un-Talent

I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each other's blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
-Thanks to Merryland Girl for this explanation of the Thursday Blog Project.

This week's topic comes from: Melissa @ Merryland Girl

what is your not-so-special talent (something strange, not artsy)?

Other contributors to the Thursday Blog Project are:

Froggie Knits Like Crazy

Desperate Madness

I can remember song lyrics. I can actually remember anything when it's set to music.

I know all the words to The Animaniacs song "The Nations Of The World" and absolutely LOVE Schoolhouse Rock's Grammar Rock.

I can honestly say that I have the pronoun song on my iPod (Rufus Xavier Sarsparilla)

When I was a wee lass, my dad often spent Saturdays in his basement workshop doing guy-type workshop things and listening to the record player.

My dad was quite fond of folk music, like Peter, Paul & Mary, The Kingston Trio, John Denver etc.

Fast forward about 20 years, I randomly heard the song "Lemon Tree" by Peter Paul & Mary and knew all the words. I was intrigued, and racked my brain to see if I could retrieve anymore of these historic songs and found "Bottle of Wine" as sung by Judy Collins - yup, knew all the words to that one too...

Several years later, I was watching the end credits to the movie "Thank You For Smoking" and what should I hear? Kingston Trio - Greenback Dollar

I sang along with the chorus.

I still know the words to 1990's New Kids On The Block songs, many 80's standards...you name it. If it was mainstream, I probably know the words. At the very least, I can sing the chorus.

And on a completely unrelated thread, having nothing to do with this week's topic but having everything to do with The Thursday Blog Project, I regret to inform that this will be my last group blog post.

I have had so much fun over the past months, learning so much about Melissa, Shara & Tracey but have decided that it's time to move on.

I hope to blog more independently, so stay tuned!

Happy Independence Day!

Hello Loyal Blog Readers!

This is an advisement that there will be no 7/1/10 Thursday Blog Posting.

We are taking a little break to enjoy our country's freedom!

In light of having no Thursday Blog to read, may I suggest some alternative activities?

1. Go outside, catch fireflies in an old pickle jar (please, remove pickles, clean jar and poke holes in the lid first)

2. Watch some patriotic movies - like Independence Day, or Yankee Doodle Dandy (or Born on the 4th of July, which is pretty depressing, actually.)

3. Write your own damn blog.

4. Light sparklers, and dance in the dark outside (away from where strangers can see you, you don't want to get committed do you?)

5. Declare your own independence from your a-hole boss or personal hygiene! (Warning: declaration of independence from your a-hole boss may cause job loss, declaring independence from personal hygiene may cause spouse loss)

6. Drink before noon.

7. Eat enough potato salad to choke a horse.

Finally, have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Old habits like you, are hard to break...

I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each other's blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
-Thanks to Merryland Girl for this explanation of the Thursday Blog Project.

This week's topic comes from me: Tell me about your worst habit(s)

Other contributors to the Thursday Blog Project are:

Desperate Madness

Froggie Knits Like Crazy

Merryland Girl

I must admit that this topic comes pretty easy for me, and for those of you who have seen recent Facebook status updates, you know that I recently quit smoking.

I have smoked, consistently, since I was 15 years old.

I will not lie and say how FANTASTIC I feel not smoking, or how clean everything smells and how much better everything tastes, because at this point - I just want a cigarette.

Granted, it's only been a week and I still catch myself thinking "Ooh! It's almost time for a break, I can go have a smoke."

Or thinking about lighting up when I get in the car after work.

As I am typing this, it feels very counterproductive. I should probably tell you why I chose to quit, rather than drool at my screen while I long to light up.

* My health - a few months ago, I wrote about making changes in how I take care of myself and I realized that it doesn't matter if I am working out, eating right and taking a vitamin if I still smoke a pack a day.

(For the record, I am still not working out...baby steps...)

* My company is offering a non-smoker discount which gives me a $30 credit per pay period to be smoke free during the next plan year. So not only am I saving money not buying cigarettes, I am also getting $60 a month off my insurance.

* I plan on getting pregnant in the next year, and I would have quit then anyways. It's a different story when it's not just affecting my health.

So, I am getting through it.

I am edgy, irritable and pretty much shove anything in my mouth that I can chew violently on.

Yesterday, I bit a huge chunk out of my tongue while angrily chewing gum.

The pros?

I have yet to brutally murder anyone & I have been knitting a lot more.

...So don't be afraid to let them show...your true colors

I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each other's blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
-Thanks to Merryland Girl for this explanation of the Thursday Blog Project.

This week's topic comes from Shara @ Desperate Madness
If you were a color, what color would you be?

Other contributor's to the Thursday Blog Project are:
Merryland Girl
Froggie Knits Like Crazy

I think that if I have learned anything from doing the Thursday Blog Project, it's that I can never choose just one thing - whether it's a quirk, a favorite time, anything.
This post is going to be no exception!
When I was little, I LOVED royal blue, that bright shiny blue that you often see on old muscle cars, or on kid's bikes.
Anything in that color, I was always drawn to.
As I have gotten older, I found that I prefer combinations of colors - like, lime green and chocolate brown, or Tiffany box blue & matte black.
Those two are my favorites at the moment.

"...na na why don't you get a job?"

I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each other's blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
-Thanks to Merryland Girl for this explanation of the Thursday Blog Project.

This week's topic comes from Tracey @ Froggie Knits Like Crazy

"one of my favorite parts about my life is . . ."

Other contributors to the Thursday Blog Project are:

Merryland Girl

Desperate Madness

One of my favorite parts about my life is...

My work ethic, and how much it has changed.

Until a few years ago, I made up every possible excuse to miss work or even to quit a job.

I was very much "The Boy Who Cried Wolf", I had flat tires, car troubles, illness, illness in my family - all of these made up.

I was chronically late to work, and after awhile, no one believes your excuses any more.

I have lost more than one job in my working years from absenteeism, or tardiness.

The thing is that I have always been good at my job - no matter what I was doing. I just couldn't get there on time.

I had made up excuses to leave work early, come in late - I've made excuses that I won't even repeat because they are AWFUL.

It wasn't until I spent 5 months out of work that I had an epiphany: If I hadn't bullshitted my way through so many jobs, I would probably still be employed right now.

I took a long, hard look at myself and wondered "Is this how I want to live my life? Jumping from job to job, temp agency to temp agency until I have burned all my bridges?"

I received a job offer in July 2009 to work at an online payroll company in Schaumburg, IL. The pay was several dollars lower than what I was used to making, and the drive was further. However, after being unemployed and having no unemployment benefits for almost 6 months, I decided to give it a shot.

I went to a group interview determined to dazzle my potential employers and made a promise to myself that if I got this job, I would use this opportunity to pull my reputation out of the dumps.

Well, I dazzled them alright!

And after 8 months on a temporary position, I was hired permanently.

There was a substantial pay raise and a benefits package that is OUT OF THIS WORLD.

It wasn't hard to change my ways, and being on time wasn't as hard as it used to be. I love my work and my co-workers, so unless I am truly sick - I never miss a day. There were a few times when I tried to go to work, got there and got sent home for looking like death.

When I have called in sick, no one assumes that I am lying - when I come back, they are genuinely concerned about my wellbeing. There is a lot to be said for being trustworthy.

At my mid-year review, my supervisor was going over my performance and said that my attendance was outstanding.

I made her repeat herself and wanted to cry, because in my entire life no other employer had ever said that before.

Virtual Friendships

I have a few friends who knit and blog and we've decided to embark on a blog project that has nothing to do with knitting. We're going to take turns coming up with a topic every Thursday and we each have to blog about it by the end of that day and post links to each other's blogs so that people can see our different perspectives on the same topic.
-Thanks to Merryland Girl for this explanation of the Thursday Blog Project.

This week's topic comes from Melissa @ Merryland Girl

What is the longest relationship you've had with someone whom you've never met in person? (Talk about how you met, what your friendship has been like, etc.) Do you think you'll ever get to meet them?

addendum to the topic....if you don't have such a relationship (or have already talked about it in a different blog), please write about the strangest way you have ever met someone and what your friendship with them is like (different from the unexpected friendship question from our first topic ever).

Other contributors to The Thursday Blog Project are:

Froggie Knits Like Crazy

Desperate Madness

Wow. Can it be? A blog topic in which I have nothing to contribute?

I have never maintained more than an acquaintance-level friendship with someone I've never met in real life before doing this blog project.

I have to say that my virtual friendships happen in reverse - case in point - Melissa: I met her through a mutual friend and thanks to Facebook, we've remained in touch even though she is now in MD.

The same goes for my friends, Laura & Angeli, we met as co-workers at Washington Mutual - Laura moved to NV and Angeli moved to the city and we all still stayed in touch via the internet and would visit whenever they came to town.

I can say that I look forward to finally meeting Tracey & Shara! Tracey has graciously invited me to join her at her Thursday Knit Night and if I can ever get my act together I would love to join her!

And as for Shara - I can't believe we live in the same town and haven't met yet!

Soon!