Time of My Life

A Philosophical Question

When in a relationship, one party is completely enamored with the other party, while the other party is not as enamored as the other. Would you rather:
-Be on the receiving side or
-Be on the giving side

This was the question that was proposed to me this morning by the unique man that sits next to me at work. Without revealing identities, we shall describe him as a nice man but one that has a negative outlook on love and marriage. So me and my wild ideas of what love and marriage could be and should be, get shot down with his “Well the reality is…” line or his “Good luck with that dream”. But isn’t that what love and marriage should be? A dream come true, now granted, I know that life will not be easy everyday and it’s all not going to be a bed of roses…but still.

So anyways, this romantic at heart responded…“Both!” Which he came back with saying, “Which is a very rare case.” So I asked him which one he would prefer…and he really didn’t respond. His reply was about his parent’s marriage, which lasted some 59 years because his father adored his mother. So I asked him if during his first marriage if he adored his wife. His response…“Um no.” So then I asked about his current wife, and he really didn’t respond…

So my question to the masses is this…What do you think? Or am I a wide-eyed hopeful that will always be searching???

Confused and a little depressed,
Melinda

posted by Melinda @ 11:30 AM 5 comments

Potential Jobs

So last night my sister had her master’s last summer blow-out pool party, and I was asked to be an extra pair of hands in the process…and me, the greatest procrastinator that this world has ever seen, eagerly agreed. (well kind-of) So after filing for graduation yesterday (WOOHOO!!!), I went home to be the studious student that I am to work on my tax paper that is due in some 20 days. Except I became a little side tracked with the whole internet…but anyways, I digress…job option number one: be a permanent internet surfer/viewer or a cybernanny. But this is of course after I graduate and pass the CPA and CFE exams!

So back to the story, the true reason of my rambling…I go to the get together, we laugh, they cried, we ate, thongs are exchanged…you know the story…so then all of a sudden…the beast within emerges because…It’s clean up time…it’s something that I always thought was a negative to my OCD but after a comment made by my sister…I think that it may just be a positive!! So her comment you ask…while talking to another math teacher…”yeah…if the whole accounting thing doesn’t work out for her, she could always be a party planner, she can clean up a room so fast…” So as I ignore the idea of the accounting world not working and my sister's lack of faith in me :) …the wheels in my head began to roll…I could so be a wedding planner…that sounds more lucrative! So anyways, I could so do that…can’t you just read my business card:

Melinda Robie, CPA, CFE
Special Event Planner Extraordinaire

Ha! So…after the March timeframe (post CPA exam), I’ll have my little company on the side! So if you need an event done right…call me!!! I will put my OCD to good use!

Forever pestering you,
Melinda

posted by Melinda @ 11:01 AM 0 comments

16 hours later....

Well…it is finished…The Half-Blood Prince that is…I know, I know…I wasn’t suppose to read it until my tax paper was finished but as far as temptation goes…I have a hard time with the word “No.” So…at 11:37 this evening, precisely 16 hours after I picked up the book originally that I finally laid it down. Now I didn’t cry, contrary to popular belief. I was close granted, but I did not cry. But it was good, real good. I was, as you can tell, engulfed in the story, so much so that I wasn’t completely aware to the phone ringing at different times during the day, that I only had lunch at about 4 this afternoon, and I don’t believe that I shall have dinner. I know to some that that may seem like nothing…but it means something!

But now that I have finished this book, I am crushed to know what happened, I am crushed to know that I have to get back to the “real world” and finish my damn paper, and I am crushed that I get to wait another 2 plus years before J.K. Rowling decides to finish her masterpiece and another four months before the next movie comes out.

So as this Potter Manic climbs into bed with thoughts of Hogworts, Muggles, and what the last chapter will hold, I bid you a good night and a pleasant tomorrow, for as you know the mania will subside and the Tax monster shall emerge…night.

Night my loves,
Melinda

posted by Melinda @ 11:45 PM 2 comments

Just Trippin'

I am accident prone. I don’t know why and I don’t know how….but I am!! Give me some small strength of land and I will trip. I am not joking, today alone I have tripped at least 5 times and it’s only 4 something….my day is only half-way over. I have been to work, class, and home. The only walking is to work, to class, to my car, and around my house. You know…from the computer, to the couch, to the kitchen, and back again. I don’t really “walk” all that much. I just don’t understand…well yeah I do…I’m a klutz. For example…I have my cable wire that connects me to the internet and it runs across my floor…I envision to my “invisible” wall that separates my living room from my bedroom/study. Plus I have an area rug that covers it, but there is just enough wire that my dumb foot will catch it EVERY time. It’s ludicrous! You would think that I would try and move the rug or something…but no…I yell words that I shall not repeat at the wire, because you see it’s not my fault…ha…and I walk on, because hello, I’m not going to trip again…and then I do. Because the timer goes off saying that my chocolate chip cookies are done...and my fat foot fails me 9 times out of 10…so I will laugh…deny…and continue to trip my way through life…at least I’m not falling!

Have a nice trip…see you next fall! (I know…I’m a dork)

Love you forever and I’m patiently waiting,
Melinda

posted by Melinda @ 4:34 PM 2 comments

I've been tagged...this is all about me(me)

What I was doing 10 years ago:

Ten years ago I had just turned 13...and I it was the summer before my eight-grade year at Trinity Lutheran. I was dead set on going to Klein High School upon graduation. I do believe that I was babysitting, more than likely my Payne girls for the entire week.

What I was doing 5 years ago:

Five years ago, I had just turned 18. I had just graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball. I had just returned from my vacation with my best-friend Dawn in Colorado. I was unemployed and unsure of what I was planning on doing. Little did I know that in August I would begin working in a Vet’s office attending a community college.

What I was doing 1 year ago:

One year ago, I had just turned 22. I was taking the rest of my undergrad requirements. I had a two month old nephew, who I played too rough with. I went swimming everyday with Amanda Sue as she watched her three boys.

What I was doing yesterday:Yesterday was Tuesday. I went to work until noon, then class until 2. I talked with my professor about possible employment opportunities that I could look into. At 3 I called a prospective employer and we talked for 49 minutes. At 5 I went to aerobics and then I went to my sister’s until about 11.

5 snacks I enjoy:

1) Mostly all Ice cream by Blue Bell
2) Thin mint Girl Scout cookies
3) Tortillas with butter, sugar, and cinnamon
4) Brown sugar toast
5) Applies and Peanut Butter

5 songs I know all the words to:

1) Bohemian Rhapsody by: Queen
2) The entire Sargent Pepper Record by: The Beatles
3) Dancing Queen by: Abba
4) Jeremiah was a Bullfrog by: Three Dog Night
5) Onward Christian Solders by: Someone

5 Things I would do with $100 million:

1) Give 10% right off the top to the church
2) Buy or build a house near the water
3) Pay off my student loans ($11,000 and counting!)
4) Help pay a few bills off for my sister and parents, and invest in some short-term securities for my brother’s education.
5) INVEST, INVEST, AND INVEST!

5 locations I would like to run away to:

1) To the Bahamas
2) To the Caribbean (after hurricane season)
3) To my own island! Ha!
4) To Europe
5) To any "clean" Lake

5 bad habits I have:

1) Being extremely sarcastic
2) Having OCD :)
3) Eating because I’m bored
4) Speaking before thinking
5) Having low self-esteem

5 things I like doing:
1) Playing in the water, may it be ocean, lake, or pool
2) Playing around on the computer
3) Reading things that have no bearing upon my future!
4) Cleaning
5) Eating sweets

5 things I would never wear:

1) Stirrup pants
2) A really really frilly dress
3) Metallic colored shoes
4) Excessive amounts of the color pink
5) Bermuda shorts

5 TV shows I like:
1) Friends
2) Desperate Housewives
3)The Simpson’s
4) Gray’s Anatomy
5) Big Brother

5 Biggest joys of the moment:

1) This wonderful tasting apple that is missing it’s peanut butter!
2) My nephew’s smiling face at me (photo on desktop!)
3) My Father being proud of me. (due to the convo with a prospective employer)
4) A quiet office
5) My work day is over, all that is left is school and aerobics!

5 Favorite toys:

1) My new iPod mini
2) My new cake pan that makes ice cream cakes!!!
3) My computer
4) My sister’s laptop
5) My new remote for my tv! All the buttons work!!

5 people that I am tagging:

1) Cindy
2) and
3) anyone else
4) who wants
5) to do this!

posted by Melinda @ 12:32 PM 0 comments

My view on the matter...

I have been told that there are two topics that are considered “wrong” or unacceptable to bring up with friends. These topics being religion and politics. To my understanding, unless if they hold the same views as you do on the matter, it is considered wrong to bring these topics up because it could cause you to offend your friend. Which I am told is wrong…..but what do I know!

So, in order to not offend, you don’t have to read this if you don’t want to…so just click next if you like! :)

Coming up this next year in Texas is the race for Governor. As of right now we have, Mr. Rick Perry as our Governor. And he has his followers, which have dubbed themselves, “Texans for Rick Perry.” I myself am not in that following. Surprised? Well you shouldn’t be. I am not a fan or a supporter of our current Governor and he has done not one single item to help me or my family (my sister, the school teacher and my brother-in-law, the cop). He has called how many special sessions to accomplish what? Now, granted Texas’s government is not the best in terms of when they meet. (140 days every two years) But really, he has done nothing to make me want to vote for him again.

So then, this Republican is lost on how to vote. That was until I started reading into Carole Keeton Strayhorn. Now I know that right now she is only running for the Republican ticket and that she is saying things right now to persuade us Texans to “her side”. But in this Texan's opinion, there isn’t much persuading. She is talking about a budget reform (something that must be done in this accountant’s opinion), a reform in the pubic school system (something that should have happened a long time ago), she recognizes that teachers are under paid and under appreciated (something that my sister would be interested in), she is calling an increase of $3k dollar pay raise across the board now for Texas teachers, with a competitive automatic pay increase every two years (something for all teachers!) and her list of wants and demands continues.

Now I am continuing my research on these two candidates and any other potential candidates, but as of right now, I kind-of like Mrs. Strayhorn. But we shall see, my decision is not set in stone. What do you think? Do you have any good points or positions on the race?

Your overly opinionated former-friend,
Melinda :)

posted by Melinda @ 12:39 PM 1 comments

Sticky fingered neighbors

I think of myself as a normal, level-head, sharing type person. I am a middle child, I am used to sharing, but usually when I share it is because someone has ASKED me if it was okay to borrow/use/take. But when it comes to neighbors, this rule seems to not apply.

I live, well, on the outskirts of the ghetto. Now granted, Nac’s ghetto is not the same as Houston’s or Dallas’s ghetto, but when you don’t have a dead bolt on your door and there are people walking around that are questionable to the intentions, I believe it to be considered the “ghetto”. Plus there are certain streets that I’m not “allowed” on after a certain time (an instruction that I got before I lived in this house) that are basically across the street from me!

But I digress. The problem started about a year ago. My sister’s best friend Erin used to live in the house, two renters before me, and one of the many special items that she left behind included an outdoor grill. I only used it once for a Super Bowl party, when a few weeks later it was removed from my front porch. I didn’t say anything about it to my landlords, I didn’t report anything to the police, I just assumed that the house full of boys that lived in front of me had used it. To this day I have not seen it and the house full of boys moved out last week. This morning when I was walking to my car for the second time, I looked over my front porch to notice that I was missing a chair. Now granted I have 4 plastic chairs on my front porch and there is only one of me, but still it’s the PRINCIPLE of the matter. So I brushed it off thinking nothing of it, I fling my hair as I continue on with my morning to notice a chair that is fairly similar to my other chairs sitting on the drive-way of my new neighbors’ place that I have not met yet! Now granted it took me a few moments to connect the two, and I had to furrow my brow and I did the whole “(while looking at neighbors) that chair looks familiar… (turning head back to porch)…to my… (turning head back to neighbor’s)….chair.” And it finally did happen, I realized that it was my chair but due to the fact that I have not noticed this before, I began to question when this could have occurred.

So now I’m at a crossroad…do I approach the new neighbors about the whole chair removal, do I just go over and take it back (highly unlikely), or do I just let it slide. Now I don’t want to cause any problems, but I want to convey to them, even though I am a renter, it is still my property, and it’s only proper to ask before removing….is that too much to ask??

Slightly annoyed,
Melinda

posted by Melinda @ 8:55 AM 3 comments

Odds and Ends

So, as you may have already noticed…I have changed a few things on my template. I removed that mood thing because they are no longer, and after some surfing I found the time and the weather for me! No granted it may not be your time or your weather, but due to the fact that this is about me by me, it’s my weather! So ha!

Also, this past weekend, I had the wonderful pleasure of baby/house sitting for Amanda Sue and her hubby while they were gone parting! And did I ever fall in love with their shower!! It is wonderful!!! Okay, now for most of my reading audience, a shower is just a shower that is a shower, but you must understand….I have a BOWER!!! “What is a bower?” I hear you asking….for those who have no culture what-so-ever, a bower is a half bath, half shower contraption. You see, my landlord does not want me to install a shower because the walls are made of cardboard, but the princess here cannot and will not bathe in a tub. Tubs are just gross. If you are using it for a bathing apparatus, you are basically sitting in your own filth. So anyways, I have a bower. I have a shower hose/head connected to the faucet and we are good to go. But I digress, their shower was great. I was big enough that you could possible squeeze two people into it if you really and truly wanted to, but I wouldn’t….it’s the perfect shower size to complete the rational that it’s not okay, but acceptable to take 30 minutes shower not once, but twice a day….and I did just that. Now granted each shower was not 30 minutes long (Amanda Sue, if you are reading I really didn’t take a 30 minute shower every time, but if your water bill is a little increased and your wonderful handyman of a husband wonders why….blame me, well only if you haven’t left the sprinkler on all night!) But yeah, it was that good…they have a little seat/holder of all my crap that I take into the shower thing without it falling onto the floor! I was great, that’s all I have to say. So the next time that you are in East Texas and you need to take a shower, go over to Amanda Sue’s place, because that’s where my new residence is!

Singing loudly in the Shower,
Melinda

P.S. Tux was great. He was a well behaved little gentleman. He’s not as neurotic as he used to be, so maybe by September he will have a glimmer of hope of being a “normal” dog. Whatever that means!

posted by Melinda @ 9:59 PM 2 comments

Who needs a surgeon when you’ve got me?!?!

Okay, so I have been shaving my legs for at least 10 years right….and you would think that with that much time comes expertise….but for me that is not the case for me!!!

So this morning, I changed out the blade in my nice handy-dandy razor and did what I thought would be a quick shave….how little did I know that that I would be just be removing little leg hairs…but also little leg pieces!!! One on my ankle and the other on the top of my foot!!! And it really really hurts!!

So, I am covered in band-aids, and they are not your normal band-aides…oh no….I am a 23 year old that likes character band-aids, because you see, as a child, my mom just got the plain jane band-aids, so I have to make up for it!

So today, if you see me, I will gladly show you my 2 band-aids with Larry the Cucumber, from Veggie Tales, on each leg. Oh and if they come out with an easier way to remove hair that doesn’t hurt, tear, or remove skin I would be really interested!!! Until then, Bye!

Love you painfully,
Melinda

posted by Melinda @ 10:50 AM 5 comments

The 35 minute Diva

Yes...that is me!!! :) I just thought that I would like to let you know that I can get ready in under an hour and today I can prove that I CAN look good in under 35 minutes....now granted I do look good no matter how long I take and I do enjoy taking an hour or so to get ready but when you sleep through your alarm and only have 40 minutes before you need to be in the parking lot at work you have to make things work! :) But yes...I was rushed, but I added some steps together and I was even at work early!!! :) The only thing that I forgot was my lunch, but then this morning I was invited to go to lunch!!! :) What can I say, it's a talent I have! :) Well..hope you have a wonderful spectacular day!! Talk to you soon!!! And just think, in 35 minutes, you too can look this good!!! (Too bad I don't have a picture of myself to show you!!!)

Love you & miss you,
Melinda :)

posted by Melinda @ 10:49 AM 0 comments

Stuff to do at work!! :)

So I am really really really bored and I don't feel like working...is that really bad or what?!?! :) So instead I have found some tests to take....maybe you should take them too!!! :)

The Stupid Test:



The True ME:

The True Melinda

You want your girlfriend or boyfriend to do more for you.

With respect to money, you spend as little as possible.

You think good luck might come your way, but if it does you'll be so surprised you'll burst out laughing.

You are tend to think about others' feelings a lot, perhaps because you are so eager to be liked.

When it comes to finding a romantic partner, you will search and search until you find your perfect match.

posted by Melinda @ 11:03 AM 1 comments