Blogging Away

Sigh….(you know that this will be a rant if I start with one of those). I have a real issue going on right now. One that affects my life, my views, and my life in general. I cannot stand those who don’t take accountability for their actions. It is really the biggest flaw that I find in someone (that and a bad dresser). I really don’t think some people realize how important it is to “own up” for things they have done - for better or for worse.

This affects me the most (currently) at work. People don’t seem to plan as well as they need to in order to get a task done. Now, I am a planner. I admit that. I plan to the most minute of details - sometimes way overboard. I also get things done when I say I am going to. When someone doesn’t, I find this the most frustrating thing of all. But then….then, my dear readers, the excuses start.

“It isn’t my fault, I was swamped!” — OK, you were, but then don’t tell me that you will give me the project on this day if you can’t get it done. Organize or reschedule!

“I got another project” - Granted. I get that. Maybe of something of more relevance or more priority. Fine, then prioritize and get the jobs done. Don’t just blow my request off.

“I forgot…I had so much going on. If “this” hadn’t happened then I would have been on time.  I am SO sorry. I will get it to you right away- oh wait…I forgot again…” - God invented Outlook for a reason. Use it or face my wrath.

The real problem here is that they don’t say, “I fucked up. It is my fault I should have planned my day differently. I will try not to let it happen again”. Admit when you are wrong, admit when you are right. Do not hide behind someone or something else. Just admit it. My respect level for your integrity will skyrocket. Literally.

We all get sidetracked, but there are things that have deadlines for a reason, and your excuse doesn’t cut it. Admit that you made  a mistake. You are human. It happens. The more you explain your way out of things, the more I hate you.

This goes for politicians as well.

So, my neighbor’s chickens have invaded my yard again. I am not pissed. It is really funny more than anything else. They have at least 6 chickens and 1 rooster in their yard and they often come to my yard to graze. They are scary looking and I am glad that I eat them so they can stop looking at me. Earlier today two of them were next to my porch and my cats were going crazy.

In other news, I broke my wrist about a week and a half ago. Nothing serious, just another in a long line of ridiculous feats completed by Erin. I tripped over my feet and fell head first. Yep. I am an idiot. Just glad nobody saw it. Sigh.

I like Ryan Gosling. I really do. I know this post will be stopped at this moment by some readers like Guttersnake, but I don’t care. I like that guy. I really do.

On Saturday I went to see Lars and the Real Girl (starring said Gosling) at the Esplanade. I knew the basic story premise (lonely boy lives on farm with brother and sister-in-law, boy has serious lonely issues, boy gets doll to ease pain). And, that was the story that I went into this movie with. I was right….except that this movie had more emotional depth than I have seen all year…maybe in years. The plot, though simple, was brilliant. BRILLIANT. Gosling’s twitches and overall demeanor really made this story believable. Gosling takes on these roles that seem so different, yet his pattern of believability channels something raw, making him impossible to turn away from. You believed the doll was real…or you wanted it to be, since she was the catalyst to bring Gosling’s character back from the brink of an emotionless life. I was really sad at the end of this movie, but also hopeful. I was gripped by this movie. Downside? The costumes. Horrible. Wilson ain’t got nothing on Bianca.

Also, I WILL be seeing No country for old men this week. It looks amazing. I hear Javier Bardem.

PS. Feist’s song, “1,2,3,4″ has been in my head for 4 days. I dig that band

Here are a few random thoughts running through my head at this exact moment…

The chickens that live(d) next door to me are back. I thought they had been eaten, but at 2:46AM, they let me know that they were there. I almost ran one over the other day. It was in my driveway, and it kept looking at me. I am not kidding, it was looking at me, almost taunting me. I admit it, I was scared. Stupid chickens.

I am really happy with my Business Plan and the review session I had with my boss. I only need to adjust a few things and it should be perfect.

I am going to SLC in December, and am not looking forward to the snow. Yuck. Maybe I can have dinner with KF

I get to go to Chicago in June for the SHRM conference. J Dogg and Kacey better be ready. Plus, the conference is going to be amazing. Sidney Poitier(?) is speaking. Awesome.

Former-Christmas-now-holiday-no-wait-winter-party is happening very soon and I have SO much to do to get ready for it.

I am going to Panama and Costa Rica next year. A month apart. My excitement abounds!

I am still on the wedding high from this weekend, but am really looking forward to a few weeks of “nothing” until the FATG rolls around at Thanksgiving.

My house is still destroyed from Gutterboy’s visit.

I really want an HD DVD player

Becca’s Xmas present arrived and all I want to do is play with it.

Cucumbers are my favorite vegetable.

I really don’t like Ron Paul.

My mp3 player is my new best friend

My car stereo is really my new best friend

Rick’s Xmas present kicks ass.

I am still not in love with facebook

Samantha Who? is my favorite new tv show

I bake the best peanut butter cookies ever made

My mailman hates me. He said to me, “Who gets this many magazines?” I said, “Whatever”

American Gangster is just too long

I think that empties the old noggin for now. more later.

So, yesterday was a big milestone for me. It was the fifth wedding that I had conducted. Yes, I am ordained…at least legally, if not spiritually. I truly find this experience to be the most stressful of all time. Not because I am opposed to doing them, or that I think it is a chore, but because I really don’t want to fuck up the most important day of someone’s life.

See, it all started with Kelly…it was just a joke! We joked for months about it…”You should get ordained online so I don’t have to go to a church.” Then one day, it was serious. And I was honored, if not a little bit shocked. Kelly and I went to church together (not to mention 2 additional weddings that I have done that have involved other church members). She wasn’t “religious” in the sense of “I attend church” — but she didn’t want the artificiality of a JOP or County Clerk. I was the next obvious choice, I suppose…or the one brazen enough to go through with it. Her wedding came at an awful time in my life, so that was another bonus…the ability to do something good at that time and to have a lasting effect on something. Then more people asked. Amazing friends who wanted ME to be part of it. The word “honor” is so much of an understatement. If you were getting married in 2006, I probably had something to do with it (3 weddings that year)!

So, I have continued to do them for people that I truly love and respect. Last night was no expception. Becca and Austin’s wedding was beautiful. Simply smashing. These two people have such an understanding with one another that it was hard not to think of them as a fairy tale. Gorgeous, genuinely in love, and truly wanting the best for each other. Their relationship has always been like this. The same thing with Becca’s sister, Jamie, whose wedding I did last year. Something about their marriages gives me faith in what is to come and the idea of love being lasting forever and not just as a last resort or a “natural progression.” They genuinely wanted to be there. They genuinely believed the best in each other. They are, what I believe, what love really is.

Even the day was gorgeous. None of that pesky rain that seems to follow me around on those days was there. The location was good. I wrote my best wedding to date…a fact that nobody would let me live down yesterday (which makes me blush….literally). I cried…they cried….then they continued to thank me for the next 5 hours. Then I cried again. Why not be part of such a wonderfully emotional day?

When I think about these weddings I get a all goofy. My 2nd married couple just had their first baby. Now I am all gooshy.