Everything's Coming Up Roses: November 2007

Friday, November 30, 2007

Hey can I borrow that?

I love my friends....even if they are borrowed - once, twice or three times removed. :) I say that because two years ago, when my husband and I moved here from our prior location we didn't know many people aside from my sister, her husband and two babies. Slowly we started meeting people and I would always call my sister's closest friends - my "borrowed friends". If I met one of their friends they were once removed etc. Fast forward 2 years...

Last night myself and some BFFs (for me - borrowed friends forever - HA) had one of our legendary GNO (Girls Night Out). Unfortunately due to an agnsty cheerleader coach, my sister was unable to attend (long story!). So we weren't 100% but its always fun and we laugh so much. I'm really grateful to them even if they are borrowed. (I found out last night they really hate that whole borrowed thing...hrmm)

So Kelli, Seester, Val, Hallie and my newest twice removed friend Kerri -- fajitas for 2? 1? 4? 5?

*and why didn't we take a picture to INSERT HERE*

Monday, November 26, 2007

My broken leg.

If you're in to this sort of thing here are some pictures. I went to the Dr. today -- the second surgery is December 28th. I'm a little disappointed -- I wanted to be on two feet by Christmas.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Moments in a Wheelchair

I started to title this post "Life in a Wheelchair"...but I can't begin to understand what an entire "LIFE" would be like in a wheelchair...but I do know about moments in a wheelchair. I understand so much better how the "simple things" are difficult for people with handicaps. Not to mention the mental stress on them.

Some observations from my moments.

People stare.

Doors are the hardest thing for people on crutches or in a manual wheelchair! I am always shocked at the person who will let the door slam in my face instead of waiting to hold it open.

Some people are really friendly and helpful. Lots of people will come up to you and just talk -- ask you what happened etc. This doesn't happen when I'm on my crutches as much as my wheelchair. Lots of people will offer to get things off of shelves, pick up something, help me unload groceries etc. It always shocks me.

Don't park in handicapped spaces unless you really are handicapped. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. Imagine having to hop all the way to Target (not to mention shop once you're in there) from the back 40 on crutches. People don't want to do it on two feet! I wish I could ticket everyone I see doing it. There is a reason that there is a $500 fee for parking there without reason. And if you're one of those people that thinks "this store has too many handicapped spaces" (like I used to do for some); the reason they do this is because fruitcakes that aren't supposed to park there do. Jerks. Obviously this topic fires me up.

Going to a bathroom is a major pain -- especially if you're a germ phob. The reason they have the handicapped bathrooms so big is because wheelchairs are so big and bulky...then you have to slide over to the toilet are you kidding me? And flush -- for the love - do it for the handicapped people that are almost eyelevel with the stupid potties.

Don't hit someone in a wheelchair -- they might feel it! Lots of people don't give a crap that you are injured (ok fine don't care)...and will hit your injury and won't acknowledge that they did it. I had at least 4 maybe 5 people knock my leg to the side because they weren't paying attention. It really shocked me that they couldn't even LOOK AT ME and say -- excuse me. Seriously. I freaking have broken bones and have had to have SURGERY on that leg that you just freaking HIT. Jerks.

People in wheelchairs are not invisible -- so don't pretend they are. At Brookstone the other day...not one, not two but three people, got in front of me in line to check out. I was OBVIOUSLY in line. I sat there in complete shock. Its like I was invisible...

If you're getting on an elevator and someone with a wheelchair is getting off...its nice to let them off first before pushing your way on the elevator. This happens ALL OF THE TIME. I'm not kidding...and it always surprises me that its mostly MEN.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Black Friday...how it went.

These are the stores we went to in order:

Start: 5:45

JoAnn's Craft Store

Best Buy

American Girl (it didn't open until 9 -- so we went back later)

Sears - Lands' End store

Brookstone

American Girl

Pottery Barn Kids

Belk

Gap Kids

Macy's

Old Navy

Target

Lowes

Pizza joint to bring home pizza for the peeps

End 1:45

JoAnn's wasn't an Ally stop but I love looking at all the crafty stuff. Sometimes I participate, but this year I didn't. I'll do get to get a wreath on the door this Christmas with the broken leg.

Best Buy was insane. I found the 3 items I was looking for there and was happy -- but the line was horrible. We brought my wheelchair (crutches and standing in line for 45 minutes is NOT a good idea). I sat in line while my sister kept dropping stuff off. The people behind me kept hitting my wheelchair with their cart - lurching me forward into the guys in front of me (thank goodness they were nice). One time my sister was making one of her stops and saw them do it! Her mother in law decided to stand behind me to stop them-- well they HIT HER TOO with their stupid cart - multiple times. It was ludicrous.

American Girl - did not open before 9. We went back later.

Sears - wasn't bad. The bathrooms were disgusting - don't get me started on that.

Brookstone - I finally got my father in law something I am happy with...and they are shipping it to him! YAY I couldn't believe the people in that store that just pretended I wasn't there - in line - waiting to check out. (more on that later)

American Girl - MAD HOUSE. People were yanking stuff off the shelves so fast. I wheeled in the store and wheeled RIGHT BACK OUT.

Pottery Barn Kids - has the cutest stuff and it is so expensive. I hate them. (just kidding)

Belk - the aisles HAVE GOT TO BE against fire code. I couldn't wheel anywhere in that store. My sister was trying to maneuver me around the store and some man came right up behind her and LINGERED there. She was like ummm sir...we've got to turn around. He evenutally backed off. SICKO.

Gap Kids - one of very FEW stores that offer PJs with feet for 12 month old kiddies.

Macy's - I swear they were giving away something in the shoe department. Not only that, but this woman who was 7 feet tall almost WALKED over me in my wheelchair. Ask my sister - I kid you not. They were having great sales though.

Old Navy - don't do it. They offer $5 shipping its worth it to not get in the mess.

Target - not so bad. They didn't have any carts for me to ride (which is a bummer because the Target ones are FAST) so I pushed myself in my wheelchair. It was pretty crowded in electronics and toys but the rest of the store was bearable.

Lowes - I stayed in the car. I enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and healthy people parking in the handicapped spots. (more on that later)

I need to re-evaluate my list. Hopefully I'm almost finished. That is a good thing.

Friday, November 23, 2007

BLACK Friday!

In honor of Black Friday, I have changed my blog to be all black.

I would like to congratulate America's retailers for once again ripping us all off at the holidays. I'm sure you will succeed exponentially. I am so happy that you get to go in the black while the rest of the country goes in the red. (Not me this year!)

And yes, I will be out shopping early...in 5.5 hours to be exact. At which point I BETTER find a good deal. (Wonder if they're discounting eyecream???...)

The upside to this year's shopping drama....I have a handicap tag. Cheers to parking!

I will update when I return....

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you have a GREAT day! I'm taking the day off for posting mindless drivel. The world is happier today.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

GASP!

Let me set up this little scenario...

•Ally gets magazine in the mail. Magazine is of the designer clothing variety where Ally looks at latest trends and then never trades even the knockoffs for her daily varitey of Tshirt and jeans.
•Ally finds cute little eyecream sample in magazine and tears it out, noting that she could "have the ultimate lifted eyes without surgery"
•A month later, Ally finds the little sample and actually uses the eyecream after seeing a photo of herself with dark circles under her eyes
•After two days and wiping out the sample, Ally discovers she actually likes the eyecream and should ask for some for Christmas
•Ally goes to cute website printed on the sample....
*insert screeching breaks here -- as Ally passes ou*

SKIN CAVIAR LUXE EYE LIFT CREAM
The Secret of Ageless Eyes
$275.00

•Targets the seven most prominent eye areas: fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, loss of elasticity, puffiness, dark under eye circles and dryness.
•Uses advanced technology to help firm, lift and restore skin's youthful appearance
•Helps firm and nourish with Caviar Extracts and La Prairie's exclusive Cellular Complex
•0.68 oz / 20 ml

And not to mention if you have a spare 2 grand lying around you could get this instead:

JEWELED SKIN CAVIAR LUXE CREAM
Limited Edition
$2,000.00

•Numbered piece includes Jeweled jar as well as a 1.7 oz Skin Caviar Luxe Cream, which can be placed inside the refillable Jeweled jar
•Jeweled jar takes 48 hours to hand-make and includes 2,400 CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements
•Includes Certificate of Authenticity

To help put this in perspective...that would be $3785.41 / gallon. And we thought GAS was expensive.

I had no idea...I should have sold my sample on ebay and paid for Christmas.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Thanksgiving

When I think of Thanksgiving, I always think of my Grandparents. I love that my Poppy would mix everything on his plate together before he ate it and then sit after dinner rubbing his belly. I loved that my Papaw Willard (I'm a southern girl) would eat a TON but still be skinny as a rail. I loved my Grandma Nita being so quiet and just smiling as we sat on her lap. Her legs seemed sooo long and I loved her high heels. I loved Grandma Callie sitting in the chair by the fireplace. She would just watch us run around like wild girls. I loved the sound of the silver hitting the "good china". Grandma Helen would always save the wish bone for my sister and I to yank apart. Sometimes she would hide it to fool us...but we were rarely fooled. We knew she saved it.

Its funny because now my sister has Thanksgiving dinner. It just passes down. And I've been thinking a lot about my Grandmother Helen this past week. Her heath didn't allow her to attend Thanksgiving at my sisters house last year and we really missed her. And then this year, she passed away in January...it seems like a long time ago, but it was only 11 months ago. I wish I could have one more Thanksgiving like I did when I was a kid. I would know how those moments pass so fast...even though at the time -- they seem so slow.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

What is fun, quick and easy?

Get your mind out of the gutter and visit http://www.twitter.com or you can check out my twitter at www.twitter.com/ItsAlly

Remember brainstorming? This is like that only "funner". (Quote from Legally Blonde)

Now back to the gutter...go on with yourself.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

QotD: Never Going Back Again

What's been your worst experience at a restaurant?

*stomps feet - throws grocery store fit*

I wanted to answer the QotD and this isn't a question I wanted to answer.

Bennigans in New Orleans. We were on our way to the SUGAR BOWL (woo hoo) and it was the only thing at the exit where we were...I guess? Long story short - we ordered...three hours later we left. It took forever. They were completely incompetent. (An hour after they took our orders they told us they didn't have any baked potatoes -- an hour...is that how long they took to RUN OUT). The food that we were actually served (which for many of us wasn't what we ordered) as you can imagine -- was disgusting. The servers were rude and hostile.

Now the strangest restaurant....

Only my sisters would understand this...my Dad driving us around on trips was full of danger, excitement, fast thrills and hard stomps on the breaks to avoid accidents. So one night we were again in New Orleans again - (going to the Sugar Bowl - woo hoo) ....and we decided to go out for a scrumptious NO style cuisine -- or a burger joint whatever came first. We went down some road in some suburb (obviously LOST) and my dad said we're going here to "The Red Barn" and rapidly swings our navy blue conversion van into a tailspin to stop at this complete dive of a restaurant....well turns out it wasn't actually "The Red Barn" but "The Red Bean". When we pointed this out to Dad he was like - "oh" and we all busted out laughing but stopped laughing when he got out anyway and said we were eating there. (Dad does like to stick to his word!) I don't really remember much about that night except I think their chicken consisted of the leftover pieces from the old McDonalds chicken nuggets (life before the "white meat") and it must have caused my memory to block out the experience. Needless to say when my Dad wanted to back there (just to remember those great times) they were closed -- can you say CONTAMINATION?!@#!@?

Welcome visitors...to my planet!

I have duty-free shopping....

Check out our new random links!

Check out the mindless drivel...

Look at that nasty foot that needs a pedicure!

I was shocked when I was looking at the stats for my blogsite aka webplanet. People read blogs - even more mindblowing -- people read my blog. I don't know a SOUL in Spain. But 1.26% of the tourists to TLtDaM are from Spain! Never been to Croatia -- hey people in Croatia -- how's it going? I'd like to send warm wishes to the .31% of visitors from the Russian Federation. Here's a "hot hands" to keep you warm.

I'm being silly -- but it is amazing. :) And I think my husband should take me to all the countries below so I can get to know my readers better. What do you all think?

Perc. Country Name
7.55% United States
6.28% Germany
1.57% Japan
1.41% France
1.41% Canada
1.41% Unknown -
1.26% United Kingdom
1.26% Spain
0.94% Switzerland
0.78% Mexico
0.78% Netherlands
0.78% Czech Republic
0.63% Norway
0.63% Croatia
0.63% Belgium
0.63% Italy
0.47% India
0.31% Russian Federation
0.31% Portugal
0.16% Austria
0.16% Singapore
0.16% Slovenia
0.16% Colombia
0.16% Slovakia
0.16% Sweden

Ally learns to spell....Chapter 1

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

QotD: This One Goes Out To...

It's dedication time. What song are you sending out, and who is it dedicated to?

To my lovey....Happy Together by the Turtles. :) He never does it, but I LOVE IT when he sings it to me.

The burden of me.

I was talking to a friend last night...I'm pretty independent. Prior to breaking my leg - I simply didn't ask for help a lot...with my Mom being the exception. I'm always calling her about something. Since the accident, I've been completely unable to take care of even the simple things - myself. This is an AWFUL feeling. I understand everyone needs to learn the humility lesson but I've had my nose rubbed in it for almost a year...and honestly I'm tired of it. I don't know how much more I can take.

Last week, my closet racks fell down. Completely out of the wall -- dumping everything I own under the racks in the floor of my closet. Suddenly this week, it gets cold so any clothes I had "out" to be washed or anything are suddenly not weather appropriate. So this morning - I almost fall flat on my face trying to dig out a sweatshirt underneath the mess that has become my life. Its like WHAT THE ELSE ELSE CAN HAPPEN. Oh but the hits keep on coming...I had bought a bag of potatoes and there was a rotten one in the bag...apparently it had a gnat farm integrated into it and they migrated into my disposal bringing the gnat population in my house UP exponentially. Excuse me while I scream really loud in frustration. After a few internet how tos and after speaking to the pest control people I got rid of the stupid gnats. NASTY.

I know this may seem like a "no big deal" but try living it for a month or two or THREE....you'll see what I mean.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

AIIIIGGGHHHH

I really have nothing to say.

Seriousy. Nothing.

Here's the mindless drivel that is going through my brain right now...as proof.

•Send the invite.
•wonder what my TLBL (tiny little baby lovey) is doing at this moment
•WOULD THOSE MEN PLEASE STOP HAMMERING FOR ONE FREAKING MINUTE.
•The writers strike is going to rain on my TV parade mentioned below.
•Wonder if Hallie is going to marry this new guy?
•I sent the food list late for group.
•OMG! I just realized I do not have a delete key on my keyboard. Only a backspace. That is freaky.
•Hello its the backstreet boys redone...I've lost it.
•I forgot my daily aspirin....AGAIN...nice blue foot for evening wear.
•7 weeks until Christmas....6 until I can walk again = 1 week to shop.
•will my sisters house ever be finished?
•Why didn't Mom answer her phone?
•I wish I could get my printer hooked up to my laptop from work -- VPNs for the win.
•This song reminds me of Summer 2005....
Want more? Are you insane?

Sunday, November 4, 2007

QotD: Unforgettable Crush

What's the most memorable crush you have had?
Submitted by spectacular.

Well I'm sure you all may have heard of me. I was once engaged to the lead singer of Duran Duran - Simon LeBon (in my dreams). The only problem was I was 11 and in the 5th grade and he was 30. To me, age didn't matter but I think it got to him.

Oh yea and you know what else? I even managed to sneak a copy of the album with the explicit lyrics.

Big Screen vs Little Screen...well sortof little.

Something has happened in the past few years. I cannot pinpoint the exact moment of it all but television has become "better" entertainment than movies. I think it will always be difficult to top the cinematic special effects and cinemetogrophy of the movies, but as far as stories and content go -- TV wins. I would have never said that a couple of years ago...but the quality of TV has exponentially gotten better!

I'm going to elaborate on this topic...but right now -- I'm just to sleepy to finsh this post.

Oh and I say sortof little as our TV is massive...nothing little about it.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Vox Hunt: All Hallow's Eve

Video: Get us in the mood for Halloween by showing us your favorite scary scene or creepy costumes.

When A Stranger Calls (1979) - Revelation
Yep this scares the YKWhat out of me....

QotD: This One Got A Bad Rap

Napoleon Dynamite. I loved this movie -- my husband wanted to go see it. He was just lukewarm about it

Friday, November 2, 2007

Odd (wo)man out...

In another life, I got on a plane and jetted to NYC with some friends from work where tonight, I sit in my seat to see Wicked the musical after a day of bartering for illegal Prada fakes and drinking Starbucks on 5th Ave.

Check this out -- its BEAUTIFUL!

I ended up having a fun time with friends....so all is not lost. Maybe one day...I'll "Defy Gravity".