Michelle's Misadventures

2006-11-14T23:06:00.000-06:00

We're in Hollywood, baby!

2006-09-17T19:29:00.000-05:00

The first scarf that I've knitted!

2006-09-03T23:04:00.000-05:00

Kelly checks out the mini bar.

2006-09-03T23:01:00.000-05:00

Erin, Michelle, and Kelly at the reunion

Iowa family reunion July 2006

2006-09-03T22:25:00.000-05:00

Time flies...

2006-04-24T17:46:00.000-05:00

I'm so bad at updating this thing. It's already the middle of April; I can't believe it.

So, what's new with me. Sue is engaged! It's about time she found a decent man. So many frogs to kiss before you meet a prince, right? She came in over the weekend and we did a lot of wedding stuff. Got my bridesmaid dress and shoes, she got shoes for herself, and assorted other wedding items. We also went to The Elbow Room in Chicago on Saturday night. We saw a friend of Lance's perform. His name is Brian Walker, and he was AWESOME!!!! This is especially surprising since I usually don't like music if I don't know it. Sue and I liked every song, and he wrote almost all of them on his own. We even bought his CD. You really should check out his website:www.brianwalkerlive.com He has a few of his songs on there and you can listen to them.

It's January again?

2006-01-08T17:39:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it's the beginning of yet another year. As usual, I've gained a few pounds, so I'm back on Weight Watchers. Maybe I'll keep it off this year. RIGHT.

I went to BC for Christmas, of course. The pictures below were taken at a party at Travis's house. It was an intersting get together, to say the least.

2006-01-08T17:35:00.001-06:00

Travis and Chris; (hmmm, wonder which one of them had the "special" brownies).

2006-01-08T17:35:00.000-06:00

Chris says, "Happy Christmakkuah!"

2006-01-08T17:33:00.000-06:00

Michelle and Chelle

2006-01-08T17:23:00.000-06:00

Chris and Lance

2006-01-08T17:22:00.000-06:00

Chris and Chelle

2005-10-25T20:59:00.000-05:00

Chris at Navy Pier.

2005-10-25T20:58:00.000-05:00

Oreo at Easter; he found his basket!

Meijer Gardens

2005-10-25T20:57:00.000-05:00

At Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.

2005-10-25T20:56:00.000-05:00

Chris at the corn maze near his house.

2005-10-25T20:55:00.000-05:00

Michelle and Oreo

2005-10-25T20:53:00.000-05:00

Oreo!

October

2005-10-16T17:27:00.000-05:00

I really have to get better about updating this thing more often. Well, what's new you ask. After six long years, I am FINALLY leaving Hewitt. Yes, it's hard to believe, I know. My last day will be 10/21, and my official "going away" party is at Champps on 10/19. I will miss the people I have gotten to know over the years, but I certainly won't miss the job or that place. Hewitt has definitely taken a turn for the worse over the past few years. I'm taking a week off between jobs since I won't be eligible for a vacation until July 2006. I start the new job on 10/31; guess I won't forget my anniversary date easily. So, I'm going to be working at Walgreen's Health Management division, and I'll be an Operations Coordinator. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it. Jewell is probably like, "Walgreens! WTF!" :) It's more money, and there has got to be more room for advancement than at what I'm doing right now.

My dad is doing pretty well since his surgery. His sense of smell is almost non-existant, and he doesn't have much of an appetite. Where can I sign up! He has more energy, and he can see well enough to drive since he got a new pair of glasses. My mom has ulcers from all the stress. My grandma is still in the nursing home, so I think that's for the best.

I'm trying to motivate myself to relearn Spanish so I can "hablo" with others.

Michelle's current Top 10

2005-08-29T19:32:00.000-05:00

My 10 songs

The rules:List ten songs that you are currently digging…it doesn’t matter what genre they are from, whether they have words, or even if they’re no good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artists, and the ten songs in your blog. Then tag five other people to see what they’re listening to.
10. It Takes Two- Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock
9. The Hand That Feeds- Nine Inch Nails
8. Push It- Salt 'N Pepa
7. You Can Do It- Ice Cube
6. Hollaback Girl- Gwen Stefani
5. Behind These Hazel Eyes- Kelly Clarkson
4. Somebody Told Me- The Killers
3. Dream Girl- Dave Matthews Band
2. Lose Control- Missy Elliott
1. American Baby- Dave Matthews Band

My birthday

2005-08-29T19:16:00.000-05:00

Chris came to Chicago on 7/22 to help celebrate my birthday. I'm twenty nine....again. :) He also came to see Lance Barber performing at Martyrs in Lincoln Park. For once, I was not the most intoxicated. That award goes to Chris! He was even smoking. Who would have thought I'd live to see that day. He was not in very good shape the next day, but he eventually recovered.

Dave gave me tickets to see Dave Matthews Band on 7/24. I was totally surprised! The concert was at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. It didn't take too long to get there, but it took just as long to actually get inside and park. We missed the opening band, which was probably a good thing. We got there just in time to hear the first song from DMB. After the show it took us an hour to find the car. We didn't get home until almost 3 am. Fortunately I had taken my birthday off. It was a great day.

2005-08-10T20:58:00.000-05:00

Chris at the Museum of Science and Industry

I'm back.... finally

2005-08-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it's been about 2 months. My Grandma Donnelly died on June 13th, so Dave and I went to the wake and funeral in Iowa. I did get to see my 2 first cousins that I hadn't seen in over 15 years. John Patrick is "retired" at age 22; he refuses to get a job. Kelly is working and going to school; she seems normal. I interviewed for a job at Hewitt, but didn't get it. Why, you ask? Allegedly, there were typos on my resume, and I don't have a high enough "learning agility". WHATEVER. This Monday, the day I always feared finally arrived. Starting in the beginning of 2006, no more free food at work! Can anyone say "Monster"? I also found out that my dad has a brain tumor the size of a cucumber. Fun times for everyone.

Return to civilization

2005-06-07T18:52:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's been awhile, but I'm back. Over Memorial Day weekend, I took a trip to Avon Park, FL. My friend Bethany and her family just moved there in March. It's a great place to visit if you're into fire ants, large reptiles, and gun racks. Other than that, not much going on.

Sue and I are planning a trip to Boston, since our Memorial Day weekends did not go as we had hoped. One last vacation before winter!

2005-04-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

Carrie?

2005-04-09T21:08:00.000-05:00

See, I really DID go.

2005-04-09T21:06:00.000-05:00

"Where did you say that Pink Rabbit is?"

Hello Blog, long time, no see

2005-04-09T20:47:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm back from my trip to The Big Apple. I had a great time. Took in some culture at the Guggenheim. Went on the "Sex and the City" tour and saw Carrie's front stoop. We also had some AWESOME cupcakes from the Buttercup Bakery, and stopped in at the Pleasure Palace. Ate Ethiopian food, and then almost got a tattoo. Did I mention the shopping? Soooo much shopping. It was a wonderful change from the daily grind.

The countdown

2005-03-23T20:54:00.000-06:00

Only 3 1/2 business days until I go on vacation. Let me tell you, I can use one. I need a break from customer service associates who do not have a grip on what they should, and should not say on phone calls. Some of them could be classified as slang: "Can I aks you something?" "What is your pacific question?" "You want to add your chil to your coverage?" "That's totally no problem whatsoever." Then there are others who just say stupid things: "My computer just crapped out on me, so it'll be a few minutes." "Your account is totally screwed." Drives me crazy.

Just another day...

2005-03-16T20:48:00.000-06:00

Well, there's not too much excitement in my life these days. Working long hours at work... but at least I get paid for overtime.

I did get an e-mail from a guy I went to school with in my lovely redneck hometown. His name is Lance Barber, he lives in LA, and he's an actor. A year or so ago he was on the MTV series "Faking the Video" as the fake director. Now he's going to be on a new TV show on HBO this summer called "The Comeback". Guess who the star is. Lisa Kudrow! I am very impressed.

C'est la vie

2005-03-06T10:33:00.000-06:00

Well, there's not too much to talk about right now. My work load has substantially increased at work. I have 9 brand new people to evaluate, along with 10 others, for a total of 19. There is no possible way that I'll be able to finish my work in 40 hours per week. At least I get paid time and a half for overtime.

I'm really looking forward to my trip to NYC at the end of this month. Shop 'til I drop!

Hello, it's me

2005-02-21T20:54:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's been a little while, Blog. I've been involved with my own drama. Yes, the boyfriend and I had "the talk". You know the one. The "I love you very much, but the concept of marriage freaks me out" talk. I gave him a one year deadline (exactly when that year officially runs out was not discussed) to figure out if he can overcome his issue with the whole marriage thing. Men, they're enough to drive a sane woman crazy!

Still no word on the interview for the new job (or "role" as we Hewitt-ites call them). The stupid recruiter has put me off so many times, I can't remember if it's been postponed 5 or 6 times. Here's what she told me on Friday. "Well, there are three roles available. They've decided on two, they're just making decisions for the 3rd one now. You're still in the running, and I'll call you when I find something out." Okay, so even if I do get it now, I'll always have in the back of my mind that I was the last one chosen. Oh God, flashbacks of junior high and high school gym class are flashing before my eyes....

I got a new cell phone over the weekend. Gotta occupy my non-married self with something new, right? That's all for now.

It's about time

2005-02-13T14:56:00.000-06:00

My "dry spell" has FINALLY ended girls (we all know what I'm referring to). It's about #$%^ing time.

I still haven't found out if I got the other job that I interviewed for at Hewitt. The recruiter keeps calling to tell me that the hiring manager hasn't made a decision yet. How hard is it?

2005-02-09T21:03:00.000-06:00

Meg (isn't she adorable?)

2005-02-09T20:59:00.000-06:00

Bethany and Jon

I'm back

2005-02-09T20:43:00.000-06:00

The memorial service was very emotional. There were pictures of Nathan when he was just born, before he got sick, and when he was hooked up to the life support machines. They also had his hand and footprints, and the teddy bear that was in his crib. He was a beautiful baby. Bethany and Jon, Meg (Bethany's daughter),Bethany's parents and grandma, and other family members were there.

After the service, Meg was holding the teddy bear. She said, "This bear used to belong to my little brother, but he can't take care of it anymore, because he died. I'll take care of the bear, until I see him again in Heaven. Then I'll give his bear back to him." I started crying; it's so sad.

I left my parent's house this morning. I was woken up by the doorbell ringing at 7 am. The roads were slippery, and some high school kid slid off the road and ran down the mail box. No worries though. The mail box gets wiped out about once a year, so they already have a spare.

Oreo is now eating his low protein cat food, since I showed my mom how to fix it for him. :)

That's all for today.

I'm off...

2005-02-07T18:14:00.000-06:00

To Battle Creek for Bethany and Jon's baby's (Nathan)memorial service.

I also got some good news today. I had an EKG on Saturday, and my doctor called with the results this evening. There is nothing wrong with my heart. So, basically the equipment that the internist has at his office is a bunch of $%^&! One less thing for me to concern myself with. :)

2005-02-07T18:11:00.000-06:00

Michelle

2005-02-07T00:12:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's me, Michelle

The story begins

2005-02-06T21:27:00.000-06:00

Well, here it is. I have my very own "Blog". I can't pretend to be trendy, if everybody who's anybody has one, and I don't.