Stick It To The (Wo)Man!

OK, so in an attempt to get fit, Janine (my cousin's wife who is now my co-worker/boss) decided she wanted to join a gym closer to her new home (she lived in Norwood her whole life and had a gym membership there until she moved to Wrentham and it just became a hassle to drive 20 minutes to the gym. Since I am always at work these days, she asked if I wanted to join. Since I have not been going to Curves, I figured I would look into it with her. There is a really nice Boston Sports Club literally 8 minutes from her house which she had already checked out and was told by the Gym Manager (Laura) that it was going to be $50/month. I know that is a lot, but they have a really nice facility including a pool, so I figured I could spend the $10 more than I am already paying to not go to Curves. So, we went Tuesday night and looked at it but no one from Membership was there (it was 9pm) and we had to make an appointment to meet with Becky the following day.

So, Wednesday we go at 1:30 to meet with Becky and discuss membership. It's all going great, we are ready to sign up and with my membership I am able to go to the Franklin location anytime and then any other Boston Sports Clubs locations (or New York, Washington or Pennsylvania for that matter) during the off peak hours which are 8-11am; 2-4pm and 8pm to close (10pm) and unlimited on Weekends - which is perfect since I can go to the Fenway location over the weekend if I ever get that ambitious). Anyways, we are all already to sign up for the 2006 special (which is $20.06 initiation fee, $39.00 processing fee - down from $149.00 initiation and $39.00 processing fee) but the one year commitment is $59.95 a month, not the $50.00 we had in our minds. So Janine mentions that she had met with Laura a while back and she thought it was $50.00 a month. So Becky goes to get Laura. The meeting took over and hour and Laura basically talked down to us, and was just downright rude. She was like "I would never have said that", blah, blah, blah and so basically she wouldn't honor $50 a month and wanted up to do a 2 year contract since that is the only way it would be $50 a month and she just did a shitty sales pitch (come on, both of us are in Sales!) and she was condescending. We asked if there were people who paid less monthly dues in her facility and she was like "no, everyone pays the same throughout the clubs, blah, blah, blah. So we walked, we didn't join and we told her we were going to look for a different deal. And she let us leave! She did ask if she could call us the next day to follow up. So we said sure.

So we called the Weymouth BSC and asked about their membership dues. Janine told them that she was leaving for Maine in the AM and wanted to make sure she got the $20.06 deal that was only running until 12/31 so they quoted her over the phone (which they "aren't supposed to do") and it was the same deal, except that the monthly dues are $39.95 - that is a TWENTY DOLLAR A MONTH DIFFERENCE. So, we drove to Weymouth and signed up there. The only catch is that we can only use the Franklin facility during off peak hours, but those hours are good for us since we aren't 6am gym people and we work until 8:30 nightly.

Laura called us yesterday and we just told her we were researching other gyms and looking for better deals. Then last night we went to the gym after work at 8:30 and worked out in HER facility. All for $39.95 a month. And it felt good, too.

Moral of the story: Never accept a shitty sales pitch, especially when their big push is that they were raised by good parents. What does that have to do with me being at the gym, huh???

Total Shock and Awe....

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Rich and I did Christmas this evening since he has to work in the morning and we didn't want to wait until late at night on Christmas to exchange gifts. My first gift was a hope chest. Of course, I cried... I know it's silly but I always wanted to have a traditional engagement, and it doesn't get more traditional then a promise ring (2003) and a hope chest (pictured below). See, sometimes he listens. :)

He had it built and stained and it has a Cedar bottom and it's gorgeous and really big!! (Now we need a place to put it!) I had no idea he was thinking of giving me one, and it made me cry, of course.... it was total shock and awe.

He also gave me a beautiful diamond necklace - it's got one diamond, then four in a channel setting, then another diamond, four more in a channel setting and then another diamond. The three stand alone diamonds get progressively bigger and the back is engraved with "past, present, future". It really is gorgeous and it took my breath away.

The other gift he gave me (he really is an awesome gift giver - always above and beyond!) was a really pretty Citizen's Eco Drive watch which has Swarovzki (spelling?) Crystals on the band and face of the watch. The face it a pretty pearly purple and it's absolutely gorgeous.... I can't tell you how amazed I was.

I gave him a watch case (basically a jewelry box, but set up to hold watches) , a cedar closet organizer, a day by day calendar of Bush-isms, a tie rack, a belt rack, a Playstation game, a Season of the Simpsons and an IOU on a watch since I couldn't pick on out that I was sure he'd like since he is tough to buy for and I couldn't be certain that the one I liked he would want...

So that is the start of the gift giving. I can't believe that everything I bought I paid for with cash. Not ONE credit card, which was nice. The other nice thing was that my siblings and I did a grab and it not only made it easier to shop for one person but also less expensive. So, I have no money until the end of the month when I get paid, but at least I don't have any additional debt for the collectors to annoy me with!

I didn't get to all the baking I wanted, and I burnt the crap out of most of the caramel and chocolate covered popcorn I made, so that is out the window, but I will bake for all the people I am going to see on New Years to get that out of my system!

Anyways, it's almost 2am and I didn't finish my wrapping, so good night and sleep tight! I hope Santa is good to you all!

Love you!

Christmas Eve and Endorsement Deals...

Hi everyone,

It's Christmas Eve day and I am not yet done with my shopping. I have a few more gift cards to get and a LOT of wrapping to do (even though I am broke I still came up with lots of great inexpensive gifts, mostly framed pictures and some homemade recipes). I am looking forward to a weekend with my family and friends, even if I lamed out and fell asleep last night when I should have been out with Katie and our friends from high school ("the JP boys and Megan). I can't believe I fell asleep waiting for her to call - ok I can, but I refuse to believe I was that exhausted that I didn't even hear the phone when she called. I am really mad at myself since we had last night planned for, like, a month! I am bummed!!

My first month telemarketing at work was a good one, we had 9 loans close this month and 5 of them were mine, so that is exciting. I am pumped that I could contribute in such a good manner my first month. I hope it only gets better from here.

As for the "Endorsement Deals" part of the title of this post, I have been asked to publish a link to Drew (and Allison's on occasion) blog. Drew read all of my posts and asked that I mention their blog. They are the original bloggers, allowing us to see into their world on a daily basis (much better bloggers than say, I dunno - me??) and slowly getting each of us to blog... I am not sure if Katie or Mo had their blog first, but I know it was Mo that got bit by the BenSpark bug and got me reading on occasion... then she started a blog (both have trivia by the way)... and then Katie and I were talking one drunken Saturday night (me in Boston *the drunk one* and her in NYC *sober*) and I decided that I needed to start a blog to announce to the world that my best friend, Katie should not be single... And guess what? It kinda worked.... well, she met someone (not via my blog) and they are doing the whole "figuring things out" thing (ie dating) and I couldn't be happier. Not that my blog had anything in ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM ANYTHING to do with it (to my humble knowledge) but I think that maybe Jesus reads my blog and sent a nice guy Katie's way. (Can you do jokes on a blog that you can't explain and that only a few people will understand?) So, anyways - here's my blatant endorsement of Drew and Allison's blog one more time: GO HERE, BECAUSE I SAID SO. Thank you.

And, for giggles, go here, too.

And for more insight into the world of my friends... another link for you all to try.

So, Merry Christmas everyone! I wish you all the best of luck when Santa comes down the chimney! :) Off to the stores (AHHH!)

More later!

Red and Green Rant!!!

Things that I hate (all pertinent to my life in the last 5 days)

I still hate not having any money at Christmas....

I hate not waking up in time to get Dunkin' Donuts on my way to work.... without coffee I am a miserable bitch. (Yes, more so than normal.)

I hate when people call you out of the blue that you haven't spoken to in a long, long time and act like you are still best friends - especially when you were friends in, like, 4th grade and since then you barely speak but at the occasional reunion/function (our parents are still close friends) and you really aren't on the same page any more.... if you ever were.....

I hate when you are in line at the grocery store with a thousand things and the one thing you went in to get (in this case popcorn for the chocolate and caramel covered popcorn I am making as gifts since I am broke) is not on the little annoying conveyor belt and there are people behind you so you have to make the decision that either it's not meant to be that night or go back around and stand in line again.... Which I did - for 10 minutes in the express aisle with ONE item, since someone's coupon had expired and they didn't understand why they couldn't still use it! And double it to boot!

There are a lot more things that I can't stand, but I have to be honest - I just can't blog about them all since it would take me a week to rant in the post. But you get the picture. I can't take stupidity. Really, we are supposed to be a semi-educated society. Where are manners? Where is the etiquette? Where is "thank you, have a nice day" in the check out line???? You can be miserable all you want, but when you are at work, try to have a little cheer. Maybe a smile is too much to ask, but in the words of my mother "fake it 'til you make it" for goodness sake!

I just can't take the insanity of the world we live in... I saw someone swearing at the woman ringing the bell for Salvation Army since her grocery cart couldn't get by the tripod thing holding the kettle - I mean I know it could, other people's did - mine did! Ok, so it wasn't with the greatest of ease, and yes, it was kind of a pain in the ass where the woman was standing, but she had to be visible to both the people going in and the people going out. Give the lady a break, I mean really! It was 12 degrees outside and she's "thank you very much-ing" and "God Bless-ing" all the while with a bell in her hand (probably frozen to her glove) and a smile on her face. And we, as a society, can't be bothered giving.... that doesn't mean we shouldn't at least be nice when we don't want to give!!! I mean really, if your cart can't get by (there really was enough room, mine made it through) then you have issues - like a broken wheel or just a huge attitude! But there is no need to swear at the kettle attendant!

And that, folks is all I have to say today.

More later, I am sure - I have to venture out into the stores tonight! AHHHHHH!

I'm A Busy Girl These Days!

This is why I didn't want to start a blog... because I knew there would come a day (or a week) when I couldn't write and then I would be letting my "fans" (don't worry it's not getting to my head at all - just kidding) down....

So, I suck at keeping up with this - and I apologize. As someone who doesn't use a computer at all at work anymore, I don't have the opportunity to slack off and surf the web anymore during 9am to 5pm and by the time I get home (which is always after 9pm) all I want to do is watch a few minutes of the news and go to bed....

So that is why I shouldn't have a blog. Although I have lots to rant about - the current price of heating my apartment (too much), the fact that no matter what the toilet seat is always cold (even when I have the heat on 68 degrees) and what the hell is up with the weather? It's 17 degrees right now and Saturday is is supposed to be 45? I can't stand New England sometimes!!!

Anyways, that's all the time I've got people.... More ranting later, I promise!

Update: Proof She Tries!!!

KATIE COOKS!!
(OK, KATIE PEELS SQUASH)

OK, so I didn't think that I actually was able to take this photo - I thought that since the batteries died mid shot that I wouldn't actually have it. Well, low and behold - I out recharged the batteries and there is was today: a picture of Katie working on the roasted butternut squash we had for Thanksgiving II: The Major Letdown, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Why, do you ask would we have a 2nd Thanksgiving? And why would I call it "The Major Letdown"? Don't go immeadiately thinking it was the food. Come on, I can cook.

Well. to put it mildly - Rich had to work a double on Thanksgiving patrolling Beth Israel Deconess Medical Center and didn't get a real Thanksgiving (although the hospital did give him 2 free turkey dinners in the cafe; one for each shift he worked - not that hospital turkey counts). So, since Gerard and Janine had given me a 14 pound fresh turkey (never frozen) the night before Thanksgiving as a "thank you" for working with them, I decided to recreate Thanksgiving for him at our house with my family and some friends. Well, to keep this mild, basically I cooked ALL DAY and he came home in a crappy pants mood and ate dinner in the living room watching football and I entertained my family and friends (Katie, Bridget and Scott came to help celebrate) and it made me upset and it made things akward and it was sort of a major bummer since all I wanted to do was have a nice Thanksgiving dinner. (The leftovers of which are in the turkey soup I mentioned in my first post).

For all of you who want to know if my realtionship is ok, yes - it has since been discussed (loudly in my case) and it better not happen again! In fairness to Rich though - he came home to 8 people in the house that he didn't know were coming over.... So, I have to work on that.... :)

So anyways, there is the proof people; Katie can peel squash AND order take out. She is going to be a mini Martha yet! (Or if all else fails she will have me, or the money to hire a live in personal chef... now that would be cool!!)

Go Away Christmas!

It's funny, when you are a kid you can't wait for Christmas. Now that I am a semi-adult (I can only realistically say semi since I can't really take care of myself fully, so that means I am not quite there), I can't wait for it to be done with.

Don't get me wrong - I love the music, the movies, the emotion, the lights, the excitement and especially what is stands for. But, when did it become so expensive?!?!?!?

If you read my last post, you basically know that I am flat broke. It's taken everything in my power to stay afloat the last few months and while I am about to really make some money with the new job, I am just not there yet. Lately when it comes to finances it's a sink or swim situation and I am lucky if I have enough energy to do the doggy paddle.

So, this year I am going to have to rely on the creative side of my brain (which is; if you know me; limited at best - I am the type that can barely color in the lines). I am thinking framed pictures, homemade candy, handmade wreaths or candle centerpieces. Yeah, it's a little lame, but if anything, it's what you get folks. And besides, it's not like Christmas is a time to give to receive. Or a time to give crazy expensive gifts when there are people who can't afford to eat. I am just so sick of it. GO AWAY CHRISTMAS! You are too big a financial burden!

Even though I am broke, I am still buying a small gift to donate to Toys for Tots. It might only be something that costs $10, but it will be something. I know that I complain about not being able to afford things, but in the grand scheme of things I am in a not so bad situation. I mean, my credit score might suffer, but I get by. This is the time of year to remember the people who are not as fortunate as we are. I mean, I have a brand new car, a home, heat, food. I get to splurge on restaurants, take out, new makeup, name brand sneakers. There are people out there far worse than I am. Look at all of the Katrina victims, or even the children of the Men and Women in our Armed Forces. At least, above all else I have my family and friends.

OK, so I just kind of blogged my way out of the Bah Humbug spirit and back into the reality of the season - even though I can't afford, I suppose Christmas can stay - if we keep it in check. :)

P.S. I am still on Super Holiday Non-Existent Budget. Let the inexpensive homemade gift giving begin!

P.P.S. Don't buy me anything!

Notice To Bill Collectors

You all SUCK!

I am not a scumbag, I just don't have any money. Your threats of collection agencies do not scare me; I have been there before. I know I am in over my head, and I would love to pay you. I would also love to buy new jeans, but that is another story for another time. I don't understand how you can charge me $29 a month for being late and another $29 for being over limit and expect me to catch up. You should be ashamed of yourself. I hope you realize that if I had it, I would give it to you.

If you look at my debt to income ratio, it is so small. I owe less money than you think. But if you factor in the fact that I took a $10,000 pay cut to take a SHITTY job to "grow up" and "experience the real world" and basically made NO money in the last 6 months, then you can see why I am hurting... But, like I wanted I did grow up (in the sense that I am going gray; yes - I found another one this week, that is 6 since Sunday... it's only TUESDAY, people!) and I am experiencing the real world - and guess what? Being a grown up in the real world is only cool if you have MONEY!

I am so broke, it hurts. Like seriously, it hurts to look at the zero balance in my savings account and know that not even 2 months ago there was money in there. Why, oh why; please tell me WHY, did I ever think that I could take a pay cut over the summer after buying a brand new car? I swear, I wasn't on drugs. Don't touch 'em. Never will.

Now I feel like I need a prozac. For 16 months I had not one bounced check, not one late payment and now?? Now I feel like my checking account is sponsored by RubberMaid and I am later than a pregnant woman's period. It's infuriating, it's annoying and it's really embarrassing!!!

But, you know; it happens. To the best of us. I have the best intentions. I want to pay you. But if you call me and threaten me with collections ONE MORE TIME, I might go postal. Seriously. How do you people sleep at night?!

Luckily, I get my first commission check in January (just far enough away that I am officially not doing anything for Christmas; sorry kiddos) and I will be able to get some things current. And I promise that I will pay the nice people first. Like Pottery Barn, Cheryl from Pottery Barn is a sweetheart. She made a payment plan for me and never once threatened me with Collections. Filene's however can suck it, their collections department is the rudest bunch!

So, bill collectors be warned. I am not big jerk who WANTS to default on their credit card payments- I am a worn out, hard worker who made a few bad decisions and HAS NO MONEY! And when I do I will pay you, but until then STOP CALLING ME!

You Can't Sell Stupid, But I Certainly Tried Today

Since I was 14 I have had a good many jobs - not to mention all the child labor laws I broke working with my mom at her office when I was underage. :)

I worked at SOS Plumbing and Heating one summer. That was a trip. My dad worked there and it was a small shop, I think we got 40 calls all summer. Seriously - it was such an easy summer job.

Then I worked at Sears selling jewelry to some of the world's worst boyfriends who really needed a lot more than an Emerald necklace from Sears to get out of the dog house. I worked there over a year.

I worked at Trethewey Brothers answering telephones and getting yelled at when your toilet was overflowing and I couldn't teleport someone to fix it immediately. I was there two years before I left, and then a week later my boss had open heart surgery, and I went back on weekends to help out.

While I was there I also worked at Brannelly's Pub serving dinner and drinks to clientele older than most of our grandparents (ok, maybe not that old, but when you are 18 working in a pub and getting hit on by men your father's age (no lie) it's pretty gross).

Then I worked at BU as a Sr. Staff Coordinator (read: glorified secretary, but it was a good job for a little over 2 years).

All the while waitressing at West Roxbury Pub (again, what is up with the getting hit on...). Then I hurt my hand (when am I not hurt?) and that was the end of waitressing, which really was a blessing in disguise because it gave me more time for friends, family and dating. :)

And then back to Trethewey Brothers full time to serve faithfully as "Inside Sales Coordinator" (read: punching bag for the same asshole douchebag who's toilet overflowed that wants a new heating system 2 months into the dead of Winter).

Then on a leap of faith, to grow up a little I suppose; I went to work for Shawmut - a General Contractor in Boston. The office was beautiful, the job was supposed to be it for me. But the pay sucked, my boss was slighty bipolar (seriously) and the bill collectors started calling. And that was the end of that. 5 months later, another new job.

So, these days I am essentially, well; I am a telemarketer (GASP). I work with my cousin Gerard and his wife, Janine; as well as my other cousin's girlfriend, Kathryn. Together, we sell mortgages. Well, I just call to get the information and Janine sells the mortgages and Kathryn processes all the paperwork with Janine. So, yeah, I call you when you don't want to talk and try my hardest to sell you on refinance your mortgage when you probably don't want to. It's actually extremly hard work, its challenging in a "think on your feet" kind of way, and believe it or not, it's very tiring. I dialed 271 phone numbers today and only got 2 applications (which is still really good believe it or not) but last week I dialed 177 numbers and got 5 applications - on a Monday. It's a cruel, cruel world, with no rhyme or reason. :(

For example: I actually talked to someone the other night who was about to have her home foreclosed on. She gave me all her information and Janine called her all excited that she got her a good rate and a great loan option saving her $150 a month, consolodating all her debt and getting her a clean slate with a new lender and SHE HAS TO THINK ABOUT IT! Are you for real??? YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE YOUR HOUSE! Then she called back to say she is not going with the loan since she still can't afford the payments. Which, ok; makes sense, but what doesn't make any sense is that she tells Janine that instead of selling the house before it goes into foreclosure she is just going to let the bank take it. ARE YOU KIDDING? What is up with that?!?!?

What it all comes down to is that I am learning that like I said in the title - you can't sell stupid, but I certainly am trying!!

P.S. I didn't always call you during dinner. And although I like it, my previous track record is dictating that, alas - I won't do it forever.

She's awesome, she just doesn't cook....

No, I am not talking about me,....

OK, so it's Saturday night. I am home, alone. (Not that it's a bad thing... just wanted to let you know that, you know; in case you were wondering.... I figure you care since you are reading this....) Anyways, I just made a killer turkey soup (which is why this post is not about me). I might take me 9 years to eat all of the soup I made since I literally have 5 quarts of it. (Don't be surprised if I freeze it and serve it to you over the holidays. Shut up, it keeps FOREVER. I'm so serious, it's not funny.) Don't ask me why I made so much... Anyone want some?

OK, most of you know that I am totally against blogs - who wants to hear my rants and raves about the universe anyways? I mean really, who the hell am I to go on and on and expect people to read it... do you really want to know what I think? I guess if you are here then you do want to read what I have to say. And if you know me well enough, you know I ALWAYS have something to say. Not that I can promise that I will always have time to type out my adventures for your enjoyment, but for now I am a blogger.... it could change next week for all I know.

So here goes - here's my first EXTREMELY IMPORTANT blog entry:

ATTENTION ALL SINGLE MEN!

(Please, first of all - note that I said MEN - not BOYS. And yes, there is a huge difference. )

I have a good friend, a dear friend; Katie. She is my best friend. She is awesome, she just -- well, she just doesn't cook. (Insert "GASP!" here....) I love Katie so much that there are at least ten awesome things about Katie that I can list off of the top of my head. Here goes - in no particular order....

10. Katie is not like the people who say they are from Boston when they are from really from for example... ummm Holden, MA (which in case you really care, is FORTY miles away from Boston, just north of Worcester) - yeah, people always do that. You are not from Boston if you live in the 413 area code people!! You can still be a New England Patriots Fan though, ok? Fair enough???? Katie wouldn't dare say she was from Boston if she weren't. And yes, she knows the Mayor.

9. Katie is the best thing to come out of Hyde Park since Maura Tierney. Maura just went to nurse to doctor on ER, but Katie is better than that even - she is a 3rd year Law Student.

8. Oh, and by the way - she's got most of those student loans IN HER OWN NAME! I know that sounds shocking, but the girl is financing her own education. That counts for a LOT in my book. And if should in yours, too.

7. Seriously though, Katie is from good stock - her Mom was a lunch lady for goodness sakes!

6. Katie met me in 7th grade. That is 12 years ago. How many of you keep in touch with people from 7th grade? Nevermind can still call them your best friend? Hence, the # 6 great thing about Katie - she's loyal.

5. Katie's a sports fan. Like a REAL one. Not just some girl who says they like baseball. She can tell you where she was when Pedro tossed Don Zimmer tot he ground in 2004. (I can too, since we were together that day). The girl owns multiple Boston Red Sox hats, and one is Pink.

4. Which leads me to the 4th great thing about Katie... she is a girly girl, but not high maintenance. She wears makeup everyday, but isn't afraid to go out with a baseball cap on if she can't wash her hair before breakfast.

3. Katie will come to your defense, but she will also remind you about the things you don't always want to hear. But she does it tactfully and tastefully and only when it is in your best interest.

2. Katie likes to party, but can do so within reason. She likes to drink and have a good time. She isn't one of those girls who only drinks Chardonnay, she will drink beer and enjoy it... She has even been known to suck down a few Keystone Lights.

1. The girl plays grille ball and enjoys it. It's a long story... you'll have to get to know her to find out about that. And that's the point of this list... get to know Katie. She's awesome.... she just doesn't cook.

So, all the men that read so far -- if you want to get in touch with Katie, let me know. She's funny, she's friendly and she'd make a great girlfriend... I just hope you cook. :)

P.S. Katie - For Christmas I extend to you 12 cooking lessons in which I will teach you how to make the following (some of my favorites):

1. Omlettes (they are different from scrambled eggs) and Home Fries.
2. Chicken Parmesan with Pasta and Homemade Tomato Sauce.
3. Stuffed Chicken with Prosciutto, Provolone and Spinach.
4. Macaroni and Cheese (not the kind from the box).
5. Roast Pork Dinner with all the fixings (roasted potatoes, grilled veggies, etc...)
6. Steak Tips marinated in homemade Balsamic Vinagrette dressing.
7. Chicken, Broccoli and Ziti (without canned Alfredo Sauce and frozen broccoli).
8. Cobb Salad (with avacado, and bleu cheese and bacon bits and hard boiled eggs).
9. Jam Thumb Print Cookies
10. Pecan Pie (complete with your own pie crust).
11. Cheesecake (from scratch).
12. Brownies (from scratch).

Katie, you can change the syllabus, but I am teaching you how to cook. Not that you aren't the total package - I mean you do know how to dial for take out. :) (Love you honey!!)

Guys, seriously - Katie shouldn't be single. Wake up!!