The Crazy Mary Kay Lady

Last week, my Friday night started as I drove to my sister Lisa's apartment for a Mary Kay party. Traffic was bad, and I arrived about a half hour late to find that the only people there were Lisa, my other sister Michelle, and a third person who was very obviously the Mary Kay lady. Unfortunately for this woman who had given up her Friday evening to spend with us, Lisa had been somewhat deceived into holding this party. She had been called and told she'd won a makeover, and to invite some people. Yeah, I saw through it immediately, but Lisa has had less experience with such things.

So, poor Mary Kay lady found herself in a room of people who had no intention of buying her products. She quickly went through a pretty scattered presentation, which included the randomly interjected information that she had needed to move from her West Valley home because her son had died there and every time she went into the living room, she could picture him lying there, dead. Seriously. I bought one token bottle of eye makeup remover, and she gathered her stuff and headed to her car.

I'll need to insert a little back-story here. My mom teaches at Challenger Middle School and had a middle school social that night. She was in charge of setting up a laptop and projector to show "The Princess Bride." She had been having some serious difficulty in getting it to work, and she had called Lisa several times during the MK party. Finally, Lisa decided to just drive to the school to fix it, and she enlisted me in the effort.

So, Mary Kay lady and Michelle are both headed to their cars to leave while Lisa and I both hurried into her car and left. A few minutes later, Lisa's phone rang. It was Michelle, who informed us that the Mary Kay lady had left her keys in Lisa's apartment. Lisa let her know that we'd hurry as quickly as possible and be right back. We got to the school, worked our magic, and headed back to Lisa's. On the way back, Lisa's phone rang again. This time it was the Mary Kay lady wondering how close we were. Apparently, Michelle had just left her standing alone in the snow in the dark.

We got to Lisa's and checked inside the apartment for the keys. No luck. The Mary Kay lady informed us that she had slipped outside, so we looked in the snow for her keys. I shone my headlights on the area, but we still had no luck. Apparently, she and her husband have only one car, so she asked if we could possibly take her home to grab her extra set of keys. Lisa and I exchanged a worried look but agreed.

During the ride, I apologized that Michelle had left her stranded by herself. At this point, she let us know that she was really scared because she'd been raped at an apartment complex once. I felt bad for her, but it was just a little too much info from someone we didn't even know. We drove on again. She got a phone call, and then asked if it would be okay if her husband rode back with us to help her look for her keys. Again, Lisa and I exchanged a worried look but agreed.

At the Mary Kay lady's house, I had a quick second to express my concern to Lisa. Here we were in a car with a complete stranger and about to let her complete stranger husband in with us. I had her text Brett so if we went missing, at least someone would know about it. We let the lady and her husband in the car and drove back to the apartment in near silence.

I don't know how the story goes after that; Lisa and I went in to her apartment while the Mary Kay lady, I assume, drove home. I did get a phone call from her yesterday letting me know that my eye makeup remover would be free because of all my trouble. All in all, though, it was the weirdest Friday night of my life.

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Computer training for the IRS

So we had our computer training today for the IRS. For those who know me you know I know a little bit about computers. I wouldn't call myself an expert but I do know more than the average user. So the training today was soooooo long. I did learn a couple things but not a whole lot. Well the trainer was trying to show us how to encript an email message but couldn't find the button to make it possible. I was able to figure out how to get it to show but the trainer didn't want to hear it. I think he didn't like me stepping on his toes. I was just trying to help and I thought I did it descreatly. I approached him durring the break and told him. I just thought it was funny that he wouldn't consider for a second. So I showed the people by me. I showed them some other things during the training that made things easier than the way the trainer was showing us. That is pretty much all that happened today. Did I mention that the training was long?

On another note, I get to fly home tomorrow afternoon. I am so excited to come home and see my family. I will be home until March and then fly out again but this time it will be for three weeks and it will be in Kansas City, MO. That sucks in two ways. 1. I will be gone for three weeks (I can fly home on the weekend but it still sucks). 2. I will miss Alex's first birthday. I realize he will not remember but I will. I feel like such a bad parent. Now all I need to do is miss my aniversary and Andrea's birthday and I will be batting a thousand.

GPS system

So while I have been here in Phoenix Andrea's grandparent have picked me up from the airport and took me out to a birthday dinner last night. Will they got a GPS system for Christmas and they use it all the time. For those who do not know Andrea's grandparents they know their way around. This does not stop them from using the GPS. Well last night on the way to and from dinner they we comment on what the GPS was saying. I would hear "She said take a right so you better get over" "Now she is not going to happy with me because I am going a different way than she suggest, but she will re-calculate." The best was when they were discussing whether it would have them take 60 or 202 and the satisfaction that was shown by the person who was right by saying 202. It just cracked me up that they entered addresses in the GPS even when they knew how to get there.

On a side not. I forgot to mention this but as part of the training process yesterday I had to take the oath of a federal employee. This is the same oath that the President of the United States takes when being sworn into office.

Now What's Up With Me

Okay so I realize I do not post a lot but what can I say I am not very good at it. Today is my birthday and I am in Phoenix to start training for the IRS. So I will be alone, that is from my family. Andrea's grand parents said to call them after training today and they want to take me to diner for my birthday. Being alone and away from family is so very hard for me because I love them all so very much. I do my best to make it look like I don't care about leaving but deep down it hurts. The thing that hurts the most is the fact that Adam turns 3 on Thursday. I realize he will not remember I was not there on his birthday but I will. The other thing I am not looking forward to is the fact that it looks like I may be out of town for training again on Alex's first birthday, come on now that is harsh.

Anyway I am in Phoenix and the weather is great. It is 60's and I am walking around without a jacket. My training does not start until 12:30 today so I have a little time. I am so excited to start but I want to know why I seem to get sick when I travel. My throat the past couple of days has started to hurt a little in the morning and my sinus is stuffed. Well lucky me I woke up with body aches, a small fever, sore throat, and stuffed sinuses. So I walked a couple of blocks to Walgreens and got some medicine. It is starting to kick in so I am feeling better. Anyway enough complaining. Until next blog.

No Cavities

Kirk, Adam and I all had dental check-ups today. I'm always worried that, despite all my brushing, I will be told I have a mouthful of cavities. I'm proud to report that I had my second consecutive clean check up today! I think my mouth is so full of fillings and crowns that there is no room left to get a cavity. Whatever the reason, I am really happy to know I'm okay. Adam also walked away cavity (or monster, as I told him) free.

Kirk, on the other hand, has to get a crown. I mention this only because he has been so proudly bragging of his lack of cavities at our last several visits. This blog is pretty much just my method of boasting my success over him.

I am also excited because my dentist seems to think a nightguard may significantly reduce the constant pain in my jaw. I have to wait until our new flex spending kicks in so I can afford the $300 contraption, but I am really excited to see if it can save me from having to spend thousands on jaw surgery.

The Ten Virgins - A Musical Parable

I've been asked to direct a spiritual musical called "The Ten Virgins," based on the parable by the same name. It follows the stories of 10 women who've each received a lamp created personally for them. Each woman was instructed by the shopkeeper to return frequently for oil. The women get to sing beautiful songs telling their stories of why the did or did not refill their oil. Of course, there is the scene when the bridegroom comes and only the wise virgins are allowed to attend the wedding.

Our Relief Society is doing this combined with another ward. Since I don't know the sisters in the other ward, I'm holding auditions this Saturday. I hope that a lot of women are interested in participating. I think it is going to be really fun. There is a lady who is going to be making costumes and everything. I know it is going to be a lot of work, but I really hope we will bring a strong spirit to the enrichment meeting in April.