Spring has Sprung! : >

Our grass is green!

Our trees have leaves!

The birds have returned!

Windows are open and attic fans are on!

Bugs are popping up, enjoying the beautiful weather!

Our grass needs to be cut!

It's grown taller than our pups who continously water the same clumps one after the other.

We have lovely purple and white flowery weeds!

We promise to mow the grass when we can!

We keep getting rain!

 Auntie Em enjoying the soft over grown grass.

 And Fergus too.

 Love the colors, even if they are weeds.

Spring has Sprung!

81 degrees! : )..

79 degrees! : }..

41 degrees!  : )..

Wait!  What?  : O

Spring has sprung!

Leaves and grass are green!

Birds!  Bugs!

Flowers!

Spring showers!

Apparently..

April showers bring May snow.

Snow?

What?

May.

It's May.

Snow?

Mix?

Whut?!

Aye carumba.

nooooooo

just say no to snow.

just say no to May snow.

no.

non.

nuh uh.

unh uh!

: (.

: /.

Snow. 

In May.

sigh

Back to work tomorrow..

Another great song

Nothing like a head wound to kill a party..

Lol.  I have never been accused of being graceful.  Went to our friends to celebrate the end of the NFL Draft today, hoping that Andrew Helmicks phone would ring and his name would be called.  He still has free agency though, which means he could get tryouts with several teams instead.  Tom Brady from the Patriots was a free agent.  However, back to my lack of grace?  Sitting on a little incline facing up the hill probably wasn't good.  Neither was trying a tuck and roll that turned out to be more rock and roll instead.  Rolled back, spilled over and bonk!  Conked the top backside of my blogging noggin.  Conk!  It never hurt, my eyes were fine, my head was not concussioned, lost a little red stuff from an inch and a half cut though.  Still doesn't hurt. The word stitches and tetanus shot were discussed but I'm a trooper.  It'll be alright.  : ).  Our host sliced her finger trying to slice a brisket too.  All in all, it was still a good day. Could have been a great one but I'm sure it's just the beginning of a great career for Andy.

Made It.. Whew..

Finished our evals for the month

with a little time to spare..

I think we were all doubting that it would

happen. We've had one person on

vacation in Hawaii for 2 weeks,

one person on vacation on a cruise to the

Bahamas to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary

and renew their vows, surrounded by their

family and friends, and then several people

in and out for training.

Whew.

'Nuff for today.

Love this song.

Wasn't so crazy about it at first,

but it's definitely grown on me..  : )..



Lions and Tigers and Bears! Ohh My!

Tyco had their Bring Your Child to Work Day

and had some face painters there.

Started to wonder who was

actually painting

the kids faces.

 

A couple of them looked like they had a unibrow,

one looked like he had raccoon eyes

and another just had a whole

lotta black that looked

like a face mask.

 

We kinda thought the conversation went like this..

"I wanna lion!"

Umm..

UNIBROW!

"Ohh. Aww."

"I wanna tiger!"

Umm..

RACCOON!

"Ohh. Aww."

"I wanna bear!"

Umm...

FACE MASK!

Lol.

We did finally see some better face paintings

that had butterflies and other designs though..

 

On another note..

We are tanking big time in our efforts to get all

our agents to their third evaluation.

Should be interesting.

Three people working and 170+

agents to go.  Doesn't look good.

 

On another note..

Speakin of Lions!

After four great seasons as a

Lindenwood Lion in St. Charles, MO,

my friend's son might get picked up

in the 7th round of the NFL draft this year.

He's had private workouts with the

Steelers, Giants and Chiefs,

as well as "combines" where players

show what they can do in front of scouts.

The first combine had 36 scouts,

while the second had over 90.

Go Andy!!!!

On another note..

We had the KC Corporate Challenge Kickoff Party

and walk today..  Walked the 5K course

with my co-workers and friends

and had a great time doing it..

Glad it's over though because I am worn

to a frazzle and have another early day tomorrow.

(I didn't make it in to work until 6am this mornin,

it was crazy thinking that I'd get there by 3am. Whew!)

 Representing Tyco Integrated Security..

 

I even got a gold medal!

Ok.  So did everyone else for getting our

Corporate team participation points.  Lol.

And we got to hobnob and hang out down

by the Chiefs Stadium,

which was fitting considering this was

the first night of the NFL Draft.

KC picked Eric Fischer as the top pick in the league.

Welcome to KC!  : )..

And now..  Some sleep..



Perspective..

I'm an optimist at heart and usually see my glass as

half full, although I will vent and complain

from time to time..

I am thankful for my co-workers who

patiently let me bend their ears with my minor tales

of woe and frustration..

 

I am working 12 hour shifts for this week..

8am-8:30pm yesterday, 7am-7:30pm today,

3am (yeah! i know!) - 3:30pm tomorrow

so that I can participate in Kansas City's

Corporate Challenge event tomorrow evening at

the Royals Stadium (sounds fun!),

and then 7am-7:30pm Friday..

 

That being said..

I will never gripe about my hours and crazy shifts

at work..  I volunteered for the chaos..  Lol..

 

But..

Today was a day where I found my perspective..

...

If Adrianne Haslet-Davis can remain

positive after losing her foot,

the minor trials and tribulations most

of us face in our lives should never keep us down.

...



Long crazy work hours.. Ack..

U say it's your birthday, well, it's my birthday too.. Yeah..

Happy Birthday to Jack Nicholson and Peter Frampton,

and to our good friend Danny and my good friend and schoolmate Jeff!!!

 

Soo, for my bday dinner, thought about going to

a local Italian eatery called Salvatore's...

Until I started checking out their prices..

Yikes!  Lol.  : )..

 

Second choice was Carraba's..

Until I caught sight of their prices too..

 

Third choice was one of my favorite places..

Zio's Italian Kitchen..

We found them in Oklahoma City on a

trip a few years ago, and I just knew

that I would love them and never

have access to them after that..

Surprise!  They have one here in town!  Yay!

I've really been craving some delicious ravioli..

 

However!  I knew that Olive Garden was running

a delicious buy one, take one home deal..

I love their salad and breadsticks,

and I always love their menu items,

sooo, winner, winner, chicken, errrr..

Mezzaluna Ravioli with five cheese marinara

dinner winner..

I got the Five Cheese Ziti al Forno for lunch tomorrow,

while Dutch got the Fettuccine Alfredo..

As we were going there though..

This was the conversation..

 

"Where are we going?"

"Olive Garden."

"Whatever, it's your birthday."

"Do you want to go somewhere else?  Zio's?"

"It's your birthday."

Eyeroll.

"Besides, if we go to Olive Garden, we

won't be tempted to order an appetizer because

of their salad and breadsticks."

"Zio's has that too."

"Not for free."

"I wasn't aware you got free salad and breadsticks

from Olive Garden."

Whatever.

 

Anyway, just as I was about to snap,

I got the best birthday present ever..  : )..

It was a birthday wish from someone very special..

It's been a great, great, great day!

Lol.  Yay!

 

 

 



That's What I'm Talkin About.. Lol..

Nice weather..

 Nice skies and green things

popping out on those tree limbs too..

 A huge burrito..

And chicken chimichangas..

 

It was a great day today..

: )..

Famous Seamus' Wayne and Amanda's Wedding..

My husband has been best friends with Wayne's dad

since they were in their teens,

so we loved to help Wayne and Amanda

celebrate their nuptials this afternoon.

 

 Seamus of the Famous Seamus

& The Travelbong's

crew..

 Wayne and Amanda

after tyin' the knot..

 And cuttin the cake..

Loved the decorations..

 And the obligatory

moonshine..

 

A great time was had by all..

Congratulations

Wayne and Amanda!

Who is my Idol?

Hope he doesn't shed! Lol.

This little rescued porcupine thinks he is a puppy.  Lol.                            

Cafe Gratitude..

I've been working early this week, training a co-worker from Canada.

They wanted to find a vegan restaurant in the area so I

searched Google this afternoon.

I lucked out and found Cafe Gratitude.

They have several locations around the US,

including one downtown.

 

Patrons can not only come in and enjoy a healthy meal,

they can choose to purchase meals for others

who might need a meal.

 

Starbucks also has a program like this.

People can pay for "Pending Coffee" orders

in addition to their own coffee.

Those less fortunate can come in to see if there

are any "Pending Coffee's" that are

available, and also enjoy a

warm cup of coffee.

 

Considering the events and historical anniversaries this

week, I figured we could all use a little

positivity..

Kudos to the companies and customers

who pay it forward.

...

Much peace and comfort to all of those affected today.



Whut?!

This is my home town..

 Crown Plaza Park..

 Some of our many brick buildings..

 I'm used to running around downtown in the daytime..

I forget just how close I live to some of the most

awesome night time views..

 This is one of our many, many, many KC fountains,

it's the one down by Westport on JC Nichols Parkway..

 Union Station all lit up in blue and purple..

 The Power & Light hipster district..

I don't know why we don't drive down there more often..

Great views..  Great businesses..

Great city..

: )..

ADT Security Services on Undercover Boss..

It was interesting to watch this week's Undercover Boss..

As a former ADT Security Service agent,

it was definitely something that I wanted to watch..

A couple things that I can take away from this show,

Knoxville does have a better center layout than we do..

And, really, how many people are really surprised

that these "mystery" employees and camera

crews are actually part of Undercover Boss..

Lol.  Really?  Noooooo.

 

We used to be ADT..

We are now Tyco Integrated Security..

We got to change companies and never had to leave

the building or our desks..

We are still waiting for Tyco's turn

on UB.  : )..

Ooooooh..

Noooooooooo..

We are on Undercover Boss?!

Noooooooo..

Oooooh my gosh...

I might still have to work on that.

: )..  Lol.

 

Oooooh!  Really?!  : O!!!!

Noooooo!

Any better?

 

Ironically..  Hmmm..

I AM training a "new" Quality Assurance

agent from Toronto starting Monday morning..

Hmmmm..

; )..

If I see a camera too?

I'm good to go!

Ahghghghgh Arg Ahghghghgh..

Soo, after a late night of Idol watching,

I had a super early morning at work..

I seriously thought about stopping by Starbucks

on my way in, but I worried

that they would pelt me with empty coffee cups

after thinking that I sounded and looked

like something straight out of

The Walking Dead..

 

 

And now that I'm home early?

I am WIDE awake..

Lol..



Candice, Candice, Candice..

Who is MY American Idol for 2013?

Ooooh..

Yeahhhhhh..

It's Candice! Candice! Candice!

Love her!

Love her!!

Love her!!!

Outstanding.

I am sure that Mariah Carey has waited

all season to throw her glitter..

Definitely the right time!

Candice, Candice, Candice.

There is noooo other.

The Voice..

Gone.. In 60 Seconds.. : )..

I am soooo not a fan of cars..

Unless it happens to be this suhweet little lady..

It's Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds..

And here she is at one of the car shows in Kansas City

a few years ago..  Whatta beauty!

 

Every time that I see the movie on tv,

I think back to the time that I got to meet her..

I not only got this picture..

I got to stand next to her and get my picture

taken with her..

I got to get up close and personal with her..

I am still not a car fan..

But I'll be her fan for a long, long, long time to come!

I just wanna picture of a park bench.. : /..

A few things have occured to me after trying to find a new

photo to use as my facebook cover photo..

I wanted something that screamed "Spring!"

So I thought a nice park bench with some gorgeous green

grass would work out really well..

I found out that there are a lot of

"lonely" benches in the world..

Just sitting..

Waiting..

Wishing..

Hoping that someone would come along and sit for a while..

 

I also found out that a lot of cats and dogs

are attracted to park benches..

Including tigers no less..

I don't know what park that was in,

but I think I'll skip that one..  Lol..

Apparently..

Scary clowns like them too..

One of my co-workers swears that he's

scared of clowns..  Really?

He hasn't seen Poltergeist..

I could really understand being scared of them if he had..

 

However, after searching for several park benches,

garden benches, park benches in the Spring, etc..

It has occured to me that there are no shortage

of women who pose provacatively

on park benches for the camera,

while not a lot of guys do..

Guys really need to step it up and get on the ball..

Or the bench..  : )..

 

Soooo..  After searching DeviantArt.com

for a while..  I finally found these pics..

 Loved this one, but wanted one facing the camera..

Loved this one too..

 Almost went with this one..

But this next one won out..

Winner, winner, chicken dinner..

Now that is a Spring filled picture..

I don't know where it was taken,

but I would love to sit and rest there for a while..

 

 



Love this website..

These are shots found on a website

called DeviantArt.com..

They have some seriously talented

people out there,

sometimes they can get a little far out there.

Most of the shots on there are super

fantastic though.

Short one in our house..

 Our furbaby Festus is spending the night

at the vets office..

Think he got in a fight with a neighborhood

cat and he has an infection around his

right eye.  : (..

 Festus as a furbaby kitten..

Dutch is 5'10", so that was a pretty good leap,

trying to get one of his fake mice..

He used to hide them in our shoes as a kitten..

And snugglin up with Foxy,

my mother-in-law's former Cornish Rex

who we lost a couple years ago..

He almost made it to 16,

which was longer than we expected to have him..

They were pretty much peas in a pod..