Jane's Tongue

This is a post in response to this one: My Nephew Ethan

The following picture is the very first picture I saw of Jane. She had recently started in IT with our company and I had yet to meet her. We were celebrating our organization and successes and they did this huge slide show of people in the company (Mostly Candids) and it was pretty cool.

The slideshow kept running over and over and this picture kept drawing my attention.

All I knew about Jane was the two things I had heard through the grapevine: (1) She had never been in IT before (2) She was cool, I would like her


After the slideshow was over and I had seen this picture a dozen times I knew two more things: (1) She was probably funny (2) She had the biggest tongue I had ever seen.

About a month later, over lunch, the funny part was verified.

Sydney's Visit To Santa

Happy Birthday To Me

Since our birthdays were 3 days apart Papa and I always shared our birthday parties. Sharing my birthday with Pop has always been a very special memory for me. I found these two pictures last week. The first one was from my 5th and his 63rd birthday. I think the second is from my 17th and his 75th.

Notice the cakes. They are the same! We always had the Mint Chip Ice Cream cake from Baskin Robbins. I still usually have this cake on my birthday, it's my favorite. Yummy!!!!!!

Christmas Movies Out of Control

While taking a break from wrapping Christmas presents and doing laundry I was flipping around the TV and became astounded at all the Christmas movies that are on today. What happened to It's a Wonderful Life? (BTW: I have never seen it. How is that possible?) Listed below are a few of the ones I found today (with their descriptions):

Moonlight and Mistletoe: Nick and his daughter Holly fight a real-estate developer to keep their Christmas theme park open.

A Boyfriend for Christmas: A strangely familiar man may be the answer to a 33 year old woman's long-ago holiday wish for true love

Our First Christmas: Complications arise when two widowed people and their children spend their first Christmas together.

An Accidental Christmas: Two children scheme to reunite their estranged parents during a school holiday

Deck the Halls: A boy tries to set up his mother with a man he believes is Santa Claus

Undercover Christmas: Assigned to protect a waitress, a workaholic FBI agent brings her to his parents home for the holidays.

Off Season: A 10 year old orphan spreads a rumor that an elderly man is really Santa Claus

Silver Bells: A teenage runaway connects his widowed father and a woman who lost her husband during a past Christmas holiday

Christmas at Waters Edge: A wealthy collegian and an angel-in-training work together to organize a holiday concert for a youth center

Crazy for Christmas: A limo driver tried to help a wealthy man find his long lost daughter on Christmas Eve

A Different Kind of Christmas: A family secret threatens to thwart the mayoral bid of a single mom whose father thinks he's Santa Claus

Christmas Decorations At Moms (A History)

Over the years, mom's Christmas Decorations have evolved. I am going to do a more detailed review of mom's Decorations later but right now I take you on a journey as we compare several decorations from Christmas 1978 and Christmas 2008.

The Dining Room: Notice the little string of holly around the dining room entrance from 1978. Then notice the massive tree branches and ornaments in 2008.

The Nativity Scene: This hasn't changed much except now it's on the top of the entertainment center instead of the old TV.

The Christmas Tree: The 1978 tree is artificial and realitively tiny. The 2008 tree is real, huge and goes all the way to the floor. Also the garland has changed from store bought to kid created.

The Fireplace: The most dramatic change. Look at how peaceful the 1978 stockings look compared to the 2008 stockings. When Andrew and James get married we will have two more.....

If We Are Any Indication

What I said earlier this week is true, Sydney and Elizabeth will be best friends.
It looks like I didn't have my bike 10 minutes before I helped Becca get on it and ride. The second picture is so cute, I think it's one of my favorites.What great Christmas memories!

I Love You, Becca and I am so lucky to have you for my sister.

BTW: Rachel, had you been born we would have had you sitting on the handle bars! I'm just going to pretend you are there.

Flashback Friday (29)

This is a very special Flashback Friday on what would be my grandfathers 93rd birthday. He was such a great man, grandfather, father and husband. I miss you Papa!

My Ode To Mervyn's

My first real job was at Mervyn's. They actually hired me when I was 15 1/2 and they hired me for the "Sportswear" department. I was not a regular Mervyn's shopper at the time and when I heard that I was in "Sportswear" I was so excited! I figured alot of boys must shop in "Sportswear" little did I know that at Mervyn's, "Sportswear" was the women's department.

I am sad to see that Mervyn's is going out of business. There is one pair of black shoes that is the Mervyn's brand and I love them. I must have bought them 5 times in a row. They are my standby shoes. Mervyn's is also a stop on our day-after-Christmas shopping tradition. Plus I still know alot of people that work there that will be out of their job. Goodbye, Sprockets, Hillard and Hanson, Cheetah and Ellemeno.

When I started at Mervyn's the big thing was to make it to become a "Blue Badge". To be a Blue Badge you basically had to be trusted to approve returns and large purchases. (They all had to be signed) A Blue Badge associate was identified by a thin blue strip under their name on their name badge. The day I became a Blue Badge I thought I was so awesome, especially since I made Blue Badge before most of the Christmas hires...and I was only 16. ;)

Everyone loved to be assigned to work "Stock". First if you were assigned to stock you were able to wear jeans. Second you worked in the back stockrooms and basically by yourself. In Sportswear we rotated the stock person but I remember in the men's department they always had the same stock person. Whenever I was the stock person I reorganized the areas. That was great!

The only thing that could beat out being a Blue Badge and working stock was being assigned to Fine Jewelry. The keys for Fine Jewelry had one of those little rubber key bands that you could use to put the keys on your arm or wrist. So not only were you in charge of the keys you got to publicly display the keys proudly on your arm so that everyone could see you had them. I loved responded to "Customer Service, Fine Jewelry". That was awesome. So with that I give this final Mervyn's Haiku:

I rocked as Blue Badge
Jeans was best dress for Stock Room
Nothing beat the keys

Sydney, The Bully

Lately, Sydney has been bullying Elizabeth. I have witnessed this personally and I do not like it at all! She grabs Elizabeth's pacifier, she takes Elizabeth's toys, she grabs her. I am just waiting for Elizabeth to let her have it, I am afraid it is going to happen soon.

A couple of weeks ago, I took the pictures below at Starbucks. In the first picture we see Elizabeth with the look "Please don't take it". In the second picture we see a determined Sydney to get it. I'm telling you, any day Sydney is going to get it.......













BTW: These two simply adore each other. Every morning when they get to Grandma's they hug each other and Elizabeth always leans in and gives Sydney a kiss. They couldn't be better friends but....Sydney is still going to get payback.

"Sydney Swallowed Something Today"

A few days ago, when I was picking up Sydney from my moms, my mom said "Sydney Swallowed Something Today". That followed by a short story saying she almost choked and Becca felt something in her mouth but couldn't get it out before she started to choke. Since you are not supposed to try and get it out at that point Becca pulled her hand out and eventually Sydney swallowed the item. I say eventually because Becca told me the next day she was REALLY choking and she was 5 seconds from calling 9-1-1. (Nine, eleven-if you asked my grandmother)

The next morning I discovered this in Sydney's diaper:

It was acrylic and appeared to be some sort of Christmas tree. I decided to clean it off and spray some anti-bacterial cleaner on it and then show Becca and mom what she had swallowed. So the bummer part, is when I left for moms that morning I forgot the piece at home. Darn. So I decided to look for the the second half of the tree when I got there. I started looking....it didn't take long to find the other piece, note the missing branchs at the bottom of this Christmas decoration. Luckily for mom she has about 50 more of these trees. Luckily for Sydney this was one of the small ones.

Tamales and Traditions

I have never made Tamales. To tell you the truth, I'm a little afraid of them. There are so many pieces and steps and it all seems very overwhelming to me. Today, I visited four sisters who have a tradition of making tamales every year before Christmas.

Even four experienced cooks can run into problems while making tamales. In the short time I was there: A pot was burned beyond recognition (It was also cleaned while I was there), the wine was broken out of the cupboard (It was 10:30AM), and there was a rather large controversy over the amount of water that was in the burned pan, who put the water in there and when it was put in there......

They were making 3 different types of tamales, beef, chicken and chili/cheese. I would have loved to stick around and try the chili/cheese. It sounds really good! There are different styles. Kathleen noted that Sharon works on her tamales very gingerly not sloppily like everyone else. I wonder if Sharon's tastes better? Anyhow, after observing this entire operation I learned two things:

(1) Making tamales look as hard as I thought and the corn husks are really scary.
(2) My sisters and mom need to start an annual cooking today. Tamales would be a great tradition or cookies.

Thanks for inviting me! It was good to see you all!

Flasback Friday (28)

"Hi Kim, Stop!!!!"

When I walked in to the office today I entered on the 7th floor instead of the 8th. The elevator stopped on 7 so I decided I could take the stairs to my office on 8th. I was on a mission and didn't bother to stop and say hi to Angel and Clarinda, I was about to the stairs when I heard Clarinda say Hi Kim and ask me to stop. I stopped, walked over to her desk and Angel, Clarinda and I talked.

We discussed how busy I looked and as I stood there I noticed the Christmas tree for the very first time since it was put up. It was beautiful, I commented on it's beauty and then Clarinda said I should sit down and actually enjoy my Starbucks. So I sat down in the chair next to the Christmas and chatted for a few more minutes. I said I could work there all day.

Clarinda recognized that I was stressed, she knew that I needed to just stop and take a breath. She will have no idea how much I needed that. It was truly a great gift and I am so grateful that she gave it to me this morning.

My take away from this is to notice others today, think about how they are feeling and just be kind. Thanks, Clarinda!

Story Number 3 on Hand Driers

Flashback to January 15, 2007 and we have the first story on automatic towel dispensers.
Flashback to January 21, 2007 and we have the follow-up story on automatic towel dispensers

So Sky Harbor Airport now has dyson (Yeah, the vacuum cleaner guy) hand driers in the terminal 4 luggage area. These boast they are the most hygienic hand driers in the world. Let me tell you, these things move some air. You just put your hands down in the middle of them and the air swirls around them. I don't think a germ could stay in there if it tried. When my hands were drying yesterday the skin was going all over the place. It was pretty weird, makes me want a dyson. Anybody have one?

Odd Eating Habits

Jane is the oddest eater. If I didn't know her and I worked in her office I would make it my mission everyday to walk by her desk at lunch time to see what she was eating. Then I would probably encourage others to pass by at lunch time for their own amusement. It would turn into a club, we would call it the WSETC (Whats she eating today club). The sad thing is she wouldn't be able to be a member since you know, she is the odd eater.

Last Wednesday: Jane eating a full cucumber for lunch

Back in May: An Artichoke

The Christmas Party & The Baby Snatcher

So last night was David's company Christmas party. This party always gives us at least one good story. It was Casino night this time and it was fun except for the part where I couldn't get gamble because I was holding Sydney. Since she was in a dress she couldn't really crawl around (she would get stuck) and that was a little hard. Anyhow, she was definitely the center of attention. (Really how could she not be?) She was the only baby there and she looked absolutely adorable

Moving onto the story of the evening. Everyone wanted to hold her which was fine by me especially since my hand is hurting again. While we were talking with David's co-worker (Witness #1) and her friend (Witness #2) this woman came running from across the very large room and the following ensued:

****Note: Baby Snatcher Woman is an extremely close talker, less than 4 inches from face*****
Baby Snatcher Woman: Can I hold her? OMG, You are so blessed, she is so beautiful, I love babies.
Kim: Sure:
*****Kim hands Sydney to Baby Snatcher woman*****
Baby Snatcher Woman: You are so blessed, she is so beautiful, I love babies
Kim: Yes, we are lucky
Baby Snatcher Woman: Look at those eyelashes, I always watch my nieces and nephews, I love babies, your so blessed
Kim: Mmmhhmm
Baby Snatcher Woman: I love babies
*****About this time, Kim thinks that unless she bolts for the door with Sydney she is just going to let this play out as it will be a great blog. Kim wonders how she will get a picture for the blog. Sydney starts to whimper a tiny bit*****
Baby Snatcher Woman: She wants you!
*****Baby Snatcher woman hands Sydney back to Kim*****
Witness Number 1: Can I hold her?
Kim: Sure
*****Kim hands Sydney to Witness Number 1*****
Baby Snatcher Woman: OMG, You are so blessed, I love babies, I watch my nieces and nephews.
Witness Number 1: She is really cute
Witness Number 2: Can I hold her for a minute?
Kim: Sure
Baby Snatcher Woman: You are so blessed, she is beautiful, I love babies
Kim: We are really lucky.
*****Witness Number 1 hands Sydney to Witness Number 2 and two seconds later*****
Baby Snatcher Woman: She wants her mother!
*****Baby Snatcher Woman rips Sydney from Witness Number 2 arms and leaves her with the "What just happened" look on her face*****
Baby Snatcher Woman: OMG, you are so blessed, I love babies
Kim: mmhhmm
Baby Snatcher Woman: I applied for a job in an orphanage
Kim: Really
Baby Snatcher Woman: Oh yes, I love babies, your so blessed. She is beautiful.
Kim: Yes she is
Baby Snatcher Woman: You are so blessed, I love babies
Baby Snatcher Woman: Can we take a picture together? You, me and the baby?
Kim: Of course, that would be wonderful (Yes!!!!)
Baby Snatcher Woman: Oh that is great, I love babies, your so blessed.
*****Kim asks David to take a picture. David knows this woman is going to end up on the blog and he takes picture*****
Baby Snatcher Woman: This is great, I love babies.
Kim: They are wonderful
Baby Snatcher Woman: You are so blessed!
Baby Snatcher Woman: Can I take a picture with the baby and my boyfriend
Kim: Sure
Baby Snatcher Woman: This is so great, She is so beautiful, I love babies.
*****Baby Snatcher Woman and boyfriend get their picture taken with Sydney*****

At this point others came over and the moment was ended. Let me just tell you that this was the SHORT version. The whole thing probably lasted 15-20 minutes. Witness Number 1 and 2 were hilarious. We all talked about it afterwards and in the end Witness Number 1 and 2 were able to actually hold Sydney and they were made aware that they would be featured on the blog.

Here are the pictures of The Baby Snatcher Woman, Sydney and I, The Baby Snatcher Woman, her boyfriend and Sydney, Witness Number 1 and 2 and the last picture is an adorable shot of Sydney and David. Good Times!

Is Your Mama a Llama?

Notice the pic? I think Jane is trying to have Sydney follow in her steps as a one legger...

And really, Is Andrea not the best storyteller of all times? Love you all!!!!!

Flashback Friday (27)

How To Pick Kim Up From Sky Harbor Airport

This blog will give you all the information you need to pick me up from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix without complications.

First some facts:

*Terminal 4, the US Air/ Southwest terminal, is huge.
*There are 2 pickup areas, they are known as North Curb and South Curb
*North Curb has odd door numbers, South Curb has even door numbers.
*If you are traveling west (towards downtown Phoenix and my office) you should get picked up on south curb since the exit for south curb is to the west. If you are traveling to the east (towards the Young's or New Mexico) North curb is a better option since the exit is to the east.
*Door 1 (North) and 2 (South) are great pickup doors if your plane arrives at a "D" gate but terrible if your plane arrives at a "C" gate.
*Door 7 (North) and Door 8 (South) are great pickup doors if your plane arrives at a "C" gate but terrible if your plane arrives at a "D" gate.

Utilizing the information above and http://www.southwest.com/ it is very easy to pick me up. At Southwest.com not only can you find the updated flight arrival time you can also find the gate information! That way you don't have to do to me what Dora did to me yesterday.

When heading into the office she first said she was at the North Curb (KT thinks, North Curb? Why would she do that?) Then as KT arrives in a C gate and begins walking the North curb Dora says she is in front of Door 2! Door 2 is South curb (good) but I had already walked to North Curb and Door 2 is the absolute farthest place to walk from the C gates!

The good news is that Dora took me straight to the office via I-10, not I-17, that was Diane's route ;)

Note Pictures since she was even further than Door 2:

December 3, 2008: 5:30PM-7:35PM

Two years and two days ago (this could be interpreted as 22) I wrote this post about the events of my evening in Phoenix. Hard to believe it was 2 years ago. So tonight, as I found myself in Phoenix again I report my evening, once again, blogging from the plane.

At 5:30PM I was at Jessica's Dance Recital. While sitting there I wondered if Sydney would do dance. She did a great job!

At 5:45 Brittney, Melody and I went to the treat table where Brittney and Melody were restricted to one treat. I had a bite of Brittney's fattening sugar cookie and it was so good I insisted that Melody go get me one. She did and then I took Melody's half eaten cookie, ate that and Melody got to eat my full cookie. So she got one and a half cookies. Meanwhile Brittney and I each grabbed a chocolate covered pretzel and ate that in addition to our cookies. It was great and their mother didn't know a thing.

We then went to Tempe Market Place and ate dinner at Maria Maria. I had water and a skirt steak in a Mexican sauce (very uncharacteristic for me). Jessica and I pretended to be bartenders serving water, after this we all went to the bathroom before leaving for the airport.

I arrived at the airport, did not lose my wallet, had my spare blackberry battery, and went through security in record time. At 7:35PM I boarded the plane and proceeded to write this blog.

I don't know how I should end this blog. Either of the following sentences would work:

(1) The being intoxicated and losing my wallet story was better
(2) Life changes

Punnishment For Cheating?

Unknown Spider Bites

Last week I saw Queen B's Facebook status "Contemplating a trip to the Urgent Care", I contacted her and learned that she had been bitten by an unknown spider and her hand had completly swollen up. I advised an immediate trip to the ER. She refused.

Two days later Matt tells me he was biten by a Black Widow (or he thinks) he also made the decision not to go to the ER. When I advised that he should have he said "Well, I would have gone if I started having trouble breathing"

Sydney Is So Advanced

OK, so alot of parents say that about their kids-but she really is :) At 5 months she was doing the army crawl, at 6.5 months she was crawling, at 7 months she was pulling herself up and standing and just today Becca said "She jabbers way more than a 7 month old should"

Granted, she is behind on eating (doesn't want to) and still wakes up several times through the night so I guess she is just advanced on development. Anyhow, here was the conversation today between me and mom:

Mom: Sydney is so advanced on development
Kim: Yeah, I need to remember that she is only 7 months old
Mom: It is easy to forget that she is only 7 months
Kim: It sure is
Mom: Well, it's just that Sydney is so smart.
Kim: Yeah she really is smart, too smart
Mom: She must get that from David
Kim: Get what?
Mom: Well he is intelligent
Kim: Uh huh, but what are you saying?
Mom: Nothing, just that she must have gotten her smarts from him

Nice.

Flashback Friday (26)

The only purse ever caught on camera

Happy Thanksgiving

I Hate Purses (& I Don't Carry Them)

Here is the proof:

I Want to be just like the Champ when I grow up
Why I carry a purse (most of the time)
For all you purse haters
Is a diaper bag a form of purse?
Small, Medium, Large (or none)
Little purses
My Purse Idemitzed
My Purse Now Itemized
22 Ways Kim has Become Sydney's Mom

Two Blog Follow-up's

(1) On Disneyland (3 Blog Stories) I left off a very important story....there should have been four stories. While we were on Dumbo the ride came to an emergency stop. We thought the ride had broken down but we were wrong. Apparantly, they stop the ride when riders are breaking the rules. In this case, a mother had their infant in a standing position and not sitting under the seatbelt like they should have been. I realized this when the attendent walked over to our Dumbo and said "She needs to be in the seatbelt, you can't stand her up" The great part is they started the ride up again and we basically got another full ride.

(2) On Stores Closing: This just in (via Eddie Bauer's email list)

To our valued customers:It has come to our attention that misleading information is circulating via email as part of a hoax intended to discourage consumers from buying gift cards from a number of retailers including Eddie Bauer. We want to set the record straight.

Eddie Bauer has been in business since 1920 and operates 376 retail stores throughout North America. We also have a robust online and catalog division. In our March 2008 annual report, we announced both the opening of new locations as well as the closing of some older locations as part of our normal course of business. The stores referenced were all closed in January 2008. In 2009, we will again open and close a handful of stores as part of our normal business plan.

Eddie Bauer remains committed to providing our customers with outstanding quality, value and service, now and for many years to come. Our gift cards are a great option for the holidays. You can purchase and redeem them at any of our retail stores, through our catalogs or at eddiebauer.com. We look forward to serving you this holiday season.

Neil Fiske
President & CEO
Eddie Bauer