Wild Ginger

After finding out that I am essentially allergic to wheat...learning what foods I could and could not eat was quite a challenge. Thai food became a favorite, especially Pad Thai. Rice noodles and I get along quite well. Christine also enoys Thai food, which makes going out for dinner lots of fun. We had a favortie Thai resturaunt in Cleveland...and I knew that I would feel quite at home once I found a good Thai place here in Colorado Springs. Not more than 10 minutes away is Wild Ginger. I swear they puts drugs in their food, as I could eat there every night. They have a soup that is to die for. We were a bit bummed out when we coudln't find Pad Ke Mao on the menu. They have all kinds of yummy options, but Christine and I both have our belvoed favorites. My favorite part of Wild Ginger is the wait staff. They are such fun.

The last time we went (we ate there twice in one week) Christine asked about Pad Ke Mao, and the waitress quickly responded with "We can make that, we just have so much on the menu...but yeah, we can make that". Christine was thrilled. So when all of you come to visit (hint hint), we are going to Wild Ginger.

I have made it my personal mission to eat my way through all of the curry dishes on the menu. And I have replaced my love of Thai Iced tea for Thai Iced Coffee....mmmmm yummy caffienated joy.

Thank you Wild Ginger, we love you

So long Uncle George

When I was a kid, every Christmas we would get together at my aunt's house for food and family. Over the years my father's side of the family didn't grow apart per se, but I don't know as we were ever super close. The last time I saw the bulk of my family in one place was during a family reunion when I was in my early 20's. It was nice to see that whole side of the family together. It seems that the family will all be getting together again this week...my Uncle George passed. He was 78, and while I haven't seen him in 10 years...it still sucks.

Until today, I never knew anyone in my family to pass. My grandparents all died before I was born. My head doesn't even know how to process things at this point. Sitting here at work, everyone with their petty bs is just unreal to me.

The notice says the services are private, I have no clue what that means. I can't be in town for any funeral or service...at least not physically. The weather out here is gloomy and cold, very much like Cleveland. I'm there in spirit.

Ah, Grover...

To this day I ahve never seen an episode of sesame street. I had afternoon kindergarten when I was a kid, so I learned to sleep in at an early age. Despite my children's tv deficiency, for many years, I was dear friends with Grover. I have to tell you, he's not blue, but he is tall...and has very messy handwriting. Back in my high school days I was friends with a guy who's signature was so messy that someone thought his last name was Grover. The name stuck, for many years. I haven't seen or heard from Grover in several years, until today. On slow days at work, I'll check into Myspace just to pass the time. And there he was, one of the funniest guys I have ever met, sending me a message. Low and behold he recently set up a myspace account, and he said I was one of the first people he went looking for. I'm pretty shocked by that, mostly because I don't think I'm all that note worthy. No, this isn't a pitty party, I just have always thought of myself as an average girl. I'ts been fun talking with him, we had some of the same friends in high school, although we went to schools that were nearly an hour apart. The last I had heard, he was planning on becoming a pastor...that didn't happen, and with all of my hang ups with organized religion, I can't say I'm unhappy for him. From the sounds of things, he's a very happy man, married, job, house...all those adults things we didn't really picture having in our high school days.

The timing of people showing up in your life never ceases to amaze me. I often wonder what happened to some people...others...not so much, but I suspect we are all like that. Today was my two year anniversary at work, and I talked with co-workers I haven't heard from in ages...and now friends from days of old are popping up. I don't know if it all has some grand cosmic meaning, but I enjoyed the people I talked to today.

Christine and I have been enjoying a very peaceful week. The things that weigh heavy on my mind are not inside my home...they are in far off places...and I hope that my semi-paranoid suspicions aren't true. Although time has taught me that when I have a gut feeling, I am usually right.

Spirit of the Games

For as long as I can remember, I have loved sports. I have tried to play a number of them, but my body prefers warming the bench. I have accepted that I will never be a world class athlete, but that doesn't stop me from watching all kinds of sports. Over the yearsI have come to dislike professional sports, as it becomes less and less about the sport, and more about the contracts, endorsements and other drama. There is one area of athletic contest that seems to not be polluted by consumerism, is the Olympics. Don't get me wrong, I know there is unbelieveable amounts of money thrown and sonsorships and advertising, but the athletes seem to be in it for the pure joy of competing. And I have been getting more and more excited about the upcoming summer games in China...until recently.

I have high hopes that the fighting, bickering, and finger pointing will come to an end. Threats of some countries not sending their athletes....it makes me a bit sad. On August 8, I want to be able to sit down and watch the opening cermomonies and enjoy all the the Olympics are to me...

I Remember You

I was reminded this evening while watching another one of my TV addictions, of how important music has been in my life. On any given day, a few notes will spark a memory of a time in my life, good or bad. Whether an ex, a crush, a friend, whatever the case may be, some songs will automatically take me to a different time.

In no particular order...
Cher - Believe...Kate, the blue truck, and YSU.
Skid Row - I Remember you...Hope, middle school, and angst.
AC/DC - You Shook me...Sarah Edwards
Captain and Tenile - Love will keep us together...Kellie
Dirty Vegas - Days go by...Ivy
Indigo Girls - Power of Two...Angie
NIN - Closer...John, and my senior prom and his black pick-up truck (not for that reason)
Weird Al any song...my brother Steve
Phil Collins...my brother Pete
Simply Red...my dear old mom (happy birthday mom)
Hanson, Michelle...and the night she met her husbands

There are a million more memories, and many more songs...except for perhaps one person.

Breda, you get no song, just bad poetry, my freshman year, and the library. You have said you aren't a music person, but it is your persistance that has gotten my words. You, this blog, and a lifetime of friendship.

awakening

Often I am asked about my job, which isn't something I would consider sexy or exciting. I work in a call center for an insurance company. It is not uncommon for someone to hear me venting a complaint or two about my job, and it hit me a minute ago what bothers me most about my job. I get yelled at and blamed for things that I have no control over. I have no control on how much your insurance is going to cost, nor do I know who does. With 28,000 people working here, I can't possibly know who specifically put together the numbers that determine your insurance rate. I also have no influence on the claims process, and I have never met the CEO.

If you have to call into a call center, don't scream at the person on the other end of the phone...they don't get paid enough to be the punching bag you want because you're unhappy. Write the CEO, or whatever, but really...leave me out of it. I'll take your payment, I'll make changes, and I'll try to help however I can, but screaming at me won't change a thing...and when you have a 16 year old son who crashes a car every week...please don't ask why your insurance is expensive...