Posts (page 2)

how many times have you said that?  needless to say, i lose my phone a lot.  and i don't really care.  i don't really talk on the phone that much anyways.

but what a pisser to discover--after already committing to working from home today--that i left my phone at my friend kelsey's last night... and i have 5 meetings today.  ahem.  i'm a dork.

so what to do.  can't get the cell phone from her till she's home from work.  and jay and i don't actually own a home phone.  we're so modern.  or stupid.  you make the call.  oh, and what's even funnier is that we actually HAVE a land line connection... just no phone attached to it.

anyhoo, i know they say that in case of an earthquake it's good to have a non-battery powered (meaning no cordless) phone as phone lines are some how less likely to fall apart in an earthquake than electric power... which make cell phone towers operate... which if powerless would mean jay and i would be screwed with our only-cell-phone-having selves.

long story short, i grabbed a city car share, zipped over to office max, bought the cheapest little land line corded no battery needed phone available, and got back just in time get on my daily 11 am call with our developers.

and now... back to work.

loved the QoTD yesterday re: musical horoscope... will post about that soon.  but in the mean time... i'm desperate to find two tracks that i can't seem to download ANYWHERE.  i'm sure i could with limewire or something... but... well... long story.  anyways. i can't find these two tracks anywhere and would be way super mega indebted to whomever could find 'em for me for download...

okay, first is a remix of missy elliott's Lick Shots by a dj named Fred Everything (aka Fred Blais).  the track is called Missy Thing of A Missing Thing.  Label: White.  I believe it's only every been released on 12" vinyl.  i'm desperate.  i want it.  it's amazing.  oh, and if anyone could hook me up by, say, tomorrow (saturday) afternoon--that would rock!  i've been asked to do the playlist for a friend's birthday tomorrow night.  apparently, the people like my musical tastes!

second is much easier: there's a track by Interfearence called All Day on the Human Traffic soundtrack that i LOVE.  they do other versions of this same track--but none compare to the one on the Human Traffic soundtrack.  i don't really feel like buying this soundtrack for the third time and losing it... and the whole thing is pretty great--but i really just want the one song.

a'ight... any thoughts?  anyone?

Together with a ton of other crazies, I’ll be running the San Diego Rock n’ Roll half marathon (13.1 miles) on Sunday, June 3^rd, 2007*.  I’m doing this as a member of Team in Training, which raises funds for the very worthy efforts of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and I need your support.

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m pretty athletic, but at the same time, I can be pretty lazy.  It’s a ridiculous

combination—one that more often than not leaves me deciding between couch and workout… and the couch usually wins.  So needless to say, I need a little extra motivation in my life to actually go make use of my athletic abilities and get out and do something physical.  I like structure.  I need a team around me and a goal to which I must commit.  And this need has lead me Team in Training.

Why am I writing to you about this, you ask?  Well, not only am I attempting to run really far, I’m also attempting to raise a lot of funds ($3000 by May 15^th).  Team in Training comprehensively trains average Joes and Janes like me to complete endurance events.  In exchange, they ask that each participant raise funds for their cause: supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  So they actually accomplish quite a lot: they get lazy rear-ends off the couch and they give mucho money to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society—not a bad deal.

In 2006, the Society invested $61.6 million to support more than 480 researchers and projects in 15 countries on five continents. The Society also provides financial assistance to patients; sponsors scientific conferences around the country; produces educational materials and videos; and runs dozens of Family Support Groups nationwide. Because they receive no federal funding, they depend on you for continued support of these needed programs.

But there’s another reason why I’m running with Team in Training and why I ask for your monetary contribution to this incredible organization: my grammy.  She’s without a doubt my biggest inspiration.  Last year, after a lifetime full of constant activity, she was diagnosed with myeloma, a very painful cancer that has virtually halted her day to day routines and activities and put her in a wheelchair.  I can’t imagine the pain she feels everyday—and the pain that anyone who has suffered from myeloma feels daily, physically and emotionally.  And I know my running a half marathon doesn’t even compare—I would never even try to make that comparison.  BUT, I am running this race for my grammy because I believe in the work that the Leukemia & Lymphoma society does to support individuals like my grandmother and everyone out there who suffers from blood cancers.

Bottom line: I ask for your support.  Donate whatever you can: $500 or $5.  Every little bit counts and it goes to a great cause.  Head over to my donation page and give whatever you are comfortable giving—and do it before May 15^th.  Oh, don’t you worry, I’ll be sure and send you a reminder!

Thanks so much for your support!!!

 

...she kicks ass.  really.  i don't know how i got so lucky.  but i did.  she's supportive, funny, smart, empathetic, always sees the bright side of things, keeps it real, cleverly offers a positive spin on constructive criticism (when needed), and just generally makes my work life great.

and today... she's taking us (direct reports) on a super secret half day field trip / xmas present adventure.  i suspect wine tasting.  yee-HAW!  cross your fingers!!

Another year nearly behind us... and frankly, it's been a particularly fabulous one.  I consider myself one lucky girl, for so many reasons:

1. Jay
2. Stella
3. Health
4. Nifty job
5. I live in SF
6. I have a refridgerator full of food
7. I have some great friends
8. My mother is doing great in Phoenix
9. My father is surrounded by love
10. My grandmother is fighting the good fight and enjoying another new year (her 86th!)
11. Jay's family has recovered nicely post Katrina

You get the idea, right?  I could go on and on.  Bottom line, I recognize and appreciate how much I have.  I'm prone to dramatic facial expressions of angst and sarcasm most of the time--which I should simply cut out, because it truly betrays what I'm actually feeling.  Perhaps that will be one of my new year's resolution: stop the drama--smile more.  Yeah, I think that will definitely be one of my resolutions.

Jay and I were talking about resolutions and he brought up a good one.  He was speaking for him self, but I gotta say it hit home with me too.  He said he didn't feel very thoughtful because he's not a good gift giver.  You'll note my previous post where I mention that gift giving is something I really don't do--because I'd rather do favors for people all year round.  It's true.  And this year, we (my mom, bro, girl-friend-in-law Florentina, Jay and me) all swore we wouldn't get each other any gifts so we didn't have to spend any money.   Well, at the last minute, I felt the need to do even a little something.  So I thought about just that: what's a little something that I know each of them would enjoy?

That's when I realized that that was my gift giving hang-up: I've never felt I could do just "a little something."  Gifts to me have always needed to be grand gestures.  I never wanted to do something small for someone else.  So, instead of doing something perfectly grand, I do nothing. 

So this year, I kinda shook myself out of that.  I thought about it and, well, my mom LOVES scented bath gel and lotion.  So that's what I got her.  Simple.  Not pricey.  But something she'll use and enjoy. 

My brother wears tee-shirts everyday.  And he appreciates slightly off-beat logos or printed text on shirts.  So I got him a vintage (looking) tee-shirt with the Golden State Warriors old logo on the front: The City.  So it's local and practical and something I know Jeremy will use and enjoy.

Florentina appreciates EVERYTHING you do for her--it's simply her way.  She has a heart of gold and sees only the positive in life.  So, frankly, getting something for her is easy.  But frankly, who doesn't love a really high quality deliciously scented candle... so that's what I got her.

And Jay?  Again, going with the simple and practical theme... I got him a knit cap because the man can never have too many to keep his head warm.  I know he'll use it, and he looks pretty darn cute in it too.

Bottom line, I think this should be one of my resolutions as well... this year, I'll put a little more heart, a little more thought, and not TOO MUCH effort into letting people know I'm thinking of them.

So here's to a new year, feeling lucky, and all the adventures we have ahead of us.

Who's the hardest person to shop for on your holiday list?

am i supposed to have a holiday shopping list?  i prefer to be a year round favor giver to whomever needs one.

so, this is completely ridiculous.  i'm now engaged to the greatest, sweetest, most fantastic guy on earth, and within minutes after he asks me how do i feel???  COMPLETELY ANXIETY RIDDEN!!  why, you ask?  good question.  it actually has nothing to do with him, nor our relationship.  it's purely stress about planning and paying for a wedding.  and it's overwhelming.

ah the modern world!  these days, especially in san francisco, people get married later in life.  so, frankly, that also often means that the couple getting married may very well have a larger income than their parents.  which really cancels out the entire reason for the tradition of parents of the bride paying for the wedding.  long ago, when crazy kids got married at 18 to 24 years of age, it made sense.  young couples had little to nothing and it made sense for parents and family to help get them off on the right foot.  there are myriad other reasons for the tradition of big ol' parents-of-the-bride-paid-for weddings, the persistence of which is purely due to commercialism and the bridal industry.  so, bottom line, its to be expected that a 32 year old woman and her 36 year old fiance pay for their own wedding.

and yet i fret.  why?  well, no matter how i look at it, we're going to be shelling out a fair chunk of money to throw a wedding that we are excited about for all of our family members and our good friends.  there are a thousand possibilities for weddings--no doubt.  but there are a few basic requirements that must be met:

1. we must have a wedding that 50+ members of our families can come to and enjoy
2. even if we cut our friends list way down, we'd still have to have at least 20 or so folks from that crowd.
3. we have to provide some sort of food or refreshments for those folks.  do the math in your head.
4. location has to be something that doesn't suck, and that we're at least excited about.

now i have no doubts that if i didn't have a job i could cleverly craft the shit out of this event for a very low price.  but even a low price won't be so low that i wouldn't have to save up something.  which me brings me to the greatest irony of this whole event.  jay and i would really like to buy a condo/house/apt.  naturally, that requires saving up too.  so now, our need to have a wedding that satisfies a certain set of requirements and our desire to establish ourselves and buy real estate, are in direct competition.  that's ridiculous, but it's reality.

2 years from now i won't really care about any of this because i know we'll work the whole thing out.  but seriously folks, am i the only one that finds the whole situation annoyingly and irritatingly ironic?

your feedback and ideas are welcome and appreciated.

so, i was so very industrious today.  i did a massive clean-out of my closet and got rid of LOADS of clothes.  LOADS.  i do this with *some* regularity, but apparently i've fallen behind schedule.  when i do these massive clean-outs, i take all my goods to crossroads, used clothing store that buys clothes and gives you a measily 35% of the value they will sell it for.  hey, better than nothing.  normally, i do pretty darn well in these situations, having walked away in the past with nearly 200 bucks.  well, this time, no such luck.  they took 7 whole items for a total of 32 bucks.  pathetic.  and i had two pairs of CoH jeans in there that they didn't want!!!  shock.  awe.  aw well.  what this tells me is that i'm so completely out of date, even with all my fancy expensive jeans, that i can't even sell the crap second hand.

sigh.  so, i packed everything back up and pulled up to salvation army.  i got out, rang the bell, and out came the attendant.  i pulled all of my stuff out again... all of this took maybe 10 minutes...

...and apparently 10 minutes was long enough for the freakin' meter maid to slap me with a 40 dollar fine for not filling the meter... the ridiculous part (okay, much of this is ridiculous) is that the car was parked RIGHT BEHIND ME.  and somehow i didn't even know the meter maid was there.  holy cow. 

so long story short... i made a measily 32 only to donate loads and have to pay the city of sf 40.  great.  go me.

What's the worst pickup line you've ever heard?
Submitted by ShellEy.

So actually, this is both the worst AND the best pick up line I've ever heard...

Girl, if they told you to haul ass, you'd have to make 2 trips!!

You're probably wondering "WTF??!! How is that a good pick-up line??"  Simple.  A very large black man at Storyville said that to me as I was making my way through the crowd.  Frankly, I was flattered.  Draw your own conclusions.
:-)