Tactics to finding employment ...

I got this video a couple of times this week from different friends. As an Employment Specialist in the ward, do you think I should suggest this type of tactic to get a job?

"ARGH! I just can't sleep!"

No big surprise to those who know me, I can't sleep ... that is I can't seem to sleep through the night or at a decent time so I can get up to start my day with the rest of the world. Most days, I can't sleep before midnight to 1:00 a.m. and I drag myself out of bed at about 8:00 a.m. and drag myself around the house to get ready ... usually, I'm not fully awake after about 30 minutes of dragging around the house. I don't drink sodas anymore and even when I did, I don't drink them after 4:00 p.m. I've made myself be in bed by 10:00 - 10:30 only to toss and turn until midnight or later. I've cut out "strenuous" activities at night, tried hot baths, drank warm milk (even though I'm lactose intolerant), dim lights (which worsen my eye sight), cool rooms (which just makes me cold), boring literature (which makes me mad and works me up). Nothing helps ... other than drugs. Springing forward (which is coming up this weekend) kills me.

When I took a week off of work at the end of January for my birthday, I decided to find out what my natural sleeping patterns are and obey the body clock which means I to go to bed when I am sleepy and wake up when I am ready. The result, I went to bed at 3:00 a.m. and woke up at about 10:00 a.m. refreshed and not at all dragging my feet. In fact, I found myself jumping out of bed, humming and got ready in about 30 minutes less than my normal routine. So, apparently 7 hours of sleep is sufficient for me, the problem lies in the time I go to bed and wake up. I need to somehow "reset" my body clock and I'd love to go to bed no later than 11:00 p.m. every night and get up at 6:00 a.m. AND I'd like to do it without taking sleeping pills. Any ideas?

A good day ...

I had lunch with my friend, Marcy, today and this is my fortune cookie. I'd like to use this as an excuse the next time I don't want to go to church.

Mac or green salad?

The other night at Mo' Bettah Steaks with my friend, Adam.

Me: I want the pulehu steak plate, pleez.
MBS: You want mac or green salad wit dat?
Me: Mac.
MBS: Yeah, da islanders ask for mac, da haoles go fo' da green salad.

Don't bother with groceries ...

I'm a firm believer that one should pamper oneself on one's birthday. For the past decade I've honored that belief by following certain birthday traditions. Unless my birthday falls on a Sunday ,,,

• 
  
  I do not go to work on my birthday and if the birthday falls on a weekend, I take a three-day weekend;
• 
  
  If at all possible, I go on a trip on my birthday;
• 
  
  I sleep in on my birthday;
• 
  
  I get a massage on my birthday;
• 
  
  I get my hair done on my birthday;
• 
  
  I have friend(s) take me to lunch and/or dinner on my birthday; and
• 
  
  I don't buy groceries for a few weeks after my birthday.

This time of year, I'm not only celebrating my birthday, but I've also got about a half dozen friends whose birthdays are within 10 days of my birthday. Friends who don't make it to whatever big birthday celebration planned will also take me to lunch or dinner for weeks afterward, thus eliminating my need to buy groceries. I end up eating out a lot! Well, I cleaned my fridge this past weekend and felt so guilty for throwing out so much food. So many starving children all over the world and I'm throwing food away! I filled a whole garbage bag with leftovers in takeout boxes and "healthy" foods I meant to consume in between or with leftovers that committed suicide in my fridge.

Last week I had a "craving" for some fried tofu which I had to throw out because ... yup, never got around to frying it up. I've got a couple more lunches/dinners to collect still. I don't think I'll bother with groceries for another week. I hope I can wait that long for some fried tofus. Anybody want to buy me fried tofu for my birthday?

VD aka SAD

I've been noticing a few people (women) who are male-bashing because they are alone this year for VD aka SAD (Valentine's Day aka Single Awareness Day). It really gets to me. Fine, say "I am woman, hear me roar" if you must, but to say, "who needs men"? Me thinks, thou art protesting too much. If any of these women were to be asked out for tomorrow night, I would bet money that most of them would drop the girlfriends they were planning on hanging out with to go on the date. Just my opinion ...

I got a rose from my former boss, Fred, today. He is such a sweet man. I can always count on him to get me a rose every year on this day. Of course, I'm not the only one on his list. Whenever he drops off my rose, he's got about a dozen others in his car that he delivers to his daughters and daughters-in-law. I'm sure his wife, Chris, just gets a huge bouquet of them. This is a characteristic I want in a mate -- someone who treats women like princesses, but leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that I am his queen.

40 one-word answers

Type only ONE word answers. It's harder than you think! Where is your cell phone? Desk Your Hair? Black Your significant other? MIA Your mother? Anna Your father? Djoni Your favorite thing? Massages Your dream last night? None Your favorite drink? Pinacolada Your dream/goal? Traveling The room you are in? Cubi Your hobby? Travel Your fear? Death Where do you want to be in 6 years? Traveling Where were you last night? Dinner Muffins? Banana Wish list item? Travels Where you were born? Indonesia Last thing you did? Lunch What are you wearing? Dress Something you're not wearing? Necklace Your car? Chloe Your computer? Here Your TV? Home Your pets? None Your friends? Dear Your life? Content Your mood? Okay Missing someone? No Your favorite store? Sales Your favorite color? Yellow Last time you laughed? Stories Last time you cried? Sad One place that I go to over and over? Office One person who emails me regularly? Friends My favorite place to eat? Pho What are you doing tonight? Games Listening to? Martini Your summer? Hot Favorite food? Lots Favorite time of day? Evening

Inge & Tamara's Birthday Celebration!

Below are pictures from a combined birthday celebration for myself and Tamara this past Saturday, January 31st, at the Sizzler. Why the Sizzler, you might ask? It meets the requirements that everyone pays upfront, so noone is stuck paying for food/beverage they did not consume, it caters to the vegetarians as well as the meatotarians, and it was close enough to the freeway that if people needed to scadaddle, it's just a hop, skip and jump away. Thanks to all who made it such a fun night. You should've joined Kent and I in a few rounds of killer Scrabble!

Missing from the photos are: Janeen who had to leave early, Diana and Sidney who were camera shy and Jerry who arrived after all the photos were taken.

Oh, thank you also to Annette for sharing some of her pictures, since my camera died half-way through the night.

Paper Products Coordinator: The Setting Apart

As I was crossing the lobby with the paper products for the supply closet, one of the counselors in the bishopric asked if I was ever set apart for the calling. I laughed and asked what I’ll be blessed with – the wisdom to find the best bargains on bulk paper products from a price club? Brother White insisted that I be set apart anyway, so off we went to find a quiet room. We chatted while the ward clerk went to see what the official title of my calling is.

Bro. White: So, did you go to the Tri-Ward party on New Year’s Eve?
Inge: Ummm, No!
Bro. White: Why not?
Inge: Not my thing. I don’t like big crowds and men don’t look or sound the same in broad daylight and a quieter place.

The clerk came back and Brother White proceeded to set me apart and gave me a longer blessing than I had expected. He reminded me that every calling involves both the temporal and spiritual. He blessed me with peace of mind and job security in this tough economy. Then he blessed me that my social life might be enlarged, expand and that I might be led to my eternal companion. Does he think that I don't have many friends just because I don't like big groups? If my social life enlarges anymore, I won't have time to do anything at home other than shower and sleep.

My only comment was, “Wow! All that for just buying paper goods in bulk at Costco?” That and many more was Brother White’s reply.

25 Random Things About Me

I got "tagged" on facebook with this yesterday. It was about 1:00 a.m. when I replied to it.

1. 
   
   I don't know if I can come up with 25 things about me, but I can't sleep so this will be interesting. [I actually thought of a few more since then]
2. 
   
   I turned 40 on Thursday, 01/22/2009.
3. 
   
   I've got too much stuff and need more space for it. I need to de-junk and stop hoarding stuff.
4. 
   
   I don't know that I want to forward this to 25 people. I'm tagging people who had already been tagged. Keep it going if you want, if this bugs you, SORRY!
5. 
   
   I love the color yellow, but I seldom wear it.
6. 
   
   People think I'm really social, but I prefer to be home in my pajamas enjoying alone time.
7. 
   
   I want a maid.
8. 
   
   I want a cook.
9. 
   
   I want to be on a beach instead of looking out at snow.
10. 
    
    I love deep fried tofu and wishing I have some right now.
11. 
    
    I see some couples and am glad that I'm not married.
12. 
    
    I am going to hang on to my movies on VHS tapes and now have a back-up VCR.
13. 
    
    I'm not making any cards this year. I have to use up the mounting note cards I bought before finding this "hobby".
14. 
    
    I think some people are total dorks. I'm not naming names.
15. 
    
    I think there are dozens of quality women in my ward and very few quality men.
16. 
    
    Unfortunately, most of these men are dazzled by the superficial women who are total witches.
17. 
    
    I seldom leave messages on voicemail or answering machines ... unless I really have to.
18. 
    
    I tend to put appointments on my PDA after I've had it.
19. 
    
    I hate the taste of tap water. I own a Brita and buy cases of bottled water.
20. 
    
    I forgot to change the profile on my phone back to normal mode after church ... which happens often.
21. 
    
    If what I saw on Masterpiece Theater is an accurate portrayal of Wuthering Heights, I think the story is stupid and Heathcliff and Cathy are mental and deserved to die.
22. 
    
    I think Desperate Housewives tonight was a better watch than what was on Masterpiece Theater.
23. 
    
    I've been going to bed at about 3 a.m. all week and waking up at about 10:00 a.m.
24. 
    
    I want to see the Eagles in concert this year.
25. 
    
    I didn't get a birthday card from my family this year. [I take this back. I didn't check my mailbox over the weekend and there's a card from the family there when I finally picked up the mail today].

Now, it's your turn! Have fun!!