No Banging in 2020

A German news outlet on Facebook posted a story about a possible cancellation of New Year's Eve fireworks. The translated version asked, "Can you do without banging this year?" Ahahaa.

We finished watching Long Way Up, the docuseries with Ewan McGregor and his best buddy Charley motorcycling from Argentina to LA. Now we're watching Long Way Around, their first motorcycle trip from London eastward to New York City. (Loving the series! There is also a second season, Long Way Down from Scotland to South Africa.) At one point in Long Way Around, they are drinking fermented camel milk, and Ewan says it tastes like homemade yogurt... that's been carbonated. Ack! And LOL.

Did I mention I finished playing The Witness? Yes! Great game, but I have to say I found the ending to be most unsatisfying. I did have an expectation of one particular thing happening at the end, that didn't happen at all, so maybe it was just disappointing to me, but I'd love to find out what others thought.

The Travis County weekly public health update is on right now and Mayor Adler is constantly on mute. So funny. Oh, and we're back to Stage 4 restrictions, not that it means anything different for our household, since we have remained pretty locked down since March. 

 

How some people have made a pandemic into a political and/or religious issue is beyond my understanding. (That is the nicest way I could phrase that, I think!) Crazy times.

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Good News

Yesterday was Lauren's oncologist visit, to discuss results of her 4th MRI in a year-and-a-half. Her brain mass is still unchanged from the first MRI. Whew! Now she gets to wait 9 months for the next one. She'll probably go to a yearly schedule if that one is the same. Such a relief for all of us.

The docs want to keep checking it, but it's unlikely that it's a malignant tumor.  Because of its location, a biopsy would be risky. Hopefully in the next few years, imaging technology will improve to be able to determine what it is, so she can stop having checkups on it. Just very happy for her to be able to rest easier each time she gets a good report.

My website Facebook page hit 500 likes today!

FINALLY!

I wanted to hit 500 before I close the site in August. Ha! I hovered at 498 for a few months, then got two likes this week. Woohoo!

I'm collecting Never Have I Ever questions for our birthday girls' weekend next month. There are some GREAT ones. Mwaahahahahaaa!! I'm also bringing Cards Against Humanity and a clingwrap gift ball. And a lot of Riesling. Fun fun. Can't wait.


Saturday 9: The Heat of the Moment (1982)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) What's something you did or said "in the heat of the moment?" 

I told a coworker he was "just being... silly!" when I was going to say "just being A JERK!" Gah. I was so irritated. Kyra even brought it up at the last happy hour, a full year after it happened. "That was my favorite part of the argument- Kathy telling him he was being SILLY!" Bwahaha!

2) Asia's founder and bass player, John Wetton, passed away in January. One of his bandmates remembered him as a reliable performer who made everyone around him look better. Do you enjoy being the center of attention? Or would you, like Mr. Wetton, prefer to play a supporting role?
I like playing a supporting role.

3) Asia is a British band who played their first US concert at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. The nearest major city -- Ottawa, Canada -- is a 90-minute drive from Pottsdam. When you were last in the car for an hour or more? Where were you going?

Last weekend when we drove from Austin to Boerne/San Antonio.

4) The song refers to disco hot spots, which apparently, by 1982, no one wanted to go to anymore. Let's make that negative into a positive. Describe your perfect night out with friends. Where would you go?

Out to a nice dinner, then hang out and chat at a lounge with a view, like the Hyatt Regency on Ladybird Lake or The Grove in Lakeway.

5) In 1982, the year this song was popular, someone laced bottles of Tylenol with cyanide. That's why we now have tamper-proof caps on many products. Have you used anything in a tamper-proof bottle yet today? 

I opened a bottle of soy sauce that was pretty tamper proof.

6) In 1982, Time Magazine's Person of the Year wasn't a person at all, it was "the computer." What do you use your computer for most often?
Lately, database programming. Typically, shopping and looking up stuff.

7) 1982 also saw the premiere of The Weather Channel. Where do you learn the day's weather forecast? (Watching the local news on TV, checking your phone, looking out the window ...)
Watching the morning news or checking my phone.

8) In 1982, Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie, Conan the Barbarian, was a hit in theaters. When you settle down to watch a movie, is it usually a fantasy, like Conan? Or do you prefer another genre (action, comedy, adventure, romance, drama, classic ...)

I like a lot of different genres, but my favorite is probably comedy.

9) Random question: What is something you try to avoid?

infectious diarrhea

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Fun at the Dermatologist

Will someone please poke me when it's safe to go back to Facebook? It looks like politics may have taken over permanently... well... except for on my neighborhood group, where the same old entertaining posts continue. One of the gals posted a video of herself lip-syncing in the aisles of our local grocery store to an old Pat Benatar song that was playing over the sound system. It was AWESOME and sort of makes up for having to sift through road rage-y posts and photos of dog poop. (Don't write off those obnoxious posts completely, because the comments can get pretty hilarious.)

I had a small, annoying dry skin patch- yeah, it has a medical name- on the bridge of my nose frozen at the dermatologist earlier this week. I've never had anything frozen before. The doc held what looked like a blow torch up to my face and said, "Close your eyes really tight."

SERIOUSLY?

Shouldn't the little skin spot have been painstakingly isolated and other areas protected? Perhaps some goggles would be in order? Maybe a shot of tequila? You cannot simply aim The Liquid Nitrogen Blow Torch of Doom at someone's face.

:)

The spot is healing now, and the surrounding tissue is fine, so don't fear, if this happens to you.

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Aimless Rambling Friday!

Yeah! Aimless Rambling Friday should become an official blog thing. ARF!

I've been entertaining myself on Facebook by scrolling just past the name on each post and guessing who posted it. Try it! You'll guess most of them correctly. The ones you don't guess will surprise you.

I don't usually watch "Superstore," but I saw it last night. Ben Feldman, who plays Jonah, is the spitting image of Scott Baio. He has a lot of the same mannerisms, too. I looked him up and there isn't any relationship noted. The resemblance is crazy! I would have bet $1000 that he was Scott's son.

Sia's song "Cheap Thrills" reminds me so much of going out dancing in college. Great times!

...I don't need no money
As long as I can feel the beat
I don't need no money
As long as I keep dancing...

Most of the time, we had at least one drink of some sort during the night, but there were occasions when we went to clubs without a dime in our pockets, dancing all night and drinking water. It's not really fair to the bar or the bartenders, even though I'm sure they are used to broke students in a college town. Even with cover and buying a drink or two, it was a cheap, fun night out!


Saturday 9: The Trolley Song (1944)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this movie clip, just about everyone (except Judy) is wearing a hat. Do you wear hats for fashion, for warmth or for both?
I rarely wear a hat, and usually to keep the sun off my face. I have worn a hat at football games for warmth, late in the season.

2) This song is from Meet Me in St. Louis, which was a huge hit and the second highest grossing movie of 1944. When is the last time you watched a movie in the theater? 
Jeff and I saw Dont' Think Twice at the Drafthouse on Lamar a couple of weeks ago. It was good!

3) The movie follows the Smith family as their hometown, St. Louis, to prepares to host the 1904 World's Fair. What's the biggest thing happening in your hometown? 
Probably a tie between SXSW and Formula 1 racing.

4) This week's featured artist, Judy Garland, is best known as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. That movie is shown so often that Sam thinks she may have seen it a dozen times. Is there a movie or holiday special you've seen over and over?
Moulin Rouge is probably the one I've seen the most times

5) Judy admitted to being perpetually tardy. Are you usually prompt? Or are you always running late? 
Almost always prompt

6) Judy's first professional performance was a rendition of "Jingle Bells" when she was just two. How old were you when you entered your chosen profession? 
23

7) Thinking of "Jingle Bells," here's a wintery question for a hot summer day: What's your favorite carol? 
"Oh Holy Night"

8) Judy was a very demonstrative person. She enjoyed hugs and admitted that, when she nervous, she took emotional support from physically reaching out. Are you demonstrative?
I'm not very demonstrative, except with certain friends (the more demonstrative ones mostly) or in certain situations (reunions, emotional times, etc.).

9) She told Barbara Walters that people would be surprised to learn that she was a good cook and specialized in desserts. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yep, but I limit sweets to infrequent occasions.

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Randomness! Tra La!

One of the funniest things is when people our parents' age (and Julie) begin their texts and Facebook posts with a salutation and end them with a closing and signature.

Hee!

JeffC brought us back some maple candies and maple syrup from Pennsylvania when he returned from his annual visit home. Lauren had been wanting pancakes, so I took the opportunity to get some bacon and make both pancakes with bacon AND my favorite roasted brussels sprouts with maple syrup and bacon! Yum!

So Anderson Cooper doesn't VOTE? WHA? I admire him for many reasons, including the fact that he fights against being biased in his reporting (which more reporters should do!!), but he should be able to vote. No matter how unbiased you are as you present the news, you do have a candidate you support, and the voting booth is the place to voice your opinion.

Everyone who has a Discover Card, check the type of card you have. If you've had it for more than a few years, it may be a Discover More card. They don't make them anymore, because they have a new and improved cash back card called Discover It. Biggest difference is that you earn 1% cash back beginning with the first dollar you spend, rather than ramping up to 1% at the beginning of each year. There are other benefits, too, and it's an all-around better card than Discover More for most everyone, so check it out today! You can call to convert your More card to an It card.

And a survey, because why not?

Sunday Stealing: Healthy Meme

When was the last time you got a nose bleed? I've never had one.
Do you keep magazines by your toilet? Nope
If you were a waiter/waitress, would you make good tips? Yep
Have you ever stolen a road sign or traffic barrier? No
What are the best kind of Girl Scout cookies? Thin Mints
When was the last time you purchased alcohol? About two weeks ago, we tried Henry's Hard Orange Soda. (It tastes like orange soda.)
Do you find it attractive when a guy actually shows his feelings? Yes
Are you a fussy eater? No
List everything you ate and drank today: Leftover pancakes with milk for breakfast, a homemade hamburger on sourdough with roasted brussels sprouts for lunch, with tea.
How are you sitting? Ahhhahaha. I juuuuust slid down to "comfy position" mostly lying down, with my feet on the ottoman, my knees up and my upper back against the back of the sofa.
Waiting for something? a call from the neurosurgeon to schedule Lauren's surgery
Do you like pretzels? yes!
Do you wait until you’ve completely finished a certain makeup product before you buy a new one? I buy a new one before the old one is gone (I don't want to run out), but I finish the old one before I open the new one.
Did you wake up before 8:00 a.m. this morning? Of COURSE I did
Have you ever told anyone you were okay when you really weren’t? Haven't we all.
Do you have reason to cry right now? Yes, I'm quite frustrated with the surgeon not calling for over a week now.
How many sodas a week do you have? Usually zero.
Do you shop at Victoria’s Secret? Not recently.
Are you into sports? Some.
Can you easily touch your toes? Yes
What did the last shoes you wore look like? They look exactly like black flip flops.
What do you currently hear? TMZ Live on television
Have you ever done yoga? yes
Do you text a lot? I keep texting to a minimum. If we go back and forth more than about four times, I'm calling you.
Do you have a fax machine at home? Yes, but we don't have a land line, so I can't use it.
Do you know anyone who has diabetes? Yes
Have you ever had to block anyone online? Yes, years ago.
Are you afraid of thunder and lightning? No
Are you a shop-a-holic? I like shopping, but not to that point.
Are you healthy? I could be healthier. It hasn't been a priority for a while.

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Is There Going to Be a Quiz on This?

My officemate was the funniest the other day. Our department manager invited Kyra to her first team meeting (one of my studies). As soon as we got into the conference room, the manager (who normally takes the minutes for data-ops-only projects, but was sick) told her to "take VERY GOOD notes." And she did.

As soon as we got back to our office, she asked me if the manager was going to quiz her about the meeting. I told her I can tell she just got out of college. She's still got school on the brain. Ha!

Nope, just for the meeting minutes. "Take very good notes" TOTALLY makes sense though, in that context.

Kyra rocks.

She's also officially become a part of the "inner circle" now, dropping her first office F-bomb on Friday. She'll be cussing like a sailor with the rest of the crew from now on. Awwww, they grow up so fast...

In other news, what the heck am I supposed to do with this Facebook popup?

"Okay"... what? Oy.


Saturday 9: Margaritaville (1977)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song Jimmy sings of "booze in the blender." What do you prepare in your blender?
Smoothies and milkshakes. I drink most of my cocktails on the rocks these days.

2) As the song opens, Jimmy is sitting on his front porch swing. Describe the front porch of the building you're in right now.
Oooh! A front porch swing would be nice on our little porch. It would only seat one person, but how fun! We just have a little covered 5x5-ish porch in front of the door.

3) Jimmy sings of being able to smell boiling shrimp. Do you prefer your shrimp boiled, glazed or breaded?
GLAZED? Hmm. I don't think Bubba even mentions that in Forrest Gump.

I like shrimp every way it can be prepared.

4) During the song, he mentions his flip flops. Have you put your flip flops and sandals away till spring? Or is it still warm enough to wear them?
It's still warm enough. I'm wearing flats more now though.

5) Jimmy Buffett had hoped this song would be recorded by Elvis Presley, but The King died before he could perform it. What's the first Elvis song that comes to mind?
"Blue Christmas"

6) Buffett fans are known as Parrotheads. Concert attire for a well-dressed Parrothead often includes a Hawaiian shirt and a foam fin hat. What will you be wearing tonight?
Tonight I have nothing special going on, so I'll probably still be wearing my A&M t-shirt and capri jeans. BTHO SMU!

7) Loyal Parrotheads paid between $500 and $5000 to see Mr. Buffet at a fundraiser for Barack Obama's 2012 Presidential campaign. What's the most you would pay for a concert ticket?
The most I've ever paid is $375-ish for pit seats at Bon Jovi. Totally worth it.

8) Jimmy is an outspoken environmentalist and supports causes like ocean conservation, saving the manatees and expanding the Dallas Zoo. What steps do you take to help save the planet?
I just recycle and minimize trash and conserve water, etc. Just small things in my own daily life. Nothing too impressive.

9) Uh-oh. When Jimmy and the Coral Reefers played in Wisconsin this past August, more than two dozen concertgoers got tickets for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Do you believe pot should be legalized?
Yes. It's similar to alcohol in the relative scheme of things.

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Random Saturday... and BTHO Lamar!

I don't think I ever mentioned that my work folks and I were in SF to do a bid defense and... we got the contract! Whee!! We've already started work. I am the worldwide data manager for this international phase III study. I'm definitely heading to England in December.

When the work peeps went to dinner the first night in San Francisco, we got a big table in the back room of this nice Italian place. When the waiter showed up, he said to our CEO, "I just have to ask, because the entire restaurant and all the staff think so... Are you Robert De Niro?"

Bwahaha! He does look like him. Still. Hilarious.

When we got back from the trip, our director of business development gave each member of the team Boba Fett flash drives with a thank you note. I sent him a note- "Thank you! The flash drive is SO cute!"

His response was something like, "He is NOT cute. He is the most ruthless, most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy," which my Star Wars-loving boss thought was a "perfect reply." LOL


My third Small World Moment in several years was this weekend. Jeff's cousin Tina was tagged on Facebook in a bunch of photos posted by... JULIE'S SISTER. Whaaaat??! We were having dinner with Scott-n-Julie Monday night, so I popped this on Julie then. I closed in on her sister in the pic and asked if she knew this lady.

"That's my sister!"

Then I pulled back to show Tina in a bumper car with her and before I could say "and this is Jeff's cousin," Julie said, "...and Tina!"

"YOU know Tina?!"

"She's my sister's best friend!"

Oh man. It was great. Turns out Julie knows Tina better than Jeff or I do! We were dying.


So. Adam Levine is awesome in this clip from Jimmy Fallon.



Not great with lyrics to common songs. But wow!!


Lauren and I are off to College Station today for the home opener! New stadium with 105,000 capacity, Biggest video board in college football. New, enormous sound system. New canopy (student side only this year) to focus even more crowd noise onto the field. We've been waiting all year and I am PSYCHED to finally be there!!

BTHO Lamar, baby!!

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An Unusually Focused Post on Randomness

Ree Drummond posted a winding, random post yesterday, in a list format. Love that. I'm a big fan (and author) of the random in the blogosphere. I wish I had time to read Rhee's blog regularly and try more of her recipes than just Pots de Creme (OMG- so good), but I do enjoy her Facebook updates.

Speaking of Facebook, one place I do not enjoy randomness is in my Facebook Mobile news feed. It's now virtually impossible (yet not, just jump through some hoops and click the lines icon at the bottom right corner of the screen and then Feeds>Most Recent) to see your news feed in chronological order. The word chronological has the word logical in it, Facebook. Catch a clue. You hardly ever get my "Top Stories" correct and now I have no idea what has been posted anymore. I haven't figured out how "Top Stories" makes Facebook more money than "Most Recent," but I am certain that is the single reason it exists.

In a random coincidence of epic proportions, I was chatting with Pedro this afternoon and mentioned that someone I know grew up in Mexico City. At that very moment, one of my pals checked in on Facebook IN MEXICO CITY.

THE Mexico City.

*Twilight Zone music*

And in a lesson on randomness, I recently had to convince a certain someone at work that Crystal's and my method of selecting a patient from a small group at random is completely legit. Writing the patient numbers on individual tiny pieces of paper, tossing them into the air and choosing the one that lands closest to Crystal's chair employs exactly the same logic as Crystal writing a program to generate a random selection from those same numbers.

It's just more fun.

From xkcd

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Random Wednesday

It's incredibly strange to see a friend become Facebook friends with the ADULT CHILD of one of your high school pals. I just can't believe my high school buddies have adult children. The whole thing is just superweird.

Speaking of adult children, my baby turns twenty this weekend, so, there's that.

And speaking of disturbing things (segueing--- it's an art)... Is anyone else completely creeped out that there is a student/school-nurse relationship happening on Glee? That's how you know you've run out of plot lines. You pitch the idea that a student gets it on with the nurse. During school. And your colleagues go, "YES! Let's run with that." Set it to happy, cheesy music and no one will notice the inappropriateness. Ack.

Speaking of boyfriends... Cathy has a new boyfriend. Billy! (♪ Weeee waaaant Biiiilly. Wheeeere iiiiiiis Biiiiilly? B-I-double L-Y, we're aaaaaall hiiiiiiis...) Billy lives here in Austin, so she'll be here more often. How awesome is that? We're going to do the double date thing next time she's up. She was here last weekend and he had to work on Saturday, so she ended up going to the game with me. It worked out perfectly! Maybe she'll finally move here. We'll see if Billy makes it past Cathy's three-week relationship limit. (Ahahaa. J/K, CJ!)

Speaking of... um... quantum leaps... Most of the girls from work feel guilty about things like getting manicures on their WFH days. I go grocery shopping on my WFH days and I don't feel guilty one bit. I do feel guilty writing in my blog at the moment. But I can't access the work computer right now, so what am I supposed to do? :)

During my teleconference this morning with Matthew at our England vendor, he told me that they are in the middle of their company's annual "American Thanksgiving Bake-Off." He has entered a Coca-Cola Pecan Pie. If he wins the department, he advances to the company-wide competition. Winners from the company-wide contest are able to enter the Christmas Bake-Off in December. Superfun!!

Meanwhile, back at my company, a data management girls' trip is in discussion. I was thinking Vegas. Crystal was thinking New Zealand. Seriously. (I guess if I were 29 and single, I'd say New Zealand, too. But mama needs a new kitchen, so not this year.)

Alright... going to try my work connection again...

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Candy Crush Saga Beginner Tips

In an odd trip of the finger across my phone screen the other day in Facebook, I accidentally *liked* a high school boyfriend's son's cub scout troop, just after his wife did. And I didn't discover it until two days later when I happened to notice it in my Activity Log. Uhh... awkward!


Wanna know how to develop an aversion to chocolate? Play Candy Crush. Good grief. Stupid chocolate. I am going to give you all a few tips I learned over the past several weeks since I started playing:

1) Earned boosters are not available to you on the mobile app. You click the booster in the mobile app and it says you can buy them. Go to Facebook to play and you will be able to access the free ones you earned. Save them for later levels though. Don't waste them on the easy ones.

2) Sending lives/extra moves/help to your friends? They aren't getting all of them. I don't know how Candy Crush communicates with Facebook, but it does a super-crappy job. I don't receive about 50% of the things I know people sent me. Yeesh. What is the point? It's either a social game or not. If not, just charge me $14.95 and give me all the stuff I need to play to the end and let me earn free stuff along the way.

3) We've developed a strange mode of game-playing in the world, where we pay a dollar for a game and then it bugs us to death to buy things the entire time we play. And we think that's ok. Gone are the days of paying for a game and then playing it until it's done without endless nagging. Sad day. Just sad. Even my Paint Shop Pro software bugs me to upgrade. Gah. (This isn't a Candy Crush Saga tip, but announcement of my awareness of the manipulation by the software industry of the gaming public, convincing them to accept their nickel and dime philosophy. Booooo.)

4) You can get 15 lives at a time by logging in on various devices. Start on your phone. Move to the tablet, then to your computer. None syncs lives with the others (they seem to sync everything else), so you can keep on playing. What. That's obsessive? Have you PLAYED Candy Crush?  Oh, there is one glitch. If your mobile app is on a board you conquered on your PC, you may have to exit and restart the game on your phone.

5) Remember, you can control who sees what on your Facebook. Tweak your groups and such to allow whomever you want (or don't want) to see your App activity. While you're there, please omit me from your app activity. :)

6) A tidbit of strategy (suggested--- I'm only at level 90)
   a) Most levels you just want to try to get as many special candies as possible and everything will work out great in the end. (Incidentally, that is also my life philosophy.) The sparkly chocolate ball (its official name- Color Bomb- totally lame) is the best, then the stripes, then the wrapped. Mix the chocolate ball with the stripes for a wipeout move that usually clears the board.
   b) The key, especially in the higher levels, is to look at the entire board after every single move. The WHOLE board. Every time. Don't miss a chocolate ball opportunity up top because you're busy trying to clear a corner. It's hard, but really look at all your moves. Then I typically go in the following order of possible moves: chocolate ball/stripe combo, striped/wrapped combo, five in a row (chocolate ball), four in a row (stripe), L-shape (wrapped). If I have more than one choice, I look for the one that clears the most jellies or whatever I'm trying to accomplish.
   c) Some levels have corners or sticky-outy single candies or some other funky junk you need to clear. Try to pay attention to those throughout the game, because they are the most difficult. If you can clear one, do it before making a special candy.
   d) Chocolate levels (bar chocolate, not to be confused with the fabulous chocolate ball) can mess with your head, sap your spirit and drain your very will to live, but don't be afraid of it. If you let it go a bit, it can be cleared with one swoop of a stripe before you know it. If you get obsessed with trying to keep it at bay every turn, you will miss opportunities to clear the board. (At the same time, if you see an opportunity to get rid of it in the first few moves, do it.) Remember the chocolate doesn't have to be cleared to win, just the jellies or whatever the challenge is for that board.
  e) Before you hurt your brain trying to figure how the direction of the stripes is determined, it is set by the direction you swiped to complete the four-in-a-row. Swipe left-right and the resulting stripes are horizontal. Swipe it up or down and the stripes are vertical.

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Did that Kid Just Fall Into a Piano?

The other day, I talked about watching a bunch of movies, but I forgot to mention we also did finally watch Insidious. The thing that was most entertaining about it to me was the concept of ghosts or undead spirits appearing as solid-bodied people. Usually in horror films, ghosts are very ethereal and if you can see them at all, they are translucent or shadowy. Every time an entity just simply walked through a scene or was suddenly sitting on the couch or something, I jumped out of my seat.

The music wasn't great though. At one point early in the movie, the young son was in the attic and he screamed. It sounded- not even kidding- like he fell into the back of a piano. I'm thinking he literally fell into a piano. But no. It was just "scary music."

Then last weekend, Lauren and I saw Insidious: Chapter 2, which was really good! They tied in the two movies in a VERY clever way. I was quite impressed. And it turns out Lauren was right. If you haven't seen the first one, you were probably confused in a couple of places where the rest of us were like "OMG- WOW!!"

Lauren and I (mouthing to each other, in shock): OMG-WOW!!
Lady behind us: Are those all the people that guy has killed?
Guy behind us: No. I'll tell you later.


In other news, I am again tiring of sifting through pissy political posts on Facebook. Not the rare posts on specific issues about which someone has strong feelings, but rather the constant flow of Republican or Democrat rubbish. People who are into arguing politics are always entrenched on one side or the other. Their posts are entirely predictable and almost invariably originate from sources that lean towards (or declare outright) their chosen side. After seeing the same party line posts from some friends for years, I sometimes want to add a sarcastic reply like, "So wait. Let me get this straight. You're against *gun control/prayer in schools/other political item*?" *snort*

Those of us who want to see compromise in government and a stop to interminable and fruitless bickering don't post polarizing political items. If you take the time to look, Washington, you'll find that's the overwhelming majority of us.

Just saying.

There's an app that replaces all political posts with photos of kittens. Lisa said it works really well (and that she's seen a heaping crapload of kittens lately). I'm still looking for one that replaces them with naked Adam Levine photos.

And I can already hear my political posting friends saying they tire of sifting through my Aggie football posts. Well that is... TOTALLY DIFFERENT.  ;)

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Mmmmmkaaaay...

OMG, y'all. This is the worst lie ever from a guy about his marital status. And I've heard a couple of doozies the last few years, so brace yourselves.

Steph's former boyfriend from back in the day, who's been talking seriously about moving to Dallas to be near her, says that he's been divorced for several years. Recently, he admitted the ex-wife has been living with him since the divorce, but they sleep in separate rooms, blah blah blah...

Steph has tried to get him to friend her on Facebook all this time, but he never has, although they talk on the phone and text all day long. Regarding his Facebook relationship status (which she can't even see), he said:

Just so you know, I had to change it back to "married," because when I switched to "single," too many women were hitting on me.

Ahahaha! He's GOT to be kidding.

She's not talking to him anymore. :)


My department is doing the 100 Squats a Day for 30 Days Challenge, invented by Crystal to get us moving. More than getting a workout, I appreciate the entertainment value of seeing all of us in a room doing squats together in our work clothes. (Crystal is the best, because she wears 6-inch stilettos every day.) We do five sessions of 20 squats each. Melissa makes us hold for ten seconds at #10 and #20, or some other interesting torture each session.

I suggested that next month we dance for one song five times a day. Each of us gets to pick a song from our phone to play. It was wildly accepted by the gang (well most of them), so next month it's the 5 Songs a Day for 30 Days Challenge. We may even make Finance join in. For now, they just like to watch.

(Yeah.... I'd heard that about them.)

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Disappearing FB Ticker?

What is this I hear about the Facebook ticker going away? How am I supposed to stalk you people if I can't see the ticker?

More later... Have a great day, y'all!

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Politics Over Friendship?

But first... Am I the last to know that George Lucas and Mellody Hobson have been dating for six years and are now engaged? I love Mellody! She's the cutest financial guru ever. We've followed her advice on several things, including how to disburse funds to your child while they're away at college. I particularly liked the idea of giving them their spending money like a paycheck- twice a month- so they learn to budget in that way for when they are working.

I just would never picture Mellody dating someone that much older. Just... wow. But congrats to them!


So I was very disappointed to see that one of my dearest friends (Doug) ranted all over another of my dearest friends (CJ) on Facebook, and then defriended her, because he disagrees with her politically.

We're not friends with people just because we mutually agree on all things political, are we? Gosh I hope not. I'll have to defriend a lot of you.

Just saying.

I think Doug was particularly offended by one small part of Cathy's post. It's fair for him to make his point, of course, but all manner of decorum went out the window from his first sentence. It was a loud rant, spread over about 15 separate comments in a row. He ended by saying he doesn't want to ever have contact with her again.

Well, I guess that's how you find out who your friend's true friends are... or aren't. Ha!

Cathy was befuddled by the whole thing. It seemed to me to be one of those cases of being angry about something that really isn't the thing you're angry about. Taking something out on someone who isn't to blame. Ya' know?

Eh. I was just shocked.


Meanwhile, back at the hacienda (or the workplace).... my job is going GREAT. I have to prioritize my tasks at the moment, because I have a bunch of training and my regular job to get done. Within a few weeks, that should all be ironed out. The people could not be nicer. Awesome staff!

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Disappointments Diary Available

Good news, my pessimist pals and my curmudgeonly compadres!! The Disappointments Diary is now available in the US. Thank you, Nick for letting me know! Just visit disappointmentsdiary.com to order your copy. Click in the link at the bottom and choose the correct shipping option. I'm not affiliated with them, just sharing because their product is so awesome!


In other news, my friend... let's call him Joe, because I don't want to get anyone in trouble... is a football referee. Joe went to a certain university we'll just call Big State for purposes of this unnecessarily long story.

I was browsing Joe's Facebook page, because I haven't seen posts from him in months and was wondering why. (He used to be one of those who posted an uplifting message every morning at 5:30 a.m.  I may have taken him off my feed because of it.)

Well, there was a wall post from someone who said, "Hey Joe! I saw you on TV, working the Big State bowl game!! Awesome!"

He says, "That was me! It was great!"

Now, I'm not positive Joe was officiating, although it certainly sounded like it. I mean, maaaaybe there was a TV shot of him working concessions or something, but I'm fairly sure he was officiating.

Can you officiate a game for your alma mater?? It seems sort of shady. Maybe the better question is should you officiate a game for your alma mater?

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80s Photos

The Broncos lost. The Ags won. How are my Texans going to do today?! And will they run over time into the Golden Globes? 'Cuz the Golden Globes win there.


Had a hilarious photo posting exchange with Doug on Facebook yesterday. I posted a pic of him from NYE 1986 on his wall and Kimberly commented that maybe I should have asked him first. It's an awesome photo, and I guess she either thought it looked like he had been drinking a lot (I don't think he had been), or that the 80s outfit he's wearing is a complete fashion tragedy (no comment). She didn't say which, but I said if he didn't like it, I would post the matching photo of me at the same party.

He got a total kick out of it, of course, so I sent him the other two photos from the party in a private message- the one of me, and another that showed both of our very-80s ensembles from head-to-toe. While I was out and unavailable last night, he posted those two pics.  

Touché.

Lots of great comments! Very funny stuff. And he made the original photo his profile picture.

I'm actually very careful about posting photos without asking. I always err on the side of caution and PM a photo instead, if I have any doubts at all... or if I know that person has revenge photos of me.


Sunday Stealing: 40 of The Most Random Questions Meme, Part Two

21) What’s something you’ve always wanted?
BMW Z4

22) Do you have hairy legs?
No

23) What does “Semper Fidelis” stand for?
Always faithful.

24) Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake?
ocean

25) Do you wear a lot of black?
I wear a lot of black pants and shorts. I only own one black top and one black dress.

26) Describe your hair:
Very curly/wavy and requiring products and/or a flat iron.

27) Do you have Entomophobia?
If my Latin is still good, I believe this is a fear of insects. No.

28) Are you an adult?
Um, yes.

29) Do you own or rent?
Own

30) Do you have a tan?
Ahahaha. No.

31) Are you addicted to TV?
Not really. I do appreciate TV, but I can live without it.

32) Do you enjoy spending time with your in-laws?
Yes.

33) Are you a sugar freak?
No.

34) What happened to Larry King?
Anderson Cooper dethroned him.

35) What sign are you?
Aries

36) What do you wish on your birthday?
For three more wishes.

37) Who did you copy this from?
Sunday Stealing

38) Do you eat breakfast?
Yes

39) What would you name the royal baby?
I'm not much of a royal watcher, but I'll go with Sebastian for a boy or Alexandria for a girl.

40) Do you buy a newspaper?
Nope

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Wow, Y'all...

I have seen, for the first time, a Facebook Timeline that has been filled in to the hilt with all of someone's lifetime highlights. He's not a teenager either. He's 50. It is painstakingly detailed and very impressive. I can't imagine how long it took to enter all the stuff, much less to research and remember everything and scan photos for each one.

It has marriages, divorces, moves and buying houses, new jobs, career highlights, news items, births and deaths of family and friends, just everything. And photos for every single item, of course.

*slow applause*


Patrick's Saturday Six: M

1. M is for MAC: Which brand of computer do you use most often?
HP Pavilion desktop PC

2. M is for MACARONI: Which pasta dish do you enjoy most?
Italian sausage and peppers with penne

3. M is for MAIL: How often do you actually mail a letter versus sending an email or chatting online?
I mail about one snail mail letter every year, usually to a business. I send email and chat online almost every day.

4. M is for MICROPOLIS: If you had the choice to earn a decent salary at an enjoyable job and could be certain that you could afford a comfortable lifestyle, would you prefer to live in a big city, a small town, or something in between?
I strongly prefer living in the suburbs of a city. It's important to me to have ready access to concerts, shows, restaurants, malls, movies, etc.

5. M is for MOVIE: What is the next movie you are looking forward to seeing in a theater?
The Hobbit

6. M is for MUSEUM: Which type of museum would you most likely pay to enter: an art museum, a history museum or a science museum?
I love all of those!

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Four Hours of Sleep

I was up until 2:00 this morning, spending hours working on a resume, letter of interest and paper application (PAPER?) for a cool job for which I'm actually qualified and have current experience. Then I got up at 6:00 to finish the process and get it into an envelope to mail. (Did I mention... PAPER application?)

You know I'm not going to get this position, right? It will be the one I spend five minutes tossing together at the last minute. Still. I had to put in the extraordinary effort, as there is an element of *cue trumpet fanfare* Event Planning to this job. I love event planning!! Remember my wedding, where I had individual printed event notes for each wedding party member? Fun, right? I know!

:)


I actually took time to read through a lengthy, angry political conversation this morning in the comments on a friend's Facebook photo. One guy (not a friend of mine), a very extreme Republican, was ranting on and on about "sanctimonious Independents" and how they are the reason this country is such a mess. He said Independents voted Obama in four years ago, and they need to take responsibility for their stupidity.

Oh brother.

Replying liberals and independents alike had this guy in a tizzy. I think some were just toying with him to see if he would implode. So funny. Sometimes people just need to take a pill.

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Who Has Viewed Your FB Profile?

I have officially submitted my first application for a new job! It's an actual opening, not just the sending of my resume to keep on file.

Now I'm sitting by the phone like a lovesick teenager, waiting for a call. However, I'm still actively pursuing other jobs, so call me or lose me, baby.


My in-laws have clicked some Facebook "omg, look who has viewed your profile" app. Now it's posting spam on everyone's newsfeed every other day. I report it every single time.

You cannot tell who is viewing your Facebook Timeline. You just can't. And really, do you want to know? It won't be your ex or the cute guy/girl at work. It'll be a random person you friended from high school, who sat behind you in some class you can't remember. And it will creep you out.

People used to think that the eight friends who appear on your Facebook page, the "random" ones, were actually the ones who had visited your page recently. Facebook says that is not the case. Now people are guessing that they are the ones with whom you've interacted most in recent days. That seems to be true for me.

I'm also fairly certain that the eight people who show up on my friends' pages when I am viewing them are the people with whom I interact most and/or ones I may know.

They could both be random, but Facebook is always going to try to get you to be more interactive with the site, so it makes sense to have some sort of algorithm determining which friends should be displayed. One factor that's irrelevant--- who has viewed your Timeline. Only Facebook knows though- not those annoying apps.

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Dirty Laundry

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me somethin'... somethin' I can use...

Two separate conversations from Sunday-

Me: What's GTL?
Lauren: Gym, Tan, Laundry. It's from Jersey Shore, which I never watch.
Me (I, too, have never seen the show): What's "Laundry?"
Jeff: Laundry. Like laaaaaundryyyyy.
Lauren: Like the laundromat.
Me: Mmmmkay...

Me: Who are you chatting with?
Lauren (texting a friend at school): Mark. He had a confrontation with someone in the laundry room.
Me: What is "The Laundry Room?"
Lauren (laughing): Where you do laundry????
Me: Ohhhhhhhh. Like in the dorm? I thought it was a bar or something.

I seem to have some sort of brain block when it comes to laundry.


The "please do me a favor and change your settings so people can't see my comments..." alarmist and erroneous Facebook post is back again. *sigh* Sure, I can take the trouble to change my personal settings so I don't see your public posts on other people's pages, but it most certainly does not prevent everyone from seeing them.

Here's a complete treatise on this subject from Snopes.

Almost everyone has their wall posts set to be visible to their friends. Some have them viewable by friends of friends, and some by the entire online population of the world, including people who aren't on Facebook at all. Note their settings, which are conveniently indicated on each post, and comment accordingly.

If you must say something to someone via Facebook, but you don't want other people to see it, write it in a private message. Very simple, very easy. (I'm channeling my inner Chef Tell. Anyone remember him?! Okay, moving on...) Like real life, you want to keep private conversations private. If you write it on someone's wall, it's public. The changing of my settings doesn't affect that.

What exactly are you guys posting that you don't want your friends to see? I'm changing all the settings for people who post that silly message to "DEFINITELY show me comments this person makes on others' pages." ;)

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