Monday, July 31, 2006

Queen of all things bitter...

That is me. Mmm hmmm.

There was a point in life that I was an optimist to a fault. I am pretty sure that time has passed. Apparently, I am not the only one. I just got off the phone with my friend who is 6 days older than me. She is also bitter, and I tried to make her feel better about turning the big 2-8, but I don't think it worked...

There are worse things than being 28, unwed, and living at home... like being in a shitty marriage with kids keeping you together, like being... well, no I think that about covers it - unless you want to say being 29, 30, 31, etc. and in the same situation.

Good times... good times.

And yes, the irony of this post, right above the last post doesn't fail to amuse me.


Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Not really sure what to write today

... so since I am in a good mood, I think I will start my list of things that make me happy. My friend had this list one time, and I saw it and always wanted to do one. I'm not sure why I never did, but here goes - in no particular order:
  • Laughing
  • Big hugs
  • The smell of a campfire
  • A smore off the fire
  • A good stretch
  • The warmth you feel in the first few seconds in a really hot car
  • Good friends
  • A long talk with someone you don't get to talk to often
  • People-watching
  • A hammock
  • Clear water
  • Having "free time" with nothing to do
  • Remembering something that makes you laugh outloud hours, days, or years after it happened
  • Scuba Diving
  • An unexpected compliment
  • Popping bubblewrap
  • Taking a walk in the rain
  • Laying on a blanket in the park
  • Puppies
  • White tulips
  • My niece Emily
  • My niece Anna
  • My nephew Niko
  • Jetskiing
  • Boats
  • Cute shoes that are ALSO comfortable
  • The first bite of a really good dessert
  • Cheesecake
  • Deep tissue massages
  • Making someone else laugh
  • Being able to "say the right thing" or be there for a friend
  • Cuddling
  • First kisses
  • Butterflies (stomach)
  • Bengals games (when they get the W)
  • Catching a good play
  • Falling asleep by the pool
  • A good tan
  • The GTP
  • My Godson and his bro
  • Talking about the "old days"
  • Coaching basketball
  • Getting my back scratched
  • Remember the SMS of Ohio Tourney (We won. I got a broken cheekbone.)
  • Beating Scroungers (The one team we never seem to pull together to win on Friday nights)
  • Funny people
  • Coming up with good strategy that leads to good creative (nerd, I know)
  • Waking up early and realizing you can sleep in
  • Falling asleep in the soft part of a shoulder
  • Cuddling up for a movie
  • Being appreciated for no real reason
  • Being a good friend
  • Getting a P.I.T.A. project out the door
  • Celabratory drinks
  • Just "hanging out" with someone you care about
  • My car
  • A good hair day
  • When someone says I "smell good"
  • Taking a priceless photograph
  • Travelling
  • The chiro
  • Finding money in an old coat or old jeans
  • Crossing stuff off the "To Do" list
  • My Super Mario Brothers ringtone
  • Frogger (which we've discussed before)
  • Smiling babies
  • Babies in the first few month of life (cuddly and helpless)
  • Being the "Baby Whisperer"
  • Finding a "good buy"
  • Target - just in general
  • Meeting new people
  • A long walk
  • A good couch nap
  • My new Swatch watch
  • March Madness
  • Fantasy Football
  • Hot tubs
  • Saunas
  • Snowskiing
I'm too tired to continue tonight, but it will be continued... until then.


Saturday, July 22, 2006

There's one GOOD thing about trends... The bad ones go away at some point. As long as they don't come back, we're okay.











































Ok, so someone must tell me, why do fashion or other trend mistakes that were "unfortunate" the first time around, tend to come back? Or why can't people just
let them go once the time has come and passed for that trend?

It's not the 80s. It's not even the 90s. Heck, it's not even the first half of the 00s anymore. So why are there girls walking around with leggings under jean skirts again? Why do men insist on continuing to wear jean shorts? Should I be looking for pegged (aka "French-rolled") guess jeans with slip-on Eastlands with the rolled-up shoestrings? Is someone going to be wearing overalls with one side hanging down this summer? Bodysuits coming back too? Unless you are at camp, on a soccer or softball teams where it's the uniform of choice or below the age of 10 - tie dying is OUT.

And, why have people started to wear gardening shoes in public? I don't care if "Crocs" are comfy - so are gym shoes. Crocs don't match your outfit, or any outfit for that matter. If you aren't in eleme
ntary school, then take 'em off. And why do guys think it's okay to wear these? I mean come on. Would you cut your lawn in these? And your feet HAVE to get sweaty, and the shoes HAVE to stink. Get rid of 'em, I say, Get rid of them.
So, what are some other fashion don'ts that need not be seen in 2006. Shall I start a list? Oh yes, I shall...
  1. Tucked in shirts without a belt - Are you showing off your belt loops? A belt buckle would be much nicer. Just make sure it matches your shoes.
  2. Loafers without socks - Are you on a boat in Dock shoes? Then, I MAY excuse it.
  3. Fancy clothes at a Reds game - If it is hot, wear shorts not velvet pants. And if it's a skirt, it better be khaki or jean and matched with a tee or a tank. Strapless shirts are a no-no.
  4. Not wearing a coat when it's cold - OK, black tie event? I get it. But at a Bengals game in Dec., you should DRESS APPROPRIATELY.
  5. Sandals with socks - Enough said.
  6. Stomachs at work - They should be covered, simple as that. Unless you are a model at a photo shoot.
  7. Black nail polish - It isn't 7th grade anymore.
  8. Anything that "magnifies rollage" - Know your size, and wear it.
  9. Bras that fit - I am the first to say boobs popping out everywhere isn't a good idea; however, I will also say bras suck and losing weight or gaining weight in the boobs first SUCKS for yo-yo-ers.
  10. <>
    And last, but not least - - -

  11. Age-appropriations - Most trends are for 40-50 and below, and I am being generous. If you are wearing a jean mini skirt at 55, with a backless belly shirt with cleavage... I may have to smack you. There is a reason some trends are timeless. Find some of them. Try Banana and the Gap or even Macy's, and go from there.
That is all, for now. Next fashion less begins at 10.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

This tiredness is OOC.

People always say that you can't catch up on sleep. That is BS... unless they are actually saying that you are always too darn busy to get the opportunity to spend enough time in bed to get enough sleep to actually be able to catch up. I can see that being true. My arse is TIRED, and to top it all off, I broke my tooth last night and have to wake up with the dentist tomorrow. I hate the dentist. Don't we all? My favorite is when I get to come back to work numb and drooling. Oh yea, good times. GOOOOOOOOD times.

I am going to bed now... so I can "try" to catch up. My crankiness is getting to me. At least I took my BP, and it is back down to a reasonable level. No 27 year-old heart attacks yet!

yaaaawn.
nite folks.


Wednesday, July 19, 2006

QOTD

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory."
--
Albert Schweitzer, Nobel Peace Price recipient

Ahh yes...

Monday, July 17, 2006

Home Again, Home Again...

Ah yes, to crawl under my allergy free sheets, on top of my own dust free mattress, and drop my head onto my feather-free pillow. Like heaven, I say, heaven.

So the highlights of my trip included:

  • Learning all about the tobacco issues in countries such as Japan, Switzerland, Africa, and India.
  • Watching the Tobacco Academy Awards. Good times.
  • Did I mention it was hot? REALLLLLLY hot & humid? (Who knew DC was built on a swamp? I didn't.)
  • Sessions... Oh, they've got sessions. They've got session every day.
  • Accidentally dumping my water bottle into my camera an turning it into a paperweight.
  • Two delayed flights - one to and one fro'.
Oh wait, I said "highlights." Well then, I should start over:
  • Really good eats
  • Tourism - I saw it all! 16.5 miles of walking in two days. (For me that's a ton.)
  • Playing quarters with coworkers and Clients
  • Hanging out in the suite with three bathrooms
  • Getting the nickname "Soygirl" during the quarters game
  • Telling my coworkers and Clients to drink, and it being okay
  • Watching my boss drink a "40" of 8-Ball out of a paper bag
  • Watching my distinguished 40-ish male boss do a roundoff in the hallway of the hotel
  • Watching my distinguished 40-ish male boss proceed to do two more roundoffs out on the street - all inclusive with the funniest follow-through stuck-landing performance I have ever seen
  • NOT BEING AT MY DESK
  • I saw a police SUVs wreck with a real SUV, where it flipped and the people got cut out of the car like a sardine can. (Everyone was okay, we think.) But there were firemen, lots of picture-worthy firemen. Too bad my camera was broken. 6 ambulances, 3 fire trucks and 6 cop cars...
I guess I am bad luck lately. geez.

Anyway... It was good times, but now it's back to the grind. I need a vacation. fo real shizzle.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

The heat in DC is OOC, for real.

We decided that it isn't drizzling here. The sky cant handle the humidity and is sweating just like we are. It's ridic. I saw the worst back sweat I have ever seen on a human being yesterday. It was incredible. If I tried to make my hair go straight for a day here, It would last approximately until I left the bathroom to go to leave.

Insane.

A baseball game tomorrow night in this heat is going to SUCKKKKKK... but I guess Camden is worth it.

Until later...

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Days don't really go like you plan them, do they?

So, I woke up this morning (later than I should have) thinking only one more day in the office and I get to head to DC for a Conference. That is exciting, isn't it? Well, anytime not
in the office worrying about logistics is good if you ask me. So I was on my way to a meeting at Good Samaritan when I witnessed an SUV turn the corner and lose control. She ended up over the curb, past the sidewalk, breaking a concrete bench, then through and on top of a fence. The car seemed a little unstable and teetering, like if she crawled out the other side of the car, it would tip.

Of course, I stopped. (Therein the irony that I was going to Good Samaritan.) The front door was trapped shut by the concrete bench, so the lady couldn't get out. When I opened the back door to help her, I realized she had two children in the car with her. So I checked to make sure the screaming 3-year old child was okay and pulled him from the car, followed by the 6-year old sister.

This is where I need to exaggerate the story... to say the two kids were not breathing and I gave them CPR or that the car exploded as soon as we dashed from the wreckage; however, my real story ends kinda lame. After the police showed up with the fire trucks, etc. and the mom was calm, and the kids were happily playing with sticks and flowers (25 minutes later and in the rain, mind you.) I gave her my card in case the cops needed anything and left. Everyone was okay. All's well that ends well, right. I'm sure the people in my meeting didn't believe my story, but it's true. I felt kinda like I was telling a COO that the dog ate my homework when I was 30 minutes late for a meeting. It was an interesting way to start the day, to say the least.

Moral of the story - - - When the repair guy says you need new tires... GET THEM!

Off to DC in the AM. I'm sure the stories I come back with will thrill and excite. Until then, don't do anything I wouldn't do... or at least be sure to write about it so I know and can live vicariously or make fun of you.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Is what we "think" we know actually true?

Well, today was the launch of the new stand campaign. Go to debunkify.com and see all about it. It's really actually cool... And YES Molly this is especially for you.

Now you know what all those crazy "DEBUNKIFY" billboards are all about. It's a new campaign about dispelling social norms or popular myths out in the world. Reframing the mindset of Ohioans, around the truths about tobacco. OK, so I wouldn't normally go out and rant and rave about my ill-feelings toward tobacco, but what we and these youth are trying to do, is actually pretty cool.

To quote a research respondent, "You know when I walk across campus, I feel like I see everyone around me smoking. I always notice those 7 folks huddled outside the dorms, but I never really even think about or notice the other 300 that are inside and may not be smokers."

POINT BEING, smoking is a marked behavior. You notice smokers. You don't notice non-smokers, so culture accepts smoking as being "okay" because they think more people smoke than actually do.

Take this example... You walk into a restaurant, and you get asked one question with a 50/50 decision... "Smoking or Non-" Automatically, you are driven to the assumption that, A. This is okay, B. About half the people will choose smoking, and C. You aren't subjected to smoke in the non-smoking section.

All of which are false, if you ask me.

A. This is okay? - - - NO WAY. Why should 78% of Ohio be forced to breath cancer-causing agents because somebody in the other 22% thinks their right to smoke is more important than my right to breath clean air. If the guy in the pool next to you pee-ed, would you be okay with that? EVEN if they were on the other side of the pool? What if a restaurant had asbestos, another carcinogen, would you want to go there? NO, it would be closed down until it was removed. This is one I just don't get.

B. About half the people will choose smoking - - - As a matter of fact, there is usually difficulty in filling a smoking section. Just ask Applebees.

C. You aren't subjected to smoke in the non-smoking section - - - ventilation systems DON'T work. Bartenders are killing themselves LITERALLY because they want to make the good money available at that job. RIDICULOUS. Sitting in the "non-smoking" section for two hours is like smoking 1-1/2 cigarettes yourself. It's a fact... a proven scientific study. It's also proven that a smoky bar is basically worse than sucking on a summer rush hour tailpipe, sans the CO2.

How is this legal? It's on the ballot in Nov. Vote... the right way. And if you have an argument, I'd LOVE to hear it, truly...

These kids are doing the right thing. They are doing it for their future and ours. It's really cool to be a part of it.

I'm in a geeky, sentimental mood. Can you tell? I am also tired. :-) It' been a long day. Check out the media coverage.


Thursday, July 06, 2006

HOLY CRAP... I went to Grad School with this guy. He has an MBA with me from UC.

CRAZY NEWS!!!

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

An Ode to our Youth...

This post is dedicated to the many things I have loved and lost with age. Things that were greatly meaningful at one point in my life, and now just don't seem to fit as well as they used to. All of which should continue to find a place in our hearts. (Please note, these are in no particular order and many of these are foods; therefore, you will see where my priorities are.) As always, please add to the list or remove as you see fit, but we'll start with the top 20 that come to mind...

1. Fruit Snacks and Fruit Roll-ups - Why do I have to steal these from my nieces lunch/snack shelf in my sister's closet for it to be okay for me to take in some processed fruity yumminess? Is it so wrong for an "almost 28 year-old" to love a little rubberized fruit?

2. String Cheese - Why can't adults play with their food? This stuff is good.

3. Afternoon Naps - I think the company-mandated afternoon siesta would be much appreciated by any employees. It must be mandatory where no meeting can/will be scheduled at this time. You must roll out your bed roll and nap for a half hour.

4. An 8:30 to 3p.m. schedule, with a snack break, lunch, and gym class - Enough said, considering I just left work at 10 and went in at 8:30.

5. Summers off - Also enough said, but well-deserving of it's own line item number. (Please revert to the earlier post where I decided that I needed to be a teacher.)

6. Time that passed slowly - I mean our parents always told us that time flew as you got older, but who believed them? I didn't. I swear it's January 2004, isn't it? Come on, reset the clocks.

7. The time when I used a computer to play Oregon Trail and make "banners" - Who didn't love giving their friend dysentery and write tombstones along the path as you killed off your leader. Why does it have to be Outlook, someone else scheduling my meetings and days, and 207 e-mails a day about work. What happened to Virtual treat e-mails and e-cards? Those were just in college.

8. Frogger - Was there really a better game? Ever? moderninzing the frog needed to never happen. Take it back, you've ruined my game.

9. Flavor-Ice - Popsicles are cheap treats. I am eating them as an afternoon work snack, and no one can stop me.

10. A 8 or 9 pm bedtime - I'd kill to get that much sleep now, wouldn't you?

11. Playing outside - This now is called a workout. I refuse to partake in such activities. I just want to play tennis, soccer, softball, or kickball without it hurting the next day.

12. Pre-puberty times - Why did I want to have a period, shave, and get zits again?

13. Boys - The big question is when do we reach the point where we have to start the check for wedding rings? I hate the first glance. Guys glance at boobs, girls glance at fingers... UGH! And at what age can we find balding men "hot," without someone saying "What? He's Bald?" I know I am passed it, but I wondered when that age was? I like older men, don't get me wrong... but I miss the innocence of when we liked boys.

14. Carefreeness - (Sure it's a word!) Ahh to the days that were pre-stress, work, bills, and high blood pressure.

15. Low Blood Pressure - This is just a recent build because until about 2 months ago, I had low blood pressure. Now, it's not. I'm officially getting old and stuff. Ughhh!

16. Weddings - I think these were fun at one point. I vaguely remember them being something to look forward to... not as much anymore.

17. Candy - I like it. If I want to eat it, I want to eat it. Screw calories, whether nerds are appropriate for a Client meeting, or whether they increase my blood sugar. I am not diabetic... yet.

18. Sunny Summer Days at the Pool - I may miss these the most. A tan would be highly appreciated at this point, and so would a nap by the pool. Well as we all know what I really want is a week in a hammock with a fruity drink and a hot man, but we can't have everything, now can we?

19. Clothes and Dishes that cleaned themselves - It was like magic. The clothes just "appeared" folded and clean in your room... and the dishes were always there when you needed one. Truly, magic.

And 20. All the time in the world to spend playing with your friends - I haven't seen my friends in weeks. I never see my friends. Whose got time to have a life? Not me. Not now. Ughh! Someday, I will someday... you know when I am thin, making buttloads of money, spending weekends at my lakeside home, and having the time of my life.

We all know that this should be NOW, but well... I am too busy this week, and then I am out of town next week at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health. As a side note, I'll be sure to keep a good record of all the good times had at the conference and report back. It's sure to be good, good times. Anyone is DC want to hang out? :)

Did I mention I miss spare time and time to be "bored"... yeah, that too! OK, bed time, after a long-awaited post... I hope. Night!