Do you ever look down and see that you've cut your knee and have no idea how it happened? I always seem to have random injuries - especially when I travel. I just got back from a work trip - my first one with the new company. I have bruises and now this random cut on my knee. Like I'm 5 years old. How ridiculous that I need to put a band-aid on my knee.
So I know I've complained incessantly about my hatred of travel in the past, but here we go again. I'm chubby. I know I'm chubby, however, I am not too fat to fit in an airplaine seat. I became a convert of the window seat a few years ago and this past trip was no different. I was in the window seat. My seatmate was a woman who was significantly larger than myself. In order to fit in the seat, she took away my arm rest. There was no choice. It was either that or she couldn't sit down. Which also means that not only did I not have an arm rest, I didn't have part of my seat. I'm pretty sure the seatbelt didn't fit, but she didn't ask for an extender. I felt bad, but on the other hand, I was ticked off. Between men who seems to think the only way they can sit is with their legs spread so wide they take up my leg room and the arm rest stealers and fighters, now I have to deal with losing my arm rest completely and being smooshed against the side of the tin can we call an airplane. I'm not a touchy feely person in the first place, much less do I want someone "spilling" over into me, touching me that way. To top it all off, it made it hot as flipping hell.
Prior to the hell squeeze that was the plane, I was standing in the security line, only to see Sam Champion, the weather guy from Good Morning America. It was a bit comical as both he and his travelmate were selected for additional screening. Hee. It was kind of nice to see that celebrities don't get special treatment all the time.
On another note, I hate blogger. Every time I try to select the entire text to do something like change the font, it deletes my ENTIRE post!!!! ARGH!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
YES WE CAN!!!
GOBAMA!!! How amazing!!! How historic! How incredible to watch the world's response - seeing Kenya partying like rock stars! I'm so proud to be an American!!
Monday, November 03, 2008
Vote
I'm dreading the craziness and the lines tomorrow. I wish our polls opened at 6am instead of 7am. But I'm getting up early and doing my civic duty. I think it should be a national holiday to go exercise your right to vote. Regardless of who you vote for, I'm really excited to hear that there will be record turnout tomorrow, supposedly close to 100 million people will vote this year. I'm not sure what that translates to in terms of the percentage of eligible voters, but our total population is about 300 million...so you can do the math. Very exciting.
Let's hope for change. Positive change. We need it.
Let's hope for change. Positive change. We need it.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Secret Obsession
I have a new secret obsession. I am obsessed with Roman History. I know, now that you have caught your breathe again, let me explain. It kind of started with watching a few programs on the History channel, then the movie the 300 came out. Now, yes, I watch it because of serioulsy hot men in leather bikinis, but I am obsessed with the story of the 300 - the Battle of Thermoplyae which is a true story. Then the HBO series, Rome, came out on DVD and I HAD to buy it. LOVED it. Especially the guy who is now Dr. McArmy on Grey's, Kevin McKidd.
Then, I got this great catalog called Great Courses. You can order courses on any number of subjects taught by some of the top professors from the top schools in the world. I've been reading books on Roman history and now I'm contemplating ordering a course on Roman history - specifically how military battles changed the course of the world.
Now if there is anything on television about Roman history, I am tivo'ing it. Perhaps I need a twelve step program.
Then, I got this great catalog called Great Courses. You can order courses on any number of subjects taught by some of the top professors from the top schools in the world. I've been reading books on Roman history and now I'm contemplating ordering a course on Roman history - specifically how military battles changed the course of the world.
Now if there is anything on television about Roman history, I am tivo'ing it. Perhaps I need a twelve step program.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Slurp
Food - I love food. I love pretty much all food, and if I don't like it, I've tried it numerous times to ascertain that I really don't like it such as Indian food. I can't stand curry. It makes my bottom teeth hurt. Bizarre.
Speaking of bizarre, I watch Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. I watch food tv a lot. I watch it on the food network, on TLC, on Travel, on Fine Living, on PBS...you get the picture. I can't stand Andrew Zimmern. Not because he gets off on eating the weird and the nasty. But because he smacks his lips SO loud while eating that you can hear it on camera!!! Really?! Seriously.
The other day I was watching Anthony Bourdain, who at times annoys me but at other times his music and movie references make me laugh. I also love the way he "calls out" other chefs on his show. His favorite to make fun of is the ubiquitous Rachael Ray. I used to watch RR but all I want to do is tie her hands behind her back because she can't do anything without gesticulating like crazy. But I think the reason I discovered that I really love Bourdain was when he totally made fun of Zimmern's smacking. I thought I was the only one annoyed by it! Kind of like an old former relative of mine who sucked his teeth after every meal. EW!
I also still will never understand why I am supposed to want to eat the nasty bits of an animal. I am a carnivore. I could never be a vegetarian. I like to live the Ostrich Life and love the era that I live in that I can continue to bury my head in the sand and not deal with the realities of how that lovely prime rib makes it to my plate. Why on earth would I want to eat the "sweetbreads" aka brain and intestines? Quote from Zimmern, "You can taste the bile." Yummy. Oh yes, bring it on. Give it to me. I so want to eat something that is so foul that my body uses it to break down my food. Let's eat it again - properly regurgitating my food. Blech.
Speaking of bizarre, I watch Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. I watch food tv a lot. I watch it on the food network, on TLC, on Travel, on Fine Living, on PBS...you get the picture. I can't stand Andrew Zimmern. Not because he gets off on eating the weird and the nasty. But because he smacks his lips SO loud while eating that you can hear it on camera!!! Really?! Seriously.
The other day I was watching Anthony Bourdain, who at times annoys me but at other times his music and movie references make me laugh. I also love the way he "calls out" other chefs on his show. His favorite to make fun of is the ubiquitous Rachael Ray. I used to watch RR but all I want to do is tie her hands behind her back because she can't do anything without gesticulating like crazy. But I think the reason I discovered that I really love Bourdain was when he totally made fun of Zimmern's smacking. I thought I was the only one annoyed by it! Kind of like an old former relative of mine who sucked his teeth after every meal. EW!
I also still will never understand why I am supposed to want to eat the nasty bits of an animal. I am a carnivore. I could never be a vegetarian. I like to live the Ostrich Life and love the era that I live in that I can continue to bury my head in the sand and not deal with the realities of how that lovely prime rib makes it to my plate. Why on earth would I want to eat the "sweetbreads" aka brain and intestines? Quote from Zimmern, "You can taste the bile." Yummy. Oh yes, bring it on. Give it to me. I so want to eat something that is so foul that my body uses it to break down my food. Let's eat it again - properly regurgitating my food. Blech.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Know-It-All's
Every Monday I faciliate orientation for new hires. I have a very casual facilitation style. At times I almost feel like the little turtle, Squirt, from Finding Nemo (read in high pitched voice), "Okay everyone, we're going to have a great jump today"! I have to walk everyone through the plant to get to our room and they need to follow me and pay attention because we have fork-truck's speeding around everywhere.
Obviously, you get a variety of people. You've got your bored hires, barely keeping up hires, politely interested hires and then you have the know-it-all's. I love how you can have just started with a company and feel that you should be able to "reiterate" what I have just said because apparently I haven't spoken clearly enough.
So annoying. This morning I had such person, Ms. PW. Or as I will call her PeW as in stinky. She arrived LATE and made an entrance like we were clearly waiting for her to show up before we could start. She then proceeded to "reiterate" everything I said, but calling me "she". God forbid she should know my name - or bother to look at the white board where it is written.
Then, when it was over, she looked at me and said, can you show me where my office is? Uh, no. You happen to be one of hundreds of people I see on a weekly basis. I do not know where you sit in the food chain, I do not care. I have no idea where your office is, nor do I care to learn. I'm like, can't show you as I have no idea who you work for or what you do. Imagine Ms. PeW's surprise! Wha?! How can this be?
I can't stand people like Ms. PeW who believe they are better than the rest of the world and were put on it to supposedly "lead". Very similar to when I worked retail in high school and college. I worked in a jewelry store and snooty PeW's would come in and say, "I'll LET you clean my jewelry for me". You'll LET me. Thank you ever so. Please sir, may I have another? Annoying.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
First Snow
Today is the first snow of the year in my new city. It's interesting to be this far north and have the seasons change a month ahead of what you are used to. It's dropped 20 degrees this morning and there are little flakes that melt as soon as they hit the ground. Winds are high coming in from the east, the snow flakes are blowing in sideways. A miserable day by all accounts, yet I'm pretty happy. It's still quite odd not to have anything to do. I obviously have things to do, but I mean no homework. I can loll the evenings and weekends away doing absolutely nothing. My favorite past time.
Work is work and I don't anticipate that changing. Working for the man is not fulfilling but it pays the bills. I'm in a reminiscing mood. Last night I went out with my fellow alums from my program that I went to Japan with. It was a fun trip down memory lane. It made me homesick for my students, the food, my apartment there, my hilarious downstairs neighbor who spoke the local dialect so fast I could barely keep up - who looked out for me, who wouldn't let me win the "gift war" whose granddaughter I often wonder about. I miss my crappy little car, the Pagan mobile. I miss my convenience store across the street. I miss riding my bike around the rice paddies, the vending machines that you could buy anything from steaming hot tea or coffee to eggs to huge bags of rice from. Most of all I miss the food. I miss the little local itzakayas that made you whatever was caught fresh or killed that day. I miss the seasonality of food. Being so excited for the various seasons because you only got the massive so-dark they were almost black grapes with huge seeds that everyone took great pleasure in spitting out once a year. Each winter looking forward to eating satsumas and persimmons. Melons in the summer - fresh from the farm at the random "on your honor" food stand where they had somehow rigged a refrigerator out in the middle of nowhere so you could take a half a cold melon. I loved the eggplant, how tiny and cute they were - so cute they were given a nickname. I miss my ramen noodle shop that knew as soon as I walked in the door what I wanted and served it not less than 5 minutes after I arrived. I miss the fair food, squid on a stick, the amazing corn on a cob smothered in soy sauce mixed with sugar. I miss the slabs of grilled pork on a stick. The syrupy soda that came in a bottle with a fun marble at the top that jingled as you drank it staring up at the sky to watch the fireworks. I miss the festivals that celebrate every season, every food and every tradition imaginable.
I am truly homesick after meeting all those that just returned from their stints in Japan. Every one's situation so different yet so the same. You can never go home again but I would like to go back.
Work is work and I don't anticipate that changing. Working for the man is not fulfilling but it pays the bills. I'm in a reminiscing mood. Last night I went out with my fellow alums from my program that I went to Japan with. It was a fun trip down memory lane. It made me homesick for my students, the food, my apartment there, my hilarious downstairs neighbor who spoke the local dialect so fast I could barely keep up - who looked out for me, who wouldn't let me win the "gift war" whose granddaughter I often wonder about. I miss my crappy little car, the Pagan mobile. I miss my convenience store across the street. I miss riding my bike around the rice paddies, the vending machines that you could buy anything from steaming hot tea or coffee to eggs to huge bags of rice from. Most of all I miss the food. I miss the little local itzakayas that made you whatever was caught fresh or killed that day. I miss the seasonality of food. Being so excited for the various seasons because you only got the massive so-dark they were almost black grapes with huge seeds that everyone took great pleasure in spitting out once a year. Each winter looking forward to eating satsumas and persimmons. Melons in the summer - fresh from the farm at the random "on your honor" food stand where they had somehow rigged a refrigerator out in the middle of nowhere so you could take a half a cold melon. I loved the eggplant, how tiny and cute they were - so cute they were given a nickname. I miss my ramen noodle shop that knew as soon as I walked in the door what I wanted and served it not less than 5 minutes after I arrived. I miss the fair food, squid on a stick, the amazing corn on a cob smothered in soy sauce mixed with sugar. I miss the slabs of grilled pork on a stick. The syrupy soda that came in a bottle with a fun marble at the top that jingled as you drank it staring up at the sky to watch the fireworks. I miss the festivals that celebrate every season, every food and every tradition imaginable.
I am truly homesick after meeting all those that just returned from their stints in Japan. Every one's situation so different yet so the same. You can never go home again but I would like to go back.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Return of the Martha
So my car, Martha, comes home tomorrow. Seriously?! I dropped it off on Tuesday and they are already done with it? Not only that, but my insurance company waived my deductible on account the accident was not my fault - ha! Can you imagine?! I love this new company. So happy.
I offered to help out a colleague at work with a project that I knew was a nightmare. At least I thought I knew it was a nightmare. It's not just a nightmare, it's a Friday the 13th, Freddy Kruger nightmare! It is stupidly complex and tedious. I was supposed to work on it for 2 weeks, I just finally finished today (at least I think I'm finished) and it's been 4 weeks. I don't feel my colleague has managed the project well. I also feel she didn't manage my expectation well at all. I'm sure she thought, fresh meat! Because I feel abused and taken advantage of. I haven't been able to do my job due to the amount of time I've had to spend devoted to this one lousy project.
Now that I'm finished with school, I don't really know what to do with myself. I usually come home and get on the computer out of habit. It feels odd not have homework. I'm not sure if I am into any of the new shows yet. And shows that I have been into have lost their appeal, like Project Runway.
Is there anything new and good out there?
I offered to help out a colleague at work with a project that I knew was a nightmare. At least I thought I knew it was a nightmare. It's not just a nightmare, it's a Friday the 13th, Freddy Kruger nightmare! It is stupidly complex and tedious. I was supposed to work on it for 2 weeks, I just finally finished today (at least I think I'm finished) and it's been 4 weeks. I don't feel my colleague has managed the project well. I also feel she didn't manage my expectation well at all. I'm sure she thought, fresh meat! Because I feel abused and taken advantage of. I haven't been able to do my job due to the amount of time I've had to spend devoted to this one lousy project.
Now that I'm finished with school, I don't really know what to do with myself. I usually come home and get on the computer out of habit. It feels odd not have homework. I'm not sure if I am into any of the new shows yet. And shows that I have been into have lost their appeal, like Project Runway.
Is there anything new and good out there?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
ID Theft
So recently, about a month after I sold my home I received notification from my mortgage company that some loser sold my name and all of my info and I was the victim of identity fraud. So I have a warning placed on my credit report. Yay me.
This evening I got a call from a major credit card provider saying I have been chosen for a 0% card for 1 year with balance transfer blah blah. From the outset I'm a little freaked out because of the ID fraud and because in this economy the idea of any company wanting to give me something for free feels weird. I also got freaked out because they called me, no notice in the mail or email...but a phone call. How do I know it's a legit call? I just felt freaked out and was like, nope.
On a brighter note, last time I was in old city I was able to file to get my license plate tag money back and today I got my check. Woo Ha!
AND, very happy with my new car insurance company - thus far the service has been amazing, especially when compared to my previous one. But tomorrow the insurance adjuster for my broken furniture shows up...so we'll see if my streak continues.
This evening I got a call from a major credit card provider saying I have been chosen for a 0% card for 1 year with balance transfer blah blah. From the outset I'm a little freaked out because of the ID fraud and because in this economy the idea of any company wanting to give me something for free feels weird. I also got freaked out because they called me, no notice in the mail or email...but a phone call. How do I know it's a legit call? I just felt freaked out and was like, nope.
On a brighter note, last time I was in old city I was able to file to get my license plate tag money back and today I got my check. Woo Ha!
AND, very happy with my new car insurance company - thus far the service has been amazing, especially when compared to my previous one. But tomorrow the insurance adjuster for my broken furniture shows up...so we'll see if my streak continues.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Cursed
I think my car Martha is bad luck. Since I bought her in August of 2007, I've had 4 incidents, not one of which was my fault.
1. Cut off on the interstate, guy slammed on his brakes, I slammed on mine and hit him and then got smushed by the guy behind me. Effectively sandwiched. Guy who cut in front of me took off. Guy behind me had out of state plates and no insurance.
2. Driving home from Starbucks and a tree limb that was being cut down lands on my car and knocks my passenger side mirror off.
3. HUGE white SUV scrapes the side of my car in the Costco parking lot.
Today 4. Rear-ended while waiting on a bicyclist to cross the street...the woman behind me slammed into the same side the SUV did in #3.
I have barely had this damn car 1 year and it's already beat up. I'm pondering trading it in just to get rid of the bad ju ju.
1. Cut off on the interstate, guy slammed on his brakes, I slammed on mine and hit him and then got smushed by the guy behind me. Effectively sandwiched. Guy who cut in front of me took off. Guy behind me had out of state plates and no insurance.
2. Driving home from Starbucks and a tree limb that was being cut down lands on my car and knocks my passenger side mirror off.
3. HUGE white SUV scrapes the side of my car in the Costco parking lot.
Today 4. Rear-ended while waiting on a bicyclist to cross the street...the woman behind me slammed into the same side the SUV did in #3.
I have barely had this damn car 1 year and it's already beat up. I'm pondering trading it in just to get rid of the bad ju ju.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
School's OUT FOREVER!!!
To quote Alice Cooper - School's out forever!! I'M DONE!!! 22 months of MBA school and I finished on Friday night!!! So happy yet it feels a bit anticlimatic. I have so been waiting for this for so long.
I have no idea what I'm going to do with my time now. I can have hobbies again! I can READ ANYTHING I want - and NOT textbooks!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I have no idea what I'm going to do with my time now. I can have hobbies again! I can READ ANYTHING I want - and NOT textbooks!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
One more day left of school!!!
Stolen from my SiL.
Take the list and bold what you HAVE done.
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped (watched) an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band(orchestra)
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone kayaking in the ocean
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem not for school
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Gone deep-sea fishing
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Commented on a stranger's blog
Take the list and bold what you HAVE done.
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped (watched) an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band(orchestra)
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone kayaking in the ocean
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem not for school
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Gone deep-sea fishing
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Commented on a stranger's blog
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I PASSED!!!
I finally sucked it up and took the driving test again today and I PASSED!!! It was getting to be a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, I was so nervous I would fail again - it was embarrassing enough to fail the first time, albeit by 1 point, but if I failed again?! Sheesh. Then I would have to pay $10 for every time afterwards that I wanted to take it.
So now I am all set - new plates, new license. I'm officially a resident of new state.
So now I am all set - new plates, new license. I'm officially a resident of new state.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Trips down memory lane
So I totally wussed out and didn't go take my driving test on Friday. I felt like I needed more time to study - the flipping book is 95 pages long!! Anyway, I'll do it sometime next week I'm sure.
My SIL recently wrote a blog about "unfriending" someone on Facebook. She went to a really small high school and everyone has friended each other to snoop and keep in touch. I went to 3 different high schools of varying sizes. One in particular was quite small, so small it was actually 7 - 12. I went to it from 7 - 9. I am getting a lot of friend requests from people I don't remember. AT ALL. While it's flattering that people remember me, I know they just want to snoop on my life. There are also a number of people that I don't want to remember EVER. Not interested in going down memory lane with them.
I think I have this habit, especially after moving so many times growing up, that I tend to wipe the slate in my brain completely clean and forget people pretty quickly. I may remember the names of my best friends growing up, but I can't remember the name of the kid who I sat next to in Algebra.
Can you?
My SIL recently wrote a blog about "unfriending" someone on Facebook. She went to a really small high school and everyone has friended each other to snoop and keep in touch. I went to 3 different high schools of varying sizes. One in particular was quite small, so small it was actually 7 - 12. I went to it from 7 - 9. I am getting a lot of friend requests from people I don't remember. AT ALL. While it's flattering that people remember me, I know they just want to snoop on my life. There are also a number of people that I don't want to remember EVER. Not interested in going down memory lane with them.
I think I have this habit, especially after moving so many times growing up, that I tend to wipe the slate in my brain completely clean and forget people pretty quickly. I may remember the names of my best friends growing up, but I can't remember the name of the kid who I sat next to in Algebra.
Can you?
Thursday, September 04, 2008
You're a loser who can't drive
I'm paraphrasing the movie Clueless in my title. Allow me to explain. Last week I went to get my driver's license and plates for new state. Unbeknownst to me, in new state you have to retake the written (now computerized) exam. Uhhh!!! I didn't study, but thought, okay...so I took it. Uh, yeah...I scored a 74. Essentially failing by 1 lousy point! SERIOUSLY?!!
I was so humilated and embarrased. From talking with my colleagues at work, I know I am not the only transplant that this has happened to, but still. So I am going back tomorrow to retake it. If I fail again, I have to pay $10 to take the test again - AND they make you wait 3 days to take the test again.
Wish me luck.
I was so humilated and embarrased. From talking with my colleagues at work, I know I am not the only transplant that this has happened to, but still. So I am going back tomorrow to retake it. If I fail again, I have to pay $10 to take the test again - AND they make you wait 3 days to take the test again.
Wish me luck.
Monday, September 01, 2008
The L Word
Life in the new city is great. I'm really enjoying my new apartment and new location. Boxes are everywhere in the apartment and although I have only lost approximately 200 square feet downsizing from my 3 bedroom home to a 2 bedroom apartment, I feel as though I have lost 2,000 square feet. I have a lot of crap. And I'm tired already of unpacking. Boxes may become part of my decor.
This Labor Day weekend, there is a ton going on. I was planning on going to the state fair yesterday but I had to do homework. Boo. I hate being responsible. And I'm very talented at procrastinating.
One of my colleages from work is kind of like a Social Director - so that is what I will call her. SD knows everyone and brings lots of people together. She is really fun and young and is very smart. SD has taken me under her wing, which is funny as I'm much older than her, but she invited me to go out with her on Saturday evening. She wanted me to meet her partner. When she called she said she wanted me to meet them at a bar/club called Pi. Towards the end of the conversation she mentioned that it is a lesbian bar/club. Now I know that SD is gay. I have no issue with it and was happy to meet her partner as I have heard so much about her. I also have no issue going to a lesbian bar. I am secure enough in my sexuality that if someone assumes I'm gay, whatever. Frankly, it would be nice to be hit by anyone these days.
So I look up Pi online. This place is huge and has a lot going on from good food, to DJs, to an art gallery, to a pool hall and more. What is also has is various "themed" events. Such as Dildo Bingo. That's right Dildo Bingo. Now, I wasn't sure exactly what that means. A lot of images are going through my mind. Do you use the dildo as the marker? Are the cards shaped like dildos? Well, come to find out (hee - no pun intended) apparently my imagination is a lot better than reality, as you only win a dildo if you win bingo.
Otherwise, the bar/club was pretty fun. Good food, good music. But the people watching was the BEST. I am not overly familiar with the gay community. It was fascinating to me to see all these different women, the butchies, the femmes, the trannies, all in one place. The new city is very open and has a large community of GLBTs (Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Tran). The place was packed by 10:30pm. And no, no one hit on me. I didn't know whether to be upset or disappointed. I mean seriously, I looked cute. But I'm sure it was obvious I was just the straight third wheel.
Needless to say the evening was very educational. Maybe I'll go back for bingo. :-)
This Labor Day weekend, there is a ton going on. I was planning on going to the state fair yesterday but I had to do homework. Boo. I hate being responsible. And I'm very talented at procrastinating.
One of my colleages from work is kind of like a Social Director - so that is what I will call her. SD knows everyone and brings lots of people together. She is really fun and young and is very smart. SD has taken me under her wing, which is funny as I'm much older than her, but she invited me to go out with her on Saturday evening. She wanted me to meet her partner. When she called she said she wanted me to meet them at a bar/club called Pi. Towards the end of the conversation she mentioned that it is a lesbian bar/club. Now I know that SD is gay. I have no issue with it and was happy to meet her partner as I have heard so much about her. I also have no issue going to a lesbian bar. I am secure enough in my sexuality that if someone assumes I'm gay, whatever. Frankly, it would be nice to be hit by anyone these days.
So I look up Pi online. This place is huge and has a lot going on from good food, to DJs, to an art gallery, to a pool hall and more. What is also has is various "themed" events. Such as Dildo Bingo. That's right Dildo Bingo. Now, I wasn't sure exactly what that means. A lot of images are going through my mind. Do you use the dildo as the marker? Are the cards shaped like dildos? Well, come to find out (hee - no pun intended) apparently my imagination is a lot better than reality, as you only win a dildo if you win bingo.
Otherwise, the bar/club was pretty fun. Good food, good music. But the people watching was the BEST. I am not overly familiar with the gay community. It was fascinating to me to see all these different women, the butchies, the femmes, the trannies, all in one place. The new city is very open and has a large community of GLBTs (Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Tran). The place was packed by 10:30pm. And no, no one hit on me. I didn't know whether to be upset or disappointed. I mean seriously, I looked cute. But I'm sure it was obvious I was just the straight third wheel.
Needless to say the evening was very educational. Maybe I'll go back for bingo. :-)
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
New A.P.T.
I'm so excited!!! I found a place to live and I can't wait!!! I'm moving into the top floor, corner apartment with a fireplace and a balcony that has an incredible view of the city!!!! Although I'm only losing 200 square feet and I did sell quite a bit on Craig's List, I have no idea how all my stuff is going to fit in the new apartment. But it's a nice dilemma to have.
The packers are here today and it is so crazy that I just get to sit here while they do all the work. I'm trying to stay out of everyone's way. I'm hoping they are done by about 3pm, then I can pack up my car - which is going to be filled to the gills, especially with food.
I'm staying with a friend for a couple of weeks and am planning to move up the last week in August. Woot Woot!! The new job is being so cool about my moving.
So tomorrow everything gets loaded onto the truck and then I'm done. No more mowing the damn lawn. No more shoveling the damn driveway.
I don't remember the last time I have been this happy. I am so excited about this move, so thrilled to have a new start in a new city.
The packers are here today and it is so crazy that I just get to sit here while they do all the work. I'm trying to stay out of everyone's way. I'm hoping they are done by about 3pm, then I can pack up my car - which is going to be filled to the gills, especially with food.
I'm staying with a friend for a couple of weeks and am planning to move up the last week in August. Woot Woot!! The new job is being so cool about my moving.
So tomorrow everything gets loaded onto the truck and then I'm done. No more mowing the damn lawn. No more shoveling the damn driveway.
I don't remember the last time I have been this happy. I am so excited about this move, so thrilled to have a new start in a new city.
Friday, August 01, 2008
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