I'm It!

I've been tagged by Phil... see!


So, here I go. 7 random/weird facts about me:
1. In the morning when I'm getting ready for work, I love to turn on Good Morning America. Sometimes if it's boring, I'll turn it to the Today show, but I prefer Diane Sawyer and the gang. I learn a lot that first hour of the morning.
2. I only check my work emails 3 times a day. It took awhile to get used to, but I can get so much more done this way... it forces me to be less reactive and my emails become a task, not an interruption. My team knows that if it's an emergency, they need to come to my office or call me because I only get the emails at 9am, 12pm and 4pm. The only exception is when I'm waiting on someone to email me something that I need to do my task.
3. I had kidney surgery years ago and have an 8 inch scar to prove it... a very straight line that goes around my waist.
4. Sometimes when I can't focus at work, I'll play one of those games that's supposed to help your brain. It actually works most of the time, but sometimes it's annoying because I'll see math equations or will be unscrambling words in my head for the rest of the day.
5. I love football season. I love college football (Big 12 especially... go Aggies!) and NFL. I will Tivo a Cowboys game and watch the entire thing by myself. I will cheer out loud, I will talk to the TV, I will get mad if we turnover the ball, and I will be a ball of anxiety if it's a "good" game.
6. "Save the best for last" is a theme I live by... but not on purpose. In everything I do... eating - I like to save the best bite for last; at work - I like to save my favorite project for last; at Disneyland - I like to save the best ride for last; and on and on.
7. Okay. I'm going to admit something... something that very few people know about me. I honestly don't care if you judge me. I LOVE Dancing With the Stars... like, LOVE it! I think it is so entertaining. That's not the embarrassing part (well, maybe a little). Here it is: I am that emotional viewer that the producers strive to entertain. I am so glad there is not some secret live webcam recording me as I watch it... seriously. This week as I was watching it, I became aware of how incredibly nerdy I am. I found myself on the edge of my couch with this ridiculously huge smile on my face, or I'd laugh a loud boisterous laugh as though I'm right there, I'd applaud with excitement and cheer for my favorites... seriously - SO nerdy! I wish I was a star only so I could be on that show. Judge away!

I'm not a rule follower, so I'm not going to tag 7. I'm only going to tag Alissa, Kristyn, Greg and Vanessa. You guys can do it if you want to.

Okay... seriously!

1. OJ Simpson is on trial
2. We are at war in the Middle East
3. 90210 has just started (again)
4. Bush is president
5. New Kids on the Block just came out with a new album

WHAT YEAR IS THIS?

THAT was awkward

I've had a couple of awkward moments recently that are worth sharing:

1. A young man (late 20's??) was in front of me in line at the grocery store. He pulled out his wallet to pay and I noticed something fall out of his wallet. He didn't notice, so on my way down to pick it up for him I say, "Oops! You dropped something! Here." As I handed him the dropped item, I noticed it was a condom and I said, "Oh... umm... here. Awkward." What made it more awkward is that he darted out and didn't say anything. Not even "thanks!"

2. One day a while ago I was crying at home; I had to leave so I went to grab tissue to take to the car with me only to find out I was out of tissue. What's the next best thing? Toilet paper. So I take a roll of toilet paper to the car with me and when I was done crying, I stashed it in my glove box. Then a few weeks ago I had a friend in the car with me who was having "tummy issues." She had to make a pit-stop at the drugstore for some Imodium while we were in my car. She took her pill, "tummy issue" was solved and shoved the box in my glove box... and forgot it when she left. Ya... you see where this is going. So the other day I had someone in my car (who I don't know that well). He was helping me fix something in my car and I told him to check the Owner's Manual that was where? In my glove box. I'm sitting in the driver's seat. He opens my glove box and in slow motion I see the box of Imodium fall into his hands, followed by my 1/4 roll of toilet paper. He looks at me, Imodium and toilet paper in hands, confused (rightfully so!) I quickly respond, "oh, the Imodium is not mine and the toilet paper is here because I was crying and I had no tissue... I promise." He just chuckled... I mean, could I sound any more defensive? He lays the items in his lap and then reaches for the Owner's Manual. As he pulls it out, my entire stash of feminine products fall out with it. I look at it all laying at his feet and just say, "Oh. Here. I'll get those." He just sat there as I picked each one off the floor. "Well... this is awkward," I said as I closed the glove box.

See - told you it was worth it!

Be a Fly on My Wall

I've told you before about how the Communication Manager, Lisa*, at my office always says things wrong. Let me tell you a conversation that occurred yesterday:

Lisa walks in on a meeting my boss and I were having and said, "I feel so frazzered today."
(Translation: "I feel so frazzled today.")
When she was corrected, she said, "Oh. Huh... I've always thought it was frazzered. Oh well."
We chuckle.
Then she says, "I don't know what the deal is; I just can't seem to get my work on."
(Translation: "I can't seem to focus.")
Boss laughs and says: "That's not something I want to hear."
Lisa: "Oh, don't act like you've never been flazzered." She looks at me. "Did i say it right?"
We laugh and correct her as she walks off.
As she's walking off she says, "What does that really mean anyway?"


*to protect her privacy, the name has been changed. ;)

Does this mean I'm stressed?

So, let's enter my world for a sec: I have a big event in 3 weeks. I'm moving this weekend. I'm visiting my sister for a couple of days this weekend. (Yes, I will be gone during the "move." This is more stressful than it sounds because this means that I MUST get it all done before I leave 'cause I can't do it as we're moving). I had a blowout on sunday. Took my car in the shop on monday to get it fixed where I was told I actually have to get 3 tires. My roommate's car completely died on her yesterday. **Breathe.** As you can see, I'm a little stressed.

Then this happened...

When I'm having a stressful day/week, I make sure that I do things for myself, like get a pedicure, rent a movie, treat myself to a fancy coffee drink. Today I chose the latter. So after work, I get my drink; I get back in my car. Put it in reverse. But wait... it won't go in reverse!! What??!! "NOT NOW," I screamed. Is it stuck? Let me pull harder! OH MY GOSH MY CAR IS STUCK! I can't go backwards! I can't even go forward! What the crap?! I start to panic as I opened my door and grab my keys from the ignition. Huh... where are my keys? They're not in the ignition. OOOOHH... they're sitting quietly on my lap. OOOOHHH... that's why it wouldn't go in reverse. Nice.

Probably the stupidest thing I've EVER done... but I'm chalkin it up to stress.

Local News Shame

The NBC Channel 4 News team in LA makes no excuses for their motive... they don't even try to hide it.

1. They make it clear why they hired the weather girl. 'Cause there's nothing that says, "hey guys, tune in to watch our weather girl," quite like this commercial.




2. They also make it clear why they hired the news team. 'Cause there's nothing that says, "we're a bunch of bad-asses" quite like this commercial.



No wonder ABC news is the most watched here.

Two of a Kind

You know the One Republic/Timbaland song, Apologize? You know... the one that came out close to a year ago that was really good and then radio began to play it back-to-back, over and over again; they performed it on every Awards Show, Talk Show, Late Night Show that exists? And finally you said "Okay! We get it! It's too late to 'pologize!" You know which one I'm talking about, right?

And you've heard me mention the dear that works in my office. You know, the guy who likes to sing his flavor-of-the-month song over and over again, but he doesn't want to sing it too loud so as to not disturb anyone, so he does the Whisper-singing thing? You know, the whisper-singing thing that's not really whispering and it's not really singing? It's just kinda... annoying, breathy tones? And, you know, this is the same guy who likes to beat his fingers, hands, feet, elbows, WHATEVER he can on the desk, floor, book, monitor, WHATEVER he can to the beat (or close to the beat) of the song. You remember this guy, right?

Ya, these two just met today.

Really?!

2 days ago - on July 30 - I saw a commercial that had Santa as the main character (who recognized it was summer by wearing a Hawaiian shirt). Really?!

Just Some Random Stuff

• I really like that I live in one of the best climates in the world. It's been PERFECT lately. Love it.
• About 4-5 months ago I learned that I'm allergic to certain foods that happen to be in everything (like wheat/gluten and corn, among others). I've avoided blogging about it because I was in the process of accepting that my eating style has completely changed (and grieving that I can't have foods that I want sometimes). I'm now the "picky" eater that is hard to eat out with and I found myself being kinda insecure about it. However, I'm now at a place where I am totally okay with it - mainly because I feel SO much better. But it's changed my mind about food (again!) in general - I eat to fuel my body.
• If anyone tells you that you don't really get that wet on Splash Mountain, they're lying. I got drenched. And was dramatic about it.
  
• I learned something new about me this week - well, I knew it about me, but I actually heard it and felt it this week - BREAKTHROUGH. It is in these broken moments when I discover how precious my heart is.
• Cathi and I are moving next month... right next door. The new condo is more updated... by like 20 years! And I am SOO excited!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Take a Stroll With Me

Today :

I woke up later than usual.
Listened to church online. Very good.
Completed some domestic duties.
Watched (off and on) an interesting show on National Geographic about Antarctica.
Updated my itunes by importing old cd's while doing the above.
Listened to: Amos Lee, A Fine Frenzy, Ray LaMontagne, Coldplay and Patty Griffin while doing most of the above.
Which obviously put me in a mellow mood.
Cleaned up and got ready for the day. Finally.
To hang out with myself. Lovely.
Once cabin fever set in, I headed to the Spectrum.
I drove slow. Still mellow.
Grabbed a fancy coffee. My treat.
Tried on a few things.
Bought one thing.
Walked into Anthropologie. Immediately inspired.
"i want... i want... i want," I said continuously.
Reminded myself of who I am. Smiled.
I left wishing the store designer to be my friend.
Remembered my friends. Smiled again.
Enjoyed the perfect weather as I strolled to my car.
Drove home. Slowly.
Walked in the empty house. Roommate's out of town.
Turned on the lamp. Simple light is the best.
Made a veggie omelet. Delicious.
Sat on my comfy couch to tell you about my day.
And thanked me for hanging out with me today.
It was a delightful day.