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Ching Locks Herself Out of the House, Hilarity Ensues

Posted on November 22, 2008 by Ching under Family, Flickr.

Okay, not much hilarity really… But I figured that would make for a good blog title. I am always drawn to reading posts that end in those two words.

For starters, I’m not really ditzy. I’m recovering from an illness so that is what I’m blaming today’s brief mental lapse on. That, and I am so used to my routine.

This morning, I rolled out of bed and got into my workout clothes and got ready to go to the gym. For some reason I was thinking, I should bring my wallet just case I want coffee on the way home. I normally do not bring my wallet or purse when I drive to the Y because it is so close to the house. Plus, then I don’t have to worry about getting a locker and such. I am a bad person (for driving without my driver’s license), but I am in and out AND it’s only for short distances =P.

Anyway, I tweeted a couple of times and then Oscar did that thing where he just jumps into your arms out of nowhere. He wants you to pick him up when you’re not paying attention so he takes matters into his own hands and just jumps. He does it to Brian all the time. It’s no big deal because he is fully declawed (he was already that way when we rescued him, not our idea). Except you are startled when you’re not prepared for it. He actually did that to Brian while Brian was peeing in the toilet one day. He did it to me this morning while I was texting a tweet. Maybe that distracted me? Who knows?

I left the house through the garage door and as soon as I shut the door behind me, I realized I did not have my house keys. Ugh. Normally I would panic, but I’m more mellow now. So I just calmly called my father-in-law. Yes, he was my first phone call this morning when my catastrophe happened.

“Did I wake you?”

“Who are you looking for? Who is this?” Apparently, I did wake him.

“It’s Ching. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you, but I locked myself out of the house,” I explained. “Although, I won’t really have a problem until I get done with my workout and need to get back into the house. Wanna meet me for breakfast later?”

LOL. I figured we could have breakfast after my workout and then they could let me in the house. Problem solved. My in-laws are the best.

When I got to the gym, I sent this picture message to Brian with a note that said: “Notice anything missing? Yup. Locked myself out of the house today.”

I sent the same note to Flickr (I just did two recipients). I thought Brian was on the plane already and wouldn’t get my message until later. Within two seconds from sending my message, he calls me back and tells me he is getting ready to board the plane and to call dad. I was like, “Already called him and everything is under control. They’re meeting me for breakfast at Jimmy’s Egg after my workout.”

I usually don’t worry about bring anything but my car keys to the gym because [a] it is so close to the house (as I mentioned previously) and [b] Brian lets me in when I get home if I forget to leave the door to the garage unlocked (which is usually the case). After my workout, I’m usually tapping on the door to wake Brian up and let me in. Anyway, I totally spaced out the fact that Brian is still very much out of town and will not be able to let me in after today’s workout.

I got to Jimmy’s Egg about 10:15 AM and there was a long wait. I’m glad I got there early to secure a table because then they didn’t have to wait. Took the opportunity to take some photos for a post about Jimmy’s Egg that will go on the food blog. That’ll be later. Anyway, I thought to myself, I’m glad that I had the foresight to bring my wallet so I can at least pay for breakfast. That is the least I can do for asking for a rescue. I think I would have paid more to a locksmith. =P

Here’s a photo of my rescue party…

I am back home now, but not for long. I gotta hit the shower so I can change and go to Cherry Creek nursing home for cards with Brian’s grandparents. I’m hanging out with them until I have to pick Brian up from the airport. That’s the plan, anyhow. Don’t worry. I will remember to bring my house keys this time.

P.S. Stay tuned for the post about Jimmy’s Egg.

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Thanksgiving at Cherry Creek

Posted on November 21, 2008 by Ching under Family, Flickr, Food and Drink.

Had dinner with Brian’s parents, grandparents, and their friend John last night at Cherry Creek. Here are some photos…

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Had Dinner with Jen at Hanna Today

Posted on November 18, 2008 by Ching under Family, Life, Toys, Videos.

I told Brian that Jen told me she had been doing really well with saving money and wanted to take me out to dinner. I was like, “Great. I don’t want to be responsible for her relapse back into irresponsibility.” After she told me everything that has been going on, I felt so bad that I was obligated to buy dinner. =P (Not that things are bad, she just has a lot of expenses and needs to save what she can.)

We went to Lucinda’s after dinner. I love that store! I got me a business card holder. I’d been wanting one for the last four years for a nice one, I finally just decided to buy one for myself. It cost twice as much as I really wanted to spend on one, but it is pretty and Brian didn’t seem to flinch when I told him the price so I guess it is okay. Anyway, I like it a lot and that’s what really matters.

P.S. The video above was taken at Hanna while I was showing Jen my Mini 9. I told her she needed to vlog. I think we will need to revive her old blog with videos and podcasts.

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My Productive Sick Day

Posted on November 18, 2008 by Ching under Family, Life.

[also known as the “Life is Too Short” blog post]

So I was really miserable on Sunday. My body felt like it was beat by a mallet all over. I was so miserable that I considered not eating. My stomach was like, I’m so hungry. But then my body was like, I’m so weak; blech; eating is for wimps.

I had to seriously think if it was worth getting up out of bed to fix myself something for dinner. You know what I realized? I will never ever starve to death — because I will feed myself even if it kills me. Yup, I’m a wimp.

You know how some people actually lose a lot of weight when they are sick? Not happening to me. I like to eat too much. And, I found out, my body is good at that self-preservation thing. =P

I knew I needed to rest up and go see the doc, but Brian insisted that I take the day off on Monday — so I did. I got up with my alarm, though. Went ahead and called in absent. Then I had to wait until it was 8:00 am to make an appointment with Dr. Thomas. The first available appointment was Tuesday at 10:20 am. I really wanted to get in that day, but you take what you can get. I went back to sleep after that.

A couple of hours later I got a call back from the doctor’s office. The lady said they had a cancellation and asked if I could come in at 3:10 pm. Of course, I could. The sooner, the better. After how miserably I felt on Sunday, I wanted to be medicated (officially medicated, that is, I’d been taking whatever I could find at home). I was thinking, how lucky am I? I set my alarm for noon and went back to bed. I was so out of it.

I felt much better on Monday than I did on Sunday, though. I was breathing a little better. Then again, I was also self-medicating. I had taken some left over Prometh VC with Codeine Barre. That stuff always makes me feel good. Well, it knocks me out so I forget how bad I’m feeling.

I got up, showered, and got ready. I had a few hours to spare before my appointment so I took the opportunity to stop by Randy Cooper to get my Diversity Champions watch adjusted. We were told on Saturday when we were there that it would cost $7.50 (Belden’s was going to charge $10.00 so I was like Randy Cooper’s it is). The nice woman took the watch back to the jeweler and they adjusted it (just needed three links taken out) while I waited. She brought the watch back to me and when I asked about paying, she said not to worry about it. No charge. Wow, it really was shaping up to be one lucky day.

Then I still had time to spare so I stopped by Mom and Dad B’s. David was at work, but Donna was home. I hung out there for a little while until it was time to go to the doctor. I got winded going up and down the stairs a couple of times, but not nearly as bad as when I had to pick up OJ at Target on Sunday after dropping Brian off at the airport. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

I arrived at the doctor’s office at 3:08 pm and didn’t have too wait long. They called my name and put me in the Corvette room. Sat there and waited a bit longer this time. Dr. Thomas finally came. Brian insisted that I tell him everything that I’ve taken: two DayQuil, one NyQuil, and lot of that Prometh VC cough syrup stuff.

My fever from Sunday was gone, but I still had 99+ temperature. I was also still wheezing, but considerably less than on Sunday when I could hardly breathe at all. Anyway, doc gave me this inhaler stuff (which I had before when I had bronchitis) to help open up my lungs and put me on Azithromycin. I’d never been on Azithromycin before. Anyway, I like it because I only have to be on it for five days: two on the first day and then once a day for the next four days.

I’m not too fond of taking medicine (actually, you know when I’m feeling really bad because that’s the only time I take stuff — I refuse to take anything unless I absolutely have to) because they tend to get stuck in my throat and choke me. I despise tablets. Caplets and capsules are more tolerable, but I prefer the liquid stuff when available. I have a pill phobia that even extends to birth control pills, which are teeny tiny. I can’t handle pills at all. Anyway, I wonder if I’m getting a better handle on my pill phobia because I’m doing okay with my antibiotics right now. So far, so good at least.

Incidentally, I’m glad that Randy Cooper didn’t charge for getting my watch adjusted because I had to pay $30 for my Azithromycin. Whatever happened to $4 prescriptions? Ugh.

Speaking of, my prescription took 45 minutes to fill so I went and stopped by my parents’ house while I was waiting. I hadn’t seen them in months because of a falling out my mom and I had. It’s a long story. Anyway, it could have been the product of several things: [a] guilt — here I am wearing my Diversity Champions watch but I was being really prideful and stupid, [b] I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason and I took the 45-minute wait as a sign — I figured it was a sign from above that I should go see my mom and, finally, [c] life is too short to stay angry — I got to hang out with Jan on Veterans Day because Brian had to work (Viega doesn’t observe it) and she was telling me about stuff that she had gone through, which is kind of like what I was going through.

Long story short, I went over there and everything was fine. It was like they’d been waiting for me to come around all along. I felt like the prodigal child, except not so prodigal. At least, I don’t think so although I did throw kind of a temper tantrum. Brian said he is really proud of me for taking that step. He’d been trying to talk me into calling or seeing my parents all this time. People can be stubborn sometimes, though, and so was I. He said if he only knew that all it took was me getting sick, he would’ve gotten me sick sooner. =P

I don’t know if it was sickness or if the stars were aligned just right. Whatever it was, I’m glad. I feel like my lungs aren’t the only things getting better this week, but my heart as well. Now, I can be a true Diversity Champion.

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Triple Celebration

Posted on October 19, 2008 by Ching under Family, Flickr, Food and Drink, Life.

We met at Carrabba’s for lunch today for a triple celebration: grandpa Clark’s 91st birthday, grandma and grandpa’s 67th wedding anniversary, and my 31st birthday. Since the events all happen in October (grandpa’s birthday and their wedding anniversary are both on the 12th and my birthday is on the 30th), we usually just get together for one big celebration.

This year it was even more important to celebrate early because Brian and I will be out of town on the day of my birthday. We will actually be aboard the Carnival Conquest tendered in Grand Cayman on that day.

Lunch today was a blast. Our party of 12 consisted of David, Donna, grandpa Clark, grandma Betty, Chad, Chad, Jay, Becca, Cory, April, Brian and myself. I think everyone had a good time. Joe stopped by our table and talked with grandma and grandpa a bit. I think they really liked that.

After our meal, they brought us complimentary desserts. Joe had them bring a full-sized dessert for each of us — grandpa, grandma, and me — and even an extra one for everyone else to share (we had two sogno di cioccolatas and two dessert rosas to share). The desserts were yummy!

As if that weren’t enough, Joe comped grandma and grandpa’s meals. We were really confused at first when they brought our ticket. Brian found the mozzarella sticks, the calamari, carafe of sangria, and our meal on there but couldn’t find grandpa’s meal.

We had agreed beforehand that Brian’s parents would pay for grandma’s and then we would take grandpa’s. Brian was worried that both meals ended up on David and Donna’s ticket by mistake. So he checked theirs and didn’t find grandma’s meal on there either, that’s when our server came by and explained that Joe had comped the two meals. We thought that was way cool of Joe and totally unexpected.

Carrabba’s rocks and Joe is the best!