Black Friday

How many of you headed out early on the Friday after Thanksgiving? Better yet, how many of you were in line not long after your turkey dinner? Y'all know I do enjoy shopping and it must include a bargain but I just don't have it in me to be a part of the 'mob scene in the morning'. Don't get me wrong, I went online to search the ads before publication, I poured over the pages diligently comparing bargains on my couch and I noted a few things that I really needed to pick up.

On Friday afternoon, my husband and I headed out to shop. First stop, Wal-Mart. To begin, I have to say the Apple Valley Wal-Mart sucks! I realize I am spoiled by having had two Wal-Mart Super Centers in Sioux Falls but shopping at the Apple Valley Wal-Mart is like having to shop at Family Dollar after having been a regular customer of the Dollar Tree. It's a poor, poor option. We went to Wal-Mart to purchase a $5 cd for my husband and a $6 game for my honorary nieces Shianne and Katie. We walked out of there with a stack of cds, two dvds, a sweater, some holiday stationary and a few grocery items. The children's game was sold out. A $13 visit had become more than $100.

After that, we headed to Circuit City. My husband wanted a dvd. At two o'clock in the afternoon the place was still crazy. All of the parking stalls were full. The dvd bins were empty. People were standing in lines that stretched from the checkout counter, down the central walk way of the store and toward the computer department. I couldn't believe the number of large ticket items that were being loaded up in the luxury SUVs as we exited the store. Hari bought another $5 cd and we were off to Kmart in Bloomington. This was a refreshing experience. The music was soothing, the sales were good and there were relatively few shoppers. We found the dvd that had eluded us at Circuit City. We browsed the display of Christmas trees and plotted our upcoming purchase and once again, we went through the check-out with more than we had intended. However, Hari now has some new shirts for work and we have a beautiful rug instead of a carpet remnant in our entry way. Hari grew up without malls and discount stores and as a result does not have the stamina for shopping that I have developed over the years. Therefore, after returning some items from Lands End to the local Sears store, we decided to head home.

In case you are keeping track, that would be zero Christmas presents purchased and numerous items that will not make it to our wish lists!

The day after Thanksgiving reminds me of a roulette wheel. You throw down your money and if you are a merchant you bet on black. If you are a consumer, your best bet is on red. And just as the wheel spins round and round, we go through this each and every year. There is one distinct difference -- shopping for Christmas brings greater returns than Vegas. Here's hoping that the effort expended and the gifts you purchased bring satisfaction to you and your loved ones and may the holiday day season bring you true love and joy.

For those of you who are more like me, have fun as you complete your list. Me, I have to make my list and get started. Although I may look like Chicken Little while trying to get it all done, rest assured it will all come together in the end.

I am employed!

Hari and I are back to having some structure to our day. This has come courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN, my new employer. I started on November 12 and after a full day of orientation activiites, class began. This is the first time I have been through a thorough training class since 1997. I must confess, I was nervous -- wondering if I could still learn, afraid I would be the only "oldie" in the class and panicking about not having enough "business casual" clothing to wear. Wow, did I get a pleasant surprise or what. To begin, I figured my best bet was to be right up front so I plopped myself there. Now, I realize this isn't where the 'cool' kids sit but you have to weigh the pros and cons and there is plenty of time to hang in the back row once I actually understand what is going on.

You know how the first day is. Everybody is trying to get a read on everyone else and then you get to play a "get to know you" game. What was ours you may ask? It consisted of passing around a roll of toilet paper and taking however many sheets you felt you needed. And guess who they started with - damn! I couldn't even watch what the others did. Ugh! I chose 4 and hoped it would turn out okay. What a relief to find that I wasn't the only one taking a "safety" amount. It was great to learn we weren't using this for the intended purpose but to determine how much information we had to relay. For each sheet we had taken, we had to share something about ourselves. Not only did we learn a little about each other but it was refreshing to find myself in a class of new hires that are at least 24 years old.

We have completed our first two weeks in fine fashion. We have met our teams and our mentors, completed our first side-by-side observations and had a highly successful potluck. In addition, we have been informed we are able to wear jeans as long as we adhere to the dress code! After more than 10 years of a "casual" dress code that was music to my ears.

I am amazed that I am comprehending nearly all that is being presented. Health insurance is complicated on its own but learning new computer programs at the same time is putting my brain on overload. By the time I get home at night my brain is a pile of mush. Maybe this old dog can still learn a few new tricks!

And . . . in another week I get my first monetary reward. Finally, a deposit into my bank account instead of a withdrawl. (Just in time for Christmas!)

Chocolate Chip Cookies Are My Friends - Kinda

We have cleared the Halloween Holiday and are rounding the corner to Thanksgiving. Christmas is not too far away people! Have you started your shopping yet?

We had our first Halloween in our house. I don't know who was more excited, myself or the kids on the doorstep. Sadly, we only had 10 little trick-or-treaters but they were adorable! We were visited by Snow White, Sully from Monsters Inc., Elmo, a few pirates, a couple of Ninjas, two Cheetah Girls and the most adorable little monkey. Hari was quick to point out that we chose a home in a neighborhood with very few children so I was silly to expect a constant flow of trick-or-treaters. (Unlike Julie's neighborhood where the streets are packed with children every day of the year. Fine -- good point. However, with all the outsourcing America has adopted - couldn't some of those neighborhoods outsource their kids for one night of the year? In true US fashion, I did not want to be caught without enough candy - you know, "just in case". As a result, our kitchen looks like we have kids that we sent out to collect candy for hours and hours and my jeans that I worked so hard to get back into have reclaimed the "sausage pants" title. :(

I have developed a new talent. I have successfully learned how to bake chocolate chip cookies from scratch. You heard me - from scratch. So, you're not that impressed. Too bad. Home Ec is an area where even the short bus wasn't on my radar. No worries, my husband was impressed. It took some effort and same failure but, I now think I have mastered it. The first attempt, produced some ugly looking cookies that tasted pretty damn good. Even if I used a tablespoon of baking powder instead of a teaspoon. Can you tell I took shop class in junior high? The second batch had a lot of black bottoms and as a result, a number of those cookies were sacrificed to the garbage can gods. (Especially after Hari got ill from the burnt taste that was left in his mouth.) At that point, I did what any domestically challenged individual in this day and age would do. I logged onto my laptop and Googled for answers to explain why my cookies were burnt on the bottom and raw on the top. Not only did I find different explanations and several suggestions for solutions, I discovered the best news of all. I am not alone! There are other handicapped housewives out there. Yeah for company!

I sifted through the suggestions, and on my next visit to Mills Fleet Farm bought myself two new Wilton air bake cookie sheets. I made my own adjustments -- lowered the baking temperature and increased the baking minutes, (after a friend explained to me that a recipe is "just a suggestion") and voila - I have cookies that taste awesome and are pretty damn attractive if I say so myself. And let me just tell you some of the advantages to making your own cookies versus being at your friend's or sister's house when they do it.

1. If you need to sample the chocolate chips on their way into the batter, it's okay.
2. If you want to eat the raw dough, it's okay. I really don't understand why it matters if it is baked or raw. If you were going to give me a cookie, it shouldn't matter. Either way, it's the same amount of dough and "a cookie is a cookie". Don't you agree?
3. Because I only baking these for me and my husband, there is no pre-determined number of cookies that must be met when the batch is done. I don't have to take them to vacation Bible school, a potluck or send them with my children to a school activity.
   Talk about freedom! It totally rocks that I can mix my cookie dough up at home, throw in way too many chips, toss extra vanilla in and eat right out of the bowl without worrying what a poor example I am or having to explain why it's okay for me to do it and no one else. Humm - I wonder if the whole cookie thing is contributing to the "sausage pants" resurgence. Does success always have a down side? Ahhhhhhhhhhh
   
   SNAP!

Where did the summer go?

Wow - it's almost October! Where has the summer gone? Funny how events in life are a better indicator that the summer is gone than the calendar itself. I can still remember the excitement of getting my school supplies and heading off to the next year of school. That was always an exciting end to the summer. Even today, with no children and no classroom to go to, it is difficult to stay away from the school supply sales. Instead, I find myself wandering up and down each aisle, trying to refrain from buying the latest "cool pen" or Hello Kitty notebook. It's also important to buy something fun like Crayola markers, or now that I am older, wiser and more careful -- Sharpies! And no back to school shopping would be complete without the purchase of clothing, shoes and a new haircut. Thankfully, a few purchases have gone by the wayside. I no longer feel the need for a #2 lead pencil, a bottle of glue or a new lunch box.

This past weekend Brian, Rich and I headed to the Minnesota Rennaisance festival. It was wine and chocolate weekend. I'm not real big on wines - but the chocolate samples were definately worth the price of admission. Of course some of the best chocolate was from Truffles and Tortes in Plymouth MN. They are located in a little shopping mall across the street from our first apartment in the Twin Cities area. If you are ever in the area, you should check them out along with a neighboring restaurant called the Tea House.

Immigration Reform?

I have been reading the newspaper articles regarding the Immigration Reform bill that is currently under review in Washington. Although I believe in immigration and diversity, I have to say I cannot get behind legalizing all those who have illegally entered the United States simply because they are already here. In the past 4 years, I (an American CITIZEN) have been required to file applications, pay fees, wait for a USCIS agent to decide my future, and then start the process over again.

Let me just tell you what we had to go through following the legal process. My husband had to leave England and return to India because that was his country of citizenship. According to several attorneys, (both here in the US and England), he would NEVER be approved in a country other than where he held his citizenship post 9/11. Then, I had to file a Fiance' visa application, supply documentation to validate our relationship, and as with EVERY USCIS process, pay the fees. Once this was filed, I had to sit and wait until the application had been reviewed to see if we were approved or not. Thankfully, we were approved. So, the next step was for my fiance' to pay for and pass a physical given by someone authorized by the USCIS. Then, he had to file a large amount of paperwork and go to the consulate for a personal interview. Again, we were required to put our futures in the hands of a USCIS agent to determine whether or not we could be together. Again, we were lucky enough to be approved. (Trust me, that doesn't always happen. In fact, the four people that were interviewed prior to Hari were turned down in India.) Once approved, we purchased an airline ticket and Hari was on his way to the United States.

Once he arrived here in June 2004, we had a whole 90 days to plan a wedding and get married. After the marriage was done, it was paperwork time again. We had to complete the application to change his status from a fiance' to a spouse. This required a mountain of paperwork, fingerprints and a photo. Surprise, surprise! Each process required a fee paid to USCIS. Then, we also had to file another application to request permission for him to work in the US. You got it - another fee! After that, it was time to sit and wait for USCIS to process and approve the applications. Meanwhile, Hari was not allowed to obtain a job.

After 4 months, we received his work authorization and continued to wait for a green card. In March 2005, we were required to attend a meeting with USCIS. At this appointment, we were required to provide documentation, photographs, and substantial evidence that showed we were married for the "right reasons" and that we were legitimately a couple. Then, my husband was granted a green card. With a two year validity, we had a chance to catch our breath and finally start our lives. But wait - that's not all. Because the green card is valid for only 2 years, we are required to apply and have the "conditional permanent resident" status changed. Again, we filed applications, had fingerprints and photos taken and submitted affidavits from friends and family to verify we are a couple. Oh, and don't forget - paid fees! We filed 1 month in advance on the expiration of Hari's green card and received a letter stating the expiration date had been extended for 1 year because USCIS is behind in processing applications. A check on their website shows that they are currently reviewing applications filed in August 2006. Are you kidding me??? No wonder it is easy to say we have no control over Immigation - those who follow the procedures to a T are subject to outrageous waiting periods. It seriously makes me think we should review the budget to see what all these fees are being used for. I think it's safe to say, it is not being used to hire additional staff to review the mountains of paperwork each person is required to file.

Our current status: We are waiting to have the "condition" removed from Hari's green card and given the information on the Internet, this process will probably be complete a week or two before Hari is eligible to apply for citizenship. As of 2009, he can file to become a US Citizen. At that point, we will do more paperwork, have his fingerprints and photos taken again, and pay the FEES!

In case you are wondering why I would be agitated by those who want to grant amnesty to all of the illegal immigrants -- I think they should be required to return to their country of citizenship, file all the required paperwork, complete a physical to verify they are not ill or HIV positive, produce evidence, go through the stress of waiting for approval or denial and pay ALL THE FEES those of us who obey the law have to! In other words, BE CONSISTANT WASHINGTON!

What do I want to be when I grow up?

I have been unemployed since January 11, 2007, and I am going nuts! However, I find when I think about finding a job that I am nervous. I worked for Citibank for 17 years and now, I look at the opportunities for employment and part of me wonders - can I do it?

You know, I was always told, "if you are a good employee at Citibank, you will be an exceptional employee anywhere else". Not to sound arrogant, but I know I was an excellent employee at Citibank. I was dependable, I was flexible and I was willing to step up. But, I knew the Citi World. It wasn't as scary as the unknown. Well, I have a few more months to reconcile this. Until we have settled into a permanent location, all I can do is try to determine what I want to do. There has been some serious consideration to returning to school. There are so many opportunities for advanced education in this area but before I spend that kind of money, (according to the news MN tuition has increased 30% over the past 5 years or so), I need to determine what I want to be when I grow up.

When I first headed off to school, all I wanted to be was a teacher. Unfortunately, this did not work out for a number or reasons. I had zero encouragement from home, my financial situation did not support the student teaching requirement and eventually, I surrendered to a Business Administration degree. So, from teaching keyboarding, accounting/bookkeeping and basic business classes, I ended up performing the skills I intended to teach. If I would become a teacher today, I think I would much rather focus on something that has always interested me and is now important to more than just a select group of people - ethnic studies. In correlation with this area, I think I would like to educate young people about Geography. I am ashamed to admit it, but most of my geographical knowledge has been acquired in my adult years. I know, there are so many things I still do not know, but I can tell you that Egypt is an African country and Siberia truly exists. (It's not just the area by JoEllen where the "problem employees" are banished to.)

Then, there is the segment that I truly enjoy, that could almost be considered a hobby of mine while working for Citibank. Fundraising and Non-profit agencies. It is really rewarding to make a difference in the community and see your efforts benefit others.

During the next few months of "limbo", I will be reviewing my options. If any of you would like to offer your suggestions, I would be more than happy to hear what you have to say. There are many situations where an outside opinion is helpful.

PLEASE HELP ME!

We're taking the plunge

After much deliberation we have decided to buy a home! We found a realtor - or actually he kind of found us, but we really like him. We went through 4 townhouses - 3 previously lived in - 1 brand new. That was it. It was perfect and DR Horton seems happy to sell it to us.

Now, the circus begins. Looking for a mortgage makes me wonder if Henry Ford had something with his "you can get any color as long as it's black" concept. Wouldn't it be awesome if there was only one mortgage lender and they were ethically and legally required to give you the best possible deal no matter what? Yeah - I know - snap back to reality. Hey, a girl can dream. I feel like I am shopping for a used car. However, with a used car I am an educated consumer. With the mortgage, I feel vulnerable and like a babe in the woods. My husband has informed me it is time to change my perspective. I am not longer the customer service rep that Citibank has trained me to be. I need to become the unflinching consumer that needs to be pleased. (This may be a tough change for me.)

I know one thing. I am unemployed and there are days that I work harder managing our lives than I ever did at Citibank. Sistah is workin' it! You know the saying, "timing is everything". It might not be advisable, if you are able to avoid it, to not buy a timeshare, have your husband change jobs, relocate, purchase your first house, shop for appliances, and find temporary accommodations all in the same month, at the same time. This is the juggling act of the circus. Note to self, don't let the balls drop - there isn't a time limit for this performance like there was in gym class.

Speaking of gym class . . . that reminds me of grade school, which reminds me of many things (not all pleasant memories) but lately all I can think about are those "soy burgers" the ladies in the hair nets used to serve us. I have been dying for one. Does anyone know where I can find one?

With that, I have some phone calls to make - peace out!

Trunk Monkey Compilation

How sad is it when your 60 year-old brother has to show you "what's cool"? Hope it amuses y'all like it did me.

We got one . . .

We waited so long. We didn't know if the day would ever come. We wish to thank all of those who tried to assist us in our efforts. On April 26, 2007, our long wait and anxious anticipation came to an end.

WalMart is now another of my BFFs. Why, you ask?

WHEE ! ! !

We got a Wii

GOODBYE Saint Cloud!

Since our return from San Francisco, our life has not been standing still. Just a few days after our return, my husband interviewed for a new position with Cognos. I knew he was serious about the position when he studied information and mentally practiced interview responses for the entire drive and never once complained about my driving or long it was taking us to get there. After a 4 1/2 interview, we were left to wonder if they were interested in hiring him or not.

Not to be pushed from the spot light, I received my first subpoena. I was summoned back to Sioux Falls to testify in front of a grand jury.

One and a half weeks after the interview, it was no surprise to me when Cognos called and offered Hari the job.

As a result, we will be moving! Now, y'all know how much I hate moving! I have moved 3 times since I married my husband. Prior to that, I had lived in my ghetto apartment for 9 1/2 years. But I am so happy to be leaving Saint Cloud moving seems like a small price, and the new job includes relocation.

Relocation means the "Moving Crew" from Sioux Falls will not have to hide from us, put our calls directly to voice mail, or pretend to be maimed. It means we have the money to hire a moving company. I am asking the "Moving Crew", the "Moon Crew" and any one else who will to cross their fingers and say a prayer that this experience will be much more positive than my last encounter with hiring a moving company. Just to let you know, that experience resulted in the subpoena mentioned above.

I didn't waste my time unpacking too many boxes when I got to Saint Cloud. (And you thought it was laziness.) It was just preparation for the next phase of our live!

With the job accepted and the move on the horizon, we sat down to make another decision. To rent or to buy. Some of the points to ponder:

• Are we ready for the responsibility of a home?
• If we rent, can we handle moving again in the near future?
• Which suburb of Minneapolis is the best to live in?
• Can we afford to buy a home?
• Is it near a bus route?
  

Hari's job is in Bloomington. You got it - that Bloomington. The home of the famous Mall of America. In fact, his office is just one crosswalk away. But if you are familiar with the Minneapolis/St Paul area, you know that working in Bloomington gives you at least 8 choices of communities to live in that are about a stone's throw from the famous shopping Mecca.

Decisions . . decisions . . decisions

Thank God for Kinkos!

Kinkos is my new BFF! Not necessarily because I chose it, but because I have had to visit there every day for the last two weeks or so. I have been copying documents, faxing information and sending some items FedEx. While standing at the counter the other day, another sign caught my eye.

PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPHS

Kinkos takes passport photos. Not only do they take them in a semi-private area of the store, they allow you to review your picture before it's printed. That's right - you choose if it is acceptable or needs to be done again. Upon this discovery, I paused and enjoyed the Hallelujah Chorus that was my private concert! I found it. The answer to my picture crisis.

So the next day; I fixed my hair, picked out the perfect accessories and put on my favorite sweater. A last check in the mirror, lipstick in my hand (for touch up), and I was off to Kinkos. When I got there, I was the only customer and it became my own private photo shoot. Let me tell you, Ms. Kinkos knew what she was doing. She snapped my picture, brought the camera over for review and to my shock and amazement, the first and only picture was awesome! Now that was how the passport photo process was supposed to be.

I trotted to the counter, all smiles, and waited for my photo to print. I paid my bill. (Double that of the discount grocery store that gave me the photo from Hell, but worth every penny). Took my little folder with the two 2X2 inch photos and headed home to complete my application. Now, I just need to wait for the Government to respond. Thank goodness there are no immediate travel plans. The application and my beautiful photo have been sent off to the National Passport Center.

Yippee! I will be able to travel again. I will be able to flash my passport with an awesome photo!

I am now able to put the Cash Wise Grocery experience far, far behind me.

What's up . . .

Our vacation to San Francisco was awesome! Can you believe my husband and I actually had 4 whole days with NO computer? No emails, no Internet access, no TMZ. It was great! It was the first vacation that my husband and I actually traveled together. And while some leave their hearts in San Francisco, this is where it seems my husband and I lost our freakin' minds!

To begin, we admit it - we took a "bargain" vacation. The hotel package was ours for a ridiculous $79.99 and the promise we would donate 2 hours of our stay to hear the spiel of Wyndham Resorts. (And for that we got an extra night's stay.) The airline tickets were the "benefit" of accumulating a lot of frequent flyer points. Good thing we had a lot considering they advertise you only need 25,000 per ticket but they don't have anything available on the flight unless you give up 50,000 per ticket. (NWA SUCKS!) So, with those expenses in mind, we agreed we would enjoy ourselves and not be too budget conscious for the duration of the trip.

The insanity started at that little presentation. The one that was supposed to be 2 hours long and we were supposed to collect our "prize" and move on. Let me introduce you to Hari and Alisa, Fairfield Resort Timeshare Owners! It's been about a month now and we are preparing to make our first payment. I think we made a great choice . . . and I know I'll be getting to go on vacation more than every 4 years. {INSERT SHAMELESS PLUG/ADVERTISEMENT}. If you or someone you know would like to have a cheap vacation, let me know. I'll refer you to my people, they'll call your people and you'll get the hook up. Send me your name, address and telephone number at cedes500e@yahoo.com. Please note: they have locations nearly everywhere - so San Francisco is NOT your only option.

With that purchase, we started banana peel surfing on ice when it comes to spending. Our purchase finally concluded around 5:15 pm. Now anyone who knows me, knows I won't waste away without food - but you also know I like food and damn after 6 hours, I was hungry! Hari and I headed to Pier 39 and the Hard Rock Cafe. Souvenir clothes, glasses, intoxicated memories . . . we bought 'em all. Saturday's spending was a bit more controlled during the day. What can you say - they have a lot of cheap shit in Chinatown. But then, while packing, I realized I had nothing to read on the trip home. What was I thinking? I asked my husband if we could go to Borders to find me something. OMG! An enormous shopping bag and $100 later we went back to the hotel. One would think I would know by now not to take my husband into a book store with time to wander. On Sunday, we took a deluxe tour of Silicon Valley courtesy of my nephew Tony. I think I know what he'll be doing to pass the time once he's retired. Tony's Tours should be open in 35 years or so. Seriously, we could not even have designed a custom tour for ourselves that was so perfect. My husband was giddy!

Since our return, our life has not been standing still. Just a few days after our vacation, my husband interviewed for a new job. Not to be outdone, I received my first subpoena and headed back to Sioux Falls for a Grand Jury hearing. There are days that the only justice we get from "the justice system" is the opportunity to tell our story and then work to put the incident behind us while filing away the lessons learned for future use.

While in Sioux Falls and Worthington I was able to touch base with those who are most important. My peeps in Sioux Falls are "The Moving Crew" and "The Moon Crew". The "Moving Crew" are three of my closest friends. (Julie, Brian and Rich) Not only would I trust them with my life but they have been the manual labor and emotional support for my moving adventures. I played "Easter Bunny" and dropped off treats for all. My friend Julie, who is one of the greatest friends a girl could have; gave me shelter, conversation and a few necessary shopping trips. Seriously, a girl cannot hang with her BFF and not shop and eat. (There is a law regarding this!)

I was so happy to find out what was new with "The Moon Crew". According to Phlip, I'm the "Queen of Skinny" and Mary is the "Princess". How exciting! I finally out rank Mary. So, here's the 'skinny':

Liz's little man Marcus is celebrating a birthday. It amazes me how far that guy has come from his 2 lb 10 oz early arrival. Last year the big birthday gift was a little red wagon - this year he's progressed to a play system.

Phlip got my job! They could not have found a better replacement.

Big J and Phlip are going strong as a couple. After a few 'slips', the staff at the Citi Enquirer were able to piece together some incriminating information. Let's just say, a 72 degree snow day is a bit suspicious. It is so awesome to see how happy they make each other. (I know that is going to be one fun wedding.)

The Princess of Skinny is staying strong after some family sadness. My prayers go out to her. I really do not understand how life can be so unfair. All I can say, I admire Mary and am EXTREMELY impressed with how she and Hottie are raising their family.

Mr. B finally introduced me to his 50" plasma. I have to admit, I am green with envy and have to take back all the snarky things I said about camping at Best Buy on Thanksgiving night. That is truly one effort that paid off.

With all I am facing, one thing I know -- no matter where life takes me or what changes are in store -- "The Moon Crew" and "The Moving Crew" are the most authentic and sincere people I will ever know.

Wii for All

Wii Want to Play

I have never owned a gaming system. I remember playing Atari at my friend's house and thinking how lucky she was. I fumbled around with a Nintendo system a couple of times, but was a bit overwhelmed by the controller. I mean all those different colored buttons - I so understood them when they were a part of Simon but for some reason having to correlate a verb to each color was a bit much.

In fact, when I think back about me and video games, I have to say that era pretty much passed me by. I mean, I can wrack up free games pretty easily on a pinball machine, but my video talent began, peaked and platued with Ms PacMan.

Now I'm a 40-something and am desperately seeking a Wii gaming system. Numerous times each week I drive to the local Target stores, park my car, say a quick prayer and trot to the automatic door. I b-line to the Electronics department. My palms are moist, my heart is pounding . . . could today be the day? Will it happen? When I get to the gaming section and I locate the glass case with the heading Wii, will it be there? Is today the day my quest ends? I scan the case headers, I glance down the individual game displays, and then, to my dismay, I see the empty shelf. I double check, maybe I'm not looking in the right spot. Damn! There is the shelf label clearly indicating this is the spot where the coveted gaming system should be. However, like Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, the shelf is BARE. Ugh!

Honestly, it doesn't always happen like this. Some days it goes down a little different. I get to the shelf, anxiously look to see if there is a system for sale, and there in a plastic standing frame is the store's apology stating:

TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE
We apologize for the inconvenience.

Or here is the other scenario I've experienced. I get to the shelf, anxiously scan to see if there is a system for sale, and there on the shelf, are numerous invidual controllers availalbe for purchase but - you've got it - NO systems.

I have completely lost track of the number of "trips" I've made. And just so you know, I do not limit my shopping to Target. I have been unable to locate a system at some other fine merchants like: Toys R Us, Best Buy, Circuit City, ShopKo and WalMart to name a few.

So, I will continue my quest. But if any of you see those two little men in their Mercedes SmartCar - send them my way!

Say cheese . . .

Is it so much to ask for? One passport photo that doesn't make me want to burst out in tears - one - just one . . . PLEASE!

I am preparing to have a my expired passport renewed. This will be my third passport and all I want is to have a photo that I can live with for the next ten years. I am not asking for a beautiful portrait but honestly, I would appreciate it being at least as attractive as my DMV photo. :)

Let me just take you down passport photo lane . . .

My first passport was obtained in 1986. I was 19 years old and very naive to the world of travel. I had an opportunity to travel to (then known as) West Germany. I knew that I needed the passport to travel overseas but I knew nothing about the document itself. So, after a long day at the outdoor pool, I headed to the photographer with wet straight hair, a sunburned nose and a bright Hawaiian style shirt. I then proceeded to sit on the stool and make chit-chat with the photographer as he was preparing to take my picture. The conversation surrounded my upcoming travels and I was more than happy to show my enthusiasm when the photographer said "say cheese". Being a bit pudgy, I have squinty eyes, a sunburned nose (just reminding you), a lot of teeth and stringy hair. And that was my first passport. I can recall thinking, "when this baby expires, I will NOT have a horrific picture like this".

In 1996, it was time to renew the passport and I had matured, moved out on my own and gone from "pudgy" to "extra pudgy". I was nearly 300 pounds and trying to grow my hair out at the time this picture was taken. However, I was also much more worldly. I knew how I wanted my picture to look (considering what there was to work with) and I was well aware that this would be my document for the next ten years. All I wanted to do was to have a passport that I wasn't ashamed to be carrying. So, I took the day off from both of my jobs. I spent a HUGE amount of time on my makeup and hair and I carefully picked out a shirt that would emphasis and highlight how green my eyes are. Then, went off to have the photo taken. It turned out fantastically. (Again, considering what they had to work with.) I was ready renew my passport!

By 2002, I had lost some weight - almost 110 pounds and I was off to London for vacation. My "lovely" picture that I had put so much care into back in 1996, was now causing me issues as Immigration agents struggled to determine if the person in the picture was the person standing in front of them. Normally, I would appreciate a double take of this kind but post 9/11 the scrutiny made me extremely uncomfortable. I felt like I was in a line up waiting for them to tell me I was free to go. A number of people gave me compliments on the weight loss but by the time that was delivered, all I wanted to do was to find a restroom!

Now, it is 2007. My passport expired in 2006 and needs to be renewed. I have come to the point in life where I think a valid passport is a necessity. Mind you, I felt this way long before the "new Immigration laws" became effective at the beginning of the year. Well, since the 2002 trip, I have managed to reclaim 50 of the lost pounds and I find myself once again trying to grow out my hair. If only I could afford extensions like the "Hollywood starlets". Not only is it at that "awkward" stage (that I never seem to get past) but it is graying and has terrible 3/4 inch roots as it has grown since my last coloring process. Where is Jessica Simpson and her gay Pervie friend when I need them?

Not wanting to back down from a challenge and having some time on my hands, I decided to tackle my hair and perfect my make up and then head off to have my passport photo taken. So, I spent the time fixing my hair, doing my makeup and picking out a sweater that would look great in the photo and hopefully take some emphasis off my "bad roots". Then, I headed off to the local Cash Wise market that also has a photo lab, a flower shop, a deli and a video store. They offer passport photos for only $6.99. Okay, it's a grocery store that boasts lower prices and gives a free item each week if you spend $25.oo or more. What the hell was I thinking?

So, I get there. I had checked my makeup and my hair in the rear view mirror. (Like my hair was still going to look like that when I got to the store considering I had to park about 8 stalls from the door and it is February in Minnesota.) But, I had practiced my smile and I was certain it was "all good". I got into the store, went up to the counter and told the youngster at the counter that I needed a passport photo. Her response, "No problem. Just follow me." She grabbed the digital camera and took me back out into the lobby area of the grocery store and proceeded to pull down a white screen attached to the wall behind a row of carts. She asked me to stand in front of the screen and she would take my picture. To the right of me are the public restrooms for men and women, the large "crane machine" that you win a giant koush ball from and the free publications related to housing and jobs in the St Cloud area. Oh yeah, not to mention it is the exit door of the supermarket. To the left of me is the entrance door with people stopping to to get their grocery cart, slap their little monster into the child seat and see what specials are set up in the lobby. And to wonder what the chubby dork standing in front of the white screen on the wall is doing. The few moments it took for all this to happen seemed like forever. Finally, she told me to smile and snapped the picture. She looked at it and said "that will work". I followed her back to the photo lab and she told me it would be just a few minutes to get the picture developed. So I sat waiting on the chair for my picture to get developed thinking "I'm pretty sure this will be a good picture and then I just need to mail the application." The clerk told me my photo was ready. I went to the counter and paid for the photo. As I walked out of the photo shop to head back to my car, I wasn't feeling very good about this whole experience. I know it sounds snobbish but it felt like I had lowered myself to the level of "thrift store shopper". Which is really strange considering this store is our grocery store of choice and I've never felt like it was "discount" shopping. Once in my car, I opened the envelope to see my photo and immediately said out loud "oh HELL NO - I'm not carrying this for the next ten years". You should see the photo - well, actually, no - you shouldn't see the photo. But let me tell you, I do not look that crappy on a bad day!

Who would ever guess there is this much internal and external drama and anxiety regarding a 2 inch by 2 inch photo?

As dumb as it may sound, it is extremely important to me. I know I will never look like a Hollywood hottie but I know I don't look like a bag lady either.

I headed home knowing that there would be a definate delay on the passport renewal. I also thought how dumb I was, it was a digital picture - why didn't I ask to see it before we got back into the photo shop? Hindsight . . . I was a bit emabarrassed and humiliated from the whole photo taking process.

So the saga continues . . . I have made an appointment with my hairdresser on the 15th of March. I will have her fix the roots, fix the hair and I will go to a shop where they allow you to review the photo before they print it so you know it is usable!

New City . . .

I've recently moved to St Cloud, Minnesota and am trying to size up the community -- to discover what it has to offer and what it's shortcomings are. So far, I have to say I am missing Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

I grew up in Worthington, Minnesota - a town of just over 10,000 people. We were the metropolis of our area. After high school, I attended Community College - in Worthington. When it came time to complete a four year degree, I ventured 60 miles down the road to Marshall, Minnesota. (A town of just a little over 11,000 people). After college, it was back to Worthington for a year. And then - I decided to take a huge leap and move to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I got a job working for the premier employer - Citibank at $6.75 per hour and I was excited and terrified all at the same time. Why? Because Sioux Falls had more than 90,000 people - three colleges and a vocational school. Not to mention 2 malls. Although I was born and raised in Worthington, I have to say that when I think of "home" - Sioux Falls is the first place to come to mind.

My best friend from college moved to Sioux Falls, landed a job with Citibank as well, and became my roommate. Together, we headed out to learn our way around the "big city". It's not nearly as frightening when you have someone riding shotgun. She has been my compass and support system throughout the years and can make me laugh when I am on the verge of tears.

Sioux Falls has grown to nearly 140,000 people in the last 16 years and it seems strange that when it happens around you - you just don't notice it. It's hard to imagine what I was so afraid of with four lane traffic and interstate entrance and exit ramps helping to traverse the city. After 16 years of living in South Dakota - (with no state tax) and a job that had massive overtime hours, I find myself living in St Cloud, Minnesota.

Not only am I in a new city, with new people, I have a new "career". I am currently trying to learn to be a housewife. I haven't been without a job since I was 15 years old! I have been trying to check out the new city but find myself getting extremely frustrated with the one-way roads. (How inconvenient!) And can you believe that a city that is only 1 hour away from Minneapolis/St Paul basically has no decent Chinese restaurant! Trust me - if you want to eat bar food and drink your days away, there are plenty of options! Maybe I am just feeling displaced - I never knew it would be depressing to not have a job to go to. You know what it's like, sitting in your little cube thinking to yourself "man, I would love to not have to work". Yep - I was right there with you! Now, it doesn't seem like all that. Thank God I have email, text messaging and Verizon wireless "in" calling!