Thursday, July 31, 2008

The View

Just a quick post this morning about "The View". I am lucky enough to be working from home today so I am able to catch the show at its regularly scheduled broadcast time.

I love this show but after listening to yet another cat fight between the ladies about the presidential campaign, I have to ask..............can someone please send Elizabeth Hasselbeck back to Survivor island?

I am glad to see that it is not only Rosie who draws her ire on this program. She had Whoopi so worked up I thought she would simply flip the table and come out slugging.

Ohhhhh.....these disillusioned Republicans are simply causing me indigestion......

Friday, July 25, 2008

It's Friday!!!

This has been quite the week! So many things going on in my life and in Lyn's life that it has got me running around like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off. I am so ready just to grab a cocktail and sit back and relax.

The week started off by a big family weekend with visiting relatives. They only come home once a year and when they do everybody drops everything and starts making plans centered around them. So all week I have had random invitations to come to dinner, eat out, etc etc. You know how it is........someone close to you is on vacation for a week and the subtle (or not so subtle) expectation is that you will be as free-wheeling as they are for seven days. Nice in theory but the rest of us who have other responsibilities just can't keep up.

In the last month or so I have been entertaining new job opportunities and dealing with those negotiations have kept me distracted a bit. So it is natural that my family wants to know all about it every single day I see them. I just got to the point where I told my Mom - gently - don't call me I will call you. Ok.....that was paraphrased a bit but I just couldn't take one more morning call asking me if I had heard anything yet. Eeeeeek! I compare it to the child sitting in the backseat of the car saying "Are we there yet?" repeatedly. Who needs more anxiety on top of the command appearances at family dinners for the relatives that come home once a year?

One highlight of the week was that I had my brand spankin' new iPhone! Ahhh yes.....it arrived last Friday afternoon. Do I think it is all that and a bag of chips? OH YESSSS! I have downloaded some fabulous new applications from iTunes that keep me even more connected to the world that I ever have been before. Lyn has gotten her hands on the device as well and agrees that this really is one amazing little gadget. The best part about this is........this type of phone technology will only get better because of the iPhone's capabilities. Everyone wants to be bigger and better. Competition breeds better stuff my friends!

Lyn's little dog Bailey had a little overnight stay at the vet this week. All I can say is thank God there are emergency vet clinics where your beloved pet can get quick attention to their medical emergencies! They can happen to all of us and the upside to these emergency clinics is that you don't have to wait in line like you do at the human hospitals! Lyn was already concerned enough but if she had to sit in a waiting room for 5 hours it would have been reeeeaaally ugly. It looks like Bailey will be just fine and simply needs to have her diet adjusted. I have been warned that all treats - other than the crude, bland, lifeless dog biscuits - will be off limits to Bailey. This will take a bit of self-control on my part now because the dog has a certain level of expectation of me. Kinda like the relatives who come to visit once a year..........

Lastly...I received an email from a friend yesterday that outlined the Book of Revelations and how Obama may be the anti-Christ. Needlesstosay, she is a McPain supporter and would rather vote for McPain than cast a vote for Obama. Enough said on that one.

So this weekend it is about regaining life as we know it. Hopefully we will be able to get caught up on some movies. I hear The Dark Knight is great! I am hearing mixed reviews on Mamma Mia. I would be interested in hearing from someone who saw either one of these movies to get your reviews!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Turkey Poachers.

In my own workplace!

I figured this was good post for WTR -- Rita's been bitching that I haven't posted here lately. And this seemed appropriately humorous, even though when relating the tale to her earlier, she BLAMED THE VICTIM.

My workplace is cafeteria deficient. So there are several strategically placed 'culinary stations'. Some are more formal than others -- only one has a sink, for example. And one also houses the copier/printer machine, so it's not really terribly culinary. Or sanitary, I suspect.

I choose to store my foodstuffs in the fridge closest to me -- no sink in the area, but quite a nice parking lot view and a large table. The team which technically 'owns' this space is kind enough to let myself and one other marketing type share it, though this wasn't always the case.

Three years or so back, there was an admin on this team who took it upon herself to post 'fridge rules and responsibilities' on the door. With bold type and red underlines, it assigned responsibility for weekly cleaning, etc. She also, about the time she created the schedule, got wise to the fact that evil marketing person me was sneaking a bit of shelf space now and then. So she promptly posted another note indicating that she was polling her 'team' to see if 'they' were willing to let me use 'their' fridge. Heh.

At that time, the most I ever stored in the fridge was a bottle of water or a backup diet soda. So I sort of chose to ignore the cleaning schedule. These days, when lunch out of the office requires budgeting for both the meal and gas to get there from our restaurant-deficient 'hood, and when I try to adhere to a somewhat healthy/carb free weekday menu, I use the fridge quite a bit.

'Course, the fact that snarky admin is gone, taking her sign with her, and amazingly, the fridge is clean and welcoming, may also have something to do with it. And it's been a fairly peaceable relationship. Until today.

My turkey was poached. And I caught the poachers. Red-handed. About to pop open the little pack and build a sandwich. With my turkey. In front of me.

Now it's been a rough week so far. And I'd skipped breakfast because of a meeting, and was just getting to lunch about 1, after yet another meeting. I wanted that turkey. I had pickles as a side.

So I wasn't quite as subtle as I might have been. "Hey, that's my turkey," I announced, my eager little eyes spying it in John's hand.

"There's no name on it. Is it really your's?"

Now I like John. But he's pretty slight, and if challenged, and hungry, I'm pretty sure I could take him. But I opted instead for charm.

"But it's MINE. It goes with the pickles," I insist, turning to the fridge to show him where they all had been aligned, in a neat little row on the far left. "And the cheese.... hey, did you take the cheese stick too?!"

Apparently the tone of my voice was cause for alarm. John meekly held out the turkey. "I didn't see a cheese stick. Honest."

Thank god the pickles were safe.

So I'm relating this to Rita during the drive home. She suggested, quite seriously, that 1) I should put my name on my lunch, and 2) keep in it a proper container, not a pile in the corner.

Urrrgh. I gotta go label some cheese sticks....

Monday, July 14, 2008

Katie Reider 1978 - 2008


Many of you have read my posts over the last couple of years about Katie Reider. Recently I posted about her rare Myofibroblastic Inflammation tumor and her two year fight to beat the odds.

Katie's fight ended this morning shortly before 7am.

To say that this is a blow to those who admired and loved her is an understatement. Katie possessed a unique quality of being able to reach out and connect to her audience in such a way that you just couldn't get enough. She "oozed" something that drew you in hook, line and sinker.

She had so much life and vitality and so much to look forward to with her family and her career. She was just getting started and her popularity was growing. Katie was too young to leave this earth, but she blessed us all with her grace and presence and I consider myself lucky to have heard her perform.
Rest in peace Katie. We are all better people for having known you.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Old men


I couldn't resist copying this from facebook and adding it to my blog. It really requires no further explanation on what America doesn't need.


Friday, July 11, 2008

iPhone Friday

Well....today was iPhone Friday! I arrived promptly at the store at 6:10 this morning. There were 21 people and a Chocolate Lab in front of me. (sigh) So I took a seat on the closest bench to my place in line and waited.

At 7 am, there were about 15 people behind me when the store manager came out and proclaimed - "Folks....I only have 20 phones today." (gulp) "Twenty phones?" we gasped, "Only twenty?" "That's right.....only twenty." he said. I started my count again of the crowd in front of me to make sure I was not wrong. I wasn't wrong. I was 22 - 23 counting the dog.

I shouted out to the folks in front of me - some of which spent the night in front of the damn store - "How many of you are actually buying a phone today?". Hands began to raise and some of those folks with them did not raise their hands. They were there for the thrill of this I suppose. I counted again - 5, 10, 14 and I was 15! I had a chance! Maybe I wouldn't have to order one and wait ten more days! My heart started beating rapidly and my mouth got dry.

"Ok".......said a gentlemen in front of me. "How many of you want the 8 GB phone and how many of you want the 16 GB phone?" The hands and the shout outs began again. There were ten people in front of me who wanted one of the ten 16 GB phones. (sigh) I would have to order one because I wanted a 16 GB phone and was not content in settling for something less.

Undaunted, I waited my turn in line from 8am to 9am and then went in and placed my order for a Black 16 GB iPhone. I even bought myself a nifty iPhone holder for my belt for when this new little toy arrives in 10 days.

Yes I know. Who stands in front of a store two hours before it opens? Well....I do, but at least I didn't camp out. Although.....if I had I would be blogging tonight from my iPhone and not from my PC. Who knew the store would only be given 20 phones? I was expecting them to get 50! From what I hear, the store I was standing in front of was one of the shorter lines. In Kentucky, the nearest store had 75 people standing out front and some of them started their "campout" at 5pm the previous day!!

Again.....ya gotta know me. I love electronic gadgets. It is an adrenaline rush for me to hold one of these iPhones in my hand. I break out into a sweat and my heart beats rapidly. This is the most exciting little gadget that I have seen in a long while. It can do some amazing things and it is truly fun to use.

So while I am a bit disappointed that it is not in my hot little hands right at this moment, I know that I only have to wait a little while longer to enjoy it. For those of you who were able to get one today, don't leave it lying around anywhere.....I have nine more days to go!

Monday, July 07, 2008

McStiff

You know I really don't want to pick on the man's mannerisms or his wife's cosmetic disasters but has anyone else noticed that John McCain cannot turn his head to the left or to the right? His whole body has to move in the direction of the where he wants to direct his speech.

You would think by now that he would want to project a more youthful (not possible) appearance considering he is running against someone who looks old enough to be his son. Combine his appearance with his "old world" philosophies and he really has a great losing combination.

Last one out turn out the lights on the old guy so he can go back to sleep...........

Sunday, July 06, 2008

iPhone week

In the last few weeks I have noticed a huge spike in visitors to my blog. Primarily it was from folks looking for more information about the next iPhone release. Now that it is set to release on Friday, my site hits have dropped off.

What is it about technology these days that have people in a complete tailspin? I often wonder if society was this manic when televisions first arrived in stores. I mean....there were those who could afford one and those who could not but did people actually plant themselves outside their local department store just to wait for the store to open so they could be the first to buy one? Did it make newspaper headlines - 200 storm Sears to buy television

Of course, I don't know what those times were like since it happened well before I was born. I take TV for granted these days. I mean....B & W sets are my earliest recollection. In fact, my Pong game utilized a little set that we kept in the kitchen. Now Pong.....and Atari games are called "Classics" and are quite the fad to those of us who remember them fondly.

On Friday, I will be going into work a little later so that I can purchase my first iPhone. I can't say at this point if it will be my last iPhone because the gadget is sooo fun to use. I spent about 20 minutes in the store on Saturday trying out the previous version. I was tickled and completely in love with the thing. I am sure it was the same feeling felt by many others decades ago with the television.

Have any of you considered getting an iPhone? If so, why and if not, why not?

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

What's your carbon footprint?

I was curious so I checked out this website - http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx to see how badly I was contributing to the demise of our species.

I was amazed. My foot could eliminate a small city!!!!