Monday, June 30, 2008

News Flash

I'm not as crazy as I look! My uncle just came home and told me that a possum is living under the house. So it wasn't just my imagination working overtime last night! There WAS a critter underneath the floorboards.

Creepy.

It's A Hard Cot Life, For Me

Now that we are at my grandpa's, I get to be the adventurous one and sleep on a cot. Forget the fact that it makes noise every time I roll over and change position, or the way the springs holding it together seem to pop and give a little when I lay down. Those are just minor details, hahaha.

Let me just say this, I was sleeping hard last night in more ways than one. Not only was I out fast last night, but a few hours into my slumber I woke up to a terrible pain in my lower back. Apparently my hip bone was digging into the middle bar on the cot. Pleasant. So as I rolled over to a more comfortable position and gently began rubbing my back---I heard a noise off to my left side. My senses go on alert and I quietly laid there listening to this strange sound, all the while trying to figure out what it was without overreacting. It sounded like a "chomp-chomp-chomp" noise coming from underneath the floorboards and all I could think of was two yellow teeth belonging to some critter down there gnawing on the wood underneath the house. Yes I know, my imagination was running wild.

Apparently I didn't think about it too much because I drifted off to sleep again. I was having a pleasant dream about a rodeo and cowboys when I was rudely awaken by a beastly looking crow outside the bedroom window. He may not have been a rooster but he definitely had attitude.

Such is life.

Feeding the Kiddies

As we have set out on another family vacation (minus one), we once again get to experience all the joys of long distance travelling. My sister and I did most of the driving, however, Dad did squeeze in a few hours behind the wheel. It's a well known rule in our family that whoever occupies the front passenger seat is to keep Dad AWAKE when he is behind the wheel. At all costs.

At that particular moment, I happened to be sitting in the "co-captains" chair and not only did I get the task of keeping Dad busy, but I also had the responsibility for all the snacks, drinks, tissue and trash needs going on in the truck. (It's a lot of responsibility riding in that front seat. Believe me!)

Anywho, as we were driving along, Dad got the munchies for something sweet (and Mom wasn't on the menu, hahaha) so I set to work opening a little cookie pack for him and getting a juice box to wet his whistle, at his request. I don't think I have EVER seen my dad drink from a juice box and it made me laugh. I had to remind him like a child NOT to squeeze the juice box. So as he became content with his snack, the other child in the back, aka-Mom, asked for some peanuts. As I was getting the peanuts for her, all I hear coming from my side is a quick rustling of plastic wrappers. I look over just in time to see my dad's big fingers digging around in MY cookie pack! While I was busy taking care of someone else, he totally took advantage of the situation and left me..........cookieless. Pahhhh!

Naughty little boy.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Shifty Eyes

I was in the middle of of typing an email this afternoon when a co-worker walked through the lobby. I began to look busy and continued clacking away on the keyboard, pretending to be quite enthralled with what I was working on. As the co-worker was making their return trip through the lobby I felt like they were watching me and I didn't know whether to make eye contact or to just continue staring at my computer. Such a dilemma, right?! Well, there really was no need for me to be staring at the words coming across the screen, but I still didn't know whether I should look up or continue looking "busy". So there I sat. As my fingers were flying over the keys with that all too familiar clickety-clack sound, my eyes started to dart all across the computer screen! I didn't know where to focus my eyes---on the person or the computer--- and so my eyes made their own decision. They started roaming all over the screen, from left to right, to up and down, and all around. I'm telling you, they probably thought I was going into shock or having a brain tremor as they walked by. (All in the hopes of "looking busy". Pahhhh!)

Next time---just make eye contact and smile.

Blast to the Future

Have we time-warped into the future or something?

My sister and I were on our way back to the office after lunch today and as we were driving along I looked up and saw the strangest (and longest) street sweeper I have ever seen in my life. As I popped out a "What in the world...." comment, my sister took notice of the weird piece of machinery and proclaimed in her astonished voice, "It's from the FUTURE." (If only you could have heard how she said it, you too would've been laughing!) It was the spaciest thing I've ever seen.

Seriously, it was a very futuristic looking street sweeper with its aerodynamic front and back end. It was almost twice the length of a typical street sweeper. Never have I seen something like that on OUR city streets! I guess times are changing. The other day as we were out and about we saw a city bus that looked like a space shuttle, with the futuristic look. Why do they look like the speed rails in Europe?! We're being taken over by androids! Chaaaa! (I am NOT the sci-fi girl but I couldn't help but tell my sister that cheesy remark.)

Oh well, we got a kick out of it. Just as long as I don't have to drive one.........

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The Trees Have Eyes

This is what I know: I live in a desert, it is dry and it is HOT. The summer sun leaves no one untouched, including the birds.

I was out watering the thirsty flowers in my garden last night, and between the water trickling over my toes and the light summer breeze it actually felt rather nice. As I was moving the hose from one flower bed to another, I noticed that it got rather quiet and I felt like I was being watched. I quickly looked up to take in my surroundings, expecting to see someone on the street, but all I saw were a bunch of beady little eyes staring straight back at me. The birds were quick to notice that the water was on and it seemed to immediately catch their attention. I casually watched as one by one they came hopping over to my yard, keeping their focus on ME and the water. I turned my back for a few seconds to switch the water to another garden, and when I turned back around, birds were not only in the lawn but they were flocking to the trees above me. I felt like I was being watched by a crowd! The eerie part was that they weren't squawking, singing, or chirping, it was like they were whispering to each other while keeping their beady little eyes on me. I kid you not! It was like they were speaking to each other in hushed tones, and I was the topic of conversation.

Never have I felt so conspicuous in my own front yard as I did last night!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

My Dad, Mr. Green

The other night found my family at the movie theatre. We were finally going to see "The Hulk" on the big screen. Let me just say that sitting next to my dad was like sitting next to a child. He could hardly contain his excitement over finally getting to see this movie. Every now and then I would sneak a peek at my dad while the movie was playing, and to the unsuspecting movie goer it might have looked like he was just leaning forward and stretching his arms. Far from it. Little did they know that he was actually flexing his arms, making Hulkish noises and building up the intensity in his shoulders. Just like the Hulk. At one point during the movie I heard some gurgling noises next to me and I thought somebody nearby was choking on their spit or something. However, after I snuck another peek at my dad I realized he was just in Hulk mode......again. My dad is a pretty stocky guy, well muscled, but as he now likes to compare himself to the Hulk, all I can do is smile. I think I was laughing more at my sneak peeks of my dad than the actual movie. Who needs a movie when he's around to watch?! Tahhhhh!

I love MY Hulk!

Thomas Kincade Original

I was doing my Saturday morning routine today when I accidentally took a turn a little too wide with the vacuum cleaner and popped my parents Thomas Kincade nightlight off the wall. (It's like a miniature portrait in a frame.) I immediately froze in my tracks, thinking the worst, that I had JUST crushed their Thomas Kincade portrait with the vacuum hose. Pahhhh! I quickly picked it up and thought, oh-its not so bad, I can just pop the clip back onto the light bulb. Well, as I did so, I must have put a little too much pressure on the picture part of the nightlight because the next thing I know, I hear a big -CRACK- and the miniature picture had popped out of the frame. I think my heart stopped and the only thing buzzing through my head was---can I fix it?! I have no clue why I didn't push on the frame instead of the mini picture. Clearly I wasn't thinking straight. (Probably because I was too worried about the pieces lying on the floor.)

So as I'm now sitting on the floor with a broken nightlight, I turn the vacuum off and take a look at the damage. As the vacuum has been silenced, I hear my mom call out to me from across the house, "Judith Anne, is everything all right?" With a furrowed brow I reply back, "Ya Mom, everything is fine. Just fine." I quickly assessed the damage to the light and the whole time I'm thinking about how much it's going to cost me to replace this thing, hahaha.

The heavens seemed to be smiling down on me because after thinking the worst I was able to pop the picture back onto the frame and attach it to the nightlight bulb. Piece of cake. I finally crack a grin and I turn around to resume my vacuuming. Just as I turn around and switch the vacuum on, I hear another -CRACK-. I didn't even have to see it to know what just happened. There lying on the floor was the nightlight. The vacuum hose had knocked it off---AGAIN! As I picked up the piece to attach it back to the wall, I realized that the dumb nightlight had ALREADY BEEN BROKEN! (by someone else, of course) I noticed that the clip that attaches it to the light had already been snapped off, and was half gone! No wonder it kept falling off.

What was I fretting about?! Pahhhhhhh!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

My Latest Hair-Chop

I have been getting my hair cut by a little Vietnamese lady for years now, but after leaving the salon yesterday, I felt like I'd gotten more of a hair-chop than a haircut.

What a trip it was. Not only was I about to be forced to sit betwen two strange men in the only available seat (in a small crawl space) but everyone around me was speaking in Vietnamese. My hair dresser took pity on me and allowed me to sit in the salon chair next to where she was working, but I felt so out of the loop. Not only am I the minority when I walk in there, but it's pretty obvious I have no idea what the people around me are saying, so I just try to blend in and throw out an occasional smile every now and then. However, I'm sure that being the only blondie in there draws a few stares.

After patiently waiting, it was finally my turn. She takes me back to the sink to wash my hair, pops up the foot rest on the little recliner, and automatically I feel like my giraffe legs are sticking way out there and I find myself curling my feet up every time someone passes by. Fabulous.

Anywho, I was finally starting to relax due to the calming head rub when the next thing I know---water is spraying all over my face and shirt! As I'm sputtering for air trying to figure out what just happened, a towel is placed over my face to dry the droplets. At the rate she was going, I was expecting to see raccoon eyes when I looked in the mirror. Apparently the few hairs I lost during the rinse startled her and nearly gave her cardiac arrest as she couldn't believe I was losing my hair. (It was less than 10 hairs, come on.) Anyhow, the "shock" of it all caused her to completely drop the sprayer hose and that's when it went kamikaze. So with a wet head and a wet shirt we move onto the actual haircut. I thought she'd done okay, despite the fact that it seemed shorter than I'd expected, but little did I know that my opinion would drastically change come morning.

I stood staring into the mirror this morning, shocked at what I saw. It appears as though one side of my hair is one inch longer than the other side. WHAT?! (That was about all I could come up with this morning.)

I'm not a Chrissy doll with a knob sticking out of my back that can be turned to make my hair instantly longer! It'll grow back, right?!

Hallway of Horrors

Seriously, what is with the guys upstairs and the smell that continues to creep down the stairs and settle in the hallway? Its like they are marinating in their own juices. Would it be too obvious to send up a "soap basket"?

Forget calling the Orkin Man, that smell permeating the hallway will stop anything in its tracks.

While they seem to be immune to the "smell", I assure you---the rest of us down here are not. I now find myself holding my breath when I'm forced to walk through that hallway.

Where is the air freshener?!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Wild & Reckless

We decided to celebrate my sister's birthday a little early this week, as one of the girls was going out of town and didn't want to miss the office celebration. So what better way to celebrate than with some ice-cream clown cones from Baskin Robbins. Yes---clown cones, sometimes we need to be reminded of our free and easy childhood days.

My sister and the other gal had chocolate flavored ice-creams in their cones and I opted for the blue sherbet ice-cream cone, the one called Wild & Reckless. That's about how I felt trying to eat this cone gracefully. It was as though I'd forgotten how to eat an ice-cream cone and I seemed to continue getting blue ice-cream on my nose, my chin, and my fingers, just like a kid. So there we were enjoying our clown cones among a fit of giggles, when I realized the plumber I had shown back to the mens room earlier was waiting in the lobby for me. I quickly put my cone down and as I walked out to talk with him regarding the prognosis of the toilet, all I could think was, "Oh man, I hope I don't have any ice-cream on my nose and chin." So as I'm talking to him and trying to pay attention to what he's saying, all I can think about is whether or not I have any blue on my face and I find myself lifting my fingers to cover my lips and nonchalantely rub my nose and chin every now and then, just to make sure. As I didn't feel anything cold or sticky on my face I figured I was a-ok. Well, after he goes back to work on the toilet I head into my sisters office and the first thing she tells me is, "You have ice-cream on the tip of your nose." WHAT, how long has that been there?!

Here's hoping he didn't see that. Chaaaa! And the icing on the cake---I got a pair of blue lips (and teeth) out of the deal. Talk about birthday bliss. My sister's comment to me, "Ummm, maybe you should go start drinking some water." Pahhhhhh!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

"And the most embarrassing phone call award goes to....."

Judith Anne---that's who!

Last month I had a visit from the city fire inspector, and he gave us a list of safety items that we needed to fix in our office. Well, today I called the general fire department number to schedule a re-inspection with him and the gal that answered transferred me on over to his line. After I was connected the line just seemed to ring and ring and ring with no answer. I hear a beep in the phone but the line continues to ring. By the time I heard the second beep I was thinking it a little strange. After what seems like the 20th ring, I hear his voice come on the line and all he says is his name, followed by "Fire Inspector". At this point I'm thinking to myself, "Great! I finally got through." So I start my chatty conversation with him, telling him my name and why I was calling. As I'm talking away, I start to think it interesting that I'm not hearing much on the other end of the line. No acknowledgement whatsoever, no "mmm-hmm". Not even breathing! So I decide to close my mouth and give him time to reply, thinking that maybe I was talking too fast for him. NOTHING was cracking over the airwaves. I let about 10 seconds of awkward silence go by before I realized---HE'S NOT EVEN THERE! It was his voicemail I'd been talking to the whole time but there was no warning whatsoever. (And here I sat thinking I'd been talking to a real person.) Pahhh, heaven help me! By then a panic was shooting across my brain and I was trying to think of a way to get out of this awkward mess. All I wanted to do was make a hasty exit and hang up but I realized I still hadn't left my phone number for a call back. I was stuck!

So, I decided to do what comes natural when it comes to embarrassing circumstances and played it off as though I knew exactly what I was doing all along. After I organized my game plan I quickly covered the mouthpiece and pretended I had been interrupted by a co-worker. Brilliant, right?! (That was to help cover the reason for my awkward silence.) Tahhh! So I uncover the mouthpiece right as I finish mumbling something to the "co-worker" that so rudely interrupted me and pick up where I originally left off, while throwing in there a "Sorry about that, as I was saying......." I wish you could have seen my face when the realization sunk in that I was talking to a recording, because I'm pretty sure it was red. Talk about awkward.

With the loopy message I left him full of pauses and awkward silence, I think HE deserves an award for putting up with a nut job like me!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Rule Number One

ALWAYS make sure you check the recipe for ingredients BEFORE you start preparing it.

Let's just say my Sunday morning got off to a rough start. I'd come in off of 3 hours of sleep and when I rolled out of bed I knew I had to run to the store to buy some orange rolls for my dads Father's Day breakfast. No big deal right?! (Forget the fact that I just went grocery shopping on Saturday and completely forgot to check the fridge for a package of the sweet goodness.) So, I throw on a hat to cover my unruly hair and dad accompanies me to the store. We make our purchases and are back to the house in no time. As it was still too early to start breakfast I decided to start making the Texas sheet cake for the afternoon get together with all the family. I start pulling out ingredients and soon realize---THERE'S NO COCOA. I was just at the store! What is my problem?! So, as my hair is now wet, I head to the grocery store AGAIN to buy some cocoa.

I finally make it back to the house after standing in the only line open at the grocery store with a wet head. (This is SO not like me.) I take a deep breath and try to relax as I start preparing the cake batter. I get the cake in the oven and the morning brightens as I get to sit with my dad. He and I wind up teasing each other and making one another laugh. A good time, indeed!

After the timer goes off, I get up to go pull the cake out of the oven and start preparing the icing that will top it off. After icing the cakes, I step over to the pantry looking for walnuts to chop and sprinkle over the top, and then I realized---WE DON'T HAVE WALNUTS! I think my dad thought I was going to have a breakdown in the kitchen, hahaha! (Even the woodpecker that was banging his beak on the air conditioner seemed to be laughing at me.) But, being the wonderful dad that he is, he cracks a joke about it and tells me we don't need nuts, it'll be fine the way it is. What a guy. ( I really didn't want to have to go back to the store.) By that time I was just ready to be done with that cake, but mom suggested I just chop up some pecans and sprinkle those on top, as they are a close substitute. Thanks to her quick thinking, the Texas sheet cake had all the nuts it needed and tasted great to boot!

I am really not that bad in the kitchen and I have no idea what my problem was yesterday, but despite all the ups and downs of making that cake, I can safely say---lesson learned.

Half-n-Half

Yesterday at church we were all sitting in our row, and as we had family in from out of town we actually did fill up an entire pew and then some. So there we were like ducks in a row, enjoying the service and the music. As my dad finishes ushering, he comes to sit down on the end of our pew where we had saved him a seat. I thought he had enough room, it was a close yet cozy fit next to my mom. Well, the next thing I know my grandma is scooting down to give the parents more room and pats the seat for my sister and I to follow her. Do you know what you're asking of us Grandma?!

Like an obedient child I follow suit and scoot down but then I found myself in the half-n-half zone. One bun was still on my warm seat that I'd left behind, while the other bun was in a cold zone where no one had been sitting. How pleasant. Do you have any idea how nice it is to finally get your seat warm in church? It's hard giving that up, hahaha! Oh well, such is the joy of Sunday mornings, wink-wink.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Dead Air

Oh my goodness, I was sitting here at my desk tinkering around when the phone rang a few minutes ago. As it IS in my job description to answer the phones here at the office I picked it up and after going through my little intro schpeel..........there was nothing. Nothing but dead air. I could tell someone was on the other end but they weren't saying a thing! Before I picked up the phone, I noticed that the screen read "Gilbert, AZ" and many times when that comes across the phone, I know it's a cell phone, aka-a family member. So, as I sat there listening to somebody breathing on the other end of the line I started to think it was my dad up to his prank calling again, so I thought I'd wait him out. So I casually leaned back in my chair with a smirk on my face. I figured two could play this game. I let about 10 seconds of silence go by and in the back of my mind I started to think to myself, what if this is a client?! I can never tell! So, I casually say into the phone (probably a bit too loud), "Hello???" and immediately I recognize the clients voice. Apparently, he never heard me say my intro, or he just thought he'd hang out for awhile. Nice. I can only imagine what could've happened if I continued that "cone of silence".

And let me tell you, it doesn't help anything when my Dad calls (frequently) and disguises his voice. He seems to take great joy in confusing me. It freaks me out because half the time I think I know it's him and yet the other half of me has that little bit of doubt in the back of my mind and I think---what if it's NOT him.

Why must they mess with my mind?! Pahhhh!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Catch A Wave

She might have caught a wave but she was definitely not sitting on top of the world. (as the song so says)

I was visiting the Schlitterbahn water park this weekend and found myself enjoying the Torrent River ride. It's like a big canal loop that sends waves through every 10 seconds or so and you can either ride them or float over them in your inner tube. Neither of those options worked out for one lady in particular. We had just come around a bend in the loop and I took notice of a lady sprawled out on her little raft. She looked oh so comfortable and relaxed and I could just see her sigh of contentment and the complete let down of her guard. So peaceful. Now, we might not have been at the ocean but words my Grandpa told me years ago came springing back to my mind. He said something along the lines of "never turn your back on the water". In other words, you should not let down your guard. (A little foreshadowing?-----maybe so.)

So as my friend and I are floating along the river waiting for the next wave to come, I watch as the lady became totally relaxed on her raft. She seemed so peaceful, enjoying the sun above her and the cool waters below her, and THEN I looked over my shoulder. I saw a wave riding up behind us and I nudged my friend and told him to "watch this" while I nonchalantly nodded my head in her direction. Terrible I know, but what can you do, you ARE at a water park. We were meant to get wet, right?!

As my friend and I jump over the wave and clear it we look ahead and see the wave totally envelop her. Typically you would think that she would've just floated right over it, but I think in her shock of being caught unaware she wound up rolling herself off the raft and came up sputtering for air completely soaked. My friend and I couldn't contain our laughter. (Of course we quickly turned our heads and pretended to be deep in conversation, laughing at something one of us had said, wink-wink.) But oh how funny it was.

Guess Grandpa knew a little something after all..........

Monday, June 9, 2008

Our Feathered Friend

This weekend found me visiting the BIG state of Texas. Everything is bigger in Texas, even the ostriches. (wink-wink)

Friday morning found my friend and I at the front gates to a wild animal park that you drive through. We were given a bag of pellets to feed to the animals we might encounter, but little did we know about the drama that was to come. There we were meandering through the park, feeding the occasional wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and other worldly wildlife when we finally came upon the "bird of prey" zone. You might say an ostrich is no bird of prey, but you my friend did not see the devilish look in his eye. As we pulled to a stop, we noticed the ostrich was starting to walk our way. I for one do NOT trust ostriches and told my friend to quickly roll his window up. I looked away for just a second but when I turned back around the window was only halfway rolled up and BAM---there he was. The ostrich was staring at us through the remaining open window. (Almost as if he was daring us to throw a pellet at him.) The next thing I know, the ostrich sends his head diving into the truck and we just about lost it. I couldn't tell if he was diving for my friends leg or if he was going for the steering wheel. He backed his head out just long enough for my friend to get his finger back on the window button and roll it up all the way. I'm still surprised my friend didn't wet his pants. Pahhh! That ostrich had one thing on his mind and we were definitely on the "pecking" list.

I couldn't help but laugh at the near heart attack my friend went through but the favor was soon returned. After recovering from the ostrich scare I was gazing out my window when all of a sudden the truck lurched forward a few times and then came to a dead stop, inches from the SUV in front of us. That definitely got my heart racing as I thought for sure that we were going to run into them, and as I was about to turn and clobber my friend who was behind the wheel (thinking he had done that on purpose), I realized that he was just as shocked as I. The truck is manual and apparently something did or didn't happen with the clutch and it killed the engine. I have all the faith in my friend's driving skills but in my eyes that's just another reason why I DON'T want to learn how to drive a stick shift. Tahhhhh!

Anywho, other than the near ostrich attack and the near rear-ender, we both survived our accelerated heart rates and enjoyed the rest of the ride. He had a buffalo eating out of his hand and I a zebra. And to top it off we even saw a wildebeest picking his nose---with his tongue. Talk about talent!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Happy Trails To You

I am happily trading in my tennis shoes for a pair of flip flops this week. This weekend found myself (and a few others) down at the Grand Canyon on the Havasupai Trail putting in a good 30+ miles. We're not just talking about hiking my friend, oh no. We're talking bouldering, scurrying, and climbing over rocks, trails, and waterfalls.

It was a weekend of "pretend", as I like to call it. Pretend the waste in the port-a-potty's really wasn't that high (wishful thinking), pretend the dirt underneath my nails really wasn't that bad, and pretend the water in the creek and falls really wasn't that cold. I have only one word to describe bathing in cold water---brrrrrr! It was a weekend that demanded you to forget about everyday cleanliness that most of us insist on and---just live.

We had a prime piece of real estate picked out for our tent, or so I thought. I seemed to pay no attention to the fact that we were on a slight slant. I moved a few boulders and we set up camp. All I could see was a perfect lil' campsite. That night as we were sleeping in our tent, I woke up and found myself eye level to my sisters hip. During the night, gravity was truly at work and I somehow managed to slide halfway down the tent still curled in a little ball. No thanks to the slant I'm sure. Pahhh!

Here are a few of the highlights to the weekend:
-Almost got run over by a wild train of pack mules
-Saw port-a-potty's airlifted by helicopter (believe it!)
-Almost busted a knee-cap trying to cross a creek (Hurt like heck and all I could do was laugh, what's wrong with me?!)
-Heard some boulders fall off of the cliffs across the campground
-Was serenaded in the evenings by frogs that sounded like goats
-Had a giggle fest in the girls tent
-Made new friends, and last but not least.................
-Saw some of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen in my life. They beckon you to dive in, despite the fact that the water has got to be running at 60 degrees or less

This weekend reminded me of 3 things I take for granted: running water, hot water, and a soft bed.

Can't wait to head back next year! Tahhh! Happy trails to you.............

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Sorry, Wrong Number

On my way home from work today my sister phoned me and told me she had just gotten off the phone with our cousin. He informed her of a call he had made last week to the establishment we work at, and as she went on to tell me about it, the puzzling phone call I received last week all started to make sense. It finally dawned on me as to who it was I'd been talking to and I burst into a fit of giggles. Here's an example of how the phone call went: (J.A.=Judith Anne, M.V.= Mystery Voice)

J.A.- "Thank you for calling, how may I direct your call?"
M.V.- "I'd like to talk to Storm."
J.A.-"Storm? I'm sorry, we don't have anyone by that name here."
M.V.- "No, I want to talk to Storm."
J.A.- (pause-pause-pause) "Do you have a last name for that person?"
M.V.- (exasperated sigh) "Can I talk to Pam then?" (I seriously thought he said Tam, like the lady that cuts my hair. Tahhhh!)
J.A.- "Pam? Ummm, we don't have anyone by that name here."
M.V.-"Are you sure? I think she's dating Jim."
J.A.- (still not ringing a bell) "No, I'm sorry. I think you have the wrong number."
M.V.- (silence...........) "Okay." Click.

And that was it. I remember sitting at my desk with a furrowed brow, wracking my brain trying to figure out what just happened. At first the name "Storm" didn't mean much because we've had some pretty wild names at work, such as "Athena", so I was trying to think of past employees. How wrong I was! My ever clever cousin was making reference to my previous stories posted on my blog and I was clueless as ever when he called. Not only did I not recognize his voice but I didn't put two and two together about the people he was asking for.

When my sister told me it was our cousin who had prank called the office last week I couldn't help but laugh. It finally made sense! That call had left me with a perplexed look on my face but was quickly tossed away with a shrug of the shoulders. Pahhhhhh! Funn-nay!