7 years ago
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Now that's kicking it old school
My dad is a practical man. His idea of a gift is one that he needs, and not just another something to clutter up the house. This year he emphasized this point to us, and told us to really only get him what he needs. So I asked him what he needed. He said a Honda Civic. I wish I had been witty enough to say, Dad, with the economy the way it is, I am scaling back on christmas. But I wasn't, so I just asked him for another idea. Since he told me what to get him, and I told him I was getting it so he better not order it, I do not feel like I am spoiling the surprise by sharing it with you. He wanted a ham radio. A couple of years ago he took the training class so that in the event of an emergency, he could operate the radios and make sure everyone in the Ward/Stake was ok. But he hasn't had his own radio to practice on. So I asked the Emergency Preparedness person what kind to order and how to get one. So she sent me back the info on the exact model number, and several websites. I did all of my christmas shopping online this year, and it involved going to a website, browsing the catalog, selecting the item, and checking out by filling out payment information and shipping information. Voila! With free shipping, my items arrived in a tower of boxes at my house without me having to venture out to a mall. I was thinking, great, I can just order the ham radio from the comfort of my living room, and have it arrive for Christmas. I went to several websites. They were impossible to search! There was no catalog with pictures, no google search engine, nothing. Finally I found the radios. I tried to check out. There is no check out mechanism! You have to call! Calling!??!?! What is this? So I found a website that did have a check out mechanism, but they only allow you to use PayPal. Well, so far I have avoided ever having a paypal account, and after I figured out the requirements, I have decided to continue my stance against PayPal. So I went back to the site with the phone number. What?! No Voicemail? They don't have workers answering the phone around the clock? So I waited......... I called back, and the man answered the phone and said Can I put you on hold? I said yes, and he said Darn, where is the hold button? So while I was on hold, I could hear what was going on :) So then he comes back and takes my order over the phone. I have no idea if the ham radio will really arrive here, because what if he writes down my address incorrectly? So I am praying that the ham radio does show up on my porch before Christmas.....
Monday, December 15, 2008
It's that time of year
when the world falls in love
every song you hear
seems to say
Merry Christmas
May your new years dreams come true!
And this song of mine
In 3 quarter time
wishes you and yours
the same thing too
-- The Carpenters
When I was growing up, there was a lady in our ward who threw annual Christmas parties, with tons of food, and even Santa Claus showing up! Her house was always gorgeously decorated. It was one of my dreams when I grew up to do the same thing. For the past 5 years I have held a Christmas party which is a great excuse to decorate and eat good food.
When I first started this tradition, I loved getting a fresh tree. They smell so wonderful! A couple of years ago I bought a fake tree because it was a challenge to get a real tree up the stairs. Imagine the scene from While You Were Sleeping: I should have gone with the blue spruce they are lighter! The fake tree comes in pieces which are easy to move up and down the stairs. But it doesn't smell the same. To solve this problem, I got a can of "tree" scent, and attempted to spray it on my tree. It was overpowering! I almost passed out! I had to open my sliding doors in December and turn on the fan to kill the smell! Ok, so it is North Carolina and it was 70 degrees that day, so it wasn't a big deal to open the doors...... but still :) So much for a tree scent......
My mom always let us children decorate the tree with our very own ornaments. Every year we would get a new one, and so our collection grew. When I moved out, I got to take all my ornaments with me. But by that time, my mom had her own collection of really nice ornaments. I am talking about the pretty gold ones from the White House. Also, other nice commemorative ornaments from vacation destinations. So my mom started doing a "theme" tree, which was covered with her beautiful ornaments, and flowers, and coordinating ball ornaments. So in true fashion, I copy my mom now. I have a theme tree that has my pretty ornaments, with white snow flakes my grandmother crocheted for me, and red balls and roses. It is gorgeous.
My grandparents always had a train going around the bottom of their tree. I don't think we ever went to their house when we were kids, but I did go one time as an adult, and the train was a very cool feature of the tree. So this year is the first year I have a train under my tree. It has some flat cars with presents on top, and I built a tunnel out of the other presents for the train to go through.
As I came home last night, I realized that I am missing something. A huge Grinch inflatable decoration to sit on my front lawn! My neighbors have one, and it is quite the sight. I am going to use it in my directions, "Just pull in where you see the big Grinch" :) Maybe this year I will go out to the after Christmas sales and get some outdoor decorations......
every song you hear
seems to say
Merry Christmas
May your new years dreams come true!
And this song of mine
In 3 quarter time
wishes you and yours
the same thing too
-- The Carpenters
When I was growing up, there was a lady in our ward who threw annual Christmas parties, with tons of food, and even Santa Claus showing up! Her house was always gorgeously decorated. It was one of my dreams when I grew up to do the same thing. For the past 5 years I have held a Christmas party which is a great excuse to decorate and eat good food.
When I first started this tradition, I loved getting a fresh tree. They smell so wonderful! A couple of years ago I bought a fake tree because it was a challenge to get a real tree up the stairs. Imagine the scene from While You Were Sleeping: I should have gone with the blue spruce they are lighter! The fake tree comes in pieces which are easy to move up and down the stairs. But it doesn't smell the same. To solve this problem, I got a can of "tree" scent, and attempted to spray it on my tree. It was overpowering! I almost passed out! I had to open my sliding doors in December and turn on the fan to kill the smell! Ok, so it is North Carolina and it was 70 degrees that day, so it wasn't a big deal to open the doors...... but still :) So much for a tree scent......
My mom always let us children decorate the tree with our very own ornaments. Every year we would get a new one, and so our collection grew. When I moved out, I got to take all my ornaments with me. But by that time, my mom had her own collection of really nice ornaments. I am talking about the pretty gold ones from the White House. Also, other nice commemorative ornaments from vacation destinations. So my mom started doing a "theme" tree, which was covered with her beautiful ornaments, and flowers, and coordinating ball ornaments. So in true fashion, I copy my mom now. I have a theme tree that has my pretty ornaments, with white snow flakes my grandmother crocheted for me, and red balls and roses. It is gorgeous.
My grandparents always had a train going around the bottom of their tree. I don't think we ever went to their house when we were kids, but I did go one time as an adult, and the train was a very cool feature of the tree. So this year is the first year I have a train under my tree. It has some flat cars with presents on top, and I built a tunnel out of the other presents for the train to go through.
As I came home last night, I realized that I am missing something. A huge Grinch inflatable decoration to sit on my front lawn! My neighbors have one, and it is quite the sight. I am going to use it in my directions, "Just pull in where you see the big Grinch" :) Maybe this year I will go out to the after Christmas sales and get some outdoor decorations......
Monday, December 8, 2008
The Color of Water
The color of water is changing in my office. For years it has been free, dispensed in two brands of bottles from vending machines. The brands will remain nameless since I do not have any sponsorships, but the water was clear, pure, and refreshing in these bottles. At any moment of the workday, you could have fresh spring water to facilitate the creative mind of a software engineer. Also, there were free sodas. I am not a big soda drinker, so this was always of minor consequence, but I am sure my coworkers loved the free soda cans. But the company has decided to change the color of water into a non-free shade. In the memo that accompanied this announcement, the company said, naturally this will help us save money. So apparently the shade of water is now slightly green with the greenbacks the company will save by not providing water. Part of me wonders if I get dehydrated on the job, can I sue for workers comp? Probably not.... they will contend that I could have purchased water to avoid dehydration. But we all know what this really means. It really means that I will bring a nalgene bottle from home filled with my own water, and drag it around to conference rooms, and hope that I don't accidentally leave it somewhere. And now that we have started down this slippery slope, I can see a future time where I get dressed for work in cargo pants, with my nalgene bottle attached via a carabiner, my laptop strapped to my back with bungee cords and a sleeping bag rolled tight underneath, my mess kit and utensils stashed in another pocket, and my boots prepared to handle any customer situation that comes up.
To be honest, this is simply a sign of a failing economy. When the economy was going through the tech boom in the late 1990's, companies offered perks like free drinks, snacks, and foosball machines, to attract talent. When the bubble burst, companies went out of business or scaled back. The free drinks were the last hold out from the fantastic perk era, and now that we are back in a recession, they are finally saying good-bye.
(The Color of Water is a memoir that has nothing to do with free water in the workplace).
To be honest, this is simply a sign of a failing economy. When the economy was going through the tech boom in the late 1990's, companies offered perks like free drinks, snacks, and foosball machines, to attract talent. When the bubble burst, companies went out of business or scaled back. The free drinks were the last hold out from the fantastic perk era, and now that we are back in a recession, they are finally saying good-bye.
(The Color of Water is a memoir that has nothing to do with free water in the workplace).
Saturday, December 6, 2008
I'm leaving on a jet plane
Once upon a time in a factory far far away, a plastic mold was cast and filled with electronic pieces. As the components were finally all connected, it suddenly was transformed into a computer. The computer was told to report to the assignment office. With some trepidation, the computer went to the assignment office. The computer was given an assignment to go to Florida to become a proof of concept with some new and exciting software. However, before going to Florida, the computer must first go to a lab to get the new and exciting software. The computer was thrilled. To be a proof of concept is one of the highest assignments, second only to being a production server! Several people began working on loading the software onto the computer in preparation for Florida. This was a very long and tedious process, and as time passed, the people realized that it wouldn't be done in time to put the computer onto a truck to be sent to Florida. The computer was so excited! The people were talking about buying the computer a plane ticket to fly to Florida. The computer had always wanted to try those in flight peanuts. The people drove the computer to the airport and bought the computer a one way ticket to Florida. They made sure the flight attendants would pay attention to the computer and ensure the computer was secure on the flight. Then the computer had to go through security alone because the people didn't have tickets to pass through security. Around on the conveyor belts went the computer. Sitting in a chair waiting for the flight to board was really long and tedious, and the computer didn't have any e-books loaded. Finally the flight attendant called the computer's row, and got the computer all buckled in and safe. The flight attendant had some coloring books that were used with other young travelers, but the computer didn't have the right external ports to upload the images. There were other people waiting for the computer when the plane landed, and finally, the computer was set up as the proof of concept, and had fulfilled the assignment.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thanksgiving
Any holiday that involves pie is high on my list of great holidays. My mom spends days cooking one meal, that we inevitably eat in half an hour. My mom wants us to spend an equivalent amount of time enjoying her food, and we do over the course of the weekend. When I moved out, I asked if there was something I could bring, to help lessen the load.
One year I tried to bake a pie...... big mistake :) I mean, my pie was edible. But the crust had not been practiced for 25 years, honed to a delectable pastry. And the filling was ok, but it was not the result of the careful application of cinnamon to apples that experience teaches. And so it sat on the counter until all the other pie was eaten. So now I practice my pie technique in less strenuous competitions, so that some day, I will be as good as my mom.
What I have learned over the years is that my mom will make everything she has always made regardless of what I offer to bring. So my goals have changed, from trying to imitate a traditional dish, to just complimenting what my mom does. So I try to find a vegetable or fruit side dish that will be tasty. You know, you can find some really great side dish recipes on the internet. One year I made a cauliflower dish that was good. Another year I made a totally awesome BLTA salad (bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado). This was so good, I repeated it the next year. This year I am trying out asparagus on my family. Shhhh, all they know is that I am going to bring a salad. But inside the salad will be asparagus. We will see how this goes over. As a backup, I am bringing corn, which everyone likes.
What are your favorite recipes, or the new ones you like to try?
One year I tried to bake a pie...... big mistake :) I mean, my pie was edible. But the crust had not been practiced for 25 years, honed to a delectable pastry. And the filling was ok, but it was not the result of the careful application of cinnamon to apples that experience teaches. And so it sat on the counter until all the other pie was eaten. So now I practice my pie technique in less strenuous competitions, so that some day, I will be as good as my mom.
What I have learned over the years is that my mom will make everything she has always made regardless of what I offer to bring. So my goals have changed, from trying to imitate a traditional dish, to just complimenting what my mom does. So I try to find a vegetable or fruit side dish that will be tasty. You know, you can find some really great side dish recipes on the internet. One year I made a cauliflower dish that was good. Another year I made a totally awesome BLTA salad (bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado). This was so good, I repeated it the next year. This year I am trying out asparagus on my family. Shhhh, all they know is that I am going to bring a salad. But inside the salad will be asparagus. We will see how this goes over. As a backup, I am bringing corn, which everyone likes.
What are your favorite recipes, or the new ones you like to try?
Ode to a Junk Drawer
In one of Terry Pratchett's books, there is a goddess of Things that Stick in Drawers (Going Postal). She is responsible for junk drawers, you know the one you have where you can't quite get it open without sticking your hand in, and you are very careful about sticking your hand in because you never know what sharp object it will encounter........
I have lived in my house for two years, and in my kitchen I had two cabinets that qualified as junk cabinets. While unpacking, there were things I didn't know what to do with .... and figured I would find a place later...... and it was nice to put the stuff out of sight....... and you know how that out of sight out of mind thing goes.......
Later has come and gone, and the cabinets have multiplied their contents of "stuff" that has no place to live. Well, no more. One of the many reasons I love this time of year is I have vacation time to not go on vacation, but to stay home and do the little odds and ends that the rest of the year I procrastinate on. So today, I tackled these kitchen cabinets. So out go the empty light bulb boxes, the half burned candles, and the 6 extension cords. Voila! Empty cabinets.
I have lived in my house for two years, and in my kitchen I had two cabinets that qualified as junk cabinets. While unpacking, there were things I didn't know what to do with .... and figured I would find a place later...... and it was nice to put the stuff out of sight....... and you know how that out of sight out of mind thing goes.......
Later has come and gone, and the cabinets have multiplied their contents of "stuff" that has no place to live. Well, no more. One of the many reasons I love this time of year is I have vacation time to not go on vacation, but to stay home and do the little odds and ends that the rest of the year I procrastinate on. So today, I tackled these kitchen cabinets. So out go the empty light bulb boxes, the half burned candles, and the 6 extension cords. Voila! Empty cabinets.
Monday, November 17, 2008
I eat people like you for breakfast
Since I have been gone for a month, many things have happened that I have not blogged about, due to the lack of internet. And I forgot how to write a blog entry, hence the one I just posted without a title. I will get back into the swing of things eventually.
But as I was perusing my blog comments, I remembered that I had posted about the first dance I went to this year and the kid who was stunned to find out I am a successful, financially independent software engineer with a career. So to update you on this situation, I have successfully blown away two other boys heads! No, I really don't set out to do this. It just happens. So the next victim was at a dance, and he asked what I did and I said I work at IBM, and he was like, IBM, WHOA! what do you do there, and I said I write software. These are my phrases to play it down. And he was like, WHOA! you write software, oh my gosh, did you go to MIT and graduate with a 4.0, and I said something like that, and he said WHOA, and I said just kidding, I went to UNC Chapel Hill which is better (oh yea, Tarheels rock!). Anyway for the rest of the dance he kept muttering IBM! Writes Software! I did try to ask him what he did and make it sound like it was equally hard but...... it didn't help put his head back together.
So then at church on Sunday the pianist for the choir wasn't there, so a guy filled in. He did a great job. So afterwards I told him he did a great job filling in on short notice, and so we got to chatting and he asked what I do. So I said I worked at IBM. And his eyes got big and he said no way, what do you do? and I said I write software (obviously my playing it down phrases aren't working!) and his eyes got bigger and his head started to spin and he said, but you don't look like... i mean... i wouldn't have thought that you.... that is.... my brother in law is a geek and he has a gut and you don't look like .... and I said, oh, I am too pretty to be writing software? well, thanks. but what do you do? and he said he was going on a mission........... needless to say the conversation pretty much ended there because I had ruined his entire perception of what computer geeks are, and I didn't want to do any more harm to a future missionary.
I have to admit, part of me thrills at seeing the eyes grow big, the head start to spin........ but part of me does think I should be nice and come up with euphimisms for what I do. Where do you work? Oh, just a local company in RTP. What do you do there? Attend meetings and take notes, mostly. Satisfy customers. Corral cats with a leaf blower. Of course, I think my sister had the right idea.... "I can't tell you my name because I am in the witness protection program"
But as I was perusing my blog comments, I remembered that I had posted about the first dance I went to this year and the kid who was stunned to find out I am a successful, financially independent software engineer with a career. So to update you on this situation, I have successfully blown away two other boys heads! No, I really don't set out to do this. It just happens. So the next victim was at a dance, and he asked what I did and I said I work at IBM, and he was like, IBM, WHOA! what do you do there, and I said I write software. These are my phrases to play it down. And he was like, WHOA! you write software, oh my gosh, did you go to MIT and graduate with a 4.0, and I said something like that, and he said WHOA, and I said just kidding, I went to UNC Chapel Hill which is better (oh yea, Tarheels rock!). Anyway for the rest of the dance he kept muttering IBM! Writes Software! I did try to ask him what he did and make it sound like it was equally hard but...... it didn't help put his head back together.
So then at church on Sunday the pianist for the choir wasn't there, so a guy filled in. He did a great job. So afterwards I told him he did a great job filling in on short notice, and so we got to chatting and he asked what I do. So I said I worked at IBM. And his eyes got big and he said no way, what do you do? and I said I write software (obviously my playing it down phrases aren't working!) and his eyes got bigger and his head started to spin and he said, but you don't look like... i mean... i wouldn't have thought that you.... that is.... my brother in law is a geek and he has a gut and you don't look like .... and I said, oh, I am too pretty to be writing software? well, thanks. but what do you do? and he said he was going on a mission........... needless to say the conversation pretty much ended there because I had ruined his entire perception of what computer geeks are, and I didn't want to do any more harm to a future missionary.
I have to admit, part of me thrills at seeing the eyes grow big, the head start to spin........ but part of me does think I should be nice and come up with euphimisms for what I do. Where do you work? Oh, just a local company in RTP. What do you do there? Attend meetings and take notes, mostly. Satisfy customers. Corral cats with a leaf blower. Of course, I think my sister had the right idea.... "I can't tell you my name because I am in the witness protection program"
What will they think of next
I have been traveling on business for the last three weeks, and have not access to the internet in the usual manner that I do at home. For some reason customers lock down their internet access, so I can't blog or check facebook. So this is a blog entry that was written in notepad while I sat for 10 hours waiting for an upgrade to complete. Ah, the joys of the career of a software engineer!
The first amusement park I went to was Kings Dominion. I don't actually remember this, but my family went for my sisters 2nd birthday or something. Obviously, if I was only 4, I didn't ride many rides. The next time my family went to an amusement park it was Busch Gardens with my aunt and her family. I was tall enough to ride the Loch Ness Monster. It was sooooo scary! I was too scared to ride the Big Bad Wolf. Roller coasters for me are terrible things to be on at the time, but once you are off and safely back on the ground, it was fun. But during the actual ride, I am petrified. I think we also went down one of those rivers that you get totally soaked on. I wish I hadn't worn jeans. Wearing wet jeans is no fun at all. For our 8th grade trip we went to Kings Dominion. I had a great time riding the little kid roller coasters. I also rode the one that goes forwards and backwards, and much preferred the backwards ride. It seemed less scary that way. In high school, I went to the State Fair with some friends who wanted to ride the rides. I liked the Ferris Wheel. The gravitron thing was horrible, and I really never will go in one of those again. The one that swings you from side to side to side and then finally all the way around was also fairly scary. On an orchestra trip there was a little tiny amusement park. That roller coaster was not fun at all. I was sure it would fall over! All in all, I had decided that amusement parks were not my thing. But then I went on a business trip to California, and part of the trip was to go to the California Adventure part of Disney Land. They had a really cool glider ride that was not scary. Then they had a ride that was once again petrifying, until I was back on the ground. I am just not that great with the stomach wrenching, slowly climb to the top to tumble down the other side really fast kind of roller coasters. But there was a really nice Ferris Wheel, but one where the individual cars could move and slide just a bit more than going around in a slow circle. That was really nice. All in all, I would have to say I am not a roller coaster riding kind of person.
The first car I ever drove was a 1983 chevy little station wagon, blue. It was my dad's car that he had had ever since my brother was born. It was a stick shift, and I learned to drive it in a parking lot, and to seminary. My very first road trip was when we moved to North Carolina and dad wanted me to drive the station wagon, and it was scary to get onto the freeway! But I managed to do it. During the summer, I would drop Dad off at work, and then drive to my two jobs, and then Mom would pick Dad up. Sometimes we varied that schedule, but it meant I had the car during the day at my job. Usually I would eat lunch in the breakroom, but I decided to drive to the bank to drop off some paychecks. It was a damp and rainy day, and as I drove along the road there was a car who wanted to turn across my lanes of traffic. I saw them inching forward, but thought they were going for it, so I slammed on my brakes, but because the road was wet, I started to skid. The next thing I remember is being in the parking lot of a vet hospital, with two cars that were wrecked somewhere around me. Dad was really great, I called him from the vet and he came and got me and made sure I was ok. The unfortunate part was the car was totaled. So much for everyone of us kids driving the same car when we turned 16 :(
The first amusement park I went to was Kings Dominion. I don't actually remember this, but my family went for my sisters 2nd birthday or something. Obviously, if I was only 4, I didn't ride many rides. The next time my family went to an amusement park it was Busch Gardens with my aunt and her family. I was tall enough to ride the Loch Ness Monster. It was sooooo scary! I was too scared to ride the Big Bad Wolf. Roller coasters for me are terrible things to be on at the time, but once you are off and safely back on the ground, it was fun. But during the actual ride, I am petrified. I think we also went down one of those rivers that you get totally soaked on. I wish I hadn't worn jeans. Wearing wet jeans is no fun at all. For our 8th grade trip we went to Kings Dominion. I had a great time riding the little kid roller coasters. I also rode the one that goes forwards and backwards, and much preferred the backwards ride. It seemed less scary that way. In high school, I went to the State Fair with some friends who wanted to ride the rides. I liked the Ferris Wheel. The gravitron thing was horrible, and I really never will go in one of those again. The one that swings you from side to side to side and then finally all the way around was also fairly scary. On an orchestra trip there was a little tiny amusement park. That roller coaster was not fun at all. I was sure it would fall over! All in all, I had decided that amusement parks were not my thing. But then I went on a business trip to California, and part of the trip was to go to the California Adventure part of Disney Land. They had a really cool glider ride that was not scary. Then they had a ride that was once again petrifying, until I was back on the ground. I am just not that great with the stomach wrenching, slowly climb to the top to tumble down the other side really fast kind of roller coasters. But there was a really nice Ferris Wheel, but one where the individual cars could move and slide just a bit more than going around in a slow circle. That was really nice. All in all, I would have to say I am not a roller coaster riding kind of person.
The first car I ever drove was a 1983 chevy little station wagon, blue. It was my dad's car that he had had ever since my brother was born. It was a stick shift, and I learned to drive it in a parking lot, and to seminary. My very first road trip was when we moved to North Carolina and dad wanted me to drive the station wagon, and it was scary to get onto the freeway! But I managed to do it. During the summer, I would drop Dad off at work, and then drive to my two jobs, and then Mom would pick Dad up. Sometimes we varied that schedule, but it meant I had the car during the day at my job. Usually I would eat lunch in the breakroom, but I decided to drive to the bank to drop off some paychecks. It was a damp and rainy day, and as I drove along the road there was a car who wanted to turn across my lanes of traffic. I saw them inching forward, but thought they were going for it, so I slammed on my brakes, but because the road was wet, I started to skid. The next thing I remember is being in the parking lot of a vet hospital, with two cars that were wrecked somewhere around me. Dad was really great, I called him from the vet and he came and got me and made sure I was ok. The unfortunate part was the car was totaled. So much for everyone of us kids driving the same car when we turned 16 :(
Friday, October 17, 2008
It's been one week...
I am on a business trip. It has been a long week. Let me dispel the myth of the business trip.
1. Exotic destinations - Even if you are going somewhere that people might take a vacation to, the most you see of it is the airport, the hotel, and your assigned workspace. You have to attach vacation days to your business trip to do some sightseeing, and often the demands of the business don't let you do that.
2. Great food - Being stuck in a conference room with 7 other people until 10 PM at night where they bring in pizza with anchovies, shrimp, and broccoli on it does not count as great food.
3. Free Time - I usually enjoy traveling because I get cable in the hotel.... this week I have had exactly a half hour to watch TV before I am so exhausted I have to sleep so I can get up and do it all over again.
4. You are there until you finish - I will not be home for my birthday to enjoy my mom's homemade rolls
But there is always a silver lining. I do get to see my sister, which will be totally awesome, and because work extended my business trip, they offered to pay for me to visit my sister. So now it is totally free for me to go see her. Plus, I do have a job, which is a great blessing. So I am not really complaining. Mom's rolls will keep another week.
1. Exotic destinations - Even if you are going somewhere that people might take a vacation to, the most you see of it is the airport, the hotel, and your assigned workspace. You have to attach vacation days to your business trip to do some sightseeing, and often the demands of the business don't let you do that.
2. Great food - Being stuck in a conference room with 7 other people until 10 PM at night where they bring in pizza with anchovies, shrimp, and broccoli on it does not count as great food.
3. Free Time - I usually enjoy traveling because I get cable in the hotel.... this week I have had exactly a half hour to watch TV before I am so exhausted I have to sleep so I can get up and do it all over again.
4. You are there until you finish - I will not be home for my birthday to enjoy my mom's homemade rolls
But there is always a silver lining. I do get to see my sister, which will be totally awesome, and because work extended my business trip, they offered to pay for me to visit my sister. So now it is totally free for me to go see her. Plus, I do have a job, which is a great blessing. So I am not really complaining. Mom's rolls will keep another week.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
So Long and Thanks for all the Fish
HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy Series
Life changes. People move away. And frankly, I am tired of it. I think I was meant to be born in a time when everyone for 5 generations of your family lived in the same small town, all the neighbors had lived there their whole lives, and your best friend lived next door and never left. I know..... there are alot of people I wouldn't have met had my life actually been lived in such a town, but here me out. This year close to everyone I really liked having around have moved because of jobs. Which is a great thing for them because a job is a wonderful thing to have. But this blog is not about them and how great their opportunities are, and how fortunate they are. It is about me, who gets left behind to only have phone conversations and miss them. You know, you can feel homesick when you are the one left at home. In my class last semester we read several articles about homesickness and whether it was a disease or a mental state. What I can say for sure is that it has nothing to do with a place, and everything to do with people. So for all you people who have moved, know you are missed. Of course, I will also say that I have vacation time, so there is a perk to people moving away, it gives me new places to visit, and I have really enjoyed the visits I have gone on so far, and am looking forward to some new trips :)
Just because people move does not mean you won't see them again. You might think you never will. It might take 10 years, but sometimes things just work out. I have a best friend that has been my best friend for over 20 years. We grew up together, and I moved away, and you would think after college you wouldn't necessarily keep up, but then she moved to where I lived, and it has been fantastic. I have really enjoyed being friends as adults. So even though we won't live in the same state for a while, you never know.
So here's a shout out to friends that really do last a lifetime:
Jan 7 1991 Monday
This year Liz and I have decided to give little presents to 1 kid each month. For instance, O.B. (Oliver) is for January. We gave him a pinball machine, a chinese yo-yo, and another thing which I forget. We are going by secret names like Birthday Blastors and Halloween Haunters.
Today Liz and I practiced spying. We're pretty good.
We threw snowballs at Terek and Shane. Then Liz and I ran down to her house because the boys were hot on our tails. I started to build a fort. Large enough to hold Liz and I but small enough not to get a breezy chill. Liz held off the boys, who weren't that hard because they couldn't aim. I finished the fort in about 20-25 min. and I'm not lieing. I really hope there is no school, or at least a late opening or early closing. I really can't stand school!
Life changes. People move away. And frankly, I am tired of it. I think I was meant to be born in a time when everyone for 5 generations of your family lived in the same small town, all the neighbors had lived there their whole lives, and your best friend lived next door and never left. I know..... there are alot of people I wouldn't have met had my life actually been lived in such a town, but here me out. This year close to everyone I really liked having around have moved because of jobs. Which is a great thing for them because a job is a wonderful thing to have. But this blog is not about them and how great their opportunities are, and how fortunate they are. It is about me, who gets left behind to only have phone conversations and miss them. You know, you can feel homesick when you are the one left at home. In my class last semester we read several articles about homesickness and whether it was a disease or a mental state. What I can say for sure is that it has nothing to do with a place, and everything to do with people. So for all you people who have moved, know you are missed. Of course, I will also say that I have vacation time, so there is a perk to people moving away, it gives me new places to visit, and I have really enjoyed the visits I have gone on so far, and am looking forward to some new trips :)
Just because people move does not mean you won't see them again. You might think you never will. It might take 10 years, but sometimes things just work out. I have a best friend that has been my best friend for over 20 years. We grew up together, and I moved away, and you would think after college you wouldn't necessarily keep up, but then she moved to where I lived, and it has been fantastic. I have really enjoyed being friends as adults. So even though we won't live in the same state for a while, you never know.
So here's a shout out to friends that really do last a lifetime:
Jan 7 1991 Monday
This year Liz and I have decided to give little presents to 1 kid each month. For instance, O.B. (Oliver) is for January. We gave him a pinball machine, a chinese yo-yo, and another thing which I forget. We are going by secret names like Birthday Blastors and Halloween Haunters.
Today Liz and I practiced spying. We're pretty good.
We threw snowballs at Terek and Shane. Then Liz and I ran down to her house because the boys were hot on our tails. I started to build a fort. Large enough to hold Liz and I but small enough not to get a breezy chill. Liz held off the boys, who weren't that hard because they couldn't aim. I finished the fort in about 20-25 min. and I'm not lieing. I really hope there is no school, or at least a late opening or early closing. I really can't stand school!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Back to the Future
I have been attending some business seminar classes this semester because I had the wild idea that I would like to own my own business. I am very very grateful for these classes, because they have opened my eyes to what I would like and what I wouldn't like about owning a business.
But the most interesting thing I have learned is the reason people want to start their own business is that they want to become someone new. They have imagined a different future for themselves, one in which they are different, and to fulfill the vision, they want to start a business.
Part of a business plan is writing down the specifics of the business so that everyone has the same vision you do of your business. The location, the clientele, the way you fit into it, how you will expand, etc.
I think it is useful once in a while to sit back and think about life in a very specific way. Not just, I want to go to Paris someday, but I would like to go to Paris for my 35th birthday and eat my birthday dinner near the Eiffel tower. That is what a business plan should say, I am going to open a store at the corner of Elm and Market, I will own the building and lease the top floor, I will advertise by having a really cool sign, and participate in the local news paper, I expect my clientele to be mostly foot traffic because it is in a restored downtown area..... and on and on with the specifics.
The main thing many of the instructors emphasized was, if all you want out of starting your own business is a new life, there are easier and cheaper ways of getting a new life! You can join a gym, you can get a different job, you can move, you can redecorate your house. All of which they say would be less stressful than starting your own business. This got me to thinking, because lately I have had the itch to have a new life. To be a better version of myself. To become the funny, charming, physically fit, knowledgeable person I know is somewhere in there. But all of those are general words. To change, we have to get down to the specifics. For example, one person I know at work says her motivation for getting up an exercising is she can vividly imagine herself at 65 playing with grandchildren on the beach, running into the water and helping them swim and build sandcastles. She believes that if she exercises now, she will be able at 65 to do that kind of activity. But it is a very specific vision that helps her get out of bed on dark, cold mornings.
The one specific thing I hold onto is the idea of an early retirement. But I think I need to work on what I imagine my life will be after I retire, because then I can be working towards those specific goals, and not just the generic big idea of "early retirement". So here's to imagining the future!
But the most interesting thing I have learned is the reason people want to start their own business is that they want to become someone new. They have imagined a different future for themselves, one in which they are different, and to fulfill the vision, they want to start a business.
Part of a business plan is writing down the specifics of the business so that everyone has the same vision you do of your business. The location, the clientele, the way you fit into it, how you will expand, etc.
I think it is useful once in a while to sit back and think about life in a very specific way. Not just, I want to go to Paris someday, but I would like to go to Paris for my 35th birthday and eat my birthday dinner near the Eiffel tower. That is what a business plan should say, I am going to open a store at the corner of Elm and Market, I will own the building and lease the top floor, I will advertise by having a really cool sign, and participate in the local news paper, I expect my clientele to be mostly foot traffic because it is in a restored downtown area..... and on and on with the specifics.
The main thing many of the instructors emphasized was, if all you want out of starting your own business is a new life, there are easier and cheaper ways of getting a new life! You can join a gym, you can get a different job, you can move, you can redecorate your house. All of which they say would be less stressful than starting your own business. This got me to thinking, because lately I have had the itch to have a new life. To be a better version of myself. To become the funny, charming, physically fit, knowledgeable person I know is somewhere in there. But all of those are general words. To change, we have to get down to the specifics. For example, one person I know at work says her motivation for getting up an exercising is she can vividly imagine herself at 65 playing with grandchildren on the beach, running into the water and helping them swim and build sandcastles. She believes that if she exercises now, she will be able at 65 to do that kind of activity. But it is a very specific vision that helps her get out of bed on dark, cold mornings.
The one specific thing I hold onto is the idea of an early retirement. But I think I need to work on what I imagine my life will be after I retire, because then I can be working towards those specific goals, and not just the generic big idea of "early retirement". So here's to imagining the future!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Dancing Queen
Young and Sweet, Only 17
Once upon a time I loved going to dances. We used to drive to Raleigh for the once a month YSA dances, and they were a blast. You would get dressed up and do up your hair and makeup and then go see if there was anyone interesting to meet. It was the mormon version of clubbing. If there was someone interesting, you were always trying to separate yourself from your girlfriends so that the guy wasn't intimidated to come ask you to dance. Sometimes, if you were bold, you would ask him to dance. There is something about music that just gets inside my bones and I want to dance. I am not a good dancer, but I just like to dance.
My friend called me and asked if I wanted to go to one of these dances. It has been a long time since I have gone to a dance, so at first I was like..... hmmmmm...... dance or stay home and sit in my comfy recliner and watch the Office........ I caved and went to the dance. I put on my "Mary Kay Dramatic Eye Makeup" look, a cute tuxedo style top and my trouser jeans. When I got to the dance I felt way overdressed. It wasn't at all like I remember dances from college. So either my memory is faulty, or things have changed. What I remember is the entire gym at the Raleigh Stake Center being full of people at the dance, it was so hot you were automatically drenched in sweat when you walked in, the refreshment table always had sugar treats and drinks on it, and there were a few chairs, but for the most part, only a few people hung back on the wall. Now the dance takes up half the gym in the Apex Stake Center, and it is pretty empty. Although, I am told that what I consider pretty empty is a good turnout. But then the music started to play, and I just can't stop my feet from doing the DDR dance. Then they played NSync, and I wanted to do the video dance to Bye Bye Bye. Later they did a fabulous 80s song, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. At this point, I am thinking Karaoke might be more fun than a dance. Karaoke is a solo activity, and it probably doesn't have the awkward slow songs to interrupt the fun songs. I enjoy singing along to good songs, almost as much as I like dancing to them.
I had made up my mind after posting about telling someone I work at IBM and having their eyes glaze over that that wasn't going to be my problem anymore. If people are amazed at what I do, great. I am not going to try to downplay what I do anymore. So someone asked me to dance. He happens to be quite a bit younger than me, hasn't been to school after high school, and is a salesman for an electrical company. He asked if I was in school, and I said no I work at IBM... as someone who writes software programs.... His response: you must be one of those really smart computer people then. Yes, I am. So what kind of software? The kind that manages information, keeping track of changes to the assets in your business..... Wow. So did you get your education in that? Yes, I went to Carolina to get my degree..... At this point he walks away. Jokingly. So I said, oh, you are a State fan. He said no, at the moment he is an ECU fan. I didn't really think we had a rivalry with ECU, but whatever. Anyway his eyes were totally glazed over, but it might be because he realized I was older than his oldest brother :) hehehehehe
Bottom line, while it wasn't the dances I remember, it wasn't the worst way to spend 45 minutes. And my recliner probably could use a break from me sitting in it :)
Once upon a time I loved going to dances. We used to drive to Raleigh for the once a month YSA dances, and they were a blast. You would get dressed up and do up your hair and makeup and then go see if there was anyone interesting to meet. It was the mormon version of clubbing. If there was someone interesting, you were always trying to separate yourself from your girlfriends so that the guy wasn't intimidated to come ask you to dance. Sometimes, if you were bold, you would ask him to dance. There is something about music that just gets inside my bones and I want to dance. I am not a good dancer, but I just like to dance.
My friend called me and asked if I wanted to go to one of these dances. It has been a long time since I have gone to a dance, so at first I was like..... hmmmmm...... dance or stay home and sit in my comfy recliner and watch the Office........ I caved and went to the dance. I put on my "Mary Kay Dramatic Eye Makeup" look, a cute tuxedo style top and my trouser jeans. When I got to the dance I felt way overdressed. It wasn't at all like I remember dances from college. So either my memory is faulty, or things have changed. What I remember is the entire gym at the Raleigh Stake Center being full of people at the dance, it was so hot you were automatically drenched in sweat when you walked in, the refreshment table always had sugar treats and drinks on it, and there were a few chairs, but for the most part, only a few people hung back on the wall. Now the dance takes up half the gym in the Apex Stake Center, and it is pretty empty. Although, I am told that what I consider pretty empty is a good turnout. But then the music started to play, and I just can't stop my feet from doing the DDR dance. Then they played NSync, and I wanted to do the video dance to Bye Bye Bye. Later they did a fabulous 80s song, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. At this point, I am thinking Karaoke might be more fun than a dance. Karaoke is a solo activity, and it probably doesn't have the awkward slow songs to interrupt the fun songs. I enjoy singing along to good songs, almost as much as I like dancing to them.
I had made up my mind after posting about telling someone I work at IBM and having their eyes glaze over that that wasn't going to be my problem anymore. If people are amazed at what I do, great. I am not going to try to downplay what I do anymore. So someone asked me to dance. He happens to be quite a bit younger than me, hasn't been to school after high school, and is a salesman for an electrical company. He asked if I was in school, and I said no I work at IBM... as someone who writes software programs.... His response: you must be one of those really smart computer people then. Yes, I am. So what kind of software? The kind that manages information, keeping track of changes to the assets in your business..... Wow. So did you get your education in that? Yes, I went to Carolina to get my degree..... At this point he walks away. Jokingly. So I said, oh, you are a State fan. He said no, at the moment he is an ECU fan. I didn't really think we had a rivalry with ECU, but whatever. Anyway his eyes were totally glazed over, but it might be because he realized I was older than his oldest brother :) hehehehehe
Bottom line, while it wasn't the dances I remember, it wasn't the worst way to spend 45 minutes. And my recliner probably could use a break from me sitting in it :)
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Party like it's 1999
Today one of my best friends turned 30 (she will remain anonymous to protect the guilty.... I mean, to not highlight how old any of us are getting). She hosted a cook out at her new house, which was a great excuse to get together and visit. However, somehow being 30 involves children, which means the visiting is not like it was in the good old days. Don't get me wrong, I like kids. (Yea, ok, this is a blog, and who knows who reads it, so I have to say that). Honestly, I like some kids, not all kids. The kids I like are the ones I know. For example, I happen to enjoy playing with one kid, whom I taught how to build a fort one time. That was awesome. Oh, and we went bike riding.... well, I pushed the bike. That was fun. I enjoy babies that are cute and let an amateur like myself hold them, and they just smile. As soon as the crying starts, back to mom they go. Oh, and if a child remembers me, they have totally won my heart. Mostly because I know kids memories are not like adults, so if you aren't always around, they really might not remember you.
Back to today. There was one child at the party who let me help put together a puzzle. I am cool with that. It involves letting the child try to figure out the pieces, and gently suggesting some possibilities. However, there were other children who were hard to distinguish from jumping beans. They wandered around, got up and down, and while I know it is a party, and maybe we should be "jump up jump up and get down" (or however the song goes... you know the one) I just found myself thinking, thank goodness for a calm and quiet home! I have always felt this way, wanting peace and quiet. I was seven years old, and we were living in Scotland. There were 4 kids, and in Scotland they didn't know what a minivan or a station wagon was, so we all had to pile in the backseat of a sedan. On one occasion it had been a while since I had been around my entire family, and as we piled into the car, it was noisy and crowded, I remember looking out the window and thinking it would be nice to be in a quiet place. One of my favorite quotes is from Home Alone, where Macauley Culkin says, "When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone!" The other thing I find interesting is apparently parents get some sort of equipment or ear piece from the hospital so that these things do not register to them. Parents can carry on conversations with other adults while children are jumping around and doing whatever it is kids do all the time. I find it very hard to have a conversation when kids are around.... I think because I am not used to constant interruptions.
So then the other thing about the party is I didn't know all the adults there. So you introduce yourself, explain how you know the host, and then usually ask people what their job is, or if they are in school, or how old that jumping bean is that they call a kid :) One particular encounter highlights how awkward I sometimes find my state of life. A woman that my friend had known a couple of years ago was there, and she is single. So I asked her what she does for work, and she said she didn't have a job. So I asked about school, and she said she had just moved to the area, and had been going to school previously. So I said oh so you are getting settled and finding a new job now that you are done with school, that is great. So she asked what I did, and I told her I work at IBM. At this point most people get the wow look on their face, and so she asked what I do there, and I said I write software, and at this point she is backing away with a really wow look on her face. Now I feel that she is backing away because she has been confronted with a person who obviously has their life together because they have a concrete job. And I always feel awkward having a concrete job in front of people who are still figuring out what they want to do, because I don't have it all figured out. I am just very blessed to have a job that I seem to be good at.
Back to today. There was one child at the party who let me help put together a puzzle. I am cool with that. It involves letting the child try to figure out the pieces, and gently suggesting some possibilities. However, there were other children who were hard to distinguish from jumping beans. They wandered around, got up and down, and while I know it is a party, and maybe we should be "jump up jump up and get down" (or however the song goes... you know the one) I just found myself thinking, thank goodness for a calm and quiet home! I have always felt this way, wanting peace and quiet. I was seven years old, and we were living in Scotland. There were 4 kids, and in Scotland they didn't know what a minivan or a station wagon was, so we all had to pile in the backseat of a sedan. On one occasion it had been a while since I had been around my entire family, and as we piled into the car, it was noisy and crowded, I remember looking out the window and thinking it would be nice to be in a quiet place. One of my favorite quotes is from Home Alone, where Macauley Culkin says, "When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone!" The other thing I find interesting is apparently parents get some sort of equipment or ear piece from the hospital so that these things do not register to them. Parents can carry on conversations with other adults while children are jumping around and doing whatever it is kids do all the time. I find it very hard to have a conversation when kids are around.... I think because I am not used to constant interruptions.
So then the other thing about the party is I didn't know all the adults there. So you introduce yourself, explain how you know the host, and then usually ask people what their job is, or if they are in school, or how old that jumping bean is that they call a kid :) One particular encounter highlights how awkward I sometimes find my state of life. A woman that my friend had known a couple of years ago was there, and she is single. So I asked her what she does for work, and she said she didn't have a job. So I asked about school, and she said she had just moved to the area, and had been going to school previously. So I said oh so you are getting settled and finding a new job now that you are done with school, that is great. So she asked what I did, and I told her I work at IBM. At this point most people get the wow look on their face, and so she asked what I do there, and I said I write software, and at this point she is backing away with a really wow look on her face. Now I feel that she is backing away because she has been confronted with a person who obviously has their life together because they have a concrete job. And I always feel awkward having a concrete job in front of people who are still figuring out what they want to do, because I don't have it all figured out. I am just very blessed to have a job that I seem to be good at.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Closing Time... You don't have to go home but you can't stay here
Work has gotten a little insane. For example, we were writing some software labeled 7.1.2 to be shipped at the end of 2009. Then management said ship it in June but have all the same stuff in it, then they said, change it to be 7.2, ship it in June with more stuff in it. The more stuff in less time is the insane part.
This has caused several of us to comment that we would rather work at Wendy's. And it got me thinking about my past jobs. I never did work at Wendy's, but my sister did and would sometimes bring home frosty's. That is a nice perk :) My first job was working at Brueggers Bagels. Yea, this was funny because one time I had to stand outside in the parking lot with one of those signs to try to get people to come into the store. Ok, perhaps humiliating is more like it. For my break I would always get a plain bagel with honey because it was 50 cents. Then a coworker introduced me to the everything bagel with a side of honey mustard, also 50 cents. Seriously, you dip the everything bagel into the honey mustard..... it is really really good. And I am not a big mustard fan. My boss had to show me how to make coffee, because up until that point I had never been around a coffee maker. The hazelnut flavor smelled the best, but in general, I don't like the smell of coffee. Also, taking out the filters with soggy wet coffee grinds is gross.
The next job I had was working at a drug store. It was an awesome little drug store where this one guy and I basically ran it because the manager was not around. And I learned alot about the pharmacy because the pharmacist would let us help her behind the counter. I think technically you aren't supposed to be behind the counter if you aren't trained. There would be regulars, who would come in and want the same cigarettes from behind the cash register, so I would always have them ready when they walked in the door. And the manager let me photocopy my AP Euro history book so I could highlight important sections as I read the homework. The best part was opening up new displays and setting them up. It was also a good job during the school year because we closed at 9.
I once worked in a game store for two weeks.... until I got a better offer from WalMart. The game store was really boring, because you just straightened up the games, and ran the cash register and it wasn't very busy.
WalMart was an experience. This was the beginning of my ambition. WalMart paid the most money as a recent high school graduate, and I started out working at 5 am as a stocker so that I could then do the drug store in the afternoon and evenings. But then WalMart offered time and a half for inventory for two weeks, so I worked a lot. Then when the summer ended, I switched to second shift, but they don't stock second shift, so they were going to put me on registers, but that is boring, so I said I would become a customer service manager, which is the person who stands at the podium and has the keys to all the registers. That was an awesome job because I would manage the shifts, when people got breaks, and who was on what register. I would run around the store to get requests from layaway or the garden center. I got to climb the back storage shelves during christmas to put stuff on layaway or get it back out again. I ran that store, and I think I was very good at it. But then my boss, who was very cool with me being a CSM (even though I was barely 18), decided to go and be heroic and try to stop a guy from robbing us..... and broke his leg in the process. So he was out on medical leave for a month. And the manager who replaced him didn't appreciate my youthful vigor and success, and wanted to demote me back to being a cashier. So I decided that it was time to move on. My real boss came back my last week at WalMart, and said I could stay on, but you know how it is when you have made up your mind. The other thing I recall about working at WalMart was wearing tights that matched a solid colored shirt, and patterned skirts (like plaid). Who wears skirts to work at WalMart? Or my boots?
While I probably won't quit my current job to work at Wendys..... it is nice to think you have options. I would probably still be a really good CSM :)
This has caused several of us to comment that we would rather work at Wendy's. And it got me thinking about my past jobs. I never did work at Wendy's, but my sister did and would sometimes bring home frosty's. That is a nice perk :) My first job was working at Brueggers Bagels. Yea, this was funny because one time I had to stand outside in the parking lot with one of those signs to try to get people to come into the store. Ok, perhaps humiliating is more like it. For my break I would always get a plain bagel with honey because it was 50 cents. Then a coworker introduced me to the everything bagel with a side of honey mustard, also 50 cents. Seriously, you dip the everything bagel into the honey mustard..... it is really really good. And I am not a big mustard fan. My boss had to show me how to make coffee, because up until that point I had never been around a coffee maker. The hazelnut flavor smelled the best, but in general, I don't like the smell of coffee. Also, taking out the filters with soggy wet coffee grinds is gross.
The next job I had was working at a drug store. It was an awesome little drug store where this one guy and I basically ran it because the manager was not around. And I learned alot about the pharmacy because the pharmacist would let us help her behind the counter. I think technically you aren't supposed to be behind the counter if you aren't trained. There would be regulars, who would come in and want the same cigarettes from behind the cash register, so I would always have them ready when they walked in the door. And the manager let me photocopy my AP Euro history book so I could highlight important sections as I read the homework. The best part was opening up new displays and setting them up. It was also a good job during the school year because we closed at 9.
I once worked in a game store for two weeks.... until I got a better offer from WalMart. The game store was really boring, because you just straightened up the games, and ran the cash register and it wasn't very busy.
WalMart was an experience. This was the beginning of my ambition. WalMart paid the most money as a recent high school graduate, and I started out working at 5 am as a stocker so that I could then do the drug store in the afternoon and evenings. But then WalMart offered time and a half for inventory for two weeks, so I worked a lot. Then when the summer ended, I switched to second shift, but they don't stock second shift, so they were going to put me on registers, but that is boring, so I said I would become a customer service manager, which is the person who stands at the podium and has the keys to all the registers. That was an awesome job because I would manage the shifts, when people got breaks, and who was on what register. I would run around the store to get requests from layaway or the garden center. I got to climb the back storage shelves during christmas to put stuff on layaway or get it back out again. I ran that store, and I think I was very good at it. But then my boss, who was very cool with me being a CSM (even though I was barely 18), decided to go and be heroic and try to stop a guy from robbing us..... and broke his leg in the process. So he was out on medical leave for a month. And the manager who replaced him didn't appreciate my youthful vigor and success, and wanted to demote me back to being a cashier. So I decided that it was time to move on. My real boss came back my last week at WalMart, and said I could stay on, but you know how it is when you have made up your mind. The other thing I recall about working at WalMart was wearing tights that matched a solid colored shirt, and patterned skirts (like plaid). Who wears skirts to work at WalMart? Or my boots?
While I probably won't quit my current job to work at Wendys..... it is nice to think you have options. I would probably still be a really good CSM :)
Friday, September 19, 2008
Driving a pink cadillac
My best friend in elementary school belonged to the girl scouts, and she invited me to a girl scout activity to learn how to put on makeup. What I remember is sitting at one of those long folding tables and someone showing us how to put on eye shadow, three different colors in three lines on our eyes. It was a very girly night.
My next encounter with makeup was during a trip to the outlet stores with my other best friend in elementary school and her mom. Well, maybe they weren't outlet stores.... it was the huge mall with Ikea in it. So in this mall there were a million stores, and one of them was one of those huge makeup stores were everything is cheap, so I bought some mascara. It wasn't until I got it home that I realized it was teal. I mean.... really teal. I had no idea mascara came in other colors than black until that point!
In high school Clinique was the was the cool thing, and after college Ulta became cool. But essentially, the only makeup tricks I knew were the ones I learned at a girl scout activity.
That is, until I was invited to a Mary Kay party. Now come on, you knew where this was going based on the title. I will admit, I was a skeptic. The last time I went to a party of this type, I had to move out of the ward to quit being stalked to host a party :) But this was seriously awesome! The Mary Kay consultant was very knowledgeable, and she had a ton of different tricks, and she seemed like a real person. Also, I didn't feel pressured to buy anything, and I learned how to put mascara on my bottom lashes so my eyes look more open. During a Mary Kay party, you compliment each other. It isn't fake, you really do provide feedback based on what colors or things look good on each person. And you get really soft hands. So I agreed to host a Mary Kay party, because I had such a great time.
My party was even better! Because I was the host, I got special treatment (read: more colors to pick from to try out! Seriously, imagine a binder with those little plastic inserts in it full of different shades of eye shadow and blush). So this time around I learned how to apply eye liner to the bottom lashes which makes my eye lashes look even longer! I also learned how to add dimension to my eye based on my particular eye shape and eye lid shape. Yes, there is an entire book that shows different eye shapes and exactly how to use colors of eye shadow to accent your eyes and bring them out. Amazing! This is a vast improvement over the makeup counters in the mall that put the makeup on you, and you can't ever recreate the look at home. Anyway I realize this sounds like an advertisement for Mary Kay, but I am in no way affiliated with them. I just had a really great time, and had fun learning new techniques to apply makeup. So next time you see me..... notice how gorgeous my eyes are :)
My next encounter with makeup was during a trip to the outlet stores with my other best friend in elementary school and her mom. Well, maybe they weren't outlet stores.... it was the huge mall with Ikea in it. So in this mall there were a million stores, and one of them was one of those huge makeup stores were everything is cheap, so I bought some mascara. It wasn't until I got it home that I realized it was teal. I mean.... really teal. I had no idea mascara came in other colors than black until that point!
In high school Clinique was the was the cool thing, and after college Ulta became cool. But essentially, the only makeup tricks I knew were the ones I learned at a girl scout activity.
That is, until I was invited to a Mary Kay party. Now come on, you knew where this was going based on the title. I will admit, I was a skeptic. The last time I went to a party of this type, I had to move out of the ward to quit being stalked to host a party :) But this was seriously awesome! The Mary Kay consultant was very knowledgeable, and she had a ton of different tricks, and she seemed like a real person. Also, I didn't feel pressured to buy anything, and I learned how to put mascara on my bottom lashes so my eyes look more open. During a Mary Kay party, you compliment each other. It isn't fake, you really do provide feedback based on what colors or things look good on each person. And you get really soft hands. So I agreed to host a Mary Kay party, because I had such a great time.
My party was even better! Because I was the host, I got special treatment (read: more colors to pick from to try out! Seriously, imagine a binder with those little plastic inserts in it full of different shades of eye shadow and blush). So this time around I learned how to apply eye liner to the bottom lashes which makes my eye lashes look even longer! I also learned how to add dimension to my eye based on my particular eye shape and eye lid shape. Yes, there is an entire book that shows different eye shapes and exactly how to use colors of eye shadow to accent your eyes and bring them out. Amazing! This is a vast improvement over the makeup counters in the mall that put the makeup on you, and you can't ever recreate the look at home. Anyway I realize this sounds like an advertisement for Mary Kay, but I am in no way affiliated with them. I just had a really great time, and had fun learning new techniques to apply makeup. So next time you see me..... notice how gorgeous my eyes are :)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
I've Been Tagged
At least I think I was ..... But whether I was or not, I love these sorts of lists.
~~4 things about me
1). I am playing the violin in an orchestra, and right now we are doing Italian Opera Music, which is seriously fun
2). I am so excited to have mornings that are in the low 60s because I can bust out all my cute little jackets!
3). I like rearranging my furniture, thank goodness for those little furniture slider do-das
4). I like taking random classes just to learn stuff
~~4 movies I would watch more than once
Only 4?!?!
1) While you were sleeping
2) She's the Man
3) Pirates of the Caribbean
4) Hitch
~~4 TV shows I watch
1) The Office (F I N A L L Y, the new season will begin!)
2) House
3) If I am somewhere with cable, I love the HGTV station, the shows on buying houses and interior design, and What Not To Wear
~~4 places I've been
1) Scotland - My family lived there when I was 7
2) Honduras - Come back for a great story
3) England - High School exchange trip
4) Austin, Texas, Boston, Washington DC, Los Angeles CA, SLC, Pocatello ID, St Louis, Chicago, Nauvoo, Charleston SC, Boone, NC, and probably several other places in the continental US
~~4 places I'd like to go:
1) The Great Wall of China
2) St. Petersburg Russia
3) To see the northern lights
4) Everywhere in Europe
~~4 people who email me regularly
1) DSW, Banana Republic, JCrew
2) Ward News
3) Postings from facebook
4) Liz
~~4 things I would like to eat
I decided this meant the 4 things I love to eat
1) Lasagna (but not just any lasagna.... )
2) Ice Cream
3) Mashed Potatoes
4) My Mom's Rolls (oh yea.....)
~~4 things I'm looking forward to in the coming year (2009)
1) Italy baby!
2) Maybe a new assignment at work
3) Ummmmmm yea, probably watching some movies, reading some books, taking some classes, who knows
4) Turning 30 - oh yea, one more year closer to retirement
~4 people I tag (is this only limited to people with blogs? too bad)
1) Emily
2) Liz
3) Christa
4) Krissy
~~4 things about me
1). I am playing the violin in an orchestra, and right now we are doing Italian Opera Music, which is seriously fun
2). I am so excited to have mornings that are in the low 60s because I can bust out all my cute little jackets!
3). I like rearranging my furniture, thank goodness for those little furniture slider do-das
4). I like taking random classes just to learn stuff
~~4 movies I would watch more than once
Only 4?!?!
1) While you were sleeping
2) She's the Man
3) Pirates of the Caribbean
4) Hitch
~~4 TV shows I watch
1) The Office (F I N A L L Y, the new season will begin!)
2) House
3) If I am somewhere with cable, I love the HGTV station, the shows on buying houses and interior design, and What Not To Wear
~~4 places I've been
1) Scotland - My family lived there when I was 7
2) Honduras - Come back for a great story
3) England - High School exchange trip
4) Austin, Texas, Boston, Washington DC, Los Angeles CA, SLC, Pocatello ID, St Louis, Chicago, Nauvoo, Charleston SC, Boone, NC, and probably several other places in the continental US
~~4 places I'd like to go:
1) The Great Wall of China
2) St. Petersburg Russia
3) To see the northern lights
4) Everywhere in Europe
~~4 people who email me regularly
1) DSW, Banana Republic, JCrew
2) Ward News
3) Postings from facebook
4) Liz
~~4 things I would like to eat
I decided this meant the 4 things I love to eat
1) Lasagna (but not just any lasagna.... )
2) Ice Cream
3) Mashed Potatoes
4) My Mom's Rolls (oh yea.....)
~~4 things I'm looking forward to in the coming year (2009)
1) Italy baby!
2) Maybe a new assignment at work
3) Ummmmmm yea, probably watching some movies, reading some books, taking some classes, who knows
4) Turning 30 - oh yea, one more year closer to retirement
~4 people I tag (is this only limited to people with blogs? too bad)
1) Emily
2) Liz
3) Christa
4) Krissy
Sunday, September 14, 2008
These mashed potatoes are so creamy
While You Were Sleeping is my all time favorite movie. (I actually had no idea this came out on my sister's birthday until I looked up the IMDB page). The ward was having an activity at one of the local parks, the cool park with three really great slides, tire swings, and bouncing bridges. In case you live in the area: Black Hills Park. I was a sophomore in high school. There were some girls who were a year ahead of me, and they were really cool. They invited me to go see a movie with them, leaving the ward activity. My mom said yes. Of course, you know how cool that made my mom! I was thrilled! The movie was great. When it came out on video (yes, it was video back then.... I didn't switch over to DVDs until college) I got it, and would watch it all the time. It was my comfort movie, the movie to watch when I was sick, or when I wanted to work on a cross-stitch project. The movie that gets quoted whenever we have mashed potatoes for dinner, or big family gatherings that are chaotic. It is the greatest movie ever. It is one of the reasons I love Sandra Bullock. She was great in this movie.
Of course, after telling you that great story, I would like to say that it could be completely false. For example, I was talking to my sister the other night and she was like, don't you remember? you saw Get Smart with me when you came to visit. and I said, no, I don't remember. And she said that it was raining, and we got soaked..... and I said, yes, I remember pulling into the parking lot of the theater and it was pouring rain, and we parked on the main street, so you said we wouldn't be able to get back out of that spot, and we ran, and you lost a shoe, and we were soaked, and everyone was crowded by the front door of the theater because they didn't want to get wet, so we couldn't get into the theater, and someone offered you $10 for the umberella and you said no, and they said $20...... and then you went to the bathroom to try to dry off, but there were no paper towels..... and we sat in the theater, but I have no recollection of what movie we watched. What I remember seeing in that theater was Superman, but that was probably the very first time we went to that theater. Funny how memories work....... or in my case, don't work :)
Which is what made it so funny in a class I took where I wrote a chapter of my own memoir, to have my family read it and correct all of my "false" memories....... or are mine right and theirs wrong?
So ..... if anyone really remembers what happened on the While You Were Sleeping story, let me know.
Of course, after telling you that great story, I would like to say that it could be completely false. For example, I was talking to my sister the other night and she was like, don't you remember? you saw Get Smart with me when you came to visit. and I said, no, I don't remember. And she said that it was raining, and we got soaked..... and I said, yes, I remember pulling into the parking lot of the theater and it was pouring rain, and we parked on the main street, so you said we wouldn't be able to get back out of that spot, and we ran, and you lost a shoe, and we were soaked, and everyone was crowded by the front door of the theater because they didn't want to get wet, so we couldn't get into the theater, and someone offered you $10 for the umberella and you said no, and they said $20...... and then you went to the bathroom to try to dry off, but there were no paper towels..... and we sat in the theater, but I have no recollection of what movie we watched. What I remember seeing in that theater was Superman, but that was probably the very first time we went to that theater. Funny how memories work....... or in my case, don't work :)
Which is what made it so funny in a class I took where I wrote a chapter of my own memoir, to have my family read it and correct all of my "false" memories....... or are mine right and theirs wrong?
So ..... if anyone really remembers what happened on the While You Were Sleeping story, let me know.
If this is torture, chain me to the wall!
In 1988 we went to visit my mom's aunt and uncle in New York for Thanksgiving. They were a cool family with a trampoline. I can't say when the tradition began, but my family always goes to the movies on Black Friday. This is the earliest Thanksgiving Movie trip that I can remember, and I am not exactly sure I am remembering it myself, or remembering the many times my parents have told the story. Oliver and Company had just come out, and we were really excited to go see it. According to my parents, we went to a matinee, and my dad walks up to the ticket counter and says he wants 15 tickets. This is way to much for the ticket counter to handle, because 15 is more than the fingers on both hands, and no one has ever bought 15 tickets before. A manager is able to hand my dad enough tickets for all of us. And then, according to the story, my dad tries to buy drinks. I will be honest, the entire time I have known my family, we have been "sneak the candy in your purse" kind of people. So I am kind of surprised that we bought movie theater priced refreshments. But according to the story, my dad tries to buy 15 drinks. Once again, this is more than the poor employees behind the counter can handle. They have to call in for backup, and it takes forever just to get 15 drinks poured, and then my dad can't carry them all. The movie was awesome, it had great music, and really quotable lines.
The movie going continues today with a much smaller group of people. Only one sister still lives at home, so the four of us went to the 1.50 theater to see Get Smart this past weekend. Yea, obviously in the last twenty years our tastes have changed.... slightly..... last weekend we did see Space Chimps. You know, they just don't make animated movies like they used to.
The movie going continues today with a much smaller group of people. Only one sister still lives at home, so the four of us went to the 1.50 theater to see Get Smart this past weekend. Yea, obviously in the last twenty years our tastes have changed.... slightly..... last weekend we did see Space Chimps. You know, they just don't make animated movies like they used to.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
A rose by any other name
Naming something is exceedingly difficult. I don't feel an association to one thing. My sister has a great blog name, the professor's armchair. She is an English professor, or a literature professor, and you can imagine her sitting in a big plush arm chair by a fire with a stack of books. It is perfect. Another friend has a cute blog name, the cavage patch, which is a play on their name. I was thinking about naming the whole blog a rose by any other name, but someone else claimed that. Would it smell as sweet? Having had two different names in my life, I can tell you, a name does make a difference.
So why history or memory? I took two very enjoyable classes on this topic. What makes history official? What do we remember? Why are memoirs so powerful? How are they different from fiction, or are they?
Today is the 7th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. It was a tragic event. But one of the interesting things to come out of it are some memories that shape how we think of the historical event. There is a booth in New York that started as a way for people to record what happened on 9/11 and to try to heal from the tragedy. The project has expanded across the country to include memories from average Americans that illustrate different aspects of American life. There is a memoir about 9/11, or rather, about four women who were affected by 9/11 and started meeting for coffee to help each other through it. Because of TV, radio, and other media, we are able to view the event through individuals memories, rather than just having a top-down "official" historical point of view.
Blogs seem to be the perfect way to remember, to pass your memories, your history, and your life out into the world, and perhaps, create history.
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