Bits and pieces of me!

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Love you all...

1. First and middle name? Lee Ann Patricia (Lee Ann is two words, but it is just my first name)

2. Were you named after anyone? My parents ~ My mom is Patricia Ann and my Dad’s middle name is Lee

3. Do you wish on stars? Yes (I am a hopeless romantic)

4. When did you last cry? I haven't cried recently

5. Do you like your handwriting? Yes, and I also do Calligraphy in my spare time

6. What is your favorite lunch meat? I do not usually eat sandwiches, but I do like a good french dip

7. What is your birth date? September 21

8. What is your most embarrassing CD? Backstreet Boys

9. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? Yes, I am very loyal to my friends

10. Do you have a journal? No (This blog is the closest thing I have to a journal)

11. Do you use sarcasm a lot? No

12. What are your nicknames?
"Lee", "Luv", "LeeBee", "Princess", “Nan”, “Bug” (when I was little my dad used to call me "Bug" because of my big brown eyes)

13. Would you bungee jump? I might. The closest thing I have done to that is dive off a 10 meter platform (into a pool)

14. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Not usually with my tennis shoes, but if I am wearing hiking boots, yes

15. Do you think that you are strong? Yes! Maybe more strong willed than physically strong.

16. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate Chip

17. Shoe Size? 9

18. Red or pink? Pink

19. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I am too trusting sometimes

20. Who do you miss most? My boyfriend when he is apart from me

21. Do you want everyone that reads this to do the same? It would be cool

22. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Periwinkle jammie pants, no shoes

23. What are you listening to right now? television

24. Last thing you ate? Grilled salmon, steamed broccoli and cauliflower

25. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? The pinkish, purple, red, golden color of the sky when it is setting.

26. What is the weather like right now? Cool (50's)

27. Last person you talked to on the phone? Howard

28. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Up close ~ eyes, From a distance ~ arms…..ummmmm :)

29. Favorite Drink? Diet Pepsi or Black Cherry Propel water.

30. Favorite Sport? I like to watch gymnastics.

31. Hair Color? Dark brown

32. Eye Color? Honey brown

33. Height? 5’6”

34. Do you wear contacts? Yes

35. Favorite Food? Juicy filet mignon

36. Last Movie You Watched? The Devil Wears Prada

37. Favorite Day Of The Year? Christmas

38. Scary Movies Or Happy Endings? Definitely Happy Endings….I have nightmares too easily, so I don’t watch scary movies

39. Summer Or Winter? Winter (I love snuggling up in front of a cozy fire crackling in the fireplace, it never gets too cold here in Birmingham)

40. Hugs OR Kisses? Kisses, my boyfriend has the best kisses

41. What Is Your Favorite Dessert? Icecream (I think)

42. Who Is Most Likely To Do This? HOPEFULLY EVERYONE…LOL!!!!

43. Who Is Least Likely To Do It? Probably most of you.

44. Living Arrangements? By my self (oh, and two cats)

45. What Books Are You Reading? Not reading any books for pleasure right now.

46. What's On Your Mouse Pad? Mouse

47. What Did You Watch Last Night? Dancing with the Stars

48. Favorite Smells? My boyfriend’s cologne, vanilla candles, a wonderful lotion called “Moonlight Path” ~ it has lavender extracts in it, and White Linen.

49. Favorite Sounds? Laughter and a purring kitten

50. Where Did You Meet Your Other Half? At my previous part time job in the Bookstore.

Tell me one thing about you! Please!!

Have a good day!
~xo
Lee Ann

Funny or Frightening?

My friend Michael sent these to me. Thanks!

Happy pre-halloween everyone!

~xo

Lee Ann

Dining out....

Howard and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings a couple of weeks ago.
We had not been in a while because the last time we had gone, it was real crowded with a ton of kids and really bad service. We thought we would give it another shot because the food is good and it was close by.
We came in and sat ourselves. It was not that crowded, good, it won't be long until we get served.

WRONG!!

As we sat at the table, we began to wonder if we had sat at a table that had no server.
There were a few that walked by us from time to time, but no one even acknowledged we were there. (...and they were not even that busy)
Finally, a girl came up to the table and sat down in the chair next to me and gave kind of a "huff" and asked us what we wanted to drink, all without even the tiniest smile. She got up and left. Well, it must have been one of those special nights where they go to another country to import the beer. Oh wait, the beer we ordered is made in America.
I know! She must have had to drive to the distributor to get it because it took forever (at least it seemed that way at the time).
Not only are we thirsty, but we still had not placed our order for dinner.
Ok, here she comes. She took our order and left. Again, gone forever!
After a good 20 minutes (we had only ordered a small basket of wings and a sandwich), another girl walks up with a tray that has our food on it.
Well, at least some of it. I said, "oh, there is supposed to be onion rings too."
The girl looked at me like she did not speak English (actually more like she had never heard anyone speak before) and just stood there staring at me and shaking her head no.
I said "yes". Then she said "No! You will have to take that up with her."
Howard and I were in shock that she responded that way.
Finally when we saw our server, I said, "I did not get the onion rings that I had ordered."
She looked at the ticket as if I was making it up. Then she said she would get the order in. A little while later, she brought the onion rings without saying ONE word.
After we finished eating, we waited and waited on her to bring the check so we could pay.
Once again, we waited and waited and waited.
We could not believe the service we were getting. She was flat out rude and on top of that made us wait an extreme amount of time to get our drinks, to take our order, to bring our food, to bring our check, to run the card..... She had to be the most inefficient server we had seen.
I suppose you can guess what kind of tip she got!

Howard and I both believe in tipping good for good service and tipping 15% even if the service is not so good, but honestly, this was beyond bad. I am fairly sure we won't be going back there again. The food is not that good to endure that kind of service.

Then last week, we went to a football game to watch my niece cheer.
After the game, we went to Carrabbas to eat dinner. It was there we had another strange experience.
This time it was not bad service or bad food but an interesting couple that was seated directly behind me.
As they walked through the restaurant toward the table behind me, they were being paid a lot of attention.
The guy was of slim build, on the short side, rapper looking with an afro.
The girl was much taller, long black hair, Asian with long legs in the shortest shorts imaginable. Oh I forgot to mention her outfit was bright colors made of satin and she had on high heel boots to her knees.....hmmmm, are you getting the visual? Well, she was a la.. woman and it was the evening!
They certainly turned every ones heads.
When they were seated in the booth, they both sat on the same side. Then moments later started making out.
I could not see them, but Howard could. Apparently almost everyone else could see them too.
How embarrassing.

Have you had any interesting dining out experiences lately? If so, please share.

Have a great weekend!
~xo
Lee Ann

Be-bop, She-bops, He-bops!

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!Have a great day!
~xo
Lee Ann

A repeat worth repeating!

Here is some advice I have heard. Some of it is really good. Some of it is easy to live by. Some of it may not seem probable. Some of it is my own advice to myself that I wanted to share….I don’t think it ever hurts to look for the good in someone!

Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.It will be a truly rewarding experience. A note on expectations…. my Priest told me once, and I will never forget, “Do not have expectations of people and you won’t ever be disappointed”. Do you know how hard that is? I have tried. Just think of something, say for instance your birthday. Don’t you at least expect those that know it is your birthday to at least say “Happy Birthday”? That is some advice that is really hard to live by.

Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.Communication is key in a relationship. It doesn’t hurt to love the other stuff too :)

Look for the good in someone.When you are in a relationship, the longer you are with that person, the easier it is to see their faults. Always look for the good in someone, because it is there and that is what keeps a relationship going.

Don't believe all you hear.The media has been a good example of this. That might be one of my biggest problems, I have been told I am too trusting, however, I believe that is better than being one of those people that don’t believe anything.

When you say, "I love you," mean it.Those words should not be taken lightly…and I tell him EVERY DAY.

When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.It is important to say it when appropriate. Do not let pride stand in the way. No one is perfect.

Believe in love at first sight.I do! :)

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it is the only way to live life completely.You will never have it if you do not try. Give it everything you have.

In disagreements, fight fairly. No name-calling.It is easy to say things in anger that you do not truly mean. It makes a cut deeper.

Don't judge people by their relatives!I know from my own family, that I am different from my brother and sister.

Talk slowly but think quickly.There is less chance you will say something you don’t mean.

When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?”Hahaha! Just a polite way of saying, “None of your business”.

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.If you want it, you have to go for it.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.We can learn from every situation.

Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.If you don’t respect yourself, no one else will. If you don’t have respect for others, don’t expect it from others. If you do it, own it.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.Pride, don’t let it stand in the way of a friendship or a relationship. We all have pride, but if you cherish your friends/relationship, it is not worth losing them over a dispute.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.It is better to reconcile a mistake than to let it go. People will have more admiration towards you.

Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.Sounds silly, but it is true. Just try it.

Spend some time alone.It is important to take care of yourself too.

Have a great Monday and week.
Love you all
Lee Ann

Unexpected and pleasant

The other day I was getting my nails done.
An elderly lady came in and sat down in the chair next to mine.
She smiled and said hello, I smiled back and said hello.
Andy was just about finished working on my nails when the elderly woman said "Oh my, your nails look beautiful"! I said "thank you, they do look nice". She seemed very pleasant.
At one point, she knocked over her diet coke and it spilled on the workstation where she was sitting. She and Donna (the lady working on her nails) quickly cleaned it up.
Every so often, I caught a glimpse of her looking at me and my nails and smiling.
When Andy finished my nails, I put my fingers toward the little fan to dry them.
Andy got up, thanked me, looked at the elderly woman and said "do you want to see a Kung Fu movie"?
The lady said "what"? I said "Kung Fu movie? Sure, turn it on".

I sat letting my nails dry. The lady looked at me and said "my niece is a movie star".
Honestly, I figured it was a nice old lady that was bragging about her niece (possibly a niece once or even twice removed).
I thought if I asked her who her niece is, that she would say someone I had never heard of then I would feel awkward for not knowing her. So, I just smiled at her.
When I did not ask her who, the lady said "Sandra Bullock"!
I was shocked it was someone that was so well known.

Without trying to appear starstruck, I said quietly "Oh, I love Sandra Bullock".
Our conversation went like this:
Lady: "She is a good girl. She doesn't like all of that celebrity stuff that goes on".
Me: "She does a good job of staying out of the tabloid".
Lady: "She doesn't go for all of that mess at all".
Me: "I think there is more respect for the celebrities that don't get involved in the tabloid".
Lady: "Yes, you are right".
Me: "Does Sandra ever come to Birmingham"?
Lady: "Well, her father just moved to Birmingham. He is my brother".
Me: (thinking ~ oh, she is Sandra's direct Aunt)
Lady: "She has been here twice since her father moved here".
Me: "I guess she can feel fairly comfortable walking around and doing things when she comes here, because the people here probably don't bother her".
Lady: "Oh, speaking of that, it was funny the last time she came here.
My brother called me and said 'you need to come by and get Sandra and take her to the antique store. She saw an advertisement in a magazine of an antique store in Homewood and has wanted to go ever since'.
The lady told her brother 'you know I am not crazy about antiques and I don't particularly like going to antique stores'.
He said 'well, you need to come by and get Sandra and take her because she has really been wanting to go'.
So I told him I would.
Apparently Sandra is just crazy about antiques. So, I went by and picked her up and we went to the antique store. Hmmm, I can't remember the name of that store. Anyway, we went inside and started looking around.
The people in the store started looking at her. Then someone came up to her and said 'hey, you know, you look like Sandra Bullock'! Then Sandra replied 'Oh? I look like Sandra Bullock?' "

We both laughed. I thought that was a clever response, not denying but not admitting!
At that point, someone that she had been with came in the nail shop to check on her. So our conversation ended.

There was a little nail small talk.
About that time, I checked my nails and they were dry, so I got up to leave. I thanked Andy and said goodbye to Andy and Donna, smiled at the lady, she smiled and said goodbye, and I said goodbye.

That made for a very interesting lunch hour. I felt as though I could have talked to her for hours. She was a very pleasant person, with an unexpected story.

Have a pleasant weekend!
~xo
Lee Ann

A treat for you!

I am sorry I haven't been around much lately.

I have been busy busy busy.

I made some cookies.

Please come in and help yourself!

Have a great week!
Love you all,

Lee Ann

Kiss kiss kiss

Look at this truck.

I saw this the other night when I met my parents for dinner.

I thought it was so cool, I just had to whip out my cell phone and take a picture.

Kind of funny, right after I took it, a guy got out of his car and ran over and took a picture with his cell phone.

Kisses to all of you.

Have a great weekend!

Profoundness

I think everyone should write something profound.

I will start it off:

LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THAN SOUND, WHICH IS WHY SOME PEOPLE APPEAR BRIGHT UNTIL YOU HEAR THEM SPEAK.

Have a great Monday everyone!
~xo
Lee Ann

2 years ago I wrote....

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to engage in small talk?

Generally speaking, I am very shy.
There are certain situations that compel me to overcome my bashfulness and be more amenable.
One of those scenarios would be my job. There is quite a bit of communication over the telephone and an occasional meeting with someone outside of the office.
Then there is the cashier or other store personnel of a retail or grocery store. I believe in always giving a smile and at least asking them how their day is going.
Of course, there is the wait staff at restaurants. The service you receive can be impacted by your personable skills.
In addition, there are many other social settings, gatherings, parties etc. that being timid is not beneficial.

If I am presented with the opportunity of meeting someone new, I try to embrace it. The ritual of meeting someone new, a lot of times, involves being introduced to a stranger by someone you know. Having a familiar face near you in this situation tends to make the encounter easier.
However, there are times in your life that you must go unaccompanied into the world. This is where your superior ability of social skills (the gift of gab) behooves you. You are able to make a choice of either being a wallflower ~ totally ignored, or you can be the social butterfly ~ the life of the party. We all know that being the life of the party is way more fun. So, if there is any way possible, the introvert should be out.

Nevertheless, there is one situation where I always feel the most uncomfortable. The level of uncomfortable ness can even vary from each instance.
This would be the elevator ride.
The elevator takes me to my work place destination on a daily basis, even several times a day.
The first scenario is the approach to the elevator. Sometimes, there is someone or several people standing in the lobby waiting for the arrival of the elevator. When you arrive to join the other person (or group of people), there is either silence or the beginnings of your small talk…
“good morning”, “how are you today”, “well, it’s hump day, middle of the week”, “hi, gosh I am glad it’s Friday”, “wow, the weather sure has been hot lately”, “it sure is taking a while for the elevator, I wonder if it’s working”, “oh, here it comes, I think this is the only one working today”.
Uggghhhhhh!
I can’t stand that small talk. You are just there, on your own, with no friend to share the stiffness with.
Sometimes, while on your way to the elevator, someone has already stepped on and you are not sure if they are holding it or not. You need to make the decision whether you are going to hustle there in time to jump on or have the door close in your face. When you make the decision to not hustle, that seems to be the time someone will stick their head out of the doors and say “Going up?” Then you reply as you pick up the pace, “Oh yes, I wasn’t sure if you were holding it or not”.
Now for the actual ride itself.
If you are on the elevator by yourself, you wonder if you will make it to your floor without stopping to let on a new arrival.
TWO, THREE, Ding, STOP, doors open, in walks an unfamiliar person.
Have you ever noticed how people look up when confined in that small shaft? What are they looking at? Sometimes, you will see people looking down, but mostly up. So, I try to look right at a person. (If you have read my profile, I don’t like predictability in a person). I don’t do it to make someone else uncomfortable, but because I feel uncomfortable doing what everyone else is doing (looking up).
Ok, stay with me now.
Someone has walked in, the doors close and you proceed to your destination. Who is going to break the ice? It feels way too strange to be in such a small place with another person (strange person) and no one says a word. Is silence more uncomfortable than the meaningless small talk? YES!
So, here goes… "Hi, how are you?” “Fine, how are you?” “Good…well, the day is half way over now, I’m glad” “Yeah, me too”…….FIVE, SIX, Ding (oh yea, my floor) STOP, doors open, “Ok, have a good day!” “You too!”
Whew! That is over, thank goodness.
See what I mean?
I mean, no one would ever be able to tell that I feel completely uncomfortable in that situation, but underneath, oh yes, I truly do! I think the uncomfortable feeling is compounded by the fact that the other person (people) appears awkward and uneasy.
That is kind of tough for someone that is shy by nature.
All in all, I enjoy talking to people, but that meaningless small talk with a stranger is not easy, especially in the confines of an elevator.
Most of the time, the more you are exposed to a situation the easier it gets.
Not the elevator ride!

Two years later.....the small talk in an elevator still makes me uneasy. I will usually say something, look at the other people (while they are looking above the doors at the floor numbers light up as the elevator goes up or down), or say nothing until I am about to exit, then I say "have a good day".

I hope all of you have a good day!
~xo
Lee Ann