Own Your Own Stick Person

I saw these block toys at Brookstone last weekend while shopping at the mall. Naturally, anything that provides an opportunity to trade $10 for a bit of office humor grabs my attention.

Apparently each block has one guy living in it. He's got hobbies, stays real active, etc. The real fun though is connecting multiple boxes. When connected the stick figures travel back and forth, play together--exciting stuff.

So that's my attempt at keeping you on top of the latest trends. Generally I latch on to fad's about 3 years after they hit the sceen, so perhaps in an effort to stay with the times I should purchase one of these before the are briefly, and temporarily all the rage.

One-Off Memories

Driving home from work today I hit several consecutive green lights. This experience brought to mind a memory from fourth grade in where my teacher came back from her lunch break and proceeded to tell the class that she had thought she was going to be late in returning from lunch, but she got lucky and hit all green lights, which she thought was amazing.

So here's the reason for this post--why is it that I remember her saying this? Why, of all the things I could or should remember about this teacher I remember very few and only odd things, like her traffic story.

Any theories? This is common right?

Request For Your Attention ("RFYA")

Ok, I generally try to avoid blogging about work. But this falls more into the general peeve category so I am making an exception.

I work on a Proposal Response Team, we respond to RFP's. And for those who don't know, RFP stands for Request for Proposal. My team does not write RFP's--we respond to Requests For Proposal's. We write responses, we write proposals, but we do not write RFP's.

Yet, that being said, the term RFP is used consistently to refer to the proposals we write. How many RFP's have you written someone might ask? Or when is your RFP due, etc. Not to mention our groups job titles. My title was just revised. The initial proposed title was RFP Proposal Writer--is it just me or is that incorrect and redundant? I mentioned that to my boss and thankfully he revised it to just "Proposal Writer."

Anyway, this odd usage is industry wide, and I myself have fallen victim to using it incorrectly from time to time. But I think it's time we start a revolution and clear this issue up.

Thanks for indulging me.

Beautiful Day

Just figured out how to post video!
Posting U2 for my hubby, whose a big fan :)

Too bad this site won't host my home videos,
so for the moment music videos only...

BEAUTIFUL DAY (U2)

Fun Reading Test

Try reading the paragraph below, at a normal reading speed. I bet you can.

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt!

Ugly & Expensive, For Her

What's this you've given me, caviar? A sack of spiders eggs? But I thought we were friends... Oh, cubic zirconia and pearl you say? For just $1,010.00? Wow, call me stupid, but you'd think you'd get real diamonds, and real style, for that price.

And there I was scouring Salvation Army Thrift Stores thinking that'd be the only place I'd find gold moccasins. Thank you Neiman Marcus, and for only $195.00!
Such a good host, you set out your Faberge Egg place card holders. Pity there are only 4 to go around--wait, right, I forgot you only have 3 friends. Might be due to your obviously bad taste and insatiable urge to waste money on ugly things. And all that for only $230.00

Ugly & Expensive, For Him

Uncle Rico, is that you? $120? Really you shouldn't have...
I'm thinking you can get this same look by spreading a layer of peanut butter all over your head and leaving it there, soon you'll have a thick head of mold--saving $250.
And he wonders why they bark at him as he walks into the board room. You too can have that luxury, just $195.00 for the pair.

Thanksgiving

Happy thanksgiving my faithful readers. My hubby and I were going to take advantage of the 4 day weekend and drive down to Reno, but we decided it'd be too much driving, too much money. So last minute change of plans--we're staying local. I bought a big turkey, which Nick is brining and we'll be making stuffing, potatoes, etc. tomorrow. Just the 2 of us.

Cooking To-do's:

Corn Bread Pudding
Bread
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Turkey
Stuffing
Corn
Green Salad
Chocolate Pie
Pepto Bismol / Alka Seltzer Soup

What will you be eating/doing tomorrow? Any fun traditions?

Soap Box

Ok, so am I the only one who doesn't think that in order for something to be a good stocking stuffer it just has to be small? I get irritated when I see commercial's stating $100 earrings are "good stocking stuffers"--pardon me, but I thought there were two criteria--small size and small price tag.

I'll be irritated if I see one more album in the near future titled "Confessions." Usher, Madonna, Lindsay--they've all used it. How about a real confession, "yes, my music isn't that good and yet I make alot of money--unfair I know."

I am pretty sure 95% of us throw out the turkey neck and organs. Instead of making the majority of us have to stick our hands in the bird's wet crevice, can't they not include them? I think anyone odd enough to eat a turkey neck should have to buy it seperately and suffer the public humiliation and wide-eyed stares at the check-out counter.

He's Dynamite

Dinner and Gas Combo

Who are these people who buy hot food at 7 Eleven? I mean, trust me, 2 hot dogs for .99 is just not at all a good thing.

Optical Illusions

If you want a mind teaser, check out this site. I tried a few including "Lilac Chaser" where you begin by watching lilac colored dots rotate around in a circle. By focusing on the black X in the middle of the circle you then begin to see a green dot appear after the lilac dot moves around the circle, and then after focusing longer you begin to see only the green dot move.

Hard to explain, but kinda cool.

To Market, To Market...

I used to love reading the Guiness Book of World Records. Apparently this cart, even though motorized, is officially the largest ever. I wonder what record I should try to break...

Happy 10th Julius

While shopping in Seattle on Saturday I happened upon a birthday party in Nordstrom for Julius the monkey. Apparently he turned 10. Where've I been.... 10? I thought the whole monkey movement was fairly new.

The teen section of Nordy's smelled like frosting and the sock monkeys were flying, I didn't enter the drawing for one, wish I had. I'd like a companion made out of an old sock.

How Late is Too Late?

You've agreed to meet Friend A at X time. Fifteen past X rolls around, no Friend A. Thirty past X comes, still no A. Fourty past, still waiting.

How long is customary to wait before going about your way? And how many late occurances should Friend A be given before you call it a habit and start musing over what to do?

Should "hypothetically annoyed" Person B tell A to meet her at 30 before X and then show up at X hoping A is then on time? Or is Person B a wuss unless she confronts the issue if it's occured more than 2 or 3 times?

Or is this waiting the typical cost of a modern day friendship?

Prime

Saw Prime this weekend. I am not sure what I thought of it, but overall it wasn't great.. The preview made it sound funnier than it was. I Gotta see In Her Shoes again, that was good. And Charlie and the Choco Fest or whatever is now on DVD, that is worth seeing twice too...

Local Mall Shooting

This afternoon a guy took a bunch of mall shoppers hostage and shot several of them. So far as I know--no one has died, but it is concerning. The mall this took place at is about 5 miles from my house and 10 miles from the office--and I would have likely been shopping there had I not gone into work today.

I've been working on a challenging proposal that has kept me busy, I put in a few hours to keep on top of things. While at work, I was listening to the radio, which is when I heard about the shootings...

The picture above is my car parked in the empty "pee palace" garage today.

30 Minute Meals

I like her, my hubby doesn't. Seems Rachel evokes strong feelings. Funny though, nothing makes Nick talk more than putting on a Rachel Ray show. He likes to impersonate her, comment on her lack of cooking skill and repeat her every goofy word. I like her cuz she's down to earth, and really it's no secret that we all don't have time to cook complicated meals, we all cut corners.

I was noticing today, that her show has these little pop-ups that appear at the bottom of the screen, tid-bits and reminders, what-not. Pretty smart, I think the producers created those as a way to insert whatever info she forgot to mention about her recipe as she's babling on saying "GB or EVOO" for the tenth time (I do agree she repeats herself alot)...

Which brings up another subject... I really don't see the point of having abbreviations if you have to explain and say the full name everytime you use the abbreviation. Which she does. Apparently she doesn't expect anyone to watch her show more than once, otherwise she'd stop explaining her "Rachelism's" during every taping...

An Unknown Enemy

Apparently I must've ticked off a Barista at the corner Starbucks. *note to self, start paying attention to who makes your latte to see if a pattern exists*

Again this morning, sucky latte! No syrup, or at least not enough to taste! I sent a (nice) email to Starbucks Corp re: the last dissapointing drink, I received no reply...

Everything I purchased all tasted good until about a week ago, whats up? DId I tick off the barista? I will admit I don't usually tip, but it's generally cuz the place is so packed I forget or can't find the tip jar. I'll have to work on that...

In the meantime, I'm currently pouring in a packet of splenda sweetener...

Where is that darn Waldo?

Does anyone else like "Where's Waldo?" as much as I do? I loved those books as a kid, still do. I think I might add a Where's Waldo book to my christmas wish list.

AAGGHH! Not the Eye Doctor!!

Visiting the eye doctor is always such an odd experience. I envy those who have perfect eye sight. I made my biannual visit to the doc this evening; only out of need, as my rx was out of date and I couldn't purchase more disposable contacts without renewing it. I can't think of a more odd, uncomfortable situation than sitting in the dark while some stranger shoots air into your pupil, gets 2 inches from your face and has you look this way and that (all the while I am blind mind you--as I had to remove my contacts for the exam).

Overall the process was quicker than past exams, but still not quite pleasant. And as is typical with any visit to the doctor, it came with bad news. My eyes aren't getting enough oxygen. He said its cuz I wear my disposables too long, he gave me strict orders to change them every month, on the first of.

And, I have to switch brands of cleaner, from Renu to Opti-Free or something like that. Do you suppose he could be getting kick-backs from certain manufacturers of contacts and/or cleaning solutions?

Hung Up, on Madonna

The song of the moment for me:

"Hung Up" by Madonna...

"Time goes by so slowly, time goes by so slowly,

time goes by so slowly, time goes by so slowly..."

"Every little thing you say or do, I'm hung up, I'm hung up on you..."

Such a good beat...

Ozzy and Mrs. Presley, related?

It is just me, or does Priscilla look like she
could be a part of the Osbourne family?
Especially with her dark hair as of late.

I was noticing today Priscilla has a major
overbite, just like Kelly...

The Office

I love "The Office", both the UK version and the version currently shown in the U.S. Anyway, I hear Microsoft brought the UK manager, David Brent, out to their headquarters to lead a training session--how fun! Here is a link to sign your company up for a visit from David, click on "my training is boring". (I wonder how much it costs?)

Also found on that link is a good time waster game, click on "Go" to play it.

And here's another link to learn more about the UK Office show.

PROPS to Kirstie

If you haven't seen this show--see it.
I don't have cable, but recently downloaded
the first (and maybe only?) season of
Fat Actress, I LOVE Kirstie Alley, as herself :)
Having seen only two episodes I can't
wait to see the others. Good TV, I tell you.
She obviously can handle laughing at herself.

Get Chappy

I work with a guy who makes chapstick. I was so impressed by his bravery in embarking in the chapstick market, I thought I ought to post a link, should any of you be looking to buy some high end chapstick.. it is winter season after all, and if you're like me, you get chappy.

Tell Johnny I sent you.

Always Amazed

Running a blog is always interesting. You post little thoughts here and there never really knowing what is going to catch the eye of your random audience, what will motivate them to share their thoughts with you in the form of a comment left.

I love it. Anyhoo, the wine gums, quite alot of feedback I got on those. Surprising. That said, truly, I don't want a whole box of them. If you post your address, I'll send you some. And, if you are the only person to post, I'll send you the whole box :)

Myth Busters

It is a perhaps common mis-conception that those who like wine will also like imitation wine gummy candies. Simply not true. I received the gummies shown below as a gift--and in googling Maynard, the brand name, I learned they are commonly sold in the UK and have somewhat of a following there. Not surprisingly though, they do not contain any wine, I'm not sure if they are supposed to taste like they do.

Anyhoo. What will I do with them?

Tattoo O' the Irish

Here is what I want to get, if I ever
decide to get my flesh permanently
scared with ink. There are of course,
reasons why I want a four leaf clover,
but that's for me to know, for now.

Now, where would I get it?

I want a blog pet...

This site looks like alot of fun, if I could read it.

Psychology of Group Decisions

This morning, while making my way out of the downtown parking garage (Pee Palace is what we call it here) I walked down the stairs from the fourth floor to the third floor and was met by a group of people congregating near the third floor door.

A guy was remarking at how he had trekked down to the first floor and tried to open the steel door that leads from the garage to the city street, but found it locked.

My first instinct was that this guy was new to using the garage--the door is sticky and can appear locked--but you have to push in the center of the door, rather than the right side as is the tendancy of most people. I discovered that firsthand.

In any case, I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't want to challenge the guy in front of the other two people, but also didn't want to waste time being stuck in a smelly staircase, especially already being late to work.

Anyway, I just said "hmm.. well maybe we can walk down and get out through the second floor", which really didn't make sense, cause it would've taken us to the same front door unless we walked through the second level and exited on the other side of the garage. The group of three looked at me funny as I kept walking.

Anyway, my comment was just my way of getting myself out of the situation. I kept walking down the stairs, hearing them behind me discuss strategies on how to get out. One lady even had several bags and was holding boxes of donuts, poor thing.

Sure enough, the front door was in fact open. I want to know how long it took them to get out and whether the guy will ever find out he was wrong and whether he will be embarrased.

From psychology, I learned that the actions of people always hugely vary depending on how many people they are with. It always interests me. Seeing situations where people are either unwilling to question things, unwilling to help or just helpless, when they are in groups. Knowing that, it helps to remember to think outside the box, especially when in groups.

I should've just told the guy that the door can be hard to open and asked what "method" he tried, explaining the idiosyncrasies of the door. Then I could've determined whether in fact the door was actually locked, or whether he was new to the garage. But no, I just left them all, helpless. I wonder how many people have thought they were locked inside that garage, for goodness sakes, try harder!

Funny.

My Life, Rated...

So, what this says about me is that I have no friends, but plenty of money... Need to reverse that. Compared to the average person, I am right on, except lower than average in friends and family and much higher on average in finances.

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	6.4
Mind:	5.5
Body:	6.4
Spirit:	6.8
Friends/Family:	3.8
Love:	5.5
Finance:	8.8
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

Self Discovery

Find out what your undies say about you..

Note: It is biased, I got some comment about having old ones since I wasn't wearing anything with stripes, dots nor a thong... Goodness, can't believe I shared that.

Abnormull Stats

Most times my blog has been visited in one day: 90
Times it has been visited overall: 1,956
Most comments any one post has received: 6, maybe eight.
Percentage of current audience from Europe: 4.8%
Percentage of current audience from unknown location: 3.1%
Percentage of current audience from North America: 89.6%

This is a test, only a test

to see if I can discover just how boring my blog can be... I thought yesterday, what if I were to post a picture every so often of something I think would have no interest to anyone, and try to make it interesting.

you're going to have to allow me some time to get good at this... Anyway, this post is a reminder to me to buy contacts this weekend. I get them from Costco. Hmm, I am having trouble making this interesting... nothing more to say

Aerosmith in Concert

I want to go to an Aerosmith concert. Unfortunately there are a few roadblocks in my doing so.

One, they are currently only touring in PA, MA, NJ and a few other east coast locations. That's a huge problem seeing as how I live on the west coast.

I need $$ for the plane ticket; and would have to scrounge up some non-existent vacation time within the next 6 weeks.

Problem number 2 or 3, depending on how you look at this, is that the concert tickets themselves are $250.

*sigh*

Will I never get to see Aerosmith live before they stop touring?

Cows, Cheese and Other Motivational Items

I've been given a copy of "The Big Moo" by my bosses boss. I've read through it. I think it may have been written by the same dudes who wrote "Who Moved My Cheese?"

I will keep my thoughts on both books above to myself. There is really too much or too little to be said... And unfortunately what I write here could be seen by co-workers who have also been tasked to read "The Big Moo", and I don't want to influence their inspirational reading experience.

Questions

I am in a questioning mood today. I have soo many questions, so little answers. If you have insight into any of these burning questions, do share.

Why is it that TV dinners taste so awful? They're worse than cafeteria food, worse than airplaine meals, worse than day old bread... what's up with that?

Why do the tops of muffins always taste better than the bottom?

Why does Snicker's make 4 different "fun size" candy bars? And how are these mini bars more "fun" than the larger size bars?

How come when milk sits unrefrigerated the increase in temperature makes it go bad, but if you take milk and heat it up in the micro for hot chocolate it is fine?

Why do some people see no problem with hopping on an elevator even if they're number 15 and cause the others to have to stand sardine style in order for the doors to close?

*sigh*

Give Credit Where Credit is Due

Starbucks, thank you for the crappy lunch. Not only did you apparently short me on the espresso in my latte, you sold me a soggy-breaded sandwich. The genius here is that I realized neither of those truths until I had long ago exited your cafe, too cold from the wind to consider trekking back to demand a return on my items.

The latte you made me tasted like plain steamed milk, with a hint of sweetness, I opened it up to find slightly tan colored milk. Warm milk with an aftertaste of coffee--and who knows where the vanilla syrup was that I most definately ordered and paid for.

And the most wonderful part about all this? I will for sure be back at SB's tomorrow. There is no better coffeehouse around here and the sandwiches are pretty great when they remember not to set the bread on top of their wet dish rags while making them.

*sigh*

Mysterious Taco ?

Down the street, several blocks from my house is a building that appears to have been a Taco Time in its past life. The building is as run down as can be and has been re-named "Taco ?".

Every day driving in to work I pass this building and ask myself whether it is a legitimate food vendor--and if yes, who the &*%^ is eating there.

This place seems to have consistent and typical hours of operation and quite often I notice a line of 2-3 cars waiting in the drive through lane.

I can not even begin to express how weird I think it is that this place has regular customers. I'm thinking I'll need to stop by sometime to have my question on whether they actually make tacos--and if yes, whether the tacos are any good--answered, but to be honest I am scared to take the risk of eating there. FYI, I'd probably stop in for a bribe of say $25.

Coach Purchase

See below for a picture of my splurge purchase, made while in Boston. Though most often I don't care for Coach stuff, I think this is very practical and pretty.

Ugly Pumpkin

I feel so bad. My pumpkin looks so ugly as it sat in the rain for over a week. I think it has started developing pumpkin vinegar inside.

Sunday Morning

Hello!

With the traveling and illness around here it's been hard to keep up my blogging.

Now that I am back home in Tacoma, things will probably settle down once the hubby starts feeling better and I get back into the swing of things with work.

The power went out last night for about an hour--I always enjoy that as it provides an excuse to just sit around in the candle light near a toasty fire.

Boston ended up being alot of fun, though tiring as it is difficult to drive in and out being new to the city. I hope to go back again, maybe do more shopping--That was my first time shopping at Neiman Marcus, outside of their catalog anyway. And my first time in a Christian Dior store. I bought a coach purse while there--it fit into my price range nicely and was all in gold colors, and hobo style which is what I was looking for. I really wanted a black and gray Fendi but they are much harder to find and Neiman Marcus didn't carry the style I wanted.

Interestly I have never driven through so many toll booths. My first night in MA, driving to the hotel I got a bit lost and passed through atleast 4 or 5 toll booths--I probably paid atleast $20 in 2-3 days just in tolls, which I am not used to--here we have very few toll booths.

I think I'll change the poll on the blog to inquire about what everone's favorite candy is--we certainly have plenty of it around here and as such I have had more than my fair share of sweets--I should probably slow down on the candy intake.

Not much else is new here. I am trying to get used to the winter weather that is now definately upon us. Time to stock up on sweaters and soup.

Good Morning

Hello!

Another day of training underway. Today we should be out of class by 4pm east coast time, after which Christina and I will make our way to the shopping mall. We visited Pheasant Lane mall last night, it was an average mall with the typical stores. We spent most of our time in the Lindt chocolate store, I purchased a few things. This mall reminded me alot of one of the Portland malls Nick and I visit quite regularly.

Last night at happy hour at the Crowne Plaza hotel I was talking with a guy that apparently travels alot throughout the New England area, not sure exactly where he lives. I told him that out of all the states I've visited this one reminds me the most of Washington state. He said he definately agreed. It is quite similar here, a few differences--less evergreens, which means more color in the trees, less cloudy, and more colonial style homes and such... more historical.

Last night we went to dinner at Bertucci's which apparently is a chain Italian restraunt on this coast, good food. We were accompanied by a few girls also in the training class that live and work in Boston. The four of us had a good time over dinner. Upon our return to the hotel were a fire engine, a few cops and an ambulance I believe. Walking from the car we asked a few firefighters what was going on inside the hotel--they explained the floor in the dining room had settled. Apparently the patrons felt the floor drop, which is right over the basement that houses a huge pool and hot tub. It sounded pretty dramatic and concerning. Though, I wish I would've been in there, might've felt like a disneyland ride with the floor dropping over the pool--my guess is though that is was pretty insignificant in the scheme of things.

So, slept well last night. The time change doesn't seem to be having much of an effect on me so far, though it might tomorrow when I get up at what would be 3 or 4 for me..

Since I've learned that NH doesn't charge sales tax, I've decided I need to do more shopping--so I've been asking around as to where I can pick up a nice purse, so far I haven't gptten any info on where to find like Kate Spade purses. We shall see.

Well time to go to class. More later.

Afternoon Break

So training is going really well. I am not having as hard of a time understanding all the data as I thought I would, probably cuz I've been using the software for like a year already.

I hear from other classmates who live in Boston that it is the worst city to drive around in in this country. I somehow suspected that. I am wondering if I'll need to alter my plans for Thursday and not bother trying to navigate by car through the city. I may stay in NH for the day or go to less busy cities in MA, like Salem. We shall see.

Nothing much else to report at this point. The weather and scenery here in NH remind me alot of washington. Of all the US cities I've visited, so far this reminds me the most of home (WA).

More later.

Hello From New Hampshire

Hi,

Good morning. I am sitting here in Pragmatech waiting for the training class to begin. Let's hope today is a fun and productive day.

Yesterday was the travel day from *@%^. It started with the worst traffic I have ever seen on I-5 and pac avenue. I spent an hour and a half in the car, and so arrived at the airport just in time to reach my gate as the plane was pulling out.

Alaska was nice enough to book me on the next flight going to Chicago then Boston as there weren't any other direct flights to Boston. Finally sitting in the airplane the pilot announces the fuel gage is out, and that they have to do some work arounds and fill out paperwork--I thought I would never leave Seattle--thank goodness even with the delay I still made my connecting flight in Chicago!

Well, anyway, after a mild (perhaps) concussion, too much fast food, 6 toll booths, and 6 hours of sleep, I finally made it to NH last night.

Let's hope today is better. Everybody says it is beautiful this time of year, I hope to get out to see more of the city's sights.