The Use of Reply All

Annoying. Unnecessary. Overused. That pretty much sums up the use of reply all.

I had an instance today with this wonderful little feature in email that really got to me, so I decided to blog about it.

So, I'm on this committee at my company where we help to plan fun events, philanthropy campaigns, community involvement, etc. Well the person that heads up the committee sent out an email to the other 11 committee members to ask something about this bowling event we have Friday.

What happened after that was a string of 21 (I just counted them) pointless emails that just really made me mad. Numerous people's opinions flying everywhere that were really dumb. What goes through ones mind when replying to an email with a ton of people on it again, and again and again? I just don't understand it. Don't get me wrong, there's certain times when reply all is appropriate, but not about pointless crap that most don't care about.

Excuse my anger and frustration, I have a busy week ahead and today was a typical undesirable Monday. ugh.

Gma's 75th B-Day

SURPRISE!!

Brian and I went home to Wichita/Ark City this weekend for my dear sweet grandma's 75th b-day party. She didn't have a clue about it and was completely surprised. A little startled actually...but very appreciative. Aside from the terrible snow that I thought we were done with, the weekend was great! It was nice to see all our family and catch up. Plus, we got to watch the amazing CATS game. Sweet sixteen baby! Still can't believe KU lost, but it did bring a little smile to my face. Here's some pics from the party.

When grandma arrived. She was so shocked. She is so cute:)

Her pretty cake.

My mom's side of the family.

My brother and his girlfriend Ami. Cute pic.

The Things We Must Do For Our Pets

So, we think we may have solved the mud track problem in our backyard. The wonderful track that our dear Jake has created for himself.

Well, considering there was a pretty deep mud track around the entire perimeter of our yard, we needed to close it in. We needed him off of it for awhile so we can let it dry out, and then seed it this spring.



The only problem is...we now look like major WT.

That stands for white trash ladies and gentlemen. Check it out for yourself.

Brian installing the WT temporary fencing and the culprit himself looking through the fence. A very bright orange plastic fence is what everyone desires in their backyard, right!?

Trotting through his tracks. Not for long!

Finished product. It looks ridiculous. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that grass grows back just fine!

Clipless Pedals

So, I finally got my shoes (ordered online) for the clipless pedals on my bike! Not really sure why they are called "clipless" because you definitely clip into the pedal. But check out my pretty shoes!

Anyways, my first experience was definitely interesting. For anyone that may not know, clipless pedals are something you put on a bike to be a more efficient rider. There is a clip on the bottom of the shoe that clips to the pedal; then when you ride, your feet stay planted to the pedals.

Everyone told me I would fall a few times trying to get used to them. But, honestly, I didn't really believe that:) I was like (in my head of course), "Oh I'm a fast learner, I'll be fine, I'll just be really conscious of my feet and won't fall, sheesh."

So did I fall?

YES! It was really embarrassing and probably really comical to our neighbors that may have been watching. And it hurt. I'll probably have bruises. Believe it or not, you can fall more easily at a stand still than when you are pedaling and trying to clip in. See, if you're clipped in with one foot (how you start out) and happen to lean the slightest bit to that side, you go down.

I also had to deal with my know-it-all husband barking in my ear about how I was doing everything wrong. I love him dearly, and I know he was just trying to help, but I ended up getting really pissed off and telling him to shut up and leave me alone:) It was like one of those moments you have as a ten-year old. Ha! It was just really frustrating and I needed some time to get the hang of it without him being so critical. I needed more encouragement! And yes I complained and whined like a baby, which probably made it worse, but it's normal for us women to complain. LOL

The good thing is...it did get easier. I rode around the neighborhood for a bit and it seemed to make more sense to me. I'm just scared for that first big ride and being able to clip out when there is a lot going on around me.:) We'll see.

Here's me mad at Brian and doing something not so nice.

Big XII Tourney

Well...it's been a week full of basketball. And it will continue through tonight since K-State is in the championship game with the chickenhawks. I hope we can pull off a win. I have high hopes!

We went to the game with Julie and Josh on Thursday night when we played Oklahoma State. Brian got tickets through work, we had a blast!! GO CATS! 

Friday night, I met some girlfriends (and Jeremy:) at The Well to cheer on the Cats against Baylor and support my friend Caitlin in raising money for Leukemia & Lymphoma. Brian was fortunate enough to score tickets again and got to sit two rows behind the KSU bench. You may have seen him on TV!

Three Olives Rangtang shot with Pop Rocks.

It's a party in your mouth!

My dot! Great job with the event! We had a blast!

Fun with Friends:)

Lang doing the K-S-U for the whole bar after the big win.

Crick in the Neck

I am totally getting older.

I've converted to a new granny pillow. Like the kind you see and question how people even sleep on them.

I have been having back and neck pain in the mornings for quite some time now. So, I went out and bought one of those memory foam contour pillows. I hated it at first--the entire first week actually--but I decided to give it a real chance. It truly felt like a rock when you first laid your head down. I never thought I would get used to it.

But after I gave it some time, I now love it! Who knew that a hard pillow that feels like a rock could totally rock!?

Brian hates it and thinks I'm crazy. The back pain is definitely better though:)

Busy Bees

Another busy weekend for the Kutters. Here's a brief recap.

FRIDAY NIGHT
We attended the K-State Wabash Cannonball event with Brian's company. It is an annual fundraising event to send local kids to K-State. We went last year as well. Great event with really good prizes if you are fortunate enough to win one. We didn't win plane tickets this year (we did last year!), but we won a free night stay at the Crown Center Westin. I don't know when we'll use it, but a date night someday is in order. We'll just have to kennel Jake:) It was very fun, but made for a long day.

We took a pic at the house before we left. Jake seriously wouldn't get away from us for one second to take the picture, so he got to be in it too:)

SATURDAY
We took a short bike ride in the morning to enjoy the beautiful weather! We then headed to Brian's Grandma's house in Madison, KS, to celebrate her birthday. Aunt Kathy was in town from Denver so it was a great time catching up with family!

We arrived late in the day so we just had dinner and wine! But, Sunday was filled with helping Grandma outside. We raked leaves, picked up limbs, rocks and acorns in the yard and Brian had the chance to dabble with his pyro obsession. He burned a brush pile and part of the pasture. Geez.

The start of the fire

  

 Me and Grandma

 

 Feeding the llama

  

Jake in the wheel barrel:) He just loves being on the farm. Check out the burning pasture in the background.

 

Homemade lasagna. YUM! Me and Momma K make a great chef team!

Wednesday Woes

1. The Cats lost to KU. Boo. We played well the first half, but fell apart near the end. I guess a No. 2 seed will suffice.

2. I attended a United Way lunch event today for work. This is what I had to say no to. They didn't even offer another option for dessert. It was hard not to indulge, but I did it!


3. To all KU fans, you make me mad. One of these days, you're going to talk all the crap you do and it won't end in your favor. Stop rubbing it in. We already know you're good, and we don't care about your stupid Rock Chalk chant.

4. Still nursing my stress fracture. For anyone that doesn't know, I started having pain in my shin about 5 weeks ago (when I walked) and had to stop running. I diagnosed myself with a stress fracture:), but after talking to several people including professional trainers, I'm pretty sure my diagnosis is legit. Well, I tried running Monday and today for the first time in weeks, and it still doesn't feel normal. I think I might try new running shoes even though I just bought the ones I have not that long ago. Such a damper on my motivation to get in shape for Mexico.

5. Why do I choose to start laundry at 9:00 at night? Just one more thing I can mark off my mental "to-do list". That's the control freak in me... I don't like to have too many things jumbled in my mind. I have to eliminate some things before I go crazy.

Here's to a late night getting to bed and an early morning of Brian trying to wake me up. I'm absolutely impossible in the mornings. Bless him for being so patient with me:). If he was smart like my mom (when waking me up in high school), he would throw a cup of water on me!

Fake Baking=Ridiculously Priced

Seriously, when did tanning get so expensive? I went tonight for the first time since last May (for all the weddings I was in) and before that, I hadn't tanned since my own wedding. Well, Brian and I have an event to attend this Friday with his work and I have to squeeze my pasty self into a dress. I figured I should get some color on this ghostly white bod.

So, I get to the tanning salon and it is $12 for a 10 minute tan!! What!? I was shocked. I really don't remember prices being this high. Back in the day (in college), when I used to think tanning was really good for you:), I would buy unlimited months for $30 or a single tan for $3.

Ridiculous. All for some fake sun.

Jake chooses Vienna...are you serious?

So, you all know my obsession with reality TV. Well, I hate to admit it, but yes - I watch The Bachelor. Go ahead and poke all the fun you want. C'mon, you all know you secretly watch it or keep up with it. LOL.

Anyways, Bachelor Jake was on the previous season of The Bachelorette and was the biggest softy ever. Well, I didn't really like him then, and I definitely didn't like him after his season. Just to be completely honest, I think he is a total tool. Enough about that.

His top two girls were completely different. Tenley - sweet, genuine, positive, the good girl and kind you bring home to meet mom. And Vienna - immature, caddy, conflict starter, the girl you make fun of... in a white trash kind of way. Sorry to anyone that may like Vienna, just giving my opinion:). But really? Jake said he didn't have a physical connection with Tenley. I'll let you be the judge.

 

Vienna, ugh

Tenley

Jake made the completely wrong decision. However, I feel Tenley could do much better than him anyways. And if it couldn't get much worse, they announced right after the show that he will be joining next season's Dancing With the Stars. He made a comment that learning to dance this way "has been his life's dream." He will be joining other celebs (yeah right) some of which include Pamela Anderson, football star Chad Ochocinco, 90210's (the original) Shannen Doherty, EPSN's Erin Andrews, and...

drumroll please...

Kate Gosselin! HA!

Don't I look just like her? :) I'm not sure that would be a good thing...

Halloween 2009. Check out that wig. Cut it myself and added highlights with shoe polish:) HA HA