LOST

starts tonight - CAN'T WAIT! Going to LRH3 (cuz Carrie) to watch with her and some other peep(s). Picking up a salad and we are having a healthy meal of baked pork chops, sweet tater fries and the salad. YUM

Archivers (and gift ideas)

is like a Nirvana. I love that store!

So I have had a few peeps query what I desire for my bday. Either stuff from Archivers or Archivers gift cards would be GREAT!!!

I went there at lunch today and bought a few clearance items and some groovy paper.
http://www.archiversonline.com/

I have taken some cardmaking classes (even got Don to go to the Christmas one) which were very fun. I am Mary's star pupil - she checked me out today and told everyone that as I was paying. It was pretty funny. My coworker made vomit gestures at me :)

I am thinking about taking the Valentine class. It is enjoyable and relaxing - plus I make money selling the cards at work.

There is also an event this Sun (chair massages and California Kitchen Pizza with salad)

from their website:
Sunday, February 3rd, 1-8 p.m.
Grab your friends and put on your creative helmets for a crop where everyone wins! Join us for seven hours of scrapbooking, food, and all the fun of game day, minus the football. Plus, you’ll receive a free gift—a stationery set, a $13 value! Sign up today!

Anyone wanna go - a few seats are left. I will make cards - no scrapping for me.

LOL - not laugh out loud

Every qtr some team/division gets the Presidents Award. This time it was the whole company as we have had a banner year while implementing a new ERP and doing more with less - corporate way ya know. So we all got nice notebooks with pens and a delicious chocolate star - and a half day off with pay for the entire company. Plus our boss said we could wear jeans on Fri - a big deal as we do not have jeans day very often!

I really do like working here - in spite of my complaints and things that drive me nuts I have never been treated better as an employee. And I would complain no matter where I was cuz I am smarter than most ;)

3 days til my big night at the Wolves - I can hardly wait!!

Plus I am hoping my bonus on Mar 7th will be healthy! Supposedly we have a chance to get more than 100%. It is a crazy calculation based on company stuff and points I earn on my Performance Committment Plan - which I don't really even get to pick what I committ to. And I won't get between 1 and 2 points this year. Should be a few grand anyway. Which will go to bills with a little taken out for my trip to AZ and my expensive bday dinner.

Season Ticket Holder of the Game

Today the following email exchange occurred between my self and my ticket rep at the Timberwolves.

From: xxxx
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 9:30 AM
To: Benick, JulieSubject:
RE: MN Timberwolves!
Julie, I wanted to check in to see if you would like to be our Season ticket holder of the game on Friday? I am not sure if you have had this opportunity and wanted to throw it your way. Our season ticket holder of the game (along with a guest or two if you would like) will come down to the court and watch warm-ups at about 6:30, we will stay on the court until after the national anthem where they announce your name and you meet a player and get an autographed ball. It's a pretty fun time, so let me know if this is something you are interested in doing. Have a great day! Lindsay Corbo


My response:

From: Benick, Julie [mailto:JABenick@landolakes.com]
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 9:29 AM
To: xxxx
Subject: RE: MN Timberwolves!
Absolutely!!!!!!!!!! I will have a friend with me.jb

Her next email:

From: xxxxxxxxx
] Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 9:35 AM
To: Benick, JulieSubject:
RE: MN Timberwolves!
Sounds great Julie! If you guys would like to meet me behind the wolves bench at 6:30 that would be great. Let me know if you guys need anything before hand. I look forward to meeting you and have a wonderful week!!


Like I would turn it down. No Way...............Holy crap - I can't wait. I am freaking out and soooo excited. My date to the game is my co-worker Lacey who is also extremely excited.

And the Wolves won yesterday. Big Al got 40 points - his new high. Carrie(LRH3) and I saw him get 39 points last week.

Heidi and I will be going to the game on Wed.

more jbs jules

lanyard Abby made for her teacher
?????

my sign for the Twolves Celtics game
pink pearl earrings Abby and I made
Kelsey's bracelet - lovely colors
bracelet I repaired for Carrie
Heidi being Heidi

green necklace I made - for sale :)
Heidi being Heidi - again or still?
green bracelet I made

jbs jules

today was jewelry making day at Heidi's. Carrie, kelsey, abby, michele and me. Chanda stopped by too. I also made my sign for the Celtics Twolves game.

Reading Buddies

Every Thur I spend my lunch hour with Ana - my 5th grade Reading Buddy at a local school. She is a very unique person and I have a blast with her. Definitely not a girly girl. This week we were talking about my upcoming trip to AZ in March. She was very worried that I wouldn't be back in time for our weekly mtg. That was cool - she was so happy when I said I would make sure I was back in time.

P Run

Project Runway - I love this show - I even got Don to watch a couple episodes and he kinda likes it. He said it is the best of all my crappy reality shows I like :)

Glad Victorya is gone

I love Christian - he is so 21 year old drama queen who knows it all!!!!!

I wish it was Fri

Good News - WOLVES WIN - they beat the Suns for the 2nd time this season and it was an exciting game. I think that is win #7 - they won on Mon so they have a 2 game winning streak :)!!!

Carrie (LRH3) went to the game with me last minute cuz Heidi was sick - she was really sick when she heard what a great game she missed.

Talked to my mom for a few miniutes today it is 72 and gorgeous in HI - they were going to Pearl Harbor today. It is 8 degrees and cold in MN.

Work is driving me crazy - why does IT spend so much time avoiding work and making life difficult for the biz? I am not your average biz person and they should know that by now - I know more than most of them about EDI.

The team I work most closely with has had a huge turnover and I only like one person left. The rest are very difficult to work with.

Sunday Michele - her girls - Carrie - Heidi and I are getting together to bead at Heidi's (LRH2) and have Chinese for lunch - I can't wait. I went to the Bead Monkey and bought more beads.
www.thebeadmonkey.com

Sat - Don and I are going to look at new glasses for him.

I also bought my poster supplies for the Feb 8th twolves game - KG back in town as the Wolves take on Celtics (we will lose)

My sign will say
A Tale of two Kevins
then it will have a big Heart with MN (hearts) KG and the other half will have a Ghostbusters circle with the initial KM for Kevin McHale. I think I will even glitter it up once it is painted!

weeekend

feeling a cold coming on so layed around all day yesterday - didn't even get out of my p.j.'s. Felt lazy but I did do some dishes.

Nordin breakfast was fun - Gen's parents crack me up - I enjoy hanging out with them.

Friends Christmas party was fun but since I wasn't feeling great we were home by midnight.

Did some shopping as you now if you already read Heidi's blog. Good deal on undies and I got a cute top I have on right now.

I fixed my blog so more folks can comment. I haven't messed around much with settings so I guess I should do some exploring :)

Sent my evites out for Fogo de Chao for my b-day. CANT WAIT

random stuff

Tues - Twolve swith Joey, my "HOT" cousin my coworker is in love with. She is 21 - he's just not that in to her :) Wolves lost but only by 7 - was looking to be a lot worse :(

Wed - took the day off - no reason - just needed a day off. I slept til 8 ish - watched Ellen - 1/2 of The View - did laundry - CLEANED MY OVEN (some of you will be amazed) - took Z to work - his car doesn't like the cold - Z looked at an apt - did dishes - pork chops for supper - paid bills (sigh) and am broke.

Pissed that Kit is gone from Project Runway - ummmm what about Ricky? I like him but he neeed to GO! Loved that Christian's team won the challenge. He is sooo dramatic and I LOVE HIM!

Can't believe I have been missing AI - what is wrong with me.

T went to Shakopee last night - he is off school til Tues - end of semester. I will pick him up on Fri. The last few times I picked him up I had Public Radio on cuz he wants Rap and I don't - usually we share the radio but when I have on MPR he doesn't complain. We have had some great discussions about what is on the radio on those 30-40 minute drives home. I love my car time with T.

Now it is Thur - I am back at work and about to leave to go visit my Reading Buddy at her school - we have lunch together and then read every Thur. I really enjoy it.

Supposed to be 20 below this weekend - not looking forward to THAT!!!

Heidi and I are going to AZ in Mar (7-12) can't wait!!!!!

WOLVES WIN

Number 5 baby - maybe we will get 11 wins after all. 5 and I think 29.......crappy record but it really has been fun - except Sun. The game was great, stopped at Flaherty's for a few before as it was a co-workers bday. Went to the game with Stepen Lee - a Deloitte consultant - but I don't hold that against him.

Tonight it is off to Bonfire for Abby's bday dinner.

Work is heating up already - I think I am in for another crazy year. Can't wait for '09 to be over - then all of our ERP waves should be complete. Oh yeah - I brought the "LAME O"LAKES" sticker to work that Jon gave me and my big boss took it to legal - I hope to get it back :) I get to keep my job hehehehe

I am planning my bday dinner at Fogo de Chao in Feb - can't wait! I went to a similar restaurant in NYC a few years back and it was AWESOME!
http://www.fogodechao.com/

dang wolves

Sundays game was the first game where I would have to say I was irritated and it wasn't much fun. Hopefully Tues will be better. Heidi and I did, however, get Rookie Day coffee mugs (insert photo later) and I took some pix. We also had mini-donuts, yum. My friend kate and her hubby were there so I sat with them a little bit - they had some free tix and the seats were slightly better than mine. Mad Dog played a bit. Rumour has it Foye will be back in Feb - wonder if it will make a difference.

FIRE McHale and Wittman!

more boring details

had tons of fun an J&G's. Don and I got Guitar Hero for the Wii - hard to do but fun to play!

New years Eve - Well, I fell asleep early but did wake up to see the ball drop - unlike Heidi. Which...as Jon stated - I can't believe she missed out on dropping balls. There weren't any great "count down" shows on like there used to be.

Hurt my back so was out yesterday (had to come in on N.Y.E. for 1/2 day) I left after the catered LeeAnn Chin lunch - this girl don't miss out on a free lunch :)

New Years Day - not much - Z had car trouble on NYE which turned out to be a minor issue he and Don can fix as soon as this frigid weather subsides. The Ford sat a Famous Dave's a few days but is home now.

Don and I went to Twolves last night - left early due to my back - first time I didn't stay til the bitter end. Listened to the 4th qtr on the radio on way home - it sure ain't the same as watching! Oh yeah - and the parking ramp wasn't wide open for exit as usual - had to stop and give our ticket to the attendant. But we couldn't cuz they are idiots - as are some of the patrons. The back up was horrible due to something they couldn't figure out - they finally get the arm to raise and the first guy gets out and the second guy (in a large truck/small unit) type vehicle, rev's his pipes and tries to leave too - guess what - the arm bashed down on his truck. Moron - now we were stuck for another 15 minutes or so. Finally they get the arm up and just wave us all through. That is what I get for leaving early :)