WHITE NOISE.
Recap.
Have I mentioned my throat is kind of sore?
I don't think I've been especially healthy since I started working.
Night six!
Candace and her real/fake breasts was sent home.
Erinn is stunned.
Tell me who Erinn is?
Coach is insulted, but I don't understand why.
Credits!
The next morning, people on the black tribe are sick and disillusioned.
I, meanwhile, fear that this is the episode wherein I listen to people talktalktalk as characters are developed. It's Jerry who has stomach issues. He's tough - but it's wearing on him. "Mother said there'd be days like this."
The red tribe is fishing, but they aren't very successful. We think they NEED TO MOVE TO DEEP WATER. They can't hear us. They do better with rods and have a barbecue.
The fish "tasted like victory."
C'MON IN GUYS. It's time for a challenge. Six members, blindfolded, will be guided to a water tower, then a corn tower to collect each and fill buckets. What they win is inconsequential - tarps? Never mind, blindfolds are interesting. Oh, the frustration! The black team is BLIND(folded). Which way is left? The red team does pretty well...and they win the water part of the challenge. The black team is "really blowing this challenge."
Red win. They send Brendan to Exile. He chooses Taj to go with him.
Spencer (special note to Dan) is not surprised.
The black team feel humiliated. Coach is suffering. From the humiliation. He feels people are panicking in the challenges. He wants Erinn out immediately. (Apparently, it is important to clean your teeth with a stick when you are on Survivor.) And who IS this guy who is Coach's assistant coach?
The red team is very pleased with themselves. Joe is thrilled. I'm thrilled that I know Joe's name.
Is Spencer walking around with a plate of fries?
They put the tarp they've won over their shelter just in time for a rain storm.
The black team is getting wetwetwet.
On Exile/at Exile, Brendan and Taj get another clue regarding the idol. I LOVE the place where Exile is. Gorgeous desert. They discuss where the idol is and come up with a plan and work together on who will go home from each of their teams. An interesting dynamic is built between these two opposing team members. It's a brilliant twist on the usual plot - having opposing team members go to exile together.
By the time we get to 8:32, I'm bored.
The red team has slept well as they have shelter...
Challenge number two: roll a giant crate to stack a staircase and spell the tribe name. I know it doesn't sound difficult, and it may not be. Is the thrill in the race? The awkwardness of rolling giant cubes? Beats me. Hmmm, maybe the cubes are heavy? Oh - getting the cubes to spell the name of the tribe is tricky. They need to build steps AND spell the name of the tribe.
The black tribe has some difficulty spelling. (Not that I even KNOW the names of the tribes.)
Suddenly, just as I'm talking to Middle about the beauty of Wheat Thins, Jalapo/Jalapeno/the red tribe win.
Boo hoo, the black team go to tribal.
Jerry feels it's his fault because he's WEAK. He's sure the tribe will vote him off...but, will they?
Back at camp, Jerry is sick as a dog. (How sick ARE dogs anyway?) Aren't we surprised at how the mighty have fallen? I am - I don't know about YOU. Everyone else is waist deep in water, discussing where they went wrong. Erinn decides Jerry must go and Coach is insulted again. Dyson? Is that the blond guy's name?
Coach is infuriated, but Sierra will not deviate from her vote for Jerry. Dyson (if that's his name) tries to support coach and tells him that no one is talking about voting him out.
Brendan goes to look for the idol...and finds it. He hides it and returns to camp.
Will they vote Jerry out? What about Erinn? Oh! The blond guy is TYSON. (Shut up.)
The black team discuss who should lead and who shouldn't. Coach does some talking. It doesn't go well. Erinn and he have a little set-to. Is Coach passive-aggressive? Looks like.
Jerry? Erinn? COACH?
Who goes?
Jerry.
Damn it.
Erinn looks smug.
I'm not happy.
Well, if there's one thing tonight's vote taught us: being sick sucks.
Tuesday Wednesday
It’s Fat Tuesday! a woman in my office proclaimed as she put a big bag of chips on the conference table.
I’d been invited to order lunch with a group of women at the office and was pleased to be there.
I wasn't the newest hiree in the bunch either and that made me happy. The newbie and I talked a bit about that hesitation in our movements the first few days at the job – how it governed everything we did. We are glad to be done with that stage.
Fat Tuesday, it turned out, kicked my ass. K’s too. He got called onto a project late in the morning and took the scooter to the station (no parking for cars available after 7:30am) in 28 degrees. From there he worked until well past 11pm. His office had a Fat Tuesday garage sale and sold televisions and old Macs and shelving. Nothing went for more than $20. For a while he sent me photos of the goods and I could hear his excitement as he tried to decide if we needed anything.
Since I hadn’t realized that it was Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday took my by surprise...but in a nice way. Each year I am startled, then humbled when I see people with ash on their heads.
I rode the train with K (back to regular hours) and we talked a bit and read a bit. When we got off the train I saw a group of men standing in a circle. One had cash in his hand (folding money). There were about six of them and they looked very serious about what they were doing, and were standing under a stairwell. They had their coats over their arms and their cases and bags were on the floor around them. A drug deal? Black market goods? A card game. They were finishing their hand. CARDS, I said, out loud when I realized and the fellow next to me said, oh, I've always wondered what those guys were up to!
The subway was packed tight. I had to wait for a train to pass to be able to get on one going downtown. The conductor of the train I tried to get on stuck her head out the window and shook it woefully. No room. No moving. A human side to mass transit.
Finally, I was rewarded. I got on a train and stood near a young woman with lovely perfume and a wonderful outfit punctuated by a fine line of golden sequins. You wouldn't think this would work on the train at eight in the morning, but it did.
At my stop I followed her off the train and up the stairs - I lost track of her in the blazing sunlight (suddenly, I need sunglasses in the morning) or I would have "blackbirded" her.
Down the block to my cafe - and I found myself on line behind a woman with a gorgeous pale grey coat. The back of it was beautifully punctuated by pleats and folds and a belt with large buttons. I admired it and noticed that the woman wearing it was using crutches and wearing one UGG boot and one man's sneaker. Yes, she said as I looked down, they call me Man Foot.
She said it so matter-of-factly and was non-plussed so I didn't think much of it.
I went back out into the sunshine and nearly walked into the father and son on the bicycle. The dad was walking the bike (with the little boy on it) up the street.
Suddenly, everything came full circle. The morning had a rhythm I hadn't seen before and I fell into step.
I'm always looking for omens and portents and signs and the signs of Ash Wednesday all pointed to yes.
I’d been invited to order lunch with a group of women at the office and was pleased to be there.
I wasn't the newest hiree in the bunch either and that made me happy. The newbie and I talked a bit about that hesitation in our movements the first few days at the job – how it governed everything we did. We are glad to be done with that stage.
Fat Tuesday, it turned out, kicked my ass. K’s too. He got called onto a project late in the morning and took the scooter to the station (no parking for cars available after 7:30am) in 28 degrees. From there he worked until well past 11pm. His office had a Fat Tuesday garage sale and sold televisions and old Macs and shelving. Nothing went for more than $20. For a while he sent me photos of the goods and I could hear his excitement as he tried to decide if we needed anything.
Since I hadn’t realized that it was Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday took my by surprise...but in a nice way. Each year I am startled, then humbled when I see people with ash on their heads.
I rode the train with K (back to regular hours) and we talked a bit and read a bit. When we got off the train I saw a group of men standing in a circle. One had cash in his hand (folding money). There were about six of them and they looked very serious about what they were doing, and were standing under a stairwell. They had their coats over their arms and their cases and bags were on the floor around them. A drug deal? Black market goods? A card game. They were finishing their hand. CARDS, I said, out loud when I realized and the fellow next to me said, oh, I've always wondered what those guys were up to!
The subway was packed tight. I had to wait for a train to pass to be able to get on one going downtown. The conductor of the train I tried to get on stuck her head out the window and shook it woefully. No room. No moving. A human side to mass transit.
Finally, I was rewarded. I got on a train and stood near a young woman with lovely perfume and a wonderful outfit punctuated by a fine line of golden sequins. You wouldn't think this would work on the train at eight in the morning, but it did.
At my stop I followed her off the train and up the stairs - I lost track of her in the blazing sunlight (suddenly, I need sunglasses in the morning) or I would have "blackbirded" her.
Down the block to my cafe - and I found myself on line behind a woman with a gorgeous pale grey coat. The back of it was beautifully punctuated by pleats and folds and a belt with large buttons. I admired it and noticed that the woman wearing it was using crutches and wearing one UGG boot and one man's sneaker. Yes, she said as I looked down, they call me Man Foot.
She said it so matter-of-factly and was non-plussed so I didn't think much of it.
I went back out into the sunshine and nearly walked into the father and son on the bicycle. The dad was walking the bike (with the little boy on it) up the street.
Suddenly, everything came full circle. The morning had a rhythm I hadn't seen before and I fell into step.
I'm always looking for omens and portents and signs and the signs of Ash Wednesday all pointed to yes.
okay, I'm going to get some Natural Instincts
Today I'm going to talk about Oscar De La Renta.
I told you that I waited up to see his runway show on television the other night.
It did not disappoint.
I had a great time watching it and wondering what kind of women wear his clothes, which are the ultimate in luxury.
(My photos on this post and the one about J. Mendel were lifted from Style.com and I invite you to go there and enjoy all of the wonderful things they've been posting about this past week.)
It may look like it's just a coat and boots - but you can be sure that the boots are the softest leather and that the fabric of the coat is indescribably lush.
Perhaps you'd like your coat a little more luxe?
Maybe you're in the mood for a cardi and skirt - for the office?
Beautiful, yes - and De La Renta can kick it up a notch.
But, to me, this isn't why you buy something that Oscar De La Renta has designed. The real reason to swoon is his evening wear...
...a little woozy...
- slightly out of breath.
Stunning.
And, what did this master of fashion say, when interviewed at the end of his show?
Every day I try to do my best.
How lovely is that?
I told you that I waited up to see his runway show on television the other night.
It did not disappoint.
I had a great time watching it and wondering what kind of women wear his clothes, which are the ultimate in luxury.
(My photos on this post and the one about J. Mendel were lifted from Style.com and I invite you to go there and enjoy all of the wonderful things they've been posting about this past week.)
It may look like it's just a coat and boots - but you can be sure that the boots are the softest leather and that the fabric of the coat is indescribably lush.
Perhaps you'd like your coat a little more luxe?
Maybe you're in the mood for a cardi and skirt - for the office?
Beautiful, yes - and De La Renta can kick it up a notch.
But, to me, this isn't why you buy something that Oscar De La Renta has designed. The real reason to swoon is his evening wear...
...a little woozy...
- slightly out of breath.
Stunning.
And, what did this master of fashion say, when interviewed at the end of his show?
Every day I try to do my best.
How lovely is that?
damp or cold
I've been having a great deal of difficulty, lately, determining whether the laundry in the dryer is still DAMP or just COLD. I usually err on the side of COLD and am distraught later when everyone pulls on wet jeans. Even if jeans ARE completely dry, I find, that little watch pocket is almost ALWAYS STILL DAMP.
My boys have been complaining about their mattresses. We purchased them when they were little and they were sturdy, well-made mattresses with a nice guarantee. I think Oldest was about eleven at the time. Anyway, they never mentioned anything about them before but, now that they are young men/men it seems that they are finding them uncomfortably firm. I've sat on each of their beds and would agree (though I am pleased the beds have lasted this long) and have spent some time researching mattress pads to soften them. Last weekend we purchased one that K and I felt was cushiony and soft - at Blood Bath And Beyond. With a coupon! I was very excited to bring it home for Youngest. A few weeks ago, Youngest and I were at the hospital and when he climbed into the bed he exclaimed: THIS IS GREAT! I was very confused until he told me that the hospital bed was soft and comfy and that he was in love with it. And, because that is the most pitiful thing I've ever heard, that he would be in love with a hospital bed, HE was the first child to benefit from a cushy-soft mattress pad. And? How does he like it?
HE DOES NOT. HE HAS REJECTED IT. So, there you are.
As it is both damp AND cold here, K has embarked on a project of cooking robust comfort foods which, in leftover form, are wonderful in wraps later in the week. So far we have thoroughly enjoyed a sausage and lentil dish as well as beef short ribs braised in Guinness - with scallion mashed potatoes.
I know I don't usually discuss Survivor until Friday, but I can't resist posting this picture as there was some discussion in the comments last week regarding Cassandra.
I'm voting FAKE - but I leave it to you to judge.
Finally, I hate my hair so damn much that I may actually take to wearing A HAT while it grows out. I'm sick of coloring it too - can anyone weigh in on this? Should I make it lighter and lighter until the shift to my actual color (white with spots I believe) is imperceptible?
God. I'm boring MYSELF.
I suppose I could do smaller loads of laundry, ensuring that the clothes will be both DRY and WARM, but that just doesn't seem terribly energy efficient, now does it?
My boys have been complaining about their mattresses. We purchased them when they were little and they were sturdy, well-made mattresses with a nice guarantee. I think Oldest was about eleven at the time. Anyway, they never mentioned anything about them before but, now that they are young men/men it seems that they are finding them uncomfortably firm. I've sat on each of their beds and would agree (though I am pleased the beds have lasted this long) and have spent some time researching mattress pads to soften them. Last weekend we purchased one that K and I felt was cushiony and soft - at Blood Bath And Beyond. With a coupon! I was very excited to bring it home for Youngest. A few weeks ago, Youngest and I were at the hospital and when he climbed into the bed he exclaimed: THIS IS GREAT! I was very confused until he told me that the hospital bed was soft and comfy and that he was in love with it. And, because that is the most pitiful thing I've ever heard, that he would be in love with a hospital bed, HE was the first child to benefit from a cushy-soft mattress pad. And? How does he like it?
HE DOES NOT. HE HAS REJECTED IT. So, there you are.
As it is both damp AND cold here, K has embarked on a project of cooking robust comfort foods which, in leftover form, are wonderful in wraps later in the week. So far we have thoroughly enjoyed a sausage and lentil dish as well as beef short ribs braised in Guinness - with scallion mashed potatoes.
I know I don't usually discuss Survivor until Friday, but I can't resist posting this picture as there was some discussion in the comments last week regarding Cassandra.
I'm voting FAKE - but I leave it to you to judge.
Finally, I hate my hair so damn much that I may actually take to wearing A HAT while it grows out. I'm sick of coloring it too - can anyone weigh in on this? Should I make it lighter and lighter until the shift to my actual color (white with spots I believe) is imperceptible?
God. I'm boring MYSELF.
I suppose I could do smaller loads of laundry, ensuring that the clothes will be both DRY and WARM, but that just doesn't seem terribly energy efficient, now does it?
Fashion Week
I really love watching the coverage of Fashion Week.
I wait up to see my favorite designer's lines and enjoy seeing high end couture things being paraded down the runway.
The other night, while waiting to see Oscar De La Renta's confections, I spied the fashions of J.Mendel.
I was a little confused at first, thinking: why all the fur, Mr. Mendel? But then I read that the original Mr. Mendel was a furrier and that this line was done by his son...
I liked these things very much. I think the textures in the fabric are beautiful.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that most everything was black. It's my favorite.
(Nice blouse, btw.)
I'll take this dress. I'll take it in white as well.
I like the coverage of the shows on one particular channel. Interspersed with runway coverage they show videos of runway footage from other decades - it's fascinating to see how really fine fashion is timeless. There are also snippets of interviews with the designers - that night I saw Gilles Mendel tell about his inspiration. He had been sitting and working and looked down and saw a little pile of grosgrain ribbon. Black ribbon. Suddenly, seeing the way it was folding and curling against itself he had a vision...
The ribbon worked its way into his evening-wear...
(Yulia,, and several other models seen here, was outside my office last friday as there was a runway show down the block. Aside from being incredibly tall and thin they were unremarkable without makeup.)
I loved hearing about this ribbon and then seeing how it influenced his work.
And then,
the finale -
which I have to say, I thought, was breathtaking.
Take a bow, Mr. Mendel -
(I liked his outfit very much too.).
I wait up to see my favorite designer's lines and enjoy seeing high end couture things being paraded down the runway.
The other night, while waiting to see Oscar De La Renta's confections, I spied the fashions of J.Mendel.
I was a little confused at first, thinking: why all the fur, Mr. Mendel? But then I read that the original Mr. Mendel was a furrier and that this line was done by his son...
I liked these things very much. I think the textures in the fabric are beautiful.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that most everything was black. It's my favorite.
(Nice blouse, btw.)
I'll take this dress. I'll take it in white as well.
I like the coverage of the shows on one particular channel. Interspersed with runway coverage they show videos of runway footage from other decades - it's fascinating to see how really fine fashion is timeless. There are also snippets of interviews with the designers - that night I saw Gilles Mendel tell about his inspiration. He had been sitting and working and looked down and saw a little pile of grosgrain ribbon. Black ribbon. Suddenly, seeing the way it was folding and curling against itself he had a vision...
The ribbon worked its way into his evening-wear...
(Yulia,, and several other models seen here, was outside my office last friday as there was a runway show down the block. Aside from being incredibly tall and thin they were unremarkable without makeup.)
I loved hearing about this ribbon and then seeing how it influenced his work.
And then,
the finale -
which I have to say, I thought, was breathtaking.
Take a bow, Mr. Mendel -
(I liked his outfit very much too.).
rattling around in my head
Let's see...
I've got the Style section sitting in front of me - much to discuss THERE.
I stayed up extra late last night to see Oscar De La Renta's fashion show last night - need to talk about that and the other designs I liked.
Am sick - no big deal but definitely ANNOYING.
Have had a very tumultuous couple of weeks at work, but in an interesting way, not a BAD way.
Are going to W's house for dinner tonight - W's sweetheart is in from Paris and has brought treats to eat - should be NICE.
I've got a score of photos from LAST weekend - we had dinner with Australian friends and they had just returned from Panama (I KNOW) and she had purchased a dozen or so MOLAS.
I mean to write a short diatribe on my HAIR - I have given the new French hair stylist two tries. Sadly, two weeks after he cuts it, my hair looks like someone has placed a foreign object on my head.
What am I doing instead of hashing these things out?
Instead of vacuuming?
(Though there IS laundry going.)
SITTING AROUND.
At least I've listed it all now.
More later.
I've got the Style section sitting in front of me - much to discuss THERE.
I stayed up extra late last night to see Oscar De La Renta's fashion show last night - need to talk about that and the other designs I liked.
Am sick - no big deal but definitely ANNOYING.
Have had a very tumultuous couple of weeks at work, but in an interesting way, not a BAD way.
Are going to W's house for dinner tonight - W's sweetheart is in from Paris and has brought treats to eat - should be NICE.
I've got a score of photos from LAST weekend - we had dinner with Australian friends and they had just returned from Panama (I KNOW) and she had purchased a dozen or so MOLAS.
I mean to write a short diatribe on my HAIR - I have given the new French hair stylist two tries. Sadly, two weeks after he cuts it, my hair looks like someone has placed a foreign object on my head.
What am I doing instead of hashing these things out?
Instead of vacuuming?
(Though there IS laundry going.)
SITTING AROUND.
At least I've listed it all now.
More later.
Survivor
It's week two.
I'm still here.
We're in Brazil, with the black tribe and the red tribe. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll learn the names, okay?
As one of my readers pointed out - this is one of the first times a chesty woman has been sent home this early.
The show opens with Sandy expressing her gratitude...but it sounds to me like Sandy will be next.
The next morning, the red tribe is looking for termites to eat - and they find them. We find it hard to believe that tiny insects are going to provide enough protein to sustain anyone, but THEN they find big yucky wormy things AND EAT THEM.
The black tribe is struggling to build a fire and they all look pretty terrible. We are on day two. How could people look so miserable already? Sierra finds hints for the immunity idol and works with some guy in his boxer shorts to look for it. They are interrupted by Debbie and tell her that they are building a fire pit on the beach. Then they argue about how to cook rice and beans. Coach and Candace have it out a little and then pretend to apologize to each other.
Back at Jalapeno (the red tribe!) they chat about how dirty they are and Taj confesses that she is married to a very famous football player and though you would think this would impress them, it convinces them that she doesn't need the money.
But there's no time contemplate that - it's pouring rain and there's a basketball challenge, in knee-deep water. The prize is fishing gear and the chance to send someone to Exile Island. There's some rough playing and people get thrown around. The black team take the lead for the all-women round. Taj is powerful but cannot make a point. Cindy scores for the red team. In the all-men round, the red team score again for a tie. In the final round, the red team win.
Brendan gets sent to Exile and is allowed to pick a member of the winning tribe to bring with him. He chooses Taj.
The red team return to camp to celebrate and fish. Of course "fishing" is complicated and JT is teaching Steve how to fish with a spear, but it "cements" their friendship.
I don't think Exile Island is really an island at all - but it sure is remote looking. Brazil seems to have it all: desert, beach, jungle...it's a diverse landscape. Brendan finds clues to the location of the idol and has to decide if he will share them and ALSO if he would like to switch teams. Taj convinces Brendan to share the clue (it doesn't take much) and she realizes that the idols are in their camps. The two of them bond and make a pact.
The black team enjoy their rice and beans and discuss their loss. Candace wants Coach to go but Coach thinks Candace should leave. Brendan returns and lies about his search for the idol. There is still discussion about who is leaving but Coach tells Sierra that he's voting for Candace and Candace is lobbying for Sierra - there's a little too much time at this end of the episode and I'm anxious for the vote.
Finally we get to Tribal Council for a little chat. Sierra and Candace and Coach each have something to say. Brendan tells us about Exile and the team seem to believe that Brendan doesn't know anything about the idol.
The vote?
Candace goes home. (Hey, that's two weeks in a row that the chesty one gets sent home.)
I'm still here.
We're in Brazil, with the black tribe and the red tribe. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll learn the names, okay?
As one of my readers pointed out - this is one of the first times a chesty woman has been sent home this early.
The show opens with Sandy expressing her gratitude...but it sounds to me like Sandy will be next.
The next morning, the red tribe is looking for termites to eat - and they find them. We find it hard to believe that tiny insects are going to provide enough protein to sustain anyone, but THEN they find big yucky wormy things AND EAT THEM.
The black tribe is struggling to build a fire and they all look pretty terrible. We are on day two. How could people look so miserable already? Sierra finds hints for the immunity idol and works with some guy in his boxer shorts to look for it. They are interrupted by Debbie and tell her that they are building a fire pit on the beach. Then they argue about how to cook rice and beans. Coach and Candace have it out a little and then pretend to apologize to each other.
Back at Jalapeno (the red tribe!) they chat about how dirty they are and Taj confesses that she is married to a very famous football player and though you would think this would impress them, it convinces them that she doesn't need the money.
But there's no time contemplate that - it's pouring rain and there's a basketball challenge, in knee-deep water. The prize is fishing gear and the chance to send someone to Exile Island. There's some rough playing and people get thrown around. The black team take the lead for the all-women round. Taj is powerful but cannot make a point. Cindy scores for the red team. In the all-men round, the red team score again for a tie. In the final round, the red team win.
Brendan gets sent to Exile and is allowed to pick a member of the winning tribe to bring with him. He chooses Taj.
The red team return to camp to celebrate and fish. Of course "fishing" is complicated and JT is teaching Steve how to fish with a spear, but it "cements" their friendship.
I don't think Exile Island is really an island at all - but it sure is remote looking. Brazil seems to have it all: desert, beach, jungle...it's a diverse landscape. Brendan finds clues to the location of the idol and has to decide if he will share them and ALSO if he would like to switch teams. Taj convinces Brendan to share the clue (it doesn't take much) and she realizes that the idols are in their camps. The two of them bond and make a pact.
The black team enjoy their rice and beans and discuss their loss. Candace wants Coach to go but Coach thinks Candace should leave. Brendan returns and lies about his search for the idol. There is still discussion about who is leaving but Coach tells Sierra that he's voting for Candace and Candace is lobbying for Sierra - there's a little too much time at this end of the episode and I'm anxious for the vote.
Finally we get to Tribal Council for a little chat. Sierra and Candace and Coach each have something to say. Brendan tells us about Exile and the team seem to believe that Brendan doesn't know anything about the idol.
The vote?
Candace goes home. (Hey, that's two weeks in a row that the chesty one gets sent home.)
notes from the office
So, blah blah blah, my appetite, didn’t used to eat, am eating now. Yeah yeah.
ANYWAY. There are new vending machines at work. And by new, I don’t mean all shiny and fancy because these machines are not especially shiny or fancy, but I digress.
The soda machine does not interest me, really. I think there have been two or three times I’ve wanted a Coke since October. But the snack machine has, upon occasion, held my interest.
And my decision making process is intricate.
Do I, does one, want Fritos at 4:00? I don’t think so. With Fritos come the need for a beverage and bearing in mind the train ride, one might choose to forgo a beverage at 4pm.
Other choices on the salty side:
Friday's Quesadilla Chips - I cannot even begin to imagine what these might be like. Let me know if you want (REALLY WANT) me to buy a bag and give you a report. Or, feel free to leave a comment if you've eaten these.
Trail mix - available with and without yogurt coating. IMO trail mix is not something to eat at one's desk. All that dipping into the bag for one nut at a time and licking the salt off one's fingers doesn't, to my mind, translate well into the working environment. Though I am not disparaging trail mix per se. Am I over-thinking much?
Kellogg's Fruit Snacks - first of all, I think it should be "fruit snacks" as I don't really believe there is any fruit in these AT ALL. Secondly, I'm thinking that eating these involves picking them out of my teeth after I'm done and I can just picture me picking them out of my teeth when the Editor In Chief walks in - OKAY?
Dipsy Doodles - I don't know what Dipsy Doodles are. I am aware of them being a snack from, what? the fifties? An antique snack. Salty, yes? She note above regarding salty snacking at 4pm. Aren't they the same as Fritos?
Animal Crackers - from time to time I buy those little boxes (with the string handles) of animal crackers and tuck them into my boy's lunches to be cute. We will not comment on the fact that my boys are OLD and that I still pack them lunches. Suffice to say that I do this and they eat them and two of my boys have a combined total weight of well under two hundred pounds. (That doesn't seem right: Middle is 5'7" and weighs 100 pounds and Youngest is 5'2" and weighs 90 pounds. There. That is impressive.) Have I strayed? My point is, cute though they may be, I don't think animal crackers taste very good. They're called CRACKERS not COOKIES and I assume there is a REASON for this.
Rice Krispie (sp?) Treats - I like these. I've never purchased one, but I might. Sweet without the cloying heaviness of a candy bar, these can only be problematic if you eat more than one and sustain roof-of-the-mouth damage. Which is highly likely.
Chuckles - another treat from the retro shelf. I don't think I've eaten a Chuckle in 20 or 30 years and while they do tend to stick in one's teeth they come in five or six to a package. One could eat three and save the rest. Is there a black one? I'd love it if there was.
Big Texas Cinnamon Bun - yes, that's right. A cinnamon bun as big as all of Texas. I'm sure it is supposed to be microwaved, and there are two microwaves in the kitchen, but heavens to Betsy (yes, I said that) it is BIG. Glazed with sugar. Sticky, I'm guessing.
There are Pop Tarts too - but I don't know what flavor. They seem to be somewhat popular as I can occasionally smell someone toasting one as I walk by.
There is gum (must check to see if it more expensive than gum at the store) and mints (good to know, sometimes you just NEED a mint) and a couple of candy bars on offer. I will report that eating an entire Milky Way at 4pm is a bit of a downer. As in: sugar crash at about 4:40.
I think it would be handy if they also had cough drops in that machine. People do get sick during the work-day and I know there have been times when I could make use of a cough drop.
People are very inventive with their snacks - for a while I caught the scent of microwaved popcorn nearly every day at 4:00. Some toast bread at lunch time to have with soup from home and lots of people bring leftovers for their lunches. Of course this requires utensils and containers and planning and I have not managed any of it. The kitchen is only sparsely equipped as the company went green a while back. No paper cups or plates, no plastic utensils, no napkins. I admire this but it can be annoying.
There is a cabinet full of mugs for coffee (I'll have to write a post about the new coffee machine) and a dishwasher. Little fairies come, at night, and put the mugs in the dishwasher, a luxury to be sure, but the mugs themselves are a mystery to me. It's possible there was a Mug Drive of sorts as each and every one of them is a reject from an employee's home. Kittens and rainbows, Over The Hill and cartoon characters abound. My boss is fond of peppermint tea in his meetings and I cringe at the sight of him going off with a cup that says You're My Special Hunny Bunny.
Just another thing to put on my list....
ANYWAY. There are new vending machines at work. And by new, I don’t mean all shiny and fancy because these machines are not especially shiny or fancy, but I digress.
The soda machine does not interest me, really. I think there have been two or three times I’ve wanted a Coke since October. But the snack machine has, upon occasion, held my interest.
And my decision making process is intricate.
Do I, does one, want Fritos at 4:00? I don’t think so. With Fritos come the need for a beverage and bearing in mind the train ride, one might choose to forgo a beverage at 4pm.
Other choices on the salty side:
Friday's Quesadilla Chips - I cannot even begin to imagine what these might be like. Let me know if you want (REALLY WANT) me to buy a bag and give you a report. Or, feel free to leave a comment if you've eaten these.
Trail mix - available with and without yogurt coating. IMO trail mix is not something to eat at one's desk. All that dipping into the bag for one nut at a time and licking the salt off one's fingers doesn't, to my mind, translate well into the working environment. Though I am not disparaging trail mix per se. Am I over-thinking much?
Kellogg's Fruit Snacks - first of all, I think it should be "fruit snacks" as I don't really believe there is any fruit in these AT ALL. Secondly, I'm thinking that eating these involves picking them out of my teeth after I'm done and I can just picture me picking them out of my teeth when the Editor In Chief walks in - OKAY?
Dipsy Doodles - I don't know what Dipsy Doodles are. I am aware of them being a snack from, what? the fifties? An antique snack. Salty, yes? She note above regarding salty snacking at 4pm. Aren't they the same as Fritos?
Animal Crackers - from time to time I buy those little boxes (with the string handles) of animal crackers and tuck them into my boy's lunches to be cute. We will not comment on the fact that my boys are OLD and that I still pack them lunches. Suffice to say that I do this and they eat them and two of my boys have a combined total weight of well under two hundred pounds. (That doesn't seem right: Middle is 5'7" and weighs 100 pounds and Youngest is 5'2" and weighs 90 pounds. There. That is impressive.) Have I strayed? My point is, cute though they may be, I don't think animal crackers taste very good. They're called CRACKERS not COOKIES and I assume there is a REASON for this.
Rice Krispie (sp?) Treats - I like these. I've never purchased one, but I might. Sweet without the cloying heaviness of a candy bar, these can only be problematic if you eat more than one and sustain roof-of-the-mouth damage. Which is highly likely.
Chuckles - another treat from the retro shelf. I don't think I've eaten a Chuckle in 20 or 30 years and while they do tend to stick in one's teeth they come in five or six to a package. One could eat three and save the rest. Is there a black one? I'd love it if there was.
Big Texas Cinnamon Bun - yes, that's right. A cinnamon bun as big as all of Texas. I'm sure it is supposed to be microwaved, and there are two microwaves in the kitchen, but heavens to Betsy (yes, I said that) it is BIG. Glazed with sugar. Sticky, I'm guessing.
There are Pop Tarts too - but I don't know what flavor. They seem to be somewhat popular as I can occasionally smell someone toasting one as I walk by.
There is gum (must check to see if it more expensive than gum at the store) and mints (good to know, sometimes you just NEED a mint) and a couple of candy bars on offer. I will report that eating an entire Milky Way at 4pm is a bit of a downer. As in: sugar crash at about 4:40.
I think it would be handy if they also had cough drops in that machine. People do get sick during the work-day and I know there have been times when I could make use of a cough drop.
People are very inventive with their snacks - for a while I caught the scent of microwaved popcorn nearly every day at 4:00. Some toast bread at lunch time to have with soup from home and lots of people bring leftovers for their lunches. Of course this requires utensils and containers and planning and I have not managed any of it. The kitchen is only sparsely equipped as the company went green a while back. No paper cups or plates, no plastic utensils, no napkins. I admire this but it can be annoying.
There is a cabinet full of mugs for coffee (I'll have to write a post about the new coffee machine) and a dishwasher. Little fairies come, at night, and put the mugs in the dishwasher, a luxury to be sure, but the mugs themselves are a mystery to me. It's possible there was a Mug Drive of sorts as each and every one of them is a reject from an employee's home. Kittens and rainbows, Over The Hill and cartoon characters abound. My boss is fond of peppermint tea in his meetings and I cringe at the sight of him going off with a cup that says You're My Special Hunny Bunny.
Just another thing to put on my list....
IM with Youngest
Youngest: my math teacher says if any of us do bad on a test tomorrow we get a phone call home so just warning you ahead of time
bb: that's a nasty threat
Youngest: yup
bb: feel free to give him my cell phone number
Youngest: sure thing
bb: I'm not afraid to hear from him or talk to him
Youngest: her
bb: and I'll be proud of however you do cause I know you always do your best and care.
Don't study too long - you either know it or you don't.
Youngest: I think I'll do really well, actually
I think I know it
bb: well, there ya go - and she can call if she wants....but I'm not very fond of threats
Youngest: and she says we should all be able to get 100%
bb: well, I'd say: if you are all equally smart, if you all were feeling well these past weeks,
if you all "get" what she was teaching, then you all should be able to get 100%.
But none of those things are true and I'll be proud of you tomorrow.
Youngest: k
bb: k
(She never called. Nasty business, that. Threatening my uber-conscientious fellow like that. Have a bad taste in your mouth? Go read me today at BeautyHacks, it's much more entertaining.)
bb: that's a nasty threat
Youngest: yup
bb: feel free to give him my cell phone number
Youngest: sure thing
bb: I'm not afraid to hear from him or talk to him
Youngest: her
bb: and I'll be proud of however you do cause I know you always do your best and care.
Don't study too long - you either know it or you don't.
Youngest: I think I'll do really well, actually
I think I know it
bb: well, there ya go - and she can call if she wants....but I'm not very fond of threats
Youngest: and she says we should all be able to get 100%
bb: well, I'd say: if you are all equally smart, if you all were feeling well these past weeks,
if you all "get" what she was teaching, then you all should be able to get 100%.
But none of those things are true and I'll be proud of you tomorrow.
Youngest: k
bb: k
(She never called. Nasty business, that. Threatening my uber-conscientious fellow like that. Have a bad taste in your mouth? Go read me today at BeautyHacks, it's much more entertaining.)
I call random
Busy!
Random!
Feast your eyes on microcars! I can't even decide which one I like best. Don't they look like insects? Cartoon insects? Cartoon insects with faces?
Last weekend I heard a wonderful little song by Alan Arkin. It's not available anywhere and I can't link to it, so you'll just have to read these lyrics and imagine the tune -
Not cake!
MEAT CAKE.
(With bacon sprinkles.)
My brother B entered a baking contest at his job - with meat cake. Similar to meat LOAF but iced with mashed potatoes.
PASS THE KETCHUP.
Sure, we all KNOW it, but GOSH The Onion is awfully funny... all the time! I thought I'd remind you.
I haven't seen a copy of Woman's Day for many years - doctor's offices don't have magazines anymore. But look at this list! I wonder if there even is a paper version of WD.
We caught a little bit of Out Of Africa the other night.
Such hats.
When I first saw Out Of Africa it was fashionable within my set of friends to make fun of Meryl Streep, with her accents and hair and hats.
Now that I am older, and I look again at the work she has done, I admire her.
I hadn't seen the film in a long long time and, while I remembered Robert Redford's fate and the fire, I had lost track of the nuances - the feeling of her empty home, being offered a drink at the club, her giving her servant the compass.
We watched about two hours of it, having come in 45 minutes into it and then I had one of those
cathartic sad-movie cries.
Is it me? I walk by a store that carries these every day and cannot imagine having them in my office. Distracting!
Random!
Feast your eyes on microcars! I can't even decide which one I like best. Don't they look like insects? Cartoon insects? Cartoon insects with faces?
Last weekend I heard a wonderful little song by Alan Arkin. It's not available anywhere and I can't link to it, so you'll just have to read these lyrics and imagine the tune -
I like you/You don't make me nervous/I met someone like you before/But only once or twice, once or twice/And not very recently/ You'll do.
"My blood pressure's normal/I haven't lost no sleep at all/Not since Francine/And it's possible for me to concentrate on my work.
"I'm glad I'm not walking on air/And bells don't go off in my ear/ I don't say to myself, 'Get a hold of myself'/And I don't get a rash when you're near.
"You're trustworthy/And it wouldn't bother me a bit if I had to leave for a few weeks/You don't nag me for money all the time/And one thing I forgot/You're a very good cook/And I certainly love to eat.
I luff it.
One afternoon, not too long ago, I went with some work friends on a hot chocolate run. It was the kind of hot chocolate that you could almost eat.
Plusplusplus, they put a square of homemade marshmallow on top. I had one bite. Couldn't take it. TOO RICH. Good, though.
Not cake!
MEAT CAKE.
(With bacon sprinkles.)
My brother B entered a baking contest at his job - with meat cake. Similar to meat LOAF but iced with mashed potatoes.
PASS THE KETCHUP.
Sure, we all KNOW it, but GOSH The Onion is awfully funny... all the time! I thought I'd remind you.
I haven't seen a copy of Woman's Day for many years - doctor's offices don't have magazines anymore. But look at this list! I wonder if there even is a paper version of WD.
We caught a little bit of Out Of Africa the other night.
Such hats.
When I first saw Out Of Africa it was fashionable within my set of friends to make fun of Meryl Streep, with her accents and hair and hats.
Now that I am older, and I look again at the work she has done, I admire her.
I hadn't seen the film in a long long time and, while I remembered Robert Redford's fate and the fire, I had lost track of the nuances - the feeling of her empty home, being offered a drink at the club, her giving her servant the compass.
We watched about two hours of it, having come in 45 minutes into it and then I had one of those
cathartic sad-movie cries.
Is it me? I walk by a store that carries these every day and cannot imagine having them in my office. Distracting!
Survivor, the new season
Are you excited? I'm excited.
Tuvalu is in the midst of a windstorm! Trees down all over the place. (I cannot help but think of our Australian friends, pray for our Australians - wind! It's NOTHING.)
Brazil! Soccer! Beaches! And now! Survivor!
Toe-can-cheese. Brutal. Isolated. Full of snakes and um, otters?
We hear everyones first impressions, and they aren't nice. Sierra has a sore throat.
Jalapenos and Timbiras. Possibly.
I'll go with Red and Black for now. (How could I not vote for black?)
They arrive in a dry dusty looking place in a very cool open truck.
They are given 60 seconds to gather supplies from the truck.
The black team gets all the good stuff.
It's a four hour walk to the camps. But FIRST there's a vote.
Nice twist.
The red team vote for Sandy. (The older blond woman.)
The black team vote for Sierra and her strep throat.
What did they vote for? SANDY AND SIERRA FLY TO CAMP IN A HELICOPTER.
EXCELLENT TWIST.
The teams set off for their camps.
It's 110 degrees and the red team is not sure they are walking in the right direction.
JT doesn't mind the heat or the walk. Stephen is "the anxious New York Jew."
The black team is trekking too. Erinn hasn't been camping since 7th grade. Jerry is in great shape and trying to stay low key. Coach takes a leadership role. He and Brendan bond. But Brendan is wary.
Sandy and Sierra arrive at their camps.
Sandy is very emotional after the vote but determined to make it. Sandy finds a note about a hidden immunity idol. She's still crying but she decides to look for it rather than setting up camp (which would endear her to the tribe).
At her camp, Sierra finds her note. She decides to build camp and change her tribe's opinion of her.
The red team make it to camp. Sandy has not found the idol - but hides the note. They are aggravated that she didn't make camp.
They have some watermelon.
The black team walk till after dark. Sierra has been working to make camp and they are appreciative of her efforts. She makes nice and they have a nice talk but some people still think she's the weak link.
The next morning, the red team is busy in their camp - building and feeling each other out. Sandy sneaks off to the beach to look for the idol again. She finds another clue, but she doesn't know what a "pace" is. The team is suspicious.
The black team is out of water. Tyson strips down for a swim. He gets them water.
First challenge: race across sand hills and through the river for puzzle tiles that build a staircase, solve a second puzzle and raise a flag.
The reward: fire and immunity.
The teams are pretty even in the running, but red start to lag. It's 120 degrees and people are struggling. The two people voted out lead the race for their teams. Red pull ahead. The puzzle is very difficult to navigate...a maze that a peg must be moved through.
Black pull ahead and win.
The red team return to camp and assess their shortcomings. And swim. Taj calls Carolina out on telling people what to do. Some of the team think Sandy should stay. Spencer pulls for her to stay. The men feel Carolina is equally expendable. Carolina (is that her name?) apologizes to Sandy for her vote earlier, but Sandy feels very vulnerable and goes off to look for the idol again.
At tribal council I notice how people's outfits have degraded. You can't be surprised to read this.
Who's going home? There's much discussion about Sandy and first impressions. Carolina admits that she needs to "check herself" before she speaks.
Who goes?
Carolina.
This pleases me.
Another season. This pleases me too.
Tuvalu is in the midst of a windstorm! Trees down all over the place. (I cannot help but think of our Australian friends, pray for our Australians - wind! It's NOTHING.)
Brazil! Soccer! Beaches! And now! Survivor!
Toe-can-cheese. Brutal. Isolated. Full of snakes and um, otters?
We hear everyones first impressions, and they aren't nice. Sierra has a sore throat.
Jalapenos and Timbiras. Possibly.
I'll go with Red and Black for now. (How could I not vote for black?)
They arrive in a dry dusty looking place in a very cool open truck.
They are given 60 seconds to gather supplies from the truck.
The black team gets all the good stuff.
It's a four hour walk to the camps. But FIRST there's a vote.
Nice twist.
The red team vote for Sandy. (The older blond woman.)
The black team vote for Sierra and her strep throat.
What did they vote for? SANDY AND SIERRA FLY TO CAMP IN A HELICOPTER.
EXCELLENT TWIST.
The teams set off for their camps.
It's 110 degrees and the red team is not sure they are walking in the right direction.
JT doesn't mind the heat or the walk. Stephen is "the anxious New York Jew."
The black team is trekking too. Erinn hasn't been camping since 7th grade. Jerry is in great shape and trying to stay low key. Coach takes a leadership role. He and Brendan bond. But Brendan is wary.
Sandy and Sierra arrive at their camps.
Sandy is very emotional after the vote but determined to make it. Sandy finds a note about a hidden immunity idol. She's still crying but she decides to look for it rather than setting up camp (which would endear her to the tribe).
At her camp, Sierra finds her note. She decides to build camp and change her tribe's opinion of her.
The red team make it to camp. Sandy has not found the idol - but hides the note. They are aggravated that she didn't make camp.
They have some watermelon.
The black team walk till after dark. Sierra has been working to make camp and they are appreciative of her efforts. She makes nice and they have a nice talk but some people still think she's the weak link.
The next morning, the red team is busy in their camp - building and feeling each other out. Sandy sneaks off to the beach to look for the idol again. She finds another clue, but she doesn't know what a "pace" is. The team is suspicious.
The black team is out of water. Tyson strips down for a swim. He gets them water.
First challenge: race across sand hills and through the river for puzzle tiles that build a staircase, solve a second puzzle and raise a flag.
The reward: fire and immunity.
The teams are pretty even in the running, but red start to lag. It's 120 degrees and people are struggling. The two people voted out lead the race for their teams. Red pull ahead. The puzzle is very difficult to navigate...a maze that a peg must be moved through.
Black pull ahead and win.
The red team return to camp and assess their shortcomings. And swim. Taj calls Carolina out on telling people what to do. Some of the team think Sandy should stay. Spencer pulls for her to stay. The men feel Carolina is equally expendable. Carolina (is that her name?) apologizes to Sandy for her vote earlier, but Sandy feels very vulnerable and goes off to look for the idol again.
At tribal council I notice how people's outfits have degraded. You can't be surprised to read this.
Who's going home? There's much discussion about Sandy and first impressions. Carolina admits that she needs to "check herself" before she speaks.
Who goes?
Carolina.
This pleases me.
Another season. This pleases me too.
notes from the office
I starting to feel more "settled in" at my job, and it's nice.
The weather is better too and that helps. It's not as dark when I leave in the morning and it's getting lighter in the evenings which is nice. I've even walked a couple of times from the train to home.
The only thing I still haven't found a routine for is lunch.
When I first got to my job I didn't stop for lunches very much. I think I thought stopping and eating would throw off my progress. Tough to explain. But now I'm finding time to eat and exploring the options for lunch and bringing stuff from home (when I'm in the mood to figure that out at six in the morning). So I'm doing better with that too.
I've been saying that the first month of my job I learned The Job and the second month of my job I learned the people. It seems like the third month of my job I've learned my self.
And, here I am, in the fourth month of my job - settling in.
I used to mess SOMETHING up every day. Now, I mess a couple of things up a couple of times a week. This week I made arrangements for my boss to be in two different cities on the same day.
Priceless. He's awfully good about my messing up, but I kickkickkick myself for a long time after that kind of thing.
I wonder if it's because I'm not 25 or because I have a lot on my mind or if it's because I haven't worked in a long time that I make mistakes. I might just be stupid. Imagine.
I listen to other people in my office speak confidently about projects they are involved in and wonder if I will sound like that too sometime. I long for it. But I also wonder why Doritos are triangles so don't ponder my situation too much.
I was awfully busy yesterday - from morning till evening, which I like much better than being bored. I try to walk around a few times during the day - take mail to the mailroom rather than have it picked up, walk to someones office instead of calling them, go outside for a few minutes instead of ordering lunch in and, at one point, I was walking to the mailroom and I smelled a familiar scent from life at home.
Someone, down the hall from where I sit, was burning a lavender candle.
I smelled it as I was on my way and it stopped me dead in my tracks.
It was so out of place, that scent which only comes from a candle.
It was so reminiscent of life at home that I did not recognize it right away.
But, then, it hit me. I walked into her office and said: is that...?
and she said: oh! I had a lavender candle burning. I hope it didn't bother you!
I could not possibly explain how much it did not bother me.
And, so, I said: no bother at all. It's lovely, in fact, and left quickly.
I'm trying so hard to say less as it seems, at work, to mean so much more.
The weather is better too and that helps. It's not as dark when I leave in the morning and it's getting lighter in the evenings which is nice. I've even walked a couple of times from the train to home.
The only thing I still haven't found a routine for is lunch.
When I first got to my job I didn't stop for lunches very much. I think I thought stopping and eating would throw off my progress. Tough to explain. But now I'm finding time to eat and exploring the options for lunch and bringing stuff from home (when I'm in the mood to figure that out at six in the morning). So I'm doing better with that too.
I've been saying that the first month of my job I learned The Job and the second month of my job I learned the people. It seems like the third month of my job I've learned my self.
And, here I am, in the fourth month of my job - settling in.
I used to mess SOMETHING up every day. Now, I mess a couple of things up a couple of times a week. This week I made arrangements for my boss to be in two different cities on the same day.
Priceless. He's awfully good about my messing up, but I kickkickkick myself for a long time after that kind of thing.
I wonder if it's because I'm not 25 or because I have a lot on my mind or if it's because I haven't worked in a long time that I make mistakes. I might just be stupid. Imagine.
I listen to other people in my office speak confidently about projects they are involved in and wonder if I will sound like that too sometime. I long for it. But I also wonder why Doritos are triangles so don't ponder my situation too much.
I was awfully busy yesterday - from morning till evening, which I like much better than being bored. I try to walk around a few times during the day - take mail to the mailroom rather than have it picked up, walk to someones office instead of calling them, go outside for a few minutes instead of ordering lunch in and, at one point, I was walking to the mailroom and I smelled a familiar scent from life at home.
Someone, down the hall from where I sit, was burning a lavender candle.
I smelled it as I was on my way and it stopped me dead in my tracks.
It was so out of place, that scent which only comes from a candle.
It was so reminiscent of life at home that I did not recognize it right away.
But, then, it hit me. I walked into her office and said: is that...?
and she said: oh! I had a lavender candle burning. I hope it didn't bother you!
I could not possibly explain how much it did not bother me.
And, so, I said: no bother at all. It's lovely, in fact, and left quickly.
I'm trying so hard to say less as it seems, at work, to mean so much more.
Survivor, meet the Survivors
This time around, I'm switching up my research process. My brother L emailed me a couple of weeks ago with his impressions of the Survivors having seen their videos. The first half of this post begins with L's comments with my thoughts...
Sydney - she needs to stick to modeling, anything where you can't hear the words and thoughts come out of her mouth. And she ain't all that pretty, but who knows, maybe she'll be prettier after she hasn't eaten for a week or two. bb says: ooh, harsh, YA KNOW. She'll fly under the radar for a while YA KNOW.
Carolina - another place name, hmmm, she was born to a single parent, her mom...how unique, because i know it takes a woman to give birth. A lot of people think shes one way, and then another, and that's going to help her. Its gonna try everything she stresses at home....brilliant Another freakin genius. bb says: ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH THAT COMMERCIAL BEFORE EVERY VIDEO? YAWN.
Erinn - ok, a second N, oh wait...a stylist. 15% of her job is being good at styling hair? Remind me not to let her cut my hair. She doesn't have any real annoying habits? People are surprised by how much smarter she is, ok, surprise me. bb says: 15% is the hair stuff and MOST of it is getting people to trust her. You know. With their HAIR, which is a BIG THING, L.
James - luvs da outdohrs, he luvs da ouhtdors, he kin feed hisself, (was there a IQ maximum for survivor this season? I'm thinking double digits.) Oh yeah, he luvs da outdowers. bb says: oh! I thought he was an opera star, but it's a commercial. I don't know...it's easy to make fun of a guy that sounds like him, but I could have a soft spot for him. Then again, he could be the guy who's full of outdoor talk and walks into a branch and gets airlifted out on day two. I'll bet he's got a heart of gold.
Brendan - Entrepreneur - OMG at least he can compose a sentence, what a relief. Watch they vote him off because he's got a brain. bb says: I'll bet he looks good shirtless too. Just you watch. How do you get to be an entrepreneur anyway?
Tyson - another place name, not as smart as Brendan. looks like he has man boobs. Dudes with boobs shouldn't wear colored deep v-necks. Doesn't have a problem lying or cheating. Oh wait, he a cyclist. Liked J- Fairplay, oh wait, he called himself better looking, and he thinks that will help...he's a trainwreck. Never mind. bb says: Tyson is a place? He was a missionary, that's kind of cool...but a lying cheating arrogant ex-missionary? What's up with that? Ack, I want to slap him.
Taj - Sounds sharp. She can sit out forever without eating. Living off her bellyfat? Umm, I like her. She has a foundation, Women of Infinite Possibilities. Shes here to help. bb says: She's gonna "nurture you out the door." She's a good talker - but I'm looking forward to seeing her lose her cool.
And here is where my brother decided to go for a bike ride, or hang out with his adorable kids or have a little snack. I'll continue with MY thoughts on the following players, having watched their videos...
Stephen- oooh, a "city boy who might get eaten alive by an animal" ! Someone ought to point out to him that there are NEVER any animals near the camp. He lost me when he started to talk about the anti-ivy bias on the show. As soon as people begin behaving that way my eyes glaze over. He's gonna "fade into the background" and be devious. Got that? He left corporate America to win the money and live in a cabin.
Sierra - Sierra? Sierra needs a bra. And to stand STILL. She's a weaver. She needs to keep her hands and mind busy. She's a little scared of the night-time though - cause it's dark. She doesn't over-think things cause "when you over-think things you are screwed." People call her The Iron Butterfly. FYI: I couldn't even sit through her whole three minute video.
Sandy - I'm thinking Sandy is our Old Person. She's 53, from Kentucky and drives a school bus. Sandy's got it all figured out. She's gotta be on the winning team. GENIUS. She's going to provide the big-sister/mom support that people NEED. I give her two weeks.
Joe - Joe is from Austin (holla, Badger!) and "does" real estate. He's gonna play hard, play smart and evade and persuade. He says he's strong and confident and is "pretty well rounded."
I presume he will be shirtless in five, four, three...two...
Jerry - Yo, Jerry, is shirtless in his video! Smiling, happy, with a fabulous accent, Jerry's got ten brothers and sisters. He likes to work hard, is laid back and can fix anything. I have a crush on him. He's a military man and full of charm. He is a "different individual" and I'm looking forward to watching him. HE WAS BORN FOR THIS OCCASION. WOOT.
Debra is a middle school principal. In her video she is sitting in water in a bikini. She feels that her age is an asset and will help her appear as a mother figure - and she said something about doing back handsprings. She's got a tendency to boss and lead and feels she will need to step back, AND she hates whining and negativity. Good luck, say I.
Is Candace going to wear that little tiny bathing suit for 39 days? That's all I want to know. She's going on and on about how unbelievable it is that she's a lawyer and, it's true, I'm having a hard time focusing on her being a lawyer while the camera is pretty much focused on her chest. OH, AND she's Miss Ohio. That explains it. I didn't get through her video either. I was too busy waiting for her top to slide off. AND IT WILL.
Spencer has a little boy face. Gah. He's 19, so he IS a little boy. He's hoping people underestimate him. Fortunately for him, there are two women who are going to "want to be his mother." He sure talks a lot - and doesn't say much.
Benjamin's friends call him The Renaissance Adventure Man. He certainly is interesting. He started a symphony, writes music, he's a jock, and he set the world record for the longest solo kayak expedition - which he has the tattoo to prove. Aside from what appears to be the world's longest mullet, I'm thinking I like him.
So, there you are people. Tomorrow night, we'll be having my mom's vegetable soup and taking notes.
Ready, set, go.
Sydney - she needs to stick to modeling, anything where you can't hear the words and thoughts come out of her mouth. And she ain't all that pretty, but who knows, maybe she'll be prettier after she hasn't eaten for a week or two. bb says: ooh, harsh, YA KNOW. She'll fly under the radar for a while YA KNOW.
Carolina - another place name, hmmm, she was born to a single parent, her mom...how unique, because i know it takes a woman to give birth. A lot of people think shes one way, and then another, and that's going to help her. Its gonna try everything she stresses at home....brilliant Another freakin genius. bb says: ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH THAT COMMERCIAL BEFORE EVERY VIDEO? YAWN.
Erinn - ok, a second N, oh wait...a stylist. 15% of her job is being good at styling hair? Remind me not to let her cut my hair. She doesn't have any real annoying habits? People are surprised by how much smarter she is, ok, surprise me. bb says: 15% is the hair stuff and MOST of it is getting people to trust her. You know. With their HAIR, which is a BIG THING, L.
James - luvs da outdohrs, he luvs da ouhtdors, he kin feed hisself, (was there a IQ maximum for survivor this season? I'm thinking double digits.) Oh yeah, he luvs da outdowers. bb says: oh! I thought he was an opera star, but it's a commercial. I don't know...it's easy to make fun of a guy that sounds like him, but I could have a soft spot for him. Then again, he could be the guy who's full of outdoor talk and walks into a branch and gets airlifted out on day two. I'll bet he's got a heart of gold.
Brendan - Entrepreneur - OMG at least he can compose a sentence, what a relief. Watch they vote him off because he's got a brain. bb says: I'll bet he looks good shirtless too. Just you watch. How do you get to be an entrepreneur anyway?
Tyson - another place name, not as smart as Brendan. looks like he has man boobs. Dudes with boobs shouldn't wear colored deep v-necks. Doesn't have a problem lying or cheating. Oh wait, he a cyclist. Liked J- Fairplay, oh wait, he called himself better looking, and he thinks that will help...he's a trainwreck. Never mind. bb says: Tyson is a place? He was a missionary, that's kind of cool...but a lying cheating arrogant ex-missionary? What's up with that? Ack, I want to slap him.
Taj - Sounds sharp. She can sit out forever without eating. Living off her bellyfat? Umm, I like her. She has a foundation, Women of Infinite Possibilities. Shes here to help. bb says: She's gonna "nurture you out the door." She's a good talker - but I'm looking forward to seeing her lose her cool.
And here is where my brother decided to go for a bike ride, or hang out with his adorable kids or have a little snack. I'll continue with MY thoughts on the following players, having watched their videos...
Stephen- oooh, a "city boy who might get eaten alive by an animal" ! Someone ought to point out to him that there are NEVER any animals near the camp. He lost me when he started to talk about the anti-ivy bias on the show. As soon as people begin behaving that way my eyes glaze over. He's gonna "fade into the background" and be devious. Got that? He left corporate America to win the money and live in a cabin.
Sierra - Sierra? Sierra needs a bra. And to stand STILL. She's a weaver. She needs to keep her hands and mind busy. She's a little scared of the night-time though - cause it's dark. She doesn't over-think things cause "when you over-think things you are screwed." People call her The Iron Butterfly. FYI: I couldn't even sit through her whole three minute video.
Sandy - I'm thinking Sandy is our Old Person. She's 53, from Kentucky and drives a school bus. Sandy's got it all figured out. She's gotta be on the winning team. GENIUS. She's going to provide the big-sister/mom support that people NEED. I give her two weeks.
Joe - Joe is from Austin (holla, Badger!) and "does" real estate. He's gonna play hard, play smart and evade and persuade. He says he's strong and confident and is "pretty well rounded."
I presume he will be shirtless in five, four, three...two...
Jerry - Yo, Jerry, is shirtless in his video! Smiling, happy, with a fabulous accent, Jerry's got ten brothers and sisters. He likes to work hard, is laid back and can fix anything. I have a crush on him. He's a military man and full of charm. He is a "different individual" and I'm looking forward to watching him. HE WAS BORN FOR THIS OCCASION. WOOT.
Debra is a middle school principal. In her video she is sitting in water in a bikini. She feels that her age is an asset and will help her appear as a mother figure - and she said something about doing back handsprings. She's got a tendency to boss and lead and feels she will need to step back, AND she hates whining and negativity. Good luck, say I.
Is Candace going to wear that little tiny bathing suit for 39 days? That's all I want to know. She's going on and on about how unbelievable it is that she's a lawyer and, it's true, I'm having a hard time focusing on her being a lawyer while the camera is pretty much focused on her chest. OH, AND she's Miss Ohio. That explains it. I didn't get through her video either. I was too busy waiting for her top to slide off. AND IT WILL.
Spencer has a little boy face. Gah. He's 19, so he IS a little boy. He's hoping people underestimate him. Fortunately for him, there are two women who are going to "want to be his mother." He sure talks a lot - and doesn't say much.
Benjamin's friends call him The Renaissance Adventure Man. He certainly is interesting. He started a symphony, writes music, he's a jock, and he set the world record for the longest solo kayak expedition - which he has the tattoo to prove. Aside from what appears to be the world's longest mullet, I'm thinking I like him.
So, there you are people. Tomorrow night, we'll be having my mom's vegetable soup and taking notes.
Ready, set, go.
watched with meatloaf
and (this is the clean version)
It fascinates me that my boys can appreciate Marvin Gaye AND T-Pain.
In the same breath they were anxious to hear more of Marvin and show me the video on the boat. I barely got the irony of the I'm On A Boat video...I sort of knew that rap stars rap about mundane things like their cars or women, but I had to stretch a little to get it.
I had the BEST Cuban sandwich yesterday. I was TREATED to the best Cuban sandwich. Have you had one? The cheese was very melty.
So.
To recap.
Meatloaf and Cuban sandwich.
(Funny thing about the meatloaf: I mixed it together at six in the morning [not easy] and stowed it in the fridge. I called Middle and asked him to take it out of the fridge at 5:45 and pre-heat the oven. I further instructed him to put it IN the oven at 6:00 and put a pot of water on the stove to boil. I came home to: oven heated. Cold meatloaf on the counter and water boiling.)
what I won't be wearing this spring
Have I mentioned that I'll need to purchase a spring wardrobe?
I'm mentioning it.
Not only did I drop a stone (actually, I have no clue how much a stone is - I just wanted to throw that out there...I've lost about ten pounds) but I only really own spring/summer clothing suitable for the supermarket. My point is: I'm starting to think about what I'd like to wear to work this spring and where I'll go shopping.
It would appear that I will not be visiting Old Navy.
Wear to work?
Gazing upon this ensemble, I can ONLY sing: oh the farmer and the cowman should be friends.
What are they thinking? It's so...uh, vesty.
I have three big problems with this:
1. It's a poorly executed knock-off of a J Crew shirt.
2. It's pink.I can't pull off pink.
3. Were you pregnant in the 80's? I was pregnant in the 80's and THIS is a 1980's maternity blouse.
I'm awfully pleased to work in an industry wherein I don't have to wear stuff like this. And, as stuff like this goes, these are kind of ugly. BUT they have quite a selection of stuff like this and if YOU must dress this formally at your job you should head right over there. And I'm sorry.
Then again, my industry is not informal enough for these either. And I'm still not sure how I feel about sandals in the office - though I have a feeling that I'll see quite a few of them. I might even wear sneakers to the office on a hot day. I don't know...I'm still thinking about it.
Sheer isn't always good. If it is TRANSPARENT then one is (I am) forced to wear something UNDER it. Two layers? 90 degrees? HOT. Cheap and cute, though. Order it in the gingham, slip the vest over it and hit the SQUARE DANCE.
Ah, the maxi dress. You wear a maxi dress to an outdoor cocktail party on a balmy evening in July, right? I don't go to many of those. Plus, I am mini. Plus, I have issues with so much, um, upper body exposure.
I don't have a problem with leggings. I like leggings with a tunic and flats, I like leggings with a tee shirt and skirt and I like leggings under a slightly sheer long dress that your friend brought you from Italy. But leggings are not PANTS. In my world, leggings are not paired with a tee shirt and flats and worn to work. I saw it last fall and if I see it this spring I'm going to have a hard time containing myself. Or restraining myself. Or something. If I'm not mistaken, I saw someone AT MY OFFICE wearing TIGHTS AS PANTS last fall. I am anxious to see if she returns.
These fashions I won't be wearing are all courtesy of Old Navy.
I do not disparage Old Navy, in fact, they have many wonderful items at great prices.
Alas, they don't have much for me to wear to my job.
Carry on.
I'm mentioning it.
Not only did I drop a stone (actually, I have no clue how much a stone is - I just wanted to throw that out there...I've lost about ten pounds) but I only really own spring/summer clothing suitable for the supermarket. My point is: I'm starting to think about what I'd like to wear to work this spring and where I'll go shopping.
It would appear that I will not be visiting Old Navy.
Wear to work?
Gazing upon this ensemble, I can ONLY sing: oh the farmer and the cowman should be friends.
What are they thinking? It's so...uh, vesty.
I have three big problems with this:
1. It's a poorly executed knock-off of a J Crew shirt.
2. It's pink.I can't pull off pink.
3. Were you pregnant in the 80's? I was pregnant in the 80's and THIS is a 1980's maternity blouse.
I'm awfully pleased to work in an industry wherein I don't have to wear stuff like this. And, as stuff like this goes, these are kind of ugly. BUT they have quite a selection of stuff like this and if YOU must dress this formally at your job you should head right over there. And I'm sorry.
Then again, my industry is not informal enough for these either. And I'm still not sure how I feel about sandals in the office - though I have a feeling that I'll see quite a few of them. I might even wear sneakers to the office on a hot day. I don't know...I'm still thinking about it.
Sheer isn't always good. If it is TRANSPARENT then one is (I am) forced to wear something UNDER it. Two layers? 90 degrees? HOT. Cheap and cute, though. Order it in the gingham, slip the vest over it and hit the SQUARE DANCE.
Ah, the maxi dress. You wear a maxi dress to an outdoor cocktail party on a balmy evening in July, right? I don't go to many of those. Plus, I am mini. Plus, I have issues with so much, um, upper body exposure.
I don't have a problem with leggings. I like leggings with a tunic and flats, I like leggings with a tee shirt and skirt and I like leggings under a slightly sheer long dress that your friend brought you from Italy. But leggings are not PANTS. In my world, leggings are not paired with a tee shirt and flats and worn to work. I saw it last fall and if I see it this spring I'm going to have a hard time containing myself. Or restraining myself. Or something. If I'm not mistaken, I saw someone AT MY OFFICE wearing TIGHTS AS PANTS last fall. I am anxious to see if she returns.
These fashions I won't be wearing are all courtesy of Old Navy.
I do not disparage Old Navy, in fact, they have many wonderful items at great prices.
Alas, they don't have much for me to wear to my job.
Carry on.
so much random
Oooh, yesterday, I was lucky enough to have a few minutes to wrap myself up in one of these. I was lucky enough to do so after having lunch with one of the members of 2X2 designs - and I'm here to tell you, if you have any notion of saving your pennies for something stunningly luxurious, head here. The throws are the perfect size to wear as a shawl - I'm only saying.
It looks like I will be attending Blogher. I've been writing for Blogher for quite a while now, so it makes some sense...but, I guess what I'm saying is, I am making plans to attend Blogher. In fact, Poppy and I have been discussing doing some kind of Beautyhack symposium. Yeah, I think we discussed doing full-body masks. Can that be? Maybe we were a little drunk.
We had the groceries delivered last week. We paid $6.00 for that luxury. I sort of figured $6.00 for an hour of my time was worth it. I'm sure, if I do a little research, I will discover that the groceries are more expensive - but I'm ignoring that for now. In the meantime, I've taken to bringing my lunch every once in a while as it's expensive to buy every day.
My pb & j has cherry jelly.
It is eight degrees here as I type this. Eight. Pulling together a wardrobe for work is one thing - pulling together a wardrobe for work when it is below ten degrees can be challenging. I wear layers. Many many layers. And, today, I'm wearing a haramaki.
This particular haramaki has a little pocket in which one puts a hand-warmer packet. I wore it between layers but I have a couple that are fancy enough to wear over a layer, in plain sight.
Just when I think the chores around the house will overwhelm me, K rises to the occasion and takes up the slack. And, believe me when I say: there is plenty of slack to be taken. Up.
Not a bruise. A pen! When was the last time a pen EXPLODED on you? I'll bet you were six, or ten. I was on the phone at work AND sending an email AND writing something ALL AT THE SAME TIME when I looked down and saw ink everywhere. I managed to contain the spill pretty well but, really? A pen?
Hello, Jeffrey Campbell...what's this? New SHOES?!
Tough to get a picture of.
But...
I think -
they're keepers. (With minimal toe cleavage.)
The clue: Bob Cratchit's occupation.
My answer:
C-L-E-R-D.
Yes.
Clerd.
It's okay. I'm working in pencil now.
It looks like I will be attending Blogher. I've been writing for Blogher for quite a while now, so it makes some sense...but, I guess what I'm saying is, I am making plans to attend Blogher. In fact, Poppy and I have been discussing doing some kind of Beautyhack symposium. Yeah, I think we discussed doing full-body masks. Can that be? Maybe we were a little drunk.
We had the groceries delivered last week. We paid $6.00 for that luxury. I sort of figured $6.00 for an hour of my time was worth it. I'm sure, if I do a little research, I will discover that the groceries are more expensive - but I'm ignoring that for now. In the meantime, I've taken to bringing my lunch every once in a while as it's expensive to buy every day.
My pb & j has cherry jelly.
It is eight degrees here as I type this. Eight. Pulling together a wardrobe for work is one thing - pulling together a wardrobe for work when it is below ten degrees can be challenging. I wear layers. Many many layers. And, today, I'm wearing a haramaki.
This particular haramaki has a little pocket in which one puts a hand-warmer packet. I wore it between layers but I have a couple that are fancy enough to wear over a layer, in plain sight.
Just when I think the chores around the house will overwhelm me, K rises to the occasion and takes up the slack. And, believe me when I say: there is plenty of slack to be taken. Up.
Not a bruise. A pen! When was the last time a pen EXPLODED on you? I'll bet you were six, or ten. I was on the phone at work AND sending an email AND writing something ALL AT THE SAME TIME when I looked down and saw ink everywhere. I managed to contain the spill pretty well but, really? A pen?
Hello, Jeffrey Campbell...what's this? New SHOES?!
Tough to get a picture of.
But...
I think -
they're keepers. (With minimal toe cleavage.)
The clue: Bob Cratchit's occupation.
My answer:
C-L-E-R-D.
Yes.
Clerd.
It's okay. I'm working in pencil now.
IM with K
After we part company and walk to our respective offices, K and I have a wee IM session:
bb: egg sandwich off the street - divine
bb: AND they caught me taking a picture of the truck - teased that it costs $5
K: glazed donut - terrible
K: TOOOOO Sweet
bb: I'm laughing.
bb: god - cheesy goodness....
K: SHUT UP
bb: $3.75 with tea!
bb: a habit I must avoid.
bb: off to see A.
K: cheaper than oatmeal
bb: oh! much!
K: ciao
9:10 AM
We share the newspaper too.
bb: egg sandwich off the street - divine
bb: AND they caught me taking a picture of the truck - teased that it costs $5
K: glazed donut - terrible
K: TOOOOO Sweet
bb: I'm laughing.
bb: god - cheesy goodness....
K: SHUT UP
bb: $3.75 with tea!
bb: a habit I must avoid.
bb: off to see A.
K: cheaper than oatmeal
bb: oh! much!
K: ciao
9:10 AM
We share the newspaper too.
I never get used to the sound of the snow plows
They make a crashing noise when they lower the plow onto the pavement and it always startles me. Then there's the scraping noise of the plow as there probably isn't really enough snow to plow off our street.
Even though it's only Tuesday, I swear it feels like Thursday.
I left work early and took Youngest to the pulmonary doctor yesterday and, after waiting well over an hour to see her (which I am not complaining about as we were a "write in" appointment") we didn't get much good news. Dr. P says that 14 is a bad year for asthma - that lots of kids get worse when they are about 14 and it seems that may be true for Youngest. We want, very much, to avoid going back to so many medications - to use so many each day, but we may not have a choice. We are going to check him again at the end of the month.
Somehow, that whole working half a day, being a mom half a day thing wore me thin.
I think that's why I feel it should be Thursday.
I did two days yesterday.
This weekend I'm going to see my niece and nephew in their school play. Remember last year? I'm pretty excited.
Tired. But excited.
On to the next.
Even though it's only Tuesday, I swear it feels like Thursday.
I left work early and took Youngest to the pulmonary doctor yesterday and, after waiting well over an hour to see her (which I am not complaining about as we were a "write in" appointment") we didn't get much good news. Dr. P says that 14 is a bad year for asthma - that lots of kids get worse when they are about 14 and it seems that may be true for Youngest. We want, very much, to avoid going back to so many medications - to use so many each day, but we may not have a choice. We are going to check him again at the end of the month.
Somehow, that whole working half a day, being a mom half a day thing wore me thin.
I think that's why I feel it should be Thursday.
I did two days yesterday.
This weekend I'm going to see my niece and nephew in their school play. Remember last year? I'm pretty excited.
Tired. But excited.
On to the next.
a question for you, dear readers
Why?
Why, when you are kind enough to leave me a comment (Julie Bradshaw or Liz of A Mom's Insanity - for example) do you not list an email address SOMEPLACE so that I can respond?
You are such nice people and you are leaving interesting comments...how can I converse with you?
No kidding, folks, I am doing a blog feasibility study at work and the very first rule in blogging, as I see it, is to HAVE A CONVERSATION.
If I can't find your email address on your profile or your blog, I CANNOT HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
Thus ends my little rant.
Am I the only one out here who wants to talk?
Why, when you are kind enough to leave me a comment (Julie Bradshaw or Liz of A Mom's Insanity - for example) do you not list an email address SOMEPLACE so that I can respond?
You are such nice people and you are leaving interesting comments...how can I converse with you?
No kidding, folks, I am doing a blog feasibility study at work and the very first rule in blogging, as I see it, is to HAVE A CONVERSATION.
If I can't find your email address on your profile or your blog, I CANNOT HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
Thus ends my little rant.
Am I the only one out here who wants to talk?
the good, the bad and the ugly*
The good -
I've ordered these shoes.
I'm planning on building my spring/summer wardrobe around them and I'm hoping my toe cleavage doesn't show as I am morally opposed to toe cleavage.
The bad -
Who could possibly wear these? Who could they possibly flatter? Am I missing something?
(They do match the shoes.)
The ugly -
I have no words. I like clunky boots - but I have nothing to say about these.
Bad? Ugly? I can't decide. I'm wearing this how? Under things? With other things? Maybe I'd put a skirt on over it. Crazy.
And this?
What about this get-up?
Sold as underwear, I'm thinking it would be awfully conspicuous.
Talk amongst yourselves - the comments are open!
I'm considering new eyeglasses. What do you think of these?
or these?
Apparently ROUND is the look I'm considering.
*good, bad and ugly courtesy of Freepeople.com
I've ordered these shoes.
I'm planning on building my spring/summer wardrobe around them and I'm hoping my toe cleavage doesn't show as I am morally opposed to toe cleavage.
The bad -
Who could possibly wear these? Who could they possibly flatter? Am I missing something?
(They do match the shoes.)
The ugly -
I have no words. I like clunky boots - but I have nothing to say about these.
Bad? Ugly? I can't decide. I'm wearing this how? Under things? With other things? Maybe I'd put a skirt on over it. Crazy.
And this?
What about this get-up?
Sold as underwear, I'm thinking it would be awfully conspicuous.
Talk amongst yourselves - the comments are open!
I'm considering new eyeglasses. What do you think of these?
or these?
Apparently ROUND is the look I'm considering.
*good, bad and ugly courtesy of Freepeople.com
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