Jim-ism
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him jump over the fence." Right, what he said.

We put two rifles on layaway today, both Ruger M77s, his is a 30-06, and mine is a 243. Yes, you read that right, I'm buying a gun. It's kind of a strange thing, I've never owned a gun before. And what's really strange is that Jim had his picked out before we even got to the store, but I looked around, and ended up with a smaller version of his! They look almost exactly the same, the same diamond pattern on the stock, yadda yadda. The main difference is that mine is the "youth" model, the regular one is too big for my short arms. So now Jim is all excited because we bought new guns (we've decided that they're going to be our V-day gifts. Not very romantic, but I don't mind.) which means we get to ACCESSORIZE! Honestly, he's downright giddy. Worse than me going shoe shopping. We have to pick out scopes, and slings, and a bore snake, and maybe even cases. I wish I'd known what I was getting myself into... :)

And the award for most easily stressed individual goes to...
Now Playing: Somewhere Only We Know
Well, after much thought and discussion, I've decided not to audition. The timing just isn't right. Next year is a no-go too, can't combine pre-show and pre-wedding jitters, the mix would be lethal. So, maybe the year after that. Who knows. My life may be completely different by then. I doubt it, but it could happen.

(singing)Oh simple thing...where have you gone....

Mental Torture Session
Mood:  down
Now Playing: theme from Jeopardy!
I'm driving myself (and a few people around me) nuts. Amanda mailed me a couple of days ago, to let me know that she'd found a theatre called the Lyric in OKC. For anyone really into Broadway, the name should sound familiar. It's a branch of the Lyric in LA. Anyway. She thinks we should audition for one of the upcoming shows. I would LOVE to, but there are several obstacles. If I'm not mistaken, it's a "union" show. I don't know exactly how these things work. Maybe it's just the main/named parts that have to be cast with union members, and anyone can be in the chorus. I have no illusions whatsoever that with my lack of experience, there's basically no way in hell that I'd make it into anything BUT the chorus, and even that's probably a long shot. I've never had to compete with more than 10 people for any part I've ever auditioned for. I'm so small town it's ridiculous. Add to that the fact that I haven't vocalized regularly for a year, and it's been longer than that since I danced. I am out of shape, more ways than one. Visions of Chorus Line are dancing in my head, and they aren't boosting my confidence in the slightest. Also, there is the fact that the theatre is in OKC, and I, my fiance', and my job (which I am reluctant to give up to chase what seems to be a pipe dream) are here in podunk Nebraska. I can fathom taking a few days off to go audition, but what would I do if I did get a part? I'd have to quit my job. Yes, I know the part would have a weekly salary, but what about after it closes? What are the chances of my finding another job as cushy as the one I've got now? I'm just not ready to jump into the life of a professional actress. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL TO DO!!!!

Gross Jokes
What's the definition of gross?.....
.....When you give your girlfriend a hickey and a zit pops.

EEEWWWWWW!!!!!

Did you know that diahrrea is genetic?....It runs in the genes.

Did you hear about the guy who drank 5 gallons of tea?....He drowned in his own tipi.....

What's the sharpest thing in the world?....a fart. It can go through your pants without leaving a hole.


Ten Husbands, Still a VirginRead More...

Rotten employers...and employees, for that matter...
Mood:  don't ask
I'm so ticked off. The owner of the company I work for is a real jerk. I got my w2 today, but it's only for half the time I've been working here. See, the company changed hands, the original owner was bought out by this current guy. Well, apparently the first guy still owes money from the changeover, so the owner now thinks that he doesn't have to issue the w2s from the previous company until he gets his money. I think that's a load of bull, and very possibly illegal. I shouldn't have to wait to get my money just because he does. That's not the way it works. He still has to give us our paychecks, this shouldn't be any different. ARGH!!! Does anybody know of anything I can do to rectify this situation?

And just when I think things can't get worse, they do. The guy we fired for using and dealing drugs WHILE AT WORK just came in to sit with his girlfriend, who still works here. As I was told yesterday, I asked him to leave. I told him he was not allowed in the building, per company AND building management. He refused, saying that we had let someone else who had been fired come back in. I told him if he didn't leave, I would call the police. HE calls one of the other supervisors (the manager's phone is off), who tells him that I was out of line and should not have said what I did. Well, maybe she should have talked to her sister, the manager, before she made that kind of a statement. This just isn't my day...

And now for something completely different...
Mood:  happy
We went on a daytrip yesterday. Made a big circle from Norfolk to Yankton to Mitchell to Niobrara to Yankton to Norfolk. Ok, so it's not really a circle. More like a tomahawk-type-thingie.

We left right after work Tues morning, had breakfast in Yankton, then headed to Mitchell to go to Cabela's. Bought all kinds of fun stuff, including a new pair of chest waders for Jim. Also got some new teardrop ice fishing lures and some huckleberry honey. We had lunch there, Jim had a bison brat, and I had a roast buffalo sandwich. Pretty good stuff. We decided against the more exotic items like ostrich and elk. Jim and the salesman laughed when I called the color of his new waders hideous. Well they are! :) Essentially, they're the color of rotting grass with some cattails and other stuff thrown in. He should blend in nicely, which is a good thing, I guess.

Next we headed to Niobrara State Park to drive around and look at the deer. Saw quite a few, but not as many as we usually do. Jim says that's because it was a full moon. Apparently they stay bedded down longer when it's a full moon because they can see better at night, so they don't have to eat as much before the sun sets. While we were there, we visited the "Group Lodge" which, if all goes according to plan, will be the site of our reception. Jim says it's supposed to be big enough for 200+ people to be inside, I don't buy it. Unless there's more than can be seen from the doors (it's locked, I've never been inside), there's just no way. I could be wrong, we'll have to wait and see...

After the sun set, we had to decide where to have dinner. Our choices were: a B&B in Crofton, the Quarry, or the Black Steer (both back in Yankton). We had originally planned to go to Crofton, but we changed our minds and headed for the Quarry. However, as is our luck, we weren't aware that it's closed on Mon and Tues. So, we were stuck with the Black Steer (or the Argus, as it was once called, and still is by some people), much to Jim's angst. Apparently, he severely dislikes some of the wallpaper. The men's restroom is covered in red velvet-like paper, with white foil golf tees and other golf stuff. For the record, the women's isn't much better. I had to look at orangey-gold foil greek goddesses on two walls, and orange, gold and green splotches on the other two. The redeeming factor here is that the steaks were great. We both had ribeyes.

After dinner, we headed home. I slept some, but had to keep Jim awake for the last half. He'd been awake for well over 24 hours at that point. Add to that a full belly, and you have a great recipe for drowsiness. We finally resorted to singing (loudly, and not well) a wide variety of songs. We'd turned off the radio, so it was whatever popped into my head. Pretty dangerous, I know. But, we got home safe and sound in the end, and piled ourselves into bed. A good day, if you ask me.

I feel yucky, Oh so yucky, It's unlucky how yucky I feel....
I would really like to be at home in bed right now. The fact that I've only been OUT of bed for 3 hours is immaterial. I was an hour late to work, thought I had to be here at 11, turns out I was scheduled at 10. I'm freezing, I can't get warm. I'm fighting the urge to vomit, and my eyes are droopy. I have 6.5 hours left of this shi(f)t, I don't know how I'm going to make it.

OK, I'm not going to pretend to understand this one...
Mood:  quizzical
Now Playing: twilight zone music
I'm beginning to think that my computer is haunted. Yesterday when I tried to bring up my blog editor, neither one of my blogs were there. I don't know where they went, but they're both back now. Whatever.

Found out this morning that my brother Matt is in jail, for driving on a suspended license. Don't know how soon he'll be out. To make things worse, he was supposed to be a member of the party helping my sister move next weekend. I doubt he'll be there now, because I know he doesn't have the money for bail, neither does my mom. I don't know about my dad, he might. Again, whatever.

Another Jim Story...
Ok, here's the deal. When Jim was in the Navy, he and Steve (a good friend of his that we still keep in touch with) decided that together they made the perfect asshole (don't ask me why, he didn't say). During the same time period, Marlboro was running a promotion: send in a certain number of carton flaps and get a personalized Zippo lighter. Well, at that time, Jim was dating a girl who worked at a convenience store. So, within 3 days they had enough flaps for 2 lighters! They decided that Jim's would be engraved with the letters A-S-S and Steve's would read H-O-L!!! What a riot.

I'm moving out...eventually : )
Jim and I drove to Plainview today and looked at a couple of houses for rent. They were ok, but Jim thinks we can do better. He'd like to live in Hadar or Hoskins, because, as he says, "you get all of the benefits of Norfolk with only half of the cost of living." Our goal is to be in our own house by April (or thereabouts). Jerry (Jim's dad) is planning to put the house we're in on the market about a week later.

Jim's being a doodyhead. I told him that I'd ordered a sample invitation, and he said (under his breath, but that's beside the point) "OH NO." What the heck is THAT all about? I told him he's grounded.