Holy Jackpot!

Driving into work this morning I noticed that the Powerball sign said the jackpot is up to $116 million so you know I began dreaming in my head what I would do with that money. I got to work, started up my computer, checked voicemail and emails. I was even a good girl and checked my work flow for the day and then popped over to 7-11 and bought a soda, banana and a powerball ticket. Just one. I know just one but hey it only takes one.

Then I went onto the website to see if I could borrow a picture for my blog post (sadly no) and it said the estimated jackpot is $116 million and the pay out would be $67.5 million. WOW - Uncle Sam has already calculated how much they would get. . .  but still I could use $67.5 million to "play" with.

How would you spend your $67.5 million? I have already started planning out how I would. Here's what I would do:

$100,000 would go to bills (i.e. paying off cars, credit card bills, student loans, misc)
$150,000 would go to Smiley's college fund (I looked it up the cost today for a 4 year school and for tuition, housing, food and books, along with other "fees" it would be around $77,000 for an in-state college and $129,000 for an out of state college). HOLY CRAP!
$200,000 for a trust fund for Smiley
$500,000 would go to my dream house (to have it built and to pay for it in full)
$300,000 to decorate and furnish my dream house (may have to raise this depending on what I want) 
$500,000 for paying off family bills (yep I didn't forget about them and this is just the start)
$1,000,000 for travel money (its a start)
$1,000,000 for my personal assistant/nanny (would need to juggle being Smiley's nanny and my assistant so He/She would need to be paid well don't you think - there will be travel involved

I know there are other expenses but that is a nice "start" don't you think of how I would spend my money. . .  a girl can dream can't she?!

Holy Heat!

Holy Heat! 

I am not a fan of July in Virigina, especially when the forecast is the main topic of conversation on the news.

Today's forecast, brought to you by The Weather Channel for Dumfries, VA is as follows:

At 9 am it will be 80^°F and mostly sunny - it will feel like 84°and the humidity levels are at 80%.

At noon it will be 88^°F and mostly cloudy (no chance of meatballs) - it will feel like 96°.

At 5 pm it will be 92^°F and partly cloudy (no chance of meatballs) - it will feel like 100°.

I hate humidity - I feel like I'm melting. 

Focus, Focus

I can't focus today. You want to know how bad it is. This is the third version of my blog entry. Heck I couldn't even get it right the first 2 times so this is what you get. I have never been officially diagnosed with ADD but I know I have it (just watch me try and clean my house - I'm all over the house all day and never get anything done). My dreams are always all over the place. Heck even when I end a long conversation with someone I have to think back to how we got to what we discussed. I'm all over the place. I have tons to do that I NEED to focus on but I'm just not there.

I'm all over the map today and I'm also whining - ugh. I have so many things that are running through my mind that I know I need to write them down.

The subject matter that is running around my brain right now:

Cleaning my closet
Cleaning Smiley's room
Cleaning the house as a whole
Donating vs. selling old clothes, shoes, house items
Trying new recipes
Cleaning the pantry out
Replacing the shelves in the pantry
Ordering an new battery for my laptop
Paying bills
Saving money
My hair and how it is annoying me
Losing weights
Exercising
Getting more sleep
Being more proactive with Smiley
Summer activities
Vacation (ha ha ha yeah right)
My Jeep
Reading
Facebook
Pinterest

Oh yeah and work.

That is just a sample of thoughts that keep running around in my head fighting for my attention.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Bucket Lists

Last Saturday I was part of the choir who sang at 2 Confirmation Masses. The Bishop asked the kids if they had a bucket list. Well here is were you insert the "deer in the headlight" look. They had no idea. He asked if any of the adults did to which lots of hands were raised. Then he explained what a bucket list was and there were a bunch of "ohhh"s that went around the room. Well it got me to thinking, I've said I would put together a bucket list but I've never really sat down and put one together. I do know most of my "to dos" would be travel to here and do this.

Do you have a bucket list? What's on your list? I found a few websites that have suggestions of what to put on your bucket list. Here are some of them: 

- Get in the Guinness Book of World Records
- Bungee Jump from Royal Gorge Bridge (OMG have you lost your mind - this is NOT on my list)
- Bathe in the Ganges River During the Purna Kumbh Mela
- Attend the Olympic Games (ok this one is on my bucket list)

- Drive your dream car

- Drink Beer at Oktoberfest (add this one to my list as well)
- Go to the Super Bowl (not on my list but I beg B-man would love to do this)
- Visit Redwood National Park (yep add to my list)
- Make Your Own Wine in Napa Valley
- Learn to Tango in Buenos Aires
- Ride a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey (I've been in a hot air balloon already)
- Ride on the Singapore Flyer
- Party at Mardi Gras (yes please)
- Ride a Gondola in Venice, Italy (again yes please)
- See the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) (ooh ooh pick me)
- Go on an African Safari at the Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
- Spend the Night at the The Myrtles Plantation (one of America's most haunted houses - ooh)
- Play Golf on The Old Course at St. Andrews 
- Milk a Cow (yea I'll pass on that one)
- Chase a Tornado (no way, I'd milk the cow first)
- Cage-Dive with Crocodiles (OMG)
- Visit the Taj Mahal
- Ride an Elephant (OMG I would die a happy woman)
- Be part of a flash mob (would love to do this)
- Swim with dolphins (check this one off my list - you really should do it - it is AMAZING!)
- Learn to sing (check so maybe um in my case sing with . . . Michael Buble)
- Stay in an Overwater Bungalow in Bora Bora (yes please)
- Go to Ferrari World
- Be a movie extra (that would be so cool!)
- Ride a Cable Car in San Francisco (been there, done that - with wine in hand too)
- Get a Ph.D. Degree (don't known what I want to get my Masters in yet so yea not happening)
- Become a Foster Parent (human or animal I think this would be great!)
- Drink a $1,000+ Bottle of Champagne
- Learn CPR (already certified) 
- Watch a Movie at a Drive-In Movie Theater (check this one off my list)
- Buy a Round of Drinks for the Whole Bar
- Become a Space Tourist
- Stay at the Icehotel in Sweden (I'd do it) 
- Hold a Koala (yes please)
- Participate in a protest
- Write a book (maybe, I've toyed with the idea before) 
- Visit the Auschwitz Concentration Camp (yes this is on my list)
- See Old Faithful (yes)


WOW that is a lot of ideas. So again I ask, why is on your bucket list?

These dreams go on when I close my eyes

"These dreams go on when I close my eyes." You can thank me later for getting that Heart song stuck in your head . . . but seriously lets talk about my dreams.

As I have mentioned I have a vivid imagination and my most interesting dreams usually entertain zombies - but not today folks. My most recent crazy dream happened 2 nights ago (there was no sleep last night between Smiley and the headache that I was dealing with) and it was one of those "back in high school" dreams.

Yep one of those dreams and I know what you are thinking . . . I had pants on. My dream was that it was the first day of school and I was going back to my High School (PSHS . . . I said uh ungowa got the Pantha Powa!) and I was trying to find my first class. Apparently in the last 19 years the school has grown in physical size and layout. The classroom I determined was on the upper level and since I didn't know what the subject was, but for some reason I thought it was either English or History (which they didn't have those classes on that level), I couldn't find the room number. Then I asked a teacher (the bell was about to ring and I didn't want to be a loser who was lost on my first day) where it was and he told me it was on the other side of the upper level and then asked me if I had a shop class on my schedule and when I said no me took me to the shop wing to show me why I needed to take this class.

What the what I say? Where the heck did all of that come from?

According to Dream Moods Dictionary (www.dreammoods.com) when you look up LOST (the most dominant theme in the dream) this is what you find:

To dream that you are lost suggests that you have lost your direction in life or that you have lost sight of your goals. You may be feeling worried and insecure about the path you are taking in life. If you try to call for help, then it means that you are trying to reach out for support. You are looking for someone to lean on. Alternatively, being lost means that you are still adjusting to a new situation in which the rules and conditions are ever changing.

Outrageous Riders!

This morning on the radio on my way into work the local radio station was listing different celebrity riders for when they are performing. Some of them are known to be outrageous and just plain stupid. So it got me to thinking, when I am rich and famous and I go on tour what would I have in my rider? More on that later. For now let me share with you some of the celebrity riders that I found online today during my Google search.

Lady Gaga
- A nude mannequin (are you really surprised about this - it's Lady Gaga after all)
- 1 pack long straws (must be extra long)
- An elliptical machine
- 6 Activa (does Jamie Lee Curtis come with them?)
- 1 container of homemade guacamole (what no chips?)
- 2 Bottles of White wine (I'm good with this)
- 1 Bottle of Red wine (No glasses? Oh wait that must be what the extra long straws are for)

Mariah Carey
- $200 Bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2 Vases full of white roses
- 20 white kittens (does she adopt them after her tour?)
- 100 white doves (well at least the kittens eat well on tour)
- Room must be 75 degrees (too warm for me)

Justin Bieber (gag)
- Large package of Swedish Fish
- Apples and Caramel
- Herbal teas (actually a smart choice - did I just say that?)
- 4 packages of white tee shirts
- 3 packages of lo-rise socks

Adele
- 2 Bottles of Red Wine
- European Lagers (party at Adele's dressing room - whoo hoo)

Kanye West (gag)
- Imported and recut Versace towels
- A chauffeur who drives him wearing only 100% cotton clothing

Britney Spears (gag)
- McDonald's cheeseburgers (no buns) - and you wonder why you put on weight?
- 100 figs and prunes (um not going there)

Mary J. Blige
- A new toilet seat installed in her dressing room bathroom before she arrived (I don't see a problem with this)

Jennifer Lopez
- Her trailer must be furnished in all white (flowers, tablecloths, couches, candles, etc) - uh white?

John Mayer (blah)
- Organic fruit
- Soy milk
- Soft head toothbrushes
- Listerine mouth wash
- Mint flavored Sensodyne or Tom's of Maine toothpaste
- Altoids (OK I may not particularly like the guy but at least he tries to keep his mouth minty fresh and his demands are not too crazy)

Nicki Minaj
- Buckets of spicy fried chicken -no thighs, lots of wings (man that girl can eat)
- 3 packs of gum (all different flavors)
- 2 space heaters (guess she gets cold easily)

Madonna
- 20 International phone lines (I guess for her 300 person entourage)
- Lillies, white and pink roses with stems that are trimmed to precisely 6 inches

OK so some are not as odd as you would think but I'm guessing some of the really strange or overly demanding requests are not published. An agent has to protect their client.

 

What would be in my rider? Well lets see. . . if I was famous and they all bowed at my feet then I think I would have:

- Really soft linens and towels (now my assistant could arrange to have some that were my own placed in my trailer/dressing room)

- Good pillows. I am a stickler about my pillows. B-man laughs at me for all the pillows I have on the bed (I don't like really fluffy or soft pillows and I can't sleep flat so . . . good pillows.

- Quality food. . . . if I am rich I now can have the best of the best when it comes to food (not organic this organic that - just really good quality food)

- Fiji water (for when I'm rehearsing or performing). Singers know to keep hydrated and I just personally like Fiji water. I know someone who only drinks Starbucks water and well if it works for him great!

- I'm not a champagne person so probably good bottles of wine (no they don't have to be uber expensive)

- A safe play/sleep area for Smiley. She and B-man would naturally be going with me wherever I went so her happiness and safety are priority (even over my pillows).

- Twinkies (love them, miss them, so happy they are coming back but yes I would use my celebrity to get them)

So what would your rider include?

It's a mad mad world!

I can't believe that it has been over a month since I last wrote something. I know it has been crazy at work and that leaves me exhausted when I get home so I spend my time playing with Smiley and doing something crazy like laundry but still over a month! Bad Ashley - no cookie for me!

Like I said above things have been crazy at work so I've barely had time to take a bathroom break or even have lunch let alone write in my blog. Now that is has calmed down again I can share all my wonderful thoughts with all of you lucky people. Missed me? Thought so.

We are now in March so lets do a recap of how I'm doing with my New Years Resolutions (blah ha ha).

1. Learn at least 12 words in German and to be able to use them in a conversation properly.

- My BIL has been very good to me by helping remind me of my counting 0-10 in German (even corrected my spelling errors that I posted previously). He even gave me at least 2 phrases to practice. Well I have been a bad girl and haven't been practicing or asking for more phrases. We are in month 3 so I need another phrase from him.

2. Bring my lunch to work 4 days a week.

- I have been a good girl on this one. Only 2 times have I bought lunch twice and brought the remaining days. I have also been better at bringing my breakfast all 5 days to work so I can treat myself to Starbucks every once in a while to go with my breakfast. So kudos to me. Just need to keep on track with this (I've even inspired on of my co-workers. He is striving for the same as I but only seems to have succeed with one day a week for his lunch bringing. Baby steps I tell him).

3. Play for 60 minutes a day.


- Yea this hasn't happened. I'm lucky if I manage to get to do much more than the regular house hold work (which I'm not doing well at). Smiley is moving and shaking (but no she isn't doing the Harlem Shake) these days. She has discovered balance and is walking all over the place. My exercise usually consists of me chasing after her). Sadly I see the results every day and it brings me down all the time.

4. Drink water every day.


- No progress here - oh sure I'm great at instilling water for Smiley but me, not happening.

5. Buy a plant and keep it alive all year long.

- Spring is coming so I've been eyeballing the plants that are slowly being brought out. Will have to pick my victim, I mean plant here very soon.


6. Try one new recipe a week.

- I have been pretty good about this. I established Sunday Dinners at my house for the family and if I don't try a new recipe I try a new method of cooking or a new side dish or a new spin on an old favorite. So this is going pretty good. Have to really get back to trying a new dish each week.

7. Try one new food a month.

- This hasn't been a success. I did try Korean BBQ with B-man this past week and it was "interesting". So that counts as trying a new food. Sadly it is my first new food of the year. Must be more open.

8. Find a way to bring in more cha-ching for my family.

- Signed up for online surveys that are supposed to pay either cash or gift cards but it takes several surveys before you even get a $10 gift card. Humm - still looking for new ways to make money. Thinking of a yard sale in the spring.

9. Save more money.

- Need to do this more. Was doing ok with $50 per pay period but I've switched to paying that money to my crazy credit card bills instead. Need to get back to this. I also want to take all the change we have around the house and put it in the change thing at my bank for Smiley's savings account. Just need to do it. Maybe one day when I'm off and can run to the bank.

10. Be a better wifey.

- Not sure I'm doing that well. I'm so tired all the time, we never get to cuddle or have alone time because of our schedules, my working late, being sick, Smiley time takes over, or just being tired all the time.

11. De-crap my house.


- Still need to work on this. See yard sale idea above for possibly ways of doing this.

12. Let my inner Martha Stewart shine.

- I have my dragon counted cross stitch but every time I think I'll start it, I just don't. I come up with an excuse not to do it and do something else. Like take a nap or do laundry.

On a happier note, I mentioned about Smiley is walking. She really is getting better with her balance and I love her face when she takes off. So cute. She has also become clingy to me. She is saying "ma ma" but doesn't connect it to me. Oh and she loves to drop her sippy cup and then say "uh oh". So cute.