Off-duty confessions of an obsessive compulsive

Welcome to the year of ..."Happily Ever After"

2008-01-03T10:35:00.000-05:00

I started last year with all the best of intentions... as you all know. I really wanted to do everything I could in 2007 to make me happy. 2007 was supposed to be the official "Year of Happy." Apparently, all I needed to make me happy was Tim. (And I have apparently been too busy falling in love, to keep up here... sorry!)

2008 is the official year of Tina's Happily Ever After... because on Dec 2, Tim proposed, and I (of course) said YES! YAY!

Tim has fully embraced my "year of happy" theory - which may be why we get along so well!

But here's the full story:

On that Friday, Tim had a dozen red roses mixed with whita calla lillies waiting for me at his apartment. I had mentioned at one point that I love the mix of those two flowers together, so I thought he was just being sweet. It was something he'd do any random day... so it was no big tip off.

So, we introduced the parents on Saturday afternoon over lunch, and everything went well.

Then Sunday, Tim had bought the paper and brought it to me. I, as I always do... grabbed the ads out and set the paper aside. The Target ad "happened" to be on top. It also happens to be the first ad I always look at.

About four pages into the ad, there was a handmade card, with sticker letters stapled into the ad. I read "Please join me for a celebration..." and looked toward Tim to say "Look at this ad. It's got some kind of marketing insert stapled to it."

As I looked over, he was on his knee, with box in hand. I looked back at the card in the ad to realized it said "Please join me to celebrate the end of year of happy," and he was inviting me to an engagement dinner at Palomino's on New Years Eve to celebrate the official end of the "Year of Happy."

Teary-eyed, he then told me that I made his year the happiest year he has ever had, and he wanted to make every year for the rest of my life happy. He was extremely sweet and asked me to marry him. I said yes, of course. He slipped the most beautiful ring ever on my finger and I then realized my nails look horrible and I needed to get them done.

He said he had something else and left the room to grab a present. I at that point just realized what happened and started crying. He handed me a white gift bag that had a big huge Wedding Planning binder in it - knowing I was going to be very watchful of all the details to come.

It was a surprise, and it was amazing. I can't ask for a better groom-to-be, proposal, ring, or story. So on New Year's Eve, we went to a yummy, romantic dinner celebration over-looking fountain square, and with a kiss we began 2008 engaged.

We are getting married on October 11, 2008, which is my parents 39th wedding anniversary at the church where my parents got married. We have a lot of planning to do, but he is well worth it. :)

Thanks to everyone for their part in the "year of happy." I hope you all had a wonderful year, and have an excellent 2008. I know mine will be fabulous!

Year of happy check in...

2007-08-16T21:24:00.000-04:00

Well, it has been a while since I brought this up, so I thought I would remind everyone it is the year of happy! As a reminder...

Year of Happy Welcome and Rules

For me, I don't think it could be going much better... well there was that whole car accident thing, mom is still in her house, and I'd love to be back home in Cincinnati... but in general, I am a happy, lucky gal.

How are ya'll doing? I hope you are doing well. :) Let me know!

Today is also my boyfriend's birthday.

Happy birthday to you TH!

I can't be with him, but he is hopefully enjoying himself on vacation.

That makes today's things to be happy about simple...

I am so very happy that he is in my life.

Hiatus from MN - back home again... for 2 days

2007-08-08T12:06:00.000-04:00

So, I am 29 - rah, rah, rah...

But it was one of the better birthday celebrations I have had. My friends rock. I couldn't have asked for a better trip home... Thank you all.

Today's things to be happy about:

Coming home again
Great friends
An amazing BF
Seeing the kids
My nephew's dimples

Too cute!

It was also Em's 8th bday!!! HBD kiddo.

Minneapolis, part three...

2007-08-02T23:40:00.000-04:00

I would be totally remiss if I didn't dedicate time to share thoughts about yesterday's bridge collapse in Minneapolis. My thoughts and prayers are with anyone who has themselves, or has friends and family that have been affected by this tragedy.

I was sitting in class when the director of the school came into the classroom and said, "35W just collapsed into the Mississippi River." Needless to say, the TV was turned on, phones started ringing and class was cancelled mid-stream.

School is about a mile, maybe two from that bridge. My apartment is about a mile the opposite direction from school. I left school and started walking South. It was an eery walk home, wondering who knew, who didn't. Hearing siren after siren after siren. Almost watching a police car crash into an ambulance amidst the chaos. There was all kinds of traffic. And then the phone calls began... my coworkers, my friends, my family... all checking to make sure I wasn't on the bridge. I am lucky. I wasn't on that bridge. Unfortunately, many other people were on that bridge and at least 4 people have lost their lives (approximately 8 people are currently missing).

Some of the survival stories around this tragedy are pretty amazing. Everyday people turned into heroes. One 20-year old in the accident was quick-thinking enough to get 60 people, mostly kids, off a bus safely. A fellow blogger has a pretty amazing near miss story of his own - D. Dad. I just watched a story about a mother and father who were on the way to see their daughter at the hospital. They were in a jeep that went off the bridge and sunk to the bottom of the river. Luckily, they had just opened their windows, and were able to swim to safety (separately) and get the medical attention they needed. Somehow their daughter's security blanket ended up floating to the surface. Amazingly, a 2-year old still has both parents and a security blanket that I am sure they'll keep close the rest of their lives.

Like I said, I was lucky. Actually I am extremely lucky... not only because I wasn't on 35W, but because I have amazing people in my life.

I have been pretty homesick - missing friends, family and loved ones, but I doubt I could really feel much more loved than I do right now. I think almost everyone I know has sent an e-mail, a text, or made a phone call in the past 24 hours. Not only does a tragedy like this put life in perspective... but for me was an amazing reminder of how many people cared enough to check on me. It's pretty humbling.

It's a reminder to pay attention to what really matters. To tell people you love them. To never take life for granted. And, to never let regret in your life. Today's list of things to be happy about is pretty simple...

Being here to take advantage of today
Great family and friends
Genuine care and concern
Everyday heroes
Emergency responders (EMS, Fire, Police, Coast Guard, Courageous Onlookers, etc.)
Quick-thinking
Grabbing life by the horns
Perspective
Great memories
Recognizing all the little things

Thanks again to everyone who cared enough to check on me... My thoughts and prayers are with amazing people in the city of Minneapolis.

Hello from Minnesota (Part 2 - the first few weeks)

2007-07-20T12:53:00.001-04:00

So, here I am. Been here for about 3 weeks now. School is good. Just shy of my impending 29th birthday, I am pretty much the oldest in my class. No big deal, if I didn't feel old or if this didn't happen: We went out to the $10 all-you-can-drink on Wednesday, and my 23-year old classmate and I were talking and he said "Thanks Mom." Explaining it as "I call all my older friends that are girls Mom." I tried to tell him that calling me "older" didn't help... at least go with "Big sis."

GEESH, so THAT was fun.

I saw the Twins play... which was um.. interesting...

They played Detroit, including ex-Red Sean Casey. The dome is ridiculously WRONG when it comes to baseball. And they lost... but unlike in Cincinnati, even on a Tuesday night, the game was an actual EVENT, with a pregame party and everything. I respect that and the fans were really good. It kinda makes me sad for our boys at home.

I uploaded some of the pics of the inside of the basilica too. Check it out.

So, for now, life here is good. I get to come visit home in just 9 days. I am pumped bc I miss home. Miss my friends. Miss my Tim. Miss my nieces and nephew. Miss all my family. Miss normal.

Today's things to be happy about:

Playing around in a new city
Getting to come home
Being in love
Doing well on my first two presentations and in school
Making new friends

Hello from Minnesota... (Part 1 - the journey here.)

2007-07-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

It's been a whirlwind for me... so I apologize to my friends back home who are wondering what has been going down... I decided to do this in parts. :) Here is the exciting story of my first weekend.

Saturday, bright and early. Load car. Start the long drive. Stop at Starbucks for caffeine fix. Indy. Illinois. Get gas. Get lunch. Wisconsin. Minnesota. Get gas again. Drive by St. Paul, pull into Minneapolis. Find the place. Check it out. Move everything in. Find a Target and a grocery. Collapse on the couch.

Sunday, wake up WAY too early for my liking. Eat some cereal. Put stuff where it belonged in the apartment. Go to Target, again. Spend more money. Go to mass at the the Basilica. It is super close to my place, and it is gorgeous. It's the oldest Basilica in the United States. AMAZING outside, but even better inside. (See below.) Get some food and relax a little in preparation for my first day on Monday...

Here is the Basilica:

That is about all the touristy things I have been able to do thus far. Been too busy settling in. I did go to the Twins game on Tuesday. Baseball in a dome is very odd. They lost, but I was impressed with the pre-game partying, especially since it was just a Tuesday night.

ANYWAY, sorry this was lame. I will be sure to go out with my camera and show some cool stuff, as well as let you know a little bit about school.

Congrats to SAM on her engagement.

Congrats to MM on her new job.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Miss you all... :)

One Week Countdown...

2007-06-30T16:32:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone.

I am sorry that I am a slacker. Between this stupid back/rib injury from the accident and getting everything at work and at home ready for my trip to Minnesota, the last few weeks have FLOWN by. I leave "technically" in less than a week, as we will be going very early next Saturday morning. My mother is driving up with me to keep me company, so I am positive their will be fairly enlightening stories from the trip.

The stories will include something about her asking at every border we cross if "radar detectors are legal in this state." To which i will AGAIN answer, "they are only illegal in Virginia and the District of Columbia." Also fun, is that I only have my little mazda 3, and I have all the stuff I will need for my three months in MN - making the car pretty full.

She, however, is infamously a "heavy packer." (I apparently come by that naturally - for all readers / friends who have traveled with me in the past.) I have gotten MUCH MUCH better since I got my nice new luggage and started traveling so much for work. She still thinks she has to bring a foam egg crate mattress for any bed that isn't her own. So that battle will be fun. Oh and the cooler. We have to have a cooler that fits 48 drinks and foods. Even though we have to stop every few hours for gas and cant pick up a drink or two there. Ahhh, I can't wait.

Don't get me wrong. I love my mom. She is one of the greatest women alive. She just still likes to be my mom. And I like to be an adult. :)

Anyway. 11-1/2 hours according to mapquest. Triptik in hand. It should be an interesting adventure, and I hope MN brings me much more time to say hello to people around here... We'll see.

I better go pack. Hope everyone else is doing well!

Today's things to be happy about...

My nephew's "do it again" smile and dimples
His stopping everything he is doing (even tears) to dance
Cranky 5-year-olds "accidentally" falling asleep and taking a highly-needed nap
Naps, in general
Sunny Saturday afternoons
X-RAYS coming back negative for breaks
Having a good drunk night out to forget the pain
Small worlds (when your bf, his friends, and your friends all end up knowing someone who knows someone who liked someone in grade school...)
The smell of freshly dried laundry
4th of July cookouts with good friends
The strength is takes to protect our freedom
Honoring our troops
Hugs

Have a good 4th everyone! Thanks to the troops for protecting our freedom.

How I spent my OBX vacation...

2007-06-03T10:30:00.000-04:00

Our vacation begins just like anyone else's vacation. We leave around 5:30 AM and head to the KY AA Highway. We have a fairly uneventful drive through KY, WV and VA - noticing only that VA has a LOT of personalized plates. (We assume they are much cheaper in VA than in OH... and my personal favorite was "me n gzus." It seemed a little conceited to put the "me" first. lol)

We stop at the "gas-and-anything-you-may-need-before-you-leave-VA" station and pass over the NC line with some excitement. It's a little after 3 pm now, so after passing 2 farmer's markets, we decide to his the third one we see. We wanted a watermelon, some tomatoes, some peaches, and a jar of jam to supply the kitchen at the house we are staying in. So that we got.

Then there is a lot of water and a bridge. YEA!... We are finally in Kitty Hawk / Nags Head. Just three more minutes and we are poolside! Errr not.

We hit a little congestion, because apparently everyone is driving into town with Saturday-to-Saturday rentals. So we pull up and sit in the line of traffic right where we are about to turn down our street. Then BAMMM... a minivan hits the back of us at 45 mph (according to the police report). The good news is, we are all "fine"! It was eerily similar to those Jetta commercials. None of us knew it was coming. I was mid-sentence, then all of a sudden... I couldn't breath. After realizing we were in a wreck, I felt the LOADED trunk had creeped into the back seat and the front seat was laying on top of me. I pulled off my seat belt and Matthew moved the front seat some so I could breath. Matthew and Ralph were smacked in the face with airbags but were out of the car. I looked to my left and Adrianne was bleeding from the nose, and had watermelon all over her lap. My torso hurt and my knee hurt and there were tomatoes smashed too.

Well, the fire department and EMS arrived and took Adrianne to the ambulance. They decided that I needed to be neck-braced and back-boarded - and because of where the car got hit, my door didn't open. They took out the jaws of life and cut me out of the car. Nothing like glass shattering and a saw thing in your ear with a sheet as the only thing protecting you. Into the ambulance, I went. I didn't see anyone/anything at the scene - which sucks. Adrianne was sitting in the ambulance when I got in there.

It was a 15 minute ride, filled with a collapsed vein in my hand and a second try for an IV in my arm. They cut my shirt and my borrowed sweats. My BP was really low and then they couldn't find it for like 5 tries, so they freaked me out a bit.

Adrianne wanted out of the truck - and her watermelon-stained pants. She had to have had a headache. I just wanted off the backboard and out of the neckbrace that was poking into my throat.

So into the ER we went. All of us got checked out, and given drugs. A few hours, a bunch of x-rays and a cat scan later, we are free to go. I however, had no clothes, so left in a nice comfy pair of scrubs. Remarkably with nothing seemingly broken, ruptured or bleeding too badly. Lots of bruises and lots of soreness, but man were we lucky...

The Maxima - not as lucky. It's crumple zones performed their duties well. My laptop, also not as lucky - as you will see below.

I was drugged or slept through most of vacation, either from the soreness or from the rash from the dye in the CT scans. (A lovely time and way to find out you are allergic to it!) I just couldn't get over the hump to fully enjoy vacation. I had one drink the whole week, and if you knew my friends, you'd know that was ridiculous.

It was so nice to pull into my driveway last night and to sleep in my own bed. Now comes the fun part, right? Hospital bills and settlements and receipts... rah rah rah.

I didn't sleep very well, but that's a whole different story. :(

The pictures:

Ralph's car from the rear.
The silver bumper is attached from the car that hit us.

This was my seat... with the door they cut off sitting in it.
(Pay special attention to the tomato on the ground. FUNNY)

The door.

The floorboard full of the glass from it shattering as they cut the door off.

Adrianne's and my seat.
Close up. With the trunk pushed into the seat.

What formerly appeared to be the trunk.
Buckled roof and shattered back window.
And. my personal favorite photo...

Oh yea, and... my laptop.

Again, glad we all made it out as well as we did. But don't look forward to another vacation like that anytime soon! I do, however, love the GTP.

Got lots to be happy about:

Being "okay"
My boyfriend (who was not even with me, but still helped me get through the week)
My bed
My family
My nephew's sweet smile
Forgiveness, giving it - but more importantly receiving it.

OBX - the short version...

2007-05-30T20:29:00.000-04:00

Please check back next Sunday / Monday to hear the details of the following short story.

There will be pictures.

SHORT VERSION: Ambulances, glass, the hospital, drugs, a free pair of scrubs and a nice rash two days later. Do I have your attention yet?

I will tell the whole fun vacation story when I return and can upload photos. :)

OBX Vacation

2007-05-25T17:39:00.001-04:00

I am gone.

My mind is on vacation.

And SO is my body.

Have a great week! :)

Ask, and... you shall receive.

2007-05-17T14:15:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago, I got back from my trips and didn't have very much to do. That is actually an understatement. It was so bad I actually looked at my boss and said, "I need something to do." Because I (in all my anal-ness) had already re-formatted the company phone list, and made copies for everyone who wanted them, and I felt the need to be productive.

He said "I'm swamped." But he didn't give me anything to do. So I said something to the COO, and she said.. "Oh, we'll find you something to do."

In turn I went from NOTHING to do. To stuff to do. To a lot of stuff to do. To busy as hell within two weeks. Monday, my was my new boss's last day. NOW, I went from busy as hell to holy mother of ridiculous busyness.

It's good times. All I know is I go on vacation in 9 days... so for a week, there will be NO busyness.

Today's happy list:

Kudos from upper management
When a not-so-good situation works itself out
Vacation countdowns in single digits
a new "mix" that you love
Being lost in the moment (Thank you Big N Rich.)

Swollen nastiness

2007-05-15T09:28:00.000-04:00

Just thought I would share... p-haha

Yes, that is my stomach in all it's glory. It is a very ambiguous angle, but sure makes my tummy look gross. It is a close-up, as the bruise is about 8-9 inches in length.

Details on the injury below if you missed my last post. ha.

It's official, I need to retire from sports...

2007-05-12T08:52:00.000-04:00

Friday was my first pain-free day with my back. So I was excited to play in my doubleheader on Friday night (that was supposed to be followed by a soccer game on Saturday afternoon.) I play softball with a bunch of family friends, every spring and summer on Friday nights. The team has been together in some form for about 19 years or so.

The first game of the DH was against the team we can't ever freaking beat. We come in SECOND in the league to them EVERY FLIPPING YEAR. It's a bunch of 45-60 year olds men and women who place the ball perfectly and sit on pitches until they get a walk. We usually don't lose games, but that team has our number. Annoying. VERY annoying.

So, on my first at-bat, I got a hit an went to run out of the batter's box, and the back, hamstring and rear end pain came back. It was LOADS of fun. The game went on. We lost to them... again. And, unfortunately, we don't play them again this year to get revenge.

So the second game was against a local baptist church team who got thrown out last year because they are a bunch of pricks. It's always been ironic to me that the church team is full of the biggest jerkoffs in the league. They argue with the ump, the other teams and even themselves. The pitcher teases the batter with his ridiculous wind-up. They slide into girls on plays that aren't close enough to even slide. (And you really don't need to slide in softball.) They complain to the ump for stupid things like the player who is coaching first base having their glove with them. The runners screamed in the 2nd basegirl's face to try to throw them off when catching a throw to second. They are just asses.

All of the above happened last night. No, they didn't get kicked out again - unfortunately! Combined with an ump who doesn't understand the infield fly rule... it was a wonderful night. Just lovely.

I am the pitcher. It's not the safest spot on the field in co-ed ball. In fact, when my dad was alive, he wouldn't let a girl pitch. Last night was an example of why... I pitched to this guy and he drilled a line drive waist high right up the center - into my stomach.

I finished the play and got the chick out at third, then I realized it hurt. After a few quick tears and a little drama from my team, I insisted on finishing the inning and game.

So the next at bat, what does the prick church team guy that hit me in the stomach do? Drill a ball up the center, this time off my foot.

I am fine - bruised and pretty freaking sore, but fine. And I am not a baby, nor do I think people need special treatment, but there are rules to co-ed softball. And this team needs to be kicked out of the league. It wasn't fun. We didn't even want to shake hands. Half of the team didn't. It's ridiculous.

And now we have a losing record. I am not happy with that.

AND, no soccer for me today. I get to sideline it and cheer. RAH RAH.

ANYWAY...

I still have things to be happy about, so...

Ice & Advil
Being hit in just the right spot so there was no major damage
My softball team. I love them all
My sister being there to try and protect me and keep me out of harm's way
The beautiful weekend that is in front of us (And since I am on the DL, I get to relax and enjoy it.)

Poor boys of summer...

2007-05-08T22:51:00.000-04:00

Well, I went to the game tonight... but I am sure glad i didn't pay for tickets. I had my work tickets which are just to the left of these:

Good Seats, but torture when you have our bullpen (and Eric Milton at times). When will the pain end? So bad, that in 2005, Joel Luckhaupt who blogs about the Reds, created this team portrait, as South Park characters. Can you name anyone you see?

:)

Today's things to be happy about:

Tomorrow is another day
Great company at the ball park
Good, FREE seats
Funny people
Google Images

Happy in the YOH!

2007-05-06T10:17:00.000-04:00

So, it's sunny out - and I have nothing I am OBLIGED to do today. It is a fantastic feeling. Down to the point that the lawn mower is broken, so I even have an excuse to not mow the lawn!

I love that.

I did, however screw up my back last week, and then played softball and stuff, so my whole body is aching today. BUT, I've had a great weekend. I am in a generally good mood today. I mean it is 5 months into the "Year of Happy." I should be happy right?

This week, I found out that I made it into school for the summer, and will be headed of to Minneapolis for 13 weeks. The change of pace is MUCH needed. So, I am excited. I have been in Cincinnati for more than 7 consecutive days. I got new brakes last week, so my car will stop if I need it to - which is always good. Gray's has some interesting little plots going on, but the new spin-off looks to be pretty good too. I actually have work to do at work - so that is enjoyable. I orchestrated a highly successful happy hour on Wednesday - which was supposed to be a pre-game for the Rod Stewart (free tickets) concert and people-watching - but it got canceled. He was sick. We won my co-ed softball game Friday (17-5) despite me accidentally walking someone home. (I had to get warmed up. It was my first game this year.) I had a great post-game dinner, drinks, etc. with the boy. My niece had first communion yesterday. She was adorable. I had a good time Cinco de Mayo-ing it up with the GTP friends - with margaritas and my current drink fav, mint mojitos. It will be the poolside drink of choice for vacation. Vacation is in 19 days.

How could I NOT be having a good YOH? RIGHT? It's been a good week. So I should use today to check back in on everyone else... right? This is just a reminder to savor the Year of Happy and make every year one from here on out.

Today's list of happy things:

mint mojitos
summers away
a boy you like
bigs hugs
a big city that is really a small town
impending vacation

Poland... Pics

2007-04-30T23:37:00.000-04:00

Pics from Poland. None of me, but that, of course, is how I like it. :) Enjoy!

Cute little cobblestone streetscape just outside Old Town

Another church looking out the Old Town "castle-like" walls

The Castle-like wall surrounding Old Town, from the stairs of the church above.

One of the MANY Catholic Churches in the area.
My favorite part is the little old lady on the bench

The entrance to Old Town

Another Church

Pope John Paul's parish, before he became Pope

Just another cool shot of Old Town

Poland...

2007-04-24T11:33:00.000-04:00

Well, my trip was fine. I have lots of pictures of cool buildings and stuff that I can't identify. I will be sure to post those once I get them off my camera. That is cool and all, BUT my co-worker was smart enough to take a tour... and his post says more about Poland than I ever could... so, enjoy!

Poland

Today's things to be happy about...

Losing weight though eating pierogies
Antibiotics
Experiencing history first-hand
Knowing we live in a different world, where society (in general) tries to learn from their mistakes
Sleeping in your own bed after a long trip

ok, i lied...

2007-04-16T22:28:00.000-04:00

I wasn't back and I didn't repair my ways... I am one of the worst bloggers EVER. I am sorry - and busy-ness shouldn't be an excuse, but it is the lame one that I am using.

In the last two weeks, I have been in Chicago, then Miami, am sitting in a hotel in New York right now and am headed to Warsaw, Poland tomorrow. Vodka research... no REALLY, I am not kidding. I get back this weekend.

I also have a killer sinus infection - which is awesome when flying - and sitting in the research room sniffling. My back is also KILLING me, despite spending the AM at the chiropractor. It's good times here in Tina's travel world.

Something to be happy about: When I went to Miami, I voluntarily got bumped and "earned" 400 free delta bucks... you gotta love free trips from being bumped on a trip you didn't pay for to begin with. WOOHOO.

So I have never been to Poland. Apparently, the weather is very similar to home... I need to do a little investigation on what to do/where to go. We are doing research, but I have a day or two to wander. So I am open to suggestions... Anyone? ;)

I also FINALLY got my school application out to my 13-week boot camp in Minneapolis, MN this past week. It is a HUGE weight off my back. Now they just need to accept it!

Anyway, I hope to be more loyal to this thing, but we'll see if my life actually lets that happen! Hope everyone out there is doing well!

Missing you... and 10 things about the flea market...

2007-03-18T22:35:00.000-04:00

I am sorry that I have been such a slacker. I have been busy, and REALLY tired... so, again, please forgive me. I promise to get better! I have to catch you up though, so I had an interesting weekend a few weeks back that I thought I would share with everyone AND I found an interesting quote to begin the post about my weekend...

One of the hardest tasks of leadership is understanding that you are not what you are, but what you're perceived to be by others."
-- Edward L. Flom,CEO of Florida Steel

My mom wanted to sell a bunch of junk, so she had the opportunity to sell them at the flea market, and took it. So I went with her to help. It was highly entertaining and relatively successful. But I thought I would share the 10 things I learned at the flea market a few weekends back...

Somewhere, at some time, someone made jeans with elastic bottoms
Some women still where vintage red Reebok hi-tops as their original style. (You can get yours on ebay)
The Simple Life (with Nicole and Paris) has apparently influenced a whole new population of chihuahuas dressed in clothing and accessories... so much that there is an entire store that sells dog purses and special strollers made for dogs! (Yes, at the indoor flea market! Aisle 7.) Here were the supermodels, in their full glory.
You don't have to clean your hands between touching the register/money and touching the food... even if you are working the popcorn/food station. Who knew?
There is actually an inexpensive place to buy stainless appliances - new! Seriously, if you need them.. try the indoor flea market!
People sell and buy the weirdest stuff ever... from an entire booth dedicated to beef jerky to guy with everything imported including the stretchy ball shaped like a boob that looked like a kids toy, not an adult toy.
There are very few booths with "used items," rather these are true business ventures for people who either make things, or ship them from Taiwan or China inexpensively to sell for a profit.
If you want a bargain, just tell them you are a "dealer," with a booth "down in aisle 5." (Like they'll check... but you can probably only do this a few times, before they wonder what you sell too.)
Overalls are, overall, just unattractive.
You can't sit in the back of the booth and TRY to write a creative brief for work, but it won't actually happen. That is because the entire idea of a flea market is distracting - the people, the stuff, the people... just give up... take it all in, and write a blog about it later!

:) Happy March18 folks!

Today's things to be happy about: March Madness, naps, a glimmer of hope in the office pool, Steamfresh vegetables, girl scout cookies, and two days to work off the weekend before your weigh-in.

My horoscope from today.

2007-03-02T13:06:00.000-05:00

I loved it. So it's today's thing to be happy about:

Tackle this issue from a different perspective. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to ask a kid what they think of the situation. While the answer may not have practical applications, it'll make you laugh -- and see the light.

Good stuff for a Friday. Happy March2 Folks.

What a fantastic way to start the weekend...

2007-02-23T10:38:00.000-05:00

From the myspace blog of a total stranger (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=23256106&blogID=233447644 ) comes

Chuck Norris
Factoids

When Chuck Norris wants popcorn, he breathes on Nebraska.
Chuck Norris has a vacation home on the sun.
Chuck Norris uses redhot lava to moisturize his skin.
Chuck Norris invented the apple.
Chuck Norris built Mount Everest with a bucket and spade.
Chuck Norris does not age. Every birthday, it's just another year added to his existence, which sucks for you.
Chuck Norris does not have chest hair, he has millions of highly venomous nematocysts. You have virtually no chance of surviving the venomous sting, unless treated immediately. The pain is so excruciating and overwhelming that you would most likely go into shock and collapse a split second before getting hit in the face with a roundhouse kick.
Chuck Norris can chug a gallon of milk and not throw up.
Chuck Norris beat the Sun in a staring contest.
If you get roundhouse kicked in the face by Chuck Norris in your dream, you DIE!
Chuck Norris can have his cake AND eat it too.
Chuck Norris was born in a log cabin that he built with his bare hands.
Some people get lucky and kill two birds with one stone. Chuck Norris once killed four birds with half a stone. What's that? You say there's no such thing as half a stone? The four dead birds didn't think so either.
Chuck Norris CAN lick his elbow.
P is for Chuck Norris, as is every other letter of the alphabet.
Chuck Norris puts the FUN in Funeral.
Chuck Norris' paradise is war.
Chuck Norris is capable of photosynthesis.
Chuck Norris has never had a surprise birthday party. He can NEVER be surprised. EVER.
Chuck Norris does not love Raymond.
Chuck Norris can lick his own elbows. At the same time.
Chuck Norris can kick start a car.
Chuck Norris doesn't breathe, he holds air hostage.
Chuck Norris wrote an autobiography....it was just a list of everyone he has killed.
Einstein's original Theory of Relativity was; if Chuck Norris kicks you, your relatives will feel it.
Bigfoot takes pictures of Chuck Norris.
As seen in Sidekicks, Chuck Norris can climb a rope with one hand, and one hand only.
Chuck Norris does not dance. He roundhouse kicks to the beat.
Chuck Norris can MAKE water run uphill.
Chuck Norris can hold Puff Daddy down.
The moon is actually a comet that was once on course to hit earth... then Chuck Norris roundhouse kicked it into orbit.
Chuck Norris can strike a match on a bar of soap.
Chuck Norris once played Russian roulette with a fully load gun and won.
The only reason the color pink still exists is because Chuck Norris is color blind.
Chuck Norris is allowed to talk about Fight Club.
Chuck Norris isn't afraid of Urban Legends, he is an Urban Legend.
Chuck Norris once played 18 holes of golf using a 12 inch strip of rebar and a sun dried tomato. He shot a 54.
On the Asian market, Chuck Norris' urine is worth $400 per fluid ounce.
See spot. See spot run. See spot get round house kicked in the face by Chuck Norris.
Niagara Falls is the result of one of Chuck's legendary cannon balls.
Chuck Norris sneezes electricity.
Chuck Norris performs colonoscopies on himself.
If you were killed by Chuck Norris, your tombstone would read RIP, ripped into pieces.
Chuck Norris' smile once brought a puppy back to life.
You know he jumped off the Empire State Building this one time and he only sprained his ankle.
Chuck Norris lost both his legs in a car accident....and still managed to walk it off.
Contrary to popular belief the Lottery numbers are not random. They are just the number of people Chuck Norris killed that given day.
Chuck Norris invented the corndog.
The agent of Chuck Norris asked Chuck if he wanted to be in Brokeback Mountain.
Chuck Norris' agent has been missing for almost 2 years now. Never ask Chuck Norris to be in a gay cowboy movie.
Chuck Norris IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
Chuck Norris understands the ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Chuck Norris believes the hype.
Chuck Norris CAN in fact stop the beat.
When Chuck Norris crosses the street, the cars have to look both ways.
When Chuck Norris picks his nose, he REALLY does find Gold.
Chuck Norris speaks in all caps.
Chuck Norris delivers more male with one thrust of his pelvis than the U.S. Postal Service and the Pony Express have combined for the last 146 years.
Chuck Norris wasn't born with feet, just boots.
Chuck Norris won a pissing contest against a Russian race horse.
When Chuck Norris throws a boomerang, the boomerang does not return because it is scared to come back.
Chuck Norris floats like a butterfly and stings like a tomahawk missile. At mach 3. In the face.
Chuck Norris can dribble a football.
Chuck Norris' IQ can be expressed simply as a sideways eight
Chuck Norris is a stunt double for Optimus Prime.
Chuck Norris was once asked to repeat himself. The last thing that person ever heard was the wooshing sound of a roundhouse kick.
Chuck Norris can clap with one hand.
Chuck Norris had his tonsils removed with a chainsaw.
Chuck Norris digs graves with a shoe horn.
Chuck Norris once roundhouse kicked someone so hard that his foot broke the speed of light, went back in time, and killed Amelia Earhart while she was flying over the Pacific Ocean.
Crop circles are Chuck Norris' way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie down.
Chuck Norris is ten feet tall, weighs two-tons, breathes fire, and could eat a hammer and take a shotgun blast standing.
The Great Wall of China was originally created to keep Chuck Norris out. It failed miserably.
Contrary to popular belief, Chuck Norris, not the box jellyfish of northern Australia, is the most venomous creature on earth. Within 3 minutes of being bitten, a human being experiences the following symptoms: fever, blurred vision, beard rash, tightness of the jeans, and the feeling of being repeatedly kicked through a car windshield.
Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Chuck Norris has 72... and they're all poisonous.
If you ask Chuck Norris what time it is, he always says, "Two seconds 'til." After you ask, "Two seconds 'til what?" he roundhouse kicks you in the face.
Chuck Norris drives an ice cream truck covered in human skulls.
When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes, ever.
The quickest way to a man's heart is with Chuck Norris' fist.
Chuck Norris invented Kentucky Fried Chicken's famous secret recipe, with eleven herbs and spices. But nobody ever mentions the twelfth ingredient: Fear.
CNN was originally created as the "Chuck Norris Network" to update Americans with on-the-spot ass kicking in real-time.
Chuck Norris can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves.
There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live.
Chuck Norris once ate three 72 oz. steaks in one hour. He spent the first 45 minutes having sex with his waitress.
What was going through the minds of all of Chuck Norris' victims before they died? His shoe.
Chuck Norris is the only man to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.
Police label anyone attacking Chuck Norris as a Code 45-11.... a suicide.
Chuck Norris doesn't churn butter. He roundhouse kicks the cows and the butter comes straight out.
Chuck Norris doesn't wash his clothes, he disembowels them.
A Handicapped parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Chuck Norris and that you will be handicapped if you park there.
Chuck Norris will attain statehood in 2009. His state flower will be the Magnolia.
Someone once videotaped Chuck Norris getting pissed off. It was called Walker: Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
If you spell Chuck Norris in Scrabble, you win. Forever.Chuck Norris originally appeared in the "Street Fighter II" video game, but was removed by Beta Testers because every button caused him to do a roundhouse kick. When asked bout this "glitch," Norris replied, "That's no glitch."
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool Chuck Norris once and he will roundhouse you in the face.
The opening scene of the movie "Saving Private Ryan" is loosely based on games of dodgeball Chuck Norris played in second grade.
Chuck Norris once shot down a German fighter plane with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"
Chuck Norris once bet NASA he could survive re-entry without a spacesuit. On July 19th, 1999, a naked Chuck Norris re-entered the earth's atmosphere, streaking over 14 states and reaching a temperature of 3000 degrees. An embarrassed NASA publicly claimed it was a meteor, and still owes him a beer.
Chuck Norris has two speeds: Walk and Kill.
Someone once tried to tell Chuck Norris that roundhouse kicks aren't the best way to kick someone. This has been recorded by historians as the worst mistake anyone has ever made.
Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is based on a true story: Chuck Norris once swallowed a turtle whole, and when he crapped it out, the turtle was six feet tall and had learned karate.
Chuck Norris is not hung like a horse... horses are hung like Chuck Norris.
Faster than a speeding bullet ... more powerful than a locomotive ... able to leap tall buildings in a single bound... yes, these are some of Chuck Norris's warm-up exercises.
Chuck Norris is the only human being to display the Heisenberg uncertainty principle -- you can never know both exactly where and how quickly he will roundhouse-kick you in the face.
In the Bible, Jesus turned water into wine. But then Chuck Norris turned that wine into beer.
Chuck Norris can hit you so hard that he can actually alter your DNA. Decades from now your descendants will occasionally clutch their heads and yell "What The Hell was That?"
Time waits for no man. Unless that man is Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris discovered a new theory of relativity involving multiple universes in which
Chuck Norris is even more badass than in this one. When it was discovered by Albert Einstein and made public, Chuck Norris roundhouse-kicked him in the face. We know Albert Einstein today as Stephen Hawking.
Chuck Norris doesn't shower, he only takes blood baths.
The Chuck Norris military unit was not used in the game Civilization 4, because a single
Chuck Norris could defeat the entire combined nations of the world in one turn.
In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Chuck Norris could use to kill you, including the room itself.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Native American "Trail of Tears" has been redefined as anywhere that Chuck Norris walks.
Chuck Norris does not teabag the ladies. He potato-sacks them.
Pluto is actually an orbiting group of British soldiers from the American Revolution who entered space after the Chuck gave them a roundhouse kick to the face.
When Chuck Norris goes to donate blood, he declines the syringe, and instead requests a hand gun and a bucket.
There are no steroids in baseball. Just players Chuck Norris has breathed on.
Chuck Norris once challenged Lance Armstrong in a "Who has more testicles?" contest.
Chuck Norris won by 5.
Chuck Norris was the fourth wise man, who gave baby Jesus the gift of beard, which he carried with him until he died. The other three wise men were enraged by the preference that Jesus showed to Chuck's gift, and arranged to have him written out of the bible. All three died soon after of mysterious roundhouse-kick related injuries.
Chuck Norris sheds his skin twice a year.

Today's things to be happy about: Never being on Chuck's bad side, funny people, Technorati blog searches, Fridays, Indian food and blue highlighters...

Happy Feb23 folks! Here's to a great weekend.

I wanna go to Bora, Bora...

2007-02-21T15:03:00.000-05:00

I think two weeks in a bungalow that is out over the ocean blue is well worth 6 grand... WELL worth it! Now I just wish I had an extra 6K laying around. SOMEDAY!

Boy, do I need a vacation, and I don't think Chicago in March will do it! Poland will be cold in April too, AND it is work - so that doesn't count! May can't come fast enough GoodTimePals!

Sorry, I promise to write more soon, but that is all for now.

Happy Feb21 folks!

Today's things to be happy about: Understanding why all those people are walking around with grey smudges on their forehead, looking forward to a night without plans, diet root beer, being "good" sore from a nice workout, out-of-control "Staff-All" e-mail chains, and the sun making an appearance with weather above freezing!

Monday, Monday...

2007-02-12T18:56:00.000-05:00

Can't trust that day.

So, I made the switch. I am officially "in." I have "the network."

It was a very tough decision. Why? Because they all drop calls. They all suck. So I went with the more expensive provider, because I was tired of the dropped calls and the people I talked to swear they don't get dropped calls in this area. Everyone did, however, tell me that the customer service sucks... and I can now attest to that.

"Welcome to the customer service line, can I help you."

Yea, I want to transfer my old number over to here. can you please help me with that?

"Great maam, we can definitely help you with that."

great.

"Tell us the number etc, and we'll get this going for you."

ok.

SO, It's all finished and the lady says "This looks great, this should switch over in 24-72 hours. Can I help you with anything else?"

No

"OK maam, have a great day."

From this conversation, I got the following: We did it, thanks. Have a good day.

5 days later (because of the weekend I gave it a few days extra), my phone number still hadn't transferred over. So I called again.

"Welcome to the customer service line, can I help you."

My number hasn't transferred over and it has been 5 days since I called last.

"Lemme check on the problem maam... It looks like you never finished the process. We need you to do this one last thing."

OK, why didn't anyone tell me this - or maybe call me to let me know there as a problem? I've been paying for two bills for 5 days now.

"I'm sorry maam, and can give you a $20.00 credit to cover that... and we'll fix the problem now."

fine, let's do it.

"Just follow the prompts, and you'll be fine. Have a great day."

A few prompts come, and the little techno woman says "Sorry, we don't recognize your number, have a great day." Then she hangs up.

EFF.

I had to call back, AGAIN. Finally this woman fixed it, but three minutes later, my phone got a text message that said "Please call customer service at your earliest convenience."

I really didn't want to, but I did. In the meantime, the stupid 2 week old phone I purchased BROKE - so badly that the final customer service agent suggested I bring that in-person to a store.

I have yet to do that, but assume it won't act up when I get in the store and they won't believe me and the trauma will continue. Damn the phone people. Damn them.

As a side note, I have gotten called "maam" way too much lately. People, I am 28. This, combined with the first ever need-to dye because of the grey hairs occurring last week, is very traumatic for a young woman. Oh yea, and it's valentines week. Lovely.

Today's things to be happy about: land lines, no dropped calls, a good hair dye and cut, being called "darlin'", and candy hearts that say "page me."

Happy Feb12 folks!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow...

2007-02-06T18:13:00.000-05:00

I lied. Don't let it snow. Eff the snow. 6 inches in about 5 hours in Ohio is insane. Not to mention straight through rush hour, which happened to begin at noon today because of the all-out snow panic. (Please note: I did stop for milk... and Cookie Crisp. I didn't want to be "snowed in" without them. Priorities!) As expected, the grocery was frantic.

So I got home around 3:30 because work told us all to leave (nice.) I shoveled when I got home, because I knew more snow was coming and shoveling 6-9 inches was harder than 2-3 inches a few different times. (I was using my noggin.) Not to mention at 3:30, it was 9 degrees, and I knew later in the day or tomorrow morning it would be 0 degrees, which is way less fun to hang out in and shovel.

Then around 5:30, I looked out and decided it was time for round two. Here is the before image:
So, like any good shoveler... I started at the garage door and worked my way out of the house to the curb. pushing all snow to the sides, not the street. It went pretty fast. WHY? Well, because I am good (obviously) and because it was 9 degrees and I was getting snowed on (duh.) So I finished it in like 30 minutes. By the time I finished, however, I had to shovel my path back to the garage. See below:

Yea, so then I threw salt. That worked well. See below:

And here I am now, back online, with another 2 inches outside, looking harder for vacation packages, and pre-heating my heating blanket for a long winter's nap!

Happy Feb6 folks!

Sweet dreams... of warm weather and scuba diving...

PS - - Bob, please excuse the delay... I was shoveling. Here are the 6 normal things about me...
1. I put my pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else.
2. I hate traffic and stupid drivers.
3. I love to people watch and point out bad behaviors, hair issues and 80s clothing to make me feel better about myself.
4. I have some debt.
5. I have a great group of friends, and family is important to me.
AND last but not least... number 6. I enjoy meeting new people and making new friends - on here, and in "real life"...

Aren't those all pretty "normal" things?

Back to regular programming

2007-02-03T10:43:00.000-05:00

I mentioned that I would get back to this later in the week. My Number 3 life Path said,

"In love, you inspire and enchant your partner.
You are often an object of fantasy and desire."

Really? Come on. As a single 28 year-old woman in Ohio, if I really were "often an object of fantasy and desire," I would expect these folks who feel that way to step forward and be acknowledged.

My luck the fantasy has something to do with me organizing or TLC'ing someone's house while they are on vacation with Cindy Crawford. Or, yea this is it... when they pick teams for sports and have to take a girl, they desire to have a girl that can play on their team.

Sure, I get the whole inspiring and enchanting my partner thing, but "love" has been a while at this point... so I can't remember if it is true. I'm not looking. It's too much work. I'm happy anyway... but seriously, if these people exist, they should come forward to claim their "prize." p-hahahahahaha

Happy Feb3 folks!

PS - I do also acknowledge that no one would ever admit it after reading my last post. I'm not worried anyway, since those kind of crazies don't exist.

But I do know if they did, it would be my luck that they would find me. :)

I've been tagged...

2007-01-30T18:19:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the ever-entertaining DorkyDad, I have been tagged with a meme. However, it's not one of those 3-hour endeavors, so I am okay with it. I am tasked with sharing 6 weird things about me, or if I cheat, 6 weird things that have happened to me. Hmmm... Decisions, Decisions. I'm SO not a cheater, so I guess I'll go with "about me."

Number One (1)
I have, at one point in my lifetime, either have been or wanted to be each of the following professions:

Lawyer - way too much reading
Professional Athlete - p-ha, well I needed a little more talent for that one
Teacher - too many kids
Wife - Homemaker to a hot firefighter preferably (Still working on this one.)
Mother - Nah, I love other people's kids better.
Professor - too much going to school
Architect - too much responsibility. I didn't want to be responsible when the building fell
Pharmacist - purely for the money and hours, so not interested enough
Graphic Designer - including, but not limited to environmental designer, packaging designer, print designer, art director, etc. - too much creative on demand
Operations manager - too boring
Something in Organizational Change - waaaayyy to stressful
Marketer - too general... half of the girls in college want to be in "marketing"
Advertising Executive - Been there, done that.
"Strategic Planner" - haven't fully figured out what it was, but like it thus far.

Number Two (2)
I have been a vegetarian since the day we went to a farm in the 5th grade and drew with purple chalk on big black cows where all the different types of meat came from. To this day, I am totally grossed out by meat. If my food touched it, I won't eat it. No broth. NOTHING. I will, for some reason, drink milk and eat cheese, but eggs are SO out!

Number Three (3)
I don't see movies. It is not that I don't like movies... I just don't see them. Some, I refuse to watch... just 'cause. A sampling of movies I have not seen that will make you "wonder a little" about me:

Goodfellas
Godfather (NONE)
Star Wars (NONE. Not old ones. Not new ones.)
Lord of the Rings (NONE)
16 Candles
Pirates of the Caribbean
Casablanca
It's a Wonderful Life
Apocalypse Now
Batman (None)
2001: A Space Odyssey
Dirty Harry
Fight Club
Spiderman (None)

Number Four (4)
I have a FABULOUS sense of direction; however, if you didn't know this already, I am incapable of telling my right from my left in pressure situations - i.e., when driving or giving directions while in a car. I will typically just turn whichever way my preconceived notion tells me to turn, despite the directions being provided. Despite not getting this simple R/L correlation, my brain SOMEHOW comprehends the transient and complex nature of "This Way" and "That Way."

If I am talking to someone, "This way" is the direction that is closer to me than it is to them. "That way" would be the direction closest to them. However, in this same situation, if they were talking to me "That Way" is close to me, while "This Way" is closest to them. Sound complicated? Try being in a car with me!

Yea, I'm nuts. Not sure why "Left is Left and makes and L" doesn't work for me. Unfortunately, I must be crazy.

Number Five (5)
I hate socks.I hate them on my feet. I hate them on other people's feet. In general, I am not a fan. However, they are NEVER to be worn in bed. It's unattractive and annoying.

And Number Six (6)
If you'd ask my friends, they would probably refer to one of the following as a weird thing about me:

I lose my cell phone, wallet, check card, etc. on a regular basis.
I break my cell phone on a regular basis
I'm allergic to everything on the planet - dogs, cats, trees, grass, feathers, dust... you name it.
I get sinus infections every February
I am OCD... down to straightening the fringes on the throw rugs.
I am one extreme or the other... stuff is either super clean and organized OR I am am a total, complete disaster. This is because it takes too much effort to make it perfect, and "almost perfect" won't do, so I have to be all or nothing.

But my number 6 is this... I cannot stand repetitive tapping noises, whether it be drips in the sink, fingers on a desk, clicks of a pen, tapping of a foot, the 15 seconds of Madden that plays over and over when trying to pick a play or techno music. The more I hear it, the more I focus on it and the sooner I will end up in a round room with padded walls.

OKAY, so maybe I went overboard, and now everything not only THINKS I am weird, but KNOWS what is weird about me. GREAT! I should have taken Dorky's road and done what happened to me... at least then, I'd appear less crazy, right? ;)

OK, I guess I have to, I mean GET TO, tag 6 people... AML, Running Rabbit, Doc Steph, Toothy, Dan-O, and Bob. Have fun, and can't wait to read about ya'll!

Quiz time

2007-01-28T22:32:00.000-05:00

I did Jlee's little quiz, and it kinda fit my procrastinating perfectionist nature, so I thought I'd share. We will talk later this week about the following line:

"In love, you inspire and enchant your partner. You are often an object of fantasy and desire." p-hahaha

Your Life Path Number is 3

Your purpose in life is to express your
unique self.

You are a creative and artistic person with an interesting view on life. Witty and outgoing, you enjoy sharing your crazy ideas with anyone who will listen. A total social butterfly, you're the life of any party.

In love, you inspire and enchant your partner. You are often an object of fantasy and desire.

While you are very talented, you sometimes lack the ambition to put your talents in play.
And while your wit carries you a long way, you occasionally use it to mask your true feelings.
Your natural abilities can bring you all the success in the world ... if you let them

What Is Your Life Path Number?

New Blogger...

2007-01-26T21:44:00.000-05:00

I am official. Blogger.com made me change to new blogger today, which is, I think, why half of your comments are showing up anonymous today. So, I guess we will see if this thing makes it easier for real, or is a total P.I.T.A.

So, I decided to be boring and lazy, and do nothing of any value this evening. I was tired, and haven't done that in a while... so tonight was the night. We drove to Louisville to listen to the current trends in alcohol consumption today for work. (NO, I am not kidding. And as a side note, I will probably spend part of April in Miami, LA, NY, Poland, and Prague doing vodka research. That just sounds WRONG!) That was a 3+ hours in the car, and 1.5 hours in the meeting. And I had to be at work early, so I was exhausted.

I came home early and napped on the couch for an hour, then flipped through the remote control the rest of the evening. Exciting eh? My friends all went to the rodeo tonight. I'm sad I missed it, because the people watching in South Ohio at the rodeo is well worth the price of admission! Ehhh... what can you do when the mood just isn't there?

Does anyone know the show 1 vs 100? I actually like it. I wonder how these mob idiots don't know the answers to the questions, but I like the concept. It's so much better than Deal or No Deal. I ended flipping through and watching Mike the Mouth and the Sheik fight again in the 2005 World Series of Poker. That never gets old. Mike is always annoying, but together they are pure entertainment. The Sheik, however is at least pleasant to look at. :)

Everything else that is on is just an encore of a show from earlier in the week... BOO! So, I rented a movie for later - Talladega Nights. It's supposedly funny... so we'll see.

I also decided I was poor and needed to do my taxes... so I did. They are done. I just have to check them and hit the e-file button! SWEEEEEET. I love free "not really free but they took it from me when they shouldn't have taken all that much" money.

And I'm looking at a real vacation... suggestions that include clear water, low price and hammocks?

Oh yea, and I get to spend part of tomorrow snow tubing with my godson and his brother, and my best friend, their mom. I can't wait. Guess I need to find my snow clothes!

Happy Jan26 folks!

Ciao for the evening...

Very, very funny...

2007-01-19T15:03:00.000-05:00

So I was doing a little research in UrbanDictionary.com, and stumbled across this fantastic little tidbit...

What is your Sexual "Market Value?"

I think the concept should be blown out even further than it is... We need comparisons. Who would have the highest SMV in the world?

And I am not exactly agreeing with their formula, or their car quotients. How is a Vespa 600?

Hmmm... This is definitely something to think about. How would you calculate SMV?

Embracing my inner nerd...

2007-01-17T23:18:00.000-05:00

Tonight, I experienced what very few will have the opportunity to experience...

It's life altering...
It's Earth-shattering...
It's live...
It's...
THAT IS RIGHT... Tonight, I spent the evening with an ex-NKOTB member, a Lachey brother, Joey "Whoa" Lawrence, "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry..." and Lisa Renna, with hubby Harry "I should stick to LA LAW" Hamlin. What I learned? Please see below.

Joey is still a dork (both of them)
Whoever runs the show HAS to be in charge of Joey McIntyre's record sales
NKOTB turned Sinatra is a BAD idea.
Lisa Renna has "dream abs" and can dance as well as all the pros
Her husband, Harry, CAN'T
Ladies love men who can dance (duh)
Pasa Doble ,err however it is spelled, means two passes (of the big red bull thingy)
Save a horse, ride a cowboy
Fake tanning stuff CAN turn into a royal tragedy and appear as cellulite on even the most ideal legs
Dancers legs move faster than seems humanly possible
My obsession with male arms continues... (wow)
Ramba, Samba, and tango just sound sexy
I am a wimp for ever complaining about the pain involved in shoes, because I don't do THAT in THOSE heals.
That show has some crazy DIE HARD fans

That is all I can think of for now! It was fun... a little hokey, but well worth it. I am proud of my inner and OUTER nerd. If I was so inclined, I could have met Joey McIntyre and bought a shotty CD to get signed! I, however, was NOT so inclined!

Happy Jan17
~T

If I had a million dollars...

2007-01-14T20:09:00.000-05:00

I can't complain about life right now... so I won't. I went to Jeff Ruby's lovely WATERFRONT for dinner on Friday night. It was fancy and nice, but looking around at the "locals" made me think a little. If I never had to worry about money as an issue, what would life be like? My answers are below, and I am VERY curious about yours...

What are the top three things you'd do more regularly, that are more like "special treats" right now?

Weekly massages and chiropractor visits
A "true" personal trainer (not the kind I can visit once every 4 months with my gym membership, but one to workout with me 3x a week.)
Mucho travel... (Many of you may have thought I would say gambling... however, I cheated, as I would make this travel include trips to Vegas and participation in WPT tourneys, along with hammock lounging and scuba diving in clear water destinations.)

* Please note, none of this says fancy drinks and fancy foods in restaurants that make me feel wealthy - but out of place.

What "good," if any, would you do for the community.

I'd fund the At-Risk youth program we are doing at work.
I'd spend more time with and money on kids who need it.
I'd work with cancer research.
I'd do something for the older folks at nursing homes who are often neglected and forgotten.

Would you work?

Of course. We all know I need to feel like my brains are being put to some good use, or I would have no idea what to do with myself.

What would your first "rich person" purchase be?

A sweet lake house, paid in full (Eff mortgages) and remodeled to my liking. Not a big house, but a sweet house. THEN a HUGE party for all my friends and acquaintances, and maybe I could get Dane Cook as entertainment?

What simpler things have you been holding out on buying, that you would go get ASAP!

I'd get wireless at home, a laptop, TIVO, a new cell phone, and then drop TMobile QUICK.
I'd get more and better Bengals tickets... somehow!

What would you buy for someone else?

I'd make sure everyone around me who really meant something to me was as happy as I could.

I don't know. I don't think I'm the kind to be ridiculously frivolous. It's not about things, it's about experiences. Fun times, good friends, etc. I may get some better clothes or shoes, but I would not be seen with different Prada bags and shoes each day, unless they were knockoffs from a NY streetcorner. It's fun to dream, isn't it? Someday, right?

Ciao for now.

Two addendums...

2007-01-02T22:15:00.000-05:00

Today, I was told something that I found interesting...

"People will only change when staying the same is harder than making the change."

That rings true to me! AND, go figure, AOL caught on and found some experts to help my friends:

The Pursuit of Happiness: Six Experts Tell What They've Done to Achieve It - AOL News

Happy Jan2!

Today's note: When I stepped on the scale tonight, I had gained 1.0 lbs over my drunken holiday. My WW leader said "Was it worth it?" I thought about it and said "Yes" and he said, "Well there you go then. We have nothing to talk about until next week!"

Happy freaking New Year everyone!

2007-01-01T15:49:00.000-05:00

Consider this your official welcome to
the YEAR OF HAPPY.

I have a friend who doesn't get it.
She wants me to lay out the "rules," so here goes...

Rule #1 --- Figure out what makes you happy.
Rule #2 --- Do those things.
(Or figure out a way to make them happen!)

SO...

If you love to read... then take the time to read.
If you aren't happy with what you do for a living, or where you do it... revise your resume and send it out.
If you really want to be living life and working in Denver, CO, Australia, or NY City... start looking for jobs and places to live. Make it happen.
If you spend too much time at work... fix your life balance.
If you really want to be in better shape.. there's no time like the present.
If you really need to forget about football until August because the Bengals blew it... then do it.
If Tivo is what really makes you happy, get Tivo.

So yes, there is restrictions on what you can do. Obviously if a huge mansion with servants would make you happy, then your going to have to work your ass off this year (and the next couple.. err 50) to make that happen. You probably can't just quit your job to stay home and watch Oprah either. Telling off your boss, not going to be the best idea.

But, my point is this... When I was 12 years old and my brother died, I decided that life was short and we needed to find our niche, live life without regrets, and just be happy. I was serious. Ask anyone who knew me back then. I became an all new, fun, energized person.

This past year or two particularly, I found myself working too much, smiling too little, being snippy, seeing friends only on "occasions," and just being relieved when the week was over.

Yes, the idea of the "YEAR OF HAPPY" arose one night at dinner, and my friends think its because of them. But it's really because I saw all this happening in me, and very similar things in a few of them. We were all kinda "just getting by," instead of, to be cliche', "taking life by the horns."

So, for me, this isn't a resolution, persay. It's life, and I am choosing to grab some freaking horns... Here's a few ways.

First, I have a new job. It's what I have spent years working toward... and I plan to work my ass off to make everything I can from it. That includes taking full advantage of my 13 weeks of training at Miami Ad School (Minneapolis) this summer.
Second, I am a happier me, when I am a healthier me... so WW continues. Minneapolis in July will be brand new swimsuit time.
Third, I will have ONE, if not TWO, of my Mom's houses SOLD by the time I leave town. And if it is only one, the other will be up for sale. We will move, and she will have less stress and more time to enjoy the kids and life. I guess that means she would buy a new place too.

That is not an exhaustive list, but just a few examples. So it's what I called a "challenge" a few months back to anyone who reads this. Just remember life is short, people are everything, and, for me, "it's JUST advertising."

Back to regular programming...

2006-12-29T17:52:00.000-05:00

Well, I decided to go to Dayton last night to visit my friend and her husband. They always make me smile. So we went to dinner and we chatted about life and stuff. It was nice.

I was trashed. I could NOT stop laughing.

The waiter kept yelling at me for dropping my napkin on the floor, but he still gave me a free fried pickle. I really wanted one. Nobody else at the table would eat them and with the whole weight watchers thing, I probably shouldn't eat more than one. All considering I was drinking away all my other points and just got a salad for dinner. So we asked nicely and the waiter decided the funny drunk girl should have a free pickle. It was good.

So after a few random text messages (which i swore off in the last post), I went to sleep and apparently drank so much that I was even dehydrated in my dreams. I guess I was supposed to be pouring water into some poor little dog's bowl, but I was too thirsty and just ended up drinking 8 things of water instead. I woke up dying of thirst.

I drove back home to the dentist, where I found out he needs to replace two old fillings. That sucks, but other than that it went well. She thanked me for brushing well and making her life easy.

Then I met my Daytonian friend and a girl we went to HS with for lunch. Two-and-a-half hours later, we decided we should go home... but it was nice to catch up. I think it's a girls trip in the spring. WOOHOO. Either that, or they are going to come visit me in Minneapolis in the summer. We'll see.

So I am in a much less "Debby Downer" mood to quote the good dentite... and I thought I would let everyone know, as not to depress the world two days before the year of Happy.

On that note, I stopped by Half Price Books and bought a "14,000 things to be happy about" page-a-day calendar. I'm sure it's going to be cheesy and ridiculous, but it will be a daily reminder to keep up on the Year of Happy promises to myself.

That is all for today.

Ughhh...

2006-12-26T13:17:00.000-05:00

If you hold your left arm in the air, caulk your head 11.25 degrees to the left, and then spin 13 times to the right, stop suddenly and do a backbend, the Bengals will get into the playoffs.

I think that is about what it takes.

Or was it all the planets have to align in a perfect B shape?

Can't remember... but UGHH! What a disappointment to watch them hand away their own playoff destiny!

Don't you practice those snaps?
Chad, did you eat so many greasy burgers that your hands are too slippery to hold on anymore?
Carson, who were you throwing to?
Housh, buddy, what was the uproar all about in the middle of the game....

Let's communicate a little this week, and hope the planets align. :(

It's a sad day in WhoDey land.

Holiday Tradition...

2006-12-23T10:06:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess a holiday season shouldn't go by without a little discussion about "Holiday Traditions."

When we were little it was to set out some milk and cookies, leave some oats for Rudolph, make sure our tacky lights were all out front a-glow, and get ready for mass. In our house (mostly because of running out of time for my parents), we didn't have a tree done when we went to bed on Christmas Eve. That was Santa's job. We'd do midnight mass, where traditionally I would fall asleep on whoever was next to me, family or not. Then home in bed it was.

Around 6 AM or something ridiculous, our eager selves would wake up and wait impatiently at the top of the stairs for Dad (who was always at the bottom) to say "Okay, you can come down now." Then the three of us would fight to the bottom of the steps to find a tree decorated, and lit, with three piles beneath it - some with "Santa" paper and some with "Mom and Dad" paper. The stockings stuffed so much they couldn't hang any more and were down on the floor. Mind you, we were not wealthy growing up. We had probably more than our fair share of struggles, but Mom and Dad always made Christmas "happen" for us somehow, and I guess we didn't have super-high i-pod, Xbox-esque expectations. We had atari, and were happy with frogger, but no Nintedo, etc.

I will have to say, it was pretty magical to have it all "appear" on Christmas Morning - tree and all. I always wondered why mom and dad were so tired though!

There were a couple of things you knew before you started... a few family traditions.

There was one wrapped present on Christmas Eve that we got to open.
Santa always left the book of Life Savers in our stockings.
I ALWAYS got Dad "soap on a rope," and he was always surprised.
The one thing you wanted most was sure to be there - even if it was the popular toy that year and mom had to stand in line to get it.
My stack was always bigger than my brother and sister's, but we always had the same number of gifts - because we, of course, counted every year.
There were most likely Dr. Denton footed pajamas, until I was about 10. (Maybe that's why I can't wear socks in bed now.)
There was always socks, usually underwear, and the day after Thanksgiving Day LazzieBears from Lazarus (Macy's) made their appearance.
On occasion, my sister and I got the lovely 80s candy cane full of rainbow knee highs --- talk about SEXY!
There was ALWAYS clothes - like leggins, back when leggins were acceptable in the 80s. They may have even been stirrup pants. NIIIIICE.
And Mom's gift from dad always said "To PattyCakes" and she always got something even if dad said they shouldn't buy each other gifts.

Once we "stop believing," our family started opening gifts on Christmas Eve... making Christmas day the time for food and relatives. Then we all got to work together to put up the tree prior to Christmas Eve. Mom did the lights, Dad did the hooks, and we did the hanging and garland, of course. When we moved to our bigger house, we decided there was a need for two trees - one we cut ourselves with the colored lights and family traditional stuff, and a boxed tree with the fancy breakable stuff and white lights. Guess which one made it to the front window... cheers to tasteful decorations. Thanks M&D.

Here are some of the more recent traditions:

Tree: a day or three before Christmas, go to buy one that is already bundled but "looks good" through the mesh, because no matter how hard we look for the perfect tree SOMEONE is going to make fun of it. It used to be Dad - who had something bad to say about our choice every year, now a messed up tree is just a part of the tradition. (Note, the first year we did the no-look thing, it was the most perfect, prettiest tree we've ever had.)
PS Tree: both my mom and I are completely allergic to you, so please behave.
A tree? MAYBE, two? three? four? Those times are over. I don't think we need one in the Family room, living room, my room, and the basement - I mean really!
Outdoor lights: I forgot about those... maybe tonight. And only a few matching white ones, because I wouldn't want our house to look like some of the neighbors' houses.
Gifts: Pick them out and wrap your own and put them under the tree. Act surprised.
Santa: He comes to grandma's house too.
Christmas morning: It's for the kids, then mass, then brunch --- not a time to sleep in.
Sleep: Fall asleep after brunch on my sister's couch.
Dinner and Family at our house: this takes on all forms, from my sister, her hubby, and her kids, my aunt, mom and I to the additions of my sister's in-laws, and my uncle's entire family (3 kids and their husbands/wives and kids). This means interesting holiday conversations... This year, I think we have them all.

So, I guess we'll see what fun this year holds. It's the day before Christmas eve, and I have yet to see the tree that was picked up. It's lying on the floor of the garage... I guess a little water, some lights and a few ornaments would do it good. So that's part of today's chores... along with making sure everyone has a gift and cleaning... I guess that means I should stop blogging. Have a great holiday with your own traditions everyone!

Falalalala - luh lalala...

Oh yea, and kick some Bronco butt this weekend boys... WHODEY???

Oh Santa...

2006-12-16T18:12:00.000-05:00

How we love thee, let me count the ways...

Free presents. You pretend you care if we're naughty or nice, but somehow all the meanest little kids in my class ended up with cool shit - even if they ate glue, put boogers on people, spit in little girls hair, or were bratty little tattle tales. (And I can remember being a little naughty recently, and I think I've gotten some good stuff because of it, let alone in spite of it! A-hem.)
Fat and happy. In a world where anorexic is idealized, you provide an imaginary place where it's okay to smother your face in whole milk and cookies - at least one night a year.
You embrace little people, both young and old. Kids get free stuff and support, while height-challenged folks in the North pole are able to support themselves through your Elf Employment Program (EEP, for short. Um, I mean...)
Fear factor. No matter how many slimy kids like you, there's always a few who'd rather see the doctor for 42 shots then spend two seconds in your lap for a picture. Why? You're kinda creepy. Let's face it. It is for instilling this fear of strangers in a few un-knowing children that we again love you!
Ho, Ho, Ho. Somehow you get away with calling all the shady ass moms out there derogatory names, and they just let their kids repeat you. It's a fantastic thing. I seriously thought hard the other day where this may have come from, and so Wikipedia it is...

While all of the above are so very true, there is nothing worse than a bad fake. Santa needs to work on getting better "helper" look-alikes for all his various mall visits and such - or at least get them better costumes. Who knew you could mess up by such a wide margin?

This morning, the local YMCA had a "Santa" that looked remarkably like the Santa shown above. I'd rather not put my 8-month old nephew on your lap, sorry! We'll go downtown, to see the good one, even if I have to pay for the picture! I know that not many people want a bunch of snotty little brats sitting in their laps, but maybe we should make sure they don't have a record and their fake beard covers their real mustache, so the kids don't start asking questions! We love you Santa, but send us a decent fake for the pictures please!

PS... All I want for Christmas is a Bengals Superbowl win, and a ticket to the game would be nice too! Oh yea, and a real good man, preferably who also is fond of #1 above!

*</;-)

HO, HO, HO... Merry Christmas everyone!

19 days left PEOPLE...

2006-12-12T23:04:00.000-05:00

It's INSANE how happy I will be in 2007. You all think I am kidding, but nope I'm not! It's all about whatever makes YOURS TRULY happy... except for food. I started WW this week. Meetings and all. Tonight was my first weigh-in. I lost 6.8 lbs. WOOHOO!

See, you don't even know me, until you know what happy me is like. Just wait. JUST WAIT.

:)

Nobody likes...

2006-12-06T21:38:00.000-05:00

... a Double Dipper!

That is what I told the little girl I was babysitting tonight, when she tried to re-dip her carrot in the dressing. As soon as I said it, I decided it sounded good and I decided that "what nobody likes" could make a good blog topic. SO here goes the list BY ME (feel free to make additions):

Nobody likes...

steelers (or pretty much anyone from Pittsburgh - and because I lived there, I can say that!)
egg nog (ewww)
bunions
pork rinds (or at least they shouldn't)
the buzz of the alarm clock
double dippers, of course
close talkers
fat free cream cheese
ugly shoes (unless you are a people watcher)
the stress of dating
blind dates
being set-up
creamed corn
molester vans
nose bleeds
poison ivy
keeping up with the Joneses
being yelled at for not blogging in a week or so
lulls
stinky feet
stinky other things
ear aches
self-absorbed, holier-than-thou snotfaces
snot
cold hands
wet public bathroom floors
empty toilet paper rolls
sore winners
sore losers
kittens and rainbow backgrounds on Myspace
long lines
dirty hand shakes
radishes
Pittsburgh
anyone who says, "sorry, but I got the last one."
irrational and unsubstantiated arguers aka debates with people who don't "get" the facts
finding stuff in your food
greasy cheese burritos (ha...)
spikes in weather - 70 degrees one day, 22 the next
paying a lot for a little
family-owned car company commercials
infomercials for makeup and face products
cold rain
warm spots in the pool

what else?

WHO DEY!!!

2006-11-30T16:38:00.000-05:00

I get to go sit in club seats tonight... and watch my boys whip up on those dirty old ex-browns. It should be fun.

:)

WHODEY?

PLAY

Oh, and click here to vote daily for the Bengals to help the hungry in Cincinnati. The winning team's foodstore foodbank gets free Chunky soup! It's a good cause and there is no instance where Steelers should EVER beat us again!

Change is good...

2006-11-28T17:27:00.000-05:00

That is my new mantra!

...and that is all for now.

Ask nicely, and you shall receive...

2006-11-27T22:50:00.000-05:00

A Microsoft Paint original portrait of yours truly, unsigned, but created by hands of the good doc. Please note the pearl earrings, v-neck shirt and perfect eyebrows. Curly hair had to be difficult to create in "paint." I am truly is awe of the subtle details and raw talent of our trusted adviser!

There are also freckles, which I do not really have, but the effort to put them in is quite impressive! It adds to the visual interest of the image, of course. ;)

Thanks Doc,
(you rock!)*

*The rhyme was for the dentist's sake.

Thanksgiving time is apparently good prep for the "Year of Happy!"

2006-11-24T23:17:00.000-05:00

... and not in the way you'd think!

You'd think this would be the one time of year when we all are like, "ya, know life really ain't all that bad!" You'd think we'd sit around talking about the good times, or making new ones. Not us. NOPE.

While at Dewey's then the bar with my two friends, who will again remain nameless, we had the same conversation that we had two months ago. You know the converation where I decided I was tired of talking about work, and money, and career paths, and relationships, and living in the wrong city, and buying a house, and on and on. The conversation where I decided to make my move to get happier and where I would "challenge" my friends to do the same... ONLY THIS TIME, the conversation was slightly different. (I do, again, find the irony in the fact that we spent the night before Thanksgiving whining about stuff, but I'll let that pass --- for now. Oh an the people-watching on amatuer night is OOC. Gotta love that!)

Anyway, what has changed?

I have changed, well made some changes in work really. Changes that get me closer to "happy." Now that I have taken that initiative, and "have a good gig" or "am in a good place," my two friends say I am not allowed to complain about anything anymore. My stuff pales in comparison, supposedly.

Well you two, if you are listening, you should know... that's crap! :-P

(Well one of you really, and most likely the one who doesn't have the time to read this...) And, I personally think that because I have taken some initiative, it gives me the right to complain about the stuff that is out of my hands. And it's all relative, right?

Do what you need to do. Get Happy. Life's short, and all that junk.

You have 37 days to prepare still, and I am not going to let down.

My still to-do's in 2006...

Clean out - work, home, closet, shoes...
Simplify
Prepare to sell a house, or preferably two...
Revive fitness plan
Get back to WW
Figure out what my title is and postition consists of, really
Appreciate what I have
Make/Get Christmas gifts that I didn't get at Kohls this AM... (Yes, I was one of them out at 6AM - - - and be sure to ask me how to beat the system!)
Get more sleep
Take deep breaths
Make more friends
Hang out with my good old friends
Fix the mailbox
Be nicer
Nag my friends to get happy
Play more
Watch the Bengals win out

And that may be all... I think. For now, at least.

Power lines...

2006-11-15T20:52:00.000-05:00

So, a quick entertaining story...

Niece #1 was "dancing" for us after dinner at my sister's house tonight. Niece #2 was lounging on the couch watching and laughing at niece #1's "dancing" and acting totally looney. All of a sudden, out of nowhere... niece #2 looks at niece #1 and says, "Were you born near power lines?" Ha!

She just turned 5... so I couldn't help but lose it. Ahh the antics of youth. I can only wonder where she heard that, but it made me laugh!

Power lines... who'd a thunk it.

Ughhh...

2006-11-12T20:46:00.000-05:00

4-5? REALLY?

I don't even want to talk about it, nor do I have any idea what to say about today's loss.

So, my official Bengals blog is:

"no comment."

Halloween photos... as promised...

2006-11-10T21:06:00.000-05:00

Trick or Treat?

(Just click the "view slideshow" button on the link.)

And boys... tell me how sweet the Chad pumpkin is!?!?

My how time flies, when you don't have any time...

2006-11-09T22:42:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone.

I am officially a slacker, and I am sorry! It's been a crazy few weeks, and a lot has happened. Let's catch up...

I was a little burnt out and VERY tired.
I applied for a new job.
I played bingo and won 100 bucks. BONUS: It was in a firemen's hall.
The Bengals lost.
I got the new job.
I accepted the new job.
I resigned my current position.
Within hours, rumors flew around work.
My niece turned 5!
I took Halloween off to carve pumpkins. They were sweet. (Pictures to come)
I cooked and ate pumpkin seeds. They were good.
I VOTED absentee!
We went out to dinner for my sister's 35th and Mom's 60th birthdays.
I flew to Boston for a conference.
I attended the conference and learned stuff.
I was given the opportunity to be reassigned in my current company.
Within hours, rumors AGAIN flew around work.
I did a lot of thinking.
I had a shaving accident and am missing part of my fingernail.
I kicked the bed accidentally in my hotel room and put a huge bruise and hole in my leg. It hurt, and was unrelated to each of the job opportunities, the conference and the shaving accident.
The Bengals lost again! (I was in my Housh jersey making friends in the Marriott lobby.)
I took that UNBELIEVABLE opportunity from my current employer. More rumors.
I had to decline the other job, which sucked, because the goal was never to make anyone upset about anything.
Election day: Ohio voted NO on 4, and YES on 5! THANKS to everyone who voted, and listened to my rants and raves. Bartenders everywhere will live longer healthier lives. Sorry to JJ and P&G, as Febreeze sales will most likely go down.
I made a stop at H&M. (I love that place!)
I flew home, after delay after delay.
I took two days off, and here I am, at the end of the first of those two days!

So, that is the quick version. More to come, with pictures and details... but I thought I'd catch everyone up, and maybe pique some interest first! ;)

Hope everyone else is hanging in there!

OHIOANS: PLEASE VOTE "NO" on ISSUE 4...

2006-10-16T20:14:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I don't often do this, especially when it comes to politics, but this whole Issue 4 thing pisses me off. It isn't because it's about tobacco either. It's because the public is totally being played.

Please read this, VOTE, and tell your friends. It's important info that no one else is telling you.

What is ISSUE 4?
It’s the tobacco company’s conniving at its finest. If you think that companies shouldn’t be rewarded for manipulating voters...

VOTE NO on Issue 4!

How it got on the ballot?
Tobacco Companies paid people to stand on street corners and get signatures on a petition. Ohioans signed petitions because they were told that they were signing a petition to get a Clean Indoor Air initiative put on the ballot. I personally know four people who signed it thinking they were going to help make Ohio smokefree. When they later learned what they really signed, they we outraged

What will it really do?

OVERRIDE any local Clean Indoor Air policy that was previously established via a legitimate vote. (Columbus is now a smokefree city because the voters wanted it that way. Why do I, as a Cincinnatian, have ANY right to help pass a constitutional amendment that will negate a Columbus local CIA policy? There are over 21 cities that have passed full smokefree policies that this will nullify. Similarly, if both 4 and 5 pass, 4 will override 5!
Create a constitutional amendment that will ALLOW smoking in adult establishments.
Make it virtually impossible for Ohioans to change their mind, as Issue 4 amends our Constitution.
Allow restaurants to maintain smoking sections, where young children can still be affected by SHS.
Confuse voters!

Who supports issue four?
According to smokelessohio.org (clever, eh?), Issue 4 is supported almost all by people afraid to lose money because of a ban. It's supported by those who could care less about the health of the 78.5% of Ohioans who choose to not smoke (Yes, that's 4 NON-smokers for every smoker in OHIO). A few of the supporters (mostly tobacco companies) are listed below:

Cigar Association of America
Lorillard Tobacco Company
National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Inc.
The Ohio Licensed Beverage Association
Retail Tobacco Dealers Association
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Swisher International (Tobacco Company)

How does Smokelessohio.org spin it? Here is what they say...

Q: Why are there two smoking bans on the ballot?

A: There is a strong consensus among Ohioans that some type of smoking ban is needed to protect people from unwanted exposure to tobacco smoke. But there are different opinions on how to do it. One is the more radical choice: a no-exceptions approach that bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces. That’s Issue 5. The alternative is Issue 4, which seeks to balance protection for public health with protection against overly intrusive government. Issue 4 is a fair and balanced approach that everyone can agree on.

OK, so is Issue 4 really the fair, balanced approach to smokefree laws? Not even close! It’s the tobacco companies working hard to manipulate the public even more. I support Issue 5, but that is just my choice. If you don’t want a full smoking ban, that is your choice... but then you should vote NO on both 4 and 5.

A “NO” vote on 4 shows the tobacco companies we aren't as dumb as they think we are,and lets them know we are tired of their lies and deceit.

For more information, and to make a truly educated choice - - - compare for yourself!

Issue 5 support (www.smokefreeohio.org)
Issue 4 support (www.smokelessohio.org)

Again, thanks for listening, and if you agree at all PLEASE tell someone (anyone) you know!

The final countdown

2006-10-04T21:42:00.000-04:00

46 days... just a reminder!

Get doing what you need to do to be happy in 07.

Bengals... poor Bengals.

2006-10-04T20:31:00.000-04:00

Our boys let us down this past weekend. They LET the Pats win. The Pats played well, but they didn't actually BEAT us. The Bengals gave it away. They gave them turnovers, 3 bizillion penalties for like 4 bizillon yards, and fieldgoals on the first two drives was unacceptable.

Yes, Dan, the Bengals offensive line sucked it up last week, too. But if CP needs to keep getting hit in order to learn how to NOT fumble, then let him get hit. We left the game before the final faux-pauxs, because i couldn't stand seeing him get hit that hard with 3 minutes left and us down 4 TDs.

Along with the Offensive line and CP's issues, there was the fact that every Patriot WR or RB could pull a "# 85," and do a list of Bengals who couldn't cover them, stop them, take them down, or block them.

We looked bad boys, but I have faith. I want to say "we needed that loss." It was what we had to do and learn from to get here:

Over for another year...

2006-10-04T19:50:00.000-04:00

So, in case you didn't know... I am not very fond of "review time" at work. I dread it actually. And not just a little, but a lot. In fact, for the whole month or two prior to the review. Every September / October, I freak out when I see my two bosses go into a room together. I bite my nails incessantly. The week before, I can often be found whining and moaning. That day, I count the minutes 'til it starts, and I sit in there, begging to change the subject or for it all to be over. Fortunately, for this year, it is OVER.

Yesterday was my review. It went fine. Basically, I was told my self-evaluation was accurate.

So why do I hate it so much? I don't take compliments well. I never have. They make me feel all awkward, and somehow more self-conscious than when I started. Nor do I like to hear what I suck at, especially when they are totally subconscious things that you now need to freak out about and pay attention to. It also doesn't matter if it is 99% good and 1% bad or 99% bad and 1% good... you always focus on the "Work-Ons".

Ughh... Anyway, it's over. I got this year's raise. I guess life is good, for now... until next September/October, when I better have fixed all those "work-ons."

Like I could let this go without saying...

2006-09-24T23:14:00.000-04:00

WHODEY? WHODEY THINK GONNA BEAT 'DEM BENGALS?

That's right... NOT the 2006 Superbowl "only-won-by-hurting-your-best player" Chumps. It was u.g.l.y., but we'll take it! NEXT? N.E.

Every week B105 does a Bengals song... Take a listen.

"Let's take it Away"

I'll be sure to share next weeks song too
and just in case you missed them,
here are Week One and Week Two!

Dream Big...

2006-09-24T22:46:00.000-04:00

When you cry be sure to dry your eyes, 
cause better days are sure to come.
And when you smile be sure to smile wide, 
and don't let them know that they have one.
And when you walk, walk with pride, 
and don't show the hurt inside, 
because the pain sill soon be gone. 
And when you dream, dream big, as big as the ocean blue. 
Cause when you dream it might come true. 
When you dream, dream big
And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud, 
cause it will carry all your cares away. 
And when you see, see the beauty 
all around and in yourself, and it will help you feel okay. 
And when you pray, pray for strength
to help to carry on when the troubles come your way. 


And when you dream, dream big, as big as the ocean blue. 
Cause when you dream it might come true. 
When you dream, dream big


When you cry be sure to dry your eyes, 
cause better days are sure to come.
And when you smile be sure to smile wide, and
don't let them know that they have one.
And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud,
cause it will carry all your cares away. 
And when you see, see the beauty all
around and in yourself, and it will help you feel okay. 
And when you pray, pray for strength to 
help to carry on when the troubles come your way. 


And when you dream, dream big, as big as the ocean blue. 
Cause when you dream it might come true. 
When you dream, dream big. (Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand)


98 days... Keep planning!

2007 - The Year of Happy!

2006-09-18T21:43:00.000-04:00

Ok folks, this is my warning... BE PREPARED!

104 days until 2007 - The official "Year of Happy"

It may also be the "Year of the Rooster," the "Year of the Fire Dog," or some sites say the "Year of the Corporate Blog," but to us it shall from this point forward be the official
"Year of Happy."

"What the heck is Tina talking about?" you ask. Well, while hanging with a few friends (that shall remain nameless) after the Bengals Game yesterday, I decided I was tired of the lack of "happy" in our lives.

The last few times I have been out with friends, or talking with friends at work, on the phone, or at the bar - we have been complaining about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. It is usually one of the following

"I can't find a guy/girl I like..."

"I wish I could just move to New York, Chicago, San Diego..."

"I need to get a new job..."

"I want to buy a house..."

"I don't make enough money..."

"I want my diet to work..."

"I want this..."

"I need that..."

"I wish this..."

& SOMEDAY this, someday that, someday when I...

Well, how about NOW this, NOW that, and NOW when I...? Can't make all the decisions to work toward happiness today? That is okay! You have 104 days, and counting! If you can start now - jump right in, but this is an ALL OUT CHALLENGE to each and every one of my friends. We need to be happy and not just say we are happy... totally, legitimately be happy!

You may think this is a load of crap, but I am being completely serious. Take the next 104 days to think about it. Maybe it's as simple as telling yourself that you are going to start reading again. Maybe it's about going out more. Maybe it's about priorities, but if it will make you happy plan for it, and DO IT in 2007!

I want this to be your pledge card! If you are in. Comment in the blog. I want my friends happy... so take the challenge! Good Luck Folks...

I am in.
I have 104 days to figure out what will change for '07. I am sure I need each and every one!

How can 2007 be anything BUT the "Year of Happy," when 2006 will end with the Bengals kicking the Steelers up and down the field?

Things I learned from Def Leppard and Journey...

2006-09-13T22:46:00.000-04:00

1. Journey's "fake" lead singer didn't even look like he was born back when they first started touring. Something about that seems "wrong."

2. He also had REALLY bad rocker moves... I mean REALLY bad! And, he wasn't even Steve Perry's replacement. He was the BACK-UP for his replacement. If you are going to pay to see people in concert, they should, in fact, be those people.

3. I am not a rocker. My boss is a rocker. See below.

4. Anyone can play the "air guitar," even if they don't know how to play a real one.

5. A large contingency of lesbians in Columbus find Journey and Def Leppard to be fine entertainment for a Sunday night.

6. Journey is eons better than Def Leppard. (Duh people.)

7. Pictures of drunk coworkers are always funny.

8. Iron Maiden vests are totally HOTT!

9. People still buy band t-shirts and paraphanalia. The lines are forever long. Who knew? I mean who could pass up those band-branded bedazzled thongs! (Please note: the majority of the audience members should never be wearing or seen in a thong.)

10. Journey took the idea of "Hold(ing) onto that feeling" too far by trying to come up with new music these days.

11. One-armed drummers are very impressive!

12. People watching at hair-band concerts is good freaking stuff!

The end.

My nephew is too cute!

2006-09-11T19:13:00.000-04:00

He thought Piglet was the tastiest, funniest thing ever! Check him out.

Laughing Nick

Vegas it is...

2006-09-09T09:44:00.000-04:00

Well, apparently the natives (aka Mr. Morris) are restless, so I need to write something. In honor of Mr. Morris and his recent trip to my Mecca, I will right a top ten of the best things about Vegas.

1. Gambling - I can put money down on everything from War to Poker to BJ to the Bengals winning the AFC. Gotta love that.

2. What happens in Vegas, STAYS in Vegas - And the fact that the entire city has this mentality.

3. 24-hour days - Nowhere else really believes that there are 24 hours in a day and we need to use all of them.

4. Being the chip leader at the end of round one in the poker tourney at the Sahara - Men hate losing to a girl.

5. Cheap gambling - You can spend 1 dollar on stuff, rather than 15 or 20 at the boats, so when you are having a bad day, you can still afford to have fun.

6. Free drinks - Again, 24 hours a day.

7. Men - The city is full of them, and they are usually drunk, carrying cash and being stupid.

8. 21-and-over - Kids, get out of here. They are at the pool, and standing in front of the Mirage for the volcano Eruption or the Pirate fight. Other than that, we are GOOD TO GO.

9. The weather - Hello, hot and dry - and you can lay out and tan during the day as your "sleep" time

10. "Escort Collector Cards" - The dudes and chicks on the street, who tend to all be of latino decent, that pass out the trading cards for all the escorts in the city. It's all about the "Slap, slap, here's a card" to get you attention. My friend collected them to see how many different cards he could get. (If you have been there, you know EXACTLY what I mean.)

DAMN, now I want to go back - - - mostly because of 1-9 though.

Boom, Boom, Boom! (Let's go back to my room...)

2006-09-04T19:35:00.000-04:00

WEBN, year XXX as they PROUDLY displayed in fireworks on the bridge... sickos.

Well, I got 4 passes to watch the fireworks from the top of my building. It was really a good time! Next year, we will remember to get the seats right by the ledge, so all the tall people in front of me don't block my view - shortness sucks! And, we'll wait until all the traffic is gone to try and leave.

I decided since Donnie was nice enough to invite me to Indy, I'd be nice enough to invite them to the roof with me. We played cards, and Donnie's buddy Ben kept winning which probably explains the grin on his face. He is a bossy "president," and I still say waterfalls aren't fair when you are the only one drinking vodka, and you are last!

Anyway... Here are Keri and I again (this time with curly hair...)

And here are some fireworks...

And here is the best picture from last night, taken, of course, by yours truly!

Sweet!!!

Perfect in the PreSeason

2006-09-02T16:14:00.000-04:00

For the guys or girls who actually care about the game...

So the RCA Dome was interesting... 1. Because it was a dome; 2. Because they made me throw away my good luck Bengals beads before we went in, which SUCKED; and 3. Because it's a whole new ballgame watching on someone else's turf. (Ha, ha. That is actually funny because they are one of the only teams left with astroturf.)

Decent seats (where you could see everything) and good company (see below) made for good times. However, the lack of time by 1st stringers is disappointing - even though it was the last PreSeason game and was to-be-expected. I was highly impressed by our depth, even being able to toss in a couple of those "lesser-known Johnsons" in the second half. (Really, I just like saying lesser-known-Johnsons.) Our new back-up running back Quincy Wilson looked pretty good, even though it was against a 3rd string Dee. He shows real promise.

I also got my new "Whosyourmama" jersey, which is super sweet. Now when someone asks, "Whose got the Housh?," I can say, "I do." (Ok, I am lame... but check it out!)

Since the girls cared less about what I wrote above, this may be "more interesting" stuff...

I decided it was a good idea to fill a waterbottle halfway with the Goose and drink it ALL between the car and the stadium - which was all of two blocks. Apparently when noone else is doing it with me, it isn't the greatest idea - especially as an opposing team's fan. You are trashed and they aren't. Here are picture of the people I was with. OBVIOUSLY, they aren't trashed. Suckers.

From R to L, Keri, Donnie and Tommy - who, as QB lead his team to a league win and won offensive player of the year for the Odessa, TX Roughneckers IFL team. He never really likes smiling for the camera - the punkass. But QBs have hot arms and... and... everything else though, so it's okay.

Good times were had by all! The END - until game ONE next week! Whodey?

So excited I may burst...

2006-08-30T22:51:00.000-04:00

Bengals in Indy, with ME on the sidelines... WOOHOO! Sorry folks, but Keri and Donnie are my favorites for getting me a ticket and bringing a hot boy to the game with us! I will start taking bribes from anyone who wants to be my favortie from here on out. That is all.

I hope there is much to report on Saturday after the big game. Ciao

A little commentary on life...

2006-08-30T09:36:00.000-04:00

Those ridiculously awful foster so-called "parents" that killed that little boy need to be tortured in an even worse way than little Marcus. Wrap them in a blanket tape it shut throw them in a closet in 105 degree weather and in about three days set it on fire. THEN throw them in jail. And not a cable TV, workout room, friendly kind of jail. Throw them in solitary confinement kind of torturous jail, and let them rest there in the heat like little Marcus until the day they die. Unbelievable and totally out of the realm of my understanding. The poor kid had more pain and torture than any human let alone a three year old deserved to know in their short lifetime. It makes me sick. The foster system is broke. The legal system is broke, because these people deserve worse than Marcus got! Like my boss, I agree I want to be a foster mom, so that I know for sure that at least one little kid is saved from this happening to them.

71 hours 'til Palmer time....

2006-08-25T21:32:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, yes. Carson Palmer. Could I be looking more forward to Monday's game? Probably not. So there are two days every year I take off religiously to spend with the fam. One is the day my Brother died (which is also my dad's birthday) and the other is the day my dad passed away. We do the family thing, hit mass and head to the cemetery, etc.

Well Monday is three years for my dad, and so I am off (except for an 8:30 Client meeting). Which means I have all day to hang out and prepare for the big game. I am "rather" excited. Just enough time to prepare for the insane cheers and yells for Carson's first TD pass of 2006 and for the gasps and boos that will be associated with his first sack. Monday will tell us a lot... and I, for one, and PUMPED! You should be too, or at least you can pretend for my sake! :)

It's been a long week. Two trips to Cbus, a couple late night and even more early mornings, add those to bad allergies and a sinus infection with headache... you have Tina tonight, so I think it's bedtime!

Ciao folks. If only to appease me, be sure to practice your "Who Deys."

So cute that I had to share

2006-08-20T23:41:00.000-04:00

Check out how cute my pics are!

Tina's pics

Oh to be young and dumb...

2006-08-19T10:43:00.000-04:00

So, I was simply doing my civic/religious duty, (and thought it was a good way to enjoy cards and not actually SPEND money) when I volunteered to deal Poker and/or blackjack at the SMS festival.

Life was going well, because I was drinking free beer and no one wanted to play poker, so no one was at my table and I could hold a "catch-up" conversation with an old grade school friend... when a group of yungins came along.

So I changed my table to blackjack for the 6 of them. It was all going along swimmingly, when they decided they loved me and I was the best dealer ever... and one nice little drinking-age boy looked at me and said "Do you have a younger sister...?" WAIT... WAIT... "I have a friend that looks just like you."

So the bitter 2-8 year old looked at the little bastard and said "So what are you trying to say...? I mean how old do you think I am!" and went off on the innocent little guy who was just trying to be nice.

He, in fact was 2-3, and had every right to see if I had a younger sister, because I am obviously too distinguished to be 2-3, right? So, maybe my freak-out was unnecessary.. BUT I am sensitive lately, right?

SO, just a few simple lessons to boys & men-like creatures everywhere... one from last night, and a couple more I have been meaning to get off my chest...

1. The "right" way to go about this conversation would be as follows (a much safer approach):
"You look really familiar, do you have brothers or sisters?"
When I say, "yes, both older..."
He says "I just must have seen you around then" or "Actually, I think you look a lot like one of my good friends."

2. One of my pet peeves, as it is with many women I know, is being told "You look really cute today," because it insinuates, no it actually MEANS, "you normally don't look near as cute as you do today and you should really try harder on a regular basis."

3. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you are NOT going to do it, don't say you will. Think FRIENDS, when Chandler says "This has been great. I'll call you and we can do it again sometime!" It can be as little as calling or sending an e-mail or anything else you actually committ to by saying "I am going to..." followed by the act you never actually intend to follow through on. The minute you don't do it, you become a liar. And when you do it ALL THE TIME, you are a compulsive liar. Ever heard the phrase "underpromise and overdeliver."?

4. Don't be douchebags.

5. Tell the truth and don't cheat.

That is all for today.

Who Dey tonight?

2006-08-18T12:28:00.000-04:00

And, oh yea...

2006-08-16T22:25:00.000-04:00

Can I get a WHO DEY?

Real Tears

2006-08-16T22:09:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I won't lie. I cried all the way to work this morning thinking I should be in Anderson township searching for the little 3 year old autistic boy who went missing, rather than going to work.

real tears

Then after not wanting to be at work, and yesterday being a cranky day... today continued that way, until I went overboard and was angry, mean and inappropriate during a meeting. When I got called out on it. I cried.

real tears

Fifteen years ago, I as the girl who "lived life to the fullest and had no regrets" and I was damn proud of it. And now, I, and most of the people I know, aren't happy with not just something, not just a couple things, but MOST of the very important things in our lives. Why is that? Why do we let ourselves do this and feel this way and become these people we don't want to be? And why can't we find a way out? And why can't we just stop habits we don't like and start one we want to start?

Why do I, more than anything in the world, hate review time at work? I am good at what I do - really good, actually. Since when do my people skills suck? Why am I more nervous about any negative stuff or "improve ons" more than I am content with my successes? It's unhealthy. I need a shrink. No offense doc, but the couch and stuff might actually all be necessary at this point. The virtual venue may no longer be working.. ya think?

10 hours and 35 minutes 'til kickoff!!!

2006-08-13T09:23:00.000-04:00

But who(DEY) is counting?

Obviously I AM! I can't believe it is football season already. In a previous blog I have discussed how insane it is that our parents were right about time passing too quickly as you got older. So I won't do it again, but I swear it's still like February 2004.

OK, so you will find it interesting to learn that I am planning on being handy this week! p-hahahaha. I am buying a new mailbox and pole, and then I am going to put it in. Ours is standing by approximately one splinter and the mailbox part of it is broken too - our poor mailman. AND I want to put a curtain up on the window in my room, which I think involves screws and drilling or something. We'll see. I may be better off calling "landlord" over for the drilling. :) jk

This coming weekend is the infamous St. Mary festival... prepare for the drunken-ness, and I am sure a few good blogs on "I can't believe they wore that" which in Hyde Park will probably be about Crocs, "I won/lost at poker," and all the other tales that will come from the evenings! (You shoud all come!)

And, just in case anyone wasn't counting - 7 days til MM is old like everyone else.

That is all.

Let's talk randomly...

2006-08-11T12:04:00.000-04:00

The Bengals...
WHODEY! First pre-season game is this weekend. Everyone get pumped! Football is one of the greatest things ever, and it's on the horizon.

Today's SmartBrief QOTD...
A great many people think that polysyllables are a sign of intelligence.
- - Barbara Walters, American journalist

Tina's NOTE to the QOTD...
I agree. Large words rock.

Birthday Fun...
The birthday weekend went really well, and I can't think of how my day itself could have gone better. A Monday morning without a 9 AM may have helped, but it will do.

This Monday...
I am off work.. WOOHOO. Football game on Sunday night and a massage on Monday AM. Gotta love gift certificates.

England...
So, my mom is in England and I guarantee she is freaking out right about now. My take? Well I would MUCH rather fly under a high alert than under the slipping security that I had on my way to DC two weeks back.

Boston...
Speaking of travelling, I am heading to Boston in November for a week-long conference. I need someone to hang out with while I am there... so who wants to come?

The Reds...
So Ryan Freel is the Reds' MVP this year. He is amazing. How can a utility player make insane plays like he does in every position on the filed, steal 4 b-zillion bases and bat over 300? He is pretty amazing. And I love the support the Reds got this week. The packed houses were so nice to watch and to be a part of.

Work...
Is what it is - long, busy and tiring.

This coming weekend...
Lame, apparently. Since everyone seems to have plans already! boooooo...

OK, That is all for now. (Does it make you all happy?) ;)

Queen of all things bitter...

2006-07-31T21:22:00.000-04:00

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.

Not really sure what to write today

2006-07-26T21:21:00.000-04:00

... 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.

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.

2006-07-22T19:00:00.000-04:00

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 elementary 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...

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.
Loafers without socks - Are you on a boat in Dock shoes? Then, I MAY excuse it.
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.
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.
Sandals with socks - Enough said.
Stomachs at work - They should be covered, simple as that. Unless you are a model at a photo shoot.
Black nail polish - It isn't 7th grade anymore.
Anything that "magnifies rollage" - Know your size, and wear it.
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.

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.

This tiredness is OOC.

2006-07-20T18:41:00.000-04:00

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.

QOTD

2006-07-19T11:53:00.001-04:00

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

Ahh yes...

2006-07-17T21:57:00.000-04:00

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.

2006-07-13T21:51:00.000-04:00

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...

2006-07-11T22:42:00.000-04:00

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.

2006-07-10T23:00:00.000-04:00

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.

2006-07-06T14:53:00.000-04:00

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

CRAZY NEWS!!!

2006-07-05T23:12:00.000-04:00

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!

2006-06-28T13:34:00.000-04:00

Well, I am highly proud of myself... Today at lunch, I did a 20 minute Core workout on a ball and then went for a 40-minute walk. Go me. Except the problem was, It's 90 degree and started to rain on me.

The whole timing thing of working out during work is awesome, but the realities of sweating, getting rained on and then cramping yourself back up at your desk isn't so much my ideal.

Well, that is all by my innate tiredness from the meetings WAY too early in the AM the last two days and my racing mind that keeps me from sleeping at night.

Maybe I will fall asleep without effort tonight... or maybe I will crash right around 2:30... I guess this is yet to be determined...

Until later...

2006-06-26T19:45:00.000-04:00

Gee thanks all of you... and I have no one to tag... boohoohoo...

Four Jobs I have had in my life:
Advetising Exec
Graphic Designer
Babysitter
Day Care Counselor

Four movies I watch over and over again:
Princess Bride
West Wing Early Season DVDs
Anything cheesy romantic comedy
Anything on Lifetime I get sucked into

Four Places I have lived:
Cincinnati (Hyde Park)
Pittsburgh
Columbus
Cincinnati (Anderson)

Shows I love to watch:
Gray's Anatomy (Best show on TV, HANDS DOWN!)
Housewives
American Idol
The Closer (TNT - really good!)

4 Places I have been on Vacation:
Carribean (Cayman Island, Paradise Island, Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. Croix, San Juan, etc.)
Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic
Las Vegas
Florida (all over) / Hilton Head

4 Websites I visit daily:
aol.com
myspace.com
google.com
blogspot, now apparently

4 of my Favorite Foods:
Mixed Vegetables (Indian)
Pizza
Pasta
Goat Cheese
Spices (curry, basil, fresh ground pepper, etc...)

4 Places I would Rather Be Right Now:
A beach
A hammock
In bed (alone/asleep)
In bed (not alone/not asleep)

4 Favorite Bands/Singers:
(Currently)
Ryan Shupe Band
Old Crow Medicine Show
Guster
John Mayer
Jack Johnson

4 Bloggers I am Tagging:
Person I don't know #1
Person I don't know #2
Person I don't know #3
Person I don't know #4

2006-06-26T11:51:00.000-04:00

Ughhh... I really wish there would be day sometime soon, where I wake up on the "right" side of the bed - which for me would be the left side if you want to get technical. Lately, I have been very cranky. I can't help it. And then, typically, my day gets worse as it goes on. Until I collapse in that same bed, enterting from the right side, and not getting enough sleep.

I always get out of bed on the right side, because the left side is not near the door. I think tomorrow, i am getting out on the left side... just to change it up.

I think I am going to spend lunch working out too... because there isn't any other time to do it! We'll see how that works out for me.

2006-06-25T11:15:00.000-04:00

It's 11:11, so make a wish... I wonder if anyone can guess what I would wish for? I think it would be energy... is that vitamins? or protein...? I should probably look into it.

Does anyone else feel intimidated by the "make a wish?" Pretend it's your birthday and it is the only time during the year when your wish matters. PICK ONE, and blow out the candles. THINK NOW, DO IT, EVERYONE IS WATCHING, AND THE CAKE IS GETTING WAX ON IT!

That is intimidating. So are the 11:11 wishes. It always takes me until 11:12 to make the wish because I can't decide what to wish for. Then it's after the fact and a moot point. Am I conceited if I wish for something for me? Should I wish for world peace? What about for the sick people? Or for my family and friends, instead of me.

Call it Catholic guilt, but I always feel bad asking for stuff for me in those wishes. Well, birthdays are your own personal holidays, so that is okay, but you better make it good and plan ahead so that you get your one wish for the year right!

Ok, I think I have officially lost it. Someday I'll learn it is okay to think about me. I mean its not like these wishes even come true. If they did, I would have a pony and lots of money and be skinny by now. Unfortunately, that is NOT what the realities are.

So why do I bother stressing over dumb stuff... because it's what I do. Anyone have the cure?

2006-06-24T20:21:00.000-04:00

Well, I am not sure why I am writing this... but here I am. This blog is entitled "Molly made me do it," because I am blaming her for my wasting time to do this. ;-)

So what do I talk about on here? Blank pages always make made me nervous, which sucked since I spent so much time as an "artist" and now do a whole lot of writing. Well, I think I will talk about June. It's supposed to be a good month... summer has begun, the sun is out, we all look better with a nice glow, days are longer, people are nicer... but for me June is always a nightmare.

Let's begin at work...
It's the end of fiscal, which means I spend a good two weeks in front of spreadsheets and multi-million dollar budgets making sure we spent all the money we were supposed to spend in appropriate ways, only to also make sure that my other accounts are not neglected and nothing falls through the cracks in the meantime. (PS, Molly doesn't know what as spreadsheet is, and I hate her for that!) Somehow, every year, we end up shooting an outdoor TV spot in 90+ degree weather with humidity out the wazoo. And you have no idea how to dress for work, because the inside temperature is like .3 degrees in an attempt to keep us all awake from our pathetic desire to be outside rather than facing a computer in our cubes. And this week, I couldn't do ANYTHING right. And, I don't leave work in time to do anything after work, so the so-called "summer sun" is wasted on me. Our company gave us one good thing this week. June 3rd is a free off day. It is very nice of them, but notice the four day weekend is AFTER June ends... go figure!

So, outside of work...
Well, I spend every minute of late May/June doing something EVERY year and it drives me INSANE. Weddings, graduations, birthdays, baby showers, parties, softball games, and "fun." When do I get to relax and figure out who I am, who I want to be, and what I want to do again? And when do I get to actually do the stuff I was thinking I wanted to do? And when do I get to actually get this house in working order so we can move out of it? Most importantly, when do i just get to workout, grocery shop, and sleep? Not to mention, there's father's day, memorial day, AND Dad's birthday/Eddie's anniversary ALL this month. I mean come on... I think I am going to just hide out in the Cayman Islands all next June, preferably lounging and sleeping in a hammock and scuba diving all day long... drinking fruity drinks with umbrellas - LOTS of them... oh and eating RUM CAKE.

So, I also have been trying to make it to my Godson's baseball games for weeks, but haven't even been able to call Stacey back. I am a jerk. i know. This is my first "FREE" weekend. And by "FREE," I truly mean first weekend where I don't have anything scheduled - though the last 4-5 I have had 2-3 "big" things a day. I had invites this weekend, but I just couldn't do it. I needed to do laundry and sleep. Oh, and make a path on the floor in my room of all the clean clothes in baskets, so I could get to my bed from the last chance I had to do laundry. YES, I know, I DO have too many clothes.

OK, enough, for now. Molly is right. This helps to "talk" to a blank page. Especially when you are as cranky and bitter as I am right now. Which, by the way, is NOT who I am. Just ask anyone who knows me. I'm the "live for today" kind of girl... and I guess today, I get to live the way I wanted. So I folded towels, mated socks, took two naps, and started a blog. To me, today was exactly what it was supposed to be... I guess.