Life is shorter than you think,
It can get lost inside a blink.
Have a great week!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
The Sensitive Subject of... Politics
Sunday mornings... a great time for casual, ho-hum, who-cares-about-that-subject conversations. Y'know, like one about POLITICS. Oh wait. Anyway, yes, Jon & I decided to "spar" over politics this morning... although really it wasn't much of a spar... FOR ONCE. Usually, Jon's very anti-Bush; so if I let myself fall into my regular pattern, I defend, defend, defend... even though I'm really NOT that big of a Bush supporter. Actually, if I was completely honest, I'm probably not a Bush supporter at all. But, I defend him to people like Jon who are very aggressively anti-Bush because 1) I don't like it when people are so sure of themselves in an issue that is clearly not THAT black & white and 2) I do think Bush means well. Important, yes; but probably not the #1 thing you look for in an effective president.
Anyway, today I stopped myself from being argumentative just for the sake of being argumentative and we discussed a few things that we agree on. Specifically, I pulled out a couple of references to recent New York Times articles demonstrating what I perceive as wasteful spending and the ineffectiveness of our government (you can actually click on the link if you have a free account at NYT.com... otherwise, I'll give you the quick synopsis):
I think regardless of party affiliation, lawmakers these days are out of control. Why can't a decent, rational person make it up the ranks of one or the other of our two parties? Why are our choices this Tuesday (and every Voting Day Tuesday in recent history) between the lesser of two evils or idiot vs. idiot? Are we that dumb as a whole? Are these people REALLY representative of our population?
Anyway, although I consider myself a very liberal Republican, I'm frustrated by having to be associated wtih either of the parties. (And it's not a valid option to be an Independent. In theory, it should be; but in reality, Independents have no voice at all.) When I saw these fun little quizzes, I thought... hmm, maybe this will help determine which party I SHOULD be in:
Yeah, not so much. Oh well... rant over. Forget it. Who cares, anyway? I'm sure there are MUCH better things to talk about this Sunday morning/afternoon... maybe less controversial subjects like religion or sex?!
Anyway, today I stopped myself from being argumentative just for the sake of being argumentative and we discussed a few things that we agree on. Specifically, I pulled out a couple of references to recent New York Times articles demonstrating what I perceive as wasteful spending and the ineffectiveness of our government (you can actually click on the link if you have a free account at NYT.com... otherwise, I'll give you the quick synopsis):
- Subsidies Keep Airlines Flying To Small Towns (abstract only): The government has continued to extend a program that was originally implemented in 1978 (post-deregulation of the airline industry) to subsidize small market routes. Basically, the program pays for (or helps pay for) routes that average about three passengers per flight. Three. And recently, someone found this program on the books (again), decided it was probably a little wasteful, and opened up discussion about ending at least some of these subsidies. The oh-so-intelligent lawmakers who represent the districts with small airports from which these subsidized flights originate stepped in, with a vengeance, to make sure that the subsidies continued. For the THREE travelers taking these flights. Awesome.
- U.S. Jobs Shape Condoms’ Role in Foreign Aid: US Agency for International Development (Usaid) buys millions of condoms every year for AIDS prevention and family planning programs overseas. "Over the years, Usaid could have afforded even more condoms — among the most effective methods for slowing the spread of AIDS — if it had it bought them from the lowest bidders on the world market. ... Britain, Ireland and Norway have all sought to make aid more cost effective by opening contracts in their programs to fight global poverty to international competition. The United States, meanwhile, continues to restrict bidding on billions of dollars worth of business to companies operating in America." So, while I absolutely support the government helping our own workers (saving jobs at the condom factory, etc.), I wonder why the Alabama condom factory can't figure out a way to be more competitive -- at least a little bit more competitive -- with foreign companies. And I'm most annoyed by the story's references to the Alabama elected officials, one of whom didn't even know Alabama HAD a condom factory, who fight SO HARD to keep "pork" provisions in budget bills for their own districts.
I think regardless of party affiliation, lawmakers these days are out of control. Why can't a decent, rational person make it up the ranks of one or the other of our two parties? Why are our choices this Tuesday (and every Voting Day Tuesday in recent history) between the lesser of two evils or idiot vs. idiot? Are we that dumb as a whole? Are these people REALLY representative of our population?
Anyway, although I consider myself a very liberal Republican, I'm frustrated by having to be associated wtih either of the parties. (And it's not a valid option to be an Independent. In theory, it should be; but in reality, Independents have no voice at all.) When I saw these fun little quizzes, I thought... hmm, maybe this will help determine which party I SHOULD be in:
You Are 32% Republican |
 If you're still voting Democrat, maybe it's time that you stop. |
You Are 40% Democrat |
 You're a bit Democrat, and probably more liberal than you realize. |
Yeah, not so much. Oh well... rant over. Forget it. Who cares, anyway? I'm sure there are MUCH better things to talk about this Sunday morning/afternoon... maybe less controversial subjects like religion or sex?!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
It's All In The Song... And In A Few Others. They're Probably All In The Top 50, Actually.
Strain this chaos turn it into light,
I've gotta see you one last night,
Before the lions take their share,
Leave us in pieces, scattered everywhere,
Just give me a chance to hold on,
Just give me something to hold onto,
It's so clear now that you are all that I have,
I have no fear cause you are all that I have.
I've gotta see you one last night,
Before the lions take their share,
Leave us in pieces, scattered everywhere,
Just give me a chance to hold on,
Just give me something to hold onto,
It's so clear now that you are all that I have,
I have no fear cause you are all that I have.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Counting the Hours
So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So i play the numbers game to find away to say that life has just begun
Okay, so, I promise I'll quit whining about it... in a minute! Today, when I was getting sh*t for doing it yet again, I reminded my girls that I am thirty AND ONE DAY. It hasn't been that long, so give me a freakin' break! If I need to wallow for a second, I think I'm allowed.
I got up this morning feeling OLD. My leg was asleep and I had pins & needles for at least 10 minutes! That usually happens when I turn thirty... well, maybe it also happens when I stay up too late writing about liquids and solids. And, speaking of which, what's up with all y'all who had loose lips on my comment board yesterday? Cat got your tongue today? Or you just don't have an opinion? Or maybe you overcame your bashfulness to leave a comment on the extra special my-birthday day. :)
So... here's the full story (a, hopefully, quick version of it): I get to the airport yesterday completely organized. I was the wonderfully experienced I-got-it-covered traveler. Even though the line was short, I had my clear baggie with liquids and the laptop pulled out of my bag for separate inspection. My shoes were off & ready to place in their own bin. I had everything ready to go. I go through the metal detector, no problem. Then the x-ray guy pulls the bag-checking lady over to look at my carry-on's peek-inside. She grabs my bag off the conveyor and takes it over to the blasted table, unzips it, proceeds to unpack most of my belongings. She grabs the deodorant (the inexplicably NAMED solid deodorant) and says, "I guess you forgot to put this in your baggie." I was like, ummm... NO. It's SOLID deodorant. She said, "All liquids, gels, and aerosols must be in the baggie." I then proceeded to flabbergastedly ask, "Well, which of those is it - a liquid, gel, or aerosol?" Whatever. Fine. Here. Let me take my SOLID deodorant and shove it in my see-through baggie specifically made for
Anyway, I kept on celebrating today. :) My colleagues had a CAKE (with my name on it and everything) for me this afternoon. And Pam went all out making me chicken marsala & creme brulee tonight (PLUS a red velvet w/ cream cheese icing mini-cake in a to-go box!). I'm sorry... I know I'm conceited... but I really love all the attention of having a birthday! So, thanks to all y'all who catered to me over the last coupla days!! (Of course, the dinner was for me AND my new friend, Gail. Gail's the Jenny replacement... and as much as I miss my sweet Jenny, I really enjoy Gail -- well, what I got to know of her in the one day I spent with her.)
Well... I've let too much of the night slip away already. I totally intended to go to bed early. I guess it still is semi-early (just after my 00:00 fresh start)... for me, at least. So I'll take my leave. Happy Friday!!! May it be your best Friday EVER! :)
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Is it a Liquid or a Solid?
Cast your votes in the comments please. My reputation and self-confidence as a good traveler is at stake here. Is the following item a liquid or a solid? (Basically, the underlying point we're getting at here is: should it be in the clear baggie of liquids held out for closer inspection or can it just be floating around anywhere in your bag as you go through security?)
Hint: there are many different forms of deodorant/anti-perspirant. The Dove web site explores the options and describes them in more detail. Note the left side menu & the different types of products Dove offers in this category. Click the screen shot below to visit the Dove web site now:
Anyway... more on this later. I'm in State College if you're looking for me. It's cold here. I left 85 and sunny this morning for cold & rainy as I stepped of the Delta jet @ SCE. But I have a cute car. So, that helps make the trip better already. Plus, I have several meetings already scheduled for tomorrow and a planned birthday celebration with creme brulée tomorrow night. :) Gotta go rest now. See you soon. And don't forget to answer the question! LIQUID OR SOLID???
Hint: there are many different forms of deodorant/anti-perspirant. The Dove web site explores the options and describes them in more detail. Note the left side menu & the different types of products Dove offers in this category. Click the screen shot below to visit the Dove web site now:
Anyway... more on this later. I'm in State College if you're looking for me. It's cold here. I left 85 and sunny this morning for cold & rainy as I stepped of the Delta jet @ SCE. But I have a cute car. So, that helps make the trip better already. Plus, I have several meetings already scheduled for tomorrow and a planned birthday celebration with creme brulée tomorrow night. :) Gotta go rest now. See you soon. And don't forget to answer the question! LIQUID OR SOLID???
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
The Last Few Moments of 29
A friend was "singing" the Gin Blossoms song "29" to me recently (well, not that recently, but the point is still valid). He was kinda bummed when he realized that the song no longer applied (he's older.. ha ha ha). But tomorrow... tomorrow I join him. Tomorrow, I'm no longer 29. Tomorrow, I bid adieu to my twenties. And tonight, during the last few minutes of my 29th year, I'm sad. My twenties were so enjoyable. I miss them already. (And not in the way-I-always-do -- missing things well before they're gone or grieving for things before they're lost -- but in the WOW-it's-here-now-and-I-can't-run-away way.)
It.is.just.not.possible. I was only 19 just yesterday. And it wasn't too far back from that that I was 9. How did I get here? Where did it all go? And WHY is it going so fast?!
But aside from the obvious trauma... I am (semi)enjoying reflecting back a little. Life thus far has been pretty good. I have been truly blessed with some wonderful people in my life. And that... that is all I could've ever wished for. Family & friends like you guys. I just hope I've meant as much to you. So, thanks... for just being you. YOU mean the world to me.
I bite my thumb at 30. I'm strong. I can take you, beyotch. Bring it on.
So, Nik asked. And I opened the can 'o worms for myself, so the answer:
I have done 3 of the 15 things on my to-do-before-30 list. But I give myself half credits here and there (what? I come from a family of teachers... they give half credit for everything). So, my total "score" (out of 15, remember) is 4.5.
The things I've done: own a house (you've all heard me ramble on and on about Forsythe), got married (remember Jon? although Jess thinks he's a paper cut-out I pose in pics every once in a while, he really does exist!), and made a real best friend (two, as a matter of fact... although one is my sister, so she's kinda stuck with me). The half credits: career (I have a job/career that is fun, sometimes rewarding, pays well, and allows me to work in my PJs from home... it's not really what I expected to do with my life nor is it something I see myself doing forever, but it's definitely worth 1/2), Europe (I've been there... three times, as a matter of fact... but it's a big country and there's lots I haven't seen... but given that Vienna, Amsterdam, the Alps, Athens, & the Greek Isles are all very wonderful, I deserve half credit), and the U.S. (again, I've seen some of my home country, but not nearly enough of it... I've been to very, very few of our national monuments/treasures; and I hope someday to do a better job of being a tourist).
Huh... 4.5 out of 15! Well, it's a good thing I'm only 30... I've got quite the list of things to do before I turn 40!
Thanks for all the pre-birthday happy birthdays to all y'all who reached out to me today (and even before today!). And even those of you with whom I didn't talk about my birthday at all, it was fun to talk to you. Although, fun probably isn't the right word. I love you guys. Please be good to each other.
There's no intentions worthy of mention
If we never try
So hang your hopes on rusted-out hinges
Take 'em for a ride
Only time will tell if wishing wells
Can bring us anything
Or fade like scenes from childhood dreams
Forgotten memories
It.is.just.not.possible. I was only 19 just yesterday. And it wasn't too far back from that that I was 9. How did I get here? Where did it all go? And WHY is it going so fast?!
But aside from the obvious trauma... I am (semi)enjoying reflecting back a little. Life thus far has been pretty good. I have been truly blessed with some wonderful people in my life. And that... that is all I could've ever wished for. Family & friends like you guys. I just hope I've meant as much to you. So, thanks... for just being you. YOU mean the world to me.
I bite my thumb at 30. I'm strong. I can take you, beyotch. Bring it on.
So, Nik asked. And I opened the can 'o worms for myself, so the answer:
I have done 3 of the 15 things on my to-do-before-30 list. But I give myself half credits here and there (what? I come from a family of teachers... they give half credit for everything). So, my total "score" (out of 15, remember) is 4.5.
The things I've done: own a house (you've all heard me ramble on and on about Forsythe), got married (remember Jon? although Jess thinks he's a paper cut-out I pose in pics every once in a while, he really does exist!), and made a real best friend (two, as a matter of fact... although one is my sister, so she's kinda stuck with me). The half credits: career (I have a job/career that is fun, sometimes rewarding, pays well, and allows me to work in my PJs from home... it's not really what I expected to do with my life nor is it something I see myself doing forever, but it's definitely worth 1/2), Europe (I've been there... three times, as a matter of fact... but it's a big country and there's lots I haven't seen... but given that Vienna, Amsterdam, the Alps, Athens, & the Greek Isles are all very wonderful, I deserve half credit), and the U.S. (again, I've seen some of my home country, but not nearly enough of it... I've been to very, very few of our national monuments/treasures; and I hope someday to do a better job of being a tourist).
Huh... 4.5 out of 15! Well, it's a good thing I'm only 30... I've got quite the list of things to do before I turn 40!
Thanks for all the pre-birthday happy birthdays to all y'all who reached out to me today (and even before today!). And even those of you with whom I didn't talk about my birthday at all, it was fun to talk to you. Although, fun probably isn't the right word. I love you guys. Please be good to each other.
Because He Just GETS Me
Too tired to sleep, too angry to pray,
too far down to get back up,
too lost to find my way.
Who knows what happened, I'm too confused to say,
and too far gone to turn back now;
it's too late anyway.
I don't need a clever confidant to try
to soothe with hollow words,
I've heard them all.
What I need is just to know
I have a home within your heart.
Just hold me close. A few words will do.
We don't have to find the answers now,
it's enough to be with you.
too far down to get back up,
too lost to find my way.
Who knows what happened, I'm too confused to say,
and too far gone to turn back now;
it's too late anyway.
I don't need a clever confidant to try
to soothe with hollow words,
I've heard them all.
What I need is just to know
I have a home within your heart.
Just hold me close. A few words will do.
We don't have to find the answers now,
it's enough to be with you.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Erica Jong Sounds FASCINATING
Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That’s why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don’t risk everything, you risk even more.
-- Erica Jong
Ignore the Other Voice. Concentrate on This One.
Recently, I've had a really hard time finding new (or semi-forgotten... or just that good) episodes of SATC to watch on Tivo (Tivo stil captures all of 'em for me; I just delete most of 'em after I watch the first two minutes if I've seen 'em or if I'm just not that into them -- AGAIN). But tonight, I found (AGAIN) one of the all-time greatest quotes. (Okay, that's a stretch, b/c there are some GREAT quotes on this show. But tonight's has GOT to be up there.)
Sooooo funny. And yes, I know I've shared that with you before. But maybe I have new readers. Or maybe some of you had forgotten one of my previous posts (!!!). Or maybe, like me, you just enjoyed hearing it again.
Hope it brings you as much joy on this Monday morning as it brought me tonight/this morning. :)
And since I'm on the quote-wagon, I'll leave another one for y'all:
Sweetheart, you can't go listening to every little voice that runs through your head. It'll drive you nuts!
Sooooo funny. And yes, I know I've shared that with you before. But maybe I have new readers. Or maybe some of you had forgotten one of my previous posts (!!!). Or maybe, like me, you just enjoyed hearing it again.
Hope it brings you as much joy on this Monday morning as it brought me tonight/this morning. :)
And since I'm on the quote-wagon, I'll leave another one for y'all:
Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup.
-- Elizabeth Bowen
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Yaaaaaaaay!
John Madden & Al Michaels are in CHARLOTTE!!! Oh shoot... wait. Charlotte's not my hometown. Crap. Oh well... I'm still excited!!! Can't WAIT for the Maddenisms. :)
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Back in the Boro
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Friday, October 27, 2006
Mirror Mirror On The Wall...
My mom is the sweetest, best mom ever. I love her so much. And there is just no way my beautiful, YOUNG mother turned 53 today!! But that's what her birth certificate says. Of course, we know those are SO OFTEN wrong... so we don't put much stock in that lousy slip of paper.
I've wanted to write a blog post for a while now about how I'm like (or not like) my mom. Everyone always says I have more of her side of the family in me. Granted, I do have the brown eyes & brown hair (although it's dyed a little blond!), but I wonder what (besides my looks) I see from my mom in myself. Beyond that... I KNOW how I'm like her; I wonder what everyone else sees.
I like to kid my dad a lot about the traits I MUST'VE gleaned from his chromosome... you know, like the pig-headedness, the lead foot, and the irritability. ;) But if I truly ponder the "big five" personality traits, a lot -- and I mean a lot -- of me is a pretty clear reflection of my mom. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall... I am my mother, after all." Right, Dad?
Now, MOST of what she passed on to me is full of goodness & positivity. I'm not trying to toot my own horn here, people... she's just really that good of a person. (And I'm not saying I'm anywhere near the person she is; I just got little tidbits of traits here & there.) She gave me conscientiousness (she has A LOT and I have a tiny fraction), a genuine compassion for the human condition, sensitivity, the ability to cooperate or team with just about anyone, an openness to learning about new people or things (of course, she'll be the first to tell you she cares nothing about learning technology-related things and I'm a bit of a techno geek... but at least we share the desire to learn about humanity), and appreciativeness. (She also made me the stickler I am for spelling & grammar... which makes me, at this moment, question whether or not "appreciativeness" is a real word. I'm going with it... because it's late and I'm tired, not because I don't care.)
There are other positives, I'm sure (morality, spirituality, good looks!, etc.), but I want to talk a little more about two of our shared pain-in-the-rear traits before I head to bed for the evening.
One... We're both pleasers (like other people I know, for sure). As long as everyone around us is happy, we're pretty happy. And if we had something to do with that happiness, EVEN BETTER! Neither of us wants to make a decision until we've heard what everyone else wants or doesn't want. It gets a little hairy when one loved one wants one thing and another wants something different. Damn those conflicting desires. We HATE to play favorites and just plain won't do it unless absolutely forced to. In fact, we'll work our little tails off to make sure we fulfill as much of everyone's wishes as possible. Of course, the problem with this is we never get to really think about (much less express) what we really want. Our needs and wants ALWAYS play second fiddle. Fair? Probably not; but, c'mon... what we really want is for everyone else to be happy. No need to think any further than that. Seriously. Stop asking me what I want.
Two... We're both exceptionally emotional. Our hearts definitely rule these lives. Please don't ask me to be logical about something I feel strongly about. And don't get all irritated when I have to cry about something. It means a lot to me, I'm going to cry about it. Geez! Now... unfortunately, this trait sometimes gets in the way of the pleasers in us; so don't be surprised when you get both the emotional "but I want it" and the "whatever will make you happy is fine with me" plays. Darn these feelings. Every once in a while, one of them jumps up & grabs us; and we have to fight to keep that desire down so that we can forget about what we might want, what might bring us true joy, and focus on what everyone else feels pretty okay about. I think the world would tip off its axis if we found something we couldn't live without and decided to throw caution to the wind to go grab it.
Mom, no offense, but I wish I could trade in at least a tiny piece of the pleaser in me for a little more I-know-what-I-want-and-by-gosh-I'm-going-to-get-it. And I think YOU should wish for that too. You deserve everything your little heart desires. So, stop saying you can't think of a thing you want for your birthday. Get irritated that I haven't bought you anything yet; and tell you little daughter (who really only wants to please you) what she can do (belatedly) to make your 53rd birthday the best ever! Happy Day, Mom! I love you!!!
I've wanted to write a blog post for a while now about how I'm like (or not like) my mom. Everyone always says I have more of her side of the family in me. Granted, I do have the brown eyes & brown hair (although it's dyed a little blond!), but I wonder what (besides my looks) I see from my mom in myself. Beyond that... I KNOW how I'm like her; I wonder what everyone else sees.
I like to kid my dad a lot about the traits I MUST'VE gleaned from his chromosome... you know, like the pig-headedness, the lead foot, and the irritability. ;) But if I truly ponder the "big five" personality traits, a lot -- and I mean a lot -- of me is a pretty clear reflection of my mom. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall... I am my mother, after all." Right, Dad?
Now, MOST of what she passed on to me is full of goodness & positivity. I'm not trying to toot my own horn here, people... she's just really that good of a person. (And I'm not saying I'm anywhere near the person she is; I just got little tidbits of traits here & there.) She gave me conscientiousness (she has A LOT and I have a tiny fraction), a genuine compassion for the human condition, sensitivity, the ability to cooperate or team with just about anyone, an openness to learning about new people or things (of course, she'll be the first to tell you she cares nothing about learning technology-related things and I'm a bit of a techno geek... but at least we share the desire to learn about humanity), and appreciativeness. (She also made me the stickler I am for spelling & grammar... which makes me, at this moment, question whether or not "appreciativeness" is a real word. I'm going with it... because it's late and I'm tired, not because I don't care.)
There are other positives, I'm sure (morality, spirituality, good looks!, etc.), but I want to talk a little more about two of our shared pain-in-the-rear traits before I head to bed for the evening.
One... We're both pleasers (like other people I know, for sure). As long as everyone around us is happy, we're pretty happy. And if we had something to do with that happiness, EVEN BETTER! Neither of us wants to make a decision until we've heard what everyone else wants or doesn't want. It gets a little hairy when one loved one wants one thing and another wants something different. Damn those conflicting desires. We HATE to play favorites and just plain won't do it unless absolutely forced to. In fact, we'll work our little tails off to make sure we fulfill as much of everyone's wishes as possible. Of course, the problem with this is we never get to really think about (much less express) what we really want. Our needs and wants ALWAYS play second fiddle. Fair? Probably not; but, c'mon... what we really want is for everyone else to be happy. No need to think any further than that. Seriously. Stop asking me what I want.
Two... We're both exceptionally emotional. Our hearts definitely rule these lives. Please don't ask me to be logical about something I feel strongly about. And don't get all irritated when I have to cry about something. It means a lot to me, I'm going to cry about it. Geez! Now... unfortunately, this trait sometimes gets in the way of the pleasers in us; so don't be surprised when you get both the emotional "but I want it" and the "whatever will make you happy is fine with me" plays. Darn these feelings. Every once in a while, one of them jumps up & grabs us; and we have to fight to keep that desire down so that we can forget about what we might want, what might bring us true joy, and focus on what everyone else feels pretty okay about. I think the world would tip off its axis if we found something we couldn't live without and decided to throw caution to the wind to go grab it.
Mom, no offense, but I wish I could trade in at least a tiny piece of the pleaser in me for a little more I-know-what-I-want-and-by-gosh-I'm-going-to-get-it. And I think YOU should wish for that too. You deserve everything your little heart desires. So, stop saying you can't think of a thing you want for your birthday. Get irritated that I haven't bought you anything yet; and tell you little daughter (who really only wants to please you) what she can do (belatedly) to make your 53rd birthday the best ever! Happy Day, Mom! I love you!!!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Thievery and Other Unforgiveable Sins
I like to steal lyrics from my AIM buddies' away messages. Thanks to you who I robbed tonight!
So, yes, here I am. I'm back... spouting my ridiculous nonsense that really means nothing and yet means everything. I know it's not enough. It's not important. It's not useful or moving. It's a bunch of nothing. I KNOW. But that's me. And that's what I like to write. Too soon or not.
I tried really hard to leave something for you guys last night. But Mom & Dad's internet was not cooperating. For those of you with me on your AIM/Trillian buddy lists, perhaps you noticed the technical difficulties. So annoying to be popped on and offline. And go figure, it happens to happen ALWAYS as I'm trying to get Blogger to allow me to write a new post. I'll actually be amazed if I get this one to "stick".
Anyway, I won't keep you too long... I just wanted to say a few little things:
1) Darin, that guy's name is DEREK... same last name (Mom & Dad had it wrong)
2) Haley, don't be stressed... I'm SURE the summit will go well... and even if it doesn't/hasn't, YOU did an awesome job
3) Mom, HAPPY BIRTHDAY (tomorrow... which is when I'm sure you'll be reading this since you're sleeping at the moment) :) I LOVE YOU
Let's see, I guess that's about it for my back-to-it nothingness post. I'll leave some pics for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure) now and step aside for the evening.
Pics from Les Montagnes
And a few from last weekend's ASU/GSU game... see? we were there!
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find you and I collide
So, yes, here I am. I'm back... spouting my ridiculous nonsense that really means nothing and yet means everything. I know it's not enough. It's not important. It's not useful or moving. It's a bunch of nothing. I KNOW. But that's me. And that's what I like to write. Too soon or not.
I tried really hard to leave something for you guys last night. But Mom & Dad's internet was not cooperating. For those of you with me on your AIM/Trillian buddy lists, perhaps you noticed the technical difficulties. So annoying to be popped on and offline. And go figure, it happens to happen ALWAYS as I'm trying to get Blogger to allow me to write a new post. I'll actually be amazed if I get this one to "stick".
Anyway, I won't keep you too long... I just wanted to say a few little things:
1) Darin, that guy's name is DEREK... same last name (Mom & Dad had it wrong)
2) Haley, don't be stressed... I'm SURE the summit will go well... and even if it doesn't/hasn't, YOU did an awesome job
3) Mom, HAPPY BIRTHDAY (tomorrow... which is when I'm sure you'll be reading this since you're sleeping at the moment) :) I LOVE YOU
Let's see, I guess that's about it for my back-to-it nothingness post. I'll leave some pics for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure) now and step aside for the evening.
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Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Just Right
How to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
10/24/06
Monday, October 23, 2006
Between Orion and Cassiopeia... That's All I've Got
Haley says you get to make a wish every time you see a shooting star. I've had to count on other wish-making goodness throughout the course of my life... as I've NEVER seen a shooting star. Correction: I HAD never seen a shooting star.
On Haley & Sooz's trip down to Statesboro on Friday evening, Sooz saw a few shooting stars. Upon seeing them, she remembered that Friday night was the peak of the Orionid meteor shower. Lucky, lucky... I live in a quiet and dark community in the country. So, when Haley & Sooz arrived at my house Friday afternoon/Saturday morning, we went out on the back patio (laid on the concrete, yes, we did) and watched for all that wish-making goodness.
The very first one I saw was awesome. All three of us happened to catch it, and it was beautiful. It looked, to me, just like some pictures I've seen of meteors... so let's pretend this was it:
In all, I saw three, I think (over the course of a very cold ~hour). Haley and Sooz probably saw a few more, so they get more wishes. But I'll take my three and be very, very, very happy with them. I love wishes... especially when they come true.
Have a wonderful Monday night and Tuesday... for, too soon, the morning will come.
On Haley & Sooz's trip down to Statesboro on Friday evening, Sooz saw a few shooting stars. Upon seeing them, she remembered that Friday night was the peak of the Orionid meteor shower. Lucky, lucky... I live in a quiet and dark community in the country. So, when Haley & Sooz arrived at my house Friday afternoon/Saturday morning, we went out on the back patio (laid on the concrete, yes, we did) and watched for all that wish-making goodness.
The very first one I saw was awesome. All three of us happened to catch it, and it was beautiful. It looked, to me, just like some pictures I've seen of meteors... so let's pretend this was it:
In all, I saw three, I think (over the course of a very cold ~hour). Haley and Sooz probably saw a few more, so they get more wishes. But I'll take my three and be very, very, very happy with them. I love wishes... especially when they come true.
Have a wonderful Monday night and Tuesday... for, too soon, the morning will come.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
They Say Having Goals is a Good Thing... Never Really Worked for Me, Though
15 Things I Wanted to Do Before Turning 30
It would've been 30, but I think you guys get bored after 10 anyway! Who knows... maybe I'll do another 15 another day. Anyway, without further ado, here they are in no particular order:
Seems like a decent list, no? Well, it's a list, at least... albeit full of generic "goals" that anyone could write. Anyway, I'm curious how many of them you think I've accomplished. How well do you know me? Were you surprised by anything that's on my list? No worries if you are... I surprise myself sometimes. More on all that later.,,
Check out Lis' blog for more pics of ATL. One thing I can cross off the list... attend an NFL game. Oh wait, I'm pretty sure I had already done that with the UNC MTH. Oh well... both were fun.
Finally, one last happy birthday, Rufus! You always "cheer up my day", too. :)
It would've been 30, but I think you guys get bored after 10 anyway! Who knows... maybe I'll do another 15 another day. Anyway, without further ado, here they are in no particular order:
- Choose a career
- Get married
- Have a baby
- Make a real best friend
- Travel to Europe
- See some of the "best stuff" in the U.S.
- Own a house
- Touch someone else's life
- Learn another language
- Make something I'm proud of
- Join (or start) a group that defines me
- Sing karaoke
- Smoke some pot
- Find my own way home
- Establish some real goals for myself -- a.k.a., decide on something that I really want for myself... I may not actually do it (since it seems to be imperative that I at least attempt to make everyone around me happy & a selfish goal isn't necessarily the best way to keep the waters ripple-less, but I'd like to at least KNOW my own mind)
Seems like a decent list, no? Well, it's a list, at least... albeit full of generic "goals" that anyone could write. Anyway, I'm curious how many of them you think I've accomplished. How well do you know me? Were you surprised by anything that's on my list? No worries if you are... I surprise myself sometimes. More on all that later.,,
Check out Lis' blog for more pics of ATL. One thing I can cross off the list... attend an NFL game. Oh wait, I'm pretty sure I had already done that with the UNC MTH. Oh well... both were fun.
Finally, one last happy birthday, Rufus! You always "cheer up my day", too. :)
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Like an Old Abandoned Ferris Wheel
The Kiwanis do one heck of a job throwing a party. Here in Statesboro, the Ogeechee Fair - the Kiwanis' main event of the year - was quite enjoyable last year. It's an ag fair, a celebration of harvest time, a beautiful demonstration of the best parts of Statesboro. I thoroughly enjoyed perusing the arts & crafts, viewing the crops (including COTTON... which I think is SOOOO beautiful, both in the fields where it is especially inspiring to me and in big stacks after it's been harvested... actually, I think cotton deserves its own blog post... but most of the crop has been harvested for this year, so unless I can find some still-beautiful and still-standing fields, I probably won't get to do that post anytime soon). Other things to enjoy at the Ogeechee Fair include: people-watching (oh, do they come out for the fair), pig races, deep-fried everything (I haven't had much experience with the N.C. State Fair, but evidently, they have the same deep-frying habits), and cotton candy (my ultimate FAVE!!! I swear, someone just has to bring me cotton candy & s/he is my bestie for life).
So, obviously, I care deeply for this annual tradition. And I'm incredibly bummed that I was away all last week. I MISSED the ENTIRE Ogeechee Fair. Didn't get to go one single time. And sadly, now it's all packed up & moved out of town. Why do fairs always leave? Why can't there be a year-round fair? We could all promise to go once a month. That wouldn't be that hard for us, would it? I mean, a month between visits to the fair... that seems about right. Let's do that.
So, obviously, I care deeply for this annual tradition. And I'm incredibly bummed that I was away all last week. I MISSED the ENTIRE Ogeechee Fair. Didn't get to go one single time. And sadly, now it's all packed up & moved out of town. Why do fairs always leave? Why can't there be a year-round fair? We could all promise to go once a month. That wouldn't be that hard for us, would it? I mean, a month between visits to the fair... that seems about right. Let's do that.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The Fly-Bys
Jon & I caught up on a little bit of Tivo earlier today. Well, I caught up on A LOT of Tivo today. I started at 5 (tried to be a good employee & work until then... yeah, right!) and watched 4 shows before Jon even got home. Then we watched some Studio 60 (best new show on TV!!) and got at least one Two and a Half Men checked off the list... great stuff.
We planted two trees yesterday. We hurried to get 'em done in anticipation of the rain that never came, but isn't that the way life always goes? The girl at Wise is going to help us design our backyard landscaping. I have to remember to take more pictures to show her. Yeah, right... with as many pictures as I've already taken, I'm sure I can find plenty to share with her that will give her a good feel for the house. Oh, but who wants to take the time to look through pictures. Oh yeah, that's right. Me. I love pictures. I wish they were all organized and easy to look back through, though. Soon enough, dear, soon enough.
According to Calista in the new series "Brothers & Sisters": The world is too fragile for people to be untrue. There's too much at stake, and life's too short for lies. Don't waste people's hearts... or their time. And (eventually) her "date" replied: We don't love the people we love because they're perfect. We love the people we love because they are. Even after they're gone. Poignant, don't you think?
Today/tonight, I believe you're getting the true randomness that is my mind. Sorry about that. I'm just attempting to reach up and grab a few of the thoughts as they fly by. But I'm tired, and the thoughts are too quick for me... they v-cut like Kona when she's running away from me in the yard. And sometimes they make me sad... or mad... or unhappy. And I don't like that. I want to be happy. I'm going to go finish watching this sad, somewhat unhappy, but very good show; and then decide whether to delete it or save it for a "re-read" later. Yeah, I wonder what I'll choose.
We planted two trees yesterday. We hurried to get 'em done in anticipation of the rain that never came, but isn't that the way life always goes? The girl at Wise is going to help us design our backyard landscaping. I have to remember to take more pictures to show her. Yeah, right... with as many pictures as I've already taken, I'm sure I can find plenty to share with her that will give her a good feel for the house. Oh, but who wants to take the time to look through pictures. Oh yeah, that's right. Me. I love pictures. I wish they were all organized and easy to look back through, though. Soon enough, dear, soon enough.
According to Calista in the new series "Brothers & Sisters": The world is too fragile for people to be untrue. There's too much at stake, and life's too short for lies. Don't waste people's hearts... or their time. And (eventually) her "date" replied: We don't love the people we love because they're perfect. We love the people we love because they are. Even after they're gone. Poignant, don't you think?
Today/tonight, I believe you're getting the true randomness that is my mind. Sorry about that. I'm just attempting to reach up and grab a few of the thoughts as they fly by. But I'm tired, and the thoughts are too quick for me... they v-cut like Kona when she's running away from me in the yard. And sometimes they make me sad... or mad... or unhappy. And I don't like that. I want to be happy. I'm going to go finish watching this sad, somewhat unhappy, but very good show; and then decide whether to delete it or save it for a "re-read" later. Yeah, I wonder what I'll choose.
Monday, October 16, 2006
As Z-Man Would Say... Oh My GOSH!
We had a very fun weekend in "the ATL" this week. Maybe I'll do it with words later; but for now, the pics will have to do. Wish I would've taken more... but these will have to do until Lis gets hers up too.
And a few miscellaneous notes...
I told my boss in our meeting last Friday that she is a little like me. I probably should've thought better about saying that. Not really something you want to tell your boss... that s/he's like you. I tried to backpedal out of it; but how do you rewind from that?! I stopped and said... well, I mean I'm like you; well, I mean you're like the CEO... and then proceeded to talk about a positive quality (being good at doing and taking on as much responsibility as possible) and how it can be massaged into a not-so-positive one (not including the rest of the team). Of course, that was thin ice as well. So, I just tried to get out of that conversation altogether and switch the conversation back to how much I suck. LOL
In discussing Kurt Warner tonight, the commentators were talking about how classy he is in helping to encourage Leinart. Jon & I were laughing about that... because WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO DO?! The first phrase that came to my mind (shifting focus here from the actual story to the words I came up with) were: "he could just bull up". CALLIE, why does that phrase remind me of you?! Ahh... that's funny right there. Bull up. Okay... I'm going to go chuckle a little while. Catch you on the flip side.
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And a few miscellaneous notes...
I told my boss in our meeting last Friday that she is a little like me. I probably should've thought better about saying that. Not really something you want to tell your boss... that s/he's like you. I tried to backpedal out of it; but how do you rewind from that?! I stopped and said... well, I mean I'm like you; well, I mean you're like the CEO... and then proceeded to talk about a positive quality (being good at doing and taking on as much responsibility as possible) and how it can be massaged into a not-so-positive one (not including the rest of the team). Of course, that was thin ice as well. So, I just tried to get out of that conversation altogether and switch the conversation back to how much I suck. LOL
In discussing Kurt Warner tonight, the commentators were talking about how classy he is in helping to encourage Leinart. Jon & I were laughing about that... because WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO DO?! The first phrase that came to my mind (shifting focus here from the actual story to the words I came up with) were: "he could just bull up". CALLIE, why does that phrase remind me of you?! Ahh... that's funny right there. Bull up. Okay... I'm going to go chuckle a little while. Catch you on the flip side.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
I'd Cross the Line
Finally, finally, finally... I have arrived back in Atlanta. After having finally outlasted Murphy, I have landed in a fairly comfy king-size bed just north of the airport at the not-too-scary Holiday Inn. Well, okay, maybe it's a little scary. Mom would be freaked out and probably not-too-happy to know I'm here. But I'm a big girl, not easily shaken, and probably a bit overconfident in my traveling alone-ness. I kinda have the "I'm a pro traveler" air about me. At least I feel that way. So, usually, no one bothers me. And here lately, my attitude has been meeting with ultra-niceness everywhere I turn!
On my last few flights, I've had plane neighbors who've been chatty as heck. Shoot... tonight, I have a crick in my neck from keeping my head turned to chat with my cutie-pie, 29-yr-old, pacemaker salesperson seat neighbor. He was in 6D, I was in 6C (separated by an aisle, so a little difficult to talk to the whole flight... but he was determined, so we made it work!). In fact, ironically, this is the 2nd medical supply salesperson plane neighbor I've struck up a friendship with in the last month. And the flight attendants, they've LOVED me lately. The woman tonight went out of her way to find a spot for my wheeled bag (the one that I almost always check plane-side... except for on the big boy planes... like the 737 we flew from Philly to ATL tonight). On my last trip last month, one of the flight attendants and I struck up a big long conversation about Grey's Anatomy. And my seat neighbor on that flight was chatty as well. Then, to prove that the gods (whichever kind you prefer) really are keeping me surrounded with nice people, I find a kindly gentleman sitting in his black Suburban outside a gas station that I pulled up to to buy toothpaste. (Yes, the damn security people took mine AGAIN this afternoon. I've gone from the 6oz size to the 4oz size (both of which were thrown away at the security checkpoint) to a 1.5oz size. Too bad I'm not taking another flight now... I've got a less-than-you're-stinking-regulation-3oz-size tube now, bitches!) Anyway, so I hop out of my car and go to the door of the station... which is locked. So, I turn around to get back in the car intending to find another OPEN station. This guy in the Suburban (which would generally be kinda scary: big dark car, dark parking lot, middle of an urban area, not sure the 'tude of the 'hood) calls out to me that the station is open but I've got to go to the window. Sure enough... the clerk is hanging out there on the phone... but this station doesn't allow customers into the store. You have to make all your purchases through the window. So, I ask for my toothpaste (travel size, thank you very much) and a Diet Coke, and give her my GAA plastic to cover the $4 bill. When I turn to leave, I decided to say thanks to the nice man in the Suburban and he wished me a happy evening. Too cute.
Anyway, these gods I speak of -- my favorite kind, actually -- also keep me in perfect songs for my moods... which is a major plus to keep you in pretty-high spirits. Tonight, they gave me this one (and others... even repeats to prove a point):
So anyway, sorry for those of you who've already heard about this (well, the one of you), but you're gonna have to read it again. Feel free to skip this paragraph. But I know you won't. I had a brief, but very good, meeting with Mary just before I high-tailed it out of SCE earlier today. Actually, I had to keep glancing at my watch as my departure time inched closer and closer and Mary kept talking and talking. I decided to chance it & let her go a bit longer than I intended to (and I made it in plenty of time, so even that worked out). I told Mary a couple of my frustrations (feeling unworthy, like I'm not making much of a contribution, etc.); and she assured me it was just my paranoia. She reminded me how she defended me to the CEO when he mentioned that my position didn't seem like one that could be work-from-home. She thinks I'm ultra-worthy (an all-star, I believe I said before). And she reminded me that the HR team (especially the other managers) are big fans. I believe her exact words were something like "If you left, the department would be forced into mass confusion and grind to a halt. Not that they're not capable of eventually learning, but no one other person can do all that you do." So, once again, my I'll-bend-over-backwards-to-do-whatever-you-want-me-to flexibility scores me points.
Well, my battery is dying... so, if you're looking for me, I'm at the Holiday Inn, sleeping in until the forced check-out time tomorrow. I was wondering what I could do, then, between the check-out time and when Jon gets here. But I know JUST the ticket... after I leave here, I'm heading straight to the outlet mall I passed on the way in on Monday!!! I'll be on the hunt for MY JEANS between about noon(ish) and three tomorrow. Oooh... and maybe I could even check out the Ikea while I'm over here! Now, there's a great idea.
Much luv from the only-semi-scary Holiday Inn. :)
On my last few flights, I've had plane neighbors who've been chatty as heck. Shoot... tonight, I have a crick in my neck from keeping my head turned to chat with my cutie-pie, 29-yr-old, pacemaker salesperson seat neighbor. He was in 6D, I was in 6C (separated by an aisle, so a little difficult to talk to the whole flight... but he was determined, so we made it work!). In fact, ironically, this is the 2nd medical supply salesperson plane neighbor I've struck up a friendship with in the last month. And the flight attendants, they've LOVED me lately. The woman tonight went out of her way to find a spot for my wheeled bag (the one that I almost always check plane-side... except for on the big boy planes... like the 737 we flew from Philly to ATL tonight). On my last trip last month, one of the flight attendants and I struck up a big long conversation about Grey's Anatomy. And my seat neighbor on that flight was chatty as well. Then, to prove that the gods (whichever kind you prefer) really are keeping me surrounded with nice people, I find a kindly gentleman sitting in his black Suburban outside a gas station that I pulled up to to buy toothpaste. (Yes, the damn security people took mine AGAIN this afternoon. I've gone from the 6oz size to the 4oz size (both of which were thrown away at the security checkpoint) to a 1.5oz size. Too bad I'm not taking another flight now... I've got a less-than-you're-stinking-regulation-3oz-size tube now, bitches!) Anyway, so I hop out of my car and go to the door of the station... which is locked. So, I turn around to get back in the car intending to find another OPEN station. This guy in the Suburban (which would generally be kinda scary: big dark car, dark parking lot, middle of an urban area, not sure the 'tude of the 'hood) calls out to me that the station is open but I've got to go to the window. Sure enough... the clerk is hanging out there on the phone... but this station doesn't allow customers into the store. You have to make all your purchases through the window. So, I ask for my toothpaste (travel size, thank you very much) and a Diet Coke, and give her my GAA plastic to cover the $4 bill. When I turn to leave, I decided to say thanks to the nice man in the Suburban and he wished me a happy evening. Too cute.
Anyway, these gods I speak of -- my favorite kind, actually -- also keep me in perfect songs for my moods... which is a major plus to keep you in pretty-high spirits. Tonight, they gave me this one (and others... even repeats to prove a point):
It's hard to trust a stranger, but you're a stranger to yourself so who's to blame
Drown away emotion as you numb yourself from any real pain
There's nothing more real and nothing's what it seems
We're always caught in between
There's nothing left to feel, but still you cannot leave
You don't know what you need.
So anyway, sorry for those of you who've already heard about this (well, the one of you), but you're gonna have to read it again. Feel free to skip this paragraph. But I know you won't. I had a brief, but very good, meeting with Mary just before I high-tailed it out of SCE earlier today. Actually, I had to keep glancing at my watch as my departure time inched closer and closer and Mary kept talking and talking. I decided to chance it & let her go a bit longer than I intended to (and I made it in plenty of time, so even that worked out). I told Mary a couple of my frustrations (feeling unworthy, like I'm not making much of a contribution, etc.); and she assured me it was just my paranoia. She reminded me how she defended me to the CEO when he mentioned that my position didn't seem like one that could be work-from-home. She thinks I'm ultra-worthy (an all-star, I believe I said before). And she reminded me that the HR team (especially the other managers) are big fans. I believe her exact words were something like "If you left, the department would be forced into mass confusion and grind to a halt. Not that they're not capable of eventually learning, but no one other person can do all that you do." So, once again, my I'll-bend-over-backwards-to-do-whatever-you-want-me-to flexibility scores me points.
Well, my battery is dying... so, if you're looking for me, I'm at the Holiday Inn, sleeping in until the forced check-out time tomorrow. I was wondering what I could do, then, between the check-out time and when Jon gets here. But I know JUST the ticket... after I leave here, I'm heading straight to the outlet mall I passed on the way in on Monday!!! I'll be on the hunt for MY JEANS between about noon(ish) and three tomorrow. Oooh... and maybe I could even check out the Ikea while I'm over here! Now, there's a great idea.
Much luv from the only-semi-scary Holiday Inn. :)
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