What the hell?: September 2003

Monday, September 29, 2003

Because I can

If only men like this would hit on me. Married or not, wouldn't you be tempted?

Thank you Alison.

MM M MMM.

Sunday, September 28, 2003

Cool

My brother got a part-time gig as a bouncer. Congrats!

Oldies, but goodies

Do you know these women?
Just one
Smile
Coordination Impaired
Focus Ladies
How You Doing?
Near Perfection
Strategic Positioning
Two Times Never Hurt

And what mothers across America would want to
Bring to Church

Hallo, Mondays

When Office Supplies Attack . Photographic evidence provided on zefrank.

The guy is hysterical.

You must go now. There are clearly other people who despise being at work as much as we do.

And if you have a sound card at work, listen to some pre-date confidence building.

I was just as amused with How to Impress Your Date.

My hands down favorite is the set of clips with Mooshie
. Good god, I appreciate a fine sense of humor.

Actually, where I was going with that ...

Yesterday's foray into Canon images was spawned when I didn't feel like folding laundry. (Speaking of which, now that I'm up at an ungodly hour I can go and turn the dryer on. Not sure why the rain woke me.)

The Biggest Little Dude

... almost looks sad without a hat , but from the very pleased expression of the gift recipient I suspect this is a non-issue.

(Oof. My poor little dad is going to have a tough time figuring out what that consumer product is. tee hee.)
Assorted silliness from Alison's birthday cont'd...
The shirt I knew I absolutely had to buy once I saw it

Flora, Alison and myself

Erin sitting with Matt (a picture worth taking from Flora's perspective since the two share such a similar palor.)

But come to think of it, Matt and Flora aren't the epitome of tan either.
Exhibit #1 and #2 .

Livea, Erin and Cristina
(Sorry, I can't help but think,"Pizza, Pizza!")

And finally, the infamous Married guy with Alison and Woman who I have Mental Block of Name. (I want to say Jessica, but can't be 100%)

Saturday, September 27, 2003

Cleaning House

Look! The pixel monster is eating my neck. (or, i tried to use the stamp too to erase my finger from the picture. Too bad I look green:)

Thursday, September 25, 2003

Big Mutha

Video games are becoming more explicit. So now kids 13 and under (who would have most likely been allowed to rent/buy a game with a "T" rating) can also hear the term "fluffer" used in conversation.

By far the highlight of reading the print version in the wsjarticle is the accompanying pic:

Bobbie-Sue, the 'trailer-trash sitster' in 'Bug Mutha Truckers' who is wearing daisy dukes and has, ahem, rather pronounced curves.

oy.

Work Relationships

Yesterday's news, but so appropriate:

From the WSJ's Marketplace section The Second Marriage: How Work 'Couples' Keep Each Other Sane

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

tick tock

monday wasn't an early night, but it wasn't too late either.

tuesday never ended. i was there from 6 (ish) until 9 (ish).

i spoke to Tokyo at the beginning and end of my day.

i'm tired.

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

good one

Even if your last company was a chaotic hellhole, your boss was a monster, your coworkers were Martians, and you got paid in tin cans, say that you left to look for more responsibility, you wanted greater opportunity for advancement, or you were just ready for a change.
...from the things one should never say in an interview

Top of the morning

No, I am not moving any time soon. The gaps between my posts don't indicate the heart warming moments in between. The dishes will always be in the sink, I just won't be washing them. As annoying as that is, I managed to do so last night. (You try washing two deep pots while there are 6 mugs, an assortment of plates and pans beneath.)

I'm up working on the resume...which I just decided to send to myself at work and finish.

Hey, the Origins 'A perfect world' product I picked up around E's birthday smells delicious. My white tea skin guardian has its charms.

I can't believe I have to call Tokyo today. I just couldn't bring myself to plan on working late on Monday (thank goodness), and have to treck in shortly. That's insane. OT or not, I doubt there are many salaried employees who would do the same.

Yesterday was a long day after Sunday's festivities. The MOMA Queens was fun! As was the trip to Saints and Sinners in Woodside. I should have just asked the van load of cops if any of them were single.

Oh, what a story. But not now.

Monday, September 22, 2003

erm

not a mom, not a lawyer, not a doctor, not the smartest kid in the class, but here i am. and i am not that much of a strectch from a movie of a normal person who has decided to settle down.
... except I (hope) I am funnier and cuter than any of them would paint them selves to be.

hmb.

but how is. and after a few of harp, who am i really kiddling?

ugh.
no one tonight.

but, there were a few cuties tonight, and y0o nevevr know.

Sunday, September 21, 2003

fresh as a daisy

or as much as a swish of chanel will do, i'm ready to go.

thank god for stores like marshalls and tjmaxx. they allow the poverty striken to feel like a fashionista, even if they're a few seasons behind. LOVE the skirt i have on that i paid under ten bucks for.

on the way over to the train i have to call and grovel at the 'rental machine. even though we've all agreed that sharing a car is never a good idea, we did it again. the plus side is i have enough diet coke to ride another blackout. the downside is how long the old dude sat in the car steaming over the backyard discussion.

anyhoo. heading out after i find the midol.

why is tomorrow monday?

AA

Ansel Adams, here I come.

Not as polished as I had planned, but that's what always happens when I truck back from LI. I *so* want 1) a bigger paycheck 2) a car 3) an abode of my own and 4) a job where I can where more casual clothes. It's no fun shopping for yet another conservative knit top (with sleeves, must have the sleeves).

Speaking of clothes, I have yet to wash and return clothes to Alison and Erin. Ack. Will do this week. The trip to LI was restful, but sucked time away from the little chore type stuff.

I will note that the get well card was purchased for the in-law. It is now in the responsibility of the dad to mail. The stamp is already on it, now we just need a mailing address.

sigh.

I had minor rage today when my stuff was piled at the bottom of the stairs. Which is why I want to eventually move. I know, I just got here. And it's a great GREAT place, but the catty little things just drive me insane. Like, for example, that the box of leaf bags has already been opened and no raking has occurred. It's not the raking bit that gets me, but that the regular bags i purchased have largely been used to clean the basement out, and now the 'backup' is being used.

Opinions are like noses.
Everyone has one.

And some are bigger than others.

.. a sentence pulled from the NYTimes.

alright, must hurry.

Thursday, September 18, 2003

Kabalarian Philosophy - Merging Eastern Wisdom with Western Practicality

Kabalarian Philosophy - Merging Eastern Wisdom with Western Practicality says the following about my name:

The first name of Irene leads you to assume considerable responsibility and to prefer to work independently, without direction or interference from others because you have very definite ideas of your own. Your mind is quick to comprehend and you can be depended upon to do any job well. Because you tend to be somewhat of a perfectionist, you might insist on doing too many things yourself instead of delegating jobs to others who might do less satisfactory work. This name does make you quite direct and straight-to-the-point. Your verbal expression does not reflect your inner thoughts and feelings, and you often wonder why people react to what you say. The influence of this name does not promote the friendship that you desire or the relaxation and naturalness you should enjoy with people. It is a name that makes you far too practical and serious-minded, and makes it difficult for you to act with spontaneity.

Da Trisha provided the link (from someone else, but who's counting?)

Speaking of which, I had SO much fun Saturday. After Alison's big smashing eve, where my red lipstick was such a hit, I was loathe to venture out. Breakfast (one of my many meals that day) was first shared with Lydia (who looks FABulous - damn her she had a baby), Tricia, and Trisha (who planned everythign so well).

After breakfast I was supposed to head back to Chez Livea, but instead hit H&M with Tricia..who was shockingly a hoot. (All this from a person who can't make her mind up. but hey. good time.) The makeup experience was kind of goopy, but tea was too funny. Funny enough for another story another day. But, just so you know, i just sat up straight recalling a comment L. had about scoliosis. (Not that curvature of the spine is ever funny. But when you can only bring yourself to slouch, almost everything is hysterical. Livea has quite the delivery.) I laughed alot, and somehow dragged myself around town the rest of the day. Looking back I'm shocked how much someone so lazy as myself could accomplish. Babbling now, but Saturday was a good day, even if there was a bit of tension in the air. ANd fog. or was it humidity?

Whatever. I'm horrible at telling stories, but excited that tomorrow is Friday.

phew.

revenge of the chad

and assorted mysteries of life.

today i turned down a freelance gig. it was a good one, but a short one...otherwise i might have been tempted. a few weeks isn't enough (even if it would have earned me more than twice what i'm presently earning)

sigh.

good to know the recruiters still have my number handy though.

and where, exactly, is isabel in the tri-state area? i was kinda - sorta looking forward to my adult snow-day of sorts. but no.

i know, i haven't posted about my escapades. particularly when married men were involved (nothing more than smooching, but still.) hey, singular. one. guy.

livea, i must thank you for leaving sake here. i had a nibble of it tonight and it is d-eee-licious.

ah, PA is hearing from isabel.

boy, do i have flabby arms. i'm sitting here, slightly alarmed at the complete lack of muscle tone in my bicep area. sweet, bejeebus. this right around the time i'm supposed to catch up with the finn. what am i going to say? er, the last time i went to a gym was in Finland?

brb. what should i wear friday night? or sunday for that matter? end of business week is a band in a bar (I think). even though i know it's the pelicans, i want to say the penguins. which reminds me of a hockey team (not sure if there even is a hockey team with that name), but I do want to attend one more sporting event before the bell tolls for '03. anyhoo, sunday is the MOMa cocktails thing. hmmm. and saturday i'm visitng the fam. weekend over.

and i'm going to check mail.

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

freaky

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

... and to me that means no one is going to die from a typo.

BTW the rage period has lifted. I think getting up in time to watch the sun rise wipes away negativity. Plus I rediscovered the use of music in the office. SO much nicer (and productive). I'm grooving away in my decidedly non-ergonomic seat.

NOTICE: If received in error, please destroy and notify sender. Sender does not waive confidentiality or privilege, and use is prohibited.

Sunday, September 14, 2003

Hmph

I can't say I'm very happy with the roommates right now.

When the hammock was brought to this house it was with the explicit promise it would not be left in the rain. And there tf is right now?

Outside, wet.

Grrrrr.
GRRRRRR.

More annoying is the cleaning that happens whenever I'm not here. The fact that the house is a sty this week is not my fault. I haven't been here more than 15 hours for god's sake. I slept at Erin's Tuesday and Livea's Friday. Monday night I literally was here less than five hours. So that leaves Wednesday (Cult Lisa), Thursday (Baseball game with the taxi saga - didn't get home until nearly midnight) and today.

The small number of items I had in the dining room were placed in my room. Now, the freaking downstairs closet is jam full of god knows what. I would put my bag, or any other assortment of titems in there if there was room. I am tired of finding the heavy duty hangers I BUY being occupied by stuff that is not mine. Heavy hangers are purshased so that the shoulders of MY STUFF remains intact. WTF. I was unable to wash the ONE dish used Thursday night because the sink was full. Full of my stuff? Uh, no. I think you know the answer to that. The one thing I owe (which I completely attribute to my mom) is replacing the plastic bowl set which I currently have my mums sitting in. I am going as soon as I'm dressed today.

GLKJASDflkjdfoijnwealr ads;flkjna;sldkfnjol.i

I know, there are worse things to complain about. But it irked me. ANd the fact taht we forgot about the barbeque invite after tea is probably not helpful. But in all defense, my cell phone was at Livea's most of the day. Actually, it was there until eve. If you invite my friends and they don't show, you oculd have called them directly. Ask for their number. But don't play passive aggressive with me.

Today I'm cleaning / organizing my fall clothes, etc. I will be available for two hours (AT MOST) to cut up the boxes in the basement. I'm not sure how it's any of my responsibility when there zil boxes of mine down there. Well, that's not entirely true. I have a box my champage set came in, and a boxthat my mirror came in. But that's it. Not four feet of boxes.

Now, to move on. I am going downstairs and stretching the hammock across two chairs. Since it will most likely rain today I doubt it will dry. Perhaps I'll take it to the cleaner today. Actually, that's a pretty good idea. And I will try and get over the fact that every freakingt ime I look outside I see $32 I spent on chair cushions soaked. WhY? I could understand if they were consistent in their misuse of items, but they shouldn't do that with my stuff. kjaslf;dajk;lsdf jkalkjlafdskj;lfds afj;lfsadjklfdsa.

Phew.

A little bit of release here goes a long way of not exploding at them, when really it's no big deal.

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

How's this for guidance?

Do NOT use terms as "ibid", "loc. cit." and "op. cit." They are somewhat outdated and many people have no idea what they mean.

Uh, thx.

In my splendor

As I sit here painfully reviewing a tediously boring document (before I can jet out the door early), I stumbled across this oldie:

my name in big city lights

giggle.

I still get a kick out of my indignant tone.

(And in typing the second to last word in the previous sentence I almost wanted to input 'indigent'.)

Sunday, September 07, 2003

brb

how is it already over?

weekends should be longer, particularly when the week feels so long.
(mind you, i was only in the office three days last week.)

fine.
be that way.

leave, and don't even say goodbye.

my dad will be turning 73 on monday. can you believe that? initially i wasn't going to visit the fam, but how can you miss spending time with the geezer. (sorry dad;)

friday I crashed in queens, got jipped out of sleeping late, and woke up at 7.55am saturday. ran some errands, organized some stuff, and headed to LI for some barbeque to celebrate. after one glass of wine i was tipsier than i should have been. watching tv was probably not the best idea, particularly when the news channels started piping in 'it's been two years since' stuff.

it has. and that just means we're all getting older. wiser, i'm not sure. but at least i can say my pants are a bit looser;)

...but not much less after tonight's dinner. i made some killer mac n'cheese. warning: the low carb pasta i had picked up a few week's back with my mom had the consistency of cardboard. (soy flour may work elsewhere, but not for pasta.) matt and i nixed that idea and substituted the plain ole kind. as in: the fattening kind. adult mac n'cheese is much better than the boxed variety. it took me visits to three local groceries before i could pick up the right kind of cheese. (and when i say 'right' i mean anything other than mozzerella or sliced american.) mmm mmm mmm.

but hey, must turn in. early day tomorrow, and also a late one. the writer starts at 5 with a session with the dev team, which i'm sitting in for. oy.

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

Awful joke, completely lacking in taste

from my email:

Hung Chow calls his boss: "Hey, boss I not come work today, I really sick. I got
headache, stomach ache and my legs hurt, I not come work."

The boss says: "You know Hung Chow I really need you today. When I feel like
this I go to my wife and tell her to give me sex. That makes me feel better and
I can go to work. You should try that."

Two hours later Hung Chow calls: "Boss, I do what you say and I feel great, I be
at work soon. You got nice house.

giggle.

I'm so sorry, I know it's politically incorrect.

But if you've heard any of the litany of complaints I've had regarding one particular student....then you'd find it as funny as I did.

ALright, what's the deal with the fees that Chase is going to start charging in debit card usage? I'm so screwed if this is the case, as I whip out the plastic money at every swiping opportunity.

brb.

Back to reading mail

Monday, September 01, 2003

I have decided

that i will take a sick day tuesday. my sneezing has morphed into achy back, non-stop sneezing, teary eyes, and a general wooziness.

bleck.

I thought it would go away, but after 'resting' for entirely too long I faced facts. And then desperately tried to nap it away...to which my body refused. Politely declined.

Attention, Attention, smoking black-haired friends of mine:
The ashtray of all ashtrays

A lesson in marketing to a specific demographic none the less, my finger hovered over the "I'll take it" button. Considering my recent battles with furry critters in the backyard, the squirrel nutcracker seems appropriate.

hey, did everyone else already know about nycbloggers? 'blogs by subway line' functionality is a new one in my book.

nominationed for an egrecious use of html

i typed in bw.com looking for business week and found a combination of tobacco and vegas city lights.

24

uh, oh. FX channel calling since my last post. That's whole lotta tv.

A Good Woman

Never a fan of the chain mail email clog, I found the following pearl in my in-box and wanted to share:

>>A good woman is proud of herself. She respects herself and others. She
>>is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from the person she
>>is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind. She is quite
>>capable of articulating her needs.
>>
>>A good woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams
>>come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes
>>that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is
>>taken for granted, it soon disappears.
>>
>>A good woman has a dash of and a dabble of endurance. She knows that she
>>will, at times, have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave
>>them.
>>
>>A good woman knows her past, understands her present and moves toward
>>the future.
>>
>>A good woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her
>>playground, but without God she will just be played.
>>
>>A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past.
>>Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons,
>>meant to bring her closer to self knowledge and unconditional self
>>love.
>>
I just sent this to a good woman .............. why don't you?
>>

Well, you don't have to send it to anyone, or see it six times in your in-box. And if you're a man reading this, well, you're exempt. Move along. Shoo.

creepers jeepers

ever hear a noise in the middle of the night and not be able to recognize it?

at sometime after 4 (yes, that un-godly hour) I wasn't sure if someone was ringing the buzzer, calling the downstairs phone, or if there was some kind of buzzer on the dryer (not that I had it on, but hey, I was in deep slumber).

after grabbing a towel (just in case there was someone at the door), I found bumkis. NO idea what caused the sound...which of course, made it difficult to fall back asleep. mr. cat lumbered in and licked enought o drive me bonkers, and then the sky opened up.

rain, rain, you are the thing that drives many to contemplate their very existence. the sound of it, makes me instantly recall the laundry list of things I have yet to complete. or even consider.

What the hell?