rantings of a single girl

Five Minute Chocolate Cake

starangel82 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:08:13 -0800

This really is a five minute chocolate cake. Now, I'll admit this isn't as great as a chocolate cake that you slave over for an hour or so. But this little cake will hit the spot if you have a midnight craving or don't want to spend the time making an actual cake.

Head this way for chocolately coffee cup cake goodness...

I'm Thankful

starangel82 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:57:23 -0800

I love Thanksgiving. It is my third favorite holiday after Christmas and Halloween. It's probably our second best family holiday. (My family really loves Christmas.) I love the family. I love the food. I love the togetherness of it all. Thanksgiving is a happy time.

Flashback to 2005 and Thanksgiving wasn't so happy.

My grandfather had just passed away four days before Thanksgiving. It was expected, but it didn't lessen the loss for my family. Everyone was sad and depressed that Thanksgiving. While I was sad, I was secretly thankful for the death of my grandfather. He had been suffering for years with an illness that couldn't be cured. He'd already outlived the doctors' expectations by months. In the end, he suffered and hurt and I was thankful that it had stopped.

Today Thanksgiving is still our second best family holiday. We still laugh, have fun, and eat until we explode, but the table is quiter. My grandfather isn't at the end of the table laughing, joking, or trying to steal my dessert. While I miss that terribly, I'm still thankful he's at peace.

Whether your Thanksgiving is happy or sad this year, I wish you the best. Happy Thanksgiving... and remember to give thanks.

I'm No One's Mistress

starangel82 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:34:51 -0800

I didn't know I could be so angry at a human being. I've been angry and upset with someone before, but not the way I am angry at The Rock right now. He has managed to push me to an emotional low that I didn't even know was possible.

If you remember, The Rock is a physician. Yesterday he showed up at my place of work for a meeting with one of my bosses (I have four), because he is entertaining the possibility of joining the group that I work for. This is why he wanted to talk to me yesterday, among other things.

He showed up for his meeting about 20 minutes early so we could talk. When the secretary up front told me his name, I was ready to kill him. I ran up front, practically shoved him outside, and started to yell at him. What on Earth was he thinking showing up at my job?

He explained why he was there. One, the meeting. Two, he was hoping to take me out to lunch. When I heard about the meeting, I was floored. I barely had time to process that when my boss (my boss!) walks outside, shakes The Rock's hand, and asks me how I know him. I manage to force a smile, come up with some lame excuse about being old acquaintances, and then excuse myself.

After their meeting, The Rock came around to my office. I walked back outside with him then very calmly and politely asked him to consider what he was doing. That if he had any feelings for me at all.... if he ever once cared about me... then he would not try to get a job where I work. He asked me to lunch again. I told him no because I had no desire to sit through a meal with him. Oh and because he's married. He said he and his wife had reached an amicable decision years ago... they no longer loved each other but she had grown accustomed to their lifestyle. And he needed a wife for he professional functions. He liked me and though that I would be discreet about an outside relationship.

What the hell kind of marriage is that?

I told him he could stop talking. Apparently he didn' t have a clue about who I am. I deserve better than to be someone's mistress. If he and his wife have that kind of arrangement, that's fine. But I will not be party to that. Ever. And I walked away.

Now if I could just figure out how to keep him from getting a job here.

Number Blocked. Again.

starangel82 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:49:50 -0800

Monday. November 23rd. I was having a bad day. Deadlines got moved up. Things kept getting piled on my desk. I managed to cut my chin on the bathroom counter that morning (klutz). And I'm still fighting with the bank over my money.

I just kept telling myself, "Self... we just have to make it three days this week."

Around lunch time, I received a text message from a number I didn't recognize. All it said was "hey." I didn't reply since I didn't know the number and brushed it off as a wrong number. Then I got another message, "hey. how are you? how have you been?" Same number. So I text back, "Sorry, but I think you have the wrong number."

"no i don't. this is ****." And **** is The Rock. (If you don't know about my history with The Rock, you can read it here. Or you can just read about the bitter end here and here.)

My jaw dropped as my blood pressure rose. I blocked his number for a reason. Because I didn't want to hear from him anymore. And then he goes and gets a new number while keeping mine? Hell no. So I replied very adult like, "Fuck off."

"look, i know you're probably still mad, but i'd like to see you."

"Well I don't want to see you. Matter of fact, I don't want to talk to you."

"what do you mean you don't want to talk to me? *really sad face*"

"I mean I don't want to talk to you. When I slammed the door IN YOUR FACE, it should have been a clue. So I say for the second time, fuck off."

Number blocked. Again.

You've Been Summoned

starangel82 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:44:37 -0800

I went to my parent's house over the weekend and on the way, I stopped and grabbed my mail. Once I got to my parent's house, I started sorting through it. This is what happened next...

Me: Damn it! I've been summoned for jury duty!
Daddy: Ha ha ha ha!
Mama: But you get paid!
Me: This isn't fair. I work. I pay my taxes. I've never been to jail. I wear my seat belt! And this is how they repay me? Jury duty?
Daddy: Ha ha ha ha!
Mama: It'll be fun. And you get paid.
Me: Mama, have you ever served jury duty?
Mama: No.
Me: Then you aren't allowed to say it'd be fun.
Daddy: You'd probably have to serve on your day off and then you'd just complain.
Mama: Probably, but I think it'd be fun. Interesting.
Me: Knowing my luck, the druggie that almost pulled a gun on me when I worked the ER will be up for parole or something and all hell will break loose.
Mama: But at least you'd get paid.

A Lengthy Project

starangel82 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:11:04 -0800

Alright, I admit that some of you might not consider this fun, but I sure do. Cooking is fun. This is something I read about on the Internet and have been dying to try it. When I found a make-your-own-vanilla-kit, I was thrilled.

To see my experiment, just click!

Let's Not Negotiate

starangel82 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:46:52 -0800

Relationships are about compromise. You learn to put up with each other's faults. You deal with the little annoying things that can sometimes grate your nerves. Basically, you decide if the good outweighs the bad and that you can love someone, faults and all, forever.

Everyone has things that they can't compromise on though. I have them. You have them. Here are some things that I have been told are my faults... and some of these things I will never change. (Which probably explains why I'm still single, but that's a discussion for another day.)

If you talk to me during a movie (in theater or at home) other than to say the place is on fire or you're choking to death on popcorn, then I'll pretty much strangle you right there. I can't stand people interrupting my movie flow. It's never gonna change.
If I'm cooking and you try to butt into my kitchen, then I'll become the biggest bitch you've ever seen. A bitch with knives no less. If you wanna help me, ask. Just don't try to take my kitchen away from me. Note: I have become a little better about this over the years, but it's still my kitchen.
I like pets. I have to live in a house with pets. They just make a house a home. Don't even try to pursue a relationship with me if you don't like cats or dogs. We won't make it very far because I will not compromise on this. My cat has been with me far longer than you have.
Speaking of things I will never compromise on is my family. They will always be in my life. I will always be there for them. If your family isn't important to you, I doubt my family will have any meaning for you. Let's just say good-bye now.
When I get really excited about something, I ramble. And ramble. And ramble some more. Sometimes I have to be told to put a cork in it.
I'm super competitive and a perfectionist. The two don't go together so well. I've tried working on it, but the perfectionist in me just won't die.
I will be a mother someday through natural means or adoption, but I will be a mother. If you don't want kids, then go ahead and scamper off. This is non-negotiable.

So what are some of your known faults? (Or things you've been told are a fault?) And don't be afraid to say what isn't up for negotiation.

Bah Humbug

starangel82 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:58:31 -0800

I'm going to break one of my rules here and talk about work. In generalizations, of course.

I don't know about your work place, but my office takes up money every month to pay for birthday cards, plants when employees get sick, or to buy the occasional breakfast. At Christmas, we pay for our employee Christmas party with the 'pot' so the November payment is always a little more. (The fact that we have to pay for our own Christmas party at work has been a bone of contention with me for years, but we aren't going there right now.)

Our office seceratry is responsible for collecting the money and she has no problem reminding you about your payment. She emailed us at the tail end of October to say when our party would be, how much we would need to contribute, and when we needed our money turned in by. No problem, right?

Wrong.

Two weeks ago, she emailed us saying our payment would need to be turned in a week earlier. Okay. I can do that. Then she comes into my cubicle three days ago saying she really needed our money by the end of the week (which is two weeks earlier than her last demand for money). I told her I'd have to wait until the end of the week when we got paid. She said okay.

Then she came into my cubicle yesterday saying she really needed the money tomorrow because she was going to be out Friday (a week earlier than the second demand (sorry request) for money). What I wanted to say was, "You keep moving up the date and I don't have the money because I WAS ROBBED!" I think I mentioned that a few weeks ago. Pretty sure I did because you asked if the office needed to take up a little offering to help me out.

But I can't say that to her because she's old enough to be my grandmother. Someone would come down from the skies and smite me if I said that to an old lady. Yeah, that's disrespectful, but really this lady is a the south side of retirement... and doesn't plan on it any time soon.

Long story concluded: I went home AND ROLLED COINS to pay my damn contribution for the Christmas party because I WAS ROBBED and have no money. Bah humbug.

Little Pigs

starangel82 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:52:40 -0800

Warning: If you're a Twilight fan, I seriously recommend you stop reading now. Nothing I say in this post is going to be something you'd like.

Fans all over are going to kill me, but I don't like Twilight. In fact I would go so far as to say I loathe Twilight. Yup. I LOATHE Twilight.

I'm tired of seeing Twilight plastered all over every website imaginable, Twitter, Facebook, etcetera. I was in Walgreens last night and there were Twilight bracelets, necklaces, and even an Edward doll. An Edward doll? Really?

Everyone is talking about how they have their tickets to the midnight showing of New Moon. Who cares? You got a ticket. Good for you. There is no need to update your Facebook feed every 2 seconds squeeing like a little pig over it.

Yes, I said squeeing like a little pig. Squeee, squeee, squeee is all I hear. There are even GROWN WOMEN in my office who are squeeing over Twilight like it's the best thing since sliced bread.

I don't get it. The whole premise of these books is about a girl who meets a guy and after one day is so head-over-heels for him that she must have him. And if you ask me, ole Edward is a bit stalkerish. Plus the author totally obliterates the world of vampires and turns them into cutesy-wootsey sparkly vamps. Does Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, or Charlaine Harris ring any bells? At least their vamps appropriately burst into flames when they come in contact with sunlight.

And I won't even get started on Breaking Dawn and my feelings on that literary disaster. Not to mention the fact Bella actually begs for abusive sex in the book. Yeah... a good role model for teenage girls. Wait. I'll stop. I said I wasn't going to talk about Breaking Dawn. Mainly because my blood pressure is rising at the mere thought.

I'll be so happy when the Twilight phenomena dies. For my readers who made it this far and love Twilight, we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I'll forever loathe Twilight.

Gender Roles - Love 'Em Or Leave 'Em?

starangel82 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:47 -0800

Let's go back to the 1940s for a minute. My grandmother was married, raised a kid, ran a farm, taught school, and kept a clean house. All while my grandfather was away at war. After my grandfather came back from the war and had recovered from his wounds, they went back into their traditional roles. He ran the farm and did all the 'manly' things. My grandmother raised my aunt, taught school, and still had dinner on the table by 5:30 PM every night. All while pregnant with my dad.

I'm exhausted just talking about it.

I bring all this up because I've been thinking about gender roles lately. I look at my parents. Granted, my dad still does majority of the 'manly' things around the house and my mom does the household things, neither one is afraid to help out the other. My dad does housework. My mom can swing a hammer when needed.

And that's what I like.

I'll never be able to date a guy who believes in traditional gender roles. As much as I like cooking and being in the kitchen, I don't like being expected to be there. If we have kids, I'm not going to be the one who raises them. I certainly expect their father to help out. At the same time, I don't expect him the only one who takes out the trash or fixes things when they break. I think 50/50 is a good blend.

So could you be with someone who firmly believes in traditional gender roles? Or would you rather share the load?