Friday Fragments - I may be blogging from Kansas if the wind doesn't stop

Life in Oklahoma. Wind, wind, wind. But I'm still here so I'm joining with Mrs. 4444 this week for Friday Fragments.

My desk has never seen so much paper and projects in its life. I don't think it was just being out of town for a week. I think the paper decided to multiply and have babies. It can do that...right? But among all the paper is about $500,000 in proposals that we are definitely getting the money for so it is all worth it. I just have to finish writing them.

I have missed the last few weeks at church due to being out of town and some other issues. I told our volunteer coordinator I was taking a break from ushering. Within one day, I had 5 different people from church call me to make sure I was ok. I guess I'm missed and that people like me. 

Stupid criminal this week is a man who was released from prison after 15 years for robbing a store. So what did he do to celebrate getting out of jail? He went back and robbed the same store. He was caught after K9 police chased him down. Back to jail he goes. I think the store needs to be notified when he gets out the next time and have police waiting for him as he arrives.

I've got several of my posts written already for next month's A-Z Blog Challenge. I need to scan in some pictures for C but otherwise the first week is done. And I came up with new things for a couple more letters. I still need to figure out 10 letters. My brain better kick it into gear. The theme is bucket list which seems to be unique at least from what was on the theme reveal.

I am about to go a little crazy at Target. They have their Lean Cuisine/Smart Ones/Healthy Choice meals buy 1/get 1 free. That makes these unbelievably cheap. So I've done one trip and need to go back for more. How much can my freezer hold? I eat these every day for lunch so it is a really good thing for me to stock up on.

This weekend I need to put all my snowmen stuff away. I got it all together and the box down from the attic, but I still haven't wrapped anything up. I am so far behind on many things. Just finished taxes last weekend. Normally I have them done in early February. Maybe it's the weather?

Hodgepodge - Blow Away March

I missed out on last week's questions but am joining up this week. Not sure how April is going to work since I'm already doing the A-Z Blog Challenge and will have posts scheduled for Wednesdays. You may just get lucky and get two from me.

1. March is known as the windy month. Which of the following phrases best fits your March so far...'throw caution to the wind', 'three sheets to the wind', 'run like the wind', or 'see which way the wind blows'?

Run like the wind..it is Oklahoma after all. And I've been across the country twice. And got a ton of work done and to do. Plus a list of projects to do at the house. Run like the wind baby.

2. Your favorite green food? Your favorite dish made with your favorite green food?

Broccoli. There is some really good pasta dishes out there that use it. And steamed with a little butter is good too.

3. Ever been locked out of your home-car-office-anywhere? Do tell!

My office is electronic card swipe access. But my lock is finicky. You have to pull the door and hold it just a certain way to get the swipe to work. This has taken years of practice, calling of security to let me in, having the lock physically changed and many other things. But I think I've got the hang of it now (7 years later).

4. Yoda, Kermit, Shrek, The Wicked Witch of the West, Oscar the Grouch, The Grinch, or Mike Wasowski (Monsters Inc.)...of the green characters listed, which one's your favorite and why?

So many good green characters. I have to choose Kermit the Frog though. He's an original and dear to my heart.

5. "The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive."~Joe Batten Do you agree? Why or why not?

I think it is to portray a positive image.

6. Share a favorite song with an emotion in it's title.

Right now...Happy by Pharrell. I just can't stop bouncing and clapping to the music.

7. What's a road trip you'd like to take?

Wine country in California with a designated driver of course.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

So proud of Whitney for reaching her fundraising goal for Relay for Life. Their event is April 5 and she is really stressed out about it going well (she's a co-chair) but I'm sure it will all turn out great.

What I've Been Up To

Spring break was last week. I went to DC for a work trip. I tried to blog several times but the app kept crashing. So here's my quick review.

I went to the sculpture garden at the Smithsonian. I'm always amazed at what classifies as art.

This is called typewriter eraser. I thought it was a fishing lure.

Then Sunday night it started to snow. Our meeting was to be Monday-Tuesday, but only if the government was open.

This is what it looked like outside my window when I went to sleep. Nothing to worry about...right?

This is what it looked like Monday morning after the government had shutdown. I was hoping for only a two hour delay. In fairness I heard that we got less snow in Silver Spring than they did downtown, but still. The government is whimpy.

We ended up meeting in our hotel reception room (for free...thank you kindly Homewood Suites) and having a good talk. We ended up restructuring the meeting to fit into one day (we did lose quite a bit of talk) but overall it was a pretty productive meeting.

I came home Wednesday and shopping with Whitney all day Friday. That's just what we do when she is home on spring break.

Now it is back to work and trying to catch up on my inbox. Yikes, I dislike that part of taking off a couple of days. I tried to answer emails while I was on my work trip but somethings just need to be dealt with in person.

I hope everyone read my theme for A-Z Blog Challenge. I've got my calendar noted with about half the days now. Week one is all picked out, I just need to write and upload some photos.

A-Z Blog Theme Reveal

Yes I'm crazy enough to sign up once again for the A-Z Blog Challenge. What...you don't know what the challenge is? It takes place every April (since 2010) where bloggers around the world write a post based on the alphabet (except on Sundays).

Last year I was very random on my posts. This year I'm smarter and have a theme. Today is the day a huge group of bloggers is revealing their theme.

Trumpet Fanfare Please......

My theme is Bucket List. These are going to be items that have been or are currently on my bucket list. Let me tell you, there is a wide range of items that will be discussed during the month of April. So make sure and come back to read all about them.

I'd love to hear about anything you have on your own personal bucket list. That might give me some ideas or maybe see if we are alike.

Another weekend, another trip

Yes it's time for me to pack up and travel again. This time I'm heading east to our nations capital, Washington, D.C. I like meeting up with all my colleagues but I really don't like it when the weather doesn't cooperate. We've already gotten an email that says if the government shuts down Monday we won't have a meeting. Not good when we've all travelled to be there for only two days.

I've got my trip to whole foods planned so I have snacks in my hotel room. And several friends are staying at the same hotel. maybe I should bring some cards in case we are snowed in?

Friday Fragments

Mrs. 4444 is hosting us again. Go see what everyone is up to this week.

I think something in our town is against Mexican restaurants. Last fall the Taco Bueno near my house had a fire and they have finally torn it down. A few weeks ago the On the Border near the interstate burned down. If I were a Mexican chain restaurant, I would think twice about being open.

Stupid criminal of the week is the guy who drove drunk to the police station and insisted that he wanted a place to sleep. Well they gave it to him alright.

Spring break starts a day early here (parent/teacher conference day is today) so Dan is off on a trip to visit his cousin. Whitney comes home tonight and then I leave Sunday to go to DC for a work meeting. Abby is going to be so confused with the changes. As a senior citizen dog she just doesn't like change anymore. Although I'm sure a few treats will help ease her mind.

I read on Rebecca Jo's blog about her ringtone. Does anyone else have specific ones for people? Dan's is Thunderstruck and Whitney's is Whine Up. That probably sounds strange but they each have a specific meaning. I love being able to tell who is calling without even having to look at the caller id screen. My regular one is Raise Your Glass. Probably time to come up with some new ones.

Last night on the Tonight Show, they had the cutest video. Jimmy Fallon was talking about a viral video of strangers kissing (which I hadn't heard of) so he made one with puppies and kittens. Cute overload.

Video is from Tonight Show Channel

I'm dealing with a vendor at work that keeps sending me a bill for something that we returned months ago. I have talked to the company six times (yes every month) and they continue to send me a bill. I refuse to pay. They need to get this fixed fast because I think we are going to have to order from them again and I can't have this screw up that order.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy sunshine (I hope) and spring break if you get one!

Hodgepodge-Back in the Saddle Again

After being off of blogging for what seems like forever, I'm joining Joyce for this week's hodgepodge. I've got to get back into the blog rhythm.

1. Do you have an interest in learning about your family's heritage? Why or why not? If you know a little bit about your roots, share an interesting piece of trivia or a fun fact about someone who goes way back on your family tree.

I hate to say this but I'm not very big on genealogy. I really don't know why. My mom is and my dad was from a little town where everyone was related to each other. There is even a history book of the town which is basically a family history.

2. Branch Rickey, the baseball exec credited with signing Jackie Robinson, is quoted as saying-

"Luck is the residue of design."

Agree or disagree? Why?

I think this is a question of do you believe in luck or not. Some days I think there is luck and some days I don't.

3. In the town where you currently reside, what's your favorite green space?

My backyard?

4. Who is your favorite comedian?

Carol Burnett. I loved watching her show when I was younger. Some of those scenes still crack me up.

5. March is National Nutrition Month, and almost everyone needs to improve their diet in some way. What about you? How can you improve your nutrition on a daily basis? Will you try?

Of course there is always the eat less sugar but it sure is hard to give up those tasty morsels.

6. Which of these green expressions have you 'experienced' in recent weeks -green with envy, green thumb, green around the gills, or give the green light? Explain.

Give the green light...we bought new furniture and am working on picking paint to redo our bedroom.

7. Where is one place you don't mind waiting?

I usually don't mind waiting in line at the grocery store to pay. I know that sounds weird but I figure that they are going as fast as they can and I'll just wait patiently.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I've got my blog written to announce my A-Z Blog Challenge theme (big announcement March 21). And I've got my calendar printed out with about half the days filled in with what I'm writing about. I'm much more organized than last year so hopefully the posts will stay good. Last year I started strong and then faded. I got one written every day but they weren't as good towards the end of the month.

Don't know what the A-Z Blog Challenge is? Click the button on the sidebar to find out more.

Hoping to leave

I'm hoping that I'll be able to leave Monday morning on my early flight. The one time I have dinner plans on a trip, stupid winter weather hits oklahoma. We've had thunder snow, sleet, and all sorts of crud. All the schools are closed tomorrow. And I get to get up to be at the airport at 5 am. Thank goodness Dan said he would drive me. I've been tracking my incoming flight and it keeps showing it will be here.

Crossing my fingers so I can go and get some seafood.