The Nation's Capital

Hello bloggie world!

I am coming to you from the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland (just outside of Washington D.C.). I am here for the annual Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Leadership Conference. Pretty much it is a bunch of ass-kissing political mumbo-jumbo mixed with some pretty informative, long and (seats are always uncomfortable) break out sessions. I usually get some pretty good ideas and strategies to take home from this conference, even though it is pretty "conferency" including the humor, super fake people and the typical conference food. YUCK!

In the past, this conference has been held on downtown D.C., which is great because you can walk to great restaurants, shopping and entertainment and the Metro is easy to access. Well, they moved to this brand new resort this year. The resort is nice, over-looking the Potomac, and has everything you need if you have loads of cash to pay for it. WOW... really.... it is absurd. There isn't even a Mickey D's or Subway around the corner for back-up when you blow your per diem money. But, overall, I guess it isn't too bad. :)

On another note.... President Obama was in Elkhart, Indiana today. Elkhart is about 15 miles from us (South Bend, Mishawaka and Elkhart all run together) and it is where Jared's warehouse is located. Elkhart is known as the "RV Capital of the World" so, as you can imagine, when gas prices went up and the economy went down the pooper, the RV industry took a huge hit. Obama visited Elkhart during his campaign and made a trip back to push his stimulus plan. I am still on the fence about this stimulus plan, mostly because I don't know enough about it. However, I DO know that the unemployment rate in Elkhart, South Bend and Mishawaka is continuing to skyrocket. I hope, whatever Obama, his administration and Congress do, that it will create a positive work environment and workforce in northern Indiana again.

Enough politics for one night... whew, this city is exhausting! :) And, tomorrow I am on Capital Hill to visit with Indiana senators. AHHH... stop the political madness :)

As they say in D.C..... see you on the hill.

My head is filled with snot

My head feels like it may explode. I wonder if that could actually happen, because that would be pretty scary, and pretty messy.

I signed my life away like a good non-meth-addict would do to get my 12-hour Pseudoephedrine which has done absolutely nothing to make me feel better. In fact, it has just made me loopy and bitchy. And, to top it all off, work is dreadful today, just dreadful.

I can hear my bed calling my name, longing for me to rest my snot filled head on my pillow and surround my achy body in blankets. I am coming my lovely piece of heaven.... in about an hour :(

Like my new digs?

courtesy of my "sista from anotha mista" Tara at Blog Makeovers by Tara.

I was in a lime green kinda mood, so this is the great creation that was made for me. Thanks Tara!!!

Nothing new here (I hate blogs that start like this, but this one is unavoidable). Jared and Hicks are in KS until Thursday (so jealous) and I have been working and preparing for my trip to DC next week for a conference. I am fighting off a cold with all my might, and so is everyone else in our office. YUCK!

So, since this blog is soooo boring, I will try to make it interactive for ya'll.

Jared's truck is shot. I mean, we COULD put a new transmission in it, but it is '91 Ford so is it really worth it? Soooo.... looks like a new car is in our future. This is where the interactive-ness (is that a word) comes into play.

Should we....
1. Buy him a cheap truck or car to get him through a year or so until we can sell the house and afford more (and hope it doesn't cause us even more problems than his truck)

2. Take advantage of all the great financing rates and get a new or certified used car for me and give him the Camry. The only risk with this one is being able to afford a payment. BUT, I would even take a 2005 or 2006 (heck, it is still newer than my 99 Camry or his 91 Ford), which would cut back the payments.

And 3. If we DO get a vehicle, what should we get. (SPECIAL NOTE: I am partial to foreign cars. Don't hate me for it. I feel bad for those that have lost their jobs in the Big 3, but I just prefer Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans. I am not opposed to the Big 3, but I would have to see some great Consumer Reports to convince me that they are better than Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans. Sorry). I also prefer a car, but a small SUV has crossed my mind since we will be having a family in the future. What do ya'll think?

Thanks for participating in my interactive blog. Your comments are appreciated :)

I am SNOW over it

this ad appeared in the South Bend Tribune on Sunday

Snow For Sale!!
8317 cu. ft. Of It For Sale.
43 Cents For All.
Moving To A Warmer Climate.
Sick Of It, You Can Stay If You Want.
255-5547

giggle giggle :)

So, the snow has slowed down a little here. The other day it actually got warm enough to melt the snow off the roads! Yeah, I know, I was excited too! I can actually get my car up to 30 mph now!

We are supposed to get a little snow this week (a little meaning 2-3 inches). But it has been bitterly cold, much like it has been everywhere else too. But other than that life is pretty good.

Jared is leaving on Saturday to go back to KS for meetings at the corporate office :( I wish I could go with him, but I can't take any time off work right now. But, it will be nice for him to go back and spend some time in Pburg, and check on our lonely, cold house in Girard. We set the heat at 50 so I hope it is doing ok. The following week I am headed back to Washington D.C. again for a conference, so the beginning of the month will be a little hit and miss between Jared and I.

The jewelry business is going pretty well. January was pretty slow with several horrible days of weather it caused many shows to get cancelled. I was getting a little down in the dumps about it until this Saturday when 2 hostesses had an absolutely fabulous show!!! Thanks Gina and Julie for allowing me to come, hang out, and talk about jewelry! I can't wait to see all the great pieces they pick out for free! By the way (I gotta throw a little plug into my blog) we have a brand new spring supplement catalog and it is so great! :) Also, during the month of February, Premier is running a special "Gift with Purchase" Promotion. Purchase $75 or more and receive ANY $40 item out of the catalog for FREE! If you are interested in a Home Show, Book Show or to browse through our catalogs, just let me know.

Ok, enough plugging my business :)

In other Birk news

• Jared's mom celebrated her birthday yesterday! Happy Birthday Mama Jan!!!!! You are the best mother-in-law EVER and I love you so much. We hope to see you soon.
• Jared and I went to our first Notre Dame basketball game last night. It was a pretty good time, despite that they lost to Marquette. It was one heck of a good game though.
• We have had an ongoing "Monopoly Tournament" at our apartment over the last few weeks. I couldn't win for the life of me. Jared beat me 4 TIMES before I was able to finally take him for all he was worth. UGH. Then he beat me another time. Well, Hicks returned home from his sales trip and we roped him into a game (I desperately needed to switch it up a little to see if my luck would change). Well, it worked. After watching Jared mortgage himself into bankruptcy, I watched Hicks try to wheel and deal me (which he made some bad deals on his end) and struggle to stay alive but, in the end, I was the winner!!!! FINALLY! Ah, victory is a great feeling and it has been a lot of fun.

I think that is all for now. I better get back to work :)

So frustrating

UGH!!!!

So, I got my happy butt up at 3:15 this morning to leave and drive 4 and a half hours to Bloomington, Indiana for a 2-day training only to find out that the training starts TOMORROW, not today! OMG! I never mix up dates on my calendar, so this really frustrates me! So, here I am in Bloomington with one change of clothes (I need two), nowhere to go and its too early to check into my hotel (or else I would be there sleeping right now).

So, I am here at the Indiana Prevention Resource Center (where the training will be held) and I am utilizing their library for "research". :) Mostly I am blogging and checking e-mail, but I guess it wouldn't kill me to do a little work while I am here for a whole extra day! GEEZ.... I feel so stupid. At least this town is pretty cool, so I should be able to find something to do. Wish me luck!

It's a sad day in Mishawaka, Indiana

our favorite restaurant closed today :(

We love going to Texas Land and Cattle Company Steakhouse. It has great food, great service and we love the atmosphere, mostly because it isn't too crowded and we know everyone there so it has a comfy, homey feeling.

Well, we will not get that feeling anymore. The restaurant closed today. No notice to customer and very little notice to employees (whom many we have become great friends with).

Apparently, the restaurant that was in the building prior to TLC didn't have a great reputation and when TLC moved into the building it was hard to build that relationship with the community again. Their advertising was lacking and, within the last couple of months, they started advertising more but apparently it wasn't enough :(

We are sad since it was our hangout with our friends on Thursday nights, but I guess we will have to find a new place to hang out. :(

Good bye TLC! We will miss you!