Candy on the Beach, There's Nothing Better

I posted Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy" on Facebook today for Throwback Thursday. My high school friends and I played this song at the beach as part of our beach mix tape one year, so it takes me right back there.



Then Lauren got it stuck in her head and was singing it on the way to dinner tonight. I told her that this is the original version of the newer version she knows. I said that when I was young, my mom was constantly telling me the songs I liked were remakes of old songs from her generation. It's always sort of disappointing, I think, to find out something you like is a copy of something old. (Although, sometimes the old version is better. But don't tell your mom until years later when you're an adult and can admit it without any hint of snark.)

Me: My mom would say, "Oh! Frank Sinatra sang that in 1956!"
Lauren (singing in Sinatra style): I waaaant caaaaaandyyy. Scoobity bee bop zee-bop...

LMAO. *wipes tears*

Lauren was curious how many other recently popular songs are remakes of 80s tunes, so she Googled it.

And as it turns out...

the original "I Want Candy" was performed by The Strangeloves in 1965.



Scoobity bee bop zee-bop.

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Weekend Update

I wish I had something super interesting to write about this morning, but unless you want to hear about my studies, that's about all I've been doing lately! I'm the data management lead on five studies at the moment, in the following therapeutic areas: wound healing, oncology, endocrinology and obstetrics. The trivia of the week is that I've come full circle on the endocrinology studies, because they have plasma cortisol labs, and I was a laboratory technician at UTMB one summer when I was 18, performing radioimmunoassay (RIA) for plasma cortisol in the endocrinology lab. (RIA is a process in which a hormone is "labeled" with radioactive iodine... Yeah, that can be a chat for sometime when we've all been drinking too much.)

Speaking of drinking, the ladies of DM had a blast at Chuy's yesterday! We're totally having their new blackberry margs again as soon as possible. And Crystal will not be driving Jennifer's "giant-ass" car again anytime soon ever. We'll just call a cab.

Friday Five: No Theme

1. What field trips, one from elementary school and one from high school, do you remember most fondly?
Elementary school- Houston Rodeo
High school- we went to the Houston Zoo once. Superfun!

2. How does your handwriting today differ from your handwriting in high school?
It was far neater in high school, when other people were always reading it (passing notes, writing papers...) and I wanted it to be supercute. Now that only I read my writing, it's a hodgepodge mix of styles and is usually decorated with some random doodling.

3. What let’s-pretend game did you most enjoy when you were a child?
Pretending I was a singer, usually on Broadway, but I would also rock a stadium Abba concert in my bedroom or perform a French lounge show a la Mireille Mathieu.

4. If you had to take the name of any one-named celebrity, whose would work best?
Diddy

5. A brain, a princess, an athlete, a basket case, and a criminal: Which of these roles will you take, and which friends fill the rest?
Brain- me
Claire: Academic clubs aren't the same as other kinds of clubs.
Bender: Ah... but to dorks like him, they are. What do you guys do in your club?
Brian: Well, in physics we... we talk about physics... properties of physics...
Bender: So it's sorta social. Demented and sad, but social.

Princess-  Kimberly. She always has her ducks in a row and has always been more mature and sophisticated than the others in our group of friends.
Bender: You're right. It's wrong to destroy literature. It's such fun to read. And... (examines title)... Moe-Lay really pumps my nads.
Claire: Moliere.

Athlete- Mel. She's really into fitness. She's got the FitBit going at all times.
Brian: You wear tights?
Andrew: No, I don't wear tights. I wear the required uniform.
Brian: Tights.
Andrew: Shut up!

Basket Case- Crystal, not literally of course. She sits silently and observes when everyone else starts carrying on about something. Then we all have to ask what she's thinking. The ongoing tradition is that she bursts out with a random laugh during discussions.
Allison (after being silent all morning): HA!

Criminal-  Laura, also not literally, although there was that one time with the traffic tickets... Ha! She's the rebellious one.
Mr. Vernon: My office is right across that hall. Any monkey business is ill-advised. Any questions?
Bender: Yeah, I have a question. Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?

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Sunday Stealing on Tuesday Evening

I'm sitting on my comfy, cozy back porch chair with my MacBook Air, my feet up on the coffee table, writing a little somethin' in the ol' blog, the sun setting behind me... and all I can see is fingerprints and my own reflection in the screen. Beautiful day though! Just GORGEOUS. Last night we were having thunderstorms and ice pellets and stuff. Gotta love Texas weather.

Jeff and I went to Willow City Loop (north of Fredericksburg) on Saturday. Some of the best wildflowers in the Hill Country- usually. This year there are about zero flowers there. ZEE-ro. There are some nice ones along the highway on the long-ass drive way there. It's still one of the most beautiful areas in central Texas, with stunning views around every turn of the road.

Jeff heard the blooms are all near Brenham. I heard there are a lot near Smithville, which is much closer to Austin. So we will probably head to one or the other this weekend with Scott-n-Julie.


Sunday Stealing: The For Old Times' Sake Meme

When was the last time you swam in a pool?
last fall in Kathy's pool

Do you like to party? 
if by party you mean get fall-down drunk or high... nah

Describe the shirt you're wearing? 
black and white patterned tank top

What is one feature film that you don't like? 
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Would people describe you as happy?
they do!

Sleep with or without clothes on? 
either way, usually with minimal clothing

Does it bother you if people swear around you? 
Not after working where I work. LOL.

Do you prefer Wednesdays or Thursdays? 
Wednesdays. I work from home on Wednesdays!

Like to travel? 
love it

Think you're attractive? 
sure

Are or were you a good student? 
yes :)

Are you currently happy? 
at the moment, yes

Colored or black-and-white photo? 
colored

Do you consider yourself the life of the party?
I can be anything from the life of the party to a complete wallflower, depending on who is there.

Do you drink? 
yes

Do you make fun of people? 
No. I occasionally make disparaging comments about people who piss me off, but I don't "make fun" of anyone in a mocking way.

Do you think dreams eventually come true? 
If they are meant to be.  :)

Favorite fictional character? 
Dr. Doug Ross

Go to the movies or rent? 
Either!

Have you ever moved? 
No, I just sit here in this chair and blog.

Have you ever stolen anything? 
KathyK (another KK) and I took mail out of mailboxes once when I was a kid. We just read the letters. I felt so guilty I told my parents, who made me take the mail back and apologize.

How's the weather right now? 
Ha! Amazing!

Last time you cut your hair? 
Several months ago. I'm getting it cut tomorrow morning.

Last person you talked to on the phone? 
Jeff

Last time you showered? 
last night

Loud or soft music? 
loud

McDonalds or Burger King? 
McDonalds

Night or day? 
day

Number of pillows? 
1

Piano or guitar? 
piano

Current longing?
food. I had a teensy lunch and worked late and still haven't eaten.

Current disappointment?
that the cold weather keeps coming back

Current annoyance? 
Barking dogs. I'm trying to type here!!

Last thing you ate? 
a horrible frozen pasta/chicken thinger for lunch

Last thing you bought? 
sugar cookies for Lauren last night

Pick a lyric, any lyric or a song...
Try to tell you no but my body keeps on telling you yes
Try to tell you "stop," but your lipstick got me so out of breath
I'll be waking up in the morning, probably hating myself
And I'll be waking up, feeling satisfied but guilty as hell

Pick a movie quote...
"It's not a purse. It's a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one."

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You're Working... Building a Mystery

My company had a private murder mystery dinner at a hotel downtown on Friday night. I've always wanted to go to one (various improv groups do public murder mystery dinners around town all the time). It was SO FUN! If your company does a private event, they will customize it for you. The actors were absolutely hilarious and there were all sorts of little "digs" here and there about specific people in the office, as well as some pharma research industry lingo (the dead guy "has clearly experienced an SAE" (serious adverse event)- ha!).

At one point one of our CRA's boyfriends was twerking. At another, our CEO was wearing our IT guy's underwear on his head. Priceless.


Saturday 9: Can't Buy Me Love (1964)
50 years ago this week, The Beatles made history with this song (hear it here). They became the first and only act in history to hold all 5 of the top slots in the Billboard Hot 100.

1) In this song, Beatle Paul offers to buy his girl a diamond ring. Do you wear rings?
I wear my wedding ring and my anniversary ring and occasionally my Aggie ring (because it's a bit loose and I'm afraid I'll lose it).

2) This song was written by boyhood friends John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who went on to become the most successful songwriters of the 20th century. Tell us about your best friend from "the old neighborhood." Do you know where he or she is today?
If we're talking my "girlhood" best friend, that would be Lori. She is from Louisiana and lived next door. She had two younger brothers. She was funny and adventurous and we shared a love of music. We practically lived at Astroworld in summers, where we went to concerts and rode roller coasters and were mini-groupies for the show bands. We maintained our friendship after I moved away in 8th grade and I saw her now and then through college.

We reconnected in the early 2000s, when I found out that she was living a block away from our old houses. Her parents still live in their old house. She is an accountant in Houston. She and I have seen each other a few times in the past several years. She and I went to Astroworld the weekend before it closed permanently in 2005.

3) The Ed Sullivan Theater, where the Beatles first performed to a mass American audience, is now the home of The Late Show with David Letterman. Do you have a favorite late night talk show?
I haven't watched much late night TV since I started working and getting up at 5:30, but I'm a Letterman girl.

4) In 1964, when this song became #1, one of top TV shows was My Favorite Martian. Do you believe in life on other planets?
Yes, I think there is life somewhere on another planet in the big wide universe.

5) In those days, homes had rotary dial phones, often affixed to the wall, with the receiver always tethered by a curly cord. Does your home still have a landline phone?
We do not.

6) 1964 was the year GI Joe first appeared on toy shelves. Tell us about one of your favorite childhood toys.
I had a Simon, which was the 1970s predecessor to Bop It (which I bought in the 90s and still own). It had four colors of lights, which would light up and beep different tones. There were different modes, but the default was to have you match one tone, then two, then three, etc. until you messed up repeating the tones. Superfun!!



I have no idea why anyone would use one hand to play Simon. Two hands are a must.

7) Ringo was the first Beatle to become a grandfather. His granddaughter, Tatia, is now a rock musician. If you were to follow your grandfather into his chosen profession, what would you be doing now?
I would be an officer in the US Army.

8) Paul McCartney admits he enjoys watching MasterChef. What show do you go out of your way to catch?
Shark Tank is our current family favorite to try to catch live together on Friday nights.

9) The paparazzi has often caught Paul pedaling a bike around Martha's Vineyard. What's your favorite form of exercise?
cardio kickboxing

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Don't Drink and Park

I can't find the actual photo online, but there was a very interesting parking lot collision last week across the street from Apple's south campus.

Jeff: ...There is terrorist parking there...
Me: Terrorist parking?
Jeff: Yeah.
Me: For terrorists?
Lauren: Oh. He's saying "terrorist."
Me: Terrorist?
Lauren: No, like a terrace. "Terraced."

Dang Texas accents.

So some guy allegedly enjoyed a few adult beverages while sitting in his car in the parking lot on the higher level. When security asked him to leave, he floored the gas and rammed the pickup truck straight ahead of him, knocking the pickup over the edge of the terrace, onto the car on the next terrace below. Sorta like my rendering here:

Although... more "crunched" and less "boob-like tires."

Wouldn't you love to come out of the office at the end of the day to find your car/truck like this?

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Coming Soon: Unisex Bathrooms

But first... You can't get away for a nooner at a small company without everyone being all up in your business. Mel randomly disappeared for a long lunch today and everyone and their brother asked Jennifer and me where she was. (She said it wasn't a nooner when I made that joke. Yeah, yeah...)

So yeah. I think the next big thing is unisex bathrooms. Not the one-off, single room ones, but making all public bathrooms open to both genders. We've pretty much abandoned separate men's and women's fitting rooms, so bathrooms are the next logical thing.

That will mean more bathrooms for the ladies. YES. They would have to get rid of urinals though. What will guys do for social time?

There will be a lot more sex in bathrooms, with everyone going in there.

Just saying.

KathyL: I've actually seen unisex bathrooms before. They just have doors on the stalls that go all the way to the floor.
Me: Cool. Then the only thing missing is a space to straighten your cami or adjust your bra or whatever, since you can't just do it in front of the sink anymore.
KathyL: They could put mirrors on the inside of the stall doors. Then you can just adjust things in the stall.
Me: That makes it even MORE interesting for all the people having sex in there. Heck... now I'm looking forward to this.

Heh.

Friday 5 Bonus Questions

1. If someone insisted on paying for it, would you rather have a gardener, a housekeeper, a personal chef, a driver, or a personal assistant?
EASY! A personal chef.

2. If someone insisted on paying for it, would you rather have a personal masseuse (or masseur), a sex surrogate, a personal trainer, a therapist, a makeup artist and hair stylist, or a life coach?
Makeup and hair, please.

3. Would you rather have a non-creepy secret admirer who sent you the occasional small gift and admiring note, a professional agent who kept an eye out for your next job and applied on your behalf and negotiated your salary, a private investigator who found out what people are saying about you and found out interesting things about people you know, or a personal photographer to capture all your special moments in ways that always made you look your best?
Personal photog.

4. Would you rather have limitless closet space (for clothes only), limitless shelf space (for books and music only), limitless hard-drive and cloud storage, or an eidetic memory?
Eidetic memory.

5. Would you rather have perfect pitch, the ability to do long or tricky math problems quickly in your head, ambidexterity, an inerrant BS detector, or the uncanny ability to know exactly what the weather’s going to be like in your neighborhood within twenty-four hours?
Perfect pitch.

6. In what way have you stubbornly refused to grow up?
Being an enthusiastic fangirl of talented musicians.

7. In what way have you stubbornly refused to be open-minded?
I can't stand when people convicted of heinous crimes spend decades in prison and then suddenly get off. After all their trials and all the evidence over all those years, someone magically gets them out of trouble. It takes a LOT to even make it into prison at all. I think some are just able to play the system.

8. In what way have you stubbornly refused someone else’s kindness?
I lost a baby several years ago when I was six months pregnant. A girl I knew at the time happened to be in a support group for moms who had experienced a stillbirth. She talked with me and invited me to join their group. She was incredibly sweet and helpful, and normally I'm receptive to that sort of kindness. It was just one of those situations where, at the time, I didn't want to be the center of attention, nor did I want to champion any causes or become a part of a group. Many feel comforted by those very things, but for me in that situation, it was overwhelming.

9. In what way have you stubbornly refused to be apologetic?
I refuse to be apologetic for my fangirly behavior at concerts. :p

10. In what way have you stubbornly refused to take a short cut?
There are so many things in life that don't have short cuts, that I take any that I can!

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Revvin' Up Your Engine, Listen to Her Howl and Roar

We had an internal meeting and Richard, a regional team member in Cali, called in. Our project manager was talking about a few sites who are "in the red zone"- her way of saying that they are coming up against some SUPERtight deadlines that they have to meet before participating in this new trial.

Then she said there was one site whose deadline is not until April, but they are even less likely to be able to meet all the deadlines than the others.

I asked what zone they were in.

"The O-zone! They are really out there!"

Richard: The Danger Zone!

The Twilight Zone... we hit them all.

So the meeting got back on track and went on a few more minutes while we talked about another subject. Then Morgan mentioned the Red Zone sites again.

Just then, "Highway to the Danger Zone" started blasting into the conference room through the speaker phone. Ahahaa!

Richard: Yeah, I'm available to DJ all our meetings.

That would so rock! I've got a playlist lined up for my 1 o'clock tomorrow.


Saturday 9: Unicorn
"The Unicorn" was selected because Monday is St. Patrick's Day. Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) This song was recorded by The Irish Rovers. While it's said that on St. Patrick's Day everyone is Irish, can you honestly claim Irish heritage?
I can honestly claim Irish heritage. One of my Great Grandmas' sides of the family goes back to Ireland. And there are a LOT of them. Good Catholic peeps.

2) According to the 2000 Census, Massachusetts is the state with the largest percentage of residents of Irish descent. Have you ever been to The Bay State?
I went to Boston on a cruise, where we spent the afternoon in Salem. We also spent a few days in Onset for Jeff's family reunion a couple of years ago.

3) Other than St. Patrick, what is Ireland famous for?
BEER!! Just like Germany. I come from beer people.

4) St. Patrick's Day is celebrated the world over. They even watch marching bands and wave Irish flags on St. Patrick's Day in Moscow. Does your town have a St. Patrick's Day parade?
I Googled it and we do not. Weird.

5) "The wearing o' the green" is one way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Will you wear something green in honor of the day?
Oh. My. Gawd. I was the one Monday morning, saying "What is this- Green Shirt Day?! Ahaha!" Yes, dorkass. Actually, it is.

6) Have you ever had green beer?
I have!

7) Have you ever ordered a Shamrock Shake at McDonald's?
Nope. But I saw a few people post about them on Facebook.

8) A four-leaf clover is considered good luck. Do you have a lucky charm?
No, but I wish I did!

9) Speaking of Lucky Charms, they are magically delicious. What brand of cereal is in your kitchen right now?
Honey Nut Cheerios

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Saturday Meme on Friday

The other day, a friend was talking about her young son and how she wants to "get him off the Strattera."
I thought, Why would she want to have him stop playing the violin?  It's been such a creative outlet and calming activity for him.

Then I realized I was thinking of Stradivarius.

Yep.


Saturday 9: Theme from Peyton Place ("Wonderful Season of Love")
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) Spring, summer, fall or winter: which season do you consider most wonderful?
spring

2) Crazy Sam learned this song when she played flute in the high school orchestra. Did you participate in many after-school activities?

• Brownies
• 1 year of girl scouts
• captain of our official neighborhood twirling team, the Scarsdale Stars (not even kidding)
• elementary school Student Council (any political dreams I had ended after fifth grade, when the Council went with the Beaver as our brand new school's mascot. BEAVERS? REALLY? We could have been the Bears, but no.)
• played piano
• school musicals
• school choir
• middle school basketball and volleyball teams
• high school Journalism- started as a sports reporter my freshman year and worked my way to advertising manager
• Junior Engineering and Technical Society
• annual Juniors vs. Seniors Powder Puff Football game- two years
• Latin Club, where BobbyM suggested that our club t-shirt should say Da mihi caput. Good times.

3) The flautist next to her in the orchestra was Jeanne Pepitone. After a little Facebook spying, Sam learned that Jeanne is now Jeanne Moran, a nurse with a husband and a daughter. Sam shot her a "friend request." Do you keep up with your high school classmates?
Many of them!

4) When she performed with the school orchestra, Sam was required to wear gray slacks and a black sweater. What are you wearing right now, as you answer these questions?
a pink, short nightgown

5) Sam was especially dedicated to the school orchestra because she had a crush on Mr. Hanley, the school's musical director. He was the dark/thin/sensitive type. Tell us about a teacher you remember, and why he or she stands out.
I had so many outstanding teachers. One who stands out was my Physics teacher, Mrs. Lee. She is the person who helped me decide to be an engineering major and which discipline to choose. I had wanted to be a doctor, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to take the blood and gore. I loved math and physics, so she thought a health-related engineering major would be perfect. She was right! She spent a lot of time with me on that whole thing. She always made time to talk with me and I appreciated it so much.

6) Because Sam was so crazy about Mr. Hanley, she was desperate to attend his band camp. Her parents wouldn't allow it unless she could pay her own way, and so she didn't get to go. Were your parents strict or permissive? If you have children yourself, what's your parenting style?
My parents were permissive. Not to an unreasonable extent, but more permissive than almost all my friends' parents. I think we were pretty permissive with Lauren, too. As my mom used to say, it's easy to be a "laid-back parent" when you have a kid who typically makes good choices.

7) Sam liked Fridays because her favorite food, fried rice, was served in the school cafeteria. When you eat Chinese food, do you use chopsticks or a fork?
I use chopsticks with Japanese food and a fork with Chinese.

8) When Sam was a little girl, a new box of Crayolas could get her pulse racing. Now she loves her Sharpies. Do you enjoy shopping for school/office supplies?
LOVE it.

9) Do you have any plush toys? Or did you give them all up when you left childhood? 
I don't have any plush toys. No. The last one I had was in college. Jeff gave me a bear when I was at MD Anderson.

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Devil's Crossroads

I am up too early for a Sunday, watching Gene Simmons Family Jewels, which I haven't seen in a few years. Turns out, I still want my daughter to marry Nick Simmons, Gene's son. That kid is hilarious.

This episode is "Memphis Blues," and Nick goes to the Devil's Crossroads, where highways 49 and 61 cross in Mississippi. The Crossroads, if you recall from O Brother Where Art Thou? (I get all my history through George Clooney films), is where Tommy Johnson sold his soul to the devil to be the best blues guitarist who ever lived. In real life, this legend later became associated with blues singer Robert Johnson, after Robert wrote a song about it. (I supplement my history lessons with Wikipedia.)

Anyhoo... Nick and his friend are at the Crossroads and there is a fast food joint across the street.

Nick: When you're at The Crossroads, selling your soul to the Devil, it's good to know... that you can get yourself some chicken strips with a sweet dipping sauce.

Ahaha.

Enjoy the Oscars tonight, people!

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FInally the Weekend!

Song Lyrics of the Day

...Kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band
Make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me...

Sixpence None the Richer "Kiss Me"


Saturday 9: Waterfalls
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) This song encourages us to "stick to the rivers and lakes you're used to." What body of water is nearest your home -- pond, lake, river, gulf or sea?
Lady Bird Lake, technically a reservoir

2) Have you ever visited a waterfall? If so, please tell us about it.
I've visited Niagara Falls three times- once with Cathy in college and twice with Jeff and Lauren. I just think the falls are awe inspiring. The sheer volume of water is indescribable, something to behold. (I put this post on hold for a moment to look for my video of it just now, but ended up spending three hours organizing my photos and videos. I didn't find that one, but wow- I found a lot of cool stuff! Moving on...)

3) This song is from a CD entitled CrazySexyCool. Which word best describes how you feel today: Crazy, sexy or cool?
None of the above! I'm exhausted. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

4) The girls in TLC originally began hanging around together in an Atlanta-area hair salon. When did you last sit in a stylist's chair?
Maybe 3 months ago. I really need to get in and chop my hair again.

5) While she she spent her adolescence in Atlanta, bandmember Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins was born in Des Moines. Do you live in or near the town where you were born?
only 5,321 miles away

6) One of T-Boz' recent public appearances was on the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Do you watch any of the popular Bravo Real Housewives shows?
I love RH of New York ("TAKE. A. XANAX!"), RH of New Jersey ("My husband didn't call me a (C word) to my face!") and RH of Orange County ("You are psychotic, Jesus Jugs.")

7) In the 1990s, band member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was romantically involved with an Atlanta Falcons football player. They shared his upscale, two-story mansion. How would you describe your abode (house, cottage, apartment, condo, studio, etc.)?
house

8) Ms. Lopes was accused of arson when, after the couple argued, that mansion happened to burn down. When was the last time you lost your temper? How did you express your anger? (If it was with a criminal act, you may wish to keep it to yourself.)
The most pissed off I've been recently was at work a couple of weeks ago, arguing with someone who is disrespectful to our clients on a daily basis. I literally took a deep breath and reminded her, loudly, but not yelling, that unless the client wants us to do something illegal or there is something we want to suggest as a more desirable alternative to the process in place, the client gets what they want. As soon as it became obvious that the argument was escalating, I removed myself from the situation. There are very few things I feel are worth a serious down-and-out. Work issues are definitely not.

9) Today the third member of TLC, Chilli, designs personalized handbags. They cost about $225 each. What's the most expensive thing you have bought recently?
A sectional sofa a couple of weeks ago. Yay! It's way cool!

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