Hello, my name is Lindy and I am 32 and a Harry Potter addict...deal with it!
Let me fill you in on an interesting set of developments on the local Atlanta radio scene this past weekend. I listen to the morning show on 99X - I enjoy the show quite a bit - most days - but I mostly listen because a friend of mine is on it (Leslie has been previously praised on this blog quite a bit). Anyway, I listen to the show starting at 5:30 each morning until I get into work around 7:00 - sometimes 7:30, sometimes 8:00. Some days when Leslie isn't on, I will tune to NPR instead, depending on how entertaining the show may be.
So Friday, I'm driving into work and listening to the show. Leslie does her news brief and mentions some girl from Kansas or something who was disappointed in the ending of Harry Potter Book 6. 'Nuff said...move on. Not for Freddy Toucher - oh no! He has to start making fun of Harry Potter and this 13-year-old girl from middle-America. Anyway, some jackass caller says he read the book and threw it down at the end he was so upset with the ending. Leslie jumps in and says, don't ruin it! But no, not enough for Fred - before I realize it, he asks "What happens?". I hear 2 words. I can't turn off the radio fast enough - I even swerved the car. I decide to just switch the station, but I can't with the power off.
I turn the radio on soon enough to hear the cast talking about how the adults that read these books are parents of kids, but truly guys, many adults without kids read these because they are so entertaining! So I switch to NPR and let that be that.
I get home and get my mail and there is my Entertainment Weekly with Daniel Radcliffe on the cover. I start flipping through and find disclaimers warning of book spoilers, so I put the magazine under something heavy and move on. I spend all weekend avoiding any media so the ending cannot be ruined. All I know is someone dies, which the author had released a couple of months back. Crisis averted!
Day 4 of Pottergate and I am stupid enough to listen to 99X again this morning. They decide they are going to replay what happened on Friday so Harry Potter fans beware...then he says it...3 little words (and actually, Jimmy may have done that, but I cannot be sure). Before I could switch the channel, they blurt out (clearly on purpose) the 3 words that spoil the ending for me. I yelped as I could not get to the other room to turn off the radio fast enough...assholes!
So since it is ruined (I'm only 1/3 of the way through the book), I continue to listen. 2 blocks from work, Toucher is reading one of the 200+ nastygrams he got over this fiasco and reads "if you want to really piss off listeners, the culprit is..." So NPR it was, and will be until I complete the book.
Look, I do my best to support the station since they do keep me well supplied with movie passes and I only end up paying for half of my yearly flicks, but this time he went too far!
So Fred - let me just throw out a few for you:
The Crying Game - She's a MAN!
The Sixth Sense - Bruce Willis is really dead!
The Usual Suspects - Kevin Spacey is Keyser Soze
Fight Club - Ed Norton is really Tyler Durden!
Psycho - His mother is dead!
Vertigo - She was already dead and was being impersonated by a twin!
Gosford Park - The maid did it!
Presumed Innocent - The wife did it!
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back - Darth Vader is Luke's father!
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - Luke and Leia are siblings (ewww....they kissed)
Planet of the Apes - It's Earth!
Identity - All the people are in John Cusack's head - he's crazy!
Vanilla Sky - It's a dream!
Monday, July 25, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Divorced White Female Seeks a Box Office Success
Movie Review: Must Love Dogs
I have to say that romantic comedies still get me to the theatre, despite past flops that had me considering otherwise. This movie made me glad that I keep trying, even if my expectations are considerably low.
Let me start by saying that John Cusack still does a great job playing the romantic lead, even if that lead is as oddball as his Jake is. Diane Lane is equally enthralling as someone so vulnerable that she will even throw her rulebook out the window (even I have been there!)
So just a quickie review here - preschool teacher recently divorced is wallowing in self-pity has a family who meddles and a love life that is non-existent. Meanwhile across town, recently divorced boat craftsman seeks Doctor Zhivago loving female who is neurotic and off the wall just like him. Oh yeah - they both Must Log Dogs. Now, ladies and gentlemen, let the fun ensue!
This is a decent date movie with a few laughs and an almost too honest look at what the dating world is like out there, single or divorced. I was sufficiently entertained for close to 2 hours and it didn't feel like close to 2 hours. I wasn't sorry to spend the $7 and see this before most of the world - one less thing to get seen!
I have to say that romantic comedies still get me to the theatre, despite past flops that had me considering otherwise. This movie made me glad that I keep trying, even if my expectations are considerably low.
Let me start by saying that John Cusack still does a great job playing the romantic lead, even if that lead is as oddball as his Jake is. Diane Lane is equally enthralling as someone so vulnerable that she will even throw her rulebook out the window (even I have been there!)
So just a quickie review here - preschool teacher recently divorced is wallowing in self-pity has a family who meddles and a love life that is non-existent. Meanwhile across town, recently divorced boat craftsman seeks Doctor Zhivago loving female who is neurotic and off the wall just like him. Oh yeah - they both Must Log Dogs. Now, ladies and gentlemen, let the fun ensue!
This is a decent date movie with a few laughs and an almost too honest look at what the dating world is like out there, single or divorced. I was sufficiently entertained for close to 2 hours and it didn't feel like close to 2 hours. I wasn't sorry to spend the $7 and see this before most of the world - one less thing to get seen!
Friday, July 22, 2005
Surf's Up!
Yesterday was a full-day meeting on this major project I mentioned earlier in the week. Not that I mind an entire day away from my email, but now I am just 1 day behind in everything else.
I ended up having to give a presentation on all our tools and systems with no notice...the only positive was that cute boys were trapped in the room with me all day...I enjoy suffering when I am not alone and have something to look at! These meetings seemed productive, only time will tell.
Unfortunately, this meeting identified me as needing to be in today's all day meeting and a half day meeting on Monday (sigh).
Something I didn't mention as part of my movie-going experience on Wednesday was that I finally met some of the crazy people. By that I mean the group of Usual Suspects (US) Angie and I always saw at all the screenings - this is what happens when you don't take a partner in crime with you. So, it's all Angie's fault.
So I get there really early - I had no idea how the crowd and/or traffic would be, so I got there 2 hours before it was going to start - this is not unusual. Anyway, the only other person in line was this guy, Jeff, one of the US's. Since it is just 2 of us in line, the small talk began and it was all downhill from there. Don't get me wrong, Jeff is a nice guy, but it's all just weird. And here I was complaining about taking Ryan with me...again, I blame Angie...and she knows it.
As time dragged on, Jeff introduced me to a few other US's and they were nice enough - I think they thought of me the same Angie and I thought of them. The biggest difference here is they like to sit on the front row of the Stadium section, and I prefer a few rows back (whew).
I really need to find a permanent movie-buddy... one that isn't shopping screenplays in Hollywood. Yeah, yeah...poor pitiful me :)
I ended up having to give a presentation on all our tools and systems with no notice...the only positive was that cute boys were trapped in the room with me all day...I enjoy suffering when I am not alone and have something to look at! These meetings seemed productive, only time will tell.
Unfortunately, this meeting identified me as needing to be in today's all day meeting and a half day meeting on Monday (sigh).
Something I didn't mention as part of my movie-going experience on Wednesday was that I finally met some of the crazy people. By that I mean the group of Usual Suspects (US) Angie and I always saw at all the screenings - this is what happens when you don't take a partner in crime with you. So, it's all Angie's fault.
So I get there really early - I had no idea how the crowd and/or traffic would be, so I got there 2 hours before it was going to start - this is not unusual. Anyway, the only other person in line was this guy, Jeff, one of the US's. Since it is just 2 of us in line, the small talk began and it was all downhill from there. Don't get me wrong, Jeff is a nice guy, but it's all just weird. And here I was complaining about taking Ryan with me...again, I blame Angie...and she knows it.
As time dragged on, Jeff introduced me to a few other US's and they were nice enough - I think they thought of me the same Angie and I thought of them. The biggest difference here is they like to sit on the front row of the Stadium section, and I prefer a few rows back (whew).
I really need to find a permanent movie-buddy... one that isn't shopping screenplays in Hollywood. Yeah, yeah...poor pitiful me :)
Thursday, July 21, 2005
The Attire of the Clones
Movie Review: The Island
This movie must take place in a perpetual state of "before Labor Day." Apparently, our future is full of clones wearing fancy white jumpsuits with Nike shoes - but if they look like Ewan McGregor.
Where to begin...the premise of this movie is that in 14 years, the rich and elite of the future can purchase a clone of themselves to be created in case they need organ transplants as an insurance policy...ewww creepy. The trick is, the clones have to idea what their purpose is. They live in this highly controlled world, or should I say bunker, being told they are the only survivors of a fatally contaminated Earth, where they have an ultimate goal of getting to The Island where they can live free, in the only remaining pathogen-free environment.
The action in this movie was somewhat enjoyable, but the sci-fi side was a little much. This movie boiled down to a few great moments surrounded by filler materials including some of the most insulting product placement I have ever seen...Scarlet Johansson plays a clone of her Calvin Klein persona??? C'mon Hollywood, couldn't you have shot some of your own material instead of making us look at the already overused print and TV ads for Eternity? I guess this way Calvin Klein PAID you and therefore it cost you nothing to include it, eh? There were some other obvious placements, but they weren't nearly as annoying.
Ewan did shine for one part of the movie when he got to play against...wait for it...HIMSELF! But overall, I think this movie played the role of "if we aren't careful, this could be come a reality." Basically, this is not that much of a stretch of raising our clones to standby for a liver or kidney should we want to live forever, but personally I would rather we spent money on finding cures instead of ways to cheat death with no regard for the moral consequences.
What humors me most about this entire experience is that the least used actor in this movie, Michael Clarke Duncan (who admits he worked only 2 days and is on screen for maybe 7 minutes total), is doing the press tour of talk shows and I have yet to see the stars scheduled for anything.
Save your $8 to $10 and pop this one in your Netflix queue today so you don't forget about it as soon as it leaves the theatres for oblivion. However, if you just want a couple of hours of mindless entertainment, or to get out of the rain and you have seen everything else, feel free to waste the time.
This movie must take place in a perpetual state of "before Labor Day." Apparently, our future is full of clones wearing fancy white jumpsuits with Nike shoes - but if they look like Ewan McGregor.
Where to begin...the premise of this movie is that in 14 years, the rich and elite of the future can purchase a clone of themselves to be created in case they need organ transplants as an insurance policy...ewww creepy. The trick is, the clones have to idea what their purpose is. They live in this highly controlled world, or should I say bunker, being told they are the only survivors of a fatally contaminated Earth, where they have an ultimate goal of getting to The Island where they can live free, in the only remaining pathogen-free environment.
The action in this movie was somewhat enjoyable, but the sci-fi side was a little much. This movie boiled down to a few great moments surrounded by filler materials including some of the most insulting product placement I have ever seen...Scarlet Johansson plays a clone of her Calvin Klein persona??? C'mon Hollywood, couldn't you have shot some of your own material instead of making us look at the already overused print and TV ads for Eternity? I guess this way Calvin Klein PAID you and therefore it cost you nothing to include it, eh? There were some other obvious placements, but they weren't nearly as annoying.
Ewan did shine for one part of the movie when he got to play against...wait for it...HIMSELF! But overall, I think this movie played the role of "if we aren't careful, this could be come a reality." Basically, this is not that much of a stretch of raising our clones to standby for a liver or kidney should we want to live forever, but personally I would rather we spent money on finding cures instead of ways to cheat death with no regard for the moral consequences.
What humors me most about this entire experience is that the least used actor in this movie, Michael Clarke Duncan (who admits he worked only 2 days and is on screen for maybe 7 minutes total), is doing the press tour of talk shows and I have yet to see the stars scheduled for anything.
Save your $8 to $10 and pop this one in your Netflix queue today so you don't forget about it as soon as it leaves the theatres for oblivion. However, if you just want a couple of hours of mindless entertainment, or to get out of the rain and you have seen everything else, feel free to waste the time.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
The View From the Back
This post will be short and sweet since my day today is completely booked...I have one open 30 minute slot, but knowing my luck, it we be filled before lunchtime.
Yesterday was world's biggest and most useless kick-off meeting of a project ever. We did get a free lunch and I did get to leave the building for a few hours (never a bad thing). However, the rest of the meeting was just a rehash of previous meetings and a complete snooze-fest.
The only redeeming quality this meeting had, was the view. We were at a local hotel in one of their ballroom/conference rooms and it was set up with like 12 tables. My team and I (being such good strategists) picked one on the far side of the room and in the middle (so we weren't avoiding the front, but not being nerds by being in the front).
Did I mention there are some very yummy men on this project - some of them work for us, and some work as consultants, but there seemed to be a memo that the cute ones should sit in the table smack-dab in the middle of the room. This accomplished two things - 1 - I could zone out looking at this table, yet it looked like I was consentrating hard on the meeting and 2 - I could just stare and be stealthy about it. Some days, my job doesn't suck :)
Anyway, I think we all agreed that this meeting was not what we were expecting at all and we now have like 10 more of these through the next week and a half...can I go on vacation, please??? Otherwise, assign me to "surfer-boy" and he can keep me interested in this project :D
Yesterday was world's biggest and most useless kick-off meeting of a project ever. We did get a free lunch and I did get to leave the building for a few hours (never a bad thing). However, the rest of the meeting was just a rehash of previous meetings and a complete snooze-fest.
The only redeeming quality this meeting had, was the view. We were at a local hotel in one of their ballroom/conference rooms and it was set up with like 12 tables. My team and I (being such good strategists) picked one on the far side of the room and in the middle (so we weren't avoiding the front, but not being nerds by being in the front).
Did I mention there are some very yummy men on this project - some of them work for us, and some work as consultants, but there seemed to be a memo that the cute ones should sit in the table smack-dab in the middle of the room. This accomplished two things - 1 - I could zone out looking at this table, yet it looked like I was consentrating hard on the meeting and 2 - I could just stare and be stealthy about it. Some days, my job doesn't suck :)
Anyway, I think we all agreed that this meeting was not what we were expecting at all and we now have like 10 more of these through the next week and a half...can I go on vacation, please??? Otherwise, assign me to "surfer-boy" and he can keep me interested in this project :D
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Rule #7: Rated-R Makes for a Better Movie
Movie Review: Wedding Crashers
What can I say except that combine Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson with an R-Rating and some good, old fashioned nudity and raunchy jokes and you have yourself a hit!
Not since the original American Pie has there been such a flick that marries humor and a little bit of a love story to make something so funny and entertaining as Crashers.
The premise of this flick is that two best friends, Jeremy (Vaughn) and John (Wilson) spend their evenings and weekends crashing strangers' weddings in order to pick up (and bed) hot, single, vulnerable chicks - c'mon ladies, you know we all get stirred up at weddings and keep our eyes out for eligible men!). The go to every kind of wedding and follow some simple rules (I lost count, but it sounds like there are over 100 of them).
Basically, if you act like a wallflower you are more likely going to look out of place than if you make an ass out of yourself and be a spectacle. Well, they certainly succeed - all the way to Treasury Secretary Cleary's (adeptly played by Christopher Walken) summer home for the weekend.
The quite Kennedy-esque family has a couple of single daughters ripe for the picking. One is a crazy and obsessed girl who has latched onto Jeremy much to his dismay and the other has her head on straight but is marrying the wrong guy. Of course, John is ready for the challenge, but this time, he has really fallen in love with the prey.
The daughters, played by Isla Fisher and Rachel McAdams, keep up with the true match-made-in-heaven couple Vaughn and Wilson. Fisher plays crazy well, and she and Vaughn created some of the funniest moments in the film (handjobs at the dinner table and slapping him one minute and then straddling him the next). McAdams and Wilson have a great chemistry as well, but it isn't hard to root for Wilson to win the girl when they make her fiancé world's biggest, sleaziest, maniacal ass (well overplayed by hunky Bradley Cooper from "Alias" fame.
Take the time, go to the theatre and see this movie if you are looking for some laughs - even the 70+ old guy sitting next to me was laughing throughout the film. This movie makes me want to take Owen Wilson home with me once again.
Someone quick, sign these two up for another movie...while the iron is HOT!
What can I say except that combine Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson with an R-Rating and some good, old fashioned nudity and raunchy jokes and you have yourself a hit!
Not since the original American Pie has there been such a flick that marries humor and a little bit of a love story to make something so funny and entertaining as Crashers.
The premise of this flick is that two best friends, Jeremy (Vaughn) and John (Wilson) spend their evenings and weekends crashing strangers' weddings in order to pick up (and bed) hot, single, vulnerable chicks - c'mon ladies, you know we all get stirred up at weddings and keep our eyes out for eligible men!). The go to every kind of wedding and follow some simple rules (I lost count, but it sounds like there are over 100 of them).
Basically, if you act like a wallflower you are more likely going to look out of place than if you make an ass out of yourself and be a spectacle. Well, they certainly succeed - all the way to Treasury Secretary Cleary's (adeptly played by Christopher Walken) summer home for the weekend.
The quite Kennedy-esque family has a couple of single daughters ripe for the picking. One is a crazy and obsessed girl who has latched onto Jeremy much to his dismay and the other has her head on straight but is marrying the wrong guy. Of course, John is ready for the challenge, but this time, he has really fallen in love with the prey.
The daughters, played by Isla Fisher and Rachel McAdams, keep up with the true match-made-in-heaven couple Vaughn and Wilson. Fisher plays crazy well, and she and Vaughn created some of the funniest moments in the film (handjobs at the dinner table and slapping him one minute and then straddling him the next). McAdams and Wilson have a great chemistry as well, but it isn't hard to root for Wilson to win the girl when they make her fiancé world's biggest, sleaziest, maniacal ass (well overplayed by hunky Bradley Cooper from "Alias" fame.
Take the time, go to the theatre and see this movie if you are looking for some laughs - even the 70+ old guy sitting next to me was laughing throughout the film. This movie makes me want to take Owen Wilson home with me once again.
Someone quick, sign these two up for another movie...while the iron is HOT!
Friday, July 15, 2005
Sweets for the Maladjusted?
Movie Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
This is one of those movies I have been waiting for, for quite a long time now. It's safe to say that my hopes were up and I had a very good chance of being let down. Well, I'm happy to say that I left the theatre quite content.
First, I loved the book by Roald Dahl, and I really enjoyed the original movie version, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, however, Johnny Depp really gave life to Willy Wonka in all his creepiness and this movie gave us insight as to why he is the way he is.
I was expecting this movie to be more different from the original movie, but in truth, while the story was very similar, this movie did a much better job bringing out the feelings in me that the book did. Bravo Tim Burton. I will say that the "demise" of the 4 rotten kids - Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Mike Teavee, and Violet Beauregarde - played out much more creatively on screen this go-round. However, a lot of that can be attributed to today's technology. Violet's transformation into a giant blueberry was one of the movie's best moments!
The sets were amazing and were not green-screened. I felt like I was there, in the midst of this incredible wonderland of a chocolate factory. Burton paints an extraordinary picture that cannot be outdone once again!
I will say that this movie was a bit saccharine, but so was the original...the rotten kids get their due and Charlie, the boy who cares more about his family than himself, receives the greatest gift of all. Okay, beat me over the head with a shovel - but I didn't mind as much as I usually do.
I do have to give props to Deep Roy. Most of you are thinking...who? But he has done everything from dressing up as a Jawa to being a circus performer in Burton's Big Fish. Most of you will probably recognize him when you see him, but half of his credits are as a stuntman, not an actor.
Mr. Roy plays the Oompa Loompas - not just one, and not one who is then replicated by the magic of the movies, but over 165 Oompa Loompas shot separately. It sounds like he worked harder on this movie than anyone. He was magnificent and personally, I feel he should get a nomination (but I know that won't happen). He is well worth the $8 ticket.
If you loved the book and enjoyed the first movie – this is a must-see flick. If you have never read the book, this is the perfect time to sit down (after you finish Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and read a children’s book.
This is one of those movies I have been waiting for, for quite a long time now. It's safe to say that my hopes were up and I had a very good chance of being let down. Well, I'm happy to say that I left the theatre quite content.
First, I loved the book by Roald Dahl, and I really enjoyed the original movie version, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, however, Johnny Depp really gave life to Willy Wonka in all his creepiness and this movie gave us insight as to why he is the way he is.
I was expecting this movie to be more different from the original movie, but in truth, while the story was very similar, this movie did a much better job bringing out the feelings in me that the book did. Bravo Tim Burton. I will say that the "demise" of the 4 rotten kids - Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Mike Teavee, and Violet Beauregarde - played out much more creatively on screen this go-round. However, a lot of that can be attributed to today's technology. Violet's transformation into a giant blueberry was one of the movie's best moments!
The sets were amazing and were not green-screened. I felt like I was there, in the midst of this incredible wonderland of a chocolate factory. Burton paints an extraordinary picture that cannot be outdone once again!
I will say that this movie was a bit saccharine, but so was the original...the rotten kids get their due and Charlie, the boy who cares more about his family than himself, receives the greatest gift of all. Okay, beat me over the head with a shovel - but I didn't mind as much as I usually do.
I do have to give props to Deep Roy. Most of you are thinking...who? But he has done everything from dressing up as a Jawa to being a circus performer in Burton's Big Fish. Most of you will probably recognize him when you see him, but half of his credits are as a stuntman, not an actor.
Mr. Roy plays the Oompa Loompas - not just one, and not one who is then replicated by the magic of the movies, but over 165 Oompa Loompas shot separately. It sounds like he worked harder on this movie than anyone. He was magnificent and personally, I feel he should get a nomination (but I know that won't happen). He is well worth the $8 ticket.
If you loved the book and enjoyed the first movie – this is a must-see flick. If you have never read the book, this is the perfect time to sit down (after you finish Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and read a children’s book.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Makin' Turtle Tracks
I'm an odd duck normally. You never know what I will enjoy from one day to the next. I'm pretty opened minded and enjoy most things, but certain items (like art), I just have to be in the mood to go see. I love art - don't get me wrong - but I don't have a lot of down time, so usually I don't spend it in museums. Now, when the art comes to me, it is a lot easier. And who knew that such art would be in the form of 5-foot-tall fiberglass turtles??? Let me explain...
Atlanta is a big city, but more so, we have lots of outlying suburbs considered to be part of Atlanta (most of these are OTP - outside the perimeter). Sandy Springs is one of these suburbs...soon to be its own city!
I basically grew up in Sandy Springs from the time I was 8 until I was 20-something and my parents continue to live there. SS has been trying for many years to be made into its own city, and they finally won this battle this past June.
In April, a new exhibit was revealed called The Town Turtles of Sandy Springs. Basically, this is our answer to The Trail of Painted Ponies and The Cow Parade. Why the turtle? Well, my brother and I would love to think that this is because Sandy Springs was the home to the greatest music store of all time - Turtle's - but alas, the turtle is the town mascot since apparently the turtle is indigenous to Sandy Springs.
So 75 artists got together to design and paint turtles and businesses got to buy them to display them for 6 months at the low, low price of $5000. The turtles are scattered all over Sandy Springs.
It was really fun in the beginning, finding them in random places and pointing them out, but now it has become a mission for me...and I am up to 58 spotted.
This is how lame I am - I am driving around with a map and list of turtles in my car and checking them off as I find them. I am also driving home convoluted ways to see if I can get 2 or 3 checked off. My next mission, is to drive around and get pictures of them...yes, I am a big NERD! There is a little girl, she is 4 or 5, I think, who just got her picture taken with the 75th turtle - and this made the Sandy Springs newspaper...okay, maybe I'm not a nerd, maybe I'm just a kid at heart!
Here is the sad part - kids are destroying the art. Turtles have been kidnapped and thrown in the lake, set on fire, painted on, and damaged by pranksters who will someday end up in prison or on the streets - people suck! They have had to put together a Turtle Hospital to cart the turtles off to for restoration and repair...what is this world coming to?
This instills a sense of community and it's just plain fun...what is wrong with that, I ask you?
Anyway, if you get the chance, and are in Georgia, drive around Sandy Springs and see the turtles on display - they are fun for the whole family!
Atlanta is a big city, but more so, we have lots of outlying suburbs considered to be part of Atlanta (most of these are OTP - outside the perimeter). Sandy Springs is one of these suburbs...soon to be its own city!
I basically grew up in Sandy Springs from the time I was 8 until I was 20-something and my parents continue to live there. SS has been trying for many years to be made into its own city, and they finally won this battle this past June.
In April, a new exhibit was revealed called The Town Turtles of Sandy Springs. Basically, this is our answer to The Trail of Painted Ponies and The Cow Parade. Why the turtle? Well, my brother and I would love to think that this is because Sandy Springs was the home to the greatest music store of all time - Turtle's - but alas, the turtle is the town mascot since apparently the turtle is indigenous to Sandy Springs.
So 75 artists got together to design and paint turtles and businesses got to buy them to display them for 6 months at the low, low price of $5000. The turtles are scattered all over Sandy Springs.
It was really fun in the beginning, finding them in random places and pointing them out, but now it has become a mission for me...and I am up to 58 spotted.
This is how lame I am - I am driving around with a map and list of turtles in my car and checking them off as I find them. I am also driving home convoluted ways to see if I can get 2 or 3 checked off. My next mission, is to drive around and get pictures of them...yes, I am a big NERD! There is a little girl, she is 4 or 5, I think, who just got her picture taken with the 75th turtle - and this made the Sandy Springs newspaper...okay, maybe I'm not a nerd, maybe I'm just a kid at heart!
Here is the sad part - kids are destroying the art. Turtles have been kidnapped and thrown in the lake, set on fire, painted on, and damaged by pranksters who will someday end up in prison or on the streets - people suck! They have had to put together a Turtle Hospital to cart the turtles off to for restoration and repair...what is this world coming to?
This instills a sense of community and it's just plain fun...what is wrong with that, I ask you?
Anyway, if you get the chance, and are in Georgia, drive around Sandy Springs and see the turtles on display - they are fun for the whole family!
Monday, July 11, 2005
Behold the Wrath of Dennis
Not many people named Dennis in the world tend to leave such a path of destruction. It was one thing to name a storm Cindy (and then she totally wipes out Atlanta Motor Speedway - she must have lost many relationships to NASCAR and/or Indy racing)., but Dennis - that really instills no fear.
Well - times, they are a-changin.
The weather has arrived, and while many are evacuating homes and sitting out the storms, according to our CEO, another system is gaining speed ready to hit our coastline once again...and not only that, but Dennis - who is causing the current damage - isn't even a storm anymore...he is a Tropical Depression...go figure.
So here we are - middle of July, and its wet and stormy and has only just begun. So, I did a little digging to find out what other silly names we have coming for the rest of the storms this year (each year, the World Meteorological Organization picks 21 names for the year (names are used on a six-year rotation) - every so often a year is bad enough that they have to start over at A). I'm sure you are wondering why such cool letters as Q and X are skipped...well, duh!? How many different names can you come up with that start with Q and X?
For 2005 (drum roll please), here are the Atlantic Tropical Storm names...
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Dennis
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katrina
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rita
Stan
Tammy
Vince
Wilma
Wow - I'm shaking in my boots. I enjoy the rain, but I hate the destruction. People rained out of house and home. Devastation of entire cities - who is gonna create the device that sends hurricanes back out to sea, or at least that shielding device that does not allow them to touch down on shore? Where are all the geniuses when you need them?
Maybe someone needs to make a movie about such a device before anyone gets the idea to build one...
On a personal note - tonight is supposed to be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, I am so ill, I cannot stop hurling and I have a killer migraine to go alone with it. Currently, I am biding my time until Mike gets into work so I don't feel so guilty about going home and getting into bed...even the big boss, who got on the elevator with me this morning, looked at me like I was dying...I tried smiling through the pain, but he saw right through me. Of course my boss is on vacation, which adds another layer of guilt (and oh, did I mention that Vanessa is sick and not here either?).
So odds are, my passes will go to waste and I will go home and pass out for 18 hours...at least 2 of the 4 will be used with no problem.
Well - times, they are a-changin.
The weather has arrived, and while many are evacuating homes and sitting out the storms, according to our CEO, another system is gaining speed ready to hit our coastline once again...and not only that, but Dennis - who is causing the current damage - isn't even a storm anymore...he is a Tropical Depression...go figure.
So here we are - middle of July, and its wet and stormy and has only just begun. So, I did a little digging to find out what other silly names we have coming for the rest of the storms this year (each year, the World Meteorological Organization picks 21 names for the year (names are used on a six-year rotation) - every so often a year is bad enough that they have to start over at A). I'm sure you are wondering why such cool letters as Q and X are skipped...well, duh!? How many different names can you come up with that start with Q and X?
For 2005 (drum roll please), here are the Atlantic Tropical Storm names...
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Dennis
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katrina
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rita
Stan
Tammy
Vince
Wilma
Wow - I'm shaking in my boots. I enjoy the rain, but I hate the destruction. People rained out of house and home. Devastation of entire cities - who is gonna create the device that sends hurricanes back out to sea, or at least that shielding device that does not allow them to touch down on shore? Where are all the geniuses when you need them?
Maybe someone needs to make a movie about such a device before anyone gets the idea to build one...
On a personal note - tonight is supposed to be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, I am so ill, I cannot stop hurling and I have a killer migraine to go alone with it. Currently, I am biding my time until Mike gets into work so I don't feel so guilty about going home and getting into bed...even the big boss, who got on the elevator with me this morning, looked at me like I was dying...I tried smiling through the pain, but he saw right through me. Of course my boss is on vacation, which adds another layer of guilt (and oh, did I mention that Vanessa is sick and not here either?).
So odds are, my passes will go to waste and I will go home and pass out for 18 hours...at least 2 of the 4 will be used with no problem.
Friday, July 08, 2005
The End of an Era...The Beginning of a Pain in my Arse
Yesterday was a blow to the heart strings...but somehow, I guess I should have expected it.
Lay offs - the worst part of any job, I think. At least this time, I'm not the Manager of 60-some-odd of these folks having to motivate until the end of the job. Personally, a nice severance package should be enough for some people, but I know how hard it can be to muster the effort when you know the company is letting you go.
Last time this happened, I was one of the ones being let go, but I was lucky enough to find a new job - and some of these folks will be that lucky too. We have a lot of great resources who just got burnt-out where they are now. (There are the ones who haven't cared about anything more than a paycheck for some time now and are probably thrilled to get a package like this).
Things like this are inevitable in this day and age and unfortunately, its the cost of doing business in 2005. So why am I complaining?
Well, my job keeps expanding...and expanding. Yet, it is just me handling all of CS and yet there are seven people handling TS. Look, we are laying off some good people - let me hire a couple of them (3 would be fabulous, but I can live with 2). But no - just one - and even then, they won't report to me, so CS still won't be their main focus....HELP ME!
I feel sorry for my friends losing their jobs yet here I am, still employed, and bitching about my job. But truly - I have no time in my day each day. I haven't eaten lunch this week because I have no time. Things just keep piling up and I am working 10 hours a day just trying to tread water. Oh yeah, did I mention I am now traveling to the Philippines again because of this? Big shocker! Okay Lindy, just drop everything that was deathly important last week and now spend every waking hour preparing for 10 new challenges...thanks.
While I appreciate the confidence, I need help. And not only help, but more time (and preferably an office so I can actually get work done. At the very least I need Violet's "purple bubble" (as Maggie calls it) force-field to keep the little stuff off my desk and give me 8 hours of isolation and complete quiet so I can concentrate and get some things accomplished. ARGH.
At least now, it is Friday. Two days off that I truly need to survive my current state - and I don't have anyone to truly vent to anymore. Somehow this job got a lot harder in the last 3 or 4 months - who knew that losing a best friend would impact every aspect of my life...certainly not me.
Out of respect, I won't be posting my days remaining to sabbatical until after September, but it cannot come fast enough! Did I mention that not only is one of my co-workers going on Maternity Leave, but the other one is leaving to go to another job...I'm the only Senior Manager left to handle 3 lines of business - oh goody! Someone get me a Valium....quick!
Lay offs - the worst part of any job, I think. At least this time, I'm not the Manager of 60-some-odd of these folks having to motivate until the end of the job. Personally, a nice severance package should be enough for some people, but I know how hard it can be to muster the effort when you know the company is letting you go.
Last time this happened, I was one of the ones being let go, but I was lucky enough to find a new job - and some of these folks will be that lucky too. We have a lot of great resources who just got burnt-out where they are now. (There are the ones who haven't cared about anything more than a paycheck for some time now and are probably thrilled to get a package like this).
Things like this are inevitable in this day and age and unfortunately, its the cost of doing business in 2005. So why am I complaining?
Well, my job keeps expanding...and expanding. Yet, it is just me handling all of CS and yet there are seven people handling TS. Look, we are laying off some good people - let me hire a couple of them (3 would be fabulous, but I can live with 2). But no - just one - and even then, they won't report to me, so CS still won't be their main focus....HELP ME!
I feel sorry for my friends losing their jobs yet here I am, still employed, and bitching about my job. But truly - I have no time in my day each day. I haven't eaten lunch this week because I have no time. Things just keep piling up and I am working 10 hours a day just trying to tread water. Oh yeah, did I mention I am now traveling to the Philippines again because of this? Big shocker! Okay Lindy, just drop everything that was deathly important last week and now spend every waking hour preparing for 10 new challenges...thanks.
While I appreciate the confidence, I need help. And not only help, but more time (and preferably an office so I can actually get work done. At the very least I need Violet's "purple bubble" (as Maggie calls it) force-field to keep the little stuff off my desk and give me 8 hours of isolation and complete quiet so I can concentrate and get some things accomplished. ARGH.
At least now, it is Friday. Two days off that I truly need to survive my current state - and I don't have anyone to truly vent to anymore. Somehow this job got a lot harder in the last 3 or 4 months - who knew that losing a best friend would impact every aspect of my life...certainly not me.
Out of respect, I won't be posting my days remaining to sabbatical until after September, but it cannot come fast enough! Did I mention that not only is one of my co-workers going on Maternity Leave, but the other one is leaving to go to another job...I'm the only Senior Manager left to handle 3 lines of business - oh goody! Someone get me a Valium....quick!
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Light My Fire?
Movie Review: Fantastic Four
Well, Leslie strikes again. I'm not sure what I would do without her feeding my habit (while saving my bank account) and I hope I never have to find out. She is one of the coolest people I know and I consider her a dear friend...but one of these days I have to figure out how to repay her (or do something really nice that doesn't pale in comparison).
So tonight was another Marvel movie - and this was one that I grew up with...but let me tell you, the Human Torch wasn't exactly this hunky in the comic books. He can light my fire anytime, and I don't even know his name!
I have to admit, I went into this movie with really low expectations. I mean, I heard not-so-great things about it, and c'mon, the Marvel flicks are hit or miss most of the time (Spidey 1 and 2 - hits...Hulk - big miss). But look - it was free!
Now, I will admit that this movie makes fun of itself...a lot! There is some sappy love story elements and soap-like qualities to all the characters and overall, not as big a disappointment as I expected...that said - save your bucks and watch it on HBO or pop it in your Netflix queue.
The backstory was fabrication - these guys were not radiated by a space cloud to get their powers based on the emotions they were feeling at the time (I'm sorry, what emotion makes you stretchy, again?). What do 5 people do with their new super powers? Hide in a penthouse apartment and annoy each other a la Big Brother. Not only that, but their "powers" are used for cheap laughs that really don't further the story (let me use my stretchy arms to get toilet paper from the closet across the hall while on the crapper because, as a man, I was too lazy to handle it when I finished the last roll) - at least it's honest. Most men would probably use their powers for such a noble cause! And, of course, we have Jessica Alba playing Invisible Girl, so let's make sure to catch her naked a lot...ummmm ok? And the only way a hunky stone-man can get a girl is if she is blind?! C'mon Hollywood, are we that stupid?
That said, the effects were kind cool, and the couple of scenes of them using their powers for good were at least good enough to make us remember that these are Super Heros - but overall, this one fell short. I will say, it helps to dislike a movie less when you go in with such low expectations - at least I can't be disappointed. Next time, I think I'll just go see Batman Begins, again.
On a side-note, I had to find myself a new movie-going buddy so half of these passes don't go to waste. I will say that it is definately different (and weird), but at least he sits on the correct side of me. But somehow, it isn't really right. I will say, at least he doesn't talk through the movies. It's nice, but it seems to be causing a stir - and it really shouldn't be.
I do have something more to report - but I think I will save it for morning. But basically TPTB determined that we needed to lay off more employees. I understand why, but it saddens me. I've been there and while some people welcome the opportunity to leave, others just don't. More tomorrow.
Well, Leslie strikes again. I'm not sure what I would do without her feeding my habit (while saving my bank account) and I hope I never have to find out. She is one of the coolest people I know and I consider her a dear friend...but one of these days I have to figure out how to repay her (or do something really nice that doesn't pale in comparison).
So tonight was another Marvel movie - and this was one that I grew up with...but let me tell you, the Human Torch wasn't exactly this hunky in the comic books. He can light my fire anytime, and I don't even know his name!
I have to admit, I went into this movie with really low expectations. I mean, I heard not-so-great things about it, and c'mon, the Marvel flicks are hit or miss most of the time (Spidey 1 and 2 - hits...Hulk - big miss). But look - it was free!
Now, I will admit that this movie makes fun of itself...a lot! There is some sappy love story elements and soap-like qualities to all the characters and overall, not as big a disappointment as I expected...that said - save your bucks and watch it on HBO or pop it in your Netflix queue.
The backstory was fabrication - these guys were not radiated by a space cloud to get their powers based on the emotions they were feeling at the time (I'm sorry, what emotion makes you stretchy, again?). What do 5 people do with their new super powers? Hide in a penthouse apartment and annoy each other a la Big Brother. Not only that, but their "powers" are used for cheap laughs that really don't further the story (let me use my stretchy arms to get toilet paper from the closet across the hall while on the crapper because, as a man, I was too lazy to handle it when I finished the last roll) - at least it's honest. Most men would probably use their powers for such a noble cause! And, of course, we have Jessica Alba playing Invisible Girl, so let's make sure to catch her naked a lot...ummmm ok? And the only way a hunky stone-man can get a girl is if she is blind?! C'mon Hollywood, are we that stupid?
That said, the effects were kind cool, and the couple of scenes of them using their powers for good were at least good enough to make us remember that these are Super Heros - but overall, this one fell short. I will say, it helps to dislike a movie less when you go in with such low expectations - at least I can't be disappointed. Next time, I think I'll just go see Batman Begins, again.
On a side-note, I had to find myself a new movie-going buddy so half of these passes don't go to waste. I will say that it is definately different (and weird), but at least he sits on the correct side of me. But somehow, it isn't really right. I will say, at least he doesn't talk through the movies. It's nice, but it seems to be causing a stir - and it really shouldn't be.
I do have something more to report - but I think I will save it for morning. But basically TPTB determined that we needed to lay off more employees. I understand why, but it saddens me. I've been there and while some people welcome the opportunity to leave, others just don't. More tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Who Shot JR?!
Jeremy Roenick...one of my absolute favorite hockey players ever...and that says a LOT! Especially since he plays for my least favorite team (when they actually PLAY hockey), the Philly Flyers.
Let me explain the ethics around a sound-bite...they are edited by the media. They can take any snippet of words and probably get the Pope to denounce Christianity if they wanted to - so please remember that.
Now I will admit that I fell victim to the sound-bite - I was fuming at JR yesterday along with every other hockey fan I know (and some non-hockey fans, too). But JR needs to not read a 1000-word essay to any reporter, as he is a smart enough guy to know that it will be reduced to the most juicy 10 words ever spoken. Besides, most of his comments that made such an uproar, were in reaction to stupid questions from reporters...
He told it like it is - and has been given the opportunity to explain this sound-bite of his thesis and appease us all (or at least me, anyway). Look, I know he has little to do right now, but coming onto the Atlanta morning show to set the record straight and take calls from listeners/fans, impressed the hell out of me. Way to go JR!
If you think about it, some of what he said was really true. The NHLPA is ending up with a shitty deal and the owners are getting what they want. That's great for the fans - we might actually get a season - but like the rest of us out the in the work-force, we work really hard to get merit increases and make our jobs worth the paycheck we receive. Why should athletes be ANY different?
They are going to improve the game - I'm not going to complain - and the players are coming back for less money because they love the game so much...as do I.
So the next time you hear something disturbing from a celebrity, take it with a pound of salt...who knows what the media is feeding us this week. After all, if I had followed my first instincts, I would probably have auctioned off my JR jersey in haste and really hated myself for it down the line! Did I mention this was a signed Blackhawks jersey?!
You rock JR - hurry back to the ice, will ya?!
Let me explain the ethics around a sound-bite...they are edited by the media. They can take any snippet of words and probably get the Pope to denounce Christianity if they wanted to - so please remember that.
Now I will admit that I fell victim to the sound-bite - I was fuming at JR yesterday along with every other hockey fan I know (and some non-hockey fans, too). But JR needs to not read a 1000-word essay to any reporter, as he is a smart enough guy to know that it will be reduced to the most juicy 10 words ever spoken. Besides, most of his comments that made such an uproar, were in reaction to stupid questions from reporters...
He told it like it is - and has been given the opportunity to explain this sound-bite of his thesis and appease us all (or at least me, anyway). Look, I know he has little to do right now, but coming onto the Atlanta morning show to set the record straight and take calls from listeners/fans, impressed the hell out of me. Way to go JR!
If you think about it, some of what he said was really true. The NHLPA is ending up with a shitty deal and the owners are getting what they want. That's great for the fans - we might actually get a season - but like the rest of us out the in the work-force, we work really hard to get merit increases and make our jobs worth the paycheck we receive. Why should athletes be ANY different?
They are going to improve the game - I'm not going to complain - and the players are coming back for less money because they love the game so much...as do I.
So the next time you hear something disturbing from a celebrity, take it with a pound of salt...who knows what the media is feeding us this week. After all, if I had followed my first instincts, I would probably have auctioned off my JR jersey in haste and really hated myself for it down the line! Did I mention this was a signed Blackhawks jersey?!
You rock JR - hurry back to the ice, will ya?!
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Attack of the Tripods
Movie Review: War of the Worlds
This won't be easy to review this movie without giving too much away - but I will try my best. So let's start with the story.
Ray, Tom Cruise, is an almost deadbeat dad who is a New Jersey dock worker. It's "his weekend" with the kids and the first few minutes of the movie identify his lack of maturity when it comes to being a dad, but this is a character who is definitely flawed and it seems that he cares, but just doesn't know how to be a dad. His kids are not so thrilled to be at dad's place for the weekend and it only gets worse for them. I must say that Dakota Fanning turns in another stellar performance.
The movie picks up the pace very quickly, but not so quickly that you don't get to know these characters a little bit - Steven Spielberg is really good at this method of storytelling. He gives us enough of an insight into the people before introducing the shark..I mean aliens.
The next 45 minutes are completely intense. This movie is full of shock and terror for the audience - who would expect these things to have been on the planet for a million years, just lying in wait...certainly not the people in the theatre with me. I think the reason these initial scenes are so scary, is that you are feeling the panic and desperation of the people running for their lives because Spielberg shot it from the point of view of these people - well done!
The other thing that is done so well in this movie is that many things are implied, but never shown - a river of death, and war being played out between the military and the tripods and just enough data being passed around to make your own mind start to come to conclusions about the aliens. Again, this is what Spielberg does best. Think back to that shark eating his first victim, but all you see is this girl being dragged around the water and screaming...next thing you know, she is pulled under and there is nothing but silence. Spielberg pulls from all of his previous films in this movie - there is an homage to his raptors in the kitchen scene from Jurassic Park that takes place in Tim Robbin’s basement – you will all recognize it.
There are kids in danger, a lot of death and destruction, and pure terror in this movie, but without it, I don't think this movie would be as good. You have a feeling that there is no way out of this mess and everyone is going to die - and I loved every minute of it.
I will say the movie drops off in the second half, but not so much that I minded - after all, how do you sustain such intensity for 2 hours? I don't think I could have taken it. There is one scene that bothered me and I think should be removed - there is a scene where Ray and his family are attacked for having the only working vehicle - I could have lived without this scene. Unfortunately, it is pretty honest as to what would probably happen, but still, I'll be skipping that chapter when the DVD comes into my house.
The effects are amazing - hats off to ILM once again! They really did the trick to help you believe these aliens (and their freaky red vines - anyone buy Twizzlers at the concession stand?) were real. The destruction, the incineration of human beings, the ominous tripods - it was all amazing.
Look - ignore the crap in the media and go see this movie. Who cares if they are or if they aren't; ignore the Scientology-factor (I have for years working at my company). Go see this movie and enjoy every minute of it! I give it high marks :)
This won't be easy to review this movie without giving too much away - but I will try my best. So let's start with the story.
Ray, Tom Cruise, is an almost deadbeat dad who is a New Jersey dock worker. It's "his weekend" with the kids and the first few minutes of the movie identify his lack of maturity when it comes to being a dad, but this is a character who is definitely flawed and it seems that he cares, but just doesn't know how to be a dad. His kids are not so thrilled to be at dad's place for the weekend and it only gets worse for them. I must say that Dakota Fanning turns in another stellar performance.
The movie picks up the pace very quickly, but not so quickly that you don't get to know these characters a little bit - Steven Spielberg is really good at this method of storytelling. He gives us enough of an insight into the people before introducing the shark..I mean aliens.
The next 45 minutes are completely intense. This movie is full of shock and terror for the audience - who would expect these things to have been on the planet for a million years, just lying in wait...certainly not the people in the theatre with me. I think the reason these initial scenes are so scary, is that you are feeling the panic and desperation of the people running for their lives because Spielberg shot it from the point of view of these people - well done!
The other thing that is done so well in this movie is that many things are implied, but never shown - a river of death, and war being played out between the military and the tripods and just enough data being passed around to make your own mind start to come to conclusions about the aliens. Again, this is what Spielberg does best. Think back to that shark eating his first victim, but all you see is this girl being dragged around the water and screaming...next thing you know, she is pulled under and there is nothing but silence. Spielberg pulls from all of his previous films in this movie - there is an homage to his raptors in the kitchen scene from Jurassic Park that takes place in Tim Robbin’s basement – you will all recognize it.
There are kids in danger, a lot of death and destruction, and pure terror in this movie, but without it, I don't think this movie would be as good. You have a feeling that there is no way out of this mess and everyone is going to die - and I loved every minute of it.
I will say the movie drops off in the second half, but not so much that I minded - after all, how do you sustain such intensity for 2 hours? I don't think I could have taken it. There is one scene that bothered me and I think should be removed - there is a scene where Ray and his family are attacked for having the only working vehicle - I could have lived without this scene. Unfortunately, it is pretty honest as to what would probably happen, but still, I'll be skipping that chapter when the DVD comes into my house.
The effects are amazing - hats off to ILM once again! They really did the trick to help you believe these aliens (and their freaky red vines - anyone buy Twizzlers at the concession stand?) were real. The destruction, the incineration of human beings, the ominous tripods - it was all amazing.
Look - ignore the crap in the media and go see this movie. Who cares if they are or if they aren't; ignore the Scientology-factor (I have for years working at my company). Go see this movie and enjoy every minute of it! I give it high marks :)
Monday, June 27, 2005
Things to Come
Hello all -
So I don't have too much to post today. Yesterday was pretty tame, with me spending the day with the 'rents - my usual Sunday schedule. I started thinking about summer movies and what I wanted to see. So I decided to put together a list...in alphabetical order:
2046
The 40 Year-Old Virgin
Beowulf & Grendel
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Everything is Illuminated
Fantastic Four
Fierce People
Flightplan
Happy Endings
In Her Shoes
Into the Blue
The Island
Junebug
Proof
Red-Eye
Serenity
Shopgirl
The Skeleton Key
Stealth
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
An Unfinished Life
Wallace & Gromet: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
War of the Worlds
The Weather Man
Wedding Crashers
Anything else falls into the Holiday Season - so that list can wait.
Anyway, I have a few flicks I still need to see that are currently in the theatre, and I have a few screenings in the next couple of weeks, which should help knock out a little of the list above...but at least it won't be a dry summer!
So I don't have too much to post today. Yesterday was pretty tame, with me spending the day with the 'rents - my usual Sunday schedule. I started thinking about summer movies and what I wanted to see. So I decided to put together a list...in alphabetical order:
2046
The 40 Year-Old Virgin
Beowulf & Grendel
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Everything is Illuminated
Fantastic Four
Fierce People
Flightplan
Happy Endings
In Her Shoes
Into the Blue
The Island
Junebug
Proof
Red-Eye
Serenity
Shopgirl
The Skeleton Key
Stealth
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
An Unfinished Life
Wallace & Gromet: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
War of the Worlds
The Weather Man
Wedding Crashers
Anything else falls into the Holiday Season - so that list can wait.
Anyway, I have a few flicks I still need to see that are currently in the theatre, and I have a few screenings in the next couple of weeks, which should help knock out a little of the list above...but at least it won't be a dry summer!
Sunday, June 26, 2005
That's All Brad, Sweetheart
Movie Review: Mr. & Mrs. Smith
In my pledge to have a movie weekend, I found that sleep is preferable to most of what's out there right now...but I still want to see them all - you know, get back on track. I won't get 100 seen, but I can try and get to 50, at least. The events of Q1 really put a damper on my movie-seeing and this is distressing.
So, movie #1 - Brad :) Okay, so really it was M/M Smith, but Brad Pitt is always enjoyable to watch. But the true draw of this movie was Doug Liman. It's funny to me, but as I get older, it seems to be more about the writers and directors than the stars (the starts still have a lot of influence, but not as much as in the past).
Anyway, if you look at his track record as a director alone - Swingers, Go, The Bourne Identity - you see why his movies are a draw. There is an ebb and flow to them and the action is always so fluid and inticing. This movie was no different.
Now, there were slow parts and I found myself checking my watch in the last 30 minutes, but overall it was well done. The humor was there (with help from Vince Vaughn) to cut through the gunplay and death (very little blood here) and the chemistry is clear between Brad and Angelina Jolie - personally, I don't give a crap if they are or aren't...that's their business.
The movie was well worth the 2 hours and $6 I spent to see it - and odds are this one will end up in my collection in 6 months. Take the time to see it. I don't think anyone will be disappointed.
As a side note - those of you good at voice placement, have 3 challenges in this movie as there are 3 voices whose faces are never seen and all are uncredited.
1) Atlanta - Mr. Smith's boss - female voice
2) Father - Mrs. Smith's boss - male voice
3) The Therapist - male voice
I'm scary good at placing voices and musical scores - ask anyone who knows me well. So I can give you some hints about the 3 voices - see if you can place them.
1) Think Stella, Mace or Tina Turner
2) Think Mary's Dad or The Thing's Childs
3) Think Kent the Blind scientist
In my pledge to have a movie weekend, I found that sleep is preferable to most of what's out there right now...but I still want to see them all - you know, get back on track. I won't get 100 seen, but I can try and get to 50, at least. The events of Q1 really put a damper on my movie-seeing and this is distressing.
So, movie #1 - Brad :) Okay, so really it was M/M Smith, but Brad Pitt is always enjoyable to watch. But the true draw of this movie was Doug Liman. It's funny to me, but as I get older, it seems to be more about the writers and directors than the stars (the starts still have a lot of influence, but not as much as in the past).
Anyway, if you look at his track record as a director alone - Swingers, Go, The Bourne Identity - you see why his movies are a draw. There is an ebb and flow to them and the action is always so fluid and inticing. This movie was no different.
Now, there were slow parts and I found myself checking my watch in the last 30 minutes, but overall it was well done. The humor was there (with help from Vince Vaughn) to cut through the gunplay and death (very little blood here) and the chemistry is clear between Brad and Angelina Jolie - personally, I don't give a crap if they are or aren't...that's their business.
The movie was well worth the 2 hours and $6 I spent to see it - and odds are this one will end up in my collection in 6 months. Take the time to see it. I don't think anyone will be disappointed.
As a side note - those of you good at voice placement, have 3 challenges in this movie as there are 3 voices whose faces are never seen and all are uncredited.
1) Atlanta - Mr. Smith's boss - female voice
2) Father - Mrs. Smith's boss - male voice
3) The Therapist - male voice
I'm scary good at placing voices and musical scores - ask anyone who knows me well. So I can give you some hints about the 3 voices - see if you can place them.
1) Think Stella, Mace or Tina Turner
2) Think Mary's Dad or The Thing's Childs
3) Think Kent the Blind scientist
Friday, June 24, 2005
Buried Alive
So my first day back at work was a nightmare, especially since I slept none Wednesday night.
I came into work with over 500 emails (all of which I have to at least glance at). The good news is I only had 3 meetings, but the bad news is that I had too much work to do to have time for anything else. I think it might take me a few days to dig myself out of this mess. I tried to keep up at least a little bit while on vacation, but Maggie wouldn't hear of it.
So the day was pretty smooth actually, even though I could have fallen asleep while sitting there digging through emails. Until around 11:15am there was suddenly 3 people at my desk all demanding attention. Luckily, Vanessa and I had planned to have lunch at 11:30, so it was only a 15 minute free-for-all. But still, I was mid-meeting and people just walked up and started talking, including 1 director. "Yes, I had a fabulous vacation, but I really have no time to talk about it as I am burried alive"... Now if I only I was nice enough to say that out loud.
So the rest of the day was pretty decent having lunch with Vanessa and Dani was fun - we all got to vent about the idiots we work with (more like good people acting idiotic) and catch up on the last 12 days.
I got back to my desk and immediately got into a meeting with a Product Manager about some things coming down the pike when I got an instant message asking if I was at my desk...I ignored it since I was on the phone. I got up and went to talk to Vanessa about some ideas to handle this Business initiative and saw stupidity at work! (Not Vanessa, someone else). Anyway, it has caused me to need to vent...
Work time is for work...I am a big believer in that. Now, it is hard when you have friends where you work who want to socialize, and 5 minutes of that is okay from time to time (especially since I don't have time for more than that), but handling personal issues in the middle of a conference call is unprofessional and embarassing. I feel for people who have things going on in their lives (frankly, who doesn't), but you have to check it at the door. If you have something to deal with (money problems, relationship problems, friends or family who are sick, etc - kids don't count), then take the time off to deal with it. Don't have calls about bounced checks in your cube in the middle of a meeting you are supposed to be representing your department in. Do NOT answer your cell phone in the middle of a conference call, and do not drop off an important call to deal with a lawyer or doctor - HELLO, this is what voicemail was invented for. There is nothing, except a sick child really, that cannot wait 15 minutes for you to return a call....what's worse is then lying about it to your superiors. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, DUDE!
Okay, (sigh). I feel a little better. But if you have proven yourself in any position, no matter what it is, and have earned a little slack to deal with outside issues, you will know it. But if you are more of a hinderance to your group than a help and then decide to blow off important work to deal with home stuff (especially when you went through the same thing 6 months ago and made exaggerating pronouncements surrounding said issues), do everyone a favor and take a leave of absence and give them a reprieve! Know your limits and act like a grown-up (or at least the age you are).
Okay, so maybe I wasn't quite finished, but I think I have said my peace this time around.
So another night of not really sleeping, and I really want to take today off...I think I will go into work and talk to my boss about leaving around 2 - I need to readjust to East Coast time before I lose my mind!!!!
I do miss Mags and Wils - October cannot come fast enough!
I came into work with over 500 emails (all of which I have to at least glance at). The good news is I only had 3 meetings, but the bad news is that I had too much work to do to have time for anything else. I think it might take me a few days to dig myself out of this mess. I tried to keep up at least a little bit while on vacation, but Maggie wouldn't hear of it.
So the day was pretty smooth actually, even though I could have fallen asleep while sitting there digging through emails. Until around 11:15am there was suddenly 3 people at my desk all demanding attention. Luckily, Vanessa and I had planned to have lunch at 11:30, so it was only a 15 minute free-for-all. But still, I was mid-meeting and people just walked up and started talking, including 1 director. "Yes, I had a fabulous vacation, but I really have no time to talk about it as I am burried alive"... Now if I only I was nice enough to say that out loud.
So the rest of the day was pretty decent having lunch with Vanessa and Dani was fun - we all got to vent about the idiots we work with (more like good people acting idiotic) and catch up on the last 12 days.
I got back to my desk and immediately got into a meeting with a Product Manager about some things coming down the pike when I got an instant message asking if I was at my desk...I ignored it since I was on the phone. I got up and went to talk to Vanessa about some ideas to handle this Business initiative and saw stupidity at work! (Not Vanessa, someone else). Anyway, it has caused me to need to vent...
Work time is for work...I am a big believer in that. Now, it is hard when you have friends where you work who want to socialize, and 5 minutes of that is okay from time to time (especially since I don't have time for more than that), but handling personal issues in the middle of a conference call is unprofessional and embarassing. I feel for people who have things going on in their lives (frankly, who doesn't), but you have to check it at the door. If you have something to deal with (money problems, relationship problems, friends or family who are sick, etc - kids don't count), then take the time off to deal with it. Don't have calls about bounced checks in your cube in the middle of a meeting you are supposed to be representing your department in. Do NOT answer your cell phone in the middle of a conference call, and do not drop off an important call to deal with a lawyer or doctor - HELLO, this is what voicemail was invented for. There is nothing, except a sick child really, that cannot wait 15 minutes for you to return a call....what's worse is then lying about it to your superiors. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, DUDE!
Okay, (sigh). I feel a little better. But if you have proven yourself in any position, no matter what it is, and have earned a little slack to deal with outside issues, you will know it. But if you are more of a hinderance to your group than a help and then decide to blow off important work to deal with home stuff (especially when you went through the same thing 6 months ago and made exaggerating pronouncements surrounding said issues), do everyone a favor and take a leave of absence and give them a reprieve! Know your limits and act like a grown-up (or at least the age you are).
Okay, so maybe I wasn't quite finished, but I think I have said my peace this time around.
So another night of not really sleeping, and I really want to take today off...I think I will go into work and talk to my boss about leaving around 2 - I need to readjust to East Coast time before I lose my mind!!!!
I do miss Mags and Wils - October cannot come fast enough!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
The Wild, Wild West
And so I return from the west coast almost more tired than when I left, but let me tell you it was all worth it.
First, my new nephew. So adorable and so like my grandfather (his namesake). It's so funny how you can recognize facial expressions and personalities of family members in such a little newborn. Will is very sweet and reminds me of my brother when he was little (from pictures) and my Gramps (my mom's dad). He also has some similar traits as his big sister did 3 1/2 years ago. I will post pictures as soon as I get them (the camera had no juice to download pics by the time I was leaving).
Maggie is huge! 36.3 pounds to be exact and SO tall. You would never think she was just 3 - more like 5! She had very few "meltdowns" and was very loving toward her baby brother. We spent most of the time together last week since she was out of school, and I think she benefitted from all the focus. I got to read to her every night and she enjoyed picking out which pajamas I would wear every night (usually so she and I would be wearing the same color and could be twins). She picked the vegetables for dinner nightly and even helped me cook (pizza dough and pancakes). She even booked me for October to come to her party and make her birthday cake (a chocolate Incredibles cake has been requested).
So the week was pretty insane, thus the lack of posts. Each day was filled to the brim with activities from Wildlife Parks to a daily movie in the living room with popcorn (3 times this was The Incredibles, one of those times being in Spanish for a change of pace - yes, I have an odd family). I had no time to see old friends from San Jose, even though I had planned to...very disappointing, but I wouldn't trade a minute...I just have some apologizing and begging of forgivness to do.
All-in-all the trip was quite successful - I did tons of cooking and kid management. Somehow I never changed 1 diaper (not sure how that happened) and only got to feed Will twice (he is still on the breast almost exclusively). However, he took many naps on me as I seem to help intice babies to sleep (happened with Maggie and all babies belonging to my friends - some just invitied me over to get a break and get their kids to sleep).
I did see a couple of friends from my brother's crowd which was nice (including meeting their new babies as almost all of them have also gone through round 2 in the last 12 months).
Tuesday was the best day as Christina and I did the movie and Scharffen-Berger deal and completely wore me out! The great thing about the movie is this deal that Loews does that many other theatres need to adpot (hopefully, it will spread with AMC's purchase of Loews instead of the possibility of it dying out). It is called Reel Mom's Tuesdays. Basically, they only let in parents and babies (up to 1 year) to a current movie. They do not dim the lights entirely, and the sound is turned down to a tolerable level for babies. The entire place is feeding, changing, handling the crying of, rocking to sleep or monitoring a nap of their baby.
Now, while a crying baby would drive me nuts in a prime-time showing of an R-Rated film on opening night, this was vry different. Not only are you well prepared knowing what you are walking into, you hardly even notice when you have a baby with you doing the same things. The theatre handles "coat-checking" your stroller and has changing pads set up in the bathrooms. This is brilliant. There were probably 30 babies and their parent(s) plus a few extra friends (and aunts) in tow. We truly enjoyed ourselves and I was able to leave California not 100% behind schedule.
Now this weekend I have to do some work playing catch-up. I have 5 or 6 to try and get seen before next's week's releases. Hopefully, this will be a busy weekend as I am dedicating time to the flicks. Hopefully, I will get some baby shopping done as well - as I would love to see my friends in McDonough as well...it's been too long.
First, my new nephew. So adorable and so like my grandfather (his namesake). It's so funny how you can recognize facial expressions and personalities of family members in such a little newborn. Will is very sweet and reminds me of my brother when he was little (from pictures) and my Gramps (my mom's dad). He also has some similar traits as his big sister did 3 1/2 years ago. I will post pictures as soon as I get them (the camera had no juice to download pics by the time I was leaving).
Maggie is huge! 36.3 pounds to be exact and SO tall. You would never think she was just 3 - more like 5! She had very few "meltdowns" and was very loving toward her baby brother. We spent most of the time together last week since she was out of school, and I think she benefitted from all the focus. I got to read to her every night and she enjoyed picking out which pajamas I would wear every night (usually so she and I would be wearing the same color and could be twins). She picked the vegetables for dinner nightly and even helped me cook (pizza dough and pancakes). She even booked me for October to come to her party and make her birthday cake (a chocolate Incredibles cake has been requested).
So the week was pretty insane, thus the lack of posts. Each day was filled to the brim with activities from Wildlife Parks to a daily movie in the living room with popcorn (3 times this was The Incredibles, one of those times being in Spanish for a change of pace - yes, I have an odd family). I had no time to see old friends from San Jose, even though I had planned to...very disappointing, but I wouldn't trade a minute...I just have some apologizing and begging of forgivness to do.
All-in-all the trip was quite successful - I did tons of cooking and kid management. Somehow I never changed 1 diaper (not sure how that happened) and only got to feed Will twice (he is still on the breast almost exclusively). However, he took many naps on me as I seem to help intice babies to sleep (happened with Maggie and all babies belonging to my friends - some just invitied me over to get a break and get their kids to sleep).
I did see a couple of friends from my brother's crowd which was nice (including meeting their new babies as almost all of them have also gone through round 2 in the last 12 months).
Tuesday was the best day as Christina and I did the movie and Scharffen-Berger deal and completely wore me out! The great thing about the movie is this deal that Loews does that many other theatres need to adpot (hopefully, it will spread with AMC's purchase of Loews instead of the possibility of it dying out). It is called Reel Mom's Tuesdays. Basically, they only let in parents and babies (up to 1 year) to a current movie. They do not dim the lights entirely, and the sound is turned down to a tolerable level for babies. The entire place is feeding, changing, handling the crying of, rocking to sleep or monitoring a nap of their baby.
Now, while a crying baby would drive me nuts in a prime-time showing of an R-Rated film on opening night, this was vry different. Not only are you well prepared knowing what you are walking into, you hardly even notice when you have a baby with you doing the same things. The theatre handles "coat-checking" your stroller and has changing pads set up in the bathrooms. This is brilliant. There were probably 30 babies and their parent(s) plus a few extra friends (and aunts) in tow. We truly enjoyed ourselves and I was able to leave California not 100% behind schedule.
Now this weekend I have to do some work playing catch-up. I have 5 or 6 to try and get seen before next's week's releases. Hopefully, this will be a busy weekend as I am dedicating time to the flicks. Hopefully, I will get some baby shopping done as well - as I would love to see my friends in McDonough as well...it's been too long.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Begin the Bat
Movie Review: Batman Begins
You gotta love Christopher Nolan. He does with the Batman franchise, what Tim Burton started lo' those many years ago. And he did it really well. This movie is where the series should have gone instead of the last couple of attempts.
This is the king of Bat-lore flick with back story and the early versions of the tortured soul, Bruce Wayne, and how he found his voice in the man they call Bat. This movie was fun and a fresh view of a secret identity hero - and how the Bat came to be (why a Bat and why the need to clean up Gotham?).
Wayne is ear-marked for training by Liam Neeson (clearly trying to right his Anakin wrongs by exercising his old Jedi Master ways). The fourth iteration of Master Wayne is deftly played as a smoldering and somewhat reluctant hero by Christian Bale. This movie always shows how Commissioner Gordon worked his way up and how Alfred cam to look after young Wayne and be looped into the Bat-circle. Also, where did Bruce get all those handy gadgets and the suit (nippleless this time, thank god!). Not to mention the tank that soon is to become the coolest hero-ride ever (okay, someone still has some explaining to do about Wonder Woman's invisible plane - too many problems with that vehicle).
So if you are an avid comic-book version of Batman fan - I'm not sure how happy this flick will make you, but I think it is worth a shot. Personally, I think this is the ticket to buy this summer...so far!
You gotta love Christopher Nolan. He does with the Batman franchise, what Tim Burton started lo' those many years ago. And he did it really well. This movie is where the series should have gone instead of the last couple of attempts.
This is the king of Bat-lore flick with back story and the early versions of the tortured soul, Bruce Wayne, and how he found his voice in the man they call Bat. This movie was fun and a fresh view of a secret identity hero - and how the Bat came to be (why a Bat and why the need to clean up Gotham?).
Wayne is ear-marked for training by Liam Neeson (clearly trying to right his Anakin wrongs by exercising his old Jedi Master ways). The fourth iteration of Master Wayne is deftly played as a smoldering and somewhat reluctant hero by Christian Bale. This movie always shows how Commissioner Gordon worked his way up and how Alfred cam to look after young Wayne and be looped into the Bat-circle. Also, where did Bruce get all those handy gadgets and the suit (nippleless this time, thank god!). Not to mention the tank that soon is to become the coolest hero-ride ever (okay, someone still has some explaining to do about Wonder Woman's invisible plane - too many problems with that vehicle).
So if you are an avid comic-book version of Batman fan - I'm not sure how happy this flick will make you, but I think it is worth a shot. Personally, I think this is the ticket to buy this summer...so far!
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
One by One
Those of you, who know me, know I am not a political person. Sure, I have my opinions, and I have been known to voice them, but I'm not really a "get-on-a-soapbox" kind of gal. I know what I believe in and I don't preach those beliefs to friends (or enemies). This post is not being preachy, not forcing my views or anything. This is just about something crucial I learned and now I am spreading the word...
Really, this is just an outlet for me, but there are certain things that you know to be true as you live your life - your family, for one. But what one tends to forget, is that we are born into privilege - just by being born in the US. Now there are plenty of people here who are hungry, homeless, etc., but we have many more opportunities than most countries. My point is this, be thankful for all that you have, even if you don't have a lot, by African standards, you have the world.
It really made me think. So, if you have the time, and you want to help make the world a better place (especially when you think about that for $16, an African child can go to school for a year), please check out The ONE Campaign.
It costs you nothing, but it will let you let W know that we are okay with sending some aide to Africa. After all, if I am stuck with W as my president, he needs to listen to our generation and make a decision based on who the country is, not how it will further him politically.
Please sign the petition - this isn't bogus. If you want, you can make a donation (and oh look, get a cool white wristband) - but I am not asking you for money...just to let your opinion know.
Thanks all - I'll step down off that soapbox now.
Really, this is just an outlet for me, but there are certain things that you know to be true as you live your life - your family, for one. But what one tends to forget, is that we are born into privilege - just by being born in the US. Now there are plenty of people here who are hungry, homeless, etc., but we have many more opportunities than most countries. My point is this, be thankful for all that you have, even if you don't have a lot, by African standards, you have the world.
It really made me think. So, if you have the time, and you want to help make the world a better place (especially when you think about that for $16, an African child can go to school for a year), please check out The ONE Campaign.
It costs you nothing, but it will let you let W know that we are okay with sending some aide to Africa. After all, if I am stuck with W as my president, he needs to listen to our generation and make a decision based on who the country is, not how it will further him politically.
Please sign the petition - this isn't bogus. If you want, you can make a donation (and oh look, get a cool white wristband) - but I am not asking you for money...just to let your opinion know.
Thanks all - I'll step down off that soapbox now.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Cracking Easter Eggs
If you are a fan of the DVD, then you know what I am talking about. Half the fun of buying or renting a DVD, is finding the Easter Eggs and unlocking the hidden magic and fun of that DVD.
So, for all of you movie buffs (or recreational viewers), here are some of the most recent ones I have found.
The Incredibles
Egg: Quite a few: More Deleted Scenes, Behind the Scenes, The Incredibles as performed by sock puppets, and funny Pixar moments (one involving a Razor Scooter in the studio).
The Hunt: All you have to do is be patient. Any menu screen, if left alone long enough, will populate a small icon at the top (either Mr. Incredible or the Omnidriod) - select that to find the eggs.
Notes: The sock puppets are hysterical! This one can be found from the Setup Screen on Disc 2.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Extended Edition)
Egg: Elijah Wood interview (a prank on Elijah as he thinks it's a German interviewer, but is really Dominic Monaghan
The Hunt: Disc 1 - Go to select a scene and keep pushing down until a gold ring appears next to "select a scene", push enter when the ring appears.
Notes: Really funny - I had seen a clip of this long ago and at the Oscar Party, Peter Jackson promised to have lots of fun stuff on this DVD and he didn't lie!
Star Wars Trilogy Boxset
Egg: Star Wars Trilogy Blooper Reel
The Hunt: Bonus Disc - Go to Video Games and Still Galleries. Now type: 11 (enter), 3 (enter), 8 (enter).
Notes: This contains 5 minutes of bloopers I had never seen. Let the record reflect, I have serious issues with this set of DVDs and did not spend money on it - it was a gift!
Please, readers, if you know of an Easter Egg worth cracking, please add it in the comments to this BLOG post. I'm a big fan of Easter Egg hunts, but prefer to know when and where to find them!!
P.S. To support your local Steev, please visit the newest store front on the net. All proceeds to benefit the Steev!
So, for all of you movie buffs (or recreational viewers), here are some of the most recent ones I have found.
The Incredibles
Egg: Quite a few: More Deleted Scenes, Behind the Scenes, The Incredibles as performed by sock puppets, and funny Pixar moments (one involving a Razor Scooter in the studio).
The Hunt: All you have to do is be patient. Any menu screen, if left alone long enough, will populate a small icon at the top (either Mr. Incredible or the Omnidriod) - select that to find the eggs.
Notes: The sock puppets are hysterical! This one can be found from the Setup Screen on Disc 2.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Extended Edition)
Egg: Elijah Wood interview (a prank on Elijah as he thinks it's a German interviewer, but is really Dominic Monaghan
The Hunt: Disc 1 - Go to select a scene and keep pushing down until a gold ring appears next to "select a scene", push enter when the ring appears.
Notes: Really funny - I had seen a clip of this long ago and at the Oscar Party, Peter Jackson promised to have lots of fun stuff on this DVD and he didn't lie!
Star Wars Trilogy Boxset
Egg: Star Wars Trilogy Blooper Reel
The Hunt: Bonus Disc - Go to Video Games and Still Galleries. Now type: 11 (enter), 3 (enter), 8 (enter).
Notes: This contains 5 minutes of bloopers I had never seen. Let the record reflect, I have serious issues with this set of DVDs and did not spend money on it - it was a gift!
Please, readers, if you know of an Easter Egg worth cracking, please add it in the comments to this BLOG post. I'm a big fan of Easter Egg hunts, but prefer to know when and where to find them!!
P.S. To support your local Steev, please visit the newest store front on the net. All proceeds to benefit the Steev!
Monday, June 06, 2005
Oh...The Horror!
So my morning has been eventful - somehow I knew this would be the case.
Everyone is asking me about a seemingly mysterious or cryptic email received from Steev. To anyone who reads this, I cannot give you any detail. If you want to know what happened, why Steev is gone, etc, you need to email him, please. I am not in any position to give more information than he no longer works here. I am as sad and dismayed as the rest of you - Steev gave life to this place.
So the rest of my weekend was tainted by this news, but I managed to survive. Unfortunately, I am still mad and upset and scratching my head, but I know there is nothing I can do - it is all up to Steev.
So the rest of my weekend - was pretty much Sunday. And all of Sunday was spent with my dad. We did the food delivery for my mom's catering, which was interesting. The two if us letting ourselves into the building to load up the fridge and the freezers. We had fun.
On the way home, we stopped at the grocery and ran into friends of the family (of course). I can't go anywhere in this town without seeing people I know, but my dad is even worse. It's a non-stop hit parade of people when we are together.
Anyway, then we did the "What do you want for dinner"-dance. This is my least-favorite conversation with my dad. He doesn't know what he wants and he offers few suggestions. Pork - isn't a suggestion. Anyway, my dad usually starts asking me what I want a week out...I think this is why I never know what I want when other people ask me. It's like an adverse reaction to the question or something.
Anyway, I suggested Grilled Pizza since we had a new recipe and procedure (past attempts ended in burnt/charred crust). He didn't like the idea and after 10 minutes at the Butcher Counter not liking anything he saw, he decided that the pizza is ok. So we bought what we needed and headed home.
I made the dough and it did exactly what the recipe said it would. We grilled the pizza and it was amazing. It was well worth the little bit of extra work, but overall the work was less than usual.
I went home after dinner and watched the Tony Awards. Thank goodness the American Theatre Wing "gets it" and gave best musical to SpamAlot. Finally, more than my generation gets the Monty Python humor - there is hope for the world!!!
Another work week - soon I will be with Mags and Will!
5 days until I am on a plane to California
328 days until sabbatical!
Everyone is asking me about a seemingly mysterious or cryptic email received from Steev. To anyone who reads this, I cannot give you any detail. If you want to know what happened, why Steev is gone, etc, you need to email him, please. I am not in any position to give more information than he no longer works here. I am as sad and dismayed as the rest of you - Steev gave life to this place.
So the rest of my weekend was tainted by this news, but I managed to survive. Unfortunately, I am still mad and upset and scratching my head, but I know there is nothing I can do - it is all up to Steev.
So the rest of my weekend - was pretty much Sunday. And all of Sunday was spent with my dad. We did the food delivery for my mom's catering, which was interesting. The two if us letting ourselves into the building to load up the fridge and the freezers. We had fun.
On the way home, we stopped at the grocery and ran into friends of the family (of course). I can't go anywhere in this town without seeing people I know, but my dad is even worse. It's a non-stop hit parade of people when we are together.
Anyway, then we did the "What do you want for dinner"-dance. This is my least-favorite conversation with my dad. He doesn't know what he wants and he offers few suggestions. Pork - isn't a suggestion. Anyway, my dad usually starts asking me what I want a week out...I think this is why I never know what I want when other people ask me. It's like an adverse reaction to the question or something.
Anyway, I suggested Grilled Pizza since we had a new recipe and procedure (past attempts ended in burnt/charred crust). He didn't like the idea and after 10 minutes at the Butcher Counter not liking anything he saw, he decided that the pizza is ok. So we bought what we needed and headed home.
I made the dough and it did exactly what the recipe said it would. We grilled the pizza and it was amazing. It was well worth the little bit of extra work, but overall the work was less than usual.
I went home after dinner and watched the Tony Awards. Thank goodness the American Theatre Wing "gets it" and gave best musical to SpamAlot. Finally, more than my generation gets the Monty Python humor - there is hope for the world!!!
Another work week - soon I will be with Mags and Will!
5 days until I am on a plane to California
328 days until sabbatical!
Sunday, June 05, 2005
The Zoo's The Thing
Movie Review: Madagascar
Can someone please explain Hollywood to me? Why are all the kids movies PG now (even the animated ones) and all the big blockbuster pics are PG-13 (instead of the R Rating we have all been used to)?
Here is the problem; first, you are making it very hard for me to take Maggie to movies. Everything is PG instead of G and that usually means there is ONE scene that may scare her. Why, oh, why? Why do you do this to me?
Despite the higher rating, this movie was cute. There were quite a few jokes for the adults in the room, and some for the little kids. But when the lion pictures all characters as steaks with legs, and then starts roaring and lunging to eat his friends, odds are the 3 to 4 year olds aren't going to be very happy. It was minor, and with that and a scene where the hyena-like cats are converging on all the cute and funny characters (the zebra, giraffe, hippo, and a whole bunch of lemurs), it can be taking as a little scary (not as freaky as SpongeBob's leg breaking off) - but I'm guessing my brother will put the kybosh on me and Mags at the movies next week.
Oh well, maybe I can find a theatre running early kiddie movies that aren't so scary!
Can someone please explain Hollywood to me? Why are all the kids movies PG now (even the animated ones) and all the big blockbuster pics are PG-13 (instead of the R Rating we have all been used to)?
Here is the problem; first, you are making it very hard for me to take Maggie to movies. Everything is PG instead of G and that usually means there is ONE scene that may scare her. Why, oh, why? Why do you do this to me?
Despite the higher rating, this movie was cute. There were quite a few jokes for the adults in the room, and some for the little kids. But when the lion pictures all characters as steaks with legs, and then starts roaring and lunging to eat his friends, odds are the 3 to 4 year olds aren't going to be very happy. It was minor, and with that and a scene where the hyena-like cats are converging on all the cute and funny characters (the zebra, giraffe, hippo, and a whole bunch of lemurs), it can be taking as a little scary (not as freaky as SpongeBob's leg breaking off) - but I'm guessing my brother will put the kybosh on me and Mags at the movies next week.
Oh well, maybe I can find a theatre running early kiddie movies that aren't so scary!
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Injustice League
As much as I would like to write a really long post about the injustice which occurred at my company on Friday, I should really keep this short so I don't lose my job as well.
I do need to say a couple of things, just to get it off my chest and so I can actually sleep.
If you don't know how to manage people - get out of any position that has you managing people. But in the meantime, just a couple of tips:
1) Don't blind-side people. If you have a question about a behavior, ask your direct report and get more detail. If you know the people who report to you, you know the difference between honest mistakes and deliberate actions against a person or persons (or company)
2) Get rid of dead weight - not the individuals who do all the work and keep the company functioning properly.
3) If you have someone who works for you that isn't in the right position for their talents, then help them find something better suited for them.
Okay - as much as I would like to say more, legally, I cannot. However, it ain't over...
I do need to say a couple of things, just to get it off my chest and so I can actually sleep.
If you don't know how to manage people - get out of any position that has you managing people. But in the meantime, just a couple of tips:
1) Don't blind-side people. If you have a question about a behavior, ask your direct report and get more detail. If you know the people who report to you, you know the difference between honest mistakes and deliberate actions against a person or persons (or company)
2) Get rid of dead weight - not the individuals who do all the work and keep the company functioning properly.
3) If you have someone who works for you that isn't in the right position for their talents, then help them find something better suited for them.
Okay - as much as I would like to say more, legally, I cannot. However, it ain't over...
Thursday, June 02, 2005
And the Rain Just Keeps On Fallin'
Another dreary day here in Atlanta and it makes it hard to be jazzed about anything. Personally, I would rather be in bed than sitting at my desk pretending to work!
I did get a blast from the past call yesterday that made me smile. I love talking to my friends and catching up on each other's lives - it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I did get my chance to nap when I got home too - that also makes me smile! Who decided that naps are passé after the age of 6, anyway? Whoever they are, they should be shot!
I did get to talk to Maggie as well - I called to talk to my brother and much to my surprise, Maggie answered the phone. I was given explicit instructions about my trip to San Fran in 10 days - "Aunt D, can you bring your stitching stuff so we can work on my butterfly, please?" Well, who can refuse her that? She has this beginner's needlepoint kit I bought her at Thanksgiving that is a butterfly in pinks and purples (her favorite colors) and each time I see her, we do a half a dozen stitches on it - at this rate, we will finish when she is 8.
Anyway, it is officially re-run season. I have found that absolutely nothing is on TV except some cooking shows and really bad Summer TV. So, I got roped in (not intentionally) to Dancing with the Stars. OMG this is bad TV - this was horrible to watch but I was surprised at the actual dancing...Who knew some of these stars (b-listers, all) could dance. But some of them should not have been wearing spandex!
Anyway, after brainless TV, I switched over to Good Eats I hadn't seen (and seriously had me considering becoming a vegetarian - 3 words - Split Pea Burgers). Then I decided I really needed to go to sleep - I was tired, but not sleepy.
So on came another bizarre sleepless night where all I did was toss and turn and check the clock. I think I need to hire Goldberg to come into my house nightly and knock me out...maybe then I could get some sleep!
Time to get some work done...but don't forget:
332 days until sabbatical!
But...
Only 8 1/2 days until I see Maggie and Will
I did get a blast from the past call yesterday that made me smile. I love talking to my friends and catching up on each other's lives - it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I did get my chance to nap when I got home too - that also makes me smile! Who decided that naps are passé after the age of 6, anyway? Whoever they are, they should be shot!
I did get to talk to Maggie as well - I called to talk to my brother and much to my surprise, Maggie answered the phone. I was given explicit instructions about my trip to San Fran in 10 days - "Aunt D, can you bring your stitching stuff so we can work on my butterfly, please?" Well, who can refuse her that? She has this beginner's needlepoint kit I bought her at Thanksgiving that is a butterfly in pinks and purples (her favorite colors) and each time I see her, we do a half a dozen stitches on it - at this rate, we will finish when she is 8.
Anyway, it is officially re-run season. I have found that absolutely nothing is on TV except some cooking shows and really bad Summer TV. So, I got roped in (not intentionally) to Dancing with the Stars. OMG this is bad TV - this was horrible to watch but I was surprised at the actual dancing...Who knew some of these stars (b-listers, all) could dance. But some of them should not have been wearing spandex!
Anyway, after brainless TV, I switched over to Good Eats I hadn't seen (and seriously had me considering becoming a vegetarian - 3 words - Split Pea Burgers). Then I decided I really needed to go to sleep - I was tired, but not sleepy.
So on came another bizarre sleepless night where all I did was toss and turn and check the clock. I think I need to hire Goldberg to come into my house nightly and knock me out...maybe then I could get some sleep!
Time to get some work done...but don't forget:
332 days until sabbatical!
But...
Only 8 1/2 days until I see Maggie and Will
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Friends of a Feather
It's been raining here and usually that makes for a good night's sleep for me...but not the past couple of days. The meds they have me on have completely screwed up my sleep routines and so my days are seemingly 2 weeks long.
Yesterday, I got an AIM from my dad inviting me to dinner and to watch the baseball game - so I missed out on my afternoon nap on my new comfy sofa (yes, pictures will be posted tonight!). I did sort of nap on my dad's sofa (my old one), but he kept wanting me to wake up to talk to him. Not a problem, I love my dad, but the meds had a better idea for me.
I finally got up and helped in the kitchen while he finished up dinner:
Grilled Sirloin Steaks with Black Pepper Rub
Sautéed Spinach with Fresh Lemon
Loaded Baked Potatoes with Swiss Cheese
We ate a nice meal and I could not finish it all. Finally, I headed out the door to go home to go to bed. Well, I walked in the door and realized it was 9:15 - quick! Turn on Gilmore Girls to re-watch the season finale!!! So I did.
I sat and stitched and watched the entire last episode again - even when I only needed to watch the last 10 minutes that were missed the previous time this aired. At 10pm, my phone started to ring...now those of you in the TiVo world understand that if you start 15 minutes late on an hour show, you end a couple minutes after the hour. SO i finally saw who proposed to whom and then the show ended immediately. Dammit! When will September be here???
So it turns out, my friend from work Tisha was the one calling to make sure that I saw GG also and we proceeded to dish about it for 15 minutes. Ahhhh - to have friends with common interests - it makes it so much fun to share. You know - Water Cooler talk. My friends who were into Lost all left the company, so no one was around right after the finale. SO sad.
Anyway, today I have been wasting time chatting with friends on AIM. Things keep happening in our lives so those of us trying to find time to hang out, can't seem to work it out...but we have plans to hang out, just no times yet...it will come. Plus, there will be some fun shopping involved and good girl-talk - always a plus!
Despite the rain and the storming, and the lack of a good night's sleep, today is a decent enough day with lots of people keeping me entertained...now if my mother would just send along those new Will pictures, I would be a much happier camper!
Yesterday, I got an AIM from my dad inviting me to dinner and to watch the baseball game - so I missed out on my afternoon nap on my new comfy sofa (yes, pictures will be posted tonight!). I did sort of nap on my dad's sofa (my old one), but he kept wanting me to wake up to talk to him. Not a problem, I love my dad, but the meds had a better idea for me.
I finally got up and helped in the kitchen while he finished up dinner:
Grilled Sirloin Steaks with Black Pepper Rub
Sautéed Spinach with Fresh Lemon
Loaded Baked Potatoes with Swiss Cheese
We ate a nice meal and I could not finish it all. Finally, I headed out the door to go home to go to bed. Well, I walked in the door and realized it was 9:15 - quick! Turn on Gilmore Girls to re-watch the season finale!!! So I did.
I sat and stitched and watched the entire last episode again - even when I only needed to watch the last 10 minutes that were missed the previous time this aired. At 10pm, my phone started to ring...now those of you in the TiVo world understand that if you start 15 minutes late on an hour show, you end a couple minutes after the hour. SO i finally saw who proposed to whom and then the show ended immediately. Dammit! When will September be here???
So it turns out, my friend from work Tisha was the one calling to make sure that I saw GG also and we proceeded to dish about it for 15 minutes. Ahhhh - to have friends with common interests - it makes it so much fun to share. You know - Water Cooler talk. My friends who were into Lost all left the company, so no one was around right after the finale. SO sad.
Anyway, today I have been wasting time chatting with friends on AIM. Things keep happening in our lives so those of us trying to find time to hang out, can't seem to work it out...but we have plans to hang out, just no times yet...it will come. Plus, there will be some fun shopping involved and good girl-talk - always a plus!
Despite the rain and the storming, and the lack of a good night's sleep, today is a decent enough day with lots of people keeping me entertained...now if my mother would just send along those new Will pictures, I would be a much happier camper!
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
At a Loss for Words...
So I am back at work today - ooooo fun!
I am bored...I'm tired of this big project, which I should have been done with already and getting back to my usual work is not a draw of any kind.
So I decided to read some other blogs (big mistake)...and have managed to distract myself for a bit. But now - I am actually annoyed.
It is tough when no names are used to figure out who someone is referring to, but I need to set the record straight about something...pardon me while I quote another blog:
1) I needed a change – ok, so this is the main reason I moved. I needed to do something different with my life and this was it. I’m done trying to justify it. I did what I had to do for my own sanity and happiness. People who don’t get it probably never will, and people who do get it don’t need me to explain it…
This better not be talking about me - even when being treated like dirt, I still supported the decision, all I did was question the timing (1 year from 2 months paid vacation). Hell - I did the same thing 3 years ago - the only difference was I was moving towards family and had a job to move to (a net of sorts), whereas Angie did it netless. It's funny how you can be best friends with someone for 11 years and then they turn on you like bad dairy products.
I am hopeful this will work out, but considering the last phone conversation we had she blew me off and that was 2 weeks ago and I haven't heard a lick since. No updates from the road...no emails...just blog posts with little mention of anything positive directed at friends (sorries and a little guilt, but over all nonchalance).
So I apologize to the rest of you for this ranting post - but I want something made clear...
I did nothing to you but support you. I tried to make plans to hang out before you left and was summarily dismissed and ignored. No one got a chance to say goodbye and those that wanted to were deeply hurt. Those that sort-of got the chance (you promised them a lunch before you left town) were also hurt. Don't make promises you aren't going to keep. If you wanted to sever all ties, then don't act the opposite. This solitude you have created is of your own doing and it would not make you less of a person to admit you need friends. Your last 6 months of holing up in your apartment playing video games at least got some of us used to you being gone, but didn't do much to keep friends when you left. At work, you left a team of people who looked up to you and respected you behind wondering why you didn't even say word one to them before walking out the door for the last time. And when they look to me for explanation - my only response is that I got the same brush off. I'm over it. I have been over it. One day you may want to mend fences or bridges and for that I would hope our friendship is one of them, but I am not holding my breath. You find yourself - I have always encouraged you to do so - I just didn't mean at the expense of friendships you have spent years building.
Okay - sorry everyone, apparently I was not at a loss for words, but it had to be said.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming!!
Love y'all ;)
I am bored...I'm tired of this big project, which I should have been done with already and getting back to my usual work is not a draw of any kind.
So I decided to read some other blogs (big mistake)...and have managed to distract myself for a bit. But now - I am actually annoyed.
It is tough when no names are used to figure out who someone is referring to, but I need to set the record straight about something...pardon me while I quote another blog:
1) I needed a change – ok, so this is the main reason I moved. I needed to do something different with my life and this was it. I’m done trying to justify it. I did what I had to do for my own sanity and happiness. People who don’t get it probably never will, and people who do get it don’t need me to explain it…
This better not be talking about me - even when being treated like dirt, I still supported the decision, all I did was question the timing (1 year from 2 months paid vacation). Hell - I did the same thing 3 years ago - the only difference was I was moving towards family and had a job to move to (a net of sorts), whereas Angie did it netless. It's funny how you can be best friends with someone for 11 years and then they turn on you like bad dairy products.
I am hopeful this will work out, but considering the last phone conversation we had she blew me off and that was 2 weeks ago and I haven't heard a lick since. No updates from the road...no emails...just blog posts with little mention of anything positive directed at friends (sorries and a little guilt, but over all nonchalance).
So I apologize to the rest of you for this ranting post - but I want something made clear...
I did nothing to you but support you. I tried to make plans to hang out before you left and was summarily dismissed and ignored. No one got a chance to say goodbye and those that wanted to were deeply hurt. Those that sort-of got the chance (you promised them a lunch before you left town) were also hurt. Don't make promises you aren't going to keep. If you wanted to sever all ties, then don't act the opposite. This solitude you have created is of your own doing and it would not make you less of a person to admit you need friends. Your last 6 months of holing up in your apartment playing video games at least got some of us used to you being gone, but didn't do much to keep friends when you left. At work, you left a team of people who looked up to you and respected you behind wondering why you didn't even say word one to them before walking out the door for the last time. And when they look to me for explanation - my only response is that I got the same brush off. I'm over it. I have been over it. One day you may want to mend fences or bridges and for that I would hope our friendship is one of them, but I am not holding my breath. You find yourself - I have always encouraged you to do so - I just didn't mean at the expense of friendships you have spent years building.
Okay - sorry everyone, apparently I was not at a loss for words, but it had to be said.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming!!
Love y'all ;)
Monday, May 30, 2005
The Longest Day
Movie Review: The Longest Yard
So my mom is off to California - Phase 2 of the Baby Patrol is now in progress. What does that mean for me? Okay, besides the fact that it means 2 weeks until I get to go (Phase 3), it means my dad is without my mom for 2 weeks...and he is lost without her.
It is actually pretty sweet - he gets lonely and demands quite a bit of attention. I figured I would lessen the pain by hanging out with him on Saturday. I knew I wanted to see a movie (my movie buddy moved to LA and we had barely seen anything together all year anyway) and I had gift certificates for The Flying Biscuit I wanted to use up (since I had bought them to use with said movie buddy and she ditched me and went with someone else - isn't that special?).
So we dropped my mom at the airport and headed back to my parents house to watch the Braves game before the flick. We headed to the theatre and watched a pretty decent movie.
Not having seen the entire first movie, and even then watched it long ago, it was hard for me to compare it. So basically, the movie had funny parts, was pretty predictable, but entertaining. That's all you can really ask for $7 and to see something that would interest my dad. I figured that anything else on my list would not have been interesting to him in the least. See it, but save your money and Netflix it.
Next, we drove to midtown and had an awesome dinner at the Biscuit. I think my dad was actually surprised. He had never eaten there before but I knew it was his kind of place.
Organic Field Greens Salad with a Flying Biscuit
Fruit Bruschetta with Brie
Margarita Chicken with Corn Soufflé and Sautéed Spinach
So after we stuffed ourselves (and had an awesome waitress take care of us) and I paid the bill, we walked out to my car. I commented to my dad that it was too bad we stuffed ourselves as I had planned to take him to Jake's for ice cream afterwards. Well, he perked up and insisted we go to Jake's anyway (my father has never turned down ice cream in his life). We drove around the block and I pulled into a place at Jake's. We just beat the crowd in there too (something was going on at Piedmont Park that afternoon). I got my usual cone with Brown Sugah Vanilla and my dad couldn't decide between that and Chocolate Slap Yo Mama...so he got a cone with both.
Those of you have eaten Jake's know that this ice cream is really soft. So he had to eat it over a bowl while the entire cone kept threatening to topple over on him. But he was successful - not a drop spilled!
So I dropped him at home with plans for Sunday night barbeque (be over sometime after 1pm, he said).
Sunday was cool - I napped a lot while we watched baseball, the Indy 500 (a chick came in 4th!) and LPGA golf. My dad smoked some chicken leg quarters before putting the ribs on and I handled the sauce-production between breaks sitting down.
So we had an awesome meal before I headed home to crash and had already prepared our lunch for Monday.
BBQ Baby Back Ribs with Lindy's Rib Rub and Mom's BBQ Sauce
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Pete and Sam's Spinach
And Monday Lunch (be over around noon) was excellent as well:
Pulled Chicken BBQ Sandwiches
All-in-all it was a busy and hectic weekend. And I ran errands! Too bad I have to return to work tomorrow...:(
So my mom is off to California - Phase 2 of the Baby Patrol is now in progress. What does that mean for me? Okay, besides the fact that it means 2 weeks until I get to go (Phase 3), it means my dad is without my mom for 2 weeks...and he is lost without her.
It is actually pretty sweet - he gets lonely and demands quite a bit of attention. I figured I would lessen the pain by hanging out with him on Saturday. I knew I wanted to see a movie (my movie buddy moved to LA and we had barely seen anything together all year anyway) and I had gift certificates for The Flying Biscuit I wanted to use up (since I had bought them to use with said movie buddy and she ditched me and went with someone else - isn't that special?).
So we dropped my mom at the airport and headed back to my parents house to watch the Braves game before the flick. We headed to the theatre and watched a pretty decent movie.
Not having seen the entire first movie, and even then watched it long ago, it was hard for me to compare it. So basically, the movie had funny parts, was pretty predictable, but entertaining. That's all you can really ask for $7 and to see something that would interest my dad. I figured that anything else on my list would not have been interesting to him in the least. See it, but save your money and Netflix it.
Next, we drove to midtown and had an awesome dinner at the Biscuit. I think my dad was actually surprised. He had never eaten there before but I knew it was his kind of place.
Organic Field Greens Salad with a Flying Biscuit
Fruit Bruschetta with Brie
Margarita Chicken with Corn Soufflé and Sautéed Spinach
So after we stuffed ourselves (and had an awesome waitress take care of us) and I paid the bill, we walked out to my car. I commented to my dad that it was too bad we stuffed ourselves as I had planned to take him to Jake's for ice cream afterwards. Well, he perked up and insisted we go to Jake's anyway (my father has never turned down ice cream in his life). We drove around the block and I pulled into a place at Jake's. We just beat the crowd in there too (something was going on at Piedmont Park that afternoon). I got my usual cone with Brown Sugah Vanilla and my dad couldn't decide between that and Chocolate Slap Yo Mama...so he got a cone with both.
Those of you have eaten Jake's know that this ice cream is really soft. So he had to eat it over a bowl while the entire cone kept threatening to topple over on him. But he was successful - not a drop spilled!
So I dropped him at home with plans for Sunday night barbeque (be over sometime after 1pm, he said).
Sunday was cool - I napped a lot while we watched baseball, the Indy 500 (a chick came in 4th!) and LPGA golf. My dad smoked some chicken leg quarters before putting the ribs on and I handled the sauce-production between breaks sitting down.
So we had an awesome meal before I headed home to crash and had already prepared our lunch for Monday.
BBQ Baby Back Ribs with Lindy's Rib Rub and Mom's BBQ Sauce
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Pete and Sam's Spinach
And Monday Lunch (be over around noon) was excellent as well:
Pulled Chicken BBQ Sandwiches
All-in-all it was a busy and hectic weekend. And I ran errands! Too bad I have to return to work tomorrow...:(
Sunday, May 29, 2005
The Shot Felt 'Round the Leg
Shot #3 has come and gone...thank god!
So the 3rd one was better than the first, but more painful than the second. Thank goodness I am done and can attempt to get back to a normal existance...in a few days anyway.
So I lounged around and took it easy - watched DVDs all day:
Minority Report
Jaws
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Contact
Superman
Spider-Man
Anyway, the day was not too bad. I got decent food and slept a lot. I was glad when it was over...the worst pain is felt in the first 24 hours. Now, to get rid of this cane...
So the 3rd one was better than the first, but more painful than the second. Thank goodness I am done and can attempt to get back to a normal existance...in a few days anyway.
So I lounged around and took it easy - watched DVDs all day:
Minority Report
Jaws
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Contact
Superman
Spider-Man
Anyway, the day was not too bad. I got decent food and slept a lot. I was glad when it was over...the worst pain is felt in the first 24 hours. Now, to get rid of this cane...
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Bowling for Strategy
So bowling was fun on Tuesday, but it would have been more fun if I could have bowled. I did manage to forget my pain for a couple of hours, but I was mad popping pills towards the end.
It was pretty funny to see the group interact, even though Mandy and I still don't speak and she looked like she couldn't wait for it to end. Everyone else was entertaining - especially Kyle - you just know he was the class clown.
Most people were picking on my boss, but he seemed to take it in stride and have fun with the ribbing. All-in-all, it wasn't a bad day.
My bowling position was outsourced to a Sales guy, but he was a pretty decent bowler and scored about what I would have each game - they called me a ringer, but I wasn't really.
Yesterday wasn't too bad - painful, but tolerable. I am really ready to get this last shot taken care of and move on. This has been no bowl of cherries and I am seriously happy to get it resolved. Tick-tock.
Now, as a side note, I have to say that I am in a really good mood despite the pain and the crappiness that keeps being dumped on me (no one lives for me, but me). Things are going well at work, despite being insane, my boss is appreciative and keeps telling me how impressed he has been. Thank goodness for him - I might revolt otherwise.
I will say that things are good, except for the pain. Plus, only 2 weeks until Maggie and Will - so I am happy as a clam.
339 days until sabbatical
It was pretty funny to see the group interact, even though Mandy and I still don't speak and she looked like she couldn't wait for it to end. Everyone else was entertaining - especially Kyle - you just know he was the class clown.
Most people were picking on my boss, but he seemed to take it in stride and have fun with the ribbing. All-in-all, it wasn't a bad day.
My bowling position was outsourced to a Sales guy, but he was a pretty decent bowler and scored about what I would have each game - they called me a ringer, but I wasn't really.
Yesterday wasn't too bad - painful, but tolerable. I am really ready to get this last shot taken care of and move on. This has been no bowl of cherries and I am seriously happy to get it resolved. Tick-tock.
Now, as a side note, I have to say that I am in a really good mood despite the pain and the crappiness that keeps being dumped on me (no one lives for me, but me). Things are going well at work, despite being insane, my boss is appreciative and keeps telling me how impressed he has been. Thank goodness for him - I might revolt otherwise.
I will say that things are good, except for the pain. Plus, only 2 weeks until Maggie and Will - so I am happy as a clam.
339 days until sabbatical
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Sofa's Choice
Yesterday was day 203 of hell project and things keep being broken or needing a new process. It's been exhausting and I'm SO over it.
The one good thing about Angie moving (and let's face it, her invasion-of-the-body-snatchers-turn was not a highlight), was I got her sofa which she had no room for. This is perfect timing as my parents were taking back their sofa that I have been using for 3 years. In exchange, my mom said she would pay to recover this sofa, including fabric that I picked out - that's guilt for leaving me sofa-less.
So a few weeks ago, the hunt began for fabric. I ended up with something pretty cool - black corduroy with an embossed pattern of serpentine.
Well, yesterday it was delivered while I was at work. I came home, completely beat and in need of a nap. I walked into the apartment and there it was - complete with spotlight and angels signing from above...okay, not really, but it felt like it.
Here is the problem - it looks nothing like the sofa that was given to me - it is completely rebuilt, restuffed (no more Teemu scratch marks) and it looks sorta fancy. I was afraid to actually sit on it. I was absolutely amazed that the job Mr. Han (my upholstery guy) did with it...it's like brand new!
Well, with all that excitement (yes, I am that lame), I was wide awake and could not nap. So I spent the evening watching the last 4 hours of 24 and sewing. It was a great night for me and quite relaxing.
Now I am really wishing I had taken that nap!! My new sofa is calling my name :)
Back to work for my half-day before the big Strategy bowling outing where I cannot bowl and have to watch while my co-workers get to have all the fun without me.
The one good thing about Angie moving (and let's face it, her invasion-of-the-body-snatchers-turn was not a highlight), was I got her sofa which she had no room for. This is perfect timing as my parents were taking back their sofa that I have been using for 3 years. In exchange, my mom said she would pay to recover this sofa, including fabric that I picked out - that's guilt for leaving me sofa-less.
So a few weeks ago, the hunt began for fabric. I ended up with something pretty cool - black corduroy with an embossed pattern of serpentine.
Well, yesterday it was delivered while I was at work. I came home, completely beat and in need of a nap. I walked into the apartment and there it was - complete with spotlight and angels signing from above...okay, not really, but it felt like it.
Here is the problem - it looks nothing like the sofa that was given to me - it is completely rebuilt, restuffed (no more Teemu scratch marks) and it looks sorta fancy. I was afraid to actually sit on it. I was absolutely amazed that the job Mr. Han (my upholstery guy) did with it...it's like brand new!
Well, with all that excitement (yes, I am that lame), I was wide awake and could not nap. So I spent the evening watching the last 4 hours of 24 and sewing. It was a great night for me and quite relaxing.
Now I am really wishing I had taken that nap!! My new sofa is calling my name :)
Back to work for my half-day before the big Strategy bowling outing where I cannot bowl and have to watch while my co-workers get to have all the fun without me.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Welcome to the Dark Side
Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Clearly, George Lucas made Episodes I and II just to get to III.
I was very happy with this installment and felt like I was 10 years old again. I think he made up for I and II with this well put together bridge between the old and new trilogies. I loved everything from the opening bars of the Star Wars Theme, to the first Vader breath. They explained a lot of things that make the transistion from 3 to 4 almost seemless...maybe one or two loose ends that will be covered by George's 2006 TV series.
All-in-all, it was a great show and I am dying to see it again!
The day was a lot of fun too. Kerstin and Kim were great fun to hang out with and enjoyed the movie just as much as I did (okay - moreso Kerstin than Kim, but Kerstin is an SW geek like I am). Afterwards we had a great dinner at a Mexican place (authentic - the menu was all in Spanish!). Thanks guys :)
I went home, propped my leg back up (okay, so the knee hated me all through the movie and dinner, but I had so much fun I tried to ignore it) and watched more DVDs and some TiVo stuff. I finally went to bed around midnight and woke up and was wide awake from about 330am on. It sucks, but this is what the drugs do to me.
So I am at work - cleaning up the aftermath from my big project and hoping for the end of the day to get here soon so I can go home and prop up my leg on my new sofa.
Later all!
Clearly, George Lucas made Episodes I and II just to get to III.
I was very happy with this installment and felt like I was 10 years old again. I think he made up for I and II with this well put together bridge between the old and new trilogies. I loved everything from the opening bars of the Star Wars Theme, to the first Vader breath. They explained a lot of things that make the transistion from 3 to 4 almost seemless...maybe one or two loose ends that will be covered by George's 2006 TV series.
All-in-all, it was a great show and I am dying to see it again!
The day was a lot of fun too. Kerstin and Kim were great fun to hang out with and enjoyed the movie just as much as I did (okay - moreso Kerstin than Kim, but Kerstin is an SW geek like I am). Afterwards we had a great dinner at a Mexican place (authentic - the menu was all in Spanish!). Thanks guys :)
I went home, propped my leg back up (okay, so the knee hated me all through the movie and dinner, but I had so much fun I tried to ignore it) and watched more DVDs and some TiVo stuff. I finally went to bed around midnight and woke up and was wide awake from about 330am on. It sucks, but this is what the drugs do to me.
So I am at work - cleaning up the aftermath from my big project and hoping for the end of the day to get here soon so I can go home and prop up my leg on my new sofa.
Later all!
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Fuel Injection
Shot #2 and I'm still alive - but not kicking!
Let me just tell you that I think the doc hit a nerve the first time around. This one hurt, but not nearly as much as last week.
My angel of mercy took me to and from the doctor and even cracked some jokes with him to help keep my mind off the big needle...did I mention that Heather rocks?
Anyway, she got me all set up at home - laid out on the sofa, leg propped up, ice pack on, remote controls close and ready to nap for hours...which I did.
My day consisted of drinking water, taking pain pills, barely eating and watching DVDs of TV Shows (a good hint, these you don't have to get up and change discs as often). I did some cross-stitch and slept some more. I did as little as possible since my sofa (for this last weekend) is too low for my bad knees.
All was well Saturday too. I basically repeated Friday except I had to run one errand. But I kept it short and sweet and got right back on the sofa. I slept a lot, especially since the good drugs tend to throw off my sleep pattern so much that I find myself taking 6 naps a day and not sleeping through the night...
Oh well, only a little more than a week left of this!
Let me just tell you that I think the doc hit a nerve the first time around. This one hurt, but not nearly as much as last week.
My angel of mercy took me to and from the doctor and even cracked some jokes with him to help keep my mind off the big needle...did I mention that Heather rocks?
Anyway, she got me all set up at home - laid out on the sofa, leg propped up, ice pack on, remote controls close and ready to nap for hours...which I did.
My day consisted of drinking water, taking pain pills, barely eating and watching DVDs of TV Shows (a good hint, these you don't have to get up and change discs as often). I did some cross-stitch and slept some more. I did as little as possible since my sofa (for this last weekend) is too low for my bad knees.
All was well Saturday too. I basically repeated Friday except I had to run one errand. But I kept it short and sweet and got right back on the sofa. I slept a lot, especially since the good drugs tend to throw off my sleep pattern so much that I find myself taking 6 naps a day and not sleeping through the night...
Oh well, only a little more than a week left of this!
Thursday, May 19, 2005
A Matter of Trust
Sorry it has been a few days since I last posted, but I figured I needed a couple of days to try and chill so my posts were not quite so "ranty."
The question of the day has been "So how was Episode III?!"
Why don't you all take a seat...I didn't go. Quiet down, quiet down. The world is NOT coming to an end or anything; it was a matter of circumstance and really came as no big surprise. Now to worry, I am going to go and see it on Sunday with some friends and I am sure I will enjoy every minute of it!
Today is a very odd day - I had originally taken the day off since I had plans for the flick last night, but ended up coming in and not wasting the vacation hours for no reason. I'm still working my arse off on this project and I keep thinking I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but then something else crops up.
I'm in a weird place right now and haven't really figured out what do to next. I am at a loss. I am a very lucky person and I have a lot of people around me who care about me and help look out for me. I think this comes from years of being selfless when it came to my friends and putting others ahead of myself. I never really did something for someone with the expectation of getting something out of it (except for the satisfaction of helping a friend), but it has really touched me in the last couple of weeks to have all the love and support that I do. And who knew I would need it? Certainly not me.
So, to all of my dear friends who have put up with me all these years and stayed close friends (even when I was gone to California for 2 years), I thank you. You are all such wonderful people and I feel like I don't deserve you :)
It's really hard dealing with loss and usually someone has actually died, which is where this feeling of loss comes from...however to lose someone who is still alive, but has basically broken ties and moved on to other things, with little or no explanation and just a trail of broken promises and hurtful acts, is hard to deal with.
5 Stages of Grief
Shock/Denial
Inward Anger
Outward Anger
Depression
Acceptance
Well, I have made it through the first 2 - I think that is safe to say. Stage 2 was all about, 'what did I do?' 'how did I make this happen?' 'I should have done something different." Stage 3 has become all about a lack of trust; you place your trust in someone and they use that to take advantage or hurt you in ways you never imagined. I really didn't think this would happen to me, but alas, I was wrong.
It is one thing to pull away from someone due to being scared, not wanting to say goodbye, etc., which is perfectly understandable and avoidable if the friendship is strong. However, it is the deliberate acts of cruelty and doing things to hurt others that always has me baffled. It is a tough road for me, and having access to heavy drugs right now is probably not a good thing...
Don't panic - I'm not doing anything rash and nor would I ever - I just mean that while dulling the knee pain, I am also able to dull the heart pain...today, that is a good thing, but overall it keeps me in denial for a very long time.
I'll live. I refuse to be "poor me" and complain forever. I have promised myself that I will not let this cloud anything and everything that comes my way.
Pick yourself up...
Take a deep breath...
Dust yourself off
And start all over again.
The question of the day has been "So how was Episode III?!"
Why don't you all take a seat...I didn't go. Quiet down, quiet down. The world is NOT coming to an end or anything; it was a matter of circumstance and really came as no big surprise. Now to worry, I am going to go and see it on Sunday with some friends and I am sure I will enjoy every minute of it!
Today is a very odd day - I had originally taken the day off since I had plans for the flick last night, but ended up coming in and not wasting the vacation hours for no reason. I'm still working my arse off on this project and I keep thinking I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but then something else crops up.
I'm in a weird place right now and haven't really figured out what do to next. I am at a loss. I am a very lucky person and I have a lot of people around me who care about me and help look out for me. I think this comes from years of being selfless when it came to my friends and putting others ahead of myself. I never really did something for someone with the expectation of getting something out of it (except for the satisfaction of helping a friend), but it has really touched me in the last couple of weeks to have all the love and support that I do. And who knew I would need it? Certainly not me.
So, to all of my dear friends who have put up with me all these years and stayed close friends (even when I was gone to California for 2 years), I thank you. You are all such wonderful people and I feel like I don't deserve you :)
It's really hard dealing with loss and usually someone has actually died, which is where this feeling of loss comes from...however to lose someone who is still alive, but has basically broken ties and moved on to other things, with little or no explanation and just a trail of broken promises and hurtful acts, is hard to deal with.
5 Stages of Grief
Shock/Denial
Inward Anger
Outward Anger
Depression
Acceptance
Well, I have made it through the first 2 - I think that is safe to say. Stage 2 was all about, 'what did I do?' 'how did I make this happen?' 'I should have done something different." Stage 3 has become all about a lack of trust; you place your trust in someone and they use that to take advantage or hurt you in ways you never imagined. I really didn't think this would happen to me, but alas, I was wrong.
It is one thing to pull away from someone due to being scared, not wanting to say goodbye, etc., which is perfectly understandable and avoidable if the friendship is strong. However, it is the deliberate acts of cruelty and doing things to hurt others that always has me baffled. It is a tough road for me, and having access to heavy drugs right now is probably not a good thing...
Don't panic - I'm not doing anything rash and nor would I ever - I just mean that while dulling the knee pain, I am also able to dull the heart pain...today, that is a good thing, but overall it keeps me in denial for a very long time.
I'll live. I refuse to be "poor me" and complain forever. I have promised myself that I will not let this cloud anything and everything that comes my way.
Pick yourself up...
Take a deep breath...
Dust yourself off
And start all over again.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Bumpin' and Grindin'
After the phone call I just received - it is a two-post day.
When my dad and I went outside to get in his car on Saturday, I noticed that there was a puddle under my car...it looked rainbow-like, so I knew it was probably not water. My dad sniffed around under my car and determined it was gasoline.
Now, I have a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport and I love it to death...to death is pretty close to the truth apparently.
So I dropped the car off at my trusty Goodyear Gemini location and left the keys on Sunday night. I get to drive my dad's Mercedes for a day or two - yahoo!
So Tom from Goodyear just called to tell me the damage. They had to remove the gas tank to figure out the problem and found that the fuel pump assembly was cracked. This must have happened when the rear shocks blew and I took the Jeep off-roading...
Yeah, I don't off-road in that thing - it isn't a 4x4.
No clue how this happened. I have been searching the ol' memory banks and cannot find a single instance where this might have happened. Here is the damage:
New Fuel Pump Assembly
Rear Shocks
Oil and Filter Change
Air Filter Change
New Windshield Wipers
Passenger-Side Brake Light Replacement
Labor for all the above
$1139 (oh yeah, plus tax!)
Damn! That hurts! Plus the $40 per week for these damn shots (and 10% on top of that) and I need a 3rd job just to keep up.
Okay - off to earn my paycheck in a 2-hour meeting...fun, fun!
When my dad and I went outside to get in his car on Saturday, I noticed that there was a puddle under my car...it looked rainbow-like, so I knew it was probably not water. My dad sniffed around under my car and determined it was gasoline.
Now, I have a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport and I love it to death...to death is pretty close to the truth apparently.
So I dropped the car off at my trusty Goodyear Gemini location and left the keys on Sunday night. I get to drive my dad's Mercedes for a day or two - yahoo!
So Tom from Goodyear just called to tell me the damage. They had to remove the gas tank to figure out the problem and found that the fuel pump assembly was cracked. This must have happened when the rear shocks blew and I took the Jeep off-roading...
Yeah, I don't off-road in that thing - it isn't a 4x4.
No clue how this happened. I have been searching the ol' memory banks and cannot find a single instance where this might have happened. Here is the damage:
New Fuel Pump Assembly
Rear Shocks
Oil and Filter Change
Air Filter Change
New Windshield Wipers
Passenger-Side Brake Light Replacement
Labor for all the above
$1139 (oh yeah, plus tax!)
Damn! That hurts! Plus the $40 per week for these damn shots (and 10% on top of that) and I need a 3rd job just to keep up.
Okay - off to earn my paycheck in a 2-hour meeting...fun, fun!
A Royal Pain in the Knee
So Shot #1 completed...do a dance for me, because I cannot.
So Friday was an insane day. We have this major project going on as I mentioned before and it is taking up ALL of my time. I had to leave work at 1:45 to get to my doctor's appointment (actually, I had to get to my parent's house, leave my car, change clothes, and have my mother drive me to the doctor's). All in time for a 2:30 appointment and they close at 3pm.
So, I had a project update meeting at 1pm. I explained to everyone that I had to walk out at 145pm and could we cover my area first. No one had a problem with that.
We started the meeting 10 minutes late and started with all the technical crap and caused a huge argument and a big delay in the meeting. 145pm came and went and we still hadn't covered my stuff. We finally got to it at 2pm and after 10 minutes, (my boss had already left) I had to excuse myself. I booked it to my car and peeled out of the parking lot. I killed myself to get to the doctor and my dad was kind enough to drive my mom to the doctor's office.
I walked in, with shorts and tennis shoes in hand (since I can't wear that to work) and was given a couple minutes to change in the room. Thank goodness. My mom walked in about the same time I did and that was nice. The nurse offered to get me a gown to change into and then I showed my shorts and she said "see, this is why you are one of our favorite patients!" Nice sentiment, it did make me feel good, but worries me that I spend too much time there. I think I keep Resurgens in business.
Anyway, I talked to my mom while I got the shot - it hurt like an SOB and I tried not to yell out. My mom kept me distracted while he shot world's longest needle into my knee (and hit a nerve or two on the way in) and shot the motor oil in...fun, huh?
So, the day sucked and ended with pain...and I get to do this for the next two weeks. The problem is, my parents are out of town on Friday and cannot be my transportation. I have a good friend who volunteered when I told her of my predicament and so I think I am covered...thank goodness.
So the weekend was pretty much a bust - I was unable to do much of anything for almost 2 days afterwards. I was supposed to go to my friend's house for dinner on Saturday, but was unable to drive down there. I passed along messages via cell phone, email and an SMS to Angie, but it turns out she was a no show as well - not to mention Steev didn't check his voicemail...nice.
Anyway, I think I convinced my friends this was unavoidable and I am no longer in the doghouse. I hate being in the doghouse. Hopefully, this weekend will suck less than last.
On a positive note, I sent presents to the West Coast (niece and nephew) and I got a phone call at my parents on Friday. Maggie is still the cutest ever. But when I got home on Sunday and checked my voicemail, there was a message from her. It said:
"Aunt D...Thank you for the present, but can you call back for us?" Clearly, Maggie doesn't like leaving messages anymore than I do :)
Back to work with my knee propped up under my desk and confined to my cube for the duration!
So Friday was an insane day. We have this major project going on as I mentioned before and it is taking up ALL of my time. I had to leave work at 1:45 to get to my doctor's appointment (actually, I had to get to my parent's house, leave my car, change clothes, and have my mother drive me to the doctor's). All in time for a 2:30 appointment and they close at 3pm.
So, I had a project update meeting at 1pm. I explained to everyone that I had to walk out at 145pm and could we cover my area first. No one had a problem with that.
We started the meeting 10 minutes late and started with all the technical crap and caused a huge argument and a big delay in the meeting. 145pm came and went and we still hadn't covered my stuff. We finally got to it at 2pm and after 10 minutes, (my boss had already left) I had to excuse myself. I booked it to my car and peeled out of the parking lot. I killed myself to get to the doctor and my dad was kind enough to drive my mom to the doctor's office.
I walked in, with shorts and tennis shoes in hand (since I can't wear that to work) and was given a couple minutes to change in the room. Thank goodness. My mom walked in about the same time I did and that was nice. The nurse offered to get me a gown to change into and then I showed my shorts and she said "see, this is why you are one of our favorite patients!" Nice sentiment, it did make me feel good, but worries me that I spend too much time there. I think I keep Resurgens in business.
Anyway, I talked to my mom while I got the shot - it hurt like an SOB and I tried not to yell out. My mom kept me distracted while he shot world's longest needle into my knee (and hit a nerve or two on the way in) and shot the motor oil in...fun, huh?
So, the day sucked and ended with pain...and I get to do this for the next two weeks. The problem is, my parents are out of town on Friday and cannot be my transportation. I have a good friend who volunteered when I told her of my predicament and so I think I am covered...thank goodness.
So the weekend was pretty much a bust - I was unable to do much of anything for almost 2 days afterwards. I was supposed to go to my friend's house for dinner on Saturday, but was unable to drive down there. I passed along messages via cell phone, email and an SMS to Angie, but it turns out she was a no show as well - not to mention Steev didn't check his voicemail...nice.
Anyway, I think I convinced my friends this was unavoidable and I am no longer in the doghouse. I hate being in the doghouse. Hopefully, this weekend will suck less than last.
On a positive note, I sent presents to the West Coast (niece and nephew) and I got a phone call at my parents on Friday. Maggie is still the cutest ever. But when I got home on Sunday and checked my voicemail, there was a message from her. It said:
"Aunt D...Thank you for the present, but can you call back for us?" Clearly, Maggie doesn't like leaving messages anymore than I do :)
Back to work with my knee propped up under my desk and confined to my cube for the duration!
Friday, May 13, 2005
The Replacements
So it has happened...I have been replaced. It is an odd feeling really, but it's funny how I sort of knew this was coming for some time now.
So the question is, what is my game-plan? What am I going to do next? I haven't really figured that one out, but I figure that I have time. I mean, hell, I went it alone for 2 years in San Francisco, so this should be no different....it's just sad. The end of an era.
So today at work is kind of quiet (at least for now). I'm finishing up a few things I didn't get completed in my 10 straight hours yesterday, but over all it has been mostly about answering some questions. Boring, really.
The countdown beings to San Francisco and the new baby and lots of Maggie time. I can't wait. She keeps me young and honest and I like that a lot.
The rest of my day will suck, however. I'm getting a really BIG needle jabbed into my knee and motor oil pumped in - sounds exciting, doesn't it? Here is what is more exciting, I get to do it again the next two Fridays as well...Yippeee! Then I get to stay off my leg for the day - man I am bored already!
Good news is that I have plans with friends tomorrow night that should be a lot of fun. I am really looking forward to that :) These are friends I really treasure and am not sure I would still work at my current job (moving back to Atlanta), if I didn't have this big support system right in the office...it's a beautiful thing, really :)
Back to work, I guess. It's gonna be a long, painful, boring day and I might as well get it over with...
So the question is, what is my game-plan? What am I going to do next? I haven't really figured that one out, but I figure that I have time. I mean, hell, I went it alone for 2 years in San Francisco, so this should be no different....it's just sad. The end of an era.
So today at work is kind of quiet (at least for now). I'm finishing up a few things I didn't get completed in my 10 straight hours yesterday, but over all it has been mostly about answering some questions. Boring, really.
The countdown beings to San Francisco and the new baby and lots of Maggie time. I can't wait. She keeps me young and honest and I like that a lot.
The rest of my day will suck, however. I'm getting a really BIG needle jabbed into my knee and motor oil pumped in - sounds exciting, doesn't it? Here is what is more exciting, I get to do it again the next two Fridays as well...Yippeee! Then I get to stay off my leg for the day - man I am bored already!
Good news is that I have plans with friends tomorrow night that should be a lot of fun. I am really looking forward to that :) These are friends I really treasure and am not sure I would still work at my current job (moving back to Atlanta), if I didn't have this big support system right in the office...it's a beautiful thing, really :)
Back to work, I guess. It's gonna be a long, painful, boring day and I might as well get it over with...
Thursday, May 12, 2005
There is No Joy in Pain
So this is pretty late in the day for me to post, but today has been crazy and this is the first chance I have gotten.
Ihave been dealing with a major project at work and it has taken up every moment of my time and there is no joy in that.
Things around here are odd. We are in the middle of what I would call a Mass Exodus. Many people who have been here for some time have decided to move on for school, other jobs, etc. and it is very eerie here. I'm not going this close to sabbatical - it's less than a year at this point and for that, I can hang on. Besides, I don't hate it here, I just hate certain parts of my job at times.
Otherwise there is nothing to report...it's all work all the time.
By the way, to the anonymous poster from yesterday - I refuse to believe it is so hopeless.
Ihave been dealing with a major project at work and it has taken up every moment of my time and there is no joy in that.
Things around here are odd. We are in the middle of what I would call a Mass Exodus. Many people who have been here for some time have decided to move on for school, other jobs, etc. and it is very eerie here. I'm not going this close to sabbatical - it's less than a year at this point and for that, I can hang on. Besides, I don't hate it here, I just hate certain parts of my job at times.
Otherwise there is nothing to report...it's all work all the time.
By the way, to the anonymous poster from yesterday - I refuse to believe it is so hopeless.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
The Truth About Trouble
Men can be trouble. I'm not sure if it is something they are by design or just by years of programming, but lately it seems to not matter how, just the why.
I love men, I do. It is when they become frustrating and make our lives more dramatic that you wonder why we keep them around at all. Mind you, I am not referring to ALL men, but at some point and time, each man becomes difficult to some girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, etc.
So, for more information as to why this has come up, please feel free to pop on over to Ancalagon's Abyss and read all about it (the Voodoo Doll post from 5/10) and then her follow up post from today (5/11).
Here is my point...men do not "get" women. They should - they have been trying for enough years that they should have made some progress. But to that point, women are too sensitive to things men say. We read too much into any word uttered by a man and end up making things into even more drama than they started out. Last time I checked, even though there have been a couple of sexual revolutions in the last few decades, women still experience an emotional attachment when sex is involved. We can lie to ourselves and our friends and say "it's just sex," but deep down there is this connection that we cannot control...The difference is how we choose to handle that connection that keeps all of us chicks unique and keeps the boys guessing.
So where have we all gone wrong? Well, men need to understand that this will happen no matter what we say we want. Women need to be honest with themselves (me included) and understand their own hearts and minds. In other words, don't write any checks you can't cash!
That said, and I think I have said my peace, can't we all just get along!?!
So today is less insane than yesterday, but my job is making me crazy this week and I need a little adventure. I'm not sure what kind of adventure, but something to break up the monotony. Something fun...exciting...did I mention fun? Day trip somewhere would be nice, but who has the time? Yeah, yeah...make time.
So yesterday a friend here at work asked me a weird question...do I have a boyfriend? Now this was completely out of left field and I wasn't really expecting it, but it was an odd question based on what the conversation had been. I explained my status (between bad relationships) and that I have little time to meet anyone who isn't at work. Then I started to think about that. Except for the redneck next door who likes to hit on me, I don't really meet people outside of work. Sad, really.
So, I need to get out there. At least meet some people. I was going strong in January and somehow I allowed my momentum to fizzle out and die. I really am not sure how that happened. So a mid-year resolution - get out, have fun and stop letting work run my life.
Good luck to me :)
I love men, I do. It is when they become frustrating and make our lives more dramatic that you wonder why we keep them around at all. Mind you, I am not referring to ALL men, but at some point and time, each man becomes difficult to some girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, etc.
So, for more information as to why this has come up, please feel free to pop on over to Ancalagon's Abyss and read all about it (the Voodoo Doll post from 5/10) and then her follow up post from today (5/11).
Here is my point...men do not "get" women. They should - they have been trying for enough years that they should have made some progress. But to that point, women are too sensitive to things men say. We read too much into any word uttered by a man and end up making things into even more drama than they started out. Last time I checked, even though there have been a couple of sexual revolutions in the last few decades, women still experience an emotional attachment when sex is involved. We can lie to ourselves and our friends and say "it's just sex," but deep down there is this connection that we cannot control...The difference is how we choose to handle that connection that keeps all of us chicks unique and keeps the boys guessing.
So where have we all gone wrong? Well, men need to understand that this will happen no matter what we say we want. Women need to be honest with themselves (me included) and understand their own hearts and minds. In other words, don't write any checks you can't cash!
That said, and I think I have said my peace, can't we all just get along!?!
So today is less insane than yesterday, but my job is making me crazy this week and I need a little adventure. I'm not sure what kind of adventure, but something to break up the monotony. Something fun...exciting...did I mention fun? Day trip somewhere would be nice, but who has the time? Yeah, yeah...make time.
So yesterday a friend here at work asked me a weird question...do I have a boyfriend? Now this was completely out of left field and I wasn't really expecting it, but it was an odd question based on what the conversation had been. I explained my status (between bad relationships) and that I have little time to meet anyone who isn't at work. Then I started to think about that. Except for the redneck next door who likes to hit on me, I don't really meet people outside of work. Sad, really.
So, I need to get out there. At least meet some people. I was going strong in January and somehow I allowed my momentum to fizzle out and die. I really am not sure how that happened. So a mid-year resolution - get out, have fun and stop letting work run my life.
Good luck to me :)
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Nut Allergy Jokes Aren't Funny
Movie Review: Monster-in-Law
I will say that after 15 years away from the big screen, Jane Fonda still has it. She was great and the over-the-top, insanely jealous, borderline psychotic mother to ulti-hottie Michael Vartan (Did I mention he plays hockey?).
I don't mind J Lo in these romantic comedies. She is actually pretty good for these types of roles, but I didn't pick up on any chemistry between her and Michael...okay, maybe I am projecting and just want him for myself. :)
This movie was fun, but it needed more of the little fantasy snippets (Jane bashing J Lo's head into the table, etc). I think it would have carried more laughs and sustained the audience more. It was fun, but is a safe bet to add it to your Netflix queue instead of spending the $8 to go to the theatre, ss much as it pains me to day this (frankly, Michael is not on the big screen enough for my taste as it is). Personally, I wish the world would go see this so maybe he gets more movies.
For now, I think I have to wait until Wednesday nights at 9pm to get my Michael fix. Or maybe run across one of those celebrity hockey games he likes to play in (sigh).
I could be wrong, maybe this will do great $$ and he will start doing one of these a year? One can dream!
And a tip for the movie company, poisoning someone with nuts who is allergic, isn't a way to get laughs - especially when that same stunt pulled on me, would have caused my immediate death :(
And P.S. Some people suck! Can I just say that a friend of Angie's got to go to Skywalker Ranch last week and watch the George Lucas screening of SW3. That was bad enough until the jackass had to go and send a picture of him with Chewie and Darth and rub it in...why? That's just rude and he should apologize immediately for his insensitivity! Is it May 18th yet??????
I will say that after 15 years away from the big screen, Jane Fonda still has it. She was great and the over-the-top, insanely jealous, borderline psychotic mother to ulti-hottie Michael Vartan (Did I mention he plays hockey?).
I don't mind J Lo in these romantic comedies. She is actually pretty good for these types of roles, but I didn't pick up on any chemistry between her and Michael...okay, maybe I am projecting and just want him for myself. :)
This movie was fun, but it needed more of the little fantasy snippets (Jane bashing J Lo's head into the table, etc). I think it would have carried more laughs and sustained the audience more. It was fun, but is a safe bet to add it to your Netflix queue instead of spending the $8 to go to the theatre, ss much as it pains me to day this (frankly, Michael is not on the big screen enough for my taste as it is). Personally, I wish the world would go see this so maybe he gets more movies.
For now, I think I have to wait until Wednesday nights at 9pm to get my Michael fix. Or maybe run across one of those celebrity hockey games he likes to play in (sigh).
I could be wrong, maybe this will do great $$ and he will start doing one of these a year? One can dream!
And a tip for the movie company, poisoning someone with nuts who is allergic, isn't a way to get laughs - especially when that same stunt pulled on me, would have caused my immediate death :(
And P.S. Some people suck! Can I just say that a friend of Angie's got to go to Skywalker Ranch last week and watch the George Lucas screening of SW3. That was bad enough until the jackass had to go and send a picture of him with Chewie and Darth and rub it in...why? That's just rude and he should apologize immediately for his insensitivity! Is it May 18th yet??????
Saturday, May 07, 2005
And It's Giacomo By a Landslide
And no one bet on him...not at my party, anyway. A longshot Won the Kentucky Derby. It isn't the first time, nor will it be the last, but what a shocker!
So our party was a raging success. Despite the tar stained floor (they are resurfacing the streets in my parent's neighborhood) and party crashers (there was a dueling party down the street and some guests were confused) and phantom bets (Linda K Grum who?), we had a grand old time!
The food was amazing, even if I do say so myself, and we had an excellent helper from the SCA here in Atlanta. For those of you not in attendance, the menu was as follows:
Baked Ham
Buttermilk Biscuits
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Oven-Roasted Tomato Tart
Mushroom Tartlets
Prosciutto Wrapped Hearts of Palm
Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Puréed Broccoli and Roasted Garlic Canapés
Black Pepper Almonds
Hot Brown Dip
Fresh Strawberries with Powdered Sugar and Chocolate Ganache
Boiled Shrimp with Remoulade and Tartar Sauce
Winner's Circle Strawberry Cake
Mint Julep Kisses
We had a lot of fun and I was completely exhausted afterwards...I love entertaining, but sometimes I wish I didn't have to do any work!
Which reminds me, it has been entirely too long since I had a Poker Night. And with Angie leaving, I don't know if I will be able to fit one in between now and then...DAMN.
Anyway, the horses for Win, Place and Show were and their payoffs at the track were:
10 Giacomo - Win: 102.60 Place: 45.80 Show: 19.80
18 Closing Argument- Place: 70.00 Show: 24.80
12 Afleet Alex - Show: 4.60
So since no one bet on the winning horse at my house, we paid out for horses 2, 3 and 4...as if an amatuer won the race (you golf fans will understand this logic). So we paid $21-1 for Closing Argument, $.30-1 for Afleet Alex and $1-1 for the number 4 horse (which now I forget).
Anyway, it was fun and now I am exhausted and therefore need to sleep.
Later kids!
So our party was a raging success. Despite the tar stained floor (they are resurfacing the streets in my parent's neighborhood) and party crashers (there was a dueling party down the street and some guests were confused) and phantom bets (Linda K Grum who?), we had a grand old time!
The food was amazing, even if I do say so myself, and we had an excellent helper from the SCA here in Atlanta. For those of you not in attendance, the menu was as follows:
Baked Ham
Buttermilk Biscuits
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Oven-Roasted Tomato Tart
Mushroom Tartlets
Prosciutto Wrapped Hearts of Palm
Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Puréed Broccoli and Roasted Garlic Canapés
Black Pepper Almonds
Hot Brown Dip
Fresh Strawberries with Powdered Sugar and Chocolate Ganache
Boiled Shrimp with Remoulade and Tartar Sauce
Winner's Circle Strawberry Cake
Mint Julep Kisses
We had a lot of fun and I was completely exhausted afterwards...I love entertaining, but sometimes I wish I didn't have to do any work!
Which reminds me, it has been entirely too long since I had a Poker Night. And with Angie leaving, I don't know if I will be able to fit one in between now and then...DAMN.
Anyway, the horses for Win, Place and Show were and their payoffs at the track were:
10 Giacomo - Win: 102.60 Place: 45.80 Show: 19.80
18 Closing Argument- Place: 70.00 Show: 24.80
12 Afleet Alex - Show: 4.60
So since no one bet on the winning horse at my house, we paid out for horses 2, 3 and 4...as if an amatuer won the race (you golf fans will understand this logic). So we paid $21-1 for Closing Argument, $.30-1 for Afleet Alex and $1-1 for the number 4 horse (which now I forget).
Anyway, it was fun and now I am exhausted and therefore need to sleep.
Later kids!
Friday, May 06, 2005
Where There's a Will...
A baby Will to be specific!
My new nephew has arrived! He was born on Friday afternoon in California and is as cute as can be. He is 7 pounds, 4 ounces and 20 inches long (my exact dimensions when I was born 32 years ago). He has a full head of black hair and has been introduced to his big sister, Maggie. I'm very excited and cannot wait to get my hands on him and be Aunt D for a second time.
However, it makes me long for California. The last time this happened I picked up and moved cross-country and now I am sorry I moved back. Don't get me wrong, I am happy being back in Georgia near my parents and everything, but I hate that Will won't know me like Maggie does. I have to keep on making my quarterly trips to SFO to keep it up.
Otherwise, it has been quite a Friday. I cooked all day getting ready for the Kentucky Derby Party my family has each year and my back and feet are killing me.
More to come on the party and the baby later on in the weekend!
My new nephew has arrived! He was born on Friday afternoon in California and is as cute as can be. He is 7 pounds, 4 ounces and 20 inches long (my exact dimensions when I was born 32 years ago). He has a full head of black hair and has been introduced to his big sister, Maggie. I'm very excited and cannot wait to get my hands on him and be Aunt D for a second time.
However, it makes me long for California. The last time this happened I picked up and moved cross-country and now I am sorry I moved back. Don't get me wrong, I am happy being back in Georgia near my parents and everything, but I hate that Will won't know me like Maggie does. I have to keep on making my quarterly trips to SFO to keep it up.
Otherwise, it has been quite a Friday. I cooked all day getting ready for the Kentucky Derby Party my family has each year and my back and feet are killing me.
More to come on the party and the baby later on in the weekend!
Monday, May 02, 2005
Like Sands Through the Hourglass...
So it's Monday again and its MAY! How did that happen exactly? I swear, it was March just a minute ago. This week is shaping up to be really hectic for me and I am kind of looking forward to having it be Sunday...Mother's Day (Oy, Vey!).
The Kentucky Derby is this coming weekend, usually a welcomed day in my family, but truly this year I would prefer it just pass me by without any fanfare...no such luck.
So we are having a party on Saturday, which should be a lot of fun, but as usual with be a lot of work. I took Friday off to help cook and prepare, which should ease the pain a bit, but we are in an environment where people no longer RSVP. What is that about? It's called common courtesy to RSVP when people ask you to. It's kind of hard getting a headcount when people don't tell you if they are coming.
The food should be excellent (as always) and the betting is always fun (especially when I win), but I'm tired just thinking about it.
This morning I was given a Zen Garden (promotional Schwag at work) and I set it up, knowing full-well that I would need this to keep myself calm for the week. There is too much sand!! Now it is everywhere and I made a big mess.
Now, correct me if I am wrong, but usually the sand is supposed to stay in the container, not all around it and on the floor too, right? Some Zen Garden - it stressed me out from the second I opened it...I feel like this is some sick cosmic joke on me, and anal retentive one who hates mess...
Back to work as I need to get some Monday morning madness completed before I take my morning nap under my desk...later all!
The Kentucky Derby is this coming weekend, usually a welcomed day in my family, but truly this year I would prefer it just pass me by without any fanfare...no such luck.
So we are having a party on Saturday, which should be a lot of fun, but as usual with be a lot of work. I took Friday off to help cook and prepare, which should ease the pain a bit, but we are in an environment where people no longer RSVP. What is that about? It's called common courtesy to RSVP when people ask you to. It's kind of hard getting a headcount when people don't tell you if they are coming.
The food should be excellent (as always) and the betting is always fun (especially when I win), but I'm tired just thinking about it.
This morning I was given a Zen Garden (promotional Schwag at work) and I set it up, knowing full-well that I would need this to keep myself calm for the week. There is too much sand!! Now it is everywhere and I made a big mess.
Now, correct me if I am wrong, but usually the sand is supposed to stay in the container, not all around it and on the floor too, right? Some Zen Garden - it stressed me out from the second I opened it...I feel like this is some sick cosmic joke on me, and anal retentive one who hates mess...
Back to work as I need to get some Monday morning madness completed before I take my morning nap under my desk...later all!
Sunday, May 01, 2005
It's a Navy Thing
Movie Review: Sahara
I may be the odd man out, but I really enjoyed this movie. Now, I have not yet read the book (starting tonight) and I was not expecting great cinematic history to be made...I just wanted to watch something fun and adventurous - which I did.
I will say that Matthew McConaughey seemed the same as he does in most of his movies, but I didn't mind so much as it just makes Dirk Pitt sexy for my viewing pleasure. And Steve Zahn, as the ever wise-cracking sidekick, Al Giordino, has been forever type-cast and the funny man who never gets the girl.
There was a LOT going on, and it was over 2 hours, but really it didn't seem too bad - I didn't really notice the time. There were some laughs and some adventure and a lot of desert sand. Oh yeah, and Penélope Cruz as the WHO doctor trying to track down an epidemic...okay, this plot line was hard to become invested in, but it worked to further the story and bring the adventures together for the big finally (of course, all plot points converge).
The script needed some work and a change of scenery would have been nice, but overall it was not a waste of my 2 hours on a Saturday. I needed this break and I look forward to a possible 2nd shot at a Dirk Pitt adventure on the big screen - I think it could and should be done...at least give it a shot.
If you want to have a little fun, you should see this movie as long as you are not expecting the next Indiana Jones. I know I wasn't :)
I may be the odd man out, but I really enjoyed this movie. Now, I have not yet read the book (starting tonight) and I was not expecting great cinematic history to be made...I just wanted to watch something fun and adventurous - which I did.
I will say that Matthew McConaughey seemed the same as he does in most of his movies, but I didn't mind so much as it just makes Dirk Pitt sexy for my viewing pleasure. And Steve Zahn, as the ever wise-cracking sidekick, Al Giordino, has been forever type-cast and the funny man who never gets the girl.
There was a LOT going on, and it was over 2 hours, but really it didn't seem too bad - I didn't really notice the time. There were some laughs and some adventure and a lot of desert sand. Oh yeah, and Penélope Cruz as the WHO doctor trying to track down an epidemic...okay, this plot line was hard to become invested in, but it worked to further the story and bring the adventures together for the big finally (of course, all plot points converge).
The script needed some work and a change of scenery would have been nice, but overall it was not a waste of my 2 hours on a Saturday. I needed this break and I look forward to a possible 2nd shot at a Dirk Pitt adventure on the big screen - I think it could and should be done...at least give it a shot.
If you want to have a little fun, you should see this movie as long as you are not expecting the next Indiana Jones. I know I wasn't :)
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