It's class time again! This semester is Marketing Strategy (an interesting sounding class but a new, unknown teacher, so who knows?) and Business Research Projects, which is my thesis (major barf, but my advisor is a good guy). Actually, if I'm disciplined and write faithfully throughout the semester, the thesis paper won't be so bad. (And the chances of me actually being that disciplined after the first chapter are about the same as the Pope nominating Brittany Spears for sainthood. Place your bets now people).
Of course, both classes are already attempting to bankrupt me by requiring books that cost a billion-gazillion dollars, but I have managed to get around that by asking if it's okay to get a previous edition (it is). So while the 11th edition retails for $180 smackaroos, the 10th edition can be purchased for $27. (Quick bargain boogie for used-textbooks-that-nobody-wants-anymore-because-they-are-a-whopping-year-old.com! I love you, internet shopping!)
With book buying out of the way, we turn our attention to gathering other necessary supplies such as pencils, post-its, and a file folder (easily liberated from work), a calculator with questionable battery power, and healthy class snack rations (Twix bars, Fudge Shoppe cookies, Cheese-its, chocolate chunk granola bars, half a pack of gum and one almost-overripe banana. See? I told you it was healthy).
Now I'm ready to rock and roll. My book bag is packed, my mechanical pencil is sharpened, and I've already harassed my teachers via email by asking 50 billion questions before the classes have even started.
Class is officially back in session!
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1/8/08
Bloggy Sleepover Topic: Makeup!
Warning to male reader(s): This is a girlie girl post, so you can either run for the hills and wait it out, or hang out and be glad you don't use this stuff.
Like every other female in the entire universe, I'm on a hunt. The hunt for the perfect makeup. The problem, however, is not that makeup is hard to find, rather it's that there's just to blasted much to choose from. Millions of companies, with millions of price ranges, with millions of types, in millions of colors. Do you want anti-aging? Hypoallergenic? Acne fighting? Long lasting? Award winning? Tax filing? Cancer curing? And makes a great omelet? There's a makeup, nay, thousands of kinds of makeup for you. You would think that would be a good thing, but the other problem is that all of those above mentioned makeup companies also employ clear-skinned, blemish free, beautiful models with lovely airbrushed faces, so you can't really tell what makeup is actually good, and what is going to leave you looking worse than you started. (Makeup brands are like politicians, they look really smooth and helpful at first glance, but so many of them fail to live up to their promises that you don't believe any of them).
And so the hunt continues as women everywhere wade their way though millions of concealers, foundations, blushers, lip sticks, eye liners, shadows, dark circle correctors, glosses, lip pencils, mascaras, powders and eye brighteners just to find the one thing that works for them. Every now and then, if you are very lucky and the stars align and the you've just been living right, you'll find THE perfect something which does exactly what it says that it will do, and now you can't live without. And while makeup is a very personalized choice, it's also true that like relationships, your friends can probably tell you who (or what) is and isn't worth bothering with. So I'm curious, bloggy readers, what are you wearing (on your face, that is)? What have you found that you love? Just can't live without? Transforms you from morning pre-coffee zombie hag to flawless Catherine Zeta-Jones skin that lasts all day? Pretend it's a bloggy sleepover and spill all your favorite makeup secrets. We'll compare notes and later, watch scary movies while we do each other's hair! YAY!
Since it's my bloggy sleepover, I'll go first. For simplicity (and because I'm cheap), all my makeup shopping is done at wal-mart. My goal is long-lasting. I want to put makeup on once in the morning and not have to touch-up for the next 16 hours (bonus points if I can wake up the next morning and still look flawless). Some stuff I've found...some I could certainly use some suggestions.
Concealer/dark circle cover: My major concern is dark under eye circles. Ohhh, how I hate you, dark circles! I look like I haven't slept in years, even though I have. I've recently (last week) started using a new concealer called "Circle Rx". It's supposed to not only cover the dark circles, but lighten them permanently in two to four weeks. (I'm not sure how...revolutionary something or other with plant extracts and blah, blah, blah). Whether there are long term benefits or not, it does do a pretty good job of concealing what you have now, and sticks around all day without getting cakey or settling into lines.
Foundation: I also just started using Maybelline Superstay Silky foundation, and I must say, it it FABULOUS! It's silky, and lightweight, but has full coverage power and -get this! really does stick around all day! It took me forever to find my shade, even with the clear "shade finding" sheet that you hold up to your face, but once I had it, I loved it. Two thumbs up for my new even-toned self.
Blush: I don't have a favorite on this one. No brand loyalty here. Anyone know anything good?
Mascara: I used to have the problem of mascara oozing off my eyelashes and settling into my above mentioned dark circle pool. Since then, I changed to Maybelline Waterproof Lash Stylist with comb. Warning: it goes on clumpy and gooey. The comb really blobs it on thick and all your eyelashes clump together. But Patience grasshopper! Once your lashes recover, they'll separate again. The stuff does cling to your lashes like tar though, so if you want that natural lash feel, avoid this stuff. Each application hangs on for about three days, regardless of the cleanser you use, so you really only have to apply it twice a week.
Lipstick: I actually wrote about this stuff before when I first found it, but it's the Maybelline Superstay lipcover. Also designed to wear for 16 hours, and as long as I don't rub my lips, it does a pretty good job. It's got the dye on one end, and a shiny clear gloss on the other. My only complaint is that they need to make one with just 100% lip color, because I run through that pretty quickly, but I have a ton of the gloss left. If you're listening Maybelline, either increase the lip color size or make refills that can be switched out and still use the same gloss.
Eye Shadow: I have two eye shadows, and while both are okay, I'm not die hard for either of them. The first is Revlon Eye Glide Shimmer Shadow, and the other is other is a Merle Norman free giveaway shadow in "Locha Mocha". If anyone has some that they adore, let me know.
That's my basic makeup bag. I don't do lip or eyeliner, but if you like yours, let me know what you have anyway. I just noticed as I was doing the list that my favorite long-lasting stuff all seems to be Maybelline, but that doesn't stop me from trying other brands. Got a blog? Blog about it and join my sleepover. If not, see that comment button? You know what to do. (And if you have a great dark circle zapper, you are hereby required to share it. Right now. Seriously. NOW!) Pull out your best tips and tricks while I go change into my sleepover jammies.
Like every other female in the entire universe, I'm on a hunt. The hunt for the perfect makeup. The problem, however, is not that makeup is hard to find, rather it's that there's just to blasted much to choose from. Millions of companies, with millions of price ranges, with millions of types, in millions of colors. Do you want anti-aging? Hypoallergenic? Acne fighting? Long lasting? Award winning? Tax filing? Cancer curing? And makes a great omelet? There's a makeup, nay, thousands of kinds of makeup for you. You would think that would be a good thing, but the other problem is that all of those above mentioned makeup companies also employ clear-skinned, blemish free, beautiful models with lovely airbrushed faces, so you can't really tell what makeup is actually good, and what is going to leave you looking worse than you started. (Makeup brands are like politicians, they look really smooth and helpful at first glance, but so many of them fail to live up to their promises that you don't believe any of them).
And so the hunt continues as women everywhere wade their way though millions of concealers, foundations, blushers, lip sticks, eye liners, shadows, dark circle correctors, glosses, lip pencils, mascaras, powders and eye brighteners just to find the one thing that works for them. Every now and then, if you are very lucky and the stars align and the you've just been living right, you'll find THE perfect something which does exactly what it says that it will do, and now you can't live without. And while makeup is a very personalized choice, it's also true that like relationships, your friends can probably tell you who (or what) is and isn't worth bothering with. So I'm curious, bloggy readers, what are you wearing (on your face, that is)? What have you found that you love? Just can't live without? Transforms you from morning pre-coffee zombie hag to flawless Catherine Zeta-Jones skin that lasts all day? Pretend it's a bloggy sleepover and spill all your favorite makeup secrets. We'll compare notes and later, watch scary movies while we do each other's hair! YAY!
Since it's my bloggy sleepover, I'll go first. For simplicity (and because I'm cheap), all my makeup shopping is done at wal-mart. My goal is long-lasting. I want to put makeup on once in the morning and not have to touch-up for the next 16 hours (bonus points if I can wake up the next morning and still look flawless). Some stuff I've found...some I could certainly use some suggestions.
Concealer/dark circle cover: My major concern is dark under eye circles. Ohhh, how I hate you, dark circles! I look like I haven't slept in years, even though I have. I've recently (last week) started using a new concealer called "Circle Rx". It's supposed to not only cover the dark circles, but lighten them permanently in two to four weeks. (I'm not sure how...revolutionary something or other with plant extracts and blah, blah, blah). Whether there are long term benefits or not, it does do a pretty good job of concealing what you have now, and sticks around all day without getting cakey or settling into lines.
Foundation: I also just started using Maybelline Superstay Silky foundation, and I must say, it it FABULOUS! It's silky, and lightweight, but has full coverage power and -get this! really does stick around all day! It took me forever to find my shade, even with the clear "shade finding" sheet that you hold up to your face, but once I had it, I loved it. Two thumbs up for my new even-toned self.
Blush: I don't have a favorite on this one. No brand loyalty here. Anyone know anything good?
Mascara: I used to have the problem of mascara oozing off my eyelashes and settling into my above mentioned dark circle pool. Since then, I changed to Maybelline Waterproof Lash Stylist with comb. Warning: it goes on clumpy and gooey. The comb really blobs it on thick and all your eyelashes clump together. But Patience grasshopper! Once your lashes recover, they'll separate again. The stuff does cling to your lashes like tar though, so if you want that natural lash feel, avoid this stuff. Each application hangs on for about three days, regardless of the cleanser you use, so you really only have to apply it twice a week.
Lipstick: I actually wrote about this stuff before when I first found it, but it's the Maybelline Superstay lipcover. Also designed to wear for 16 hours, and as long as I don't rub my lips, it does a pretty good job. It's got the dye on one end, and a shiny clear gloss on the other. My only complaint is that they need to make one with just 100% lip color, because I run through that pretty quickly, but I have a ton of the gloss left. If you're listening Maybelline, either increase the lip color size or make refills that can be switched out and still use the same gloss.
Eye Shadow: I have two eye shadows, and while both are okay, I'm not die hard for either of them. The first is Revlon Eye Glide Shimmer Shadow, and the other is other is a Merle Norman free giveaway shadow in "Locha Mocha". If anyone has some that they adore, let me know.
That's my basic makeup bag. I don't do lip or eyeliner, but if you like yours, let me know what you have anyway. I just noticed as I was doing the list that my favorite long-lasting stuff all seems to be Maybelline, but that doesn't stop me from trying other brands. Got a blog? Blog about it and join my sleepover. If not, see that comment button? You know what to do. (And if you have a great dark circle zapper, you are hereby required to share it. Right now. Seriously. NOW!) Pull out your best tips and tricks while I go change into my sleepover jammies.
1/7/08
Canticle of Turning
One of the things I really like about my church is the music. While the morning mass tends to run to a more sing-around-the-campfire genre with the use of the guitar, the evening mass is 99% college students, so the music is more upbeat. I like the early mass. I LOVE the evening mass. The music is so...powerful. That's the only word I can think of that describes it. I don't want to call it contemporary, because we do the old hymns too. But old or new, fast or slow, the music moves you. You just don't have a choice.
Anyway, there's a song that we sing at church that is one of my absolute favorites, and I thought I'd share it with you, since I just found it here on Ye Ol' Internet, and it is just so awesome.
I guarantee you that you'll be singing it all day, so I'll post the words for you, saving you the trouble of looking them up yourself, because believe me, you will.
It's called the Canticle of Turning, and it's by Rory Cooney. The music is an Irish folk song called Star of the County Down that will stay with you, but the words really lend power to this song. You can hear the song here and the words are below. And if you want to hear it in person, 200 voices strong, then drop in for the Sunday evening mass. It'll floor you.
(Click this here clickey button below for the song to play. Go ahead. Click on it.)
My soul cries out, with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant's plight, and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread, every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:
God's mercy must deliver us from the conqueror's crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,
'til the spear and rod will be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
(Repeat)
Anyway, there's a song that we sing at church that is one of my absolute favorites, and I thought I'd share it with you, since I just found it here on Ye Ol' Internet, and it is just so awesome.
I guarantee you that you'll be singing it all day, so I'll post the words for you, saving you the trouble of looking them up yourself, because believe me, you will.
It's called the Canticle of Turning, and it's by Rory Cooney. The music is an Irish folk song called Star of the County Down that will stay with you, but the words really lend power to this song. You can hear the song here and the words are below. And if you want to hear it in person, 200 voices strong, then drop in for the Sunday evening mass. It'll floor you.
(Click this here clickey button below for the song to play. Go ahead. Click on it.)
My soul cries out, with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant's plight, and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread, every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:
God's mercy must deliver us from the conqueror's crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,
'til the spear and rod will be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
(Repeat)
1/4/08
The Mistress
There's a new family member in our house. One that Tony loves more than anyone else, including me, his mother, and Nikolai Khabibulin combined. I'll give you a hint: it's 42" across the diagonal, picks up HD, and is currently mounted to my living room wall. Oh yes, we are now the proud new owners of a flat screen TV, and Tony's little heart swells with adoration every time he looks at it. It all started innocently enough. We went to see Tony's family at Thanksgiving, and his Dad had remodeled the family room, complete with snazzy flat screen TV. And Tony longed for such a TV, all huge and...well, huge, but unless we came into an unexpected sum of money, it was not to be. And so we admired the monster TV, and then mentally filed that under the "Nice, but never happening" category. (At least I did). And life was good. Then lo and behold, we came into an unexpected sum of money! Tony got a really nice Christmas bonus. Nicer than he expected (although completely deserved if you consider all those Saturdays that he had to work), and The House of Quirk rejoiced, and then settled down to figure out how to spend it. Tony immediately wanted to buy a flat screen tv ("A big one!") but it wouldn't fit in the entertainment center that we have now, and we didn't have room in the living room to get another one (plus I was hoping that the tv thing was just a phase, and that he really wanted to invest that money in some respectable stocks and bonds). But a new TV was the only thing Tony talked about, and it was his Christmas bonus, so we agreed to invest half of it and buy a tv with some of the other half). I rearranged the furniture to make room on a blank wall, and we agreed that the tv would hang on the wall instead of taking up additional floor space with a new table. (I'm turning the space where the old tv went in my entertainment center into additional hidden pullout shelves for dvds. I'm in the process of designing and building it now, and it'll be pretty cool if I do say so myself.) Oh! and we got a new coffee table/ottoman to balance out the new furniture arrangement, which is nice. Very feng shui.
The tv in question is a 42" LCD TV, came from Best Buy, and is something called 1080i, which is supposed to be what all tv channels will be broadcasting to in about 5 years. (So we're all set for that and will never have to buy another tv ever again after this one). Best Buy wanted $600 for professional installation, but we'recheap independent, so we hung the TV ourselves, and I've gotta say that unless you're hanging your tv 150 feet in the air over a pool of mutant sharks, that is no $600 job. (Cough-ripoff!-cough). We had ours installed and working in about an hour. Tony has been staying up late to watch everything he can on this new, fabulous tv. I think he'd sleep down there with it if he could. This TV ranks up there with the purchase of Satellite on Tony's list of all-time best things that has ever happened to him. (I'm hoping that I'm somewhere on that list too, but I'm afraid to ask where). I have to admit that I was less than enthused about the tv at first, but it is pretty cool watching stuff up on the wall like that. And it is bigger. And brighter. And more beautiful.
Yes, that new TV is a seductive mistress.
The tv in question is a 42" LCD TV, came from Best Buy, and is something called 1080i, which is supposed to be what all tv channels will be broadcasting to in about 5 years. (So we're all set for that and will never have to buy another tv ever again after this one). Best Buy wanted $600 for professional installation, but we're
Yes, that new TV is a seductive mistress.
1/3/08
Still...
I saw this on Antique Mommy, and since 1) I thought it was cool, and 2) I have a teenie weenie bit of hero worship going on there, I blatantly stole blatantly stole borrowed it from someone else. And so the Internet circle of life continues. Anyway, if you have a blog and are no doubt looking for poignant New Year-ish revelations (and really, who isn't?), I highly suggest you blatantly steal borrow this from me.
Still amazed: that I managed to snag such a fabulous husband who not only does dishes without being asked, but also always puts the toilet seat down and knows exactly when I need a hug.
Still getting used to: winter. 27 years, and the cold weather still surprises me.
Still loving: Japanese hibachi food. Yum Yum!
Still proud of: how well classes are going for me. 3.833 GPA baby!
Still not proud of: how selfish I can be sometimes
Still hoping: that the jiggle that my backside has developed will magically go away on its own
Still worried: about those mysterious noises in the middle of the night. Good thing Tony still gets up to check them out for me, even if it is just the house settling.
Still never going to: watch reality shows. Or Donald Trump. Or anyone who is looking for love in Paris by going on dates with 25 women at the same time.
Still pretending: that my metabolism will always allow me to eat junk food and stay thin
Still reading: cheesy romance novels. I'm a sucker for a happy ending.
Still wanting to read: anything I can get my hands on, especially in the bath tub.
Still interested in: home decorating shows
Still not interested in: Hollywood gossip- get a life people!
Still looking forward to: spring bulbs blooming. Tulips, Hyacinths, Irises, Lillis. C'mon spring!
Still not looking forward to: writing and defending this thesis. Ack!
Still failing: to walk away from that last piece of chocolate
Still grateful for: the closeness of family
Still praying: for direction.
Still not believing in: diet pills, get rich quick schemes, and that I have won the Nigerian lottery...even though all I have to do is send them a check and they'll send me my winnings.
Still believing that: God will show me the path my life is supposed to take and allow it to touch others for the better
Still amazed: that I managed to snag such a fabulous husband who not only does dishes without being asked, but also always puts the toilet seat down and knows exactly when I need a hug.
Still getting used to: winter. 27 years, and the cold weather still surprises me.
Still loving: Japanese hibachi food. Yum Yum!
Still proud of: how well classes are going for me. 3.833 GPA baby!
Still not proud of: how selfish I can be sometimes
Still hoping: that the jiggle that my backside has developed will magically go away on its own
Still worried: about those mysterious noises in the middle of the night. Good thing Tony still gets up to check them out for me, even if it is just the house settling.
Still never going to: watch reality shows. Or Donald Trump. Or anyone who is looking for love in Paris by going on dates with 25 women at the same time.
Still pretending: that my metabolism will always allow me to eat junk food and stay thin
Still reading: cheesy romance novels. I'm a sucker for a happy ending.
Still wanting to read: anything I can get my hands on, especially in the bath tub.
Still interested in: home decorating shows
Still not interested in: Hollywood gossip- get a life people!
Still looking forward to: spring bulbs blooming. Tulips, Hyacinths, Irises, Lillis. C'mon spring!
Still not looking forward to: writing and defending this thesis. Ack!
Still failing: to walk away from that last piece of chocolate
Still grateful for: the closeness of family
Still praying: for direction.
Still not believing in: diet pills, get rich quick schemes, and that I have won the Nigerian lottery...even though all I have to do is send them a check and they'll send me my winnings.
Still believing that: God will show me the path my life is supposed to take and allow it to touch others for the better
1/2/08
And It's Only Going To Get Better
Well, 2007 is over. Another year come and gone. And is it just me, or did it seem to go REALLY REALLY REALLY fast? I have a quirky sci-fi theory that time is speeding up. Maybe the Earth is spinning faster...maybe it's because of some other reason. But I think that each year goes faster and faster until eventually, time will go so fast until it becomes nothing and that will be the end of the world because poof! time as we know it will cease to exist.
Shocked silence from all of you out in bloggy-land.
Or, you know, maybe that's just me. Anyway, the point is that 2007 is over and we're rapidly gearing up for 2008. Looking back, 2007 was actually pretty good for me. I bought a new car, went hiking, watched an old Geezer take gold, built a deck, saw several Cubs games, met the only baby I've ever liked, purchased new bedroom furniture, fought the ants, went white-water rafting, survived the Young and the Poo-less, ate too much, and managed to get an A in every class I've taken this year. (And according to the counter thingie, you were along for a lot of it, with 2805 visits in 2007). Like all years, it had its ups and downs, but I've gotta say, there have been many more ups than downs. God takes care of us.
2008 looks to be just as good as 2007, if not better. I don't want to jinx it, but there's an opportunity at work that I'm very excited about. And barring something really bizarre happening, I'll graduate this summer. We'll be able to go on a nice vacation this year, and there will be lots of hikes and bike rides and little weekend trips to see Cubs games. We're healthy, we're happy, and life is good. The Seester will also graduate from Hah-vard, and one of Tony's sisters will get married. Mom is happy with her retirement, the family is healthy, and Dixon has gone back to using the bathroom. Things are looking great. We are very blessed here at the House of Quirk, and I hope you and yours will be just as blessed as we all see what 2008 has in store for us.
Thanks for sticking with me in 2007, and here's hoping we'll have just as much fun in 2008.
Shocked silence from all of you out in bloggy-land.
Or, you know, maybe that's just me. Anyway, the point is that 2007 is over and we're rapidly gearing up for 2008. Looking back, 2007 was actually pretty good for me. I bought a new car, went hiking, watched an old Geezer take gold, built a deck, saw several Cubs games, met the only baby I've ever liked, purchased new bedroom furniture, fought the ants, went white-water rafting, survived the Young and the Poo-less, ate too much, and managed to get an A in every class I've taken this year. (And according to the counter thingie, you were along for a lot of it, with 2805 visits in 2007). Like all years, it had its ups and downs, but I've gotta say, there have been many more ups than downs. God takes care of us.
2008 looks to be just as good as 2007, if not better. I don't want to jinx it, but there's an opportunity at work that I'm very excited about. And barring something really bizarre happening, I'll graduate this summer. We'll be able to go on a nice vacation this year, and there will be lots of hikes and bike rides and little weekend trips to see Cubs games. We're healthy, we're happy, and life is good. The Seester will also graduate from Hah-vard, and one of Tony's sisters will get married. Mom is happy with her retirement, the family is healthy, and Dixon has gone back to using the bathroom. Things are looking great. We are very blessed here at the House of Quirk, and I hope you and yours will be just as blessed as we all see what 2008 has in store for us.
Thanks for sticking with me in 2007, and here's hoping we'll have just as much fun in 2008.
12/27/07
Roomba 1; Cat Hair 0
I GOT A ROOMBA FOR CHRISTMAS! And let me tell you, it is sooooo cool! Better than I thought it would be! I have more fun watching that thing race around the room. I got the Roomba Discovery, which had the best reviews for effectively sucking up cat hair. It comes with all its cute little roomba accessories, like a little docking station, and its little remote control, and its little virtual walls. As soon as I got it, I pulled it out to play with it. Sure enough, it zipped right around the living room, disappearing under the couch and dancing around in little twirly circles in the middle of the floor. The idea was that I was going to let it do the living room while I cleaned the kitchen, but the Roomba is so much fun to watch that I just ended up standing there watching it the whole time. I still need my upright vacuum to do the stairs since Roomba is scared of dropoffs, but I find it to be very effective for general room cleaning and especially for those hard to reach places like under the bed and the couch.
Roomba is a lot like having a toddler or a puppy. You have to Roomba-proof the room before you just let it fly. Pick up cat toys, raise electrical cords off the floor, shut doors to rooms you don't want it to go into. Once that's done however, Roomba just does its own thing, scooting around, following a pattern only it knows. So far, I've "vacuumed" the living room twice with it, and the bedroom once. It hasn't gotten stuck in the corner yet, or trapped under anything, or eaten anything it wasn't supposed to. It's been perfectly behaved the whole time. It did stop and beep at me to change itsdiaper dust bin once it got full (OH MY GOODNESS YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH CAT HAIR!) but other than that, its been fine on its own. It actually does a better job around the bed posts than I did with the upright, since it shimmies around them several times (kinda like the way kids run around and around trees) before changing its mind and heading off in some other direction. I didn't think that the random zig-zag and circling patterns would get the whole room, but it did. Best of all, it goes back to the docking station when it gets tired and plugs itself in for a nap. Can't beat that.
The boys were always horribly freaked out whenever the upright vac came out, but the Roomba is quiet enough and small enough that they don't pay it any attention. Both cats made a point of ignoring it from the safety of the bed while it zipped around below.
True, I've only had it for two days, but the Discovery seems to have addressed all the complaints about previous models, so cleaning power, maneuverability, and battery life has all been improved. Plus, it's just too cute! It really seems to have a cheerful personality for such a little robot, and it has picked up enough cat hair to knit a cat hair sweater for every member of my extended family. (Hmmm. Christmas present idea for next year?) I have a feeling that the Roomba and I will be playing together daily. I'll have it do a different room each day (plus the living room every other day), so that no matter where you are, you'll have that just vacuumed feeling.
Roomba is a lot like having a toddler or a puppy. You have to Roomba-proof the room before you just let it fly. Pick up cat toys, raise electrical cords off the floor, shut doors to rooms you don't want it to go into. Once that's done however, Roomba just does its own thing, scooting around, following a pattern only it knows. So far, I've "vacuumed" the living room twice with it, and the bedroom once. It hasn't gotten stuck in the corner yet, or trapped under anything, or eaten anything it wasn't supposed to. It's been perfectly behaved the whole time. It did stop and beep at me to change its
The boys were always horribly freaked out whenever the upright vac came out, but the Roomba is quiet enough and small enough that they don't pay it any attention. Both cats made a point of ignoring it from the safety of the bed while it zipped around below.
True, I've only had it for two days, but the Discovery seems to have addressed all the complaints about previous models, so cleaning power, maneuverability, and battery life has all been improved. Plus, it's just too cute! It really seems to have a cheerful personality for such a little robot, and it has picked up enough cat hair to knit a cat hair sweater for every member of my extended family. (Hmmm. Christmas present idea for next year?) I have a feeling that the Roomba and I will be playing together daily. I'll have it do a different room each day (plus the living room every other day), so that no matter where you are, you'll have that just vacuumed feeling.
Take that cat hair! Mwu-ha-ha-ha-ha!
12/26/07 Who Needs Sugarplums With All This Food?
Welcome back! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I got to spend some quality time with the family (which is actually a good thing with my family), and Santa was very good to me. We had a very fancy Christmas eve dinner, with shrimp cocktails (since Tony doesn't eat shrimp, Mom and Dad sliced chicken tenders and set them around the edge of a glass with honey mustard inside), and a roast, and salad, and baked potatoes, with Christmas cookies for dessert. Then we went to Christmas Eve Mass, and back home to wait for Santa while visions of sugarplums chocolate-covered pretzels danced in our heads. And ohhhh, Santa did not disappoint! I got birdhouses and calendars and robot vacuums and jewelry and hiking stuff and gift cards galore! I must have been very very good this year. Then we had Christmas lunch, which consisted of Christmas ham, and Christmas mashed potatoes, and Christmas turkey and Christmas stuffing and Christmas broccoli casserole, and Christmas brownies, and Christmas rum cake, and Christmas chocolate pecan pie. (And I was stuffed like a Christmas goose after eating all of that).
Today we're going to hit the after Christmas sales at the mall (Steph's idea. She likes shopping. I'm just along for the ride), and pedicures (yay!) and then back to my house for a tasty meal of Italian beef sandwiches and a spades tournament. (Now THAT's a good Christmas...Much better than riding through the snow in a one horse open sleigh in my opinion).
Here's hoping that you and yours had an equally good Christmas, and that now you're relaxed and well fed and playing with all your new toys. I'll see you back here in the next few days!
Today we're going to hit the after Christmas sales at the mall (Steph's idea. She likes shopping. I'm just along for the ride), and pedicures (yay!) and then back to my house for a tasty meal of Italian beef sandwiches and a spades tournament. (Now THAT's a good Christmas...Much better than riding through the snow in a one horse open sleigh in my opinion).
Here's hoping that you and yours had an equally good Christmas, and that now you're relaxed and well fed and playing with all your new toys. I'll see you back here in the next few days!
12/21/07
Because You're Not Working Anyway...
Well, once again my bloggy buddies have saved me from eternal pop culture ignorance. BigMama mentioned I can has cheezeburger? the other day, and I had no clue what she was talking about. Then I saw this slideshow article on Slate about it, and I knew I had to check it out. Do the slate article or read the About Us history first...it'll make more sense that way.
It's the Friday before Christmas...if you're at home, take a minute to flip through the pictures and captions, and even make your own. If you're at work, feel free to do the same thing, because hey, it's the Friday before Christmas, and everyone knows you're not really working now anyway.
Just be sure to use the bathroom first, because laughing so hard that you wet your pants would be embarrassing.
moar funny pictures
It's the Friday before Christmas...if you're at home, take a minute to flip through the pictures and captions, and even make your own. If you're at work, feel free to do the same thing, because hey, it's the Friday before Christmas, and everyone knows you're not really working now anyway.
Just be sure to use the bathroom first, because laughing so hard that you wet your pants would be embarrassing.
moar funny pictures
12/20/07
It's Basketball Time in Tennessee
Tony called me up yesterday and told me that he had been offered tickets to the UT vs whoever basketball game, and did I want to go? I'm not a huge basketball fan, but I did want to see Thompson-Boling Arena after the remodel, and it's not like I had anything better to do, so I said sure, sounds like fun.
Oh, and did I mention that the regular owner of our newly adopted tickets just happened to be a certain Senator Lamar Alexander? Yes, since Senator Alexander and I are such good pals (and by pals I mean that I occasionally drive down his highway) he gave us (well, indirectly, and through about 8 other people who couldn't attend a ballgame on a weeknight and therefore kept passing them along) two courtside (row 2 anyway) tickets RIGHT BEHIND the UT bench. It was super snazzy. I took lots of pictures just for you, oh loyal blog fans.
Oh, and did I mention that the regular owner of our newly adopted tickets just happened to be a certain Senator Lamar Alexander? Yes, since Senator Alexander and I are such good pals (and by pals I mean that I occasionally drive down his highway) he gave us (well, indirectly, and through about 8 other people who couldn't attend a ballgame on a weeknight and therefore kept passing them along) two courtside (row 2 anyway) tickets RIGHT BEHIND the UT bench. It was super snazzy. I took lots of pictures just for you, oh loyal blog fans.
Here's the view of the game from my seat. Yeah, those guys are taller than they look on tv. And louder. And smellier. At one point I leaned over to Tony and was like, "Whoa! I just got a whiff of smelly sweat sock!" and he was like, "Those are the players. They're sweaty". Ya'll, I was so close to the game, I COULD SMELL THE PLAYERS!
Speaking of tall and smelly, it turns out that UNC Asheville player Kenny George, at a unimaginable 7' 7", is difficult to guard, especially if you're a measly 6' 10". 
The seats are also right in front of the cheerleaders. I always thought that I couldn't understand what the cheerleaders were saying because I was too far away. It turns out that the cheers are muffled even when you're close enough to touch the megaphones. (Unless of course the cheer really is saying "pickled beets!" *Clap! Clap!* "Pickled Beets!")
Here's where my buddy Bruce and I gave the team some pointers. Bruce said something about blocking a back door, and I yelled "Bruce! Bruce! Look this way! Over here Bruce!" My coaching skills are legendary.
Here I am As for the actual game, I couldn't really tell ya. They ran up the court, they ran down the court, they ran back up the court again. Ohhh, but to see it up close and personal? That makes all that running a lot more exciting.
Anytime you need someone to take your tickets to the game off your hands, Senator, you just let me know.