Numbers

1) I'm officially down 10 pounds! Now, I only have 84 more to go. It'll be a big celebration day when I reach my goal....until then, I'm just working hard everyday to eat right & exercise when I can. I don't know if I really notice a difference yet, but somedays I think my jeans fit better, somedays I feel better or think that I look better, and the other day my wedding ring felt looser around my finger. These are all good things. It makes me glad to know my hard work is steadily paying off!

2) Only 78 days until Jake & I set sail on a 5 day Western Carribbean cruise aboard the Carnvial Inspiration for my dear friend Erin's wedding. I am so excited, not only for my best friend's marriage to a most wonderful man, but also for our first cruise experience! I'm looking forward to the sunshine, time to lay out & read books & magazines, shore excursions, mingling with new & old friends, a vacation with my hubby, and the wonderfully fresh fruit/veggies & seafood!

3) I had 2 burned out lightbulbs at my house this week. One has been replaced, the other has not. Boo for you little 1 burned out lightbulb!

4) 6 days is how many Jake will be gone next week. I always get this odd suffocating feeling & subsequently turn into a big poo-head when he leaves for military stuff. I wish I didn't do that.

5) 8 days until I get to see my wonderfully talented friend Brian perform as Dap in the traveling tour of Camelot at the Adler in Davenport! I'm so proud of him for "making it" & I can't wait to see him on stage - it's been years...

6) 12 hours until I get to hang out with my best friend Erin at River Music Experience this evening, catching up & watching Jim the Mule. I am SO excited about getting to see her!

7) 50 degrees was how cold my house was when I let the dog out to pee at 4 AM. I was like a little ice cube in my bed. 65 was what it got up to once I turned the heat back on...what happened to those 74 degree temps we had the other day when I was sleeping with the windows open?!

First ride of the season

We took our first motorcycle ride of the year this afternoon. It's funny how quickly we forget about the little things when we've been cooped up inside our warm houses all winter long...

Some things I noticed today that I had forgotten I'd missed...

bald eagles

the smell of barbecue & burgers on the grill

the farmer's market

the sun setting into the Mississippi as we rode across the bridge

taking the time to be a true passenger & not always the driver

longer daylight

the wind in my hair

singing songs

my grandparents house on the river

"Thank you for holding..."

I hate being put on hold. I don't mind being transferred...I understand that most times I call a large company, I will not be dialing direct to the person I'd like to speak with. But there should be some regulatory measures in using "hold."

1) If you must put someone on hold, do not do so for longer than 30 seconds. Putting a caller on hold for more than 3 minutes is unacceptable. Longer than 3 minutes...ridiculous...and you don't know how to do your job.

2) If you are a company that plays music while people are on hold, please be aware of the music you are choosing. Yellow Rose of Texas...I shudder at the thought. Saxophone music...it's nice on an elevator, but not when your ear is pressed directly up to the speaker of the phone. Lots of loud drum beats? Save it for a rock concert...I swear, every company that puts you on hold with music has THE loudest, most screechy music possible. Most of the times the music is distorted or makes crackling noises because it's so loud. If I have a headache after I get off the phone with your "on hold" system, there's a problem.

3) Don't make me listen to crazy advertisements. I'd prefer silence or the voices in my head over your crazy talk, thankyouverymuch.

In summary, I often dream that some day "on hold" will be more regulated. There is no excuse for bad phone etiquette like "on hold" harbors. And lastly, Kenny G was never meant for "on hold."