Thursday, July 30, 2009

Da Beer Summit

If you could host a Beer Summit, what would you serve? And who would be invited?

I have no racially charged incident I am trying to quell (see: Harvard Prof's arrest reporting http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32210408/ns/politics-white_house/) ...but I think lots of problems can be fixed with some light conversation and heavy drinking. Or wait, maybe heavy conversation and light drinking. Or something.

So, perhaps our next party should be a Beer Summit. Game on.

By the way, the drinks of choice are Bud Light for President, Blue Moon for Crowley (the police officer) and Red Stripe for Gates (the Harvard scholar).

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Today IS the Good-ole day

I don't know why, but the last few days I keep thinking about this phrase - that the days you are living today will be the "good old days" in your future.


Sometimes that makes me feel lucky about my life right now, that I will look back at it nostalgically about how great things were. Or, in the future, I will think the tough times really weren't that bad, even though as they are happening they seem terrible.


Other times this phrase gets me thinking that things do not get easier as you get older, which is a little sad. But even that train fo thought circles back to me feeling grateful about what IS happening today, so that I cherish it and know it will be the best day of my life.


So, thanks to everyone in my life today, how you touch it, and everything that you affect.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Party = Success!

Jeff and I hosted our first PAR-TAY in Atlanta this weekend. I invited the 20 people I knew, and they were all from work (yes, I know that might be lame but I can't help it, I don't have a big social circle yet. Plus I really, really like my coworkers! pictured below but minus Matt).




I think it went great! We had probably around 15 people show up by 5pm, and served burgers, cheese dogs, steak and chicken, plus fruit salad, macaroni salad, a veggie tray, chips, and brownies. And the world's best icebreaker? A half-finished puzzle sitting on the table (see previous post). Who would have thought that??



We debated what kind of beer to buy and decided to BYOB since we just had no clue. Turns out, this crowd is a red wine (or margarita) crowd. Good to know for next time! And, the zipline even got used...now THAT was a party. Thanks to Carol and Elaine for the beautiful flowers!



Hmmm...what should we do next? Margaritaville? Rock Band festival? Murder mystery dinner?

Friday, July 24, 2009

Foreign Policy / Rap

You all know how much of a super-fan I am of NPR. (PS - Atlanta, seriously? THUMBS DOWN. You don't have an all-news station with special features or stories. And, I miss Kerri Miller. And Cathy Wurzer. I think I am homesick for Minnesota Public Radio.)

I digress. Here is a facsinating article on Jay-Z's story as it compares to US Foreign policy. Makes Iranian / US relations darn near almost decipherable for just about anyone!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106588112

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Your Own Time

I think most of what you do on your own time - within the law - should be off limits as grounds for termination. Especially if "what you do" means you GET MARRIED. Seriously, most of corporate America is married, in a relationship, divorced, dating, or otherwise...but it is not part of your employment terms.

Unless you are Scott Janke, the Fort Meyers Beach city manager recently fired for getting married. To a porn star, but got married nonetheless.

That's just crazy. HE didn't do anything wrong except (hopefully) find happiness and fulfillment in his personal life, yet was fired for it because of who his wife is. Ugh. Crap like this drives me crazy.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090722/BREAKINGNEWS/90722027/1086/rss07

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Puzzle-ing

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you will recognize this puzzle from a previous post. Except now it is out of the box, large, in charge, and defeating us.



You will notice that certain sections are together. Those were the easy ones. Also you will notice that there are not many pieces left. That is because the entire sky (approximately 1/3 of the puzzle) is back in the box because the kitties insist on laying on the table, helping. And we can't get any of them together.

But, although we feared it was dorky to admit we were doing a puzzle, it appears we are not alone. Click here for the puzzle rebirth story: http://www.newsweek.com/id/207384.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Missing

Thinking about those who've passed, especially today. 13 years seems like not so long ago.

Monday, July 20, 2009

A weekend of adventure

Saturday was a productive day of doing not much. However, in honor of the upcoming high school reunion, I spent a portion of Saturday blowing money at Target. Here is the booty: 2 new nail polishes plus remover, a puzzle (mom, I rescind my guilt-inducing comment from Christmas about hating puzzles because it turns out I kinda like them. You know me better than I know myself sometimes!), a new Tae Bo DVD, and bird seed (evidenced by the bird book). As always you can see our faithful Bella keeping us company during a project. I bet you can also see Jeff's new toy (also a throwback to high school), a new remote control for his airplane.



Sunday we decided Maddie was bored and needed some exercise because she really is too chubby. And we figured said chubbiness would prevent her from climbing our six-foot fence in the yard (it did). So we let her outside, supervised of course.

I love this one because it shows how she was SO STEALTHY outside. She walked along the rock so as not to make a sound, and hid in bushes and stuff until she decided to chase butterflies, birds, squirrels, and chipmunks (yes it is wild kingdom in the backyard).

And probably my favorite photo of the day, a totally relaxed Jeff, playing baby sitter to Maddie during her adventure and enjoying the Minnesota-like weather of the weekend (high 70s and low humidity!!!). It was glorious!

Friday, July 17, 2009

HarryPotterMania

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, today I am a WOO girl (see hilarious sidenote from How I Met Your Mother. Which BTW I hope wins an Emmy for it's awesomeness).

ANYWAY, let me tell you, this Harry Potter is FANtastic. (But, mom, do not go see it until you have seen the others first). I am extremely pleased how they incorporated most of the story into the movie, the scenes (CG or not) were amazing, and it was incredibly scary and sad, which this story truly was.

It is seriously a perfect leadup to the final book which is being split into 2 movies (thank goodness, there is wayyyy too much in the last book to cram into 2 hours).

All in all, it was super awesome! And that is the only detailed review I am going to give, since to go any further would be to deny those unfamiliar with the story the awesomeness of the movie.

And finally, it would not be a true movie experience review without letting you all know how disappointed I am in Carmike Cinemas. What a dump.

Ok, it was fairly clean, but the chairs were uncomfy, the arms did not go up, and the concessions were only popcorn, pop, and candy. No pizza or hot dogs or pretzels or anything like that, which I am really surprised at. BOO. And let me explain - I was forced to eat a lot of popcorn over the dinner hour, and promptly barfed when we went out to eat "real supper" after the movie. And no, it is not MY responsbility to make sure I am fed a good meal before having fun. Now that's what a true WOO girl would say.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Seriously

I have nothing to post today. Nothing interesting, nor witty, nor fun.

BUT TOMORROW - I am going to Harry Potter and I am sure will have a LOT to say then.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wednesday Playlist

Once again to publish my playlist for the summer...ok, it's really from any time since the average age of my songs is like, 10 years old.

Love and Sex and Magic - Ciara
I Dreamed a Dream - Les Mis
Slide - Goo Goo Dolls
Warwick Avenue - Duffy
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Amazed - Lonestar
Don't Stop Believing - Journey
Top of the World - Dixie Chicks
Put Your Arms Around Me - Natasha Bedingfield (I love her!!)

Ok this is not so much a summer playlist but what I feel like listening to RIGHT NOW!!! So I will!!!!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Happy Bastille Day!

As far as I can tell, the French also wanted an excuse to light fireworks, so today is like our Fourth of July. Apparently, storming some prison with 7 prisoners equalled freedom from royal rule...whatever, let's party!

Wikipedia has this for your history lesson for the day:

On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI convened the Estates-General to hear their grievances. The deputies of the Third Estate representing the common people (the two others were the Church and nobility) decided to break away and form a National Assembly. On 20 June the deputies of the Third Estate took the Tennis Court Oath, swearing not to separate until a constitution had been established. They were gradually joined by delegates of the other estates; Louis started to recognize their validity on 27 June. The assembly re-named itself the National Constituent Assembly on 9 July, and began to function as a legislature and to draft a constitution.

In the wake of the 11 July dismissal of Jacques Necker, the people of Paris, fearful that they and their representatives would be attacked by the royal military, and seeking to gain ammunition and gunpowder for the general populace, stormed the Bastille, a fortress-prison in Paris which had often held people jailed on the basis of lettres de cachet, arbitrary royal indictments that could not be appealed. Besides holding a large cache of ammunition and gunpowder, the Bastille had been known for holding political prisoners whose writings had displeased the royal government, and was thus a symbol of the absolutism of the monarchy. As it happened, at the time of the siege in July 1789 there were only seven inmates, none of great political significance.

When the crowd — eventually reinforced by mutinous gardes françaises — proved a fair match for the fort's defenders, Governor de Launay, the commander of the Bastille, capitulated and opened the gates to avoid a mutual massacre. However, possibly because of a misunderstanding, fighting resumed. Ninety-eight attackers and just one defender died in the actual fighting, but in the aftermath, de Launay and seven other defenders were killed, as was the 'prévôt des marchands' (roughly, mayor) Jacques de Flesselles.

The storming of the Bastille was more important as a rallying point and symbolic act of rebellion than a practical act of defiance.

Shortly after the storming of the Bastille, on 4 August feudalism was abolished and on 26 August, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen proclaimed.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Weekend Plans

My prediction for the weekend: relaxation and hot weather! I think the months of July and August can be compared to the bitter cold of a northern the winter - you just stay inside. We may need to break out the "wintertime" hobbies, like crochet and baking! (But who needs a blanket when it's 100 degrees? Oh I know, a BABY!!! Which leads me to............)

Congrats Tyler and Kate, I can't wait to meet your new little one! Oh, and it better be a girl because I am working on a pink blanket :)

Thursday, July 9, 2009

So You Think You Can Dance

What an annoying name to type (but so fun to say in rhythm! So you think you can...doo doo doot doo)

Anywho, I thought for sure that Jason and Randee were going home tonight!!! But boy, was I wrong (Randee and Evan were shockingly not even in the bottom 3).

Let me know tell you who is NOT going home anytime soon - Kayla. Check out my favorite dance of the night, where Kayla is an addict and Kupono is the addiction. Seriously, click on this. It is only a 1:51 video.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Chiro is lifesaving

Raise your hand if you knew that an out-of-place neck could make you nauseous and actually barf. I didn't.

Luckily, I no longer have an out of place neck and am no longer barfing! Yeah for ancient medicine!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Making my life easier

Dear Lean Cuisine,

Thank you for the innovative mini-pizzas which I currently enjoy every couple weeks. I am thankful there is a microwavable lunch that is less than 400 calories yet still fills me up.

However, I would like you to know that it is extremely annoying to be in a company break room, at the front of the microwave line, and after opening the carboard not be able to get the shrink wrap off of the pizza. Because 1) I am wearing dress clothes and do not need cheese and sauce on my outfit, and 2) there is no knife / scissors readily available in the break room.

Part 2 of my packaging complaint is that once the very slick silver crisping lid is wonderful but covers up the cooking time. Again, in the breakroom, I am not going to put my uncooked item on the counter (ew) in order to read the back of the box before flipping it around.

If you could add a pull tab to the shrink wrap, and print the instructions on the side of the box, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
A loyal customer in GA

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy 4th of July!

Garth Brooks Double Live, Cokes in coozies, Cheese Hotdogs and Burgers on the grill. (Oh, and flies.)

Nothing more says Fourth of July to me than this. WOOHOO!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Snowshoe from hell

Maddie, Maddie, Maddie. Oh, she is so adventurous. Like today, for instance, when she snuck into the pantry while I was looking for supplies to grill tomorrow. I accidentally shut the door on her.

Normally a kitty trapped in a closet is easy to hear - a few scratches, meows, and we realize there is a kitty missing.

But TODAY. Good Lord. There was scratching, and then FRANTIC SPASMS COMING FROM THE PANTRY.

I opened the door (at first I thought Bella had caught another mouse and my heart stopped) and Maddie bolted out. With a glue mouse trap on her back paw. Gimping.

I chased her upstairs and caught her, ran downstairs, and panickedly looked at Jeff for support. He got the kitty carrier (oh, she really loved that) and we put her in there until we figured out what to do.

Well, the Tomkat website told us to use vegetable oil to remove the glue residue and then rinse with soapy water, but first we had to actually pull the thing off. Which we did. And Maddie "nibbled" my arm to let me share in her pain.

Now, holding a 16 pound kitty with claws is difficult enough, and to further isolate her back paw is even more so. And then it was even more difficult scrubbing her tender pads with oil, then a soapy rag, and then shoving the paw into running water of the kitchen sink to rinse out soap.

Finally, we thought we got off all the glue, but wait! Must cut out fur on the belly as well (it was also glued).

We put her down, praised her like crazy, petted her, and she had a bath for about 30 minutes. But we survived. WHEW!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

New Things

A certain amount of leeway is granted to new products, rollouts, technologies.

But - what if the consumer does not KNOW that it is new? Their expectation has changed. Then it better work right the first time, and work better than your competitors.

Because there is no second chance.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

More fun in ATL

Amy on the zipline in our yard. What a fun Saturday of Bocce Ball, sangrias, grilling on the deck, and a Target trip for pillows and toothbrushes (yes, even Dad went).

THIS is what Quality Family Time is made of.