Thankful Thursday 04/28/11

1. So thankful for safety for family members across the South who were spared with the severe storms yesterday and last night.

2. So thankful for a couple of nieces and the fiance of one of them have the ability, resources, and desire to go out today to share food and help clear debris for those who have damage to their homes. While many young people would do so, I also many who would take this off as a free day with so many businesses and schools closed.

3. So thankful this weekend we could celebrate that despite the darkness of the death of Jesus on Good Friday we could celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday!

4. Thankful I have patient co-workers who put up with my hacking and dry cough.

5. Thankful my parents could be at Andrew's performance recital on Saturday and be in Atlanta today with other grandchildren.

6. Thankful Andrew's recital went well. The recital is the pinnacle event for a performance major which means he is close to finishing his college career. Unbelievable.

Ladies Night Out

Last night I went to an event that I couldn't decide if it was ok to enjoy or if I should be offended by it! About two weeks ago I received an invitation in the mail to a Ladies Night Out at the car dealership where I bought my car. A local spa did chair massages, there were hot paraffin manicures from some place, desserts from AlpenRose, coffee from Carpe Latte, and wine tasting from Hudsonville Winery. The sales guy valet parked the car and each lady received a pink bag as she entered and then a carnation on the way out.

Seriously, do they have a Men's Night Out? Isn't it rather sexist? Hey, let's have the little ladies in one night.

Yes, I was offended but I still had fun.

Thankful Thursday 04/21/11

1. In the past few months at work I've had major issues with a certain process three separate times--once each in November, February, and March. Having worked with the software support line to find the issue those times made it possible for me to diagnose and solve the issue when the process bombed yesterday.
2. A positive work review yesterday.

3. The sun is shining today!!!

4. Two weeks from today I'l be on vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankful Thursday 4/14/11

1. Taxes are in the mail--electronically filed but if I have to mail something well, that means I had to write a check.

2. Monday I remembered to do what I forgot to do the previous week that cost me two extra trips to GR.

3. The price of gas is not $4.00 or more.

4. Invitations for a bridal shower are in the mail.

5. DAFFODILS ARE BLOOMING IN WEST MICHIGAN!!!

Gift

This was waiting outside the door at work when I left at lunch.

Hey, he just wanted a little sun too!

Thankful Thursday on Friday 04/08/11

Yesterday passed without my making this post which is good because I can add something now that I couldn't yesterday.

1. I'm thankful UConn didn't play in the women's national championship game on Tuesday night.

2. I'm thankful I have a group of friends to watch the game with.

3. Yesterday had a lot of sunshine at lunch and it was really nice!!! (Right, Jayne from Handbells?)

4. Earlier in the week I did a really stupid thing and forgot something really, really big. Last night when I realized it I made about a 40-mile round trip to try to fix it, but what I needed wasn't available. This morning I made a call and had to admit I did a stupid forgetful thing. Less than an hour ago I got an e-mail that the missing items were found, and I will make another 40-mile round trip later this afternoon to retrieve what I forgot. Good thing a gallon of gas is only $3.89 and not yet $4 with these extra trips I'm making. This is an expensive lesson both money and time-wise.

5. So far everything I'm doing at work to cover for others seems to be correct.

Funny Comment

Today at work I was talking to a co-worker about some training I did for a process she and I will be covering for when others are on vacation. She said, "You won't have to do it all."

My reply was "I'm a single woman. I CAN do it all."

Her first reply was "lol" and then a few minutes later she came back this this:

"I am a married woman. I HAVE to do it all."

Mocha-n-Music

I've written here and on Facebook about Mocha-n-Music, a local coffee shop built on the premise of having a place for local musicians to play and the public can enjoy a good cup of coffee. The owner, who plays bluegrass, has told me that he had the option of playing in bars which he didn't want to do, churches where all bluegrass music wasn't appropriate, or nursing homes. His option became to open a coffee shop where he and others could play bluegrass and opened it up to other music types. Several weeks ago I was here and listened to a classical guitarist while I graded papers. Anywhere else I would have had to pay $30-40 for his concert, but I paid only $3.50 for a chai latte.

Today the owner told me that three churches have birthed at the coffee shop. He won't open for business, but he shows the church leaders how to make gourmet coffee for the people. The church settles up with him someway for the coffee. He doesn't open for lattes, muffins, etc. One church grew from 14 people to almost 400 meeting only on Sunday nights. He had to kick them out when 200 were packing the shop. The second church folded when it no longer met at the coffee shop, and now a third meets every Sunday morning and is growing.

What a neat thing for a businessperson who doesn't want to open on Sunday but also doesn't necessarily want his building to sit idle one day a week.

Blockbuster

This morning I found out that with Blockbuster's bankruptcy, they will honor their gift cards only through Wednesday, April 6.

Renae has a coupon for two movies, 2 Cokes, and a bag of popcorn. At lunch I took the coupon and her gift card with $16.92 to get movies and use up her gift card. The coupon is actually still valid after April 6 so I just had to use up her gift card. I got $15.96 of movies so had .94 left to spend. Of course, I couldn't leave that on the card.

I could get a Coke for $1.59 or get the Blockbust special of a Coke, a big box of candy, AND a bag of popcorn for only $3.  As I paid for the special I told the  two clerks, "Hmmm, I'm paying $2 to use up my friends gift card. It sounds like a scam to me." They laughed and laughed even harder when I said, "I think I'll keep her coupon."