No, seriously. Where is it?
We share our office (and fridge) space with a motley crew of outsourced telemarketers who run various campaigns on our behalf. They do their jobs well enough, I guess, although I never see anyone doing any actual calling when they are in the office. They do talk a good game - although not about us (I mean, yikes. If I got a call from some of these people, I'd totally hang up. Some of them are SO mechanical sounding, it makes me cringe.) Whenever I hear them talking, it is typically really loudly in our little tiny kitchen, just down the hall from my little room. I've yet to come screaming out into the hallway yelling at them to shut the !##*$&#% up all ready, but I've come close a few times, believe me.
They also sit around in their little area, blocking the hallways for us actual employees (ooh, paging the Bitter party of one!) and then they give YOU the dirty look for trying to get by. Well, excuse me!
But the worst thing, I think, is the whole sharing the fridge thing. Is the concept so hard to grasp? If you didn't bring it, don't eat it? Just because it's nailed down doesn't mean it's up for grabs... Then if we do have food for sharing, they swoop in and eat it all, even if not specifically invited to do so...
Sorry, sorry. I don't mean to bitch. It's just that sometimes I wonder about people... And also? I really wanted that cheese....
Showing posts with label blather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blather. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
An "Idol" Mind...
Oh, American Idol... I had given you up last season. Having vowed never ever to watch again, I mean ever, after the voting debacle that allowed Chris Daughtry to get the boot and elect Taylor Hicks as winner?? WTF? is that all about? I might add that this is the voting public of America, people, and we are in deep shit. Then again, I think more people voted in the last American Idol finale than in the last Presidential election - what does that tell you?? Maybe we should really adopt that model instead. Okay, everybody, text "HLRY4PREZ" (just as a for instance) or dial 1-900 (pft! didja think we'd get to vote toll free?)-CLINTON (again totally as a for instance)
But sorry, I digress. The point of this post is not to talk politics. It is to talk about American Idol. As I say, I totally gave up watching the show last year as it was getting to be a little too much. Mean, mean Simon, flaky Paula and mellow 'hey-dawg-you-worked-it-OUT' Randy. Too grating. Too predictable. All of the guest artists and theme evenings? There's only so many times I need to hear BeeGees songs -and like, the once is enough. Or Barry Manilow. Yech. So I said "goodbye" to Idol.
And yet... I never saw an episode but I still know who "the winner" was and I know what a Sanjaya Malakaar is (although not necessarily how to spell it) because it seeped into my consciousness. Oh all right, fine, I read it on the internet.
Yesterday, I cracked. I watched an episode - auditions in Miami Florida!! More of same, but I was mesmerized. I don't know if I will watch any more of it - I kind of like watching the auditions.
But really really bad singing is not the same as watching a quality scripted tv show. At the risk of sounding WAY too serious here - I hope the strike ends soon and that AMPTP gets their collective heads out of their collective asses and give these people all of the recognition (and cash) that they deserve. Because, dammit, the last new Ugly Betty aired last week! And there are only 2 new episodes of House left. Without them, I think I am left to turn back to Simon, Randy and Paula. Or I guess I could always take my mom's advice and read a book....
But sorry, I digress. The point of this post is not to talk politics. It is to talk about American Idol. As I say, I totally gave up watching the show last year as it was getting to be a little too much. Mean, mean Simon, flaky Paula and mellow 'hey-dawg-you-worked-it-OUT' Randy. Too grating. Too predictable. All of the guest artists and theme evenings? There's only so many times I need to hear BeeGees songs -and like, the once is enough. Or Barry Manilow. Yech. So I said "goodbye" to Idol.
And yet... I never saw an episode but I still know who "the winner" was and I know what a Sanjaya Malakaar is (although not necessarily how to spell it) because it seeped into my consciousness. Oh all right, fine, I read it on the internet.
Yesterday, I cracked. I watched an episode - auditions in Miami Florida!! More of same, but I was mesmerized. I don't know if I will watch any more of it - I kind of like watching the auditions.
But really really bad singing is not the same as watching a quality scripted tv show. At the risk of sounding WAY too serious here - I hope the strike ends soon and that AMPTP gets their collective heads out of their collective asses and give these people all of the recognition (and cash) that they deserve. Because, dammit, the last new Ugly Betty aired last week! And there are only 2 new episodes of House left. Without them, I think I am left to turn back to Simon, Randy and Paula. Or I guess I could always take my mom's advice and read a book....
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Stuff in my bag....
I have a little weekend ritual where I dump out my work bag before Monday morning and get rid of all the junk. Then I repack it, junk free and voila! It's like a whole new bag. Today I thought I'd share. It's kind of like "stuff in my drawer" but a little more enlightening, since I carry all this crap around every single day.
Here's the list of stuff that lived in my bag all week:
- Ticket to La Traviata (from Monday)
- (almost empty) package of Orbit raspberry mint gum and a great number of wrappers.
- 5 band-aids of varying shapes and sizes
- cell phone (pink razr! pretty!)
- Mini eye glass repair kit (in case I have a screw loose. Ahahahaha)
- plastic spoon (yes, it's a little odd, but in my own defense, we went for like 2 weeks in the office where we didn't have any spoons. Have you ever tried to eat oatmeal with a fork? Very unsatisfactory. So this is my little emergency spoon.)
- Business card case (I saw this advertised in a magazine and had to get it. I am very suggestible.)
- Eye drops
- 3 tubes of Soft Lips gloss (one of them tinted)
- iPod (otherwise known as a Commuter's Best Friend. Red. Pretty!)
- Dr. Feelgood make-up mattifier
- Advil
- 2 Argo tea receipts
- Patti LuPone Live cd (it was cold this week and I didn't want to leave it in the car to freeze)
- Monthly Metra pass (New 10% fare increase goes into effect today! Arrrgh! Bastards! Sometimes this working in the city thing really really sucks.)
- Work ID badge ("All Access" Woohoo!)
- 3 pens (this is kind of like a record for me. Usually I carry about 10 pens on me. I live in fear of one of them not working...Strange because this never ever has happened to me. It's good to be prepared, I guess.)
- Keys (work and car and house)
- Change purse (for train parking lot money. $1.50! To park! Crooks!)
- Parking receipts (it takes every ounce of my early morning pre-coffee brain power to be able to remember my parking spot number as I go from the car to the station. Sometimes this can be a long walk. It is not unusual to see me walking to the station chanting "175! One seven five..." or whatever the number is. It changes every day depending on when I get there. I keep the receipts in case one day I totally screw it up).
- Ear plugs (for noisy train station. They kind of suck so I don't wear them a lot)
- Nasal spray (for raging allergies)
- Extra socks
- Nail file
- Mini-Sharpie (I like to carry sharpies about my person at all times, because you never know, do you.)
- make-up bag (where about 99% of this stuff resides most of the time)
- Wallet
So there you have it. Usually I also bring an extra pair of shoes in this bag, and I stow my hat and gloves in there too when I am not wearing them (due to the fact that I tend to lose winter apparel at an alarming rate. This winter I've been pretty good and only lost a scarf.) I also sometimes put in a book or magazine for reading time, or a snack if I'm going to be out and about and have to miss breakfast. I had a cookie in there for a while, from a meeting last week that I forgot about, and so now there are crumbs in there too. There's also usually a generous helping of white cat hair, since the kitty likes to sleep on (and occasionally chew on) my bag (I think he likes the leather).
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Weekend Randomness...
Just some things on my mind...
1. It's 4 degrees outside. 4. It's Chicago in January. I know. Still, this weather just makes me want to curl up with a blanket and hibernate until April.
2. Evidence that the events of the past week have just been a little too much and completely drained my brain: was doing laundry this morning and throwing a load of sheets into the washer. That done, I went upstairs to watch Thursday's episode of Ugly Betty that I'd missed. Mom came up to me and said "Uhh, why are you only washing one sheet?" It transpired that I'd only thrown the one into the washing machine (No, not by itself. There was other stuff in there just not the other sheet). The other one was lying, forlorn and abandoned, on top of the hamper. Whoops.
3. One more Traviata (yay!) this week. I am following some advice I overheard at the dress rehearsal - there was a school group from the Music Institute of Chicago and she was passing out notepaper for the students to write down their questions for Renee. "When you go back there and see her, your mind will go completely blank," she admonished them. Sounds about right, actually. I've only just started managing the full sentences around the Fabulous One.
4. Got a google alert for an interview with Patti in the Dallas Voice and have inadvertantly stumbled onto a new career path (maybe?):
The question was: Have you ever done a national tour of musical or would you consider doing one?
The answer was: No, never have. I always thought Broadway is the ultimate — why would I go out on the road? Now I have a son in school and I wouldn’t go on the road until he graduates anyway. But I like touring. I like seeing the country, but it’s uprooting. I’m not young anymore. But I heard about someone who had a packer, a person who was flown in and packed for them, went to where they were going and then unpacked them. That’s fabulous — I want that in my next contract.
Can you imagine? Being a packer for Patti? I'm not suggesting it as a long-range career strategy or anything but it might be kinda fun for a few months (weeks? days? hours?). Of course, if one is looking to put oneself in a workplace drama-less situation, this most likely is not the way to go...
UPDATE: Sunday Afternoon
5. Got a haircut yesterday and ohmygod, my bangs look ridiculous! Just another reason for me to stay indoors, I guess...
6. Last night I almost sprayed my head with eyeglass cleaner rather than my detangling spray. The bottles are the same size. Arrrghhhh. I think I need a vacation....
1. It's 4 degrees outside. 4. It's Chicago in January. I know. Still, this weather just makes me want to curl up with a blanket and hibernate until April.
2. Evidence that the events of the past week have just been a little too much and completely drained my brain: was doing laundry this morning and throwing a load of sheets into the washer. That done, I went upstairs to watch Thursday's episode of Ugly Betty that I'd missed. Mom came up to me and said "Uhh, why are you only washing one sheet?" It transpired that I'd only thrown the one into the washing machine (No, not by itself. There was other stuff in there just not the other sheet). The other one was lying, forlorn and abandoned, on top of the hamper. Whoops.
3. One more Traviata (yay!) this week. I am following some advice I overheard at the dress rehearsal - there was a school group from the Music Institute of Chicago and she was passing out notepaper for the students to write down their questions for Renee. "When you go back there and see her, your mind will go completely blank," she admonished them. Sounds about right, actually. I've only just started managing the full sentences around the Fabulous One.
4. Got a google alert for an interview with Patti in the Dallas Voice and have inadvertantly stumbled onto a new career path (maybe?):
The question was: Have you ever done a national tour of musical or would you consider doing one?
The answer was: No, never have. I always thought Broadway is the ultimate — why would I go out on the road? Now I have a son in school and I wouldn’t go on the road until he graduates anyway. But I like touring. I like seeing the country, but it’s uprooting. I’m not young anymore. But I heard about someone who had a packer, a person who was flown in and packed for them, went to where they were going and then unpacked them. That’s fabulous — I want that in my next contract.
Can you imagine? Being a packer for Patti? I'm not suggesting it as a long-range career strategy or anything but it might be kinda fun for a few months (weeks? days? hours?). Of course, if one is looking to put oneself in a workplace drama-less situation, this most likely is not the way to go...
UPDATE: Sunday Afternoon
5. Got a haircut yesterday and ohmygod, my bangs look ridiculous! Just another reason for me to stay indoors, I guess...
6. Last night I almost sprayed my head with eyeglass cleaner rather than my detangling spray. The bottles are the same size. Arrrghhhh. I think I need a vacation....
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Five for Free...
Some random tidbits about me *, just in case we should ever appear on a game show together where you’d need to know such things…
1. I once sang backup for Barry Manilow
2. Sunday evenings, I will turn on the NFL game just so I can sing along with Faith Hill’s opening montage song (“I’ve Been Waiting All Day for Sunday Night”)
3. I’ve never been to Great America. It’s not that I have anything against it, or anything, I’ve just never had the opportunity to go.
4. For anyone who thinks working in the arts is one great big champagne filled, chocolate covered party, let me tell you, most days it just isn’t. For instance, right now I am peeling labels OFF of a mailer that we put on there by mistake. Oh, the glamour!
5. I am afraid of elevators. Not because it’s a small enclosed space (because if so, I’d also be afraid of sitting in my cubicle) – I just don’t like them. I’m always afraid I’ll get stuck. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if a person who feared elevators also had the fear of the number 13 (or triskaidekaphobia)…
* All true. I swear.
1. I once sang backup for Barry Manilow
2. Sunday evenings, I will turn on the NFL game just so I can sing along with Faith Hill’s opening montage song (“I’ve Been Waiting All Day for Sunday Night”)
3. I’ve never been to Great America. It’s not that I have anything against it, or anything, I’ve just never had the opportunity to go.
4. For anyone who thinks working in the arts is one great big champagne filled, chocolate covered party, let me tell you, most days it just isn’t. For instance, right now I am peeling labels OFF of a mailer that we put on there by mistake. Oh, the glamour!
5. I am afraid of elevators. Not because it’s a small enclosed space (because if so, I’d also be afraid of sitting in my cubicle) – I just don’t like them. I’m always afraid I’ll get stuck. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if a person who feared elevators also had the fear of the number 13 (or triskaidekaphobia)…
* All true. I swear.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
No, seriously. Who is this?
Friday night, 6:30, just finished dinner. Settling in to watch a Seinfeld re-run. Suddenly:
Ring ring!
Me: Good evening.
Caller: (laughing) "Good evening?"
Me (not recognizing the voice and wondering why the hell this person is mocking my greeting): Um, yes?
Caller: Good afternoon is better.
Me (trying to figure out who this is. Beth? Jane?): It's 6:30.
Caller: But it's not evening.
Me Isn't it? Have given up thinking person is calling for me. Must be for mom): I'm sorry, but who is this?
Caller: Who do you think it is?
Me: No idea. Sorry.
Caller (long pause, as she is clearly trying to think of some kind of inside joke she can share to remind me who she is): I don't have anything
(laughs).
Me (Thinking. Your name would be helpful!)
Caller: No really. When are we eating?
Me: No really. Who is this?
Caller: Is this Heather?
Me: No.
Caller: So who is this?
Me: No, no. YOU called ME. Who is THIS?
Caller: No, who is this?
Me: You called the wrong number. You figure it out.
Click!!
After I hung up I thought it might have been kind of fun to say I was somebody famous - "Don't you KNOW who I AM??" (since all kinds of famous people live in the MG, right??) Give her some kind of thrill, and make an already odd wrong-number conversation that much more interesting. Unfortunately, there was only one famously named person who came into my head at the time, and I was worried it would get back to her somehow that I'd impersonated her on the phone and then I'd be in trouble.
I was kind of hoping the caller would call me back and we could go around and around some more on the theme of "Who is this?"
Ring ring!
Me: Good evening.
Caller: (laughing) "Good evening?"
Me (not recognizing the voice and wondering why the hell this person is mocking my greeting): Um, yes?
Caller: Good afternoon is better.
Me (trying to figure out who this is. Beth? Jane?): It's 6:30.
Caller: But it's not evening.
Me Isn't it? Have given up thinking person is calling for me. Must be for mom): I'm sorry, but who is this?
Caller: Who do you think it is?
Me: No idea. Sorry.
Caller (long pause, as she is clearly trying to think of some kind of inside joke she can share to remind me who she is): I don't have anything
(laughs).
Me (Thinking. Your name would be helpful!)
Caller: No really. When are we eating?
Me: No really. Who is this?
Caller: Is this Heather?
Me: No.
Caller: So who is this?
Me: No, no. YOU called ME. Who is THIS?
Caller: No, who is this?
Me: You called the wrong number. You figure it out.
Click!!
After I hung up I thought it might have been kind of fun to say I was somebody famous - "Don't you KNOW who I AM??" (since all kinds of famous people live in the MG, right??) Give her some kind of thrill, and make an already odd wrong-number conversation that much more interesting. Unfortunately, there was only one famously named person who came into my head at the time, and I was worried it would get back to her somehow that I'd impersonated her on the phone and then I'd be in trouble.
I was kind of hoping the caller would call me back and we could go around and around some more on the theme of "Who is this?"
Monday, August 20, 2007
whatever happened to recess?
It's so weird for me to think that I am Done With School. Even these last few years, I've been in Grad School, so I could still tell people (if I so chose) "I'm a student." Now I can't. Because I'm not. I'm just me, a Working Stiff. One of the teeming masses.
One of the things I love about fall, aside from the boot-and-coat weather, is of course, the back-to-school shopping and the ritual of buying new stuff for school. For me growing up, it was a trapper keeper, shiny pencil case (one of those ones with the different compartments and the buttons - press one and the pencil sharpener comes out, press another one and a magnifying glass comes out, press another one, and the little tray with your number 2 pencils rockets into a vertical position, so you can better select which to use, I guess...), pens in a rainbow of colors (I took notes in different colors. Pink, green, turquoise, purple. Just to mix it up, not because it was a useful study tool, or anything. What else? New backpacks... Not like these kids today (Yikes. Did I just say that??) with their backpacks on wheels that they lug around like they're going on a flight, or something. I lugged around a heavy backpack on my back for 12 years of schooling, I think they can, too. All I got was a little mild scoliosis (kidding!) Honestly. It's not like they bring any books home, anyway...
Just a sidebar here - it's really funny to me sometimes how things have changed between when I was in school and now. When I was in elementary school, we had a 'playground' in a field. When we got older, there was one with just different sets of climbing apparatus (apparati?) - covered in lead paint, probably. Over concrete. No soft rubber stuff or little wood chips to cushion the fall. The park by my house had a massively tall slide you had to climb up, and also one of those merry-go-rounds that you rode round and round and round on until you gor whiplash. Yeah, those playgrounds had character. (Why do I feel like I am 90 years old all of a sudden?)
But back to the shopping list - notebooks, loose leaf paper, folders, graph paper and graphing calculators, protractors and compasses for math of course (never to be used again, relegated to collect dust in the junk drawer), gym clothes (in jr. high we had really really unattractive reversible yellow and blue shirts and little tiny shorts), and the Chandler's Assignment notebook. When I was student teaching, there was a big teacher meeting about letting the kids have palm pilots. And, oh, wait, the kids were in Junior High. Honestly? I don't even have a palm pilot. I still use the assignment notebook style appointment diary. What could 6th graders possibly need with a palm pilot?
Look out for more School Nostalgia. I need something to occupy my mind so I am not constantly obsessing with my next field trip coming up here.
One of the things I love about fall, aside from the boot-and-coat weather, is of course, the back-to-school shopping and the ritual of buying new stuff for school. For me growing up, it was a trapper keeper, shiny pencil case (one of those ones with the different compartments and the buttons - press one and the pencil sharpener comes out, press another one and a magnifying glass comes out, press another one, and the little tray with your number 2 pencils rockets into a vertical position, so you can better select which to use, I guess...), pens in a rainbow of colors (I took notes in different colors. Pink, green, turquoise, purple. Just to mix it up, not because it was a useful study tool, or anything. What else? New backpacks... Not like these kids today (Yikes. Did I just say that??) with their backpacks on wheels that they lug around like they're going on a flight, or something. I lugged around a heavy backpack on my back for 12 years of schooling, I think they can, too. All I got was a little mild scoliosis (kidding!) Honestly. It's not like they bring any books home, anyway...
Just a sidebar here - it's really funny to me sometimes how things have changed between when I was in school and now. When I was in elementary school, we had a 'playground' in a field. When we got older, there was one with just different sets of climbing apparatus (apparati?) - covered in lead paint, probably. Over concrete. No soft rubber stuff or little wood chips to cushion the fall. The park by my house had a massively tall slide you had to climb up, and also one of those merry-go-rounds that you rode round and round and round on until you gor whiplash. Yeah, those playgrounds had character. (Why do I feel like I am 90 years old all of a sudden?)
But back to the shopping list - notebooks, loose leaf paper, folders, graph paper and graphing calculators, protractors and compasses for math of course (never to be used again, relegated to collect dust in the junk drawer), gym clothes (in jr. high we had really really unattractive reversible yellow and blue shirts and little tiny shorts), and the Chandler's Assignment notebook. When I was student teaching, there was a big teacher meeting about letting the kids have palm pilots. And, oh, wait, the kids were in Junior High. Honestly? I don't even have a palm pilot. I still use the assignment notebook style appointment diary. What could 6th graders possibly need with a palm pilot?
Look out for more School Nostalgia. I need something to occupy my mind so I am not constantly obsessing with my next field trip coming up here.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
can't stop eating 'em
So I was at a meeting yesterday and talking with our consultant. We were the only 2 present and waiting for everyone else to appear. He starts chowing down on potato chips. He tells me they are his food weakness. Fair enough. I have a few of those myself chocolate anything, pineapple, cheese (but not all together, that's weird), so far be it for me to judge anybody's food fetishes.
THEN he tells me that he had a very large collection of - wait for it - potato chip bags. I'm hoping they were empty. Not only that, he SOLD his collection to the Potato Museum in New Mexico. I'm a little startled at this point, as I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that a. someone would go to the trouble of collecting potato chip bags and b. someone ELSE would actually pay money for them and c. that there is actually a potato museum that people pay money to visit and view potato paraphenalia. So all I say is "I didn't know there was... a potato musuem." He was apparently hoping the Smithsonian would buy his collection, but I guess they reached their quota of quirky (crappy?)contributions for the year. Their loss is the Potato Museum's gain.
THEN he tells me that he had a very large collection of - wait for it - potato chip bags. I'm hoping they were empty. Not only that, he SOLD his collection to the Potato Museum in New Mexico. I'm a little startled at this point, as I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that a. someone would go to the trouble of collecting potato chip bags and b. someone ELSE would actually pay money for them and c. that there is actually a potato museum that people pay money to visit and view potato paraphenalia. So all I say is "I didn't know there was... a potato musuem." He was apparently hoping the Smithsonian would buy his collection, but I guess they reached their quota of quirky (crappy?)contributions for the year. Their loss is the Potato Museum's gain.
Monday, August 13, 2007
a little bit of everything...
The weekend went by too fast, but then they always do. What did I even do with myself?? Not a lot. Slept. Hid from the sticky heat. Was hit by the Thunderbolt of Inspiration and went to Archiver's ("The Photo Memory Store") - I decided to do something with the photos and assorted bits of ephemera collected from the New York trip (well, okay, I am putting it all in a little album. Nothing too fancy.) It's been a while since I've been crafty - since I'm not working there any more (thank GAWD) and I'm not constantly surrounded by that new cute paper or those adorable little embellishments. AND I've found other things to spend my money on (shoes. and tickets to see Patti). AND there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day anymore. I'm not one of those crazy scrapbookers - I don't have kids, and I don't sit around scrapping everyday things. Just trips and stuff like that. And the occasional super cool explosion book mini-album for the Divas (and about the divas, IE the gorgeous one I did for Sweeney Todd, that I had signed by the whole cast.). But like I said, it's been awhile since I've done any of it, so it was fun.
I also worked on my knitting - it's hard to think about blankets when it's 95 degrees and humid, but I'm determined to finish, so I got back to work on it.
Other than that, it was a quiet weekend. Had to go to the dentist for a cleaning. I've been going to the same dentist for many years and usually it's not so bad. I had a string of bad visits, where I was worked on by a Dental Nazi from Hell hygenist. She yelled at me, made me cry and made me bleed. Ouch. And honestly, I'm not that bad. I brush twice (sometimes thrice) a day and floss every day too. I actually visit every 6 months, which is more than I can say for some people. And still I get the lecture. Who needs that, lady? So I've requested not to have Beelzebubette (she claims her name is "Sandi" but who does she think she's kidding?) and my dental visits have been much happier.
Saturday there was a new hygienist named Patricia. She was nice, but a little flaky. My appointment was in the afternoon and she said she hoped she "wouldn't fall asleep." Uh, that makes two of us. Then later as she was polishing my teeth, the little do-hickey they use wasn't working right, and she said "Sometimes they're just shitty attachments, ya know?" Now, I'm not averse to a little swearing, you know, but I'm not sure that you should be swearing in front of your patients on the first meeting. Something tells me she's not going to be around there for long...
I also worked on my knitting - it's hard to think about blankets when it's 95 degrees and humid, but I'm determined to finish, so I got back to work on it.
Other than that, it was a quiet weekend. Had to go to the dentist for a cleaning. I've been going to the same dentist for many years and usually it's not so bad. I had a string of bad visits, where I was worked on by a Dental Nazi from Hell hygenist. She yelled at me, made me cry and made me bleed. Ouch. And honestly, I'm not that bad. I brush twice (sometimes thrice) a day and floss every day too. I actually visit every 6 months, which is more than I can say for some people. And still I get the lecture. Who needs that, lady? So I've requested not to have Beelzebubette (she claims her name is "Sandi" but who does she think she's kidding?) and my dental visits have been much happier.
Saturday there was a new hygienist named Patricia. She was nice, but a little flaky. My appointment was in the afternoon and she said she hoped she "wouldn't fall asleep." Uh, that makes two of us. Then later as she was polishing my teeth, the little do-hickey they use wasn't working right, and she said "Sometimes they're just shitty attachments, ya know?" Now, I'm not averse to a little swearing, you know, but I'm not sure that you should be swearing in front of your patients on the first meeting. Something tells me she's not going to be around there for long...
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
by the way...
For any potential power couple type applicants, even though The Oracle of Starbucks (found at http://www.buttafly.com/starbucks/index.php - for some reason my linky thing isn't working right and I can't really be bothered to figure out why.)
Personality type: High Maintenance
You pride yourself on being assertive and direct; everyone else thinks you're bossy and arrogant. You're constantly running your mouth about topics that only you would find interesting. Your capacity for wasting other people's time is limitless. Your friends find you intolerable, that's why they're plotting to kill you. Also drinks: Water. Bottled, chilled, with four ice cubes, a twist of lemon, in a crystal glass. Can also be found at: Trendy martini bars
I swear, I've never been to a martini bar in my life.....
(thanks, by the way to litwit - just follow the link over there, okay? for pointing me in the direction of the great, caffeinated oracle...)
Personality type: High Maintenance
You pride yourself on being assertive and direct; everyone else thinks you're bossy and arrogant. You're constantly running your mouth about topics that only you would find interesting. Your capacity for wasting other people's time is limitless. Your friends find you intolerable, that's why they're plotting to kill you. Also drinks: Water. Bottled, chilled, with four ice cubes, a twist of lemon, in a crystal glass. Can also be found at: Trendy martini bars
I swear, I've never been to a martini bar in my life.....
(thanks, by the way to litwit - just follow the link over there, okay? for pointing me in the direction of the great, caffeinated oracle...)
Right, okay....
Here I am - in the city. Anyone wanna be the other half of a 'power couple'??
'Power Couples' Meet in Cities, Study Finds
LiveScience Staff
LiveScience.com
More than half of all "power couples," in which both spouses are college graduates, live in large metropolitan areas. Researchers have long assumed the couples migrate to the cities.
Instead, single college graduates tend to move to cities, where they meet and marry.
That's the conclusion of a study released today by the Journal of Labor Economics.
In 1970, 39 percent of power couples lived in metropolitan areas with at least two million residents. By 1990 the figure grew to 50 percent.
“We find that power couples are not more likely to migrate to the largest metropolitan areas and are no less likely than other couples to migrate from such areas once they are there,” write the researchers.
The study, based on 4,800 families, was done by Janice Compton at the University of Manitoba and Robert A. Pollak of Washington University and National Bureau of Economic Research.
The researches also found that couples in which only the man has a college degree are far more likely to move to a metropolitan area than couples in which only the woman has a college degree.
'Power Couples' Meet in Cities, Study Finds
LiveScience Staff
LiveScience.com
More than half of all "power couples," in which both spouses are college graduates, live in large metropolitan areas. Researchers have long assumed the couples migrate to the cities.
Instead, single college graduates tend to move to cities, where they meet and marry.
That's the conclusion of a study released today by the Journal of Labor Economics.
In 1970, 39 percent of power couples lived in metropolitan areas with at least two million residents. By 1990 the figure grew to 50 percent.
“We find that power couples are not more likely to migrate to the largest metropolitan areas and are no less likely than other couples to migrate from such areas once they are there,” write the researchers.
The study, based on 4,800 families, was done by Janice Compton at the University of Manitoba and Robert A. Pollak of Washington University and National Bureau of Economic Research.
The researches also found that couples in which only the man has a college degree are far more likely to move to a metropolitan area than couples in which only the woman has a college degree.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
One more thing...
I got the cutest necklace at the art fair over the weekend. Go and check out the stuff at Pretty Theory
They had the cutest purses made from old books (it took us the longest time to realize that they were not just books sitting there!) and jewelry made from "vintage, retro and modern" materials (the piece i have is mainly metal, but I also really loved a necklace that had old buttons on it).
Anyway, the girls there were SO nice and didn't mind the dither twins trying on their stuff and basically being indecisive. (Indecisive? Moi?)
They had the cutest purses made from old books (it took us the longest time to realize that they were not just books sitting there!) and jewelry made from "vintage, retro and modern" materials (the piece i have is mainly metal, but I also really loved a necklace that had old buttons on it).
Anyway, the girls there were SO nice and didn't mind the dither twins trying on their stuff and basically being indecisive. (Indecisive? Moi?)
Monday, June 18, 2007
Ahhh, the weekend!
Pretty much the perfect weekend (except for the heat and humidity... 90 degrees in the shade. Chicago in the summertime. Oye).
Saturday:
Breakfast at Dixie Kitchen (eggs, bacon, cheesy grits AND the best beignets on earth)
A train ride to Custer's Last Stand (a street fair in Evanston that happens to be on Custer Street - not some weirdo re-enactment of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.) I went a little nutso with the buying - jewelry of course. Some really pretty pieces that I am so very happy with.
Lunch in the air conditioning and long talks with a good friend. Back home for a few hours. BBQ dinner and then dragged mom to the CSO for Verdi's Requiem. (more on this later).
Sunday:
Sleep in!
Washed the car for Dad for Father's Day (and washed mine too)
Did some shopping
Sat down for some crafting while watching Renee Fleming in Eugene Onegin (about time, channel 11!)
Dinner at home with the family.
This week is going to be a busy one - so if you don't hear from me for a while, send a posse to see if I've made it through, ok?
Saturday:
Breakfast at Dixie Kitchen (eggs, bacon, cheesy grits AND the best beignets on earth)
A train ride to Custer's Last Stand (a street fair in Evanston that happens to be on Custer Street - not some weirdo re-enactment of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.) I went a little nutso with the buying - jewelry of course. Some really pretty pieces that I am so very happy with.
Lunch in the air conditioning and long talks with a good friend. Back home for a few hours. BBQ dinner and then dragged mom to the CSO for Verdi's Requiem. (more on this later).
Sunday:
Sleep in!
Washed the car for Dad for Father's Day (and washed mine too)
Did some shopping
Sat down for some crafting while watching Renee Fleming in Eugene Onegin (about time, channel 11!)
Dinner at home with the family.
This week is going to be a busy one - so if you don't hear from me for a while, send a posse to see if I've made it through, ok?
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Mmm, bacon
I would not have thought it was possible to combine chocolate and bacon, but those crazy kids at Vosges found a way!
Honestly? It's not too bad. Kind of... crunchy. You can hardly even taste the bacon.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
i'm alive!
My former boss used to leave me messages when he was traveling "Just wanted to call and let you know I'm alive!" which always amused me no end. Fiscal year ends on June 30, and we've been hectic up here trying to tie up loose ends and having a number of year end meetings. Really really close together. And I have coordinated, prepared materials, attended and taken notes at almost all of them. But I'm here. I'm alive and blogging.
Have a SUPER early meeting tomorrow (for which I will have to take the 6:14 train. 6:14!) and then have to figure out how to make it thru the rest of the day without falling asleep. I have my first trip to Ravinia for the season to look forward to tomorrow (yay!) which marks the start of "Pattipalooza 2007" I am not going out there tonight because it was too complicated to figure out how to get there and back from here, no one else wanted to go with me, and I have that !@#$&%* early meeting tomorrow. So, anyway.
Not much more to say than that, so I will share my current reading list. I have a nice loooong train ride twice a day and have been doing more reading.
Here's what I've read lately:
1. Knitting Under the Influence (Claire LaZebnik). Fiction. Was one of those annoying books where the plot was so obvious and not terribly well-written, and yet I couldn't put it down.
2. Rococo (Adriana Trigiani) I have a thing for books with unusual names. Past ones I've picked up just because I like the title have included: Rock 'n Roll Babes from Outer Space, Voodoo River, Watermelon, and (my favorite) The Unexpected Salami. Anyway. I picked this one up because I 'Rococo' is one of my favorite art terms (along with chiaroscuro) and I also like the author's name. This one is a great read - about an Italian-American family in Jersey. I don't think you need to be an Italian American to read it, but it helps.... I didn't want the book to end, I just wanted to know everything about these characters. If it was a movie, I know a great, talented Italian-American actress who can play the main character's sister (it's so perfect, it's spooky).
3. Anybody Out There? (Marian Keyes) I.Love.Marian.Keyes. This is one of her best ones ever.
4. Johnny and the Bomb (Terry Pratchett) I love Terry too. He can be enjoyed on many levels. This one is not a Discworld book, but part of the Johnny Maxwell trilogy. I've only just started this one.
5. If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things (Jon McGregor). Just started this one, too. Am fascinated by the style.
6. The Watchman (Robert Crais). I am in love with Joe Pike. Too bad he is a fictional character.
I've been telling my mom for years how great Robert Crais is, and she hasn't believed me. She picked this one up and is convinced. Ha!
Have a SUPER early meeting tomorrow (for which I will have to take the 6:14 train. 6:14!) and then have to figure out how to make it thru the rest of the day without falling asleep. I have my first trip to Ravinia for the season to look forward to tomorrow (yay!) which marks the start of "Pattipalooza 2007" I am not going out there tonight because it was too complicated to figure out how to get there and back from here, no one else wanted to go with me, and I have that !@#$&%* early meeting tomorrow. So, anyway.
Not much more to say than that, so I will share my current reading list. I have a nice loooong train ride twice a day and have been doing more reading.
Here's what I've read lately:
1. Knitting Under the Influence (Claire LaZebnik). Fiction. Was one of those annoying books where the plot was so obvious and not terribly well-written, and yet I couldn't put it down.
2. Rococo (Adriana Trigiani) I have a thing for books with unusual names. Past ones I've picked up just because I like the title have included: Rock 'n Roll Babes from Outer Space, Voodoo River, Watermelon, and (my favorite) The Unexpected Salami. Anyway. I picked this one up because I 'Rococo' is one of my favorite art terms (along with chiaroscuro) and I also like the author's name. This one is a great read - about an Italian-American family in Jersey. I don't think you need to be an Italian American to read it, but it helps.... I didn't want the book to end, I just wanted to know everything about these characters. If it was a movie, I know a great, talented Italian-American actress who can play the main character's sister (it's so perfect, it's spooky).
3. Anybody Out There? (Marian Keyes) I.Love.Marian.Keyes. This is one of her best ones ever.
4. Johnny and the Bomb (Terry Pratchett) I love Terry too. He can be enjoyed on many levels. This one is not a Discworld book, but part of the Johnny Maxwell trilogy. I've only just started this one.
5. If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things (Jon McGregor). Just started this one, too. Am fascinated by the style.
6. The Watchman (Robert Crais). I am in love with Joe Pike. Too bad he is a fictional character.
I've been telling my mom for years how great Robert Crais is, and she hasn't believed me. She picked this one up and is convinced. Ha!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Tony's!
Tony Nominations were announced today. I have only actually seen 2 nominated shows (Company and Grey Gardens)and of course I am not as invested in it this year as I was last year, but that's okay. The awards will be announced on June 10th. I will have to get caught up on shows on my trip in July (there's about a day in that weekend when I am not seeing Gypsy.... for now...)
Monday, May 14, 2007
just my luck...
Friday afternoon: I have made my 20 minute dash to the train station and have carefully chosen a seat. I take out my very important reading material (The 100 Most Beautiful issue of People) and am settling in for my trip home when.... dun dun dun... the World's Worst Mother and her little bratty child (mentioned in an earlier post) come into my car and sit...wait for it.... directly across from me! I could NOT believe it when they sat down there and by that time, it was too late for me to move somewhere else. Instead, I pulled out my iPod (which remains my best friend on these train trips! Best purchase I ever made. Seriously.) and put on some soothing music (a little Renee, a little Patti... ahhh).
For a while I thought it would be okay. They were sitting with a friend of the mom's and the adults were chatting and giving the kid swigs from a bottle of Pepsi (I wasn't allowed to have pop until I got to high school. Okay, maybe that's an exageration - but not by much! Now of course, I can't get through the day without a coffee in the morning and a diet coke at lunch. I fail to see the logic in giving a 3 year old lots and lots of pop. Maybe it's b/c I am not a parent?)
The adults talked and completely ignored the kid. He started yelling to get their attention. Nada. So, he threw himself on the floor, crawled under the seat and started climbing around on the seat behind them - and all over this other passenger with her laptop. The passenger behind me muttered something semi-under her breath like, 'don't pay any attention to him, or anything.' The climbed on lady was nicer about it than I would have been. The mom didn't even apologize to her. She kind of got up and tried to get the kid to sit down, but she didn't do much. She should have gone over and picked him up, but she didn't want to interrupt her conversation. The kid wandered off and went to the upper level of the train where he climbed around up there and dangled himself over the side. Do you think the mom paid any attention then?? She did not. But she could see she was annoying people, so she packed up their stuff, got the kid and left the car. Why discipline the kid and improve the behavior when you can go off to another carriage and annoy different people??
Oooh, it bothers me so much. You can't be angry with the child, because he's too young to know any better. But it's just startling the lack of respect for other people from the 2 adults who were with him. He's going to grow up thinking it's okay to do whatever because there were just no boundaries.
Have I mentioned lately how I am never having children?
For a while I thought it would be okay. They were sitting with a friend of the mom's and the adults were chatting and giving the kid swigs from a bottle of Pepsi (I wasn't allowed to have pop until I got to high school. Okay, maybe that's an exageration - but not by much! Now of course, I can't get through the day without a coffee in the morning and a diet coke at lunch. I fail to see the logic in giving a 3 year old lots and lots of pop. Maybe it's b/c I am not a parent?)
The adults talked and completely ignored the kid. He started yelling to get their attention. Nada. So, he threw himself on the floor, crawled under the seat and started climbing around on the seat behind them - and all over this other passenger with her laptop. The passenger behind me muttered something semi-under her breath like, 'don't pay any attention to him, or anything.' The climbed on lady was nicer about it than I would have been. The mom didn't even apologize to her. She kind of got up and tried to get the kid to sit down, but she didn't do much. She should have gone over and picked him up, but she didn't want to interrupt her conversation. The kid wandered off and went to the upper level of the train where he climbed around up there and dangled himself over the side. Do you think the mom paid any attention then?? She did not. But she could see she was annoying people, so she packed up their stuff, got the kid and left the car. Why discipline the kid and improve the behavior when you can go off to another carriage and annoy different people??
Oooh, it bothers me so much. You can't be angry with the child, because he's too young to know any better. But it's just startling the lack of respect for other people from the 2 adults who were with him. He's going to grow up thinking it's okay to do whatever because there were just no boundaries.
Have I mentioned lately how I am never having children?
Monday, May 07, 2007
party time!
Last night was the closing night party. We had it www.onesixtyblue.com I was debating whether or not I should go - I was sure I'd get lost (and I did! But thank god for this)
and of course, there is the eternal question of what the heck to wear.... but I went, I mingled with my peeps, met some new and lovely people, and best of all, had some completely fabulous food.
Now I get to say I've been to onesixty blue, and really, what more could a person ask for?
Got home at a decent hour and worked on my knitting. I am still just doing squares - mostly scarves. Have a bit of difficulty though since a) it's spring time, and scarves aren't really necessary and 2.) I only have the one neck. But oh well. I have moved on to different kinds of yarn (ribbons for the summer months) and I have started work on a blanket (which, of course, is a R.E.A.L.L.Y big scarf). Knitting goals are to learn to purl (anybody have any purling advice for a lefty?) and to do something other than squares...
and of course, there is the eternal question of what the heck to wear.... but I went, I mingled with my peeps, met some new and lovely people, and best of all, had some completely fabulous food.
Now I get to say I've been to onesixty blue, and really, what more could a person ask for?
Got home at a decent hour and worked on my knitting. I am still just doing squares - mostly scarves. Have a bit of difficulty though since a) it's spring time, and scarves aren't really necessary and 2.) I only have the one neck. But oh well. I have moved on to different kinds of yarn (ribbons for the summer months) and I have started work on a blanket (which, of course, is a R.E.A.L.L.Y big scarf). Knitting goals are to learn to purl (anybody have any purling advice for a lefty?) and to do something other than squares...
Thursday, May 03, 2007
new look, new name, new blog!
Well, well, well. Long time, no blog. I've been a little busy.
First, to explain the changes- the title reflects the ushering in of a new era. My new job takes me out of Evanston and puts me right in the heart of downtown Chicago. A swanky office location between State and Michigan Av --- but on the 13th floor. If I was a superstitious person, I'd say it was a sign. But I am not and although I hate elevators, I kind of like being on the 13th floor. A lot of buildings around here just go from 12 to 14, because of the perception that 13 is unlucky. I think it's been pretty lucky for me so far. But this is just my second week here, so I guess it is too soon to tell?
There will be some other changes around here, too. With my lovely tax return, I am going to get a new computer at home (and HIGH SPEED!!!yeeehaaaa!) and will do many fun and blogtacular things with it.
First, to explain the changes- the title reflects the ushering in of a new era. My new job takes me out of Evanston and puts me right in the heart of downtown Chicago. A swanky office location between State and Michigan Av --- but on the 13th floor. If I was a superstitious person, I'd say it was a sign. But I am not and although I hate elevators, I kind of like being on the 13th floor. A lot of buildings around here just go from 12 to 14, because of the perception that 13 is unlucky. I think it's been pretty lucky for me so far. But this is just my second week here, so I guess it is too soon to tell?
There will be some other changes around here, too. With my lovely tax return, I am going to get a new computer at home (and HIGH SPEED!!!yeeehaaaa!) and will do many fun and blogtacular things with it.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Happy Pattiversary! (tomorrow!)
After vacations,it is always rather hard for me to return to reality. Especially after I took the Rock Boat cruises, it was always like What? I have to work now? But I want to be able to roll out of bed and laze by the pool/go to a rockin' concert/eat lots of lovely lovely food and not have to pay.... etc. When I'm back, I like to play "at this time last week I was..." and relive the fun times, until people tell me to shut the !@*#($* up already.
Well, I was going through some photographs on my camera, and I realized that at this time last year, I was in New York City. Not only did I go to the Met and see Renee the Magnificent in Manon and hang around with my group members whom I love like family, including Mims and Iris from London, two incredibly fabulous people brought me to Sweeney Todd for the first (and not the last) time. It was my first (and not the last) time seeing The Patti. I don't know what it is about her, but she's fierce (in a good, and kind of scary way). I don't think my lovely friends knew they'd create such a monster, but alas, it is so. I have A Second Diva.
Thanks, guys!!! I will have a Pattiversary cupcake in your honor (or maybe a Pattiversary cocktail... or two... or six?)
I wonder where I will be at this time.... next year....
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