Elevators

This morning I got stuck in the elevator at work :( I got in just like any other morning, pressed the button for the third floor and when I got there, the doors started to open and then stopped. They opened just enough for you to put your fingers in between the doors.

I stood there for a moment to sort of assess the situation and to make sure I didn't panic. I pressed the door open button and nothing happened. I was about to call my work to tell them I was stuck and would be late, when I saw some men on the other side of the door trying to open it. The only problem was, there was so much noise we couldn't hear each other. I am not sure why it was so loud, but it was.

When they couldn't get the door open, I just started hitting all the buttons. I figured I would make every effort to get out on my own before I had to pick-up the red phone and make a call. I am not even sure who is on the other line? Firemen? Dang...maybe I should have called...j/k Teddy.

Anyway, after all the buttons were pushed the two men were able to push the door open. Funny thing is, they weren't even elevator repair men. They were there picking up someones recycle bin....

The funny thing is...this lasted all but 5 minutes. I sure felt like forever being trapped in an elevator. Well, this is how my day began....I wonder what else will happen.

Radishes

Eating radishes again today...boy are they spicy!!! Sorry Teddy, no kisses tonight.

Blisters

My cousin Lindsay and I started our first day of walking. We used to do this a few years ago, but stopped. And boy do I show it. Anyway, in an effort to get in a little more shape before my big day (10/24/09 for those of you who might have forgot) we started walking.

As I detailed in one my earlier posts, my dad got me a pair of MBT walking shoes. They are really good, and boy can I feel the burn when I wear them but I need different sock. I have the worst blisters on my heels and on my big toe!!! Have you ever heard of such a thing...anyway, I have another pair of socks that I am going to try tomorrow.

Hello My Nemesis

As many of you know, I have an issue with choking. I have decided that choking has become my nemesis. Dictionary.com defines nemesis as the following:

nem⋅e⋅sis  /ˈnɛməsɪs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [nem-uh-sis] Show IPA
Use nemesis in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ses  /-ˌsiz/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [-seez] Show IPA . 1. something that a person cannot conquer, achieve, etc.: The performance test proved to be my nemesis.
2. an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
3. (initial capital letter) Classical Mythology. the goddess of divine retribution.
4. an agent or act of retribution or punishment.

I believe that each of those definitions describes my relationship with choking. Even though many of you are laughing or scratching your heads wondering how I can have a "relationship" with choking, it is real and it can happen to anyone.

For the past few years, I have had to make sure that I don't have anything edible (i.e. food or medication) in my mouth when I'm: walking, running, laughing, or talking. To be honest, I can't do anything other than sit there or there is a chance I will choke.

People always wonder why it takes me so long to eat, well I realized that I don't touch my food while I am talking because I will choke. I would rather be the last one eating so that I can have a conversation with someone without the anxiety of another "incident".

Which leads to me to the point of this entry, tonight, while telling my dad how the funeral went I had to take some vitamins. They are the size of horse pills and I have to cut them in half. I almost had a close call while trying to take them whole and I was by myself the other day, but I was able to cough it up and spit it out. While my dad is taking to me, I try to hurry up and take one of the halves, so I can respond to my dad. I should have taken my rushing as a sign, but before I knew it...disaster struck.

I started to gag, and I told my dad I was choking. He responded with "your fine, just breath and swallow." I was able to talk and swallow, but then it really did get stuck. I started to grab my neck and run towards my dad. He got behind me and tried give me the Heimlich. Mind you, he had to get in a big sigh of annoyance before doing so. He got behind my and gave a little squeeze. I was still gagging, started to cry and my face started to turn red. Before my dad could really do anything, the pill started to move down. Then I was fine. We both stood in the kitchen in silence just to make sure I was ok...

Alyssa always tells me I need to relax when I feel like I am choking, and if I wasn't sick I don't feel it would have been an issue. But I promise, this time it really did get stuck. Ask my brother, he really had to give me the Heimlich after I choked on a chicken finger after I got my braces on, so I do know what it feels like to really choke. That time I let it go so long my face started to turn colors.

I cut the remaining half of the pill in half, meaning I have to now cut them in fourths to make sure this "incident no. 200" doesn't happen again. :( Oh, to be a fly on the wall...but at least vegetables don't come out of my nose when I eat them...

Good Looks, Honesty, and Warnings

I want to start this entry off with a reminder that I drove my mom and my grandma to the funeral of my sister-in-law's grandmother....and I am sick. Or it's allergies, I can't quite tell.

Anyway, by the time we left the funeral it was around 8:30 at night. I was a little loopy because I was tired and it had been a long day. But for some reason, my Grandma was cracking me up. I don't know how often anyone really sits down and listens to what she says, but by golly, I finally figured out where I get my quirkiness from. SHE IS A HOOT!!! What initially set it off was, my Grandma was telling me and my mom where the reception for the funeral had been. She just kept saying it over and over again, when I finally asked her what the heck she was talking about, she replied with "I am telling you where the reception was," "I know Grandma, I was just there you don't need to tell me where it was at." "Stacey, I was saying it out loud so you could tell me if I was correct. Arlinda is going to ask me where I went tonight and I want to be sure to get it right." That was the first time I busted out laughing.

The second time was when we were on the freeway, and I was driving in the HOV lane. My grandma asked me what the lane next to the HOV lane was, and I told her it was the shoulder. She responded with "Okay, so that is where people go when they have car trouble..." Then she looked at the road in front of us and said the funniest thing....wait for it...."and this is what you drive on."

At that point, I couldn't hold it back and I was laughing so hard. Grandma, of course, didn't appreciate that and started to explain what she was saying. After her explanation, which was ok, I told her to think about how someone on the outside might have taken that. With that, we both laughed.

Then, that is when it happened....the flashing lights appeared out of nowhere and I look down at my speedometer. I pull over to the right and waited. Grandma only made one comment....in the beginning. When the officer came up he asked me if I knew the speed limit....I did (65 mph)....then he asked me if I knew how fast I was going....I did....."When I saw your lights come on, 80." That is when Grandma reacted...she didn't like hearing my speed. I could only respond with "I know Grandma."

When the officer walked away my mom, oh yeah she was in the car the whole time and didn't say a peep until, "I don't know why you told him the truth." I responded with, "I am going to get a ticket either way, so I figure, why not go down with a clean conscience...."

All the while I am hoping that he will give me a warning, but remembering that I only have luck on getting through on radio shows. The officer returned and did give me a warning!!! Can you believe it. He told me that I need to pay more attention and be careful. Then Grandma told him it was her fault, we were just coming back from a funeral and our minds were elsewhere. Plus it was her car and she should have been keeping an eye on me.

I leaned over and told the officer "You might have given me a warning, but I am going to hear it all the way home. And when my cousins find out, I met be better off getting a ticket :)" He thought it was really funny and even proceeded to tell Grandma that it is good to let her hair down and feel the need for speed. I wanted to make a comment that he just pulled me over for speeding, but I didn't want to risk it. I had already made two jokes with a good result, I didn't want to press three.

After we pulled away and continued our journey home...I told Grandma that I think the officer gave me a warning because he thought I was good looking. She responded by laughing really hard, and "No, I think it was because you were honest." If that isn't a hit below the belt....But my mom came back with, "No, I think it was how respectful you were to your Grandma and you apologized."

P.S. If you ever want to hear Grandma really bust a lung laughing, make a joke at how good looking you are....Apparently that is her weakness ;)

Radio Head

KMLE Country 108 is a local radio station here in Arizona, and they have a contest every Monday called "I had the best weekend!" Listeners call in and explain why they should win a certain prize by telling what they did over the weekend and why it was the best. Well, I took a chance on calling in and made it through!!! I explained to them that my family and I tried out for the "Family Feud." They were full of questions and they were very excited for us!!! Tim and Willy even asked me to keep them posted on whether we made it on the show!!!! How exciting!!!

P.S. I apparently have a knack on getting through on radio stations, hence, Cosmo Radio and now this!!!!

Dipolma

Adam came over to my house tonight with a little package.....my diploma!!!!! I need to get a formal frame from Phoenix College so I can bring my diploma to work. Then eventually I am going to get another copy of my diploma and hang it up next to Adam's in the condo.....

They Try To Make Me Go To Rehab.....

Each staff member has to come into my office to sign in every morning. Well, this morning I was in talking with my boss and I didn't get to see anyone come in. After my talk, I walked to the back to say hi to Courtney and Jacob....but when I turned the corner I didn't see Courtney, I saw Amy Winehouse!!!!!!!

SD

My sister and I are going to San Diego this weekend for a little r&r. I am sure there will be plenty of things to blog about when I get back as I am sure a few of you remember the last time I went to SD with my sister.....it was very eventful.

Bad Day

I am having a really bad day today...I haven't had a day like this in a long time...but all day I have been listening to Sirius Hits 1 and they have played "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas three times now and everytime I hear it all I think about is my cousin Stephanie doing the robot on Cousin Day. It puts a smile on my face everytime....thanks Stephanie.

Gatorade

I really love Gatorade but I feel that it gives me really bad heartburn....the worst heartburn in fact.

It's Official

As many of you know, I was lame and had to take my Humanities class over again. I took a Film and Literature course over the Summer. It was eight weeks long and I have to tell you it was so much fun. I wish I had taken this class the first time around.

The basis of the class was to describe the differences between two mediums (books, movies, plays, etc.) Our first assignment was to watch Jaws and pull out different things from the movie. Apparently I had never seen that movie from start to finish before, and I was biting my nails the whole time! Then we had to watch and read Stand by Me and Shawshank Redemption. I never new that Stephen King wrote both those books! They were classics and I enjoyed watching them. It was even more exciting because Adam had never seen Stand by Me.

Our last two assignments were the last four weeks of class. We had to pick a movie that came from another medium (book, play, novella, etc.) Our teacher was very strict that we could not choose a Nicholas Sparks book. He said that he could only take so much of A Walk to Remember and The Notebook. This was really funny to me, because Nicholas Sparks is my all time favorite author and I really wanted to write about The Notebook.

I put some thought into my selection and gave my teacher two choices: Twilight or Running with Scissors. I had a feeling that a lot of people would choose Twilight and I wanted to get a good grade, so that is why I gave him two choices.

Of course, my teacher chose the hardest one Running with Scissors. If you have never read the book or watched the movie you should. It is about a young boy who is forced to live with his mother's Therapist after she goes crazy. That it obviously a Reader's Digest version.

Anyway, my last assignment was due on 7/22. I just looked at my assignment and my teacher was very happy with my work. For each assignment he gave me great feedback, by telling me my first assignment was good but he needed to hear a little more of me in my answers. The second assignment was great, but he said I made some silly grammar mistakes. Oops.

I called the Admissions office at PC and they told me I should receive my diploma three weeks from the date my grade is posted. I am so excited to be officially done...or am I? I have been thinking seriously of getting my Bachelors degree in Human Resources or Business Administration....something like that. But that won't be for a few years :)

Thanks again for every one's support.

Karaoke

Since my last randevue at the Rodeo by my brother's house and the "incident" with Tino...I don't know if I will ever have an open mic opprotunity like I did that night....anyway, I have been researching songs to sing on my next trip out there....and I have found it.

I cannot wait for you all the hear it :) And you will never guess what it is. It isn't Hanson.

Sam's Club

Today I met Adam for lunch at Sam's Club. The lunches there are so cheap!!!! You can get two slices of pizza, a bag of chips, and a large drink for just $1.50!!!! And you don't need to be a member to go to the food court!!! Anyway, as we were standing in line, I was trying to decide what to eat. I had finally decided on a slice of pizza, when we walked up to order I hear the lady in front of me ask for a side of sour kraut for her polish hot dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?????????????????????? I never knew that you could ask for a side of sour kraut. That was honestly the best news that I have heard in a while, well besides my cousin Lindsay saying she got Cousin Day off of work. So I ordered a polish hot dog combo, added a little mustard to the phd and then added the kraut....it was amazing!!!!

That little piece of information, the sour kraut not Lindsay, has forever changed my ordering dilemma at Sam's Club. I think that I might even write a letter to Sam's Club saying thank you for that little miracle.

Table for 4

Today I was lucky to have lunch with my cousin Michelle and her two year old twins Molly and Nicholas. Because of our schedules, I haven't seen them since Christmas!!!! We met at Applebee's and had to request a booth so we can sit on either side of the twins. They like to walk around. At the beginning of lunch neither Molly or Nicholas would talk or look at me and sat with Michelle.

But a little into lunch they realized how cool I am and joined me on my side of the booth. First it was Molly and then Nicholas, and then both of them. Here is Nicholas chillin'...doesn't he look just like Carlos?????

Once Molly saw we were taking pictures she walked over to me and started to strike a pose....Can you see Nicholas poking his head around Molly to see what is going on?

It isn't official until you have a self-taken photo. I feel like I look like Cousin It from The Munsters. I always thought I had a big head, but you never really realize it until you see that it is bigger than a 2 year old....

Here is Molly coming to get the camera....

And then Nicholas followed....

The funniest part of lunch involved mustard. Yes, you heard right, mustard. I ordered a cheeseburger and requested a bottle of mustard. Well, Nicholas was really into mustard and kept wanting to have some of it put on his plate. When he was distracted, I grabbed the bottle and went to put in on the floor. Our waitress happened to be standing at the table behind us and asked me if I was steeling the mustard. Michelle and I just looked at each other and were like no, we are just putting it on the floor to keep it from the kids. Then the waitress laughed and said that she thought I was putting the bottle in the diaper bag that was under the table. We all laughed and I told her that I didn't even know it was there. She wasn't mad, and she kept laughing at us...Later on, we had the ketchup on the floor and I told the waitress that we were having a picnic this weekend, so we needed to stock up.

It was hilarious!!!!!! I really enjoyed having lunch with Michelle and the kids and I look forward to having many more :) The twins are so cute!!!!!

Name

Just a thought, how would Teddy feel if we named our first son Dunkin? Do you think that anyone would put the two and two together???? hmmmmm

One More Chance Dunkin

As everyone knows, I haven't the best relationship with Dunkin Donuts over the past year. Slowly but surely they are working up to my good graces, but each time I feel they just don't cut it. Well, tonight I am spending the night at my friend Clara's house to help out with her two kids and there is a DD right by her house. So tomorrow morning I plan to stop by DD and see if they can take one more step up the ladder to greatness. I will keep you all posted.

Plus, my friend Alo sent me and my sister an e-mail that DD is opening a new store on Chandler Blvd. Which is like 15 minutes away from my house. Sometimes, heaven is just 15 minutes away and covered with pink frosting...

Not Funny

Everyone always says that I am not funny and no one ever laughs at my jokes. For the past few months I thought I was getting a little better at it. But apparently not.....yesterday I sent out an e-mail titled "Why Back Women and White Women Cannot Communicate." I am not racist, I just thought it was funny. But no one else did, because I didn't receive a response from anyone.....

Incident 512

100th Blog

This is officially my 100th blog. It would have come sooner if I hadn't taken a few breaks, but it still came. I would like to take a moment to thank and mention the following:

1. Andy for being the first person to start a blog, which opened my eyes to a world I cannot live without;

2. Lindsay for reading my blog and wanting to start her own to document her worldly travels that I would have otherwise not seen;

3. And last but not least, all my wonderful and loyal BLOG STALKERS. I couldn't have done this without you. You are the best and I love you!!!!

Can you tell I have watched an award show lately?

First Time For Everything

Tonight Alyssa and I went to my brother Shawn's house for a little r&r. Alyssa had invited our other cousins, but Stephanie was the only one that was able to make it out. She had prior engagements so she didn't head out until later. While we were waiting, me my brother and my sister all went to dinner at this great Mexican restaurant. There aren't many restaurants in Gold Canyon, but of the few, this is the best.

Because it was so nice outside we sat on the patio underneath a tree with little white lights. It was really fun and beautiful. I must say that it was a lot of fun to hang out with my brother and my sister with no one else around. No offense to our spouses, but the three of us never get to hang out together. I really enjoyed it. Shawn, however, didn't enjoy Alyssa and I talk about our disabilities. But we had him laughing a few times.

Then, after dinner, we headed down the street to the Rodeo for some karaoke with Tino. This is a little bar attached to the Best Western hotel. We had so much fun!!!!!!! Alyssa sang "Eight Days A Week." During her song the microphone kept cutting in and out and when she finished she made a comment to me and Shawn that the cutting out wasn't her singing, it was the microphone. Then right after she said that Tino, the karaoke man, came up and said "What it is the problem?" Well, after that we figured out that Tino had a secret listening devise hooked up to our table and he could hear all the bad things we were saying about each other. Needless to say, it made it very hard for us to gossip about the groupies at the bar.

I warmed up by singing a little Cher, followed by The Pointer Sisters "Jump" which was a great hit. After my second song a man named Dave got on the mic and announced a singing contest. We aren't quite sure if the winner gets fifty one dollar bills, five one hundred dollars bills, or five hundred one dollar bills. Dave was very confusing.

While the girls were singing Shawn was starting up the dart competition. I won't divulge too much of the details of the games, but lets just say Alyssa and I beat Shawn and Stephanie 2-1. Even if Shawn says I got more turns, isn't the Brown motto "Winning is Winning."

The highlight of the night was Stephanie singing!!! This was her first time and I was excited to say that I was there to witness this. She did a great job!!!! She sang "Don't Stop Believing". People in the bar were clapping and dancing.

The low point of the night was when I sang a song that I had never found in any karaoke bar ever!!! I sang, Hanson Mmmmmbop. Yes, I know. Looking back I shouldn't have sang that song, but like I said it was a first time for everything. Someone actually came up and asked Tino to turn it off....It was really sad and a little embarrassing.

I am sorry that there aren't any pictures, but our photographer Lindsay was enjoying San Jose and wouldn't join us until Saturday.

In closing, I would like to say how much fun I had hanging out with Stephanie. I have never really hung out with just her before and I really enjoyed it!!!!