I'm Getting a Visitor!!

Wehe is here!  Chicago, LOOK OUT!

Poor Detroit....

It's been a rough year for the residents of Michigan - first the collapse of the US auto industry, now the Detroit Lions completely winless season.  Ouch.  And, let's be honest - it was probably already hard enough having to be a Detroit resident to begin with....

Goals

Ok, I know I have raised several questions in the past about making new year's resolutions - however, one resolution I usually make it to read a certain number of books in the coming year (and I encourage others to make this goal as well - the number of books depends on the individual).  I do believe last January, a study came out that said one in four Americans did not read a single book the previous year.  

This past year, my goal was twelve books - I happened to luckily exceed it by one book.  Obviously, I should aim a little higher this coming year, but I don't want to overdo it.  However, I do want to challenge myself.   Hmm.    

(This reminds me that I am supposed to review my books from this past year - still working on that one.  Maybe a better resolution for me would be keeping my blog promises.)

What would be a good new goal?  Fifteen seems too small (I almost did that this year); eighteen a little too large.  Seventeen is too odd of a number - I don't like it.  Maybe I'll go for magic sweet 16.  

However, I am NOT at a shortage of reading material - I got seven new books and a Borders giftcard for Christmas.  That, and I have a large quantity on hand from the beloved Sun-Times booksale.   I have a ton of books that I am excited about reading, which is always good.   In fact, I started reading one of my new books (see above).  

My only problem is I'm almost a third of the way through it and I fear I may finish it before 2009, which cannot happen.   This book needs to be counted against 2009, NOT 2008.  I CANNOT have a budget surplus - that will only penalize me for the coming year.  

Coach?

So I have come across, on several occasions, something pertaining to the occupation of 'life coach'.  

Needless to say, I am VERY cynical to this profession on the whole and those who think they are qualified to assume such a role.   

What exactly is a life coach?  What do they do?  More importantly, what makes one qualified to be a life coach?   How is it determined that, hey, you right there - you're more successful in life than 90% of the buffoons out there - you're qualified to tell others what they should be doing with their lives!!  Is it a certain amount of 'life experience' that makes one qualified to be a life coach?  I see 20 and 30-somethings claiming to be life coaches.   Is there any training to become a life coach?  I personally would think the training would be life itself - but we all have that experience of having lived life - what makes some of us grossly unqualified for the profession?   Is being a life coach solely a self-proclaimed accolade, or is there a formal certification process?  Are there a good amount of people out there going to 'life coaches'?  (Actually, I have no trouble believing this - those who feel desperately lost and searching will turn to anything that might be able to solve their problems, hence the success of cults, Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret", etc.)

I do believe several of those behind "The Secret" are self-proclaimed life coaches.  This doesn't add on any cynicism for me toward this subject matter; I already had plenty.

It's not the idea of a life coach that troubles me - it's the idea that some of my peers might be qualified to assume this role in my, or someone's, life.  I dare a life coach to offer up some advice to me.

(Editor's sidenote:  To find a picture for this blog, I googled 'Coach', but that only yielded handbags.  I then googled 'athlete coach' and immediately came upon the picture of Bela Karolyi and Kerri Strug.  Those who know me appreciate that I couldn't resist.)

They Don't Know Me as Well as They/I Thought...

E-Mail Subject Line:  Marriages Break Down Because of Incompatible Personalities

Body:

If you and your marital partner are having trouble, come in and get your Personality and IQ checked as this may be the reason for your disputes.

Call to set up an appointment.

--------

I am not married.  I am not engaged.  I am not close to it either.  And I am absolutely fine with it.  :-)   In fact, this past Christmas, my mom declared she plans on "spoiling me every Christmas, until I get married".  So let's be honest, the odds that I'll walk down the aisle any time soon are getting slimmer by the second.  

You're going to have to do a little bit better than that, Chicago Dianetics Society.  

Vacay

Sorry to my loyal readers - this blog has been on Christmas vacation.   I do appreciate that on Christmas day, this blog still got views (by someone other than my mother).   Well, I hope all my blog-viewers had a nice Christmas.   How was mine, you ask?  Spectacular!

Hello, lover....

Single for the Holidays

So, as most of you know, I am single.  Some people have a problem being single at the holidays, however, I don't.  I think it's one thing if there's a significant other who has been around for a long time and already knows the family, however, for me personally, having to go meet all of someone's extended family, or more difficult, having to bring someone to meet all of my extended family would be somewhat stressful no matter how excited I am about the relationship.  

I guess I personally prefer to be single at times like Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc., because I prefer to go and relax with my family and be in my comfort zone of the holiday celebration I am used to.   However, oddly, some of the other members of my age group in my family seem to have no problem bringing a date to any and every family event, even if they've only been dating the person for a couple weeks.  I know some friends who will also bring someone they just started dating home to meet not only parents and siblings but also the whole entire extended family early on.  I am not sure if the point is to show off that they are, indeed, dating someone (and therefore dateable), or if this is just the standard way to operate for them and I personally don't understand it.   

Your thoughts?  Are any of you sad to be single at the holidays?  

For All My Snoopy Enthusiasts....

Have a very Merry Christmas!!  

Yet Another Facebook Observation....

Has it ever happened to you that, once in a while, someone you haven't seen or talked to in forever adds you as a friend on facebook?  Only, the catch is, both you and this person have been on facebook for a good amount of time; you've noticed their profile before and you know they've noticed your profile and subsequently passed it over in the past  (that past/passed is for YOU, Emily).  

This has happened to me a couple times lately.  What made said individual decide this time, out of the blue, to add me?  It wasn't strange that they added me, but rather that they decided to do so at this very moment.  I can't help but wonder - were they in a staredown with my profile and they happened to break first?  (Don't question my networking site willpower!)

However, I do believe I have answered my own question - today, after having been stranded in my apartment because of this ridiculously cold weather, I decided to go through facebook and do a very thorough friending.  People I knew, mostly from high school and some from college - they all got a request.   Knock on wood - I should have a good 25 new friends in the next couple days.

It's not necessarily that I am looking to get back in touch with these people, but moreso because I am nosy to see what they are up to.  I really hope they all come over from the link to my blog in my facebook profile and read this post.  I can't help but secretly think, though, that these others who added me were wondering the same thing about me.  I can only hope my fabulous life does not inspire too much envy....

For a Day Like Today....

I get this poem every winter & every winter I love re-reading  it.  It's a beautiful poem and  very well written.  Thought it might be a comfort to you; it was to me.  ENJOY!  ' WINTER '  Fuck! It's cold! The end.

Poor Tots :-(

poor kiddos :-(

It's been a rough year for many.   :'(

Scary Thought

So, something I recently noticed on facebook got me thinking....I have now passed the four year anniversary of being a college graduate (December 15, 2004).  AHHH!  Crazy!  I have been an "adult" in the "real world" for FOUR YEARS (I started my first 'real job' February 5, 2004).   (Yes, I do have an odd ability to remember dates and an unhealthy love for parenthetical asides.)  

It's weird to think of all that this means - I have not done homework, studied for or taken a final, or worked at Chili's in four years.  I have now been out of college for longer than I was in it.  It's a bit hard for me to wrap my head around at this moment.  I need some time and space to take this all in.  I'll be back. 

Some Days the Real World is Rough

Now, I personally think it's easier to be a grown up than a kid - maybe that's just me.  Anyhow, every once in a while, there'll be something I desperately miss from childhood, such as the magical wonder known as snow days.   It made winter worthwhile.  I have a feeling I'm not alone on my love of snow days - there's a facebook group that describes a snow day as 'a one day extension on life'.

However, in the real world of downtown Chicago jobs and public transportation, large snowfall only means more daily hassles and frozen feet.  Alas.  Although, at one point in my adult life, I was part of an organization (which I am most certainly not part of any more) that had a snow day, but I suppose that made sense because we were all treated like kindergartners there anyway.  

Timeline?

So I was just reading in Cosmo (I know, AGAIN) that, if you are a woman in your twenties, it is now finally acceptable to not have a five year plan.  

Well, PHEW.  Thank goodness, cause I surely didn't have one.   I swear, I had no idea we even had this assignment!  (How many times have I said THAT in my life?!?!)

Anyhow - I am curious - does anyone out there have a five year plan?  Goals are good, but something about this seems strange.  Where does everyone see herself in the next couple five years?  Does anyone have an answer that DOESN'T involve the statements 'getting married and having kids' or 'getting my dream job'?  

Your thoughts?  Should I acquire a five year plan?  

Stolen Property

Emily, your blog doesn't have a copyright...you've been warned!

World Class Trash

So, over the past couple days, I've been reading Glamour and Cosmo.  Something interesting I've come to discover...the following are books that actually exist:

(Third Base Ain't What it Used to Be)

(Additional Sidenote:  Your thoughts on this matter???)

(Shacking Up:  The Smart Girls' Guide to Living in Sin Without Getting Burned)

(Dating Makes You Want to Die)

Has anyone read any of these?  Can anyone provide a review?

Cute but Pointless

I wonder what he charges for massages....

As a Blogger, I Live for This....

The other day, I wrote a post about newspapers.  I got a response from "anonymous".  Special sidenote - I have a couple guesses at who this "anonymous" might be.  However, the one thing that confuses me is, although I know many who might say something like this, ALL would sign their name to it.  Hmm. 

Anyhow, anonymous says:

"Print newspapers are a dying breed. Coverage of the G-Rod arrest is a perfect example of how print news has little use anymore.

He was taken into custody on Tuesday around 7 AM. If you learned of this news via the Wednesday morning paper, you are probably living in an area which not only doesn't have internet or TV; you probably don't even have electricity."

All right.  Ding, round two....

There is definitely a point that news happens more than once every 24 hours.  Newspapers probably aren't the best when it comes to 'breaking the news', but this isn't new.  Yes, the radio, tv, internet, etc. are probably all better at this.

However, a newspaper's sole purpose isn't 'breaking the news'.  There is something tangible, real and lasting about a newspaper.  At one time there was a certain buzz and excitement after a big event about 'seeing the headlines tomorrow' (yes, anonymous, headlines of stories about events that people were, indeed, already aware of).   Whether or not that buzz still exists is another argument entirely, however, I do know this - the day after Obama's election, there was a huge rush of people in line to get a copy of the morning after's paper (and I HIGHLY HIGHLY doubt it was to find out who won the election).  I know a lot of people were interested in preserving their copies and keeping them for years to come.  I question if these same people were printing up blog headlines and putting them in a safe place.  

Anyhow, one can most definitely question the future of newspapers in today's world, however, as I see it, there is undeniably something newspapers bring to the table that other forms of news media do not.  

Birthdays Galore!

Happy Birthday to Piper (Ana)!!   What would I (and this blog) ever do without you?!?!?!  

When I see you next, I have the world's most appropriate birthday card for you!  

Another Quote

Greta Van Susteren (love her) - on her show, On the Record:

"This is the fourth governor of Illinois to be indicted - what's going on in Illinois?!?!?!"

This is how we roll in Illinois.   

I Wonder....

It was not a good day for The Chicago Tribune.  I feel for them.  There are also rumors about the future of The New York Times.  

There are a lot of companies in general in turmoil right now.  (I know, f'ing duh!)

However, for me this raises a series of questions.  Where are people getting their news these days (if not from newspapers)?  Cable news shows?  I know there's a cult following of junkies, such as yours truly, however, I don't know if they are facing an increased audience as some others are facing a decreased audience.  The internet?  Perhaps.  More specifically - are people getting their news from blogs?!  Are they credible news blogs written by researchers/reporters (such as the newspapers' websites), or any random blogs, like THIS ONE?!?!

(I guess maybe that's better than getting your news Bill O'Reilly or Sean Hannity.  Couldn't resist.)

Or, I guess maybe there's another option.  Are people not 'getting their news' at all?  

Contemplating....

...a private facebook profile.  I have always had a public one.  I have always mocked people for having a private profile, as in they think they are so important/interesting that they need the privacy - as in strangers shouldn't be privy to know their favorite bands.  

Now, before you can say anything that it's been stupid of me to have a public facebook thus far, 1) I do not have anything inappropriate up of myself and B) I am already 'facebook friends' with all of management at my company.  So....

However, a part of me is thinking it might be time for me to take on an air of mystery.  Thoughts?! 

Resolution?

So I got my Glamour magazine in the mail last week - it's the January issue (and it's disgustingly small - a sad shoutout to the state of the print media industry lately, but anyhow).   Naturally, it's talking about New Year's Resolutions and all the staples of New Year's Resolutions  (lose 10 pounds, quit smoking, get a new job, etc.).  

Now, I've never been one make New Year's resolutions in my adult life.   I find a bit of humor in it all:  1)  If it's a goal of yours, such as the above mentioned, why particularly decide to take action specifically at the beginning of the  year and 2)  The success rate of most New Year's resolutions...yeah.

However, I currently find myself in a bit of a rut.  My readers might note this by the number of posts filed under 'doldrums'.   Although there might not be anything particularly wrong at this moment, but there isn't necessarily anything spectacularly right (although I can say I am luckier than most to have my health, a decent job, family and some great friends).  

A humorous situation led me to think about my high school reunion (which will be coming up in a couple years).  As of right now, I wouldn't have any reason I'd be embarrassed to go see all my former classmates, however, I guess I'm not where I thought I'd be when I was a teenager and dreamed of adulthood.  I'm not the person I envisioned myself as going to said reunion.  Maybe this is a simple part of all dream/reality discrepancies, however, at one point in my life I felt I was someone who was destined for greatness and I'm pretty sure I haven't quite reached that.

Maybe I need a resolution.  

Have You Ever Noticed?

There's something empowering about being disliked by someone.  Now, I'm not talking about your boss of your boyfriend's mom (that's not good).   I'm not talking about the girl you stole the boyfriend of (that's expected).   I'm talking about when you discover a completely random, unexpected person hates you for no particular reason.

Now, don't get me wrong - it's not that I rejoice in this.  However, a person has to CARE to not like you.  

It's especially interesting when it involves someone you don't necessarily see regularly.  Surely, it's easy to be bothered by the regular annoying qualities of a coworker or a classmate.  However, to carry a dislike for someone who is no longer a part of your life seems to be reserved for those who've committed only a handful of serious offenses against you.  

Although there were plenty of people from both high school and college who I didn't exactly like at the time being, I can honestly say I can't think of anyone I actively dislike from either place (and I am still looking for someone who will describe me as 'forgiving').   Anyone who wasn't to my liking is no longer in my life at this point, and the people who aren't in my life aren't worth the energy for the most point.

However, once in a while, we'll all come along a little nougat of info that someone we haven't seen/talked to/even thought of in forever REALLY DOESN'T LIKE US.  There's some satisfaction in knowing that we must, on some level, albeit negatively, matter to that person.  

As I'm  sure you've inferred, this has happened to me recently.  Of course, despite what I've mentioned above, this situation is of course clouded by the ever-persistent human question - "why?"   

Some of You May Have Noticed....

....it's been a while since I've hated on Barack.  Well, I am not hating on Barack - I think he's doing ok (considering he hasn't even taken office yet) - he's appointed some smart people, which is all he's really been asked to do so far - ok, fine....

However, I've had enough!!  I've had enough of talking about him!  ENOUGH!  (Yes, I realize I'm doing it now.)  Obviously, Barbara Walters (who, for someone who really had to work hard to break barriers for women in journalism, seems to be phoning it in over the past couple years) named him the most fascinating person of the year.  I'm sick of everyone being fascinated by him.  I'm sick of commemorative plates (shouldn't that come after the end of his presidency?!?!  Just sayin'!!).  

I'm sick of articles about 'what's on Obama's I-pod', 'Christmas at the Obama house', 'the Obama daughter's chores', 'Obama's haircut' - AHHHHH!!!   Seriously, the man is our president - not Britney Spears.  I realize there's a certain amount of human interest stories with all public figures, but COME ON.  

I can't help but think - two popular presidents from my lifetime - Clinton and Reagan - certainly had their moments when they were less than loved by the general public.  All president approval ratings have ebbs and flows - and Obama is only human.  I can't wait until he formally assumes office so the press and everyone else can stop worshiping the ground he walks on.  URGH!  

Currently Listening To....

I love love love it!!  I am not a country music gal, but goshdarnit - I am jumping on the bandwagon!

Piper said she likes it when I write reviews - I honestly have no idea on how to review a cd.  I remember back on the high school newspaper, there were a couple boys who would always review cds, but they would review their favorite cds and talk about how great these bands were  (which have at this point all broken up or, at least, haven't produced a hit in a decade).

Anyhow, I digress.  I am sure there is something objective to write about when reviewing a cd (the song lyrics, the quality of use of the instrument or something like that), but I am not familiar with how to do this.  So I will just say I love this cd!!

Random Question

How come every infomercial offers a free product with the product it's selling?  It's failproof.  Call now and you'll get this random sometimes completely unrelated product!!!!   Often times the included product is not necessarily miniscule wherein there has to be some cost to it itself.   Does anyone ever miss out and not get that extra prize because they didn't "CALL NOW"?   One can't really argue it might have something to do with measuring advertising results because the calling in itself does that.  Seriously, what's the point of the throw in - there has to be one since they all consistently do it.  Anyone know?  Hmm.  

Sad Day

I went to the dentist today.   My mouth is, apparently, the home of one single solitary cavity.    It is about to become the home to a filling.  Well, I haven't made the appointment yet.  A small part of me is thinking about ignoring it - if I hadn't gone to the dentist, I wouldn't know and would continue to go about things just fine.  Maybe I should put this up to a vote....

I took my cavity-less existence for granted.  I apparently didn't do enough to prevent it, but I thought since what I'd done had prevented cavities each and every time before, I was safe.  

As you can see, I am very upset about this.  It may sound trite in the big picture, but perhaps it's one of the more minor annoyances in a series of unfortunate events.  Grr.  

I think I'm going with ignoring the cavity, as childish as that may be.  Thoughts?

Blush...A Spade Was Called....

Quote from the book I'm reading:

"What did bother her about most blogs was their wistfulness.  No matter how self-effacing the bloggers were, they clearly believed themselves on some sort of world stage, where they just might be attended to."

Sigh.  

Currently Reading....

The Writing Class by Jincy Willett....

You know, review to come....

Sidenote:  antp, I think you would specifically like/appreciate some aspects of this book....

For a Regularly Contributing Commenter

Happy Birthday Tom!

Recurring Dream...

So for the past two nights in a row, I've had the dream that I was back in senior year of college.  Now, normally for me, the idea of a dream about being back in school and having to deal with classes, tests, etc. is a complete and total nightmare.  Normally I feel very relieved when I wake up from these kind of dreams - it's not that I stressed out about school that much, it just wasn't fun and I was glad when it was over.  However, I felt perfectly at ease and even happy in these dreams (well, senior year of college wasn't the most busy).  

Also, randomly, I can't recall the last time I had a dream about being back in college - perhaps I'd had some the first year after graduating but certainly not recently.  I am curious where these dreams came from and what they mean.  

Funny Stuff?

So a friend of mine recently brought up the point that she'd read somewhere - that guys are intimidated by funny women (kind of in the same sense that they are intimidated by women who make more money than them).  A lot of men will say a 'great sense of humor' is very important to them in the woman they date, but they really mean they want someone who will laugh at their jokes, as opposed to make them laugh.  

I kind of think this is true - not across the board with every guy but generally speaking.  I know there have been some guys I knew briefly who found me to 'not have a sense of humor' (because I didn't find them all that funny and didn't pretend to).  In reality, I think I have a pretty great one.   Also, I tend to be the kind of person who thinks I'm funny and I'm typically the type to be making the jokes - maybe this is one of those 'opposites attract' kind of things - two people who think they're funny don't jive because they are battling for the stage.  

Also, I regularly notice articles and studies saying women want a man who can 'make them laugh' - listing this quality as one of the most important ones a woman looks for in a mate.  For me personally, although of course it is important to find someone who I can laugh and enjoy myself with, I certainly couldn't say I'm specifically looking for 'someone who can make me laugh' - I couldn't even put that quality in my top ten.  

Anyhow, I guess, in short (well, at this point, can I even say that?), my question is this - do many guys pride themselves on being able to make the women in their lives laugh?  Are men intimidated by sarcastic women?  Do sarcastic women need to be with men who don't pride themselves on their ability to make a woman laugh?  

All I know is this - I am sarcastic and like to crack jokes (regardless of whether or not people find me funny at times), and I am not changing for anyone.  I am a feminist - I am not going to pretend to be some weak girl who is going to fawn over and fake laugh at some guy who thinks he is funny.  I have a sense of humor, but I don't humor the men who try to date me.  (However, as stated earlier - I don't really take into consideration whether or not a guy can make me laugh - the quality is not all that important to me.)

Thoughts?

Random...

Loving it, Google!

Black Wednesday

Today is apparently the biggest DUI night of the year.  I suppose that the thought of spending the entire next day with one's extended family sparks calls for desperate measures.  That, and people probably don't plan ahead for today like they do for New Year's Eve, etc., it's more a 'stop for one (or 12) on the way home from work', kind of day.

I am reminded of a time when I was working the lunch shift at Chili's on this day - I believe it was either sophomore or junior year of college and I was working the lunch shift in my hometown, right across the street from my former high school, on a break from college.  

Around 12, a large group of teachers from my high school (some of them my very own former teachers) meandered in (I remembered there was usually a half day of school on this day).  They started as a table of 12 (but kept expanding as the afternoon went on).   

Their server was slightly less than thrilled with them.  They sat for something around four hours (as of when I left, they may have stayed even longer), and they had ordered something over $120 of alcohol (mind you, this was at Chili's - home of the $5 as-big-as-your-head margarita), yet the only food they had was one order of boneless buffalo wings (amongst the however many at that point).  

A group of 12 first graders would have been quieter and better behaved.  The manager went over and asked them to keep it down a couple times.  I remember two of the female teachers standing up and kissing each other on the lips and all the men applauding rowdily.  As I was leaving, the management was contemplating asking them to leave because they were disrupting virtually everyone on their side of the restaurant.  

For some unknown reason, thinking of my former teachers in this disjointed, disruptive, inappropriate state always makes me smile to this day.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  

RIP

'...a song for a heart so big, god couldn't let it live....'

My dog - Gretchen Grace Sikora - passed this morning.  She was almost 13 years old (11/28/95-11/25/08).   She was a tricolor Collie.  I will miss her terribly - I do already.  I am a dog person (I realize some of you are not and this is just silly to you), however, she was a longtime best friend to me (even though she lived with my parents).  

No one will ever love me quite like this dog did.  No one will ever think I'm as great as she did.  And that's ok.  From here on out, I will try to be the person she thought I was.     

Psychic?

So, my girlfriends and I have, at times, discussed going to see a psychic as a fun group activity.  We would not be willing to put out any large chunk of cash for it and we would, of course, take things with a grain of salt.  

I am curious - has anyone out there gone to one before?  I had a coworker once who regularly went to one - she used to drop 'my psychic' like 'my hairstylist' or 'my dentist'.  I know some people put a good amount of faith in them.  

However, I do know the typical scams - a lot of time they will put out a very general statement (someone you care about is undergoing a health issue - or - you are currently second-guessing your career choice - or - there is someone close to you with a name that starts with [insert common letter, such as S or T, here]).  

Then a person will say 'well....' and start providing the psychic with some personal information that she can then make some more specific 'predictions' on.   Also, people will often find ways to make the psychic's general statements apply to their own lives - so it will seem more effective than it actually is.

That being said, I am still a little intrigued.  I felt my handwriting analysis (in a previous blog) was pretty accurate and I did not provide her with any information.  Has anyone gone to a (cheap) psychic before?  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday to a near and dear friend - Emily!!   What would I do without Emily?  She introduced me to byobs and blogging (oh, and also Tropico).  I can honestly say I wouldn't have survived, well, you know, without her - we lived through a tragic experience together and are stronger people because of it.  

Em - I know you're reading - I hope you have a good one.  I believe most of my blog readers who haven't met you feel they know you on some level because they often travel over to your blog.  

Bizarro Work Perks, Part Deux

How could I forget this?!?!

So, earlier I mentioned that a good friend of mine works at a company where she and other employees received large turkeys as a 'bonus'.   Well, a mere two years ago, 'said' friend and I worked together at, ahem, another company.  (I have mentioned 'said' company briefly in one post before, other than that I do not speak of it.  Please understand we all have our skeletons.)

Anyhow, at this company, around Thanksgiving, we were rewarded with 'paper' turkeys.  When someone caught someone doing a 'good job', he or she was to color in a blank paper turkey and give it to this person.  This was supposed to make one feel good and rewarded, received a colored-in piece of paper (from ANOTHER ADULT).

Paper turkeys.  Real turkeys.  Some of us move up in the world.  

Say What You Will

Over the next couple days, I am making a point of watching the entire Friends Thanksgiving episode library.  I am not sure which episode is my favorite, although I think there's a frontrunner....

"I love Jacques Cousteau!"

Bizarro Work Perks

So a good friend of mine who shall remain nameless received a 20 lb turkey (!?!?!)  from her company as a Thanksgiving bonus.   Although this is great if one is hosting a Thanksgiving party, I imagine it to be a bit awkward if one already is going by someone else for Thanksgiving - there's suddenly an odd obligation to cook this large bird....  Also, what about vegetarians?

However, I know this is not uncommon.  I get an unlimited supply of free/$1 brand new hardcover books (which I find to be the BEST PERK IN THE WORLD).   That, and I get to sometimes ride the elevator with Richard Roeper.  Oh, not to mention the Jerry Seinfeld Bee Movie meet and greet - that was, as Mastercard would say, priceless.  

Anyone else have any interesting/bizarre work perks?

Gift Cards?

Did anyone else get the e-mail forward warning of companies filing for bankruptcy/closing stores after the first of the year and the dangers of gift cards for these stores not being valid?  I am not going to copy and paste the entire long e-mail here - the previous sentence sums it up.  

I am not too worried - I have already planned or bought most of my Christmas gifts, and for those I haven't figured yet, well, I wasn't planning on a gift card to one of those stores.  If I for some reason receive a gift card to one of those joints, I will simply shop before January 1.  (Maybe I AM paranoid.)

I could always 'snopes' this and see if there's truth to it.  Hmm.  Anyone have any knowledge on this subject?

Birthday Time!

Happy Birthday Ashley!!  One of my very favorite people from college - we need quite the celebration! I shamrock you!   This blog highly appreciates your presence (as do I)!

Barackstar

Ok, not to rant and rave FOREVER, but Barack Obama has not yet even been inaugurated yet and how many different keepsakes are there out there for sale?  I'm watching an infomercial for a Barack Obama commemorative plate.  SERIOUSLY!?!?!  That's not to mention dvds, posters, special editions of newspapers, etc.  I can't help but wonder if Barack Obama doesn't come through with some of his campaign promises (such as 'change'), there'll be millions of pieces of memorabilia for the Republicans to rub his face in?  

Daily Rambling...

So, as I've mentioned once or twice before, I've toyed with the idea of changing this blog's name.  I was getting antsy last night and I decided to google "Daily Ramblings" and see if this blog came up in Google's cache (or whatever the heck it's called).  

Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't think that I came up with the expression 'Daily Ramblings' or that I was the only one to use it, however, there are a TON of blogs named 'Daily Ramblings' - like the first three pages of google were different DRs.   In fact, I even saw one with this exact layout.  I kind of wanted to be a random creep and comment on it.

For me, this is kind of like when you hear someone is using your baby name - you don't want it to be stolen out from under you!  Although the copycatism is annoying, you can't let the others 'have' your name.  I am holding tight to Daily Ramblings - and I'm going to try to bring this blog up higher in the google cache (hopefully this post will help)....

I Made It!!!

So, at the beginning of the year, I made the goal to read 12 books for the year (one book a month pretty much).  I started out strong, finishing one book by the end of January, however, I seemed to hit a lull.  It was May and my book log was still at one; it didn't seem as though it was going to happen.  

However, I looked deep into my soul and channeled the spirit of a younger me.  Never one to give up on a goal, no matter how bleak things looked - I found my adrenaline to sprint to the end.  With almost two months to spare, I reached my goal.  I just might do a victory lap-book.  

My 12 books, in an attempted chronological order:

-- The Secret of The Secret  by Karen Kelly

-- Microtrends by Mark J. Penn

-- Debunked by Richard Roeper

-- If I'd Known Then edited by Ellyn Spragyn

-- Olive Kitteredge by Elizabeth Strout

-- Nerds:  Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them by David Anderegg

-- Aruba by Dave Holloway

-- Friend or Frenemy by Andrea Lavinthal and Jessica Rozler

-- The Tenth Circle  by Jodi Picoult

-- How to Get Sued by J. Craig Williams

-- Dear Zoe by Philip Beard

-- Slackonomics by Lisa Chamberlain

Piper, I hear you over there.  Reviews to come (if they haven't been published already).

Are You Ready for Some Football?!?!

For some unknown reason, lately, I have started watching football.   Since I am from Chicago, the Bears are my team.

I gotta say, I like this guy.  Rex Grossman.  I know, I know.  Say what you will.   His biggest problem is mental, not physical.  I like it when professional athletes seem human.  Again, say what you will - someone's gotta be damn good to be picked at some point to be quarterback of a professional team (not looking in comparison to the rest of the field).  It goes to show you that no matter how far we make it, sometimes we can't shake off our humanness.

If any of my loyal readers are football watchers - I am sure there are some Rex-haters reading this and shaking their heads.  However, I look forward to the game where everyone's expectations are down and he comes through with the game-winning save.