Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Strangers In The Night

[continuation of previous post]

So I had this party on Saturday night. A fairly normal thing to do. But the thing that made this year's party especially spectacular was the stroke of genius I had to invite COMPLETE STRANGERS to the party. Yes, I invited complete strangers to come to my home and party with my friends.

No, I didn't just grab people off the street. I've been on match.com for several years now and had decided to let my membership lapse. But I wanted to go out with a bang. So I went through my list of 'favorites' and sent initial inquiries to about 20 guys. Seven or eight of them responded asking for more info. Four of them responded "yes" and four others never gave me a definite reply. Some of them (as it turns out, the ones who didn't show) were concerned that it would be just me and a bunch of guys. (What's wrong with that? I think - if I'm not reason enough to attend, then don't bother).

But being the kind-hearted and generous gal that I am, I went ahead and issued invites to 5 or 6 match.com women - ladies who I thought were attractive and intelligent. I heard back from one who was a 'maybe' but who didn't show, and got a polite decline from another one who already had plans.

So, I had "the usual suspects" and these four men who I had never met. I told them all to feel free to bring a friend (not specifying male or female) and one of them said "I might invite my friend Jeannie - we met on cupid.com but didn't click, but she's a nice woman and might enjoy this." No problem. Jeannie did show up and she had such a good time, she called her friends Amy and Linda and they joined the party too!

Many of "the usual suspects" knew the party plan in advance (my friend Richard helped select the match.com women) and a few others found out during the course of the party. My friend Scott was clueless until the end of the night. But it really, truly was an extraordinary evening.

In fact, I got two thumbs up:



But I really knew I had a hit on my hands when I saw Susan, who usually doesn't drink, with two drinks in hand:



As for meeting my match ... I think I'm just too much woman to handle. I followed up with one guy, and haven't heard back from him. I got a lovely thank you from the guy who invited his friend Jeannie along, but I think he just wants to be invited to the fall party.

Tomorrow, when I have more time, I'll post a few more photos.

Stupid News

[don't worry - I will get back to finishing this post eventually]

Possibly the Strangest Baby Name Ever

We don't even want to think what this child will endure when he gets to school. A Pampa, Texas couple have named their precious boy ESPN Malachi McCall. He's now 2 years old, and ESPN--that would be the cable sports network--just caught wind of it and is planning a feature on ESPN--that would be the kid.

Here's an easy way to tell the two apart. ESPN the network is pronounced by saying each letter. ESPN the boy is pronounced "Espen." Sadly, ESPN the boy is not alone. There are at least two other kids in the United States who share this name. That would be Espn Curiel of Corpus Christi, Texas and Espen Blondeel of Michigan. "We don't have viewers. We have fans," ESPN spokesman Dave Nagle proudly bragged to the Associated Press. "And I guess there's no better testament than when someone names their child after your product. It just shows the bond we have with people." Yeah.

Why would anyone name their child ESPN? Rebecca and Michael McCall told the Amarillo Globe-News their son's name started as a joke after they heard on the radio about another couple naming their son "ESPEN." Rebecca said, "He looked at me and said, 'That's a cool name.'" It took her a while to warm up to the idea. "I didn't like it until he was born," she said, adding that by then, she couldn't think of calling her son anything else.

Source: What's New @ http://home.netscape.com/

Here's the Thing ...

... I'm totally hooked on blogging.

And I'm trying to develop my own voice. It's just like real life when you start picking up the idiosyncrasies of your family and friends - gesturing like they do, using the same phrases, eating your food the same way, dressing alike etc.

I've found myself saying "dammit" when I comment over at Brian's site, and I've found myself using the phrase, "but is it art?" and feeling guilty because really, I stole it from Brian.

One day a few weeks ago I tried to take a photo of the back end of a grocery delivery truck (it had this really stupid photo of a woman cradling a loaf of bread like a baby) and I wondered if Deb would think that I was ripping off her Wednesday Wreck of the Week concept.

Lately I started striking through thoughts and feel somewhat guilty about that, because Amanda did it first.

I guess the kicker was when I realized that I was more conscious of my ... shall we say elimination habits ... and really, I have to attribute that to Dan.

So I'm trying to develop my own schtick. Here's what I've got so far:

1) Word of the Day - sporadic, but useful
2) Blurbs Overheard - repeating the inane comments I sometimes hear
3) Stupid News - repeating stories gossip on the Olsen twins and Mary Lou Whitney and other pseudo-celebrities that serves to get me Google hits
4) Show Me Some Love - offering to share lottery winnings with folks who shower me with love and affection

We'll see where it goes - but feel free to share in the fun. Send me your blurbs overheard and stupid news. And it goes without saying - compliments, adoration and adulation are always welcome here.

Word of the Day

Used by Knott; I didn't know what it meant so I had to look it up:

par·the·no·gen·e·sis n.

A form of reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual, occurring commonly among insects and certain other arthropods.

Bad News, Good News - Part IV

The bad news is I didn't win that $210 $220 million jackpot. The good news is that neither did anyone else, so now the jackpot is up to $280 million.

That's two hundred and eighty million dollars!

You know the drill - if you want a piece of the action, send me some love. But let's try to put a little effort into it this time. Overall, your efforts so far this week have been ... let's just say, lackluster.

Monday, June 28, 2004

Day Tripping

[don't worry - I will finish my post re: the party and share more pix]

Somehow I managed to pull it together, so tomorrow I will be traveling to NYC to meet with a couple of alumni to see if I can squeeze a few bucks out of them explore their interest in supporting the college financially.

I'm very excited about this trip because I plan on buying my MegaMillions lottery ticket in the city. Statistically, there are more winners downstate than upstate. Because there are more people down there and they buy more tickets. So, statistically speaking, doesn't it make sense that I have a greater chance of winning if I buy my ticket down there?

Lots of time left, I suppose, but am disappointed that so far only three people have chose to share some love and appreciation today. Don't you know that just one small expression of admiration could garner you millions if when I win this jackpot?

Plate Sighting

I like seeing what folks have on their personalized license plates. Today the spotted plate asked:

R U BAZAR

Blurb Overheard

From one of those insidious chain emails, but it gave me pause:

"I've learned that depression is merely anger without enthusiasm."

Bad News, Good News - Part III

The bad news is I didn't win that $177 million jackpot. The good news is that neither did anyone else, so now the jackpot is up to $210 million.

It's a new week, and we're starting fresh. I need new expressions of love and appreciation. You got the rest of the day to send it to me.

Eight Solid Hours

Got a solid eight hours of sleep last night (thank you, Tylenol PM) but I almost feel like I could crawl back into bed and do it all over again.

Still picking up and trying to restore order in the house. Got the porch all cleaned and the furniture is back where it belongs. Took down the canopy and hopefully the lawn boy will come and mow the lawn. All the returnables are sitting in the tub and there they shall sit until later in the week. Incredibly (or perhaps not so) all of the shrimp tails that Ken so cavalierly tossed over his shoulder disappeared overnight. Must have made quite the feast for the local squirrel and chipmunk population.

So, time for the party in review.

I live in a rented house. It's just a summer place for the owners, so they rent it to me for the school year (Sept - June) and then I vacate the premises during July and August so they can use it. During that time I live in an efficiency apartment in the attic of a local bed and breakfast. Both places are furnished, so I don't really worry much about moving furniture and such, just my clothes and a few personal effects that I prefer to have with me at all times.

The house I rent during the school year has a fabulous enclosed porch and I've gotten into the habit of having a party on the porch before I move out each year and then again when I move back in again. Makes sense - I can't enjoy it during July and August so I try to get maximum benefit during June and September.

I have a great group of friends ranging in age from mid 30s to mid-late 60s and I invite them all. I usually have a few out of town guests as well, and this year was no exception. It's fun because the out-of-towners have now been here often enough that they are familiar with the locals and it just makes for a great mix of people.

But the thing that made this year's party especially spectacular was the stroke of genius I had to invite COMPLETE STRANGERS to the party.

[post in progress ... more later!]

Sunday, June 27, 2004

So. Much. Fun.

Oh, what a night! I'm still reveling in it ... Not much sleep; too many photos; need to shower and off to the next and final event in my weekend 'o fun, but promise I will get back to you with details when I have more time.

Friday, June 25, 2004

I Won $45!

Today was Ladies Day (long story, see last Friday's post for an abbreviated version) and we decided to go to the "racino" to check it out. Not the casino - if they called it a casino then we'd have to admit that it's what it really is - a casino - but rather a racino. It's an electronic slot machine hell attached to the local harness track. It was total sensory overload but we plunked a few dollars into the mini-slots and I hit 600 credits on the dime machine. Cashed out $65.40 after investing $20 so I came out ahead $45. Woo-hoo! Bought my mega-millions lottery ticket on the way home. Sure hope we win!

I'm all kinds of excited about my party tomorrow. The guest list keeps growing - hope I have enough food and drink. Did I tell you what I did? I invited men from match.com that I wanted to meet. And four of them are coming - another five expressed interest but never actually RSVP'd to the online invitation I sent. I will most definitely be taking pictures.

Right now - bed. I'm slightly tipsy and a little high from the cigar I shared with Mary. She's a peach. You'll like her. More later.

:-*

Is this a kiss? Did the love of my life send me an email kiss? This really is going to be a great weekend.

Thursday, June 24, 2004

Faux Pas

We had a division wide meeting across town this morning, so I drove and picked up my friend MC who also usually walks to work. We were sitting and chatting before the meeting began and she made a comment about someone else's shoes and before you know it, we were talking about how inappropriate open toed shoes were in the work place and then we started getting specific and naming names and it was so nice to be with someone who sees things the way I do.

MC got up to refill her coffee and when she came back she leaned in and asked "Did you see who is standing next to you?" It was the one who just got engaged and about whom I had made a specific reference.

Open mouth. Insert foot.

I don't know whether or not she overheard our conversation because we weren't SHOUTING the way she normally does, but I've decided that even if she did, I don't care.

Because I'm right and her shoes are inappropriate.

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

On A Roll

Five posts in less than 30 minutes - is that some kind of record?

Le Menu

Before you start griping and complaining about not being invited to my par-tay, chill. If you can be here at 7:00 on Saturday, you are most welcome. It's just cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Earlier tonight I picked up a few bottles of red wine just so I have something on hand to get the party started. I will also be serving the remainder of the case of Faucon Bleu I bought a few months back. (I just love saying Faucon Bleu ... )

The unemployed boy next door, my friend Richard, and his friend Mike have all been charged with bringing beer. I've got a 12 pack of Heinekin to get things started, but these boys are beer snobs so I told them to bring their own brew.

I am preparing a variety of appetizers:

Hot Crabmeat Spread
Artichoke/Spinach Dip
Spinach Dip in bread bowl
Grilled Shrimp
Scallops wrapped in Bacon

I think it will be a delightful evening.

Bad News, Good News - Redux

The bad news is I didn't win that $150 million jackpot. The good news is that neither did anyone else, so now the jackpot is up to $177 million.

Send me some love - and your favorite numbers.

My Other Blog

I'm touched that you are so curious about my other blog. It's not so unusual. Witness Dan Tobin.

His main blog.

His other blog.

Believe me, my other blog is not nearly as exciting as Dan's.

Burning All Night

When I came home this evening, I discovered that I'd left a candle burning all night. Luckily, the house hadn't burned down. If it had, I would have had to cancel the party I have planned for Saturday night.

Word Of The Day

Sometimes I use a word and am reasonably certain that I have used and spelled it correctly, and then I get that nagging feeling that I haven't and so I look it up. Today's word is denizen:

den·i·zen n.
An inhabitant; a resident: denizens of Monte Carlo.
One that frequents a particular place: a bar and its denizens.

And yes, I did use and spell it correctly.

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Olsen Twin Update Gratuitous Attempt To Boost My Hits

For those who want to know:

Mary-Kate Olsen Enters a Rehab Facility
Teen actress Mary-Kate Olsen, who is alarmingly thin, has checked into a treatment facility for an undisclosed "health-related issue," her spokesman said in a statement issued to the media on Tuesday. Although he was not any more specific than this, PEOPLE Daily says that health-related issue is an eating disorder.

See a recent photo of Mary-Kate Olsen signing autographs before the premiere of "New York Minute."

Mary-Kate and her twin sister, Ashley, turned 18 on June 13, a birthday that boosted their bank accounts by some $150 million as they reached the age of majority. They enter New York University as freshman in the fall. Spokesman Michael Pagnotta would only say this: "Mary-Kate Olsen recently entered a treatment facility to seek professional help for a health-related issue. She is thankful for the encouragement and support of her friends and family who are with her every step of the way."

See a photo of Mary-Kate snuggling with her boyfriend, David Katzenberg, son of DreamWorks studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Amid much speculation in recent months, the twins have adamantly denied there is a problem. In a PEOPLE magazine cover story published in May, Ashley defensively said, "Being in the public eye, you're labeled that you have an eating disorder. You have a drug addiction. We don't have problems! There's nothing to worry about." Then Mary-Kate added, "If I had a drug addiction, I would be in a thingy--like Promises, the Malibu (rehab) place. You don't see me there. So, like, come on. It's crazy."

Source: What's New @ http://home.netscape.com/

Wicked Cool

I love it when things work.

I have several other blogs (surprise!) and on one of them I asked to be notified via email when someone leaves a comment. Got my first comment today and - you guessed it - was notified by email. I'm thinking this is a really neat feature because a) I know about it right away and 2) I don't have to check my blog for comments, I just log in when I have something to say.

Sweet.

Waiting With Bated Breath

I bought my mega millions lottery ticket(s) last night. I'm having so much fun thinking about giving millions of dollars to my cyber buddies; I know you are all waiting with bated breath. John, if your specially selected numbers are the winning ones, then you will get a special bonus.

So tell me, what would you do with $1 million?

Sunday, June 20, 2004

Bad News, Good News

The bad news is I didn't win that $121 million jackpot. The good news is that neither did anyone else, so now the jackpot is up to $150 million. If when I win that, Brian will get $2 million and ScooterDeb, Jose and r will each get $1 million. Just for showing me a little love.

Cat People

In thinking about the people whose blogs amuse me most, I realized something - they tend to be cat people. I think that maybe one or two might have a dog, but a dog is just there, and folks don't tend to blog on about their dogs. Yesterday when I was at the garden center, there was a cat running around. It was obvious that he lived there, and it was so nice to have him come up to me, let me pet him and then flop to the ground so I could run his belly. Granted, dogs do that too, but they are not nearly as gentle and refined.

The humidity has let up and it's something of a strange day. Not too warm, not too cool, not too much sun, not too many clouds. My feet are cold and I smell the father's day BBQ across the street. Still much to do around the house but I'm letting the thought of it immobilize me. Maybe I should just pick one task and do that (she says knowing that she'll start that one task and then decide to do something else that wasn't even on the to-do list to begin with!). All right, it's time to tackle the crap that I've piled up on the guest bed. After all, I will be having house guests next weekend and will need a place for them to sleep. Maybe a before and after photo will motivate me ...

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Let's Hear It For The Boys



Summer has arrived.

It has nothing to do with the calendar. It has everything to do with when these guys go out and spend a Friday on the lake and I meet up with them at the end of the day. It started six or seven years ago when I decided to take a day off and go out on the boat with a few of my girlfriends. There were just four of us that first year. We were cruising, floating, drinking, talking and having a good time. Several times during the day we passed a boatload of guys out doing the same thing we were doing. By the end of the day we had boarded each other's boats, given out false names, flirted and had a good time.

The next year, I invited a few more girlfriends and commandeered a second boat. Wouldn't you know - the guys were out there too! Ever since then we've tried to coordinate our dates. I haven't had a boat for the last four years, but we ladies get together, take the day off and do whatever pleases us. At the end of the day, we meet the boys at the dive on the north end of the lake. This year was the first year that our dates didn't coincide, but I was specially invited to join the boys at the end of the day.

Let's hear it for the boys.

Friday, June 18, 2004

This Love

I can't get that song by Maroon 5 out of my head. I'm definitely going to have to go see them when they come to town with John Mayer.

I'm In Luck!

No one won the mega millions drawing on Tuesday, so I still have a chance to win $121 million. And because I'm feeling generous, if when I win I will give $1 million to the first five people to send me some love via comments.

Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous

Whatever happened to that show?

Believe it or not, some folks are still living high on the hog. Witness one of my new links, David Patrick Columbia's New York Social Diary. He's blogging long distance this week from the French countryside. Lovely photos of the Chateau d'Anet. Next time dear David Patrick, take me with you, hmm?

Thursday, June 17, 2004

Halfway There!

I've checked off five things on today's "to do" list of nine items. I'm actually being productive and earning my paycheck today.

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

What the Hell is That Humming Noise?

The whole wall is vibrating. I don't have the central air on, and it's not the fan in the front window. Ah, there is an exhaust fan in the attic, and now that it's 86 degrees in the back room, I can only imagine how hot the attic is.

Played hookey and did some yard work this afternoon. Between the heat and the blood letting earlier in the day, I'm pooped. Feels like I still have so much to do though ... and I'm running out of time. Will need to move out in a month, and while that seems like a lot of time, it isn't. God, what I wouldn't give to have the summer off. Just a wee sabbatical. Not likely - especially since I didn't even buy a lottery ticket for last night's mega millions drawing. Maybe no one won and the Friday jackpot will be even bigger.

Be Nice To Me - I Gave Blood Today

Tuesday, June 15, 2004

But Possessing The Pot Is Okay?

That's the question I asked myself after reading this brief in today's local paper (names of the guilty minors have been modified to protect them from further embarrassment and ridicule):

"Five teens were accused over the weekend of smoking marijuana in front of a 5 year old and a 9 year old in a village home on May 28, village police said Monday.

Paige, 16, of Village Ave; Joshua, 16, of Circus Street; Joshua, 16, of South Avenue; and an unidentified boy and girl, both 15, were all charged Friday and Saturday with unlawfully dealing with a child, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

All five teens will answer the charges in village court."

They were arrested and charged because they smoked the pot in front of young children, not because they actually were in possession of the illegal substance. Huh?!? I can only assume that the charge of unlawfully dealing with a child carries a heavier punishment. And that makes me again say, huh?!?

Blurb Overheard

"Yeah, it's been a long day - I'm not used to working anymore."

- uttered by the one who just got engaged after having attended a conference Weds - Fri of last week and taking yesterday off

Skippy

That was the subject line of the following email which I just received:

scvjcya, xbpfxz lpdfepfl iwhcbmif gdktthqj- ldbzduby uksejwaj, oaeupips. zkhefj kggvj rjukyiq eymbhr gxhntas- ybddi. rgwrdp ricbrv ykppfnda
From: Darren Champagne
CC: L.oan Department
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 10:06:52 -0500
Re: L o an a p proval

Sir:

We have reviewed you information and glad to inform you that you qualify
for 3% mor tgage r ate under our company l e nding program.

Please use this URL below to enter final details and our manager will
contact you ASAP.

We look forward to doing business with you.

Best Regards
CEO: Darren Champagne
1st Mor tga ge Group

How does this crap get through? And why would anyone ever respond?

So Annoying

Okay, so I'm not getting much work done either, but if I have to keep listening to the one who just got engaged go on and on and on about the shirt that she stained and the pair of pants that she wanted but they didn't have her size and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah ... I'll scream.

Everything is "like" this and "like" that. Yes, of course I've used the colloquialism myself. But not every other freaking sentence. (Oh - someone needs to tell me how to insert strike through because I want to strike through "other" -- she uses it in every sentence.)

Call me grumpy. She's just annoying the shit out of me. And she's wearing the flip flop sandals again.

Monday, June 14, 2004

Fscking Fees

I'm so pissed. Just got my CitiBusiness credit card bill and apparently I forgot to pay it last month. So they socked me with a $25 late payment fee and a $3.27 finance charge on the outstanding balance of $125.40. I hate fees.

I refuse to pay fees for anything I don't have to - credit cards, bank accounts etc. This fee is my own fault, and I'm pissed because usually I'm better at keeping track of things. But lately ... So I'm paying the fee to teach myself a lesson. I hope. It still sucks.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Sleeping In My Own Bed

Just realized that I haven't slept in my own bed for five nights now. I hope it's as good as I remember!

Did some networking at the conference and came away with one potential job lead. It's something related to my current position, but in a different field i.e. it would be with a company that sells services to higher education. And there is a chance that an old friend and colleague might be joining this company soon, and if that's the case, then this is definitely a company for which I would want to work. The best part is that I could work from home even though the company is headquartered in Virginia.

Started drafting a cover letter for a local position I saw advertised in today's paper, but it just wasn't coming out, so I put it on hold. I think there are better positions for me, and I don't want to just start applying indiscriminately, even though this is a company that I think I would like to work for. Patience. You still have one year and seventeen days before you are unemployed.

Saturday, June 12, 2004

Yeah, I'm Here

Was away without internet access for four whole days, and guess what? I survived! Even came back to find a message from Phil wondering why he hadn't heard from me. It's nice to be missed. And having said that, I'm going to log off and go visit with my family instead of holing up in the office connected to the computer.

Monday, June 07, 2004

More On Mary Lou

Did a google search myself to see where my blog comes up in the rankings and came across this goody:

Second Annual Saratoga Luncheon In Honor of Mary Lou Whitney

Once again, the Foundation is proud to announce this beautiful summer event for the second year, hosted by Evelyn H. Lauder and Mrs. Libby Pataki.
Luncheon will begin at Noon, at The Reading Room, 148 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs.

To benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
By incitation only.

Yeah, we'll see what sort of riot this event incites.

How Old Is Mary Lou Whitney?

A curious googler wants to know and landed here. Honey, she's OLD. Not sure she's telling her real age, but methinks she's got to be in her late 70s. For real. But she's had so much plastic surgery that she's got a built-in smile. She got all teary-eyed there in the winner's circle and I thought the veneer might crack.

Her hotty husband, by the way, is significantly younger. We all wonder how the pre-nup reads ...

It's Probably Not A Good Idea ...

... to be driving around with a toy gun on the back seat of your car.

I just realized that could be problematic. I had the gun and a black cowboy hat for costume party a few years ago and it got thrown in the back end when I was taking crap to my parents for garage sale at the end of April. Meant to give it to my nephew but forgot. It's been in the back end ever since and a few weeks ago when I was hauling 400 pounds of top soil and 200 pounds of pea gravel and 5 bags of mulch and whatnot, I tossed it over into the back seat. Been there ever since. Maybe I'll remember to give it to my nephew when I see him this weekend.

Sunday, June 06, 2004

The Day After

12:15 a.m. Crawled between the sheets; too drunk to even put on my PJs. Bed spinning wildly out of control.

6:00 a.m. Hear the unmistakeable thump of Sunday paper being delivered; feel hangover headache begin to pound.

6:30 a.m. Crawl out of bed and consume a handful (okay, four) of ibuprofen. Put on the PJs and went out and got the paper. Fixed myself a cup of General Foods International French Vanilla Coffee (okay, not really GFIC but the generic store brand) and read the first half of the paper.

7:15 a.m. Headache not pounding quite so much, go back upstairs, turn on the FX channel and go back to sleep with "Ally McBeal" in the background.

8:10 a.m. Realize that "Cops" now on. Close my eyes while "Bad Boys" carry on in the background.

9:15 a.m. More "Bad Boys" ... more sleep.

10:00 a.m. Decide that enough is enough; get out of bed, go downstairs to read the rest of the paper and clip coupons that I'll probably never use. More generic GFIC and a couple pieces of toast. And another handful (okay, three) of ibuprofen.

The next two hours went by uneventfully and as the ibuprofen continues to work I am feeling no pain. Picked up a few things ... cleared off the kitchen table (we'll see how long that lasts) ... cooked up two pieces of chicken in the George Foreman grill (the real thing - accept no substitutes) and actually pulled on clothes and made my bed. Can't wait to see if my afternoon is similarly productive.

Saturday, June 05, 2004

Damn You, Birdstone!

Horse racing is a big thing in this area, and there were LOTS of people pulling for Smarty Jones. Probably even more than Funny Cide last year. It would have been great to see a Triple Crown winner, but the distance was a bit more than he could handle. Why did Mary Lou Whitney's horse have to choose now to win a race? To her credit, old (and I do mean old!) Mary Lou was genuinely contrite and apologetic. She wanted to see a Triple Crown winner as badly as anyone. Or maybe she was just afraid of being mugged by the rowdy Belmont crowd.

Before the race it was rumored that Smarty Jones was being offered upwards of $50 million for stud fees. Wonder how much folks will pay for his essence now?

It Figures

Didn't put out the garbage last week, so I really needed a pick-up this week. But with Memorial Day, pick-ups were delayed one day. Or so I thought. I put my full bin out there, and there is still sits. I'm leaving it out today just in case they still come around, because I've known it to happen before. What really bites is I'll be out of town next week, so the garbage will have to sit yet another week before being picked up.

Thursday, June 03, 2004

Why, Why, Why?

Why won't my computer recognize my digital camera? All was right with the world last week, what's the difference today? Of course, this only happens when you specifically want to download the photos so you can create a flyer showing the two sofas you have for sale and you want to do it tonight so you can get copies made tomorrow for posting around town over the weekend when there are a gazillion yard sales going on.

UPDATE: Rebooted with camera connected and all is right in the world now. I'd post a photo of the sofa, but need to get the darn flyer done.

Blurb Overhead

"I wear black and white every day. I think it's classy."

Yeah, it is, unless you pair it with those god-awful flip flops with the flower growing out of your toe.

Hard Sell

I went to a "financial forum" for women yesterday, sponsored by the local business journal, the local television station, and one of the 'local' banks. (I say 'local' because even though they are all over the region, this particular bank is headquartered in another state.) New York real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran was the keynote speaker. She was great - down to earth and funny. And of course, she's written a book. Which the bank was giving to all participants - IF you made an appointment with one of their 'relationship professionals' to come talk to you about your financial needs. It was a hard sell, one that I found insulting and annoying.

I've decided I don't want to go into sales. To quote Lloyd Dobler from the movie "Say Anything" starring one of my favorite actors of all time, John Cusack:

"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

Cutting Some Slack

Okay, so I reproduced an online news item about the Duggar family last week under the headline "Stupid News." Michelle and Jim Bob have a brood of 15 children, and in particular I poked fun at the one named "Jinger." I thought it was pronounced the way it looks - turns out it's just an odd spelling for "Ginger" so I'm going to cut the little girl some slack. It's obviously hard to give each one of your children a different name starting with the letter "J" -- at least they didn't name them all Jim Bob a la George Foreman.

I Did A Bad, Bad Thing

Just emptied the ice cube tray and didn't fill it back up again. Just didn't feel like it. There are several other full trays in there and my left arm is slightly numb from this ambulatory blood pressure monitor so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Jaded

I must be. The young woman in my office who doesn't know enough to not wear open toed shoes got engaged over the weekend. And she's sharing the story with everyone but me. I'm just the bitter divorced woman, why would she want to rub it in my face? Then again, maybe she's on to me. Maybe she knows that I scoff at her behind her back. I'm pretty transparent.

But isn't this the guy she was so upset about two years ago? She practically accused him of stalking her. He was too obsessive. And then they moved in together. And now they are engaged and talking about opening a joint checking account - the real test of a relationship! Well, I actually do hope everything works out for her. We'll see. So now I have one who is about to be married and one who is engaged. Try to keep them straight.