Sindie's Blog

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

The good is that I had a nice weekend and today is our two year anniversary. It was really nice having an extra day off work. Erik and I celebrated our anniversary a little early and went out on Saturday night. We went on a dinner/dance cruise on one of the boats that runs on Lake Erie, which was really fun. On Sunday, we went out on my father-in-law's boat and went tubing. The weather was gorgeous.

Yesterday, we had my parents over for lunch, and they brought over a hole digger. We're putting in a fence for privacy along the one side of the outdoor patio area. We didn't invite them over to put them to work, but my dad promised his neighbor (who he borrowed the digger from) that he would have it back to him that night. So, needless to say, Erik and Dad began digging holes, and Mom and I went up to Home Depot and got the posts. We also got an arbor (arch) and assembled it and got it in the ground. By the end of the week, we hope to have it done. Erik is taking off all week to work outside on that and on cutting down some pine trees and bushes in our yard. I'll be taking off on Thursday and Friday, so a two day work week is really nice.

The bad is that my throat was scratchy last week, and it didn't bother me on Saturday, so I thought it was going away, but I was wrong. On Sunday, I started getting congested, and yesterday, I was sneezing some and had more congestion. Today didn't start off too badly, all things considered with returning to work, but now I'm feeling rather miserable. My tonsils are irritated, and my nose is all plugged up. Stupid cold.

Is it just me, or do I seem to get sick more often than most people? Maybe I just complain more than average. The weather is absolutely gorgeous outside, and being sick really stinks, because that means I can't enjoy the weather like I should. I think being at work tends to increase my misery when I'm not feeling 100%.

It also annoyed me greatly that someone had used my bench space over the weekend at work and left a mess. Someone also removed some pipets from my drawer and left them out, when I have specifically left a sign above my drawers that say not to remove anything without my permission. I am very particular in how I want things kept at work, and I despise sloppiness in the lab. There are too many messy people, and they are so damn inconsiderate of others when they leave messes for others to clean up. I wish those idiots were all fired.

posted by Sindie 12:33 PM

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Why does it always take a disaster for people to realize what's truly important?

*sigh*

I've been watching the news the past couple of nights, seeing those devastating scenes of destruction in New Orleans and elsewhere in the south, unable to find words to express how horrible it is. Of course those people have been in my prayers and will continue to be, and I hope to donate some money to the relief efforts as well, but an entire city under water... that's just unbelievable.

The gas prices have gone up as a result, now over $3.00 near where I live. To hear people complaining about gas prices is understandable, especially since it does impact the cost of everything else, but in a way, I think that the fact our economy is doing so poorly should really make people rethink what's truly important.

Here are these people in the south who have nothing, have lost everything, some their lives, and those of us who still have homes, car, food, etc. should be happy and feel blessed, despite the costs of those things. Americans are far too materialistic to begin with, and I personally think we need to be humbled into spending less money on things we don't need and spending more time with those we love.

Erik and I are seriously considering carpooling to work. We both have fairly long drives to work and back everyday, and Erik's work in basically on the way to mine. Yes, it's a bit of a sacrifice to make, not being able to go to work when I want, as I would have to get up earlier and take Erik to work and pick him up, but it would save tremendously on gas. I don't need to spend money on Starbucks coffee every day at work. I got out the coffeemaker at home, bought some coffee for two dollars at Walmart yesterday, and make some today. That two dollars is enough to last me a couple of weeks, versus spending three dollars per day, resulting in thirty dollars in two weeks!

No more going to the salon to get my hair dyed. I actually have been doing it myself lately, and I intend to keep doing that. Spending $100 every two to three months on my hair is insane. Even little things like buying shaving gel and facial wipes is unnecessary. I can use the shower scrub I have for those things.

It will be important for everyone to cut back, and maybe less people will be going out to eat every day, spending money on clothes they don't need, etc. It's time for Americans to re-evaluate what's really important.

posted by Sindie 11:31 AM