Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Sooo....its that time of year again

That time where we look around our perspective abodes and say I need to lose some poundage "this place needs a good cleaning out". And so....that is what I am doing....in a few various aspects of my life. I started with the house this weekend. I have already tossed quite a bit of things (including donating a TV to one of the group homes my company runs that caught fire on Christmas eve - no one was hurt thankfully but a lot of the personal property of the residents were destroyed - I have other things to donate as well as soon as I know what all they will need).

So....as I look around this here blog (read that as the blogroll), there are non functioning links, those that no longer contribute, blah blah blah. So, I am gonna clean out the blogroll. Wanna be a part? Then just let me know. If you update regularly, then I am not gonna dump you.....I may not always comment but you bet I read you regularly. So....just let me know....wanna be a part of the clique that is the Cheeky blogroll???
Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 5:13 AM :: 8 Singing with Cheeky

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Monday, December 29, 2008

Sooooooo........

Was Santa good to you?? Come on....gimme the scoop....

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 5:38 AM :: 6 Singing with Cheeky

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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Have you ever come across something at just the time you needed it? Well that is what happened to me yesterday morning. I was finishing up my post and looking at a few blogs before heading out to work and then I came across a blog that I should be visiting more regularly. This blog is written by a lovely lady and I always enjoy reading her posts. Yesterday however, it was her post that gave me what I was lacking this season.

While ya'll may not know the details, ya'll know that I have have had a year of pain and turmoil to say the least. And as I have worked on rebuilding, and as things seem to be getting better, I now realize that my ability to trust, to have faith in things that I cannot see, no longer exists. If I don't see it - I don't trust it. Period. It is the reason that as I put on a happy face, and pretend to be in the holiday spirit, my heart for the first time I can ever remember, is just not in it. I have been afraid to relax, to believe, to have faith in people.

And as I read Cheryl's post, it touched me in a way that I needed this season and brought a tear to my eye. And so, I "lifted" this from her (hope you don't mind) to share with you in hopes that you too will find your childlike faith again. Merry Christmas my friends!!


"Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus"

By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897.

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:Dear Editor—

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 5:28 AM :: 9 Singing with Cheeky

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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Whew.....what a day

So yesterday was orientation day. Always and adventure. I started the morning out by sending someone home (yes the power trip had returned) before the class even started. Yes, she decided that just because she had in an application that she could just show up for a job. Ummmm no honey....that is NOT how it works when I am running the show. I pulled her app and saw that I have called her no less than 8 times during the first two weeks of the month and she didn't bother returning my call. So when she showed up I promptly removed her from class and said....ummm "Buh bye" and showed her the way out. And of course I did it with a smile....it is the holiday season after all.

By far this was the BEST class I have had while working where I do. It was a full class and they were all lively and talkative and it really made for a fun day. I really hope that they all stay with the company for a long time. If they do we are going to be the lucky ones.

Today....we have pot luck for lunch and then.....and this is from the CEO....we will have prizes for the most festive dressed (ummm YES I am playing...and I have the competition worried already) and then....and then.....we are going carolling around the building and handing out candy canes. Oh yes....we are. It is mandatory. I love this place. Goofy...fun...and right up my alley! Seriously, how many companies do you know that do silly stuff like this? LOVE IT!!

Also....right now....literally right now...its snowing - big fat flakes....my commute to work should be fun.....

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 5:01 AM :: 2 Singing with Cheeky

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Monday, December 22, 2008

Weekend Update

Klaatu barada nikto....for those of you with trivia for brains knows that this is from the original The Day the Earth Stood Still - a classic film still good to this day. Its in the remake too but barely audible. AND for the record....the remake...eh...not so great. Too much of the whole global warming propaganda for my taste. Not as bad as The Happening (which for the record I still want my $6 and 2 hours back), but why ruin a good sci fi flick? So that is my movie review for this weekend. Might be worth seeing on a slow DVD night or maybe HBO but save your money and wait - not really worth the theater.

It snowed this weekend and was brutally cold. I think we got about 6 inches in my neck of the woods. Got some shopping done Saturday and then dined on honkers and....king crab legs. OH MY! Fabulous! Then watched Home Alone 2 and giggled out loud with the manchild.

Sunday - I cooked...and cooked...and cooked some more. Made lots of treats as gifts to take in to work cause that's how I roll.

Its going to be a busy week and I will have a rather large orientation today.....wonder what interesting stories I will have this week.

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 5:10 AM :: 4 Singing with Cheeky

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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Let the embarrassment begin....

So the teenage daughter's boyfriend has been over several times now. And each time I have been good. I have behaved. I have acted like an adult. But not last night. No. Last night the boyfriend got just a small little glimpse into what it is like to be around Chez Cheeky.

The teenage daughter and the boyfriend were in the den watching the hockey game. That's cool. But then it was intermission. And like any good intermission there must be entertainment. And so there was. That is when we broke out the band with the lead singer.....MANCHILD! Ahhh yes, we sang.....and played....and sang..... LOUD and out of tune (well manchild was out of tune) and had a BLAST.

This is just the beginning. This is who we are. No more hiding and acting like normal people. Nope....we are going to be the total goofs we are. No apologizing. If the boyfriend is smart.....he will join in and go with the flow.........

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 5:06 AM :: 7 Singing with Cheeky

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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Squeek hack squeek hack bark

That is pretty much what you get when you talk to me these days. I will get a few words out before I start hacking and barking. THEN the nose start running so add a few nose blows in there too. That was just what it was like sitting with me in orientation yesterday. It was brutal. Not only for me but for the poor folks in there. I made sure I brought plenty of antibacterial wipes and stuff to make sure that I didn't spread the love.

Its just a wee bit frigid outside. The temp is something like oh MINUS 15 and I don't even want to know the wind chill. And I don't think I can like it. I do get to wear my big ol fuzzy ski bunny shirt that my sister got me years and years ago. Its been that long. BUT I only wear it a couple times a year (well in the South I only wore it a couple times a year....it gets more use here) and today is as good a day as any to wear it.

Cheeky - who needs to go start the car and let it warm up .....grrr did I say I didn't like this cold weather business????

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 7:32 AM :: 4 Singing with Cheeky

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Monday, December 15, 2008

Every have one of those days?

Where you just want to crawl back in your nice warm bed and snooze? Yeah, that's me this morning. I don't know why. I slept good last night. I slept hard. But I just did not want to get up. Could be that I am still battling this dadblasted cold and it won't leave. Could be that the current temp is MINUS 9 and the wind chill is somewhere in the MINUS 30 range. Whatever the reason, I think I need to get the high octane go go juice this morning (read that as - need to stop and get a big coffee with extra shots of espresso).

The weekend was nice. Can't say that too much got done but that's ok. Sometimes you just need a weekend like that. Since it was so cold I made chili yesterday.....its going to be good as my lunch today.

As I mentioned before, the cold is digging in its heels and holding its ground. It is now in my chest AND my head. My voice was really bad on Saturday. Not so bad yesterday. So-so this morning, but its orientation day so lets see if I can last the whole class. Wanna place any bets? I have also developed this painful deep barky cough. Its worse in the mornings and evenings but still....its been a week now, time to move out!

Cheeky - who sounds worse than she feels but not by much.....

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 7:29 AM :: 7 Singing with Cheeky

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Friday, December 12, 2008

Is it over yet?

Ya know.....I don't think I have been so happy to see a Friday come in a really long time. But this week, I have felt like teetotal CRAP! The death has moved from my head to my chest (well its about 10% head now 90% chest). And now I am coughing....but its a painful cough. Hurts every time. I know its part of just working itself out but....OUCH!

The car is in the hospital and should be released today. You know I said that I took it to a local place and saved about $400....well scratch that....now I have saved $600! Can you believe it....an honest mechanic!! When I go get my car I am gonna drop off the truck....it has a leaky rear end (Bwwahahahahahhaha!!!....leaky rear end....I crack myself up...but it really does....).

The first batch of Christmas cards went out yesterday....the last set will go out by Monday. Whew..... It was a very simple design this year....but cute.

OK that is all I have for ya....need to go drink something warm for my throat before I go out in this MINUS 6 degree weather....I guess winter really is here now.....

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 7:53 AM :: 5 Singing with Cheeky

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Feeling like death warmed up....

That is all.

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 7:36 AM :: 4 Singing with Cheeky

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Tuesday, December 09, 2008

So....do ya think I am on a power trip?

So yesterday, its Monday. Monday is orientation day. We had a new employee there that, if the manager would have taken my advice last week, would not have been hired to begin with. The only reason this person was, is that they circumvented the process. See, this person would have never made it past me. But...they did. From the instant I began the class, this person was a thorn in my side. This person was rude, didn't agree with our employee pledge, didn't agree with this, didn't agree with that. This person complained about our pay schedule, complained about EVERYTHING. Then, the kicker....when I let the class out for a 15 min break, this person polled the rest of the new employees wanting to know how much everyone was making. Nope, you are done. So I kept this person in the class until lunch as I asked them to stay behind for a few moments.

I started out nice....."so, how do you think things are going?"....and then off on a rant this person went. I finally just cut it off and said, "you know, I think its time we call it a day. Thanks for coming out but we won't be needing your services". And off this person went again. So I said, "I am sorry you feel that way, but in this business we really need people who are going to be a positive influence and I can see that is not what you are here for so you can leave now - your services are no longer needed." And this person said "Well aren't you on a little power trip?" To which I smiled and said...."no just doing my job" and escorted her out of the office.

I told my boss, who laughed. My boss told one of the execs....who couldn't have been prouder. And now I am known as PT....Power Trip! So.....how was your Monday?

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 5:45 AM :: 5 Singing with Cheeky

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Monday, December 08, 2008

Weekend Update

So.....the car needs surgery. It will live but will also cost me an arm and a leg. BUT the good news is (no I didn't save money on my car insurance....geesh)....the good news is that I shopped around and will be saving upwards of $400 to take it some place locally instead of the dealership. This local place comes highly recommended. So, as soon as they get the part (its a special order) my car will go under the knife.

This weekend I took the manchild and his friend to the Monster Jam. For those of you interested it will be on Speed TV - its the first show of the year. Always a good time at those things. But what I enjoyed the most were the people behind me. There were 3 men and their sons and I think they were from India or something like that and I don't know if this was their first time going to one of these or not but they had the best time and I giggled just listening to them.

Got some decorating done and some packages ready to mail. Getting to the post office will be the challenge.

I feel like it was a pretty busy weekend but it was good. How about yours?

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 7:16 AM :: 3 Singing with Cheeky

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Friday, December 05, 2008

Taking the car to the doc

Hope it's not serious. Will update with test results when I get them.




**updated**

My car is really really sick. I may have to sell a body part to pay for it. Merry Christmas...

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 8:44 AM :: 7 Singing with Cheeky

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Thursday, December 04, 2008

Conversations with the man child

So, the other night, I was having a chat with the manchild. It started by me pointing out the moon and Venus and Jupiter. And the conversation went from there. We talked about astrophysics, Stars, Planets, God, Black holes and Global Warming**. This was all on the 5 mile trip to go to dinner.

Then....at dinner. We discussed Jump years (leap years but he got confused on what to call it).

Then we went to see Bolt 3D (which was much better than I thought it would be) and since we were the only ones in the whole theater we discussed the marvel that is digital 3D.

And then just last night I said something about having to take my car in for service because the "service engine soon" light came on yesterday. That has NEVER happened. He just looks at me and says...."Its just always something isn't it?"

**Global warming - last week was teacher conference week. I know my son. He is the class clown. Nothing new there. So she was telling us this story about the manchild. She says that she was at her desk talking with another student about something and here comes the manchild. He got up without a word. Walked over to the shelf and picked up the globe that was there. He proceeded to stuff it up his shirt. Now at this point I am waiting for her to say something about him making fun of pregnant women or something. She said after he stuffed it up the shirt he looked at her and she looked at him and he looked down and pointed at the globe under his shirt and with perfect comedic timing and very non-chalantly he said "global warming" - she busted out laughing. I don't know anyone but my son that would think of something like that. Yes, life with him is never a dull moment.

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 8:56 AM :: 4 Singing with Cheeky

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Tuesday, December 02, 2008

The cube in all its flamingo glory....

So I know I promised a little showing of the cube all decked out....so I took a few snapshots yesterday......

This is the space to my right.....



This is my flamingo lights....awwww how pretty......



And the in keeping with the holiday season....I give you flash....hanging out by the pink tinsel tree.....complete with mini disco balls.

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 7:47 AM :: 7 Singing with Cheeky

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Monday, December 01, 2008

Weekend Update

It was a fairly uneventful weekend. Did a little errand running. Made some cards....actually got a nice chunk of them done....well 99% done. I have them made, addressed and in the envelope but the address needs a little uumph....so I won't call them complete yet. I would say overall I have about 1/3 of them done....and another 1/6 in progress that they just need to be put together. OK OK....enough with the fractions. Let's just say that I am no longer feeling stress over them mmmkay?

Teenage daughter had the boyfriend over again this weekend. And that's all I have to say about that! Ehhhh I dunno, seems like a nice enough kid....can't really tell I think he has spoken all of maybe 5 words to me. Wait....5 might be too many.

I am still dealing with the revelation that Woodstock is a cannibal (see last post). I thought about this at various times throughout the weekend. I may need counseling.

OH...one major thing that happened is that there is a new toy here at Chez Cheeky. I now have a big ol Arctic Cat ATV with a big ol snow plow on the front in my garage so this Cheeky won't be shoveling no more snow. Now wait - it won't snow at all this season....you just wait (which I won't complain about by the way).

And that's the way it was.......how was it with you?

Posted byWendy aka Cheeky :: 7:43 AM :: 9 Singing with Cheeky

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