Ice Day Part II

This has been our second ice day in 3 business days! I like WFH as much as the next person, but yeesh. I miss my people. And my dual computer monitors.

Okay, I really only have three major observations from the Grammys:

1) If the supercool Pharrell Williams can't pull off a Smokey the Bear hat, there's no hope for any of you out there. Don't even attempt it.
2) Madonna looked and sounded old and ridiculous with her oh-my-gawd-is-that-a-55-year-old-with-a  grill and her walking-cane/spirit-stick thingie. Good grief. She could outcool Pharrell and all the rest of them if she would just be the goddess of pop she is and emerge onto the stage in a sophisticated, sexy dress with stilettos. classy makeup, and top it off with her pretty smile and great voice. Or maybe she's taken up smoking. It was just creepy.
3) Pharrell (I can't make it through a list item without including him) and Daft Punk singing "Get Lucky" with the amazing Stevie Wonder. EPIC.

In other news... There is a high school Instagram in trouble for posting photos of girls they've decided are the school sluts. A lively debate ensued on Facebook about it this weekend. While I don't think this Instagram is a nice thing to do, I would imagine that if you're not a slut, you wouldn't care, and if you are, then you're probably happy to have made the list.

Now, some of the photos are nude or semi-nude. That's illegal if the person is underage, so obviously we all have a giant problem with that.

One comment stuck out as plain old ignorant though (other than the creepers asking for the URL): "This is why my children go to a charter school. They all treat each other with respect." Seriously? If you think your kid's school doesn't have bullying because it's not a regular public school, you are sticking your head in the sand. *eye roll*

And finally, I leave you with a great quote of the day, from Supernatural...

Dean: So you're saying we're both a couple of dumbasses. 
Cas: I prefer the word "trusting." Less dumb, less ass.

I need to remember that myself sometimes. :)

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Saturday 9 on Sunday

Last night, Jeff and I went to a birthday bash for the wife of one of his work buddies. It was really relaxing, gathering around the enormous, warm fire pit in their backyard in the crisp winter chill. I don't think anyone who got a good spot in that area left their space other than to grab food or drinks and return, because it was so nice. The manly men were always poking the fire and adding wood. Very entertaining. Now I want a big fire pit in my backyard!

Survey meme time. You know the drill. Copy/paste/answer in your own blogs...

Saturday 9: I Will Always Love You

1) The Bodyguard is the best-selling movie soundtrack ever and this is the song most often associated with Whitney Houston. Is it on your iPod/mp3 player?
It is not.

2) In the movie, Rachel (Whitney) sings "I Will Always Love You" after she realizes she can never see Frank (Kevin Costner) again. What song reminds you of a past love?
Simple Minds "Don't You Forget About Me." Well, it more reminds me of Pitch Perfect now. 

3) Despite the movie's and the song's overwhelming popularity, Whitney Houston was awarded a Razzie Award as the worst actress of 1992. What's the most recent criticism you received?
Occasionally, I work too fast on study documentation at work. I make the correct content updates, but I forget to update headers and footers. *shakes fist at headers and footers*

4) On the bright side, share the last compliment you received.
I was complimented on the top I wore on Thursday, during a client meeting.

5) In the 1980s, when Whitney first burst onto the scene, a trendy woman wore big hair, big bows and big shoulder pads. Can you think of anything you wore that was fashionable at the time, but looking back, makes you cringe? (An embarrassing photo to accompany your answer would be nice!)
One of my fave outfits was bright turquoise pants and a white, fitted blouse with turquoise, fuchsia and bright yellow zaps of color on the shoulders. Yeah baby!

6) When this song was popular, cell phones were uncommon and Facebook was unheard of. Which has had a bigger impact on your life -- smart phones or social networking?
Good question. Smart phones. I can be without social networking, but I hate being without my phone.

7) Whitney's marriage to Bobby Brown left many people shaking their heads. Whitney and Bobby's daughter recently married the young man who was raised as her brother. Have you ever been in a relationship your friends/family didn't approve of?
Just one. My sophomore year high school boyfriend turned out to be a) "figuring out" his sexual orientation and b) dabbling in illegal drugs (and about keeled over trying to smoke dried banana peels, but that's a story for another day). Most of the friends and fam really loved him as a person (there were a lot of great things about him, of course); they just didn't want me to be in a relationship with him.

8) Whitney Houston's grave marker reads, "I Will Always Love You," so obviously her family is very proud of the success of this recording. How would you like to be remembered?
I've been told on a few occasions, "You're always smiling." I want to be remembered for being a positive person, hopefully having brought a little sunshine into others' lives.

9) Whitney was born in Newark, the largest city in New Jersey. It's a major air, rail and shipping hub, and it's in the Eastern Time zone. Have you ever been to Newark ... or any town in New Jersey? 
I've flown through Newark a few times and we've cruised out of Bayonne.

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Brussels Sprouts Rock

My new favorite snack is Brussels sprouts with a little olive oil and salt. No joke! Crystal got me hooked on the Bsprouts when she brought maple bacon Brussels sprouts to work several weeks ago. I made those for the fam, and they hated them. I loved them, but of course, one cannot eat much maple bacon anything.

She just finished off a bag of Bsprouts over several days, just microwaving them whole with olive oil. I had no idea they were so quick to cook in the microwave. I started making them, too, only I quarter and separate the leaves, toss the leaves into a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes and 45 seconds with just a little olive oil, then add a bit of salt.

YUMMO! Believe it! Beats the heck out of a salad, too.

We had Jack's going away happy hour last night. Here's a bit of conversation that ensued when he noticed Crystal had removed her case from her phone.

Jack: Where is your phone case?
Crystal: My phone won't fit into my wristlet with the case.
A: So it's totally unprotected.
Me: Ha. That's risky.
Crystal: Yeah, well... it was too big, so what can you do.
Jack: But now it looks like it's just going to slip out.
Crystal: It's not going to just 'slip out!' How big do you think this hole is?

Heh. Thanks, sangria!


Sunday Stealing: The Last Night Meme

Did anyone call you last night? Jeff. He's in San Francisco all week for work.
How late were you on the computer last night? I wasn't on the computer at all last night.
What did you have to eat last night? Lauren and I had Chicken Salsa Casserole and roasted cream cheese jalepenos
Did you watch any good TV shows or movies last night? Supernatural
Did any news items stand out to you last night? There was a turned-out-not-to-be-a-shooting at University of Oklahoma and winter weather advisory to start today through Friday.
Did you go out last night? to Jack's Happy Hour at Abuelo's!
What was the weather like last night? Really nice. About 65 degrees and clear.
What was the last thing you said last night? "Good night, dear!" to Lolo
What time did you go to bed last night? 10:30

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Movie Week

We saw Frozen this week. Beautiful animation! And great music with the fabulous Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell. Definitely see it.

One of the best scenes and songs in the film:


(And Olaf the snowman's "In Summer" is hilarious.)

On Saturday, we FINALLY saw American Hustle. It was funnier than I thought it was supposed to be. I liked it a lot. It reminded me of Ocean's 11. The George version, of course. See it now or rent it later, but it's one you should watch.


Saturday 9: Best Song Ever
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here. (This is their official video and it begins with a skit; music starts at 2:25.)

1) Dancing all night to the best song ever would be good for the cardiovascular system. When is the last time you exercised?
Lauren and I walked one of the neighborhood park trails through the woods on Monday. The rest of the week was a busy blur. I'm hoping to do a hike again today!

2) The girl in this song is the daughter of a dentist. "Dentophobia" is fear of dentists. How do you feel about going to the dentist?
It's fine!

3) One Direction performed this on Good Morning, America. Do you watch morning TV? If so, which show?
I wish I could, but I leave for work at 6:30. I used to watch Good Morning America religiously (at least in the background of whatever was going on).

4) Listening to upbeat pop songs like this one makes Sam feel young. When is the last time you participated in an activity commonly connected to children (like swinging on a swing, drinking chocolate milk, playing a board game, etc.)?
The last time I think I felt like a kid was when we went to the Christmas tree farm with Scott & Julie. Superfun!

5) One of the boys, Louis Tomlinson, was an actor before joining the band. How many different professions have you tried? What were they?
Just two: clinical research and stay-at-home mom.

6) The fans that have made One Direction millionaires are also the target audience for series like The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Wimpy Kid. Do you read Young Adult literature?
No. I don't even read adult literature.

"Adult literature." Heh.

7) If this is the "best song ever," what song do you consider the worst? Tell us which song just sets your teeth on edge.
Anything by Owl City. "Crazy" by Gnarles Barkley and "Come Away with Me" by Norah Jones. *shudder*

8) One Direction performed at the Royal Variety Show for Queen Elizabeth. If you found yourself presented to Her Majesty, what would you say?
I would tell her what an honor it was to meet her. If I had any time to ask her a question, I would love to know who her favorite music artist is.

9) Right now, is your life moving in the right direction or are you feeling a bit aimless?
Funny this is being asked right now. I wouldn't use the word "aimless," but I don't feel I've been my "authentic self" for the past several months. (Oh geez. I think I'm quoting Oprah.) Some of it is just adjusting to all the major life changes going on for me and those around me, so I am hopeful that all will return to normalcy this year.

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Sparkly!

Is this not the most beautiful iPhone case ever? Encrusted with Swarovski crystals...

You can buy one and see others at the White Diamonds website.

Speaking of sparkly things... for our twentieth anniversary, Jeff got a bigger diamond for the center stone in my wedding ring. As it turned out, that stone wouldn't work in the setting, so he ended up getting me a whole new ring. (It's gorgeous!) I've gotten questions over the years about whether or not it's just an engagement ring, so I asked for a wedding band for Christmas that I can wear with it, so it's clear that I'm married and not just engaged.

This ended up with a funny discussion about how Jeff (and Laura, of course) think that men are more likely to flirt with a woman they think is married than one they think is engaged. Why? They tell me it's because an engaged woman is obviously head-over-heels in love and a married woman could very well be in an unhappy marriage with the old ball-'n'-chain.

Well, I've had male friends tell me that women also supposedly flirt more with married men than single men, but for an entirely different reason- because they think married men are "safe," either because women don't expect a married man to actually pursue anything more than just flirting, or if something does end up going down, there won't be any complications, because the guy is in a committed relationship.

So, let me get this straight. Women assume married men are happily married and men assume married women are unhappy. Hmm!

Anyhoo... I did get a beautiful band for Christmas. He went to Jared.

It was a long story to say that line, but I DID IT!


Saturday 9: That's My Kind of Night
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, our hero offers to take his girl down to the river to catch a catfish dinner. What is your favorite seafood?
swordfish

2) Luke Bryan went to Georgia State University, home of the Panthers. What was your school mascot?
We're the Texas A&M Aggies and our mascot is Reveille the collie.

3) Have you ever tried acupuncture?
No, but I would, if traditional therapies weren't working or had undesirable side effects.

4) Just last night, Crazy Sam threw away a jar of Miracle Whip because it expired in September 2013. Is your refrigerator neat and organized? Or is it a disaster area, like Sam's?
It's not perfect, but it's fairly neat. I do not keep expired items. Talking about expired refrigerator items always reminds me of the "blue lemon." My mom had a lemon in a baggie in her fridge once that was absolutely covered in blue mold. Not one square millimeter of yellow left.

I held it up and said sarcastically, "You want me to toss this?"

"No! I can still get juice out of that. The mold is only on the outside."

I thought she was joking, but no. (Yeah, I tossed it.)

5) Which is more important to you -- saving time or saving money?
saving time

6) Sam's next door neighbor is named Jim. He's retired, smokes a pipe and drives a red Corolla. Tell us about one of your neighbors.
Our neighbor Paul is a retired doctor and avid cyclist.

7) What's the most recent magazine you flipped through?
Entertainment Weekly

8) Could your vehicle use a trip to the car wash right now?
Probably

9) Did you hit the snooze button this morning?
I never hit the snooze button.

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Blast From the Past Continues...

Our senior programmer is leaving us (he's already mostly gone- wah-  but he's staying on as a part-time contractor until we're on our feet with a project), so we needed a new programmer. We had been looking for a while, but no luck.

Well, our new director just hired his and my old coworker, Mike! He starts next week. If you didn't work at the old company "back in the day," you are part of an ever-smaller minority at the office. Now if we could just get Kathy, Ina, Sal and MelissaN back in the gang...


Patrick's Saturday Six

1. A is for ABORTION: Do you feel that at least in certain circumstances, abortion should be an allowed option for couples, or would you ban it entirely for any reason whatsoever? 
In most circumstances, abortion should be a legal option. Now, if you're six months along or something, I think you've passed your decision-making time. What is the line? I have no idea. But six months is definitely past it. (Yeah, I don't have the answers to all of life's ethical dilemmas.)

2. A is for ABSENTEE: Have you ever voted by absentee ballot? If so, how well did it go? 
I'm fairly sure I voted absentee at least once while I was in college. As fuzzy as that answer was, I'm going to have to guess that it went fine.

3. A is for ACHILLES: Which non-diet food is your biggest weakness? 
ribeye steak

4. A is for AIRCRAFT: What’s the largest plane you’ve flown in and where were you going? 
A British Caledonian DC-10 in 1983 from Houston to London and back. Pretty sure there were 5 seats in the middle row.

5. A is for ARCHITECTURE: What is the most impressive structure you’ve seen in person?
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria

6. A is for ASTRONOMY: Other than Earth, which planet in our solar system are you most curious about?
Venus. So bright in the sky some nights!

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Everybody Poops

We all ate our lunches together in the conference room yesterday and got to talking about Kopi Luwak coffee. That's the stuff where the coffee beans are eaten by the Indonesian civet cat and harvested from its poop.

Jen: It's completely undigestable, so it just comes through.
Mel: Then what is different about the coffee beans?
Me: Now they're covered in poop.

Well that's not quite true. Google told us that the beans are fermented in the civet's digestive tract. So they are actually different than when they started their journey. Which is good, since it's super expensive.

Jack was eating black bean soup.

Jen (giggling and pointing to the soup): My son (he's 7) would say that looks like poop.
Crystal: I think he may need a little more fiber in his diet.

Heh. And now I want Starbucks.


Patrick's Saturday Six

1. What did you like least about kindergarten? 
When it was nap time and I was having fun and didn't want to lie down on a mat and be quiet.

2. What did you dread in elementary school? 
When we were doing something I didn't like in PE. Like... dodge ball. Eventually I figured out that if you just put yourself out front and let a ball hit you, you could sit on the side with your girlfriends and chat while the enthusiasts bashed each other around for ten minutes.

3. What did you like least about middle school or junior high? 
Moving the summer before 8th grade and being the "new girl." Ack. Luckily, Kimberly was the new girl, too. We met and became besties!

4. What were you most self-conscious about in high school? 
My hair. It required a lot of time and taming.

5. What single grade or year of school was your favorite and why? 
Well, I can't choose. Fifth, tenth and twelfth were the best. Fifth because we had a sparkly, brand new school and we were the fifth grade class, so we were the big kids on campus. Tenth because it was the very best year for our gang of friends, when we were out and about every single day, having fun doing all sorts of things. Twelfth because I could not have wished for a more fabulous senior year!

6. Think of the person from school you’ve known the longest and that you still keep in touch with: how long have you two known each other?
I've known Lori for 38 years, since the summer before third grade!

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Happy New Year!

Holy cow, the Duke/A&M game was amazing! Best comeback ever. Crazy, exciting plays. Just wow. First half, our defense looked like they did at the beginning of the season, rather than the ever-improving group they've been in the second half of the season. Second half, those guys got down to business. YES! Incredible win. So proud of the entire team. Superfun New Year's Eve!


2013 in Review Meme

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
a Burlesque class (including pole dancing in front of my boss)

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make New Year's resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Melissa had her baby girl in March.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed in the US this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A fabulous vacation.

7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory?
Wednesday, August 28, 2013, when the A&M Football Season Ticket Sales Powers that Be skee-rewed us and many other football multi-season ticket holders out of seats for 2015, in a stadium that will hold 20,000 more people. Next time the entire stadium is reseated, perhaps it will be done fairly. #NotBitterAtAll

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my old job back after twenty years out of the industry.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My Halloween costume. It was a pun (a "ceiling fan" - GO CEILING!- with a cool tshirt and baseball cap and face paint and matching pom poms) and the only person who got it without hints was our office punster. Next year, I'm gonna be a zombie.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope! I don't think I even got a cold this year. Well... I feel under the weather this week, but not a full-on cold.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
this MacBook Air to replace my teensy netbook

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Melissa. She is the zen master at work. I always tell her I want to be like her when I grow up.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Politicians. Nothing new.

14. Where did most of your money go?
into my 401k

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Train, The Script and Gavin DeGraw at the Austin 360 Amphitheater this summer. One of the best concerts I've ever been to! I haven't danced that much in ages.

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2013?
"Blurred Lines." And not in a good way.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Slightly happier.
Thinner or fatter? Fatter. Working a desk job has reduced my daily activity level.
Richer or poorer? Richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Zumba

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
procrastinating house projects

20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas?
At the in-laws in Dallas. While we were there, we went to a Christmas Eve music program at their church, had a tequila tasting, watched Pitch Perfect and checked out the hotel where Jeff and Steven will be hosting their parents' 50th Anniversary party in May.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Cathy, Laura and conference calls on my WFH days.

22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
I've never had a one night stand.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
If I'm really honest... The Bachelor/Bachelorette. We still have such fun watching it as a family, which is great.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

26. What was the best book(s) you read?
I read no books this year. :)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Imagine Dragons

28. What did you want and get?
a return to my career... and a promotion!

29. What did you want and not get?
Aggie win over Alabama

30. What were your favourite films of this year?
Hunger Games: Catching Fire, This is the End, World War Z, Star Trek: Into Darkness

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 46 and we probably went out to dinner.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
a shorter commute

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Simple. Black slacks or nice jeans with a button-down blouse and a great necklace.

34. What kept you sane?
Fun weekend escapes with Scott 'n Julie!

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Adam Levine

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The government shutdown- both the reasons behind it and the fact that the most "visible" items are eliminated or reduced just to get the public riled up, rather than items that actually NEED to be eliminated or reduced.

37. Who did you miss?
Kimberly. We've been talking a lot via email this year. Wish she lived closer.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Crystal. She is freakin' hilarious.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
I can only think of sarcastic responses to this question. I haven't learned anything Earth-shattering.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone...
Phillip Phillips "Home"

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