The guy to the left is Drew Peterson. No relation to the other scum bag, Scott Peterson, locked up in CA.
If you're not family with Drew Peterson, he is currently under investigation for the homicide of wife #3 and under suspicion for his missing wife #4.
He has been a staple in the US news for the first half of 2008. Things have died down with him, while he is under investigation but now he's back in the news - with bells on. Why? Cause he's engaged to be married to wife #5!
So when I read the headlines that he was engaged again, a few things ran through my head:
1) Are you kidding me?
2) Is that legal? I mean I don't believe his fourth wife has ever been found but is still considered 'missing.'
3) Does this woman (his fiance) have a death wish?
4) Have you seen the guy? He's not wealthy, he's not good looking....how is he finding all this action? (Must be his mojo.)
5) What is his secret? How is a man like that married four times already and has already got wife #5 waiting in the wings?!
My first instinct is that he MUST be drugging these women into marrying him. Like I said, 'Have you seen this guy?'
I'm sure these women are not being drugged - I have to settle myself to the fact that they must just be dumb. Really dumb.
A coworker and I were having a conversation about this....who in their right mind would want to "be with" a person who is under legal suspicion. To take it one step further, who would want to "be with" a person locked up for life? The latter is about Scott Peterson - the man convicted of killing his wife and their unborn child. He's in prison and he's got 120+ lady pen pals. I'm sure writing all 120+ helps pass the time behind bars but what is with these women? What are their deals? Do they have such LOW self esteem that the only way they could possibly be in a relationship is with someone behind bars - where their "love interest" remains captive? Are they hoping that by being with a convicted killer, or even a person under suspicion, it might save them a trip to a reality game show in order to get their 15 minutes of fame?
Part of me also wondered if some of these women thought they could actually 'save' these men in some way. Like the fiance to Drew Peterson - maybe she feels she could save him and his reputation by becoming wife #5 and showing the world that she can survive....they can get married and divorced and come out it of unscathed. Maybe she'll even outlive him...who knows.
The point is - something crazy is going on here and it does not smell kosher!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Your Baby Smells....
It might seem like all my recent postings have been about babies and pregnancies (minus my Jetson-themed post), but I feel like this post would have been a necessity had I not been pregnant.
When I think of babies, I think of smooth skin, bald heads, and baby powder smells. When I was walking through the grocery store yesterday and passed a 1.5 year old with his Dad, I smelled poop. It was bad. I almost felt like turning around and saying 'Hey, I think it's time for a diaper change.' It was probably the first time in my pregnancy, thus far, that I felt the gag reflexes going off.
And then as I passed them and tried to get away from the source of the smell, I thought to myself, 'Oh my gosh - that could be me in a year!' And then I said a little prayer that I would never be THAT parent that just walked around the store, ho-humming like nothing was up. The Dad didn't seem to be in any great rush to get the grocery shopping done so they could change the poopie diaper. Me? I would like to think that at the first whiff of "danger," I would be parking my cart to the side and making a bee-line to the ladies' room to make my baby 'fresh' again.
It has actually happened on one occasion...with my nephew. He was about 2-3 years old and I had to make a quick trip to Target. And since this was only going to be a 30 minute voyage, I didn't bother taking the diaper bag with me. I figured he was 'older' and what could possibly happen in 30 minutes?! Apparently, a lot. We arrived at the Target and I went directly to the aisle I needed to be in. As I was making my selection, my nephew had marked his territory in the aisle by standing in one spot and proceeding to turn bright red. You see, he was turning red because he was pushing. Pushing what? Certainly not daisies. Back in the day, this is how my nephew would conduct his poop sessions - he would be playing, playing, playing and then freeze and his cheeks would puff out and his face would turn beet red. One time he even grabbed onto my husband's knees for support.
I immediately knew what was going on - I immediately panicked. Instead of proceeding to the checkout and just lugging this now 'smelly kid' around the store with me or even going to buy diapers and wipes to change him on the spot, I put my stuff back, went to the car and drove home. I felt bad that I didn't have his diaper bag with me and that was a lesson learned - never leave without a diaper bag when traveling with ANY child.
So since I've had it happen to me in the past and now that I know I will have it happen to me in the future, I feel somewhat secure in knowing that I will do my very best not to have the smelliest kid around.
When I think of babies, I think of smooth skin, bald heads, and baby powder smells. When I was walking through the grocery store yesterday and passed a 1.5 year old with his Dad, I smelled poop. It was bad. I almost felt like turning around and saying 'Hey, I think it's time for a diaper change.' It was probably the first time in my pregnancy, thus far, that I felt the gag reflexes going off.
And then as I passed them and tried to get away from the source of the smell, I thought to myself, 'Oh my gosh - that could be me in a year!' And then I said a little prayer that I would never be THAT parent that just walked around the store, ho-humming like nothing was up. The Dad didn't seem to be in any great rush to get the grocery shopping done so they could change the poopie diaper. Me? I would like to think that at the first whiff of "danger," I would be parking my cart to the side and making a bee-line to the ladies' room to make my baby 'fresh' again.
It has actually happened on one occasion...with my nephew. He was about 2-3 years old and I had to make a quick trip to Target. And since this was only going to be a 30 minute voyage, I didn't bother taking the diaper bag with me. I figured he was 'older' and what could possibly happen in 30 minutes?! Apparently, a lot. We arrived at the Target and I went directly to the aisle I needed to be in. As I was making my selection, my nephew had marked his territory in the aisle by standing in one spot and proceeding to turn bright red. You see, he was turning red because he was pushing. Pushing what? Certainly not daisies. Back in the day, this is how my nephew would conduct his poop sessions - he would be playing, playing, playing and then freeze and his cheeks would puff out and his face would turn beet red. One time he even grabbed onto my husband's knees for support.
I immediately knew what was going on - I immediately panicked. Instead of proceeding to the checkout and just lugging this now 'smelly kid' around the store with me or even going to buy diapers and wipes to change him on the spot, I put my stuff back, went to the car and drove home. I felt bad that I didn't have his diaper bag with me and that was a lesson learned - never leave without a diaper bag when traveling with ANY child.
So since I've had it happen to me in the past and now that I know I will have it happen to me in the future, I feel somewhat secure in knowing that I will do my very best not to have the smelliest kid around.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
"The Suite"
While there are plenty of contrary opinions out there around the world, as an American, I feel that I have many reasons to be proud of this country. Of course it's not perfect; I'd even go so far as to guess that no country is. Part of what makes a country great is the refusal to accept complacency - to strive for better. One of the areas in which I think that the U.S. generally gets it right is its laws regarding access for the disabled. Ramps, elevators, parking spaces . . . we've got them. As we should.
But American women don't seem to agree about the proper etiquette concerning one of our accommodations for the disabled, a little place my friend Colleen likes to call "The Suite." The Suite is your standard disabled-friendly bathroom stall, the one that is extra roomy, has a bar along the wall, and sometimes even has its own private sink (the real score). How do I know about all of these features? Because I have visited the Suite many times. (I have even visited the Johnny-on-the-Spot Suite, which is certainly not ideal, but still better than the alternative.)
Sometimes, however, I hear other women talk about the Suite like it's off-limits to the fully-abled - at all times. Do they really believe this? And if so, is it true? Maybe I am a bad person for taking advantage of the extra benefits the Suite has to offer. But then, I am not sure I am in the wrong here. If there were someone with a disability standing behind me in line for the restroom and the Suite suddenly became available, of course, OF COURSE, I'd allow said person to move in front of me and use the Suite. But in general, it's not like a parking space. I'm not planning to occupy the Suite all day. And sometimes, the Suite is the only one available.
When you've gotta go, you've gotta go.
But American women don't seem to agree about the proper etiquette concerning one of our accommodations for the disabled, a little place my friend Colleen likes to call "The Suite." The Suite is your standard disabled-friendly bathroom stall, the one that is extra roomy, has a bar along the wall, and sometimes even has its own private sink (the real score). How do I know about all of these features? Because I have visited the Suite many times. (I have even visited the Johnny-on-the-Spot Suite, which is certainly not ideal, but still better than the alternative.)
Sometimes, however, I hear other women talk about the Suite like it's off-limits to the fully-abled - at all times. Do they really believe this? And if so, is it true? Maybe I am a bad person for taking advantage of the extra benefits the Suite has to offer. But then, I am not sure I am in the wrong here. If there were someone with a disability standing behind me in line for the restroom and the Suite suddenly became available, of course, OF COURSE, I'd allow said person to move in front of me and use the Suite. But in general, it's not like a parking space. I'm not planning to occupy the Suite all day. And sometimes, the Suite is the only one available.
When you've gotta go, you've gotta go.
When Will We Reach 'Jetson' Status?
Back in the 80s, one of my favorite cartoons was 'The Jetsons.' In fact, it's still one of my favorites. When I am able to catch it on the Cartoon Network, which is not often, I do enjoy watching and feeling nostalgic. Of course watching it as a six to eight year old, I was always looking forward to a future of flying cars, instant food and robot maids named 'Rosie.'
Fast forward to 2008 and I sit here wondering - when will we reach the Jetsons' lifestyle? You would think with all the automobile hub-bub going on, this would be the PERFECT time to look ahead and invest in flying (fuel efficient) cars. I heard that Neiman Marcus had one for kids during the holidays - in looking at their site now, I didn't see it offered this year. But that's one step closer, right?
But aside from flying cars, how about machines that spit out full meals? I love how Jane Jetson would always stress about getting dinner ready and with a few presses of some buttons, the table was set and a full course meal was presented in under 10 seconds. And just as quickly, all the dishes were cleared and the kitchen was spotless.
Why can't we have 'Rosies' that go around the house, talking with a New York accent, and whipping out a belly vaccuum at the drop of a crumb...all while playing spaceball with 'Roy Boy.' She 'bing bings' through the house, makes smart comments but never complains...and she's your friend as well as your helper....and all at the price of a can of oil every so often (to keep her lubed).
I find at night, I am in real need of the conveyor belt shower/clothes changer where I just start at one end, get my body washed, hair washed, teeth brushed and changed into my pajamas, like a human carwash - all without moving and all within minutes. That would save me from being fully conscious when getting ready for bed.
Ahh - the future. To live like the Jetsons. Forget about jetting off to exotic locales in Africa or Europe. How about going to the burger joint on Mars with your talking dog, Astro?!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
My First VS Show
So I watched the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show last night...for the first time. Apparently the show has been going on for 10-11 years but I think it's only been televised within the last five years. Upon hearing that I was watching the show, my sister exclaimed, 'Why are you torturing yourself?!'
Torturing myself? I don't think it's torture. Sure those ladies all have kick ass bodies, perfect hair, beautiful faces, blah, blah, blah....and one of them just had a baby like three months ago...unreal.
But why now? Why did I decide to tune in now when I'm lying in my bed like a beached whale with two babies baking in my tummy? Who knows. Most likely in part because I actually REMEMBERED this time and another part curiosity. How do perfect women look in sexy lingerie....the answer? Perfect, of course. I also wanted to see what celebs actually attended the show....they showed Jason Lewis, P.Diddy, George Hamilton....in other words, pervs. (just kidding).
So what did I get out of watching the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show?
Torturing myself? I don't think it's torture. Sure those ladies all have kick ass bodies, perfect hair, beautiful faces, blah, blah, blah....and one of them just had a baby like three months ago...unreal.
But why now? Why did I decide to tune in now when I'm lying in my bed like a beached whale with two babies baking in my tummy? Who knows. Most likely in part because I actually REMEMBERED this time and another part curiosity. How do perfect women look in sexy lingerie....the answer? Perfect, of course. I also wanted to see what celebs actually attended the show....they showed Jason Lewis, P.Diddy, George Hamilton....in other words, pervs. (just kidding).
So what did I get out of watching the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show?
- I got that I won't be wearing ANYTHING that they modeled in the next year.
- I learned that there are definitely some VS models' bodies I would like to strive for, post-pregnancy of course.
- I decided that I would like to grow my hair long again because I just can't get used to my short hair anymore (I donated my hair in October to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to benefit cancer patients in need of wigs).
- And finally - how realistic would it be for me to grow 3-5 more inches in the next two years so I can take part in the Victoria's Secret Runway show in 2010? (I think I know the answer to that already)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Maternity Clothes...Really?!
So back on my pregnancy train, because I'm having twins, I have been busting out a little earlier than usual. I'm told this is perfectly normal when having twins. I had to buy new bras at nine weeks because I already went up a whole cup size (thanks Nordstrom Lady!) and she gave me some great advice....your boobs are going to keep getting bigger as the pregnancy moves on so don't spend lots of money on bras. Thankfully, Nordstrom was having their half-yearly sale so I was able to get four new bras for under $20 each, including a Natori! And then I rounded out the four to make it a week's supply of bigger bras with Gap Body bras for $10-$15 each (thank you sales!).
But bras are not my problem. I have had to face the fact that my body no longer fits into my size 8s. This has taken a lot to overcome...but thankfully I have some size 10s in the closet for those 'feeling big' days. Those are now becoming a bit snug and I was able to go to JCrew and purchase two size 12 slacks for $15 each (I heart sales!). I was given good advice here as well - you'll need those bigger sizes on your way down, post pregnancy, so you might as well purchase some bigger size clothing that aren't maternity. Good advice.
Over the holiday weekend, I broke down and went with my sister to Gap Maternity and Old Navy Maternity....I managed to purchase two sweaters from Gap Maternity - were they necessarily maternity sweaters? Not really - they didn't look any different than regular sweaters except that they covered up my butt and were longer, presumably to hide belly and maternity bands. But in looking at the other stuff that they had, I just could not get excited about maternity clothes. Quite frankly, if you're not buying 'top of the line' maternity clothes (aka - Nordstrom Maternity, Pea in the Pod), I think they can be quite ugly.
Then what am I going to do when I start approaching 'double wide' status during my pregnancy? I'm going to try and get deals on the good maternity clothes and hopefully sell them after i'm done with them so I can get some return on my investment.
I just find maternity clothes very repetitive - you see one maternity sweater with the rope band tied in a bow at the empire waist, you've seen them all. I'm always open to suggestions of where I can find good maternity clothes. I just feel like I've gone from fashion forward to fashion flunk.
But bras are not my problem. I have had to face the fact that my body no longer fits into my size 8s. This has taken a lot to overcome...but thankfully I have some size 10s in the closet for those 'feeling big' days. Those are now becoming a bit snug and I was able to go to JCrew and purchase two size 12 slacks for $15 each (I heart sales!). I was given good advice here as well - you'll need those bigger sizes on your way down, post pregnancy, so you might as well purchase some bigger size clothing that aren't maternity. Good advice.
Over the holiday weekend, I broke down and went with my sister to Gap Maternity and Old Navy Maternity....I managed to purchase two sweaters from Gap Maternity - were they necessarily maternity sweaters? Not really - they didn't look any different than regular sweaters except that they covered up my butt and were longer, presumably to hide belly and maternity bands. But in looking at the other stuff that they had, I just could not get excited about maternity clothes. Quite frankly, if you're not buying 'top of the line' maternity clothes (aka - Nordstrom Maternity, Pea in the Pod), I think they can be quite ugly.
Then what am I going to do when I start approaching 'double wide' status during my pregnancy? I'm going to try and get deals on the good maternity clothes and hopefully sell them after i'm done with them so I can get some return on my investment.
I just find maternity clothes very repetitive - you see one maternity sweater with the rope band tied in a bow at the empire waist, you've seen them all. I'm always open to suggestions of where I can find good maternity clothes. I just feel like I've gone from fashion forward to fashion flunk.
Monday, December 1, 2008
This Is So Exhausting!
Just reading Amanda's last post made me tired - not because it was boring but because this is how my life has been for the past three months - EXHAUSTING. Cause when the Sandman comes a knockin', I go willingly. The reason for all the exhaustion is because I, too, am pregnant and I am just finishing up my first trimester. I'm still waiting for that moment in the second trimester that many books and people talk about - the moment where you get this burst of energy and you're no longer tired...at least not until you hit your third trimester.
My weekends have been dictated by my need for sleep. A normal 'pregnant' Saturday/Sunday will find me waking up at 7AM, watching TV for about 1 - 1.5 hours and then back in bed for another two hours before I can venture out of the house. And even then it's a struggle. But whatever I manage to do outside of the house, I will eventually need to head home in the afternoon for at least another two hour nap. And then I go about my business around dinner time and I'm in bed and asleep before 10PM. It's sad really - because I used to be so energetic. Now, I can barely get my ass out of bed to do anything. Not to mention the fact that I've been to the gym THREE times in the last three months. I'm hoping that this week will get me back into the gym regularly (three-four times a week) and that will slowly boost up my energy levels....but again, getting me out of the house after returning from work will be a chore within itself!
I also manage to have internal debates with myself overnight - as in, when I have to get up to go to the bathroom. Some nights I get up once, other nights I get up twice. But before I manage to get up, I think I argue with myself for at least five minutes before I lose the battle and get up to go to the bathroom. The winning argument is always, 'This only prepares you for overnight baby feedings.' I begrudgingly get out of bed (cause storing all that waste can't be good for the babies) and promptly get back to sleep. This is how bad my exhaustion has gotten - actually thinking that I could 'hold it in' so I don't have to get out of bed. Where are those catheters when you need them?! I was even informed by 'experienced' Moms that in my third trimester, I might experience 'leakage' before I can hit the bathroom. My response? Ewww and then a mental note to maybe invest in some Depends.
Although I'm thoroughly exhausted, I actually can't complain very much because I did get away with no morning sickness, no vomiting, no nausea and no food aversions. I was one of the lucky ones in that regard - if my worst symptom is exhaustion and the remedy is to sleep, I doubt I would get much pity.
Time for a nap!
My weekends have been dictated by my need for sleep. A normal 'pregnant' Saturday/Sunday will find me waking up at 7AM, watching TV for about 1 - 1.5 hours and then back in bed for another two hours before I can venture out of the house. And even then it's a struggle. But whatever I manage to do outside of the house, I will eventually need to head home in the afternoon for at least another two hour nap. And then I go about my business around dinner time and I'm in bed and asleep before 10PM. It's sad really - because I used to be so energetic. Now, I can barely get my ass out of bed to do anything. Not to mention the fact that I've been to the gym THREE times in the last three months. I'm hoping that this week will get me back into the gym regularly (three-four times a week) and that will slowly boost up my energy levels....but again, getting me out of the house after returning from work will be a chore within itself!
I also manage to have internal debates with myself overnight - as in, when I have to get up to go to the bathroom. Some nights I get up once, other nights I get up twice. But before I manage to get up, I think I argue with myself for at least five minutes before I lose the battle and get up to go to the bathroom. The winning argument is always, 'This only prepares you for overnight baby feedings.' I begrudgingly get out of bed (cause storing all that waste can't be good for the babies) and promptly get back to sleep. This is how bad my exhaustion has gotten - actually thinking that I could 'hold it in' so I don't have to get out of bed. Where are those catheters when you need them?! I was even informed by 'experienced' Moms that in my third trimester, I might experience 'leakage' before I can hit the bathroom. My response? Ewww and then a mental note to maybe invest in some Depends.
Although I'm thoroughly exhausted, I actually can't complain very much because I did get away with no morning sickness, no vomiting, no nausea and no food aversions. I was one of the lucky ones in that regard - if my worst symptom is exhaustion and the remedy is to sleep, I doubt I would get much pity.
Time for a nap!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Fooling Ourselves
Hey everyone! It's officially turkey day on the East Coast (here in Del Rio, we're still shy approximately five minutes)! I could blog about how I spent all day making pies, but I won't. It was pretty anticlimactic (although, I confess that I did have a little taste of my friend Brenda's famous pumpkin bars just to make sure I didn't screw them up (I didn't - and yum!)). Instead, I thought of the perfect blog topic the other night: why do we fool ourselves?
I'm sure we're all guilty of the occasional white lie every now and then. (Frankly, I don't think I could be friends with someone who didn't engage in this practice once in awhile. It's just human nature and a useful resource for sparing feelings.) But what I really don't get is when we try to trick ourselves into believing something. Don't we know ourselves well enough by this point in life? How could we fall for such a thing?
A simple example of this is my constant need to rationalize what I eat. Oh, food regrets - those are the worst. So, in an effort to assuage the guilt I feel after gorging on some snack or sweet, I'll often try to convince myself that I didn't have a full serving or that it didn't have any calories as the package says because it's Sunday or something. Do I buy these ridiculous excuses? No, not really. But I continue to do it, time and time again.
The ultimate attempt to fool myself, though, is when I insist that I am not, I am NOT falling asleep. Here's what I mean: Often, when I'm snuggled up on the couch at night watching the boob tube, I'll start to doze off. But I'm not willing to throw in the towel yet. Oh no. I will finish, MUST finish whatever pointless thing I'm watching. So here's my genius plan: I will simply rest my eyes for a little while, but not to worry - I will still be able to follow the story, sporting event, what-have-you, by LISTENING.
Has this strategy ever worked? Nope. Not even once. Not when my brother and I stayed up late while we were in high school watching "Zapped Again" (which Scott Baio was evidently too good for) on one of the cheap local cable channels. Not during my first three attempts at getting all of the way through the movie "Fletch" (great movie, but it was like some kind of weird curse - sometime after Fletch told them to "put it on the Underhill's tab," the sandman would pay me a visit). Not when I watched my Ti-Fauxed episode of "Samantha Who?" from the other night. (I would start the episode, fall asleep about five minutes in, wake up at some point after the credits and, INCREDIBLY, try to get through it again - with the same master plan.)
The point? I'm not fooling anyone. But you can't blame me for trying.
I'm sure we're all guilty of the occasional white lie every now and then. (Frankly, I don't think I could be friends with someone who didn't engage in this practice once in awhile. It's just human nature and a useful resource for sparing feelings.) But what I really don't get is when we try to trick ourselves into believing something. Don't we know ourselves well enough by this point in life? How could we fall for such a thing?
A simple example of this is my constant need to rationalize what I eat. Oh, food regrets - those are the worst. So, in an effort to assuage the guilt I feel after gorging on some snack or sweet, I'll often try to convince myself that I didn't have a full serving or that it didn't have any calories as the package says because it's Sunday or something. Do I buy these ridiculous excuses? No, not really. But I continue to do it, time and time again.
The ultimate attempt to fool myself, though, is when I insist that I am not, I am NOT falling asleep. Here's what I mean: Often, when I'm snuggled up on the couch at night watching the boob tube, I'll start to doze off. But I'm not willing to throw in the towel yet. Oh no. I will finish, MUST finish whatever pointless thing I'm watching. So here's my genius plan: I will simply rest my eyes for a little while, but not to worry - I will still be able to follow the story, sporting event, what-have-you, by LISTENING.
Has this strategy ever worked? Nope. Not even once. Not when my brother and I stayed up late while we were in high school watching "Zapped Again" (which Scott Baio was evidently too good for) on one of the cheap local cable channels. Not during my first three attempts at getting all of the way through the movie "Fletch" (great movie, but it was like some kind of weird curse - sometime after Fletch told them to "put it on the Underhill's tab," the sandman would pay me a visit). Not when I watched my Ti-Fauxed episode of "Samantha Who?" from the other night. (I would start the episode, fall asleep about five minutes in, wake up at some point after the credits and, INCREDIBLY, try to get through it again - with the same master plan.)
The point? I'm not fooling anyone. But you can't blame me for trying.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Yaye For Fat Pants!!!!
All women have their fat days - it may be more frequent than bad hair days, but I know that there would always be a week in every month where I just felt FAT.
I knew a lot of it was psychological and it was just prepping me for my monthly visitor - but I still didn't like it. And it was during these days that the baggy shirts came out and the best bottoms were drawstring and loose bottoms.
I've been having a lot of fat days lately - of course every time I voice this aloud, I usually get an annoyed response "You're not fat, you're pregnant!" This is true....but it doesn't prevent me from feeling like a two-ton heffer. The sad part is that I'm not even done with my first trimester (one week left) but the reason for the rapid growth in my girth is due to, so I'm told, is that I'm having twins. And everything seems to speed up when you're having twins.
I've been trying to hold off buying maternity clothes - I really don't need them - sweaters have been really helpful during this time to hide everything - but it's the bottoms that have been the struggle. I already purchased a belly band and I told my fellow cupcake, Amanda, that wearing jeans with the belly band is like HEAVEN - I'm so much more comfortable and don't feel like I'm "suffocating" the babies. And I look forward to going home in the evenings because I jump out of my work clothes and get into my sweats - pronto.
Yesterday, as I was getting ready for work, and had already resigned myself to the fact that I would no longer be wearing any size 8s, I was really surprised when one of my size 8 pants actually fit and didn't "suffocate" my tummy. I was very excited.....until I went to go sit in the car and I hear this 'POP.' I checked the back of my pants really quick - no hole. I checked my winter coat - no hole or rips.....I sat in the car for about a NY minute before I decided to go inside and verify with a mirror that my pants didn't rip. They did not.
I got to work and was walking to my office when I felt silky fabric rubbing against my backside...and then it occurred to me....I split my lining! And sure enough, a trip to the ladies' room confirmed it. Total bummer. Size 8s are now officially a size of my past - thank goodness I have size 10 work pants from my feeling-fat days.
I was excited this morning when I went into my dressing room and discovered that not only did I have "fat pants" for work - I had a pair of "fat jeans" because not surprisingly, I was down to like 1.5 jeans that fit me comfortably....however now that they've been freshly washed, we could be down to zero.....in which these fat jeans will come in very handy!
So yaye for fat pants because without them, I would be wishing that I could show up to work in sweats or drawstring pants...which wouldn't be a bad thing but it wouldn't be very professional.
I knew a lot of it was psychological and it was just prepping me for my monthly visitor - but I still didn't like it. And it was during these days that the baggy shirts came out and the best bottoms were drawstring and loose bottoms.
I've been having a lot of fat days lately - of course every time I voice this aloud, I usually get an annoyed response "You're not fat, you're pregnant!" This is true....but it doesn't prevent me from feeling like a two-ton heffer. The sad part is that I'm not even done with my first trimester (one week left) but the reason for the rapid growth in my girth is due to, so I'm told, is that I'm having twins. And everything seems to speed up when you're having twins.
I've been trying to hold off buying maternity clothes - I really don't need them - sweaters have been really helpful during this time to hide everything - but it's the bottoms that have been the struggle. I already purchased a belly band and I told my fellow cupcake, Amanda, that wearing jeans with the belly band is like HEAVEN - I'm so much more comfortable and don't feel like I'm "suffocating" the babies. And I look forward to going home in the evenings because I jump out of my work clothes and get into my sweats - pronto.
Yesterday, as I was getting ready for work, and had already resigned myself to the fact that I would no longer be wearing any size 8s, I was really surprised when one of my size 8 pants actually fit and didn't "suffocate" my tummy. I was very excited.....until I went to go sit in the car and I hear this 'POP.' I checked the back of my pants really quick - no hole. I checked my winter coat - no hole or rips.....I sat in the car for about a NY minute before I decided to go inside and verify with a mirror that my pants didn't rip. They did not.
I got to work and was walking to my office when I felt silky fabric rubbing against my backside...and then it occurred to me....I split my lining! And sure enough, a trip to the ladies' room confirmed it. Total bummer. Size 8s are now officially a size of my past - thank goodness I have size 10 work pants from my feeling-fat days.
I was excited this morning when I went into my dressing room and discovered that not only did I have "fat pants" for work - I had a pair of "fat jeans" because not surprisingly, I was down to like 1.5 jeans that fit me comfortably....however now that they've been freshly washed, we could be down to zero.....in which these fat jeans will come in very handy!
So yaye for fat pants because without them, I would be wishing that I could show up to work in sweats or drawstring pants...which wouldn't be a bad thing but it wouldn't be very professional.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Turkey Time...Not So Excellent
It's that time of year - Thanksgiving. It's during this time that I look forward to the time off of work that I get - first Thanksgiving, then Christmas soon after.
What I don't look forward to is traveling to families and being out of the comforts of my own home.
For the past 32 years, I have managed to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday without ever having to cook a turkey. There was a couple of years ago that my husband and I decided to stay in town for Thanksgiving so I invited a few other stragglers to come over for Thanksgiving dinner and I ordered a roasted turkey from Wegmans - my effort was just to reheat for 1.5 hours.
Every year, the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving, we usually have a get together amongst our close friends, to celebrate the upcoming holiday. It is a potluck where everyone attending brings a festive dish and the hosts supply the bird. This is the first year that we're hosting the event. Our previous hosts have moved out to California so my husband and I stepped up to the plate to host the event this year. It's always a good time and a good excuse to bring everyone together before the hectic holiday season.
I thought I could get away with pre-ordering the turkey from Wegmans again and just reheat (and perhaps pass it off as my own)....but after meeting with the catering department and seeing that they only offered ONE size of bird that could not feed the 20+ guests we're expecting (and ordering two was not an option), it has come down to me cooking the turkey, myself, from scratch.
I started panicking. I brought my Betty Crocker cookbook to work yesterday but ultimately didn't have time to sift through for recipes. I did get about 10 mins to look online for recipes and I found a whole Turkey prep page with LOADS of recipes...I figured I would try a garlic and herb one - who doesn't like garlic and herb. I think my panic stems from long-ago Thanksgivings where my Mom would prepare the turkey and it seemed like it took a whole day to get it done. I also did not have a great fondness for turkey due to the dry-ness that resulted from my Mom's bird - then again, I don't really recall her basting the bird either. The recipes that I encountered only seem to take 3-4 hours before the turkey is done - no sweat! So now I'm actually not as frightened about making a turkey as I was before.
It will still be nerve wracking - having to cook a whole turkey myself for 20+ guests - but if I can do this, then that's just one more cooking accomplishment to put under my belt - turkey...check.
The gravy will come separately - that has been pre-ordered, thank goodness....I'm trying to take baby steps here.
What I don't look forward to is traveling to families and being out of the comforts of my own home.
For the past 32 years, I have managed to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday without ever having to cook a turkey. There was a couple of years ago that my husband and I decided to stay in town for Thanksgiving so I invited a few other stragglers to come over for Thanksgiving dinner and I ordered a roasted turkey from Wegmans - my effort was just to reheat for 1.5 hours.
Every year, the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving, we usually have a get together amongst our close friends, to celebrate the upcoming holiday. It is a potluck where everyone attending brings a festive dish and the hosts supply the bird. This is the first year that we're hosting the event. Our previous hosts have moved out to California so my husband and I stepped up to the plate to host the event this year. It's always a good time and a good excuse to bring everyone together before the hectic holiday season.
I thought I could get away with pre-ordering the turkey from Wegmans again and just reheat (and perhaps pass it off as my own)....but after meeting with the catering department and seeing that they only offered ONE size of bird that could not feed the 20+ guests we're expecting (and ordering two was not an option), it has come down to me cooking the turkey, myself, from scratch.
I started panicking. I brought my Betty Crocker cookbook to work yesterday but ultimately didn't have time to sift through for recipes. I did get about 10 mins to look online for recipes and I found a whole Turkey prep page with LOADS of recipes...I figured I would try a garlic and herb one - who doesn't like garlic and herb. I think my panic stems from long-ago Thanksgivings where my Mom would prepare the turkey and it seemed like it took a whole day to get it done. I also did not have a great fondness for turkey due to the dry-ness that resulted from my Mom's bird - then again, I don't really recall her basting the bird either. The recipes that I encountered only seem to take 3-4 hours before the turkey is done - no sweat! So now I'm actually not as frightened about making a turkey as I was before.
It will still be nerve wracking - having to cook a whole turkey myself for 20+ guests - but if I can do this, then that's just one more cooking accomplishment to put under my belt - turkey...check.
The gravy will come separately - that has been pre-ordered, thank goodness....I'm trying to take baby steps here.
Who Says Nothing Happens in Del Rio?
Okay, I admit it. I've said that. Many times. When one of the approximately two decent restaurants in town is dead at prime time on a Saturday night, this necessarily causes me to question what on earth people are doing in Del Rio. (Incidentally, Chili's is always hopping; no, I do not consider that one of the select two, although, relative to its competition from iHop to Pizza Hut, it's certainly passable.)
I've voiced my concern several times to my friends in far sexier places (New York, D.C., Dallas, Austin), and I have to tell you - I love my friends. In times of waning excitement, it's nice to know that my peeps are looking out for me. Case in point: I received a flood of e-mails from my preferentially-located pals yesterday with the following (or a very similar) headline:
‘Bachelor’ winner arrested for unruliness
Mary Delgado was arrested after refusing to leave a Texas bar
http://www.austin360.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/TV/People_Bachelor_Winner_Arrest.html
"Where could this Texas bar be?" I hear you ask. Well, that's the interesting part. Yes, you can probably gather from the context that, indeed, baby-obsessed Bachelor Bob runner-up and Bachelor Byron winner Mary Delgado was arrested for causing a ruckus at some establishment in Del Rio. Of course, the articles I reviewed fail to mention which bar, which I think is a little fishy. I need to know these things, as I'm clearly missing all of the action in this town. If I had to guess, I would say it was probably the bar in the lakeside "resort" purportedly owned by Byron Velvick, the famed pro bass fisherman (note: I use the term "resort" very loosely). Maybe they got into some kind of heated argument over the lack of spice in the queso.
But there you have it. I guess I have to go eat my words now.
I've voiced my concern several times to my friends in far sexier places (New York, D.C., Dallas, Austin), and I have to tell you - I love my friends. In times of waning excitement, it's nice to know that my peeps are looking out for me. Case in point: I received a flood of e-mails from my preferentially-located pals yesterday with the following (or a very similar) headline:
‘Bachelor’ winner arrested for unruliness
Mary Delgado was arrested after refusing to leave a Texas bar
http://www.austin360.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/TV/People_Bachelor_Winner_Arrest.html
"Where could this Texas bar be?" I hear you ask. Well, that's the interesting part. Yes, you can probably gather from the context that, indeed, baby-obsessed Bachelor Bob runner-up and Bachelor Byron winner Mary Delgado was arrested for causing a ruckus at some establishment in Del Rio. Of course, the articles I reviewed fail to mention which bar, which I think is a little fishy. I need to know these things, as I'm clearly missing all of the action in this town. If I had to guess, I would say it was probably the bar in the lakeside "resort" purportedly owned by Byron Velvick, the famed pro bass fisherman (note: I use the term "resort" very loosely). Maybe they got into some kind of heated argument over the lack of spice in the queso.
But there you have it. I guess I have to go eat my words now.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
When Is It Time...To Ash Out?
I'm not a smoker - in fact, since I was little, I've been told I am somewhat allergic to smoke. My Dad use to smoke a pipe and every year, around winter, without fail, I would get strep throat or some coughing illness from all the smoke that was inhaled. Finally my Dad quit, for my health, cold turkey.
Now with DC and other big cities banning indoor smoking in bars, I have to say, it's nice to be able to go out and not worry about going home at the end of the night smelling like an ash tray.
But a question I have out there for the smokers - when is it time to ash or ash out your cigarette?
The reason why I ask is because I was driving alongside this woman last night, in rush hour traffic...we were side-by-side for awhile since we weren't moving very fast, but she had her window down and she was smoking a cigarette. When I first took notice of her (I actually had to turn the air flow into internal air flow cause I could smell her smoke), she had a good bit of ash on the tip of her cigarette. As we kept driving, that ash margin got bigger and bigger - to the point that when I left her, it started to curve. I kept wondering when she was going to ash out her cigarette - I was actually worried that if she didn't soon, the ashes might fall into her car. I also wondered if it's happened to her before.
Well - I hope she eventually ashed without getting any in her car. Because if she kept going the way she was going, she was going to look like she was puffing on a candy cane soon!
Now with DC and other big cities banning indoor smoking in bars, I have to say, it's nice to be able to go out and not worry about going home at the end of the night smelling like an ash tray.
But a question I have out there for the smokers - when is it time to ash or ash out your cigarette?
The reason why I ask is because I was driving alongside this woman last night, in rush hour traffic...we were side-by-side for awhile since we weren't moving very fast, but she had her window down and she was smoking a cigarette. When I first took notice of her (I actually had to turn the air flow into internal air flow cause I could smell her smoke), she had a good bit of ash on the tip of her cigarette. As we kept driving, that ash margin got bigger and bigger - to the point that when I left her, it started to curve. I kept wondering when she was going to ash out her cigarette - I was actually worried that if she didn't soon, the ashes might fall into her car. I also wondered if it's happened to her before.
Well - I hope she eventually ashed without getting any in her car. Because if she kept going the way she was going, she was going to look like she was puffing on a candy cane soon!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Information That Would Have Been Nice To Know . . . Yesterday
Cat's officially out of the bag. I've got a bun in the oven. I'm a first timer, so it's super exciting for me (even more so for my husband who got all choked up when he saw the swag I got at an "OB Orientation" class at the Air Force Base - I thought that dads couldn't care less about burp cloths and onesies - evidently, I was wrong). So, as a first timer, I immediately went out and bought the latest "What to Expect When You're Expecting" (which, thankfully, no longer features the picture of that matronly lady in a rocking chair on the cover), and a few very generous friends sent me some other helpful books. So rock on - I was equipped with all of the information needed to navigate my nine month journey. Right? Wrong.
Now, for those of you mothers out there, you remember the food aversions and cravings. Fortunately for me, I didn't have any true morning sickness, but the very thought of certain foods made me want to ralph (case in point: broccoli - still can't do it). Naturally, this led me to crave some very tame foods, a sharp contrast to my eclectic tastes in food. And yet, I couldn't just eat bread every day. The baby needed some protein. So guess what I turned to? Cold cuts.
But oh wait? After dining on tasty turkey and club sandwiches for a good three weeks (but not every day), a friend tells me that she was told NOT to eat cold cuts. Did I see this in any of the pregnancy books I read? Nope. But all it took was one google search, and I confirmed my fear. Deli meats are off limits unless you first heat them to steaming in a microwave (and yeah - no thanks). So deli meats are out. That might have been nice to know . . .
So I was sitting in the waiting room this afternoon for my latest doctor visit, and I decided to peruse one of the mom-to-be magazines. There was this section with letters from readers about the things they did before they knew they weren't supposed to. One woman wrote about her daily deli sandwiches, and I thought to myself, "Wow, that stinks - every day? At least my slip only happened a few times a month." And then I kept reading until I read, "I was craving Greek salads . . ." Oh no! I have been jonesing for Greek salads for three weeks now, and I have been making them at home, complete with feta cheese. Yup, feta is a no-no.
As Adam Sandler would say, that is information that would have been nice to know YESTERDAY!
Thankfully, the baby seems to be all right with these minor slip-ups, as he gave me a little high five wave during my ultrasound today.
Now, for those of you mothers out there, you remember the food aversions and cravings. Fortunately for me, I didn't have any true morning sickness, but the very thought of certain foods made me want to ralph (case in point: broccoli - still can't do it). Naturally, this led me to crave some very tame foods, a sharp contrast to my eclectic tastes in food. And yet, I couldn't just eat bread every day. The baby needed some protein. So guess what I turned to? Cold cuts.
But oh wait? After dining on tasty turkey and club sandwiches for a good three weeks (but not every day), a friend tells me that she was told NOT to eat cold cuts. Did I see this in any of the pregnancy books I read? Nope. But all it took was one google search, and I confirmed my fear. Deli meats are off limits unless you first heat them to steaming in a microwave (and yeah - no thanks). So deli meats are out. That might have been nice to know . . .
So I was sitting in the waiting room this afternoon for my latest doctor visit, and I decided to peruse one of the mom-to-be magazines. There was this section with letters from readers about the things they did before they knew they weren't supposed to. One woman wrote about her daily deli sandwiches, and I thought to myself, "Wow, that stinks - every day? At least my slip only happened a few times a month." And then I kept reading until I read, "I was craving Greek salads . . ." Oh no! I have been jonesing for Greek salads for three weeks now, and I have been making them at home, complete with feta cheese. Yup, feta is a no-no.
As Adam Sandler would say, that is information that would have been nice to know YESTERDAY!
Thankfully, the baby seems to be all right with these minor slip-ups, as he gave me a little high five wave during my ultrasound today.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Declaring It's the Worst Day Ever...at 7 AM.
I am currently in Atlanta for some business - probably my last business trip of the year. I was looking forward to coming down here for it's warmer climates...but unfortunately, I was looking forward to it more when I thought I was coming down with a co-worker. Instead, I'm by my lonesome....and this is probably when my brain decided to rebel.
When I book business travel, it's usually never more than seven days prior to day of travel. My manager is very swamped with all kinds of work and she's actually at another locale doing the same thing I'm doing - just with different people. So I just always wait for her to give me the word that it's time to book travel. So I got the word last Thursday and proceeded to book my air, hotel and rental car. When I travel by myself, I usually leave from Reagan-National Airport - it's just easier for me since I leave directly from home. However, when I travel with my co-worker, I usually travel out of Dulles International because it's closer for them and I don't really mind. The truth is, I think my home is smack dab between the two airports. I just prefer Reagan.
So after booking my travel arrangements last Thursday, I printed out the itinerary and kind of set it aside until the following Tuesday when I packed it in my laptop bag so I would have it with me during my travels. I had my grand plan in mind already - wake up at 6:00 am, out of the house by 6:30 am and at the airport by 7. I had an 8:40 am flight.
Due to Daylight Savings Time and the fact that sleep seems to escape me in the early morning, I ended up waking up at 5:30am and futzing around in the kitchen until 6:15am before I made it out the garage. I still ended up at the airport before 7am and was on the parking lot bus by 7am, on my way to the terminal. It was at this time that I decided to pull out my itinerary to double check the airline (United) - and this is when I saw those three dreaded codes...IAD, IAD, IAD. That code = Dulles International.
I looked up at the clock on the bus - 7:00 am. I called the company travel agency - she wanted me to re-book a whole new flight and cost my group MORE money (yeah, no thanks)....before I hung up I said, 'I will find my way to Dulles.'
I got off at the first stop and proceeded down to ground transportation. Thankfully there was someone down there to help me - it was a Super Shuttle lady and she said that one of their shuttles just left for Dulles. I told her my flight time and she said that I would be cutting it close....NO DUH! But she called back the shuttle and the driver was sympathetic to my cause - trying to calm me down throughout the ride. It wasn't like I was in hysterics but he must've seen the worry in my face. He kept telling me that we would get there before 8 am. I kept wanting to yell at him to 'step on it.' It was 7:15 am.
True to his word, the driver got me to my terminal by 7:50am. Amazing for DC rush-hour traffic. I was a little peeved when we were on the Dulles Access Road (which is a direct road to the airport with only airport traffic) and he was looking at text messages on his cell phone - again I wanted to yell, 'Don't even THINK about replying!' I've seen Super Shuttles overturned on the Dulles Access Road. Okay - only one, but still, one time is all it takes.
I paid him in cash (not company policy but paying by corporate card would've really delayed me and the company is just going to have to take that as my reason) and ran into the United terminal. Luckily it wasn't busy and there was a greeter right in front of me. I asked her point blank, "My flight is at 8:40am. Am I too late? Can I still check in?" She assured me I still could at one of those kiosks...but when I went to check in and check my bag, forget it - it went downhill from there. I had to use one of those phones that you'd thought you'd never have to use to talk to a United representative. Basically, she told me I was too late - but she asked if I could bring my bag with me. I said I could (although I loathed the idea because I didn't pack my 'liquids' separately) and she said I could just check in with no bags and proceed to the gate.
THANKFULLY, the security lines at Dulles, which are NOTORIOUS for being long and unruly were not. God was working FOR me! I was able to fly through security, take out all my liquids and just throw them in the bin (there were no clear baggies available) and go on through. Meanwhile, I'm doing this all in heels. NEVERMIND the fact that my baggage was now a carry on -I just never thought to stop and throw on my flats to make the whole 'running to my gate' any easier. I think I was just trying to make my gate.
I did get to my gate - at approximately 8:25am. Not too shabby. It was an express jet so I had to walk down the tunnel, down a flight of 'slippery' stairs, all with my laptop bag, purse and suitcase. NEVERMIND that there were like five males all standing there watching to see if I'd fall down the stairs and break my neck- not a one offered to help me with my bags - can you believe that? That kind of ticked me off. Anyways, I finally get on the plane and I realize that I am sweating...like I just ran half a marathon...which I basically did...in heels. Once the pilot turned on the engine, my air vent was on full blast to try and dry the sweat coming down my face. Thank goodness the guy sitting next to me was sleeping. I'm sure I would've grossed him out.
So I made it to Atlanta on my regularly scheduled flight. I worked the rest of the day (okay, I left at 4:30pm cause I was pooped) without an issue. I'm staying til Friday - when I will take my regularly scheduled flight back to Dulles and THEN figure out how I'm going to go retrieve my car from Reagan.
My brain is mush.
When I book business travel, it's usually never more than seven days prior to day of travel. My manager is very swamped with all kinds of work and she's actually at another locale doing the same thing I'm doing - just with different people. So I just always wait for her to give me the word that it's time to book travel. So I got the word last Thursday and proceeded to book my air, hotel and rental car. When I travel by myself, I usually leave from Reagan-National Airport - it's just easier for me since I leave directly from home. However, when I travel with my co-worker, I usually travel out of Dulles International because it's closer for them and I don't really mind. The truth is, I think my home is smack dab between the two airports. I just prefer Reagan.
So after booking my travel arrangements last Thursday, I printed out the itinerary and kind of set it aside until the following Tuesday when I packed it in my laptop bag so I would have it with me during my travels. I had my grand plan in mind already - wake up at 6:00 am, out of the house by 6:30 am and at the airport by 7. I had an 8:40 am flight.
Due to Daylight Savings Time and the fact that sleep seems to escape me in the early morning, I ended up waking up at 5:30am and futzing around in the kitchen until 6:15am before I made it out the garage. I still ended up at the airport before 7am and was on the parking lot bus by 7am, on my way to the terminal. It was at this time that I decided to pull out my itinerary to double check the airline (United) - and this is when I saw those three dreaded codes...IAD, IAD, IAD. That code = Dulles International.
I looked up at the clock on the bus - 7:00 am. I called the company travel agency - she wanted me to re-book a whole new flight and cost my group MORE money (yeah, no thanks)....before I hung up I said, 'I will find my way to Dulles.'
I got off at the first stop and proceeded down to ground transportation. Thankfully there was someone down there to help me - it was a Super Shuttle lady and she said that one of their shuttles just left for Dulles. I told her my flight time and she said that I would be cutting it close....NO DUH! But she called back the shuttle and the driver was sympathetic to my cause - trying to calm me down throughout the ride. It wasn't like I was in hysterics but he must've seen the worry in my face. He kept telling me that we would get there before 8 am. I kept wanting to yell at him to 'step on it.' It was 7:15 am.
True to his word, the driver got me to my terminal by 7:50am. Amazing for DC rush-hour traffic. I was a little peeved when we were on the Dulles Access Road (which is a direct road to the airport with only airport traffic) and he was looking at text messages on his cell phone - again I wanted to yell, 'Don't even THINK about replying!' I've seen Super Shuttles overturned on the Dulles Access Road. Okay - only one, but still, one time is all it takes.
I paid him in cash (not company policy but paying by corporate card would've really delayed me and the company is just going to have to take that as my reason) and ran into the United terminal. Luckily it wasn't busy and there was a greeter right in front of me. I asked her point blank, "My flight is at 8:40am. Am I too late? Can I still check in?" She assured me I still could at one of those kiosks...but when I went to check in and check my bag, forget it - it went downhill from there. I had to use one of those phones that you'd thought you'd never have to use to talk to a United representative. Basically, she told me I was too late - but she asked if I could bring my bag with me. I said I could (although I loathed the idea because I didn't pack my 'liquids' separately) and she said I could just check in with no bags and proceed to the gate.
THANKFULLY, the security lines at Dulles, which are NOTORIOUS for being long and unruly were not. God was working FOR me! I was able to fly through security, take out all my liquids and just throw them in the bin (there were no clear baggies available) and go on through. Meanwhile, I'm doing this all in heels. NEVERMIND the fact that my baggage was now a carry on -I just never thought to stop and throw on my flats to make the whole 'running to my gate' any easier. I think I was just trying to make my gate.
I did get to my gate - at approximately 8:25am. Not too shabby. It was an express jet so I had to walk down the tunnel, down a flight of 'slippery' stairs, all with my laptop bag, purse and suitcase. NEVERMIND that there were like five males all standing there watching to see if I'd fall down the stairs and break my neck- not a one offered to help me with my bags - can you believe that? That kind of ticked me off. Anyways, I finally get on the plane and I realize that I am sweating...like I just ran half a marathon...which I basically did...in heels. Once the pilot turned on the engine, my air vent was on full blast to try and dry the sweat coming down my face. Thank goodness the guy sitting next to me was sleeping. I'm sure I would've grossed him out.
So I made it to Atlanta on my regularly scheduled flight. I worked the rest of the day (okay, I left at 4:30pm cause I was pooped) without an issue. I'm staying til Friday - when I will take my regularly scheduled flight back to Dulles and THEN figure out how I'm going to go retrieve my car from Reagan.
My brain is mush.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
It's a Speed Bump, Not a Monster
I love driving and being out on the road...but sometimes, before you can get out on that open road, you have to get out of the parking lot. And these days, in order to protect other drivers and pedestrians, you come across lots of speed bumps.
Speed bumps come in all sizes, but pretty much the same shape - a smallish hill of concrete or plastic that makes a driver slow down to cross the bump. No matter what kind of speed bump you encounter, everyone crosses it differently.
I personally like to go over it rather quickly - especially in my SUV. I mean it's not going to damage anything underneath my car since we're already high off the ground, and the quicker I can get over it, the quicker it will be over. Boom, Boom - and done. If I'm in the sedan, I would take the speed bump a little slower but I certainly wouldn't snail my way over it - because I know I'm still high enough off the ground that the speed bump wouldn't scrape the underside of my car.
Routinely, when coming in and out of work, I have to go over at least two speed bumps each way. Yesterday, while leaving work, I was following two cars that were just your normal, everyday sedans. the car in the front came to a COMPLETE halt in front of the speed bump before snailing it's way over. And then they would speed along the 1/8th of a mile it took to get to the next speed bump - where they would proceed to come to a complete halt. The car in front of me didn't come to a complete halt but she sure did like to brake through the whole ordeal. It was so frustrating - I wanted to roll down my window and yell, 'It's a bump, not a monster!'
But these are just some of the worst case speed bump drivers. I've seen many cars try to avoid a full bump drive over by swerving to the far right of the road (where the bump does not extend) so that their passenger-side wheels don't have to go over the bump - but only their driver side wheels have to endure. In the long run, doesn't that make your car quite unbalanced? And besides, you're not saving your passengers any grief by not letting that side of the car go over the speed bump.
I think the worst is when you have to go over a bump and instead of having front and back wheels go over it two at a time, you have to pretty much go over the bump one wheel at a time. That happens to me when I go to a particular little mall in my neighborhood. The way I go into the parking lot has me at a angle where I can't get over the bump two-by-two....it's one, after the other, after the other...you get my picture. And the whole car just ends up rocking side to side.
But just take note, the next time you approach a speed bump - how do you approach it? If you're not a corvette or a camaro or some other low lying car, I don't expect a full stop to be made before you proceed...think about it....that bump isn't going to come up and get you!
Speed bumps come in all sizes, but pretty much the same shape - a smallish hill of concrete or plastic that makes a driver slow down to cross the bump. No matter what kind of speed bump you encounter, everyone crosses it differently.
I personally like to go over it rather quickly - especially in my SUV. I mean it's not going to damage anything underneath my car since we're already high off the ground, and the quicker I can get over it, the quicker it will be over. Boom, Boom - and done. If I'm in the sedan, I would take the speed bump a little slower but I certainly wouldn't snail my way over it - because I know I'm still high enough off the ground that the speed bump wouldn't scrape the underside of my car.
Routinely, when coming in and out of work, I have to go over at least two speed bumps each way. Yesterday, while leaving work, I was following two cars that were just your normal, everyday sedans. the car in the front came to a COMPLETE halt in front of the speed bump before snailing it's way over. And then they would speed along the 1/8th of a mile it took to get to the next speed bump - where they would proceed to come to a complete halt. The car in front of me didn't come to a complete halt but she sure did like to brake through the whole ordeal. It was so frustrating - I wanted to roll down my window and yell, 'It's a bump, not a monster!'
But these are just some of the worst case speed bump drivers. I've seen many cars try to avoid a full bump drive over by swerving to the far right of the road (where the bump does not extend) so that their passenger-side wheels don't have to go over the bump - but only their driver side wheels have to endure. In the long run, doesn't that make your car quite unbalanced? And besides, you're not saving your passengers any grief by not letting that side of the car go over the speed bump.
I think the worst is when you have to go over a bump and instead of having front and back wheels go over it two at a time, you have to pretty much go over the bump one wheel at a time. That happens to me when I go to a particular little mall in my neighborhood. The way I go into the parking lot has me at a angle where I can't get over the bump two-by-two....it's one, after the other, after the other...you get my picture. And the whole car just ends up rocking side to side.
But just take note, the next time you approach a speed bump - how do you approach it? If you're not a corvette or a camaro or some other low lying car, I don't expect a full stop to be made before you proceed...think about it....that bump isn't going to come up and get you!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Where Do They Come From, Where Do They Go?
Last night saw another world championship complete with the Philadelphia Phillies winning the 2008 World Series. I could care less about the Phillies - but what has always fascinated me, growing up, is how fast a championship team gets their championship gear after their win. This applies to any of the championships - the Superbowl, the Stanley Cup, the NBA (what is their championship called?) and the World Series being the major of the championships.
I remember growing up, watching championship games and being AMAZED at how quickly the winning players had their 'Championship' hats on right after the game. I was always wondering, 'How did they know that this team was going to win?' Thus was the mind of a very, young girl. But now I know better - they make championship gear for both teams - that's what makes it so easily accessible to the general public as well.
After figuring that piece out, the question then became, what happens to the losing team's championship accessories and apparel? I mean, you have to think that they had to make equal amounts for both teams - so you have enough to cover the team and all it's staff, and stuff that's ready to go on sale to the general public as early as the following day - what happens to all that stuff?
Well apparently, they get donated to third world countries. That's nice to know - at least it isn't a big waste and someone is getting some use out of the stuff - but just think, if you're ever on a trip for Unicef in Africa or touring the underdeveloped nations of South America, you just might run into natives that believe that the Patriots won the 2007 Superbowl...and you'll have to stop and think about it and say, 'Hmmm - I could've sworn the Giants won that game.'
I remember growing up, watching championship games and being AMAZED at how quickly the winning players had their 'Championship' hats on right after the game. I was always wondering, 'How did they know that this team was going to win?' Thus was the mind of a very, young girl. But now I know better - they make championship gear for both teams - that's what makes it so easily accessible to the general public as well.
After figuring that piece out, the question then became, what happens to the losing team's championship accessories and apparel? I mean, you have to think that they had to make equal amounts for both teams - so you have enough to cover the team and all it's staff, and stuff that's ready to go on sale to the general public as early as the following day - what happens to all that stuff?
Well apparently, they get donated to third world countries. That's nice to know - at least it isn't a big waste and someone is getting some use out of the stuff - but just think, if you're ever on a trip for Unicef in Africa or touring the underdeveloped nations of South America, you just might run into natives that believe that the Patriots won the 2007 Superbowl...and you'll have to stop and think about it and say, 'Hmmm - I could've sworn the Giants won that game.'
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Night of the Living Puffy
Apparently, Halloween is the second most decorated holiday (behind Christmas, of course). I didn't really notice this in D.C., probably because most of us in our compact townhouses simply didn't have the kind of yard that easily accommodates a faux grave yard or a collection of creepy scarecrows. That kind of decorating takes space.
In my new town of Del Rio, Texas, however, I've seen several houses that seem to take this idea of Halloween decorating seriously. Tombstones, cobwebs, skeletons, spiders, the works. But you know what else has made a rock star showing this year? Halloween-themed puffies.
For those of you not familiar with this technical term, "puffies" are those inflatable yard characters that became popular around Christmas a number of years ago. They started with oversized Santas and Frosties and escalated to rotating snow globes. "Puffies" is the term of endearment given to these characters by my mom, who became a little violent as we passed by a particularly tacky row of houses on the way back from my brother's house one Christmas eve and blurted out, "I can't stand those puffies!!"
I do see her point. The kinds of Christmas decorations I like are the more traditional ones: pretty wreaths and lights on the trees, maybe a few ribbons here and there - not a scene that looks straight out of a North Pole-themed episode of "SpongeBob SquarePants." The worst of the lot, in my opinion, is the Christmas tree puffy, especially in my hometown - in MICHIGAN - where there are evergreens-a-plenty. Really? It never occurred to these people to just string a few lights on the pine trees already in their front yards?
I have to say, though, I am actually enjoying the Halloween puffies. I guess I never considered Halloween decorating to be a big tradition, so it is kind of a nice treat to drive down Main Street and see that house with the sitting scarecrow with a pumpkin head that rotates 360 degrees. He's pretty cool. And I smile every time I see those Casper-like ghosts coming out of a jack-o-lantern.
Puffies - I have to hand it to you. I never thought I'd see the day . . .
In my new town of Del Rio, Texas, however, I've seen several houses that seem to take this idea of Halloween decorating seriously. Tombstones, cobwebs, skeletons, spiders, the works. But you know what else has made a rock star showing this year? Halloween-themed puffies.
For those of you not familiar with this technical term, "puffies" are those inflatable yard characters that became popular around Christmas a number of years ago. They started with oversized Santas and Frosties and escalated to rotating snow globes. "Puffies" is the term of endearment given to these characters by my mom, who became a little violent as we passed by a particularly tacky row of houses on the way back from my brother's house one Christmas eve and blurted out, "I can't stand those puffies!!"
I do see her point. The kinds of Christmas decorations I like are the more traditional ones: pretty wreaths and lights on the trees, maybe a few ribbons here and there - not a scene that looks straight out of a North Pole-themed episode of "SpongeBob SquarePants." The worst of the lot, in my opinion, is the Christmas tree puffy, especially in my hometown - in MICHIGAN - where there are evergreens-a-plenty. Really? It never occurred to these people to just string a few lights on the pine trees already in their front yards?
I have to say, though, I am actually enjoying the Halloween puffies. I guess I never considered Halloween decorating to be a big tradition, so it is kind of a nice treat to drive down Main Street and see that house with the sitting scarecrow with a pumpkin head that rotates 360 degrees. He's pretty cool. And I smile every time I see those Casper-like ghosts coming out of a jack-o-lantern.
Puffies - I have to hand it to you. I never thought I'd see the day . . .
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Life's Simple Answer: You're Crazy!
I was flipping through the morning radio shows this morning, when my regular station when to commercial break and came across the area's Top 40 POP station. Their morning show is AWFUL, in my opinion. I can't stand the hosts and I just think it's really crude that their idea of a good morning show is to have people call in with their problems and the show hosts getting involved. Like - a girl calls in because she knows her boyfriend cheated on her and she wants to confront him. So what do they do - the show hosts call the boyfriend and make him confess on air. How stupid is that?
Well this morning should've been a < 5 minute segment with one particular caller. It was an older woman - I would've put her in her mid-late 40s. First of all, it's pretty pathetic that you're that old and calling a Top 40 POP station. She called because her former business partner used to be her fiance. Well, he called off the wedding and she is now selling her business and because she stands to make a good profit, she wants to know if he deserves any of it since he helped start the business? That seemed like a question for Dear Abby, really. But that is beside the point - that was only one of her burning questions. Her other question was why he called off the engagement. He apparently had kids that came to visit her a lot and the kids seemed to really like her back then. But since the engagement was called off, she doesn't see the kids very much and they don't seem to like her all that much anymore - she has a feeling that their real mother is brainwashing them.
Ahh - paranoia. But it's not paranoia that is this woman's problem.
It's so simple, actually - I don't understand how she doesn't get it.
Dear Abby first - does he deserve any of the profit you stand to make off selling your business? It would definitely be a nice gesture to give him something since he helped you so much.
Next - You wanna know why he called off the engagement? It's because you're 40-something years old calling a Top 40 Morning Show to air your grievances.
And why don't the kids come see you or seem to like you anymore?
For one, because he called off the engagement - why would his kids come to see you anymore? And secondly, because you're 40-something years old calling a Top 40 Morning show to air your grievances.
In a nutshell - you're crazy!
Deal with it!
Well this morning should've been a < 5 minute segment with one particular caller. It was an older woman - I would've put her in her mid-late 40s. First of all, it's pretty pathetic that you're that old and calling a Top 40 POP station. She called because her former business partner used to be her fiance. Well, he called off the wedding and she is now selling her business and because she stands to make a good profit, she wants to know if he deserves any of it since he helped start the business? That seemed like a question for Dear Abby, really. But that is beside the point - that was only one of her burning questions. Her other question was why he called off the engagement. He apparently had kids that came to visit her a lot and the kids seemed to really like her back then. But since the engagement was called off, she doesn't see the kids very much and they don't seem to like her all that much anymore - she has a feeling that their real mother is brainwashing them.
Ahh - paranoia. But it's not paranoia that is this woman's problem.
It's so simple, actually - I don't understand how she doesn't get it.
Dear Abby first - does he deserve any of the profit you stand to make off selling your business? It would definitely be a nice gesture to give him something since he helped you so much.
Next - You wanna know why he called off the engagement? It's because you're 40-something years old calling a Top 40 Morning Show to air your grievances.
And why don't the kids come see you or seem to like you anymore?
For one, because he called off the engagement - why would his kids come to see you anymore? And secondly, because you're 40-something years old calling a Top 40 Morning show to air your grievances.
In a nutshell - you're crazy!
Deal with it!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Logo Loco
Logos are everywhere - they're on webpages, billboards, buildings, tee shirts, coffee mugs - you name it, a logo can probably be placed on it.
There are logos that make sense - probably the ones that make the most sense are just those ones that are made out of the company's initials like the 'B' for Blogger or the 'Y!' for Yahoo!. Then there are name logos like Google written in different colors or the oval with 'Post' written in script. Finally - there are the graphic logos - like the circular fox for 'Firefox' or the white outline of an eagle on a blue backdrop for the United States Post office. All easily identifiable - all make sense.
But then you get some logos that you just can't make heads or tails out of. On my way to work today, I passed a commercial van - the company was 'All Kinds of Flooring' and their logo was a cityscape coming out of a suitcase. I didn't get it. At first, I thought it was rolls of carpets coming out of a suitcase - which would've made sense. But then I was wondering if they provided hardwood and how they would depict that. Upon further inspection, however, I saw it was a city - and that led me to thinking - what do skyscrapers have to do with flooring? AND when do you see a flooring person with a suitcase? I'm wondering if they only did commercial flooring - hence the reason for the cityscape coming out of the suitcase - that's the only logical explanation I can think of.
In conclusion, I feel that if I have to think about what it all means, then your logo is no good.
There are logos that make sense - probably the ones that make the most sense are just those ones that are made out of the company's initials like the 'B' for Blogger or the 'Y!' for Yahoo!. Then there are name logos like Google written in different colors or the oval with 'Post' written in script. Finally - there are the graphic logos - like the circular fox for 'Firefox' or the white outline of an eagle on a blue backdrop for the United States Post office. All easily identifiable - all make sense.
But then you get some logos that you just can't make heads or tails out of. On my way to work today, I passed a commercial van - the company was 'All Kinds of Flooring' and their logo was a cityscape coming out of a suitcase. I didn't get it. At first, I thought it was rolls of carpets coming out of a suitcase - which would've made sense. But then I was wondering if they provided hardwood and how they would depict that. Upon further inspection, however, I saw it was a city - and that led me to thinking - what do skyscrapers have to do with flooring? AND when do you see a flooring person with a suitcase? I'm wondering if they only did commercial flooring - hence the reason for the cityscape coming out of the suitcase - that's the only logical explanation I can think of.
In conclusion, I feel that if I have to think about what it all means, then your logo is no good.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Just How Far Do Bridezillas Go?
They are the craziest of the crazed. They are oftentimes under extreme stress and confronting uncooperative peers. They even have their own show on cable. They are....BRIDEZILLAS!
I haven't watched the show -I always pass by it on the Channel Guide thinking that I don't need to watch that kind of dra-mah. But what made me think about Bridezillas was actually the final challenge of Project Runway - creating a bridesmaid's dress to accompany the wedding dress each finalist had to design.
I actually thought all three finalists' dresses were very nice however, only one of the three, in my opinion, could be versatile enough to fit women of various sizes. That one was Korto's. I feel like halters could work for any person and I really didn't think it was as bad as the judges made it out to seem - but their negative feedback was probably related to the "mess" that was her wedding dress.
I haven't watched the show -I always pass by it on the Channel Guide thinking that I don't need to watch that kind of dra-mah. But what made me think about Bridezillas was actually the final challenge of Project Runway - creating a bridesmaid's dress to accompany the wedding dress each finalist had to design.
I actually thought all three finalists' dresses were very nice however, only one of the three, in my opinion, could be versatile enough to fit women of various sizes. That one was Korto's. I feel like halters could work for any person and I really didn't think it was as bad as the judges made it out to seem - but their negative feedback was probably related to the "mess" that was her wedding dress.
The other two bridesmaids dresses, by Kenley and Leanne - although beautiful - not very versatile for all body types.
Which leads me to this question about Bridezillas - have there been bridezillas that have gone so far as to leave out a family member (sibling), close friend, etc from their wedding party because they didn't fit the 'skinny' mold of what their wedding should look like? I mean how does that talk go if you have an overweight sister - 'Umm, hey sis...you're practically my best friend but my wedding party needs to look glamorous so I can't have you in my wedding - unless you can lose 50 lbs. in the next 10 months.'
I'm sure there are brides like that all over the place - and I know there are brides that struggle when they do have their closest friends/relatives in the wedding party and they just span the whole range of the size chart. I knew one bride that had three bridesmaids - they were a size 6, 10 and 16...talk about a range. So I suggested she go with a halter dress - as those seem to be flattering on all sizes.
I know there are Bridezillas out there that go crazy for a pluthera of other reasons, but I think this one - leaving out siblings/family members from the bridal party because they are overweight, would be an extreme. Then again, it's been awhile since I was a bride and none of my friends (thank goodness) are/were Bridezillas....so maybe I'll just to tune in to see how far these Bridezillas actually go in their ranting, ravings and demands.
Which leads me to this question about Bridezillas - have there been bridezillas that have gone so far as to leave out a family member (sibling), close friend, etc from their wedding party because they didn't fit the 'skinny' mold of what their wedding should look like? I mean how does that talk go if you have an overweight sister - 'Umm, hey sis...you're practically my best friend but my wedding party needs to look glamorous so I can't have you in my wedding - unless you can lose 50 lbs. in the next 10 months.'
I'm sure there are brides like that all over the place - and I know there are brides that struggle when they do have their closest friends/relatives in the wedding party and they just span the whole range of the size chart. I knew one bride that had three bridesmaids - they were a size 6, 10 and 16...talk about a range. So I suggested she go with a halter dress - as those seem to be flattering on all sizes.
I know there are Bridezillas out there that go crazy for a pluthera of other reasons, but I think this one - leaving out siblings/family members from the bridal party because they are overweight, would be an extreme. Then again, it's been awhile since I was a bride and none of my friends (thank goodness) are/were Bridezillas....so maybe I'll just to tune in to see how far these Bridezillas actually go in their ranting, ravings and demands.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Chopping For a Good Cause
This weekend will have me under the scissors - I have been growing out my hair for over a year in order to donate my locks (not for love) to one of the organization that collects hair and makes wigs for children/women with cancer. I am not going through the very popular 'Locks of Love' because they have a lot of requirements that I could not meet...the biggest being a minimum of 10 inches of hair. I do think I have the 10-inches but it's not all 10-inches - my hair is kinda layered.
Therefore, I am going through Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program (the same one Hillary Swank went through). Their minimum length requirement was eight inches and it didn't really specify if it had to be all one length. So I am cutting off about 10-inches on Friday in hopes that a bulk of it falls between the 8-10 inches mark - which by the looks of my mirror, it should. Besides, wigs need bangs and that's what they can use my shorter pieces for.
People have been donating/selling their hair for years. My first exposure to hair selling came from the movie classic, 'Pretty Women' where Jo sold her hair in order to raise more money for her mother's trip. Sure she did it on impulse and knew it was for a good cause, but I'm afraid my reaction will be much like hers in the end- where she's crying later that night because she has no more hair!
I'm trying to feel good about it though. My original plan was to cut it in the spring (2008) but my hair grows pretty slowly - I only get it cut 3-4 times a year. So I had to wait it out for a year to get it to this length. I'm not going to lie - my hair hasn't been this long since I was in elementary school and I'm not going to miss it. As it gets longer, I just shed more (because it's so heavy) and it takes longer to air dry. However, I am not really looking forward to having my hair uber-short - which I haven't had since the 90s.
We will see how it goes - I have complete faith in my hairdresser that I will come out looking good. If I don't - you'll hear about it. I also have to keep telling myself that this is all for a good cause. I'm glad to be able to do it.
For more information about the Pantent Beautiful Lengths Program, read about it here:
http://www.beautifullengths.com/en_US/requirements.jsp
Therefore, I am going through Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program (the same one Hillary Swank went through). Their minimum length requirement was eight inches and it didn't really specify if it had to be all one length. So I am cutting off about 10-inches on Friday in hopes that a bulk of it falls between the 8-10 inches mark - which by the looks of my mirror, it should. Besides, wigs need bangs and that's what they can use my shorter pieces for.
People have been donating/selling their hair for years. My first exposure to hair selling came from the movie classic, 'Pretty Women' where Jo sold her hair in order to raise more money for her mother's trip. Sure she did it on impulse and knew it was for a good cause, but I'm afraid my reaction will be much like hers in the end- where she's crying later that night because she has no more hair!
I'm trying to feel good about it though. My original plan was to cut it in the spring (2008) but my hair grows pretty slowly - I only get it cut 3-4 times a year. So I had to wait it out for a year to get it to this length. I'm not going to lie - my hair hasn't been this long since I was in elementary school and I'm not going to miss it. As it gets longer, I just shed more (because it's so heavy) and it takes longer to air dry. However, I am not really looking forward to having my hair uber-short - which I haven't had since the 90s.
We will see how it goes - I have complete faith in my hairdresser that I will come out looking good. If I don't - you'll hear about it. I also have to keep telling myself that this is all for a good cause. I'm glad to be able to do it.
For more information about the Pantent Beautiful Lengths Program, read about it here:
http://www.beautifullengths.com/en_US/requirements.jsp
Monday, October 13, 2008
Seized By Frustration
We all get frustrated at some point in our lives - it can happen practically any time, anywhere. I find that most of my frustration happens at work. And I have been able to diagnose the root cause of my frustration however, I have not been able to do anything to prevent it in the future.
I get frustrated at work when co-workers don't perform at an above average level - I feel like there are those that 'just get by' with what they can and would not think twice about going above and beyond their usual tasks.
There are times when I get frustrated when the system runs like crap and developers can't explain why - but tell you that it's not happening to them. Ummm- that's not the point...it's happening, do something about it.
There is one person (in a sea of many) that frustrates me any time I hear his voice, see his name or get an email from him - because he just doesn't do his job - plain and simple. He's been with the group longer than I have, yet he doesn't seem to be able to answer simple questions....afterall, he's production support...it's his job to answer simple questions...but instead, he sends an email to me or someone else from my team to answer the question for him - and then he just copies and pastes what we've responded to him with and passes it off as his own.
So what is the root cause of my frustrations? Stupid people. But it goes beyond people being stupid, because there are stupid people everywhere.
I have realized that my expectations are too high.
I have always received glowing reviews from my higher ups. I perform my tasks and many things beyond my job scope. I train new people that come onto the team and I try to help them as they begin to learn the ropes.
Fast forward two months - I am now repeating the things that I said to the new person a week ago. We keep talking about the same thing every week cause you can't seem to grasp the concept; yet you never ask questions.
Yes, folks, it's me. I have set my standards at, supposedly, an unattainable level. When someone older, with the same industry experience comes in, I feel like they should catch on rather quickly and hold to a certain professionalism. But apparently that's too much. It's too much to ask for a new person to show up to work by 9 am and be on time for 9:30 meetings. Shame on me for being upset with new person for showing up to two out of three 9:30 meetings 10-20 minutes late because she either 1) went to the cafeteria to get breakfast or 2) just wasn't in the office at 9:30 am.
So how does one work on this? How does one take a 'who cares' attitude? How do you keep emotion out of the workplace? That has always seemed to be my downfall.
I get frustrated at work when co-workers don't perform at an above average level - I feel like there are those that 'just get by' with what they can and would not think twice about going above and beyond their usual tasks.
There are times when I get frustrated when the system runs like crap and developers can't explain why - but tell you that it's not happening to them. Ummm- that's not the point...it's happening, do something about it.
There is one person (in a sea of many) that frustrates me any time I hear his voice, see his name or get an email from him - because he just doesn't do his job - plain and simple. He's been with the group longer than I have, yet he doesn't seem to be able to answer simple questions....afterall, he's production support...it's his job to answer simple questions...but instead, he sends an email to me or someone else from my team to answer the question for him - and then he just copies and pastes what we've responded to him with and passes it off as his own.
So what is the root cause of my frustrations? Stupid people. But it goes beyond people being stupid, because there are stupid people everywhere.
I have realized that my expectations are too high.
I have always received glowing reviews from my higher ups. I perform my tasks and many things beyond my job scope. I train new people that come onto the team and I try to help them as they begin to learn the ropes.
Fast forward two months - I am now repeating the things that I said to the new person a week ago. We keep talking about the same thing every week cause you can't seem to grasp the concept; yet you never ask questions.
Yes, folks, it's me. I have set my standards at, supposedly, an unattainable level. When someone older, with the same industry experience comes in, I feel like they should catch on rather quickly and hold to a certain professionalism. But apparently that's too much. It's too much to ask for a new person to show up to work by 9 am and be on time for 9:30 meetings. Shame on me for being upset with new person for showing up to two out of three 9:30 meetings 10-20 minutes late because she either 1) went to the cafeteria to get breakfast or 2) just wasn't in the office at 9:30 am.
So how does one work on this? How does one take a 'who cares' attitude? How do you keep emotion out of the workplace? That has always seemed to be my downfall.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Flying the Friendly Skies
This past weekend, my husband and I went to Vermont for a wedding. It was the perfect time to get away, as Vermont gave us a promised taste of fall (my favorite season), which Texas lacks (I'm not even singling Del Rio out this time - Austin presented the same void).
I'm sure it won't surprise you to learn that getting from Del Rio, Texas to Burlington, Vermont is no easy task. No direct flights, that's for sure. Try two connections (i.e., three legs). Good times! Amazingly enough, Del Rio has an airport. Three flights to Houston a day. Just Houston.
So Shawn and I decided to take advantage of the fact that Del Rio has an airport by booking our flights on Continental (for which Houston is a hub). On the way there, it was Del Rio - Houston - Cleveland - Burlington. And you know what? I have to say that Continental is kind of awesome. I recalled flying Continental several times when I lived in Austin, and I never had any issues with that airline. But what Continental offers now, in comparison to other carriers, is seriously impressive.
Shawn and I EACH got to check one bag free of charge. And get this - our soft drinks on each of our legs were free, AND we got a lunch on the long leg! It was just a little turkey sub, but still - it was food. And did I mention it was free?
Compare to U.S. Airways, which I flew just a few weeks ago out of San Antonio (keep in mind, this is the same airline on which I foolishly forked over extra money to fly first class at the last minute, only to be served Sun Chips). Oh yes, I handed over the $15 to check my tiny bag. And then I learned (through posters throughout the terminal) that U.S. Airways is NOW offering beverages on its flights starting at $1. Starting at $1? Seems impressive, huh? Oh wait - you mean, $1 for beverages that used to be free? Yes. $1 for a coffee or tea. But if you want water, sorry - that will cost you double.
Hey - I understand that times are tight and that airlines are starting to charge for things that used to be complimentary. But seeing those posters just pissed me off. Hey U.S. Airways - here's a tip: why don't you just admit that you've hit hard times and just tell us that you're sorry you have to charge now? Instead of the "Beverages starting at $1!" like it's some kind of great bargain, why not just put up posters that say this:
"We're sorry to tell you that the soft drinks that used to be complimentary on our flights are now $1 and up. We know it sucks, but we are just trying to stay afloat so that we can afford to get you to your destination. Thank you for flying U.S. Airways."
Or how about this action? At LEAST offer us a glass of water on the flight, for God's sake. Are times really that rough?
I'm sure it won't surprise you to learn that getting from Del Rio, Texas to Burlington, Vermont is no easy task. No direct flights, that's for sure. Try two connections (i.e., three legs). Good times! Amazingly enough, Del Rio has an airport. Three flights to Houston a day. Just Houston.
So Shawn and I decided to take advantage of the fact that Del Rio has an airport by booking our flights on Continental (for which Houston is a hub). On the way there, it was Del Rio - Houston - Cleveland - Burlington. And you know what? I have to say that Continental is kind of awesome. I recalled flying Continental several times when I lived in Austin, and I never had any issues with that airline. But what Continental offers now, in comparison to other carriers, is seriously impressive.
Shawn and I EACH got to check one bag free of charge. And get this - our soft drinks on each of our legs were free, AND we got a lunch on the long leg! It was just a little turkey sub, but still - it was food. And did I mention it was free?
Compare to U.S. Airways, which I flew just a few weeks ago out of San Antonio (keep in mind, this is the same airline on which I foolishly forked over extra money to fly first class at the last minute, only to be served Sun Chips). Oh yes, I handed over the $15 to check my tiny bag. And then I learned (through posters throughout the terminal) that U.S. Airways is NOW offering beverages on its flights starting at $1. Starting at $1? Seems impressive, huh? Oh wait - you mean, $1 for beverages that used to be free? Yes. $1 for a coffee or tea. But if you want water, sorry - that will cost you double.
Hey - I understand that times are tight and that airlines are starting to charge for things that used to be complimentary. But seeing those posters just pissed me off. Hey U.S. Airways - here's a tip: why don't you just admit that you've hit hard times and just tell us that you're sorry you have to charge now? Instead of the "Beverages starting at $1!" like it's some kind of great bargain, why not just put up posters that say this:
"We're sorry to tell you that the soft drinks that used to be complimentary on our flights are now $1 and up. We know it sucks, but we are just trying to stay afloat so that we can afford to get you to your destination. Thank you for flying U.S. Airways."
Or how about this action? At LEAST offer us a glass of water on the flight, for God's sake. Are times really that rough?
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Nothing Like Starting the Morning at a Dead Sprint
If you're like me, morning exercise is not for you. I know that many fitness experts will tell you that exercising in the morning is healthier for you. But for me, it's difficult because my body is still tight and I am not fully awake and I find that working out in the evenings allows me to do more at the gym.
Well, how would you like to start your mornings with a dead sprint? Not for me, I say. But you know what? It's not uncommon. You know why? Cause school kids and their parents are doing it everywhere when they're trying not to miss the bus!
I had the pleasure (or displeasure) of following a school bus yesterday morning....right around pick-up time. First of all, the difference between how it was when I went to school and how it is today is that kids have to stand on the corner at the entrance of their development. So if you happen to live in a particularly large development, and you're nestled in there way in the back, you're screwed cause you've got a hike to make it to the bus stop. Back when I was in elementary school, we had two stops on our pretty straightforward street - I was in the middle of the development so I could take my pick of which one I wanted to go to. The stop was separated by six houses. Anyway - as I was following the bus down one of the major roads in my neighborhood, stopping every time it stopped to pick up kids, there was never less than two kids and their parents running at a dead sprint trying to reach the bus because they were obviously late.
At one stop, there must've been 10 kids running for the bus - no lie. And I really wanted to roll down my window and scream, "Hey - get there earlier." And the kids weren't even coming from one direction - they were coming from both sides of the street. Why can't the kids from the other side of the road hang at the bus stop with the kids from the bus stop side of the street? Let's talk integration people...it will make the bus driver's job a little more efficient. At the next stop, two little kids were running - not to mention these kids have backpacks on. So picture this - a six year old kid, hauling a backpack, half his size, on his back, and working his little legs to reach that bus. His mother right behind him - laughing all the way. Lady, this is no laughing matter - do you see how much traffic you're holding up because you couldn't get your kid out of bed, dressed, groomed and fed on time? Is this really how you want your kids to start their school day - with their heart racing 100 miles per hour and when they finally do get on the bus, they're sweaty, their head starts to hurt and maybe they get made fun of for being late....cruel, just cruel.
Bless that bus driver because I would not have had the patience. If you're not there by the time the last kid at the stop gets on the bus, then you're getting a ride from your parents.
Well, how would you like to start your mornings with a dead sprint? Not for me, I say. But you know what? It's not uncommon. You know why? Cause school kids and their parents are doing it everywhere when they're trying not to miss the bus!
I had the pleasure (or displeasure) of following a school bus yesterday morning....right around pick-up time. First of all, the difference between how it was when I went to school and how it is today is that kids have to stand on the corner at the entrance of their development. So if you happen to live in a particularly large development, and you're nestled in there way in the back, you're screwed cause you've got a hike to make it to the bus stop. Back when I was in elementary school, we had two stops on our pretty straightforward street - I was in the middle of the development so I could take my pick of which one I wanted to go to. The stop was separated by six houses. Anyway - as I was following the bus down one of the major roads in my neighborhood, stopping every time it stopped to pick up kids, there was never less than two kids and their parents running at a dead sprint trying to reach the bus because they were obviously late.
At one stop, there must've been 10 kids running for the bus - no lie. And I really wanted to roll down my window and scream, "Hey - get there earlier." And the kids weren't even coming from one direction - they were coming from both sides of the street. Why can't the kids from the other side of the road hang at the bus stop with the kids from the bus stop side of the street? Let's talk integration people...it will make the bus driver's job a little more efficient. At the next stop, two little kids were running - not to mention these kids have backpacks on. So picture this - a six year old kid, hauling a backpack, half his size, on his back, and working his little legs to reach that bus. His mother right behind him - laughing all the way. Lady, this is no laughing matter - do you see how much traffic you're holding up because you couldn't get your kid out of bed, dressed, groomed and fed on time? Is this really how you want your kids to start their school day - with their heart racing 100 miles per hour and when they finally do get on the bus, they're sweaty, their head starts to hurt and maybe they get made fun of for being late....cruel, just cruel.
Bless that bus driver because I would not have had the patience. If you're not there by the time the last kid at the stop gets on the bus, then you're getting a ride from your parents.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Yes Sir, I Just Let It Happen
I went in to get a manicure last week, in preparation for my trip up to VT for a wedding this past weekend. It's a good thing I picked a dark color so I couldn't see how blue my fingers were from the cold up there!
I am in the process of switching to a new nail salon so I'm unfamiliar with the people that work there and unfamiliar with their process. I had only managed to get a pedicure there once and last week was my first manicure. In short, they sold me - they're very thorough and do a great job - and for a great price, I get a hot stone massage on my feet and back, depending on if you're there for a pedicure or manicure.
So back to the part about getting my manicure and not being familiar with the nail technicians. I got a girl that did not do my pedicure - and it was pretty clear that her English was not very good (It took me a couple of tries to figure out that she was asking me for my phone number). At the beginning, we exchanged pleasantries and left it at that. When she was done prepping my left hand, I got to soak it in a bowl of soapy water to soften the cuticles. She had her cuticle cutter in hand and started going at the right hand - so you can say that my hands were occupied. While sitting there, trying not to fall asleep to the operatic music of Pavoratti, I noticed a little fly flying around us - except it wasn't a fly at all - I had a hunch it was a mosquito. It came near my soaking hand a couple of times, tried to land on it - but I blew it away or lifted my hand from the soapy water to try and get it away from me. Another part of me thought maybe I should take one for the team and let it bite me so it'll go away and die. But I was being selfish and didn't feel like having a mosquito bite on my hand. So I shooed it away somehow.
The mosquito flew away for a bit but it came back eventually - and it started flying around the nail technician's head. I figured if it was around her hair, it wouldn't be a big deal. Mosquitos don't usually bite on the scalp - so it landed safely on her hair for a little bit before she shook her head to shoo it away. And so the mosquito flew around a bit - the nail technician was stellar in her lack of annoyance. If it had been me in her place, that cuticle cutter would've been flying around just trying to get the mosquito out of the vicinity - but no, she was extremely calm about the whole thing.
And then it happened. The mosquito landed on her forehead, near her left side hair line. I watched it, wondered for a little bit if it was really a mosquito - and just continued watching. I didn't want to blow into the nail technician's face. I didn't want to shoo it away with my soapy left hand or pull my right hand out of the technician's death grip (it seemed rude at the time) to slap the mosquito dead on her face - so I just let it stay where it landed and watched. Watched as a small, red, bump had started forming in the area where the mosquito was. Watched as she finally shooed the mosquito away but thinking to myself, 'it's too late!' Watched as this perfectly nice woman got a mosquito bite on her forehead becuase I didn't say anything.
Then the guilt set in - 'Why didn't I speak up' I kept thinking to myself. As I pondered this to myself, I heard the sounds of Enya in the background - seeming to 'Orinoko Flow' my guilt away...I started feeling better and not so guilty. But then the Enya song changed and it was dark and brooding. And the guilt started coming back. How do you do that Enya - make me feel so serene one minute and then guilt-ridden the next? (Must be her gift of song.) And I suddenly couldn't take my eyes off the technician's bite.
When she was finally done with my manicure and set me on the side to let my nails dry, she was nothing but polite and kind. I, on the other hand, felt wretched. I just sat there, staring at the wall, like a dunce in the corner, thinking, 'how could I let it happen?' But I did - and I left - keeping my head down in shame as everyone said goodbye to me. I did manage to give her a good tip - like an invisible olive branch that only I knew about.
While we were in VT having lunch, on Friday, with a group of friends, I told them about the whole situation and they all stared at me in horror, and perhaps some amusement. I'm thinking having my new purse break and finding a hole in my brand new pantyhose was payback for keeping my mouth shut about the mosquito. Well played, Karma....well played.
I am in the process of switching to a new nail salon so I'm unfamiliar with the people that work there and unfamiliar with their process. I had only managed to get a pedicure there once and last week was my first manicure. In short, they sold me - they're very thorough and do a great job - and for a great price, I get a hot stone massage on my feet and back, depending on if you're there for a pedicure or manicure.
So back to the part about getting my manicure and not being familiar with the nail technicians. I got a girl that did not do my pedicure - and it was pretty clear that her English was not very good (It took me a couple of tries to figure out that she was asking me for my phone number). At the beginning, we exchanged pleasantries and left it at that. When she was done prepping my left hand, I got to soak it in a bowl of soapy water to soften the cuticles. She had her cuticle cutter in hand and started going at the right hand - so you can say that my hands were occupied. While sitting there, trying not to fall asleep to the operatic music of Pavoratti, I noticed a little fly flying around us - except it wasn't a fly at all - I had a hunch it was a mosquito. It came near my soaking hand a couple of times, tried to land on it - but I blew it away or lifted my hand from the soapy water to try and get it away from me. Another part of me thought maybe I should take one for the team and let it bite me so it'll go away and die. But I was being selfish and didn't feel like having a mosquito bite on my hand. So I shooed it away somehow.
The mosquito flew away for a bit but it came back eventually - and it started flying around the nail technician's head. I figured if it was around her hair, it wouldn't be a big deal. Mosquitos don't usually bite on the scalp - so it landed safely on her hair for a little bit before she shook her head to shoo it away. And so the mosquito flew around a bit - the nail technician was stellar in her lack of annoyance. If it had been me in her place, that cuticle cutter would've been flying around just trying to get the mosquito out of the vicinity - but no, she was extremely calm about the whole thing.
And then it happened. The mosquito landed on her forehead, near her left side hair line. I watched it, wondered for a little bit if it was really a mosquito - and just continued watching. I didn't want to blow into the nail technician's face. I didn't want to shoo it away with my soapy left hand or pull my right hand out of the technician's death grip (it seemed rude at the time) to slap the mosquito dead on her face - so I just let it stay where it landed and watched. Watched as a small, red, bump had started forming in the area where the mosquito was. Watched as she finally shooed the mosquito away but thinking to myself, 'it's too late!' Watched as this perfectly nice woman got a mosquito bite on her forehead becuase I didn't say anything.
Then the guilt set in - 'Why didn't I speak up' I kept thinking to myself. As I pondered this to myself, I heard the sounds of Enya in the background - seeming to 'Orinoko Flow' my guilt away...I started feeling better and not so guilty. But then the Enya song changed and it was dark and brooding. And the guilt started coming back. How do you do that Enya - make me feel so serene one minute and then guilt-ridden the next? (Must be her gift of song.) And I suddenly couldn't take my eyes off the technician's bite.
When she was finally done with my manicure and set me on the side to let my nails dry, she was nothing but polite and kind. I, on the other hand, felt wretched. I just sat there, staring at the wall, like a dunce in the corner, thinking, 'how could I let it happen?' But I did - and I left - keeping my head down in shame as everyone said goodbye to me. I did manage to give her a good tip - like an invisible olive branch that only I knew about.
While we were in VT having lunch, on Friday, with a group of friends, I told them about the whole situation and they all stared at me in horror, and perhaps some amusement. I'm thinking having my new purse break and finding a hole in my brand new pantyhose was payback for keeping my mouth shut about the mosquito. Well played, Karma....well played.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Just One of Those Days....
Happy Autumn, Everyone!
As I was driving into work on this partly sunny, kinda wet October morning, I was flipping around the radio stations and came across some 'Lovin', Touchin', 'Squeezin'' on one of the stations. And I will admit, my morning voice is kind of hoarse for singing, but I sang along anyways - and just had such a good feeling afterwards, I switched over to my iPod and started playing all the Journey on my iPod.
It just felt like one of those days - a Journey-type of day. Their songs are simple, heartfelt, and have so much melody - it's hard not to sing along, whether you're a Journey fan or not. It also seems to be a karaoke-fan favorite.
So as I was singing along to Journey, not caring who saw me on the roads, I was also thinking that I should go find a band that can play all these great songs and other great songs for me to sing. This is what we call a daydream. But anyways....if I couldn't find a real band to let me be their front-woman, maybe I could join a wedding band and get my gagas that way - singing for a captive audience...love songs and dance songs and feel good songs. Doesn't it sound super-fun?
Now if only I didn't have a pesky case of stage fright!
Oh yeah - I've also decided to make it an Erasure-type of day. I saw the video for 'A Little Respect' this morning while making the bed (on VH-1 Classic), coupled with watching some 'Breakfast Club' - and I think you've got just about an 80's type of day. But for now, we're starting with some Erasure and we'll slowly make our way into Journey!
As I was driving into work on this partly sunny, kinda wet October morning, I was flipping around the radio stations and came across some 'Lovin', Touchin', 'Squeezin'' on one of the stations. And I will admit, my morning voice is kind of hoarse for singing, but I sang along anyways - and just had such a good feeling afterwards, I switched over to my iPod and started playing all the Journey on my iPod.
It just felt like one of those days - a Journey-type of day. Their songs are simple, heartfelt, and have so much melody - it's hard not to sing along, whether you're a Journey fan or not. It also seems to be a karaoke-fan favorite.
So as I was singing along to Journey, not caring who saw me on the roads, I was also thinking that I should go find a band that can play all these great songs and other great songs for me to sing. This is what we call a daydream. But anyways....if I couldn't find a real band to let me be their front-woman, maybe I could join a wedding band and get my gagas that way - singing for a captive audience...love songs and dance songs and feel good songs. Doesn't it sound super-fun?
Now if only I didn't have a pesky case of stage fright!
Oh yeah - I've also decided to make it an Erasure-type of day. I saw the video for 'A Little Respect' this morning while making the bed (on VH-1 Classic), coupled with watching some 'Breakfast Club' - and I think you've got just about an 80's type of day. But for now, we're starting with some Erasure and we'll slowly make our way into Journey!
Monday, September 29, 2008
JUST Missed the Mark
As I was window and real shopping at Pentagon City Mall yesterday, I ran across a big banner that was hanging between each of it's floors in the Macy's wing - a big advertisement for the new 90210.
Picture this:
Picture this:
It's Back - 90210
Season Premiere on
9-02-08
Season Premiere on
9-02-08
Do you get it? 9-02-10 vs 9-02-08? SO CLOSE, yet so far...nice try marketing people.
And it wasn't so much that they missed the mark with the advertising (cause if it were pre-September 2nd, I don't think it would've drawn me into watching the program) - but it was the fact that they were trying to draw you around the date and show by showing how similar (but not the same) they were - by making the font of the zip code and the premiere date almost the exact same size.
I'm sure the show's producers didn't want to hold off their reincarnation gem for another two years just so they could do the whole matchy thing with the date - and what if September 2nd, 2010 does not fall on their scheduled night? That would be just a marketing nightmare. Secondly, yesterday was 09/28/08 - the premiere has come and gone - get some new banners already, Pentagon City Mall Office!
I guess the only way the marketing people can really make their idea work is:
1) hope their show gets picked up for a season 3
2) and that their show switches from Tuesday nights to Thursday nights (yes, I looked in my perpetual calendar)
so they can finally use:
And it wasn't so much that they missed the mark with the advertising (cause if it were pre-September 2nd, I don't think it would've drawn me into watching the program) - but it was the fact that they were trying to draw you around the date and show by showing how similar (but not the same) they were - by making the font of the zip code and the premiere date almost the exact same size.
I'm sure the show's producers didn't want to hold off their reincarnation gem for another two years just so they could do the whole matchy thing with the date - and what if September 2nd, 2010 does not fall on their scheduled night? That would be just a marketing nightmare. Secondly, yesterday was 09/28/08 - the premiere has come and gone - get some new banners already, Pentagon City Mall Office!
I guess the only way the marketing people can really make their idea work is:
1) hope their show gets picked up for a season 3
2) and that their show switches from Tuesday nights to Thursday nights (yes, I looked in my perpetual calendar)
so they can finally use:
Catch the Season 3 Premiere of
90210
on
9-02-10
90210
on
9-02-10
ooooh ahhhh.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What Is a Star Anyways?
The latest season of 'Dancing With the Stars' has begun and since there are so many people involved, I usually think the beginning is just a big old mess - it's hard to figure out who the favorites are although I think I'm secretly cheering for 'The Bus' (Warren Sapp) because you can tell he's just shaking his groove thing and really getting into it.
One contestant that I'm betting doesn't make it far is Kim Kardashian. When they first announced the contestants over the summer, I was thinking 'she's not really a star...' I'm sure she needed to add something to her resume below 'ex-Paris Hilton BFF, 'Sex Tape star, ' and 'Reggie Bush's girlfriend.' But when they did her "Contestant introduction" montage Monday night, it started out with her getting out of some over-priced sports car with shopping bags. So she's like 75% of all women her age - she likes to shop. She introduced herself as a 'reality show star.' I don't think that's really something to brag about. And really - how many people watch 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians?'
I have nothing against the girl - I just don't think she's accomplished anything in her life to warrant a spot on 'DWTS.' I can't help but think when Mark Ballas (last season's winner with Kristi Yamaguchi) drew his partner for this season, he probably thought, 'Who the hell...' and after figuring it out, was like 'Oh crap.' She's definitely very attractive - and she can only help put out a positive image for curvacious girls everywhere - but really - what has she done?
Apprarently, you don't have to do much to get the love and support of the Jenner and Kardashian Families...because when she was introduced to the audience, they couldn't have cheered louder....for their reality star daughter...with the sex tape...
Way to go, Kim...you got on a widely televised, bonafide game show (minus Celebrity Family Feud) and it's gonna be great because they actually consider you a 'star.'
One contestant that I'm betting doesn't make it far is Kim Kardashian. When they first announced the contestants over the summer, I was thinking 'she's not really a star...' I'm sure she needed to add something to her resume below 'ex-Paris Hilton BFF, 'Sex Tape star, ' and 'Reggie Bush's girlfriend.' But when they did her "Contestant introduction" montage Monday night, it started out with her getting out of some over-priced sports car with shopping bags. So she's like 75% of all women her age - she likes to shop. She introduced herself as a 'reality show star.' I don't think that's really something to brag about. And really - how many people watch 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians?'
I have nothing against the girl - I just don't think she's accomplished anything in her life to warrant a spot on 'DWTS.' I can't help but think when Mark Ballas (last season's winner with Kristi Yamaguchi) drew his partner for this season, he probably thought, 'Who the hell...' and after figuring it out, was like 'Oh crap.' She's definitely very attractive - and she can only help put out a positive image for curvacious girls everywhere - but really - what has she done?
Apprarently, you don't have to do much to get the love and support of the Jenner and Kardashian Families...because when she was introduced to the audience, they couldn't have cheered louder....for their reality star daughter...with the sex tape...
Way to go, Kim...you got on a widely televised, bonafide game show (minus Celebrity Family Feud) and it's gonna be great because they actually consider you a 'star.'
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thanks, Gabe!
Last night, I received a Macy's flyer in the mail. Not just any ordinary Macy's flyer but one that highlighted 150 years of Macy's. And instead of sending their usual 20-or so pages of things that will be on sale this weekend for their birthday, their marketing (probably unbeknownst to them) gave a birthday gift to their consumers....in the form of the Calvin Klein insert.
You might recall that the face of Calvin Klein, at Macy's, is none other than Gabriel Aubrey. You know - the one in the commercials that has Martha Stewart dropping her china and Mariah Carey pausing in her stint as her own perfume girl... The man is a fox! And in the insert, he had a nice CK layout of suits, casual wear, sports wear, etc. But I could care less about those - the BEST part of the flyer was the underwear section. It was a collage of 1.5" x 1.5" pics of Gabe in CK underwear - tightie whites, boxer briefs, and undershirts. Sure there were also female pics mixed into the collage to show off CK lingerie but I have CK lingerie - so let's get back to Gabriel.
Granted, the collage wasn't as provocative as the David Beckham Emporio Armani ads or even the ads of Marky Mark dropping trou in the 90s. But a little pic can go a long way. I CAN use my imagination.
So thank you, Macy's and Gabriel Aubrey, for showing me a little of what Halle Berry gets to see on a daily basis...dammit! So jealous!
You might recall that the face of Calvin Klein, at Macy's, is none other than Gabriel Aubrey. You know - the one in the commercials that has Martha Stewart dropping her china and Mariah Carey pausing in her stint as her own perfume girl... The man is a fox! And in the insert, he had a nice CK layout of suits, casual wear, sports wear, etc. But I could care less about those - the BEST part of the flyer was the underwear section. It was a collage of 1.5" x 1.5" pics of Gabe in CK underwear - tightie whites, boxer briefs, and undershirts. Sure there were also female pics mixed into the collage to show off CK lingerie but I have CK lingerie - so let's get back to Gabriel.
Granted, the collage wasn't as provocative as the David Beckham Emporio Armani ads or even the ads of Marky Mark dropping trou in the 90s. But a little pic can go a long way. I CAN use my imagination.
So thank you, Macy's and Gabriel Aubrey, for showing me a little of what Halle Berry gets to see on a daily basis...dammit! So jealous!
Tiny 'Gooey' Bubbles
I heart bubble teas. For those of you unfamiliar, you might know the bubbles I speak of as boba. Bubble teas are milk mixed or artificially flavored teas (usually green tea) that are shaken, mixed and poured into a cup filled 1/4 full of black tapioca pearls...or bubbles. They can only be slurped up through "fat" straws because that's the only way you're going to get any bubbles with your gulp.
I was first introduced to bubble teas in NYC's Chinatown...there are a few (read: many) cafes, tea houses, restaurants that offer bubble teas - but the best one that I've had in Chinatown comes out of Ten Ren Tea Time Cafe. Ten Ren is already renowned for their selections of teas but they have a separate cafe next door that offers all types of drink conconctions - half which come with bubbles. Whenever I am in Chinatown, I try and grab one (or three) during my visit. I think my record is three during a day. The only reason I can justify so many in a day is because I only get it when I am in NYC - so that's three times per year. That was until I found local places that satisfy my tapioca tastebuds.
For the past five years, I have been searching, high and low, in the DC metro area, for someone to serve me up a bubble tea that is the equivalent to Ten Ren - not too sweet, not too bitter...not too frothy with bubbles that are perfectly gooey. Until a few months ago, I did not find such a place in the DC area. However, during a particularly slow time in the office, I decided to do another search (because you never know when one is going to pop up) for bubble tea places and FOUND a Ten Ren in Rockville, MD. It's about 15 miles away but 15 miles compared to 220-something miles up to NYC is not bad....so I surprised my husband and took him there for a bubble tea treat one Sunday afternoon.
Then I found this great taiwanese cafe in Annandale, VA that not only sold bubble teas but had a Maria's Bakery (popular in the Chinatown world) that also sold it...their teas are pretty frothy and super sweet - definitely not as good as Ten Ren - but a tea is a tea.
Eventhough I found a Ten Ren closer to our home, I really haven't been out there getting a tea every weekend - that would just be silly. But just this past week, while I was trying a new Pho place by my office, in a strip mall, I glanced at a coffee house menu taped to the window and saw that they offered bubble teas. I immediately jumped in (cause they had my favorite - Lychee) and ordered one. It was good - it was very comparable to Ten Ren - and this place was run by whities, which was all the more surprising.
I was so excited, that when I brought it back to my office, I called my sister at her office and said, 'Hey, guess what I'm eating/drinking...' and then I proceeded to slurp a little and chomp on my bubbles. Did she know what I was eating/drinking? You bet she did - she's gasped and said, 'Where did you get a bubble tea?' (she's good at that game - or maybe it's a sister thing) I told her all about my path crossing this coffee house that I wasn't even thinking of going into - but once I saw the words 'bubble tea' and 'lychee' on the menu, they had me - they beamed me in and made me a fan.
If you get a chance, try a bubble tea - even if you don't love tapioca (as in tapioca pudding), this is different - this is japanese tapioca (black) and you might just enjoy the drink itself. As my God-Sister's father once said, 'It's like a tiny surprise with every drink.'
I was first introduced to bubble teas in NYC's Chinatown...there are a few (read: many) cafes, tea houses, restaurants that offer bubble teas - but the best one that I've had in Chinatown comes out of Ten Ren Tea Time Cafe. Ten Ren is already renowned for their selections of teas but they have a separate cafe next door that offers all types of drink conconctions - half which come with bubbles. Whenever I am in Chinatown, I try and grab one (or three) during my visit. I think my record is three during a day. The only reason I can justify so many in a day is because I only get it when I am in NYC - so that's three times per year. That was until I found local places that satisfy my tapioca tastebuds.
For the past five years, I have been searching, high and low, in the DC metro area, for someone to serve me up a bubble tea that is the equivalent to Ten Ren - not too sweet, not too bitter...not too frothy with bubbles that are perfectly gooey. Until a few months ago, I did not find such a place in the DC area. However, during a particularly slow time in the office, I decided to do another search (because you never know when one is going to pop up) for bubble tea places and FOUND a Ten Ren in Rockville, MD. It's about 15 miles away but 15 miles compared to 220-something miles up to NYC is not bad....so I surprised my husband and took him there for a bubble tea treat one Sunday afternoon.
Then I found this great taiwanese cafe in Annandale, VA that not only sold bubble teas but had a Maria's Bakery (popular in the Chinatown world) that also sold it...their teas are pretty frothy and super sweet - definitely not as good as Ten Ren - but a tea is a tea.
Eventhough I found a Ten Ren closer to our home, I really haven't been out there getting a tea every weekend - that would just be silly. But just this past week, while I was trying a new Pho place by my office, in a strip mall, I glanced at a coffee house menu taped to the window and saw that they offered bubble teas. I immediately jumped in (cause they had my favorite - Lychee) and ordered one. It was good - it was very comparable to Ten Ren - and this place was run by whities, which was all the more surprising.
I was so excited, that when I brought it back to my office, I called my sister at her office and said, 'Hey, guess what I'm eating/drinking...' and then I proceeded to slurp a little and chomp on my bubbles. Did she know what I was eating/drinking? You bet she did - she's gasped and said, 'Where did you get a bubble tea?' (she's good at that game - or maybe it's a sister thing) I told her all about my path crossing this coffee house that I wasn't even thinking of going into - but once I saw the words 'bubble tea' and 'lychee' on the menu, they had me - they beamed me in and made me a fan.
If you get a chance, try a bubble tea - even if you don't love tapioca (as in tapioca pudding), this is different - this is japanese tapioca (black) and you might just enjoy the drink itself. As my God-Sister's father once said, 'It's like a tiny surprise with every drink.'
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Farewell, Red Lobster
Warning: I'm going to be blunt and to the point here - there's no sugar coating this post - I'm going to tell you about what I think about Red Lobster. So I *might* offend your sensibilities, if you're uber-sensitive.
Admit it - if you're living in a well-populated metropolitan area, with loads of restaurant options and a Red Lobster, chances are, Red Lobster rarely makes the Top 3 list of places to eat on a Saturday night. But when their 'Lobster Fest' or 'Endless Shrimp' commercials come on TV, you second guess yourself and think, 'Hmmm - that sounds good.' Of course when you're seeing these commercials, it's about 10pm on a Wednesday night and you thought about it for about a NY minute.
When I first met my husband, he and his two buddies growing up had a tradition of going to Red Lobster on their birthdays (once a year) - two of the three happen to have birthdays a day apart. After we began dating, we had gone to Red Lobster a handful of times - especially when we lived in New Jersey - it's not that we made it a habit....I tried to keep his birthday tradition alive for awhile since he was away from his friends. Now that we're living in metro DC, Red Lobster is barely a blip on our radar. The one that was close to our condo got leveled and then we had to make a mental note of where the next closest one was located. But we didn't make any efforts to go...until last night.
Red Lobster is just not what it used to be. I remember, growing up, the Red Lobster by my parents' house (shout out to East Brunswick, Route 18) was always packed on weekends. I think I can count on my one hand how many times we went from the ages of solid food through college. Now, you can usually get a table with minimal wait time (5-10 mins) and when you do get seated after your wait, the place is not even full.
And I came to this conclusion...fat people and old people go to Red Lobster. And if you want to get fat, you can go to Red Lobster. So where do I fall in those categories? I guess personally, I would call myself fat, but in reality, I would say that we're the spectators/occasional visitors. We were the dummies that fell for the endless shrimp commercial on TV. You'd think having fish on the menu is a healthy option, but not at the Red Lobster because it is drenched with butter and none too healthy. I managed to get away with 1 lb of snow crab legs (no butter), a side salad, a baked potato covered with lobster sauce and one cheddar biscuit. I'll admit the cheddar biscuits are good but one is the limit for my un-bodacious body. The baked potato was a side...and it was COVERED in butter (lobster sauce = butter and lobster bits) - when I had it once before, it was actually really good and not drenched with butter - the butter was so thick last night, my husband thought it was cheese...that's how bad it was. Needless to say, that went unfinished.
So back to the old and fat people at Red Lobster. The patrons aren't necessarily old AND fat - but they're pretty much one or the other. And maybe I shouldn't say fat - but I did say I would be blunt. There was a party of three females - two older ladies and an 8-10 year old girl. The two older females were fat. The 8-10 year old was well on her way. An older gentleman brought his mother to the Red Lobster. She was so old that when she walked past our table, I looked at my husband and said, 'Cause you're a homo' - she reminded me of the sweet, little, old lady from Wedding Crashers.
Thankfully, after our dinner, my husband came to the realization that his palette has changed (thanks to places like Legal Seafoods, Capital Grille, Hank's Oyster Bar and other local seafood places) and the trip to Red Lobster last night just didn't cut it for him. I have a feeling that we won't be falling for the old 'Lobster Fest' trick anymore - we know better now...Red Lobster, it was good while it lasted. Maybe we'll see you again in a small town in the midwest!
Admit it - if you're living in a well-populated metropolitan area, with loads of restaurant options and a Red Lobster, chances are, Red Lobster rarely makes the Top 3 list of places to eat on a Saturday night. But when their 'Lobster Fest' or 'Endless Shrimp' commercials come on TV, you second guess yourself and think, 'Hmmm - that sounds good.' Of course when you're seeing these commercials, it's about 10pm on a Wednesday night and you thought about it for about a NY minute.
When I first met my husband, he and his two buddies growing up had a tradition of going to Red Lobster on their birthdays (once a year) - two of the three happen to have birthdays a day apart. After we began dating, we had gone to Red Lobster a handful of times - especially when we lived in New Jersey - it's not that we made it a habit....I tried to keep his birthday tradition alive for awhile since he was away from his friends. Now that we're living in metro DC, Red Lobster is barely a blip on our radar. The one that was close to our condo got leveled and then we had to make a mental note of where the next closest one was located. But we didn't make any efforts to go...until last night.
Red Lobster is just not what it used to be. I remember, growing up, the Red Lobster by my parents' house (shout out to East Brunswick, Route 18) was always packed on weekends. I think I can count on my one hand how many times we went from the ages of solid food through college. Now, you can usually get a table with minimal wait time (5-10 mins) and when you do get seated after your wait, the place is not even full.
And I came to this conclusion...fat people and old people go to Red Lobster. And if you want to get fat, you can go to Red Lobster. So where do I fall in those categories? I guess personally, I would call myself fat, but in reality, I would say that we're the spectators/occasional visitors. We were the dummies that fell for the endless shrimp commercial on TV. You'd think having fish on the menu is a healthy option, but not at the Red Lobster because it is drenched with butter and none too healthy. I managed to get away with 1 lb of snow crab legs (no butter), a side salad, a baked potato covered with lobster sauce and one cheddar biscuit. I'll admit the cheddar biscuits are good but one is the limit for my un-bodacious body. The baked potato was a side...and it was COVERED in butter (lobster sauce = butter and lobster bits) - when I had it once before, it was actually really good and not drenched with butter - the butter was so thick last night, my husband thought it was cheese...that's how bad it was. Needless to say, that went unfinished.
So back to the old and fat people at Red Lobster. The patrons aren't necessarily old AND fat - but they're pretty much one or the other. And maybe I shouldn't say fat - but I did say I would be blunt. There was a party of three females - two older ladies and an 8-10 year old girl. The two older females were fat. The 8-10 year old was well on her way. An older gentleman brought his mother to the Red Lobster. She was so old that when she walked past our table, I looked at my husband and said, 'Cause you're a homo' - she reminded me of the sweet, little, old lady from Wedding Crashers.
Thankfully, after our dinner, my husband came to the realization that his palette has changed (thanks to places like Legal Seafoods, Capital Grille, Hank's Oyster Bar and other local seafood places) and the trip to Red Lobster last night just didn't cut it for him. I have a feeling that we won't be falling for the old 'Lobster Fest' trick anymore - we know better now...Red Lobster, it was good while it lasted. Maybe we'll see you again in a small town in the midwest!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Proofreading
I have admitted that I am a bit of a grammar snob. This gets me into trouble sometimes, as it means that I have to be extra careful not to slip up myself. (It's one thing to be a grammar snob - quite another to be a hypocrite.) After correcting my husband numerous times, for instance, he has taken enormous pleasure on the rare occasion when I have misspoken. I can usually spot my mistake immediately, but once it comes out of my mouth, I have set myself up for ridicule. And good for him, really. The fact that he notices my errors is a huge step in the right direction. Progress, people.
I have principles when it comes to my grammar snobbery. When I see shoddy proofreading or sentence structure in advertising, for example, there's a good chance I will boycott the product or place altogether. I could not stand Applebee's slogan "Eatin' good in the neighborhood," because, of course, the correct statement would be "Eating well in the neighborhood." Because this is not a Rolling Stones song, I'm just not giving the writers creative license. I don't care that it rhymes. Those people in the board room can do better. (Thankfully, Applebee's has now adopted a grammatically correct slogan, which means I don't have to boycott it anymore. It turns out this is relevant, as Applebee's is one of about five restaurants in my new town. I simply will have no choice but to dine there on occasion.)
Today, I got the following promotional e-mail from two different people. It's probably a spam scam, but in case it isn't, I can already tell you that I'm just going to have to say no. It's like a Highlights for Children. Can you spot the many mistakes in this one?
"Dear friend,
i would like to introduce a good company who trades mainly in electornic products.Now the company is under sales promotion,all the products are sold nearly at its cost.They provide the best service to customers,they provide you with original products of
good quality,and what is more,the price is a surprising happiness to you!It is realy a good chance for shopping.just grasp the opportunity,Now or never!"
This is nails on a chalkboard for me. Absolutely no way, no how, would I EVER patronize this business.
Okay, off my soapbox now.
I have principles when it comes to my grammar snobbery. When I see shoddy proofreading or sentence structure in advertising, for example, there's a good chance I will boycott the product or place altogether. I could not stand Applebee's slogan "Eatin' good in the neighborhood," because, of course, the correct statement would be "Eating well in the neighborhood." Because this is not a Rolling Stones song, I'm just not giving the writers creative license. I don't care that it rhymes. Those people in the board room can do better. (Thankfully, Applebee's has now adopted a grammatically correct slogan, which means I don't have to boycott it anymore. It turns out this is relevant, as Applebee's is one of about five restaurants in my new town. I simply will have no choice but to dine there on occasion.)
Today, I got the following promotional e-mail from two different people. It's probably a spam scam, but in case it isn't, I can already tell you that I'm just going to have to say no. It's like a Highlights for Children. Can you spot the many mistakes in this one?
"Dear friend,
i would like to introduce a good company who trades mainly in electornic products.Now the company is under sales promotion,all the products are sold nearly at its cost.They provide the best service to customers,they provide you with original products of
good quality,and what is more,the price is a surprising happiness to you!It is realy a good chance for shopping.just grasp the opportunity,Now or never!"
This is nails on a chalkboard for me. Absolutely no way, no how, would I EVER patronize this business.
Okay, off my soapbox now.
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Kiosk Does Not A Coffee Shop Make
Dear Friends -
I am afraid the Del Rio situation is more dire than I initially feared. You have heard me rant about the lack of my favorite chain establishments. No Target - that was bad. No Starbucks - absolutely devastating, particularly since I have practically lived at Starbucks in San Antonio for the last four months (I have even hit several different Starbucks in a single day, as I try not to make a habit out of eating both breakfast and lunch at the same place). I tried to convince myself that being inundated with Starbucks in San Antonio would be enough to carry me through the upcoming Starbucks drought. And anyway, it is true that Starbucks was not quite as enticing this summer, without its Orange Mocha Frappuccino and all (Mint Mocha Chip Frap instead? Isn't that, like, a Christmas drink? I don't get the summer debut). I told myself that surely there were some good local places. I can adapt.
Last week, I went in search of the local places. It began with a search on my iPhone for WiFi locations, as we did not yet have internet at our house. This was much more difficult than I could have possibly imagined. I managed to find only a couple of places that had it. Aside from the T-Mobile store itself, the list was strictly limited to hotels. What did this mean for me? Squatting at the Ramada for four hours. I felt like a damn stowaway, hiding out in their upstairs sitting room at the little desk there. I kept waiting for someone to call me out on the fact that I was not a guest (although I did enjoy their breakfast buffet for two days in a row, just in case I was questioned). I escaped unscathed, but I still felt a little sneaky. Unlike theater hopping in high school, my stealthiness did not come accompanied by the glow of "getting away with it." Instead, I just felt . . . well, sad.
But I was not giving up. I had read months before on a chat site during my internet search of whether a Starbucks would ever make its way to Del Rio that there was some place in the town called "Coffee Now." It's simple. It gets the point across. Local is very often just as good, if not better than the big corporate giant. I was optimistic, especially since the poster had poo-pooed Starbucks and said he was a "loyal Coffee Now patron." So I looked up Coffee Now in Google, found the address, and began my search. Funny thing, though - I went back and forth on the street it was supposed to be on a few times, craning my neck to look at every strip mall I saw. Nope. No Coffee Now. Luckily, the listing I found had a phone number. So I called. You never know how long these things stay in business. A cheerful young woman answered right away. Phew! I asked for the cross streets.
And then I went back along the same road. And then it occurred to me why Coffee Now had escaped my notice. It wasn't a store front. It was a damn kiosk, like those Kodak photo labs in the 80's. There wasn't a seat in sight, not even a couple of folding camping chairs in the parking lot. Instead of Coffee Now, for me this realization was more like "Serenity Now!!!"
Welcome to my nightmare.
I am afraid the Del Rio situation is more dire than I initially feared. You have heard me rant about the lack of my favorite chain establishments. No Target - that was bad. No Starbucks - absolutely devastating, particularly since I have practically lived at Starbucks in San Antonio for the last four months (I have even hit several different Starbucks in a single day, as I try not to make a habit out of eating both breakfast and lunch at the same place). I tried to convince myself that being inundated with Starbucks in San Antonio would be enough to carry me through the upcoming Starbucks drought. And anyway, it is true that Starbucks was not quite as enticing this summer, without its Orange Mocha Frappuccino and all (Mint Mocha Chip Frap instead? Isn't that, like, a Christmas drink? I don't get the summer debut). I told myself that surely there were some good local places. I can adapt.
Last week, I went in search of the local places. It began with a search on my iPhone for WiFi locations, as we did not yet have internet at our house. This was much more difficult than I could have possibly imagined. I managed to find only a couple of places that had it. Aside from the T-Mobile store itself, the list was strictly limited to hotels. What did this mean for me? Squatting at the Ramada for four hours. I felt like a damn stowaway, hiding out in their upstairs sitting room at the little desk there. I kept waiting for someone to call me out on the fact that I was not a guest (although I did enjoy their breakfast buffet for two days in a row, just in case I was questioned). I escaped unscathed, but I still felt a little sneaky. Unlike theater hopping in high school, my stealthiness did not come accompanied by the glow of "getting away with it." Instead, I just felt . . . well, sad.
But I was not giving up. I had read months before on a chat site during my internet search of whether a Starbucks would ever make its way to Del Rio that there was some place in the town called "Coffee Now." It's simple. It gets the point across. Local is very often just as good, if not better than the big corporate giant. I was optimistic, especially since the poster had poo-pooed Starbucks and said he was a "loyal Coffee Now patron." So I looked up Coffee Now in Google, found the address, and began my search. Funny thing, though - I went back and forth on the street it was supposed to be on a few times, craning my neck to look at every strip mall I saw. Nope. No Coffee Now. Luckily, the listing I found had a phone number. So I called. You never know how long these things stay in business. A cheerful young woman answered right away. Phew! I asked for the cross streets.
And then I went back along the same road. And then it occurred to me why Coffee Now had escaped my notice. It wasn't a store front. It was a damn kiosk, like those Kodak photo labs in the 80's. There wasn't a seat in sight, not even a couple of folding camping chairs in the parking lot. Instead of Coffee Now, for me this realization was more like "Serenity Now!!!"
Welcome to my nightmare.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
I'm With the Band
Back in high school, I was in the marching band, the symphonic band and the concert band...but I wasn't a total band geek...I was also on our illustrious tennis team - state champs for Lord knows how many years in a row and I was part of our school's business program that put me in a lot of AP classes. So I dipped a toe across every type of school group there was - the geeks, the jocks and the academics.
I haven't picked up my clarinet since putting it down my senior year of high school. I haven't really played the piano in years...but I do get excited whenever I see 'Drumline' on TV because it makes me wonder if I picked up the wrong instrument back in 5th grade. The only reason I ended up with the clarinet was because it was discarded several years earlier by my sister when she was thinking of joining the band...she obviously couldn't cut it with the band geeks, so I picked it up, learned it, became rather good (always first seat) and dropped it like a bad habit. There was no way I was joining band in college and in hindsight, I'm glad!
But now - now I actually get to do what I think I was meant to do - bang on those drums via my newest obsession, ROCK BAND! It was one of the only reasons I actually allowed my husband to get the PS3 when I really wanted the Wii. Rock Band is like a step above Guitar Hero and Karaoke Revolution. It's where you can have a group of people rock out on guitar, drums, and sing. I've basically bogarted the drums with my alter ego, Jersey. We tour and unlock more songs along the way. We've already played NYC, Chicago, and Seattle. I'm waiting to get to the place where I'll unlock 'Don't Fear the Reaper.'
I salivate when I think about it - maybe I drool a little while actually playing. But I'm not completely obsessed with it where I'm playing it at all hours of the morning (like someone I know) - but it's definitely fun and since being away from it for the past week, I finally managed to get on it last night and jam for about an hour before hitting the gym. I even have my husband playing along on guitar - but he's very particular about the songs we play - we always need to start with 'Orange Crush' and then we move down through the songs he likes. I guess it's a small price to play if I don't want to play alone.
But I don't mind playing alone. The game is not only super-fun but it's opened my eyes to a lot of music that I was previously unaware of - both classic and modern....for instance, I didn't know what 'Mississippi Queen' was before Rock Band - and guess what? We heard it on a classic rock station while on vacation. And now I love playing it - and not just because it has cow bell. I also learned of another new song that I like and will be downloading to my iPod - 'Maps' by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. So not only is Rock Band fun for adult friends and family, but it's a learning experience too.
The best part of Rock Band is ending a song with a free-for-all where you get to bang on anything and everything and totally rock out. After the song ends, I usually hit my sticks together in the air and start yelling like Garth from 'Wayne's World.' And sometimes, I'll even do that rolling 'r' noise they do when they get excited....so fun!
I haven't picked up my clarinet since putting it down my senior year of high school. I haven't really played the piano in years...but I do get excited whenever I see 'Drumline' on TV because it makes me wonder if I picked up the wrong instrument back in 5th grade. The only reason I ended up with the clarinet was because it was discarded several years earlier by my sister when she was thinking of joining the band...she obviously couldn't cut it with the band geeks, so I picked it up, learned it, became rather good (always first seat) and dropped it like a bad habit. There was no way I was joining band in college and in hindsight, I'm glad!
But now - now I actually get to do what I think I was meant to do - bang on those drums via my newest obsession, ROCK BAND! It was one of the only reasons I actually allowed my husband to get the PS3 when I really wanted the Wii. Rock Band is like a step above Guitar Hero and Karaoke Revolution. It's where you can have a group of people rock out on guitar, drums, and sing. I've basically bogarted the drums with my alter ego, Jersey. We tour and unlock more songs along the way. We've already played NYC, Chicago, and Seattle. I'm waiting to get to the place where I'll unlock 'Don't Fear the Reaper.'
I salivate when I think about it - maybe I drool a little while actually playing. But I'm not completely obsessed with it where I'm playing it at all hours of the morning (like someone I know) - but it's definitely fun and since being away from it for the past week, I finally managed to get on it last night and jam for about an hour before hitting the gym. I even have my husband playing along on guitar - but he's very particular about the songs we play - we always need to start with 'Orange Crush' and then we move down through the songs he likes. I guess it's a small price to play if I don't want to play alone.
But I don't mind playing alone. The game is not only super-fun but it's opened my eyes to a lot of music that I was previously unaware of - both classic and modern....for instance, I didn't know what 'Mississippi Queen' was before Rock Band - and guess what? We heard it on a classic rock station while on vacation. And now I love playing it - and not just because it has cow bell. I also learned of another new song that I like and will be downloading to my iPod - 'Maps' by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. So not only is Rock Band fun for adult friends and family, but it's a learning experience too.
The best part of Rock Band is ending a song with a free-for-all where you get to bang on anything and everything and totally rock out. After the song ends, I usually hit my sticks together in the air and start yelling like Garth from 'Wayne's World.' And sometimes, I'll even do that rolling 'r' noise they do when they get excited....so fun!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Summer Fun, Autumn Woes
Don't let the title fool you - after my trip back from Indiana, I am super-psyched for some Fall - football season, changing leaves, Halloween and soup/stew/hot mulled cider season! But I'm certainly going to miss the summer - being outdoors, playing sports, sweating my pants off (maybe I won't miss that too much) and wearing summer clothes - dresses, shorts, tanks and flip flops.
Looking back, I had a really good summer - we had great weather (August was like a preview to September/October temps), great fun and great friends to share it with. Now that it's post-Labor Day and I'm looking ahead to Fall, I started breaking out some of my fall/winter shoes and am quite disappointed with the outcome thus far....tan lines. I was pretty careful with the tan lines this summer - trying to run sunscreen where I might have potential tan lines - but the one place I always forget to cover...my feet. And what are the results of forgetting? Flip Flop lines. Argh.
After being out at the football game this past weekend, with the sun beating down on me, I, again, forgot to cover my feet with sun block and now my flip flop lines are even darker than when I went out to the midwest. I'm wearing my black, double-strap mary janes and it looks like I have two white v-straps coming out of the shoe - HORROR! I'm thinking about what I can do to salvage the look. I'm thinking my only option is self-tanner...although that would require me to put it on my whole leg because what if the shade of the self tanner turns those v-lines darker than what the rest of my leg shade is? I'm sure I'm not the only one that has gone through this dilemma - so suggestions are welcome.
I'm use to tan lines but I'm use to bikini lines - lines that people don't necessarily see when I'm in work clothes. I guess I could break out the hosiery early - but it's still warm enough to where I can imagine myself sweating from having too much on....what is a girl to do with signs of summer past?!
Well - one thing to keep my mind off of it is to think about what November will bring forth...the new James Bond film...wink!
Looking back, I had a really good summer - we had great weather (August was like a preview to September/October temps), great fun and great friends to share it with. Now that it's post-Labor Day and I'm looking ahead to Fall, I started breaking out some of my fall/winter shoes and am quite disappointed with the outcome thus far....tan lines. I was pretty careful with the tan lines this summer - trying to run sunscreen where I might have potential tan lines - but the one place I always forget to cover...my feet. And what are the results of forgetting? Flip Flop lines. Argh.
After being out at the football game this past weekend, with the sun beating down on me, I, again, forgot to cover my feet with sun block and now my flip flop lines are even darker than when I went out to the midwest. I'm wearing my black, double-strap mary janes and it looks like I have two white v-straps coming out of the shoe - HORROR! I'm thinking about what I can do to salvage the look. I'm thinking my only option is self-tanner...although that would require me to put it on my whole leg because what if the shade of the self tanner turns those v-lines darker than what the rest of my leg shade is? I'm sure I'm not the only one that has gone through this dilemma - so suggestions are welcome.
I'm use to tan lines but I'm use to bikini lines - lines that people don't necessarily see when I'm in work clothes. I guess I could break out the hosiery early - but it's still warm enough to where I can imagine myself sweating from having too much on....what is a girl to do with signs of summer past?!
Well - one thing to keep my mind off of it is to think about what November will bring forth...the new James Bond film...wink!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Talking Nonsense
Flying back from Chicago was a real treat yesterday! Not only did I forget to pre-check-in online for Southwest (thankfully we weren't put into the C-group and were able to find two seats together) but after a long, tiresome vacation, I felt so run down and just ready to jump in my own bed and go to sleep!
We had gotten to the airport early because you never know what traffic is going to be like from Indiana to Chicago on a Sunday afternoon....and it wasn't bad. So there was a lot of wandering the terminals for me. I had started feeling nauseous and extremely tired about 1.5 hours before boarding time. It had been about five hours since I had my Cracker Barrel breakfast and Sonic frozen slush so I thought perhaps I might've been hungry. So I started trolling around the food areas to see if anything struck my fancy. It didn't. I ended up having a southwest chicken sandwich from McD's. It did help, but I was still tired.
As Southwest began boarding, this family consisting of two parents and one child came up to the gate. I could smell the child was trouble when he opened his mouth and apparently didn't know how to shut it. They were a Chinese family and the kid was about 10 years old....a rather big 10, I might add. How did I know they were Chinese? Because the kid was speaking in mandarin and I could understand him. I think he thought he was running the family traveling show because he was telling his parents that this was their gate and it was time to line up, etc. His parents didn't seem to mind - I'm sure he's the apple of their eyes.
Thankfully, when we boarded the plane after them, we weren't anywhere near them on the plane, so we got the respite of having to hear him speak. But that gap was immediately filled by one of the stewardesses that took it upon herself to talk for the WHOLE, DAMN flight. We happened to get the last row in front of the drinks storage area and we heard non-stop chatter throughout the flight. Our only break came when they rolled the drinks cart towards the front of the plane to serve....but when she got back, lucky us got to hear about her life story. And all I wanted to do was sleep...silly me.
As we were deplaning, another passenger had made a comment about how 'she sure has a lot to say.' Ain't that the truth. It was time to walk to baggage claim, find our bags, get on the shuttle bus and hop in our car. And wasn't it lucky for us that we happened to be on the same shuttle bus as the Chinese family - I boarded the shuttle first not thinking much of it, praying a little that he had stopped chattering but the second he boarded the shuttle, the kid says (in Chinese), 'These seats are particularly small!' That led me to believe that he made some sort of comment about the size of the airplane seats. I really wanted to say back to him, in Chinese of course, 'Well, you're particularly chubby.' I was so close - it was on the tip of my tongue. Had I had some liquid courage, maybe it would've slipped out - but I bit it back.
Why his parents didn't shush him is beyond me - after all, in his leadership, the kid led them to the wrong bus stop to get to their car....
We had gotten to the airport early because you never know what traffic is going to be like from Indiana to Chicago on a Sunday afternoon....and it wasn't bad. So there was a lot of wandering the terminals for me. I had started feeling nauseous and extremely tired about 1.5 hours before boarding time. It had been about five hours since I had my Cracker Barrel breakfast and Sonic frozen slush so I thought perhaps I might've been hungry. So I started trolling around the food areas to see if anything struck my fancy. It didn't. I ended up having a southwest chicken sandwich from McD's. It did help, but I was still tired.
As Southwest began boarding, this family consisting of two parents and one child came up to the gate. I could smell the child was trouble when he opened his mouth and apparently didn't know how to shut it. They were a Chinese family and the kid was about 10 years old....a rather big 10, I might add. How did I know they were Chinese? Because the kid was speaking in mandarin and I could understand him. I think he thought he was running the family traveling show because he was telling his parents that this was their gate and it was time to line up, etc. His parents didn't seem to mind - I'm sure he's the apple of their eyes.
Thankfully, when we boarded the plane after them, we weren't anywhere near them on the plane, so we got the respite of having to hear him speak. But that gap was immediately filled by one of the stewardesses that took it upon herself to talk for the WHOLE, DAMN flight. We happened to get the last row in front of the drinks storage area and we heard non-stop chatter throughout the flight. Our only break came when they rolled the drinks cart towards the front of the plane to serve....but when she got back, lucky us got to hear about her life story. And all I wanted to do was sleep...silly me.
As we were deplaning, another passenger had made a comment about how 'she sure has a lot to say.' Ain't that the truth. It was time to walk to baggage claim, find our bags, get on the shuttle bus and hop in our car. And wasn't it lucky for us that we happened to be on the same shuttle bus as the Chinese family - I boarded the shuttle first not thinking much of it, praying a little that he had stopped chattering but the second he boarded the shuttle, the kid says (in Chinese), 'These seats are particularly small!' That led me to believe that he made some sort of comment about the size of the airplane seats. I really wanted to say back to him, in Chinese of course, 'Well, you're particularly chubby.' I was so close - it was on the tip of my tongue. Had I had some liquid courage, maybe it would've slipped out - but I bit it back.
Why his parents didn't shush him is beyond me - after all, in his leadership, the kid led them to the wrong bus stop to get to their car....
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