Below are the 6 most recent journal entries recorded in polofrk417's LiveJournal:

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2004
4:38 pm	This will have to be a short entry. I am almost done with my friends blankets and I want to get them to their owners before all the cold is done. So here is a quick and concise update on my life. I bought my GRE books to study from and it turns out thtat I need to take two GRE's. What a lucky girl am I? The general one and the biology one. I started the general one this past weekend and I did really good until I got to the analogies. I struggled with those on the SAT and now I am struggling with on the GRE's. I just can't seem to wrap my brain around them ever. This past weekend we went to Brian's parents house for his Dad's b-day. He turned the big 50. I gave him some slack on turning fifty and only gave him one shot about being old. It was a good weekend all in all. We ate alot and we went bowling. There is this bowling alley by their house which is a total ghetto bowling alley. Its like a blast from the past. It looks like it hasn't been updated in about 30 years, at least. I bowled pretty good, well ok I bowled really good. I beat my hubby in both games. :) We also watched a ton of basketball. Every year Brian and I fill out brackets and compete on Yahoo with his family and some friends. This year its just his Dad, himself and me. However there is a funny note to this. Brian and I had almost polar opposite final four picks. See he had Mississippi state, Kentucky, Pitt, and Stanford with stanford and Kentucky going to the championship game. He had kentucky winning the whole thing. Now all those people who follow NCAA basketball you will all see the errors of his ways. At least now :). Miss. didn't even make it to the sweet sixteen and neither did stanford and kentucky. They all got upset by "lesser seeds". The games were thrilling and it was even better to know that I will beat my hubbie for the first time in any sports related catergory. Sure I can whoop his butt up and down a monopoly board, make him beg for mercy in scrabble, channel his Mom in Yahtzee and get three YAhtzees, but the sports victory has been elusive thus far. Not now....I will reign supreme for one whole year until the next tourney time. That made my weekend awesome :). Ok so here is my top five and it is going to be a funny one because I feel in such a mood today. This top five is dedicated to all ghetto bowling alleys across this great nations. TOP FIVE WAYS TO TELL YOU ARE IN A GHETTO BOWLING ALLEY 1. The overwhelming smell of booze and cheap cigarettes hits you in the face when you walk in the door. You look around and realize it must be coming from the middle lanes which are being used by the people residing in number two. 2. Toothless rednecks are the people you see playing at these bowling alleys. We had some doozies at the one out in MT.Vernon. One had a cowboy hat on...in a bowling alley. The other had a sleeveless t-shirt with arms covered in tattoos a long beard and oh yeah one tooth in the front of his head. There were two of them in flannel and one in tight jeans a dress shirt and those goofy necklaces with the big buckle and strings hanging down. The girls with them were something straight out of a trailer park. I was expecting three really young kids and four dogs to come running in and screaming that the trailer was on fire. 3. You have to keep score by hand on these aqua blue desk looking things. You try to look up to see if there are lights above the far end of the lane to tell you how many pins before you realize that three of the light bulbs are burned out and the others have shorted out so you have no way of knowing what pins you knocked down. Score keeping is an experience so new to me. IT took me three games to get used to it. Then my pencil ran out and I couldnt find a pencil sharpener. Thats a good sign as well. 4. The ball return doesn't seem to always return your balls. One time we noticed that there weren't any balls coming back. It seemed that the ball return had shut itself off for its five minute break and not informed anyone. Of course taking for granted that the ball return worked we continued to bowl. We noticed it wasnt working when to our suprise we only had five balls left and there were nine of us bolwing. There were fours balls at the back of the lane just sitting there. The guy working had to run back and use his leg to kick the balls into the return and then start the machine up. This delayed our game some time seeing as how the guy didnt have the longest legs in the world. 5. When you bowl a strike the pins don't reset. Well they do but the reset with an empty lane. So for example I bowl a strike, I cheer and sit down. Brian was after me. In order for the lane to reset you have to press a reset button or bowl a ball done an empty lane. This may seem logical to you now but let me explain a few more things to you. The thing at the end of the lane that sweeps all of the pins back it doesnt always work. So sometimes you have to bowl with a pin laying in the gutter pretty far out. It's only fixed until the guy runs back to the secret back room and gets a long stick to pull the pin back. Ok so it wasnt that funny but it was a list of ghetto bowling alleys. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 16th, 2004
5:08 pm	I must start with my apologies to my devoted fans :) I am truly sorry it has been a while since I wrote in my journal for all you to read. It has been a crazy few days and suprisingly not as boring as I thought. Last weekend I went up to GCC to see the polo team play. I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how they played. There were still a few things that they could work on but isn't that true of every team no matter what sport they play? I think that I might address this further in my top five list. Brian and I spent Friday night in a hotel and Saturday hanging out. I ended up leaving early instead of staying for the last game because I didn't feel very good. I went to Rachel's and I hardly ate anything, because I didnt feel well. Brian and I had spent the day walking around the outlets so that might have played a roll in my not feeling to healthy. Sunday Brian and I went to church and then spent some time with my family at home. We watched a movie and hung out. Brian and I then went home and tried out Brian's new present. I bought him a stovetop smoker which is perfect for the two of us. Brian has a large smoker at his parents house but we have no space for it here. So we bought this much smaller and much more efficient. We had a smoked chicken which was absolutely delicious. Monday I spent the day with my sister. She had an inservice day so I called her and we hung out. We went shopping and I bought a few things. Two of which are two GRE books, a general one and a biology one. YES boys and girls I have to take two GRE's to get into the graduate program I want. I guess there are worse things that I would have to do. Claire and I ate some good food and played some video games. IT was a good relaxing day for the bear and I. Today I was supposed to go and meet someone at church. He is the guy who will show me around and let me know how to do things. However it was really yucky outside and he called me to cancel. Which was actually really good. I dont feel so good today...i think it might be that I was walking around with no coat yesterday and today I cant seem to get warm. Where is spring? IF anyone sees it will the please tell it that we could really use an appearance right about now. So now it is the time for the top five. This is a top five dedicated to the water polo team. This is not meant to be in anyway mean or spiteful. I'm just trying to help...I figured someone who saw the whole picture from uptop may be able to help. I hope that this is helpful. 1. Driving - I know that this had always been a problem. The team did a good job on the first couple of games but against Mercyhurst it just seemed to be a lost cause. I don't know if that was because they were holding you guys or if it was something else. I'm sure this is something that coach will get on you guys about. 2. Shooting - The first two games you guys rocked on this. You took shots and you took chances. Daca and Lauren weren't the only ones who shot. I know this is a corny quote but Coach Bullion always used to say "You only miss 100% of the shots you dont take". Its true you know. I'm not advocating a willy nilly shooting spree but calculated and thought out shots. You guys did awesome when the whole team took shots, that's something you guys should try to keep. 3. Aggressiveness - Ok here's me getting on a soapbox about this. I understand how hard it is to get the right balance. Trust me I was the kickout queen my freshman and sophomore year. I thought the best way to prove my point was to beat up the other players. I soon learned the error of my ways and realized that its a controlled thing. There is such a thing as being too aggressive. You want to play tough but you also want to play smart. Don't play into their hands by retaliating or fighting. Be smart. Once you get to know the game better you will realize how to finesse them. I know that this is kinda vague but if you want something more specific I can explain it. 4. Hole set - From what I saw the team has three or four talented hole sets. You all were able to get stuff done and you were effective. However I did notice that in the Mercyhurst game they seemed to be silenced. The first two games the hole sets were drawing fouls and scoring goals. I watched how effective you guys were. It seemed that you let the refs defeat you. I know its hard and frustrating to play against beasts and bad refs but you guys have the talent. Shoot more. Take the shots and don't try to draw the fouls so much. You guys get hung up in that and let that take you down and make you less effective. The shots make you guys dangerous...very dangerous. Especially if you are able to switch out and place a new player in there. That's a good tool. 5. Passes - This is more directed to the newer girls but there are older girls who are a little guilty. The passes need to be smart passes and they need to be placed in an area that only our girls can get to it. So many turnovers and goals were caused by judith reading the bad passes. Take a little more time and think before you pass. Dont freak out when you have someone breathing down your neck. Take your time, draw the foul, if not then step out and survey the situation. Good smart passes will help you and Julie out with less counter-acttacks. So there is my top five. I am sure that coach will talk about all these things if he hasn't already done so. Any clarification IM me and I will be happy to talk to you about it....or email me at mrsktel@comcast.net Remember this is just something ot think about to help you guys out. You have the makings of the best team yet in GCC history...I believe you girls can take the Rock, and even MIT :) (Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 9th, 2004
7:53 pm	wonderful today was the first day i have had off where i was actually able to relax and not worry about DG. All the other days off I would sit at home and think about what I would have to do tomorrow, what stock to put out and what cashiers I will have. Not today. I was able to sleep in then get up and play video games. I don't have to worry about other things but me and my hubby. All I really did today was play video games. I crocheted a bit but that was all really did. I know all of you reading this at GCC will be jealous that I had nothing to do. IT has it's advantages but I just wonder when I'm going to tire of this and need something else. This is going to be a short blog because Americanb Idol is on soon and I dont want to miss that. American Idol is one of my favorite shows. Its one of my guilty pleasures I have to say. I dont like admitting that I watch it but guess waht I do. I am actually invested in most of the people. I have my favorites and the ones I will be praying will get voted off. ITs a shame that I am reduced to this but such is life. So here is my top five list for today. I think that I will do my top five video games on the web. So for all those out there who are looking for a way to waste your time and put off studying here is the way. The best place to go for this amusement is www.addictinggames.com........ 1. Zuma - You're this stone frog that you move with your mouse. You shot thes colored balls into ones that are already on the board to get rid of them. If they reach the center then you are in trouble. You lose a life. I know it sounds confusing but trust me it gets addicting. You will soon find yourself playing it for hours and hours any chance you get. Trust me I have been there. 2. Collapse - This game is one where you click on the groups of colored blocks that have three or more. The computer puts lines up along the bottom. Watch out though you cant let them get to the top or you will lose. Brian and I are currently having a war on who is the best collapse player. Currently I am winning with a score of about 237,000. Try it its great. 3. Typershark - This one is pretty good. You type the words on the sharks and that kills them. But hurry up or they will get closer and eat you. I enjoy this one but I am to afraid to try the higher levels. I am a scaredy cat I know but what can I do I like to win and hate to lose :) 4. Bejeweled - THis game has a lot of versions around there but the one that was on MSN is the best. You swap the jewels around to make three or more in a straight line up or down. ITs cool trust me you will like it. I have been known to play this game well into the night until my eyes blur and water. :) You will be addicted as well trust me. 5. Frogger - THere is this cool place from addicting games that allows you to play all of your favorite 80's atari games and stuff. Trust me its awesome. I played frogger for hours and hours and hours. If you fell in love with these games as a child you will love this and be truly addicted to this. Trust me :) Well folks that is all its time for American Idol (Comment on this)
Sunday, March 7th, 2004
9:11 pm	updates, updates updates So tomorrow is my last day at the salt mine. Tuesday and Wednesday are paid vacation days :). I have mixed feelings about it. I'm happy that I'm leaving but sad that I am leaving friends. I will miss working with certain people but not others. All in all it's been a good three years and i think its time to move on. I have a part time job at the church being a custodian. I dont have to many responsibilities but thats what i wanted. This respoinsibility thing isnt all its cracked up to be. IT will be a good way to get healthy and rest. Camp AIM starts in June and I will be working there as well as the church once that starts. I know that I told a whole bunch of polo girls that I will be going to california, but it looks like that has changed. Since I quit my job Brian and I are going to be a little strapped for money. The california trip is just a little to much money for us to spend. Especially since I only will be working 12 hours a week. I really wanted to go and I'm really sad I won't be getting to see my girls kick some arse in cali. I really do miss polo. Even though I don't get to go to cali I do get to come up next weekend and watch some polo. All you water polo girls beware...Marple will be in the house next weekend. The youth group at church is going good. Working with teenagers is not going that well. They dont really care about much more than music and the opposite sex. I try to get them interested in things and it doesnt seem to go very well. Rev. Marsha does a good job but I am just floundering. There is so much work to do on the room and I want to do it soon and get it done but motivating the kids is like trying to get a dead horse to walk. I tell ya, I hope I wasn't this difficult. I think that I am going to start a top five list. Everyday I update I will place a top five list of my choosing. Today I think I will put my top five things that annoy me about our customers at the DG..... 1. Smelly people - Alot of the customers seem to think that showering is an optional action. Who needs to shower when they can wallow in their own filth for three to four days. Clealiness is not one of our customers strong points. 2. People who can't flush the toilet - So I know that the toilet is hard to work sometimes. It takes a single movement... I know that's hard. I will admit that the toilet is different at work but to leave your disgusting feces in the toilet so the next person has to flush is rather horrible. Let's say the gag reflex takes over and I was lucky I didnt have a clean up to do. 3. Old ladies who are blind but still drive - Yes we do have a ton of these. These women can't see the tag on the shelf and often can't see the products well enough to know what they purchase. Yet these same old ladies get in a car and drive themselves home. This seems like a bit of a contradiction to me, but again that must be me....or maybe not. 4. WHITE TRASH - I swear if I have to clean up after anymore smelly hicks who have no teeth and horribly misbehaved children some trailer park will go up in flames. These people love to shop at DG and they love to make my life hell. It's a good thing I am leaving because they really drive me bonkers. 5. Customers who ask stupid questions - My favorite thing is when customers ask where a product is located. I wouldn't mind telling them except they are standing next to the product. For example on one occasion a customer was standing in front of the air fresheners. Now we keep the baking soda on the bottom shelf below the air fresheners. The customer proceeds to ask me if I know where the baking soda is. I direct them to it and the say "If it was a snake it would have bit me", and I find myself thinking "I wish it was and I wish it did." The other favorite question they enjoy to ask is "Do you work here?" I find muyself thinking to that "No as a matter of fact I don't work here. I enjoy dressing in khaki and black, wearing a name tag, stocking shelves, and answering stupid questions like this for fun." Stupid questions.....everyone has one. Please dont be these people...or I will hunt you down and make you very sorry that you became one of THOSE people. (Comment on this)
Thursday, March 4th, 2004
4:57 pm	craziness The countdown is now at 4 days and two vacation days left at the salt mine. For those of you who don't know what the salt mine is, well its what Brian and I so "lovingly" call Dollar General. Yes kids soon I will be nothing but a housewife and a part time custodian at my church. All the better for my health and my marriage. I'm definitely sick of working at the DG and i hate working for little money and busting my ass. So ask me how I got my days down to 4 and two vacation days? Well so funny you asked, I was just thinking about that :). I was able to convince my boss to give me tuesday and wednesday off so that I don't loss my vacation days. She was a little hesitant but I am sure she saw it my way after a while. Let's just say I don't really care what happens to the store. IT could blow up and I wouldn't shed a tear. Other than that there isn't to terribly much to tell. My life is a little boring right now. Brian keeps me interesting, but I am glad its boring. My life has been a soap opera for so long that its nice to not have to worry about the crap people dish out. My life will be calm and peaceful. So life is ok, but its getting better. More updates as the time at DG winds down.... (Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2004
5:32 pm	My life is changing So my life is changing really fast.... I put my two weeks in at good old Dollar General and that expires on the 10th. I am so thankful to be out of that hell hole. I can't even describe the relief that I feel now that i only have eight more days left. A word of advice to all those out there, check out the employees when you start at a job. Although the employees there now were not there when I started. Regardless its good to know who (and for that matter what) you are going to be working with. Change two is that I am probably going to take a job at my church. Less hours more pay and all I have to do is be a custodian. I like to clean so getting paid to do so is gravy. ITs only temporarily of course....seeing as how my four year degree is not a B.S. in toilet scrubbing nor pew dusting. ITs good until good ole Camp AIM starts. Now that I am excited about. Change three is surprisingly i am healthier than I thought. I'm not dying and I am not going to die in the near future. It seems that I only have an infection in my lungs and that's why I have problems breathing. That is something easy to fix. The cholesterol is gonna take a little more work. I have low bad cholesterol (the kind that clogs your arteries), low good cholesterol (you get that from working out), and high triglycerides (from to many starches and sweets). So nothing to out of the ordinary. OTher than that my life is silly and mundane, except when my hubby is around. I watch too much tv crochet and play video games. One of my new favorites is grabbed by the ghoulies. It's technically a younger persons game but that makes it easy for me to beat. I'm not to good at video games so I need the kid's version. I tried to play "The SIMS" and i did horrible. That game is really hard. So that's all so far. The saga that is my life continues on. (Comment on this)