Remembering Phoenix

I joke around a lot about that fact that we now live in Arkansas but the truth of the matter is that there are some things about it that I really love. And although, I spent 28 years of my life in the Valley of the Sun and do miss it at times, there are some aspects of life in the desert I can truly live without. Hence the following...


Driving in Phoenix-

1. You must first learn to pronounce the city name. It is: "FEE-NICKS".

2. The morning rush hour is from 5:00am to noon. The evening rush hour is from noon to 7:00pm. Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday morning.

3. The minimum acceptable speed on most freeways is 85 mph. On Loop 101, your speed is expected to match the highway number. Anything less is considered "Wussy".

4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Phoenix has its own version of traffic rules. For example, cars/trucks with the loudest muffler go first at a four-way stop; the trucks with the biggest tires go second. However, East Valley, SUV-driving, cell phone-talking moms ALWAYS have the right of way.

5. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out, and possibly shot.

6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It's another offense that can get you shot.

7. Road construction is permanent and continuous in Phoenix. Detour barrels are moved around for your entertainment pleasure during the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a bit more exciting.

8. Watch carefully for road hazards such as drunks, skunks, dogs, barrels, cones, cows, horses, cats, mattresses, shredded tires, squirrels, rabbits, crows, vultures, javelinas, roadrunners, and the coyotes feeding on any of these items.

9. Maricopa Freeway, Papago Freeway and the "I-10" are the same road. SR202 is the same road as The Red Mountain FWY. Dunlap and Olive are the same street too. Jefferson becomes Washington, but they are not the same street. I-17 is also called The Black Canyon Freeway as well as The Veterans Memorial Highway. And if all that isn't enough to remember, SR 51 has recently been renamed to Piestewa Freeway because Squaw Peak Parkway was too easy pronounce. SR 101 is also the Pima FWY except west of I-17, which is also The Black Canyon FWY, and The Veterans Memorial HWY. Lastly, Thunderbird Rd. Becomes Cactus Rd. but Cactus Rd. doesn't become Thunderbird Rd. Because it dead ends at a mountain.

10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally activated."

11. If you are in the left lane and only driving 70 in a 55-65 mph zone, you are considered a road hazard and will be "flipped off" accordingly. If you return the flip, you'll be shot.

12. For summer driving, it is advisable to wear potholders on your hands.



The saddest part? This would be funny if it weren't completely true!

I've Been Tagged

Looks like I have been tagged by my good friend, Stephanie. So, here goes...

Monday, May 12, 2008

Four jobs I’ve had:
1. Kids Club Leader for the Kyrene School District
2. Music Secretary at Southwestern College
3. Elementary/Junior High Teacher
4. Administrative Assistant at Palm Valley Church

Four movies I’ve watched more than once:
1. You've Got Mail
2. The Princess Bride
3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
4. Every Baby Einstein video ever produced

Four places I’ve lived:
1. Phoenix, AZ
2. Marysville, WA
3. Goodyear, AZ
4. Little Rock, AR (hopefully there will be a 5th) :)

Four TV shows I watch:
1. Friends
2. Go, Diego, Go
3. American Idol
4. Project Runway

Four places I’ve been:
1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Paris, France
3. Rome, Italy
4. London, England

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Mexican
2. Pizza
3. Italian
4. Ice Cream

Four places I would love to visit:
1. Hawaii
2. New York
3. Prince Edward Island
4. Sicily

Four things I’m looking forward to in the coming year:
1. Having a baby (hopefully in the coming week!)
2. Moving into a house
3. Visiting friends and family
4. Seeing what God has in store for us next...

Four friends I’m tagging:
1. Anna Reckard http://rsymphony.blogspot.com/
2. Vania Reckard http://reckardfamily.blogspot.com/
3. Amy Jo Halliday http://hallidayzoo.blogspot.com/
4. Mandi Lamb http://www.idaholambs.blogspot.com/

It's Here!

I am wishing at the moment that the title of this blog would have been....She's Here! But, at this point we'll take what we can get. Our laptop has finally arrived and thus ended the need for me to get on and off the floor in order to get online. It feels good to be part of the blogging world again and it's only taken me a few days to catch up on my emails. :)

Taking a Break

It's official. This will be my last blog for a while (unless, of course, Jason Castro doesn't get voted off of American Idol and I am forced to vent my frustration to an audience). In the process of turning our office into a nursery we have made some minor changes. For a few weeks, okay months really, we have had our computer on what used to be our coffee table. Meaning that one must sit on the floor to operate it. Not a big deal, until recently. This was intended to be short-lived, as we have ordered a laptop, but apparently Dell does not understand the severity of the situation. They have delayed the shipment of our new computer and it will not be arriving for about another two weeks. I have, very stubbornly I might add, refused to give in to the fact that pregnant women really need not be sitting on the floor for extensive periods of time. And, until now, my addiction to net-surfing has kept me powering through. I don't have a problem getting on the floor. I now have a problem getting off of the floor. So, until FedEx arrives at my door with the computer we ordered over a month ago...I'm signing off.

Hopefully my next blog will include a riveting story of childbirth and pictures of a little bundle all wrapped in pink!

What I Need...

At 36 weeks pregnant, there are a lot of things one needs- a housekeeper, a chef, a nanny, a full-body massage, a grande mocha Frappuccino (did I say that out loud?)... the list goes on and on. I received this from a friend and thought it might put a fun spin on what I "really" need, according to Google that is. Ironically, most of these are surprisingly accurate. It was actually quite frightening to see what appeared when I typed in my name and a random verb in the Google search. I even learned a bit about myself... :)



1) Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search:
What Eileen really needs is to stop goofing around on the internet and start working on her thesis.

2) Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search:
Eileen looks like a manic depressive zombie. (totally accurate!)

3) Type in "[your name] likes" in Google search:
Eileen likes music.

4) Type in "[your name] says" in Google search:
Eileen says stuff.

5) Type in "[your name] wants" in Google search:
Eileen wants someone who will dote on her, and hold her often, and regularly fill her plate with fresh greens.

6) Type in "[your name] does" in Google search:
Eileen does a jump at the sand dunes! and plus.. shes pregnant.

7) Type in "[your name] hates" in Google search:
Eileen hates housework. (Can I get an Amen?!)

8) Type in "[your name] goes" in Google search:
Eileen goes to the announcements tool and sends a message to students to let them know the image collection is available. (okay so maybe this one isn't so realistic, but it could have happened a few years ago...)

9) type in "[your name] loves" in Google search:
Eileen loves to run up and down the driveway as fast as she can.

10) Type in "[your name] has" in Google search:
Eileen has all the tools to help you find, sell, or invest in Real Estate.

My Thoughts on American Idol

+ =

I can't possibly be the only person who sees this. Is there a reason this guy is still in the competition, apart from the fact that there are apparently TOO many 13 year old girls in this country with cell phones and WAY too much time on their hands?

5 Weeks and Counting...

We have made it to 35 weeks and are officially in the home stretch. As I readied myself this morning for what will be the first of several weekly invasive examinations, I was painfully reminded of all the things I am no longer able to do. Don't get me wrong. Pregnancy brings such joy and change to one's life each day, especially during the 3rd trimester. We marvel daily at the new and exciting things I am able to accomplish. What woman capable of taking on a room full of drunken frat boys in a belching contest wouldn't be beaming with pride?

Alas, the following is a list of things I can no longer manage to accomplish...

-seeing my feet
-drinking water without getting heartburn
-lying down
-getting up
-sitting
-standing
-sleeping
-wearing black and not resembling a penguin
-going longer than 10 minutes without a bathroom break
-buckling my seat belt
-picking anything up off the floor
-laughing without wetting my pants
-sneezing without wetting my pants
-getting off of the couch
-finishing a sentence with less than 3 deep breaths
-tying my shoes
-changing a diaper without getting winded
-walking about the house without bumping into at least one piece of
furniture
-remembering minor events
-remembering major events

Over the course of the next 5 weeks, I will experience the pleasure of seeing more and more menial tasks added to this list and look forward to the joy that will bring! This leads me to the inevitable question...are we done yet???