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Is this a new trend?
Crime is on the rise here in Austin. We have long been touted as one of the safest cities in America, but lately something is going wrong. The SWAT team is out just about every week as someone holds themselves up in a house or apartment, earlier this week somebody burst into a house and tied up a father and beat him and then raped his 15 year-old daughter. Yesterday, we had our second kidnapping in less than a month here. We're already up to 3 murders.
What's up with that?
February 29 at 8:03 AM | Comments (2)
I need a vacation
I am desperate for a vacation. I'm not even sure I want to "go" anywhere. I just want a few days to catch my breath, catch up on some sleep, put down my Blackberry and ignore the 200 emails I get every day. I want to go outside and do something and I want to relax and read a book. I am cranky and quick-tempered.
Maybe I'll fly off to Charleston next weekend or something. I know I won't but I'm going to pretend I'm considering it all day today.
February 29 at 7:58 AM | Comments (2)
Sometimes you just know
This morning as the plane was landing in Dallas I looked down at my shoes and I hated them. These Cole-Haan split-toe black shoes were hideous to me. I've had them way too long. Plus, I think my socks may have been navy. When we got our rental car, I told the woman I was travelling with that we had to make a stop before our meeting. We pulled into Nordstrom's in Dallas and I walked in and picked out a new pair of Kenneth Cole black dress shoes and some black socks, put them on and paid for them. When the salesman tried to hand me my old shoes and socks, I said, "No. Throw them away. I never want to see those shoes again."
We walked right out and went to our meeting as if it were completely ordinary to stop on the way to a meeting and buy new shoes. Because, for me, it is entirely normal.
February 28 at 10:38 PM | Comments (1)
If it's Thursday, that must mean I'm in a meeting
It's 6 a.m. and I'm getting ready to catch an early flight to Dallas. I have a meeting up there and I have to be back by 3:30 because I'm a judge at a margarita contest. You know, that sounds really bizarre when it's written out like that.
Speaking of judge, this weekend is the Miss Austin pageant and I'm one. A judge, not a contestant. I'm sure there will be some great stories about it. A Texas pageant, after all, is surely good fodder.
February 28 at 6:10 AM | Comments (2)
I'm watching TV again!
I do not watch television. I'm seriously thinking of giving up my cable, because even when I do turn on the TV I usually put it on mute. But, I got my beta login to hulu.com a while ago and I've been watching TV on my laptop to beat the band.
The quality of the video is great, the user experience is dead sexy and I've caught up on shows I'd heard about but had not seen yet. Oh, and I also met the CEO at the conference in Phoenix. hulu is a joint venture between NBC Universal and Fox. So far, I've watched all the episodes of Lipstick Jungle (Liked it), the premier of the new Knight Rider (Good, the lead actor is HOT), the premier of the new show QuarterLife (the girl vlogger gets in trouble for blogging about her friends...so been there!), and all 8 episodes of Back To You (loved!).
Here's a clip from Back to you...look at me...I created a clip from hulu of a TV show that just aired and embedded it in my blog. AH-mah-zeeng.
February 27 at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)
EW! I hate skeevy businessmen!
I'm in the Phoenix airport and the businessman sitting next to me is wearing shoes that the back part look like they've been chewed on by a dog. But, that's not all. He just called his wife and got into an argument with her and said, "I'm in St. Louis, quit thinking I'm somewhere else." Now, he's called someone else and said, "Hey Cheryl, I didn't deserve that message. There was some circumstances that prevented me from doing something I needed to do." EW EW EW EW EW...I don't want to be on the same plane with this guy. What a total creep, God's going to kill him and I'm going to be collateral damage. Dammit. I'm calling the airline to see if I can get on a different flight.
February 26 at 4:05 PM | Comments (2)
Jimmy Kimmel Wins
By now you've probably seen the Sarah Silverman video, "I'm fucking Matt Damon" and Jimmy retaliates with his own video. I think it was seriously hilarious.
February 25 at 11:13 PM | Comments (4)
I Pamper Myself
So today I had some free time before my conference started and I went to a real live barber shop and got a shave. It's my first time ever being shaved a.) by a stranger and b.) with a straight razor. It's like I have never shaved before. My face is so incredibly smooth. I am embarrassed at how poorly I have been shaving.
After that I went to the resort spa and had a seaweed wrap. Just because I've often heard about them and decided to try it out. I'm not big on getting naked at the spa, but I let a woman scrub me down with an exfoliant and then slather seaweed all over me. After that she wrapped me up like a burrito in a heated wrap thing and left me to bake for about 15 minutes. After that I showered and then she moisturized me. All in all, it was bizarre. I'm not sure there are real benefits, except some lady in Arizona got a good look at my business.
Then I got a facial. Now, that I love. My face feels fantastic tonight. I also think it's the first time I have ever been complimented on my skin. Maybe that facialist was blind or something.
So, that's all the luxury I'll get. The next two days are meetings meetings meetings.
February 24 at 10:46 PM | Comments (4)
In the meantime...
Learn something about one of the great masterpieces of all time. Zoom in to great detail of The Last Supper. Amazing.
February 23 at 11:08 AM | Comments (1)
And I'm off!
I'm on my way to Phoenix for a conference. I think I'll be back on Tuesday night. I've never been to Phoenix before, so it's one more place I can check off my list. I'll be staying at this resort.
I don't think I'll wander downtown or see what the city nightlife is all about, though. I'm looking forward to a luxurious room, room service and networking with people in my industry.
February 23 at 10:36 AM | Comments (0)
The event of a lifetime
I'm a long time political nerd for those of you that don't know. My very powerful and influential friend, J, called me the other day and asked for my SSN and DOB because he needed them to give to someone so I could go with him to the CNN Presidential Debate. Some people get excited about rock concerts or movie premiers. For me, the event last night was the event of a lifetime for me. I am so grateful to have been invited and I have a lot to tell you about what it was like to roll up to a presidential debate in a four SUV motorcade and be whisked through the crowd of screaming Clinton and Obama supporters.
Continue reading "The event of a lifetime"
February 22 at 7:30 AM | Comments (3)
What you need is a theme song
I have decided I need a new theme song. I guess the closes I have right now is Billy Joel's "My Life" but, that phase is really over for me. How about Judy Garland's Come On Get Happy? My bro sent me Rufus Wainwright's Live At Carnegie Hall CD and that song put a big smile on my face.Too gay?
February 20 at 6:42 AM | Comments (0)
What do we think of this table?
I'm looking for a dining room table and this one speaks to me. It's out of my budget, but isn't it lovely? The chairs that go with are equally divine. It's got a great mix of traditional and contemporary...you know, like me.
February 19 at 7:55 PM | Comments (4)
OMG, I didn't know!
February 19 at 7:44 PM | Comments (6)
Fidel is Out!
Fidel Castro announced his resignation. Not quite the assassination the CIA has long hoped for, but he's out. Who's up next? Will he be more palatable than Castro?
February 19 at 7:37 AM | Comments (3)
It's back!
Welcome back to the I-Can't-Sleep-A-Thon! I hate it when the insomnia creeps up on me. It usually takes about a week of the tossing and turning and snippets of sleep I can get before I break down and take a pill or something. Not this time. I'm putting it on my calender. Tonight at 9:45 p.m. I will be taking a sleeping pill.
What do you do to fight off insomnia? If you say exercise I'll punch you in the neck.
February 19 at 7:27 AM | Comments (3)
Google Hiring In Austin
Google has opened an office here, but I don't know anyone that's actually seen it. They are hiring and, at first, they said it was only engineering jobs they were trying to fill here. Here's the open job titles for Austin:
• Account Manager, Tech Commerce Vertical - Austin
• Enterprise Inside Sales Representative - Austin
• Enterprise Lead Generation Associate - Austin
• Senior Account Executive, Tech Commerce Vertical - Austin
That doesn't sound like just engineering geeks they are looking for.
February 18 at 10:07 PM | Comments (1)
What a pleasant weekend
All weekends should be so lovely. J planned a fantastic birthday finale for Friday night. We met at his house and the living room was filled with pink balloons, fondue and red velvet cupcakes! We drank champagne and our limo picked us for dinner reservations at III Forks. Mmm, was it a great meal! After that we piled in the limo and drank more champagne and went to the Four Seasons where we drank more champagne. After that we indulged our trashy side by going to a seedy bar.
Saturday it rained all day and I was cozy and relaxed at the house. I went to a party for a few hours, saw some friends and laughed before heading home to continue reading a good book.
Sunday brunch at C's house was amazing as usual. The bottomless mimosas help make it a laugh riot.
I could not tell you how many bottles of Veuve Clicquot we went through this weekend. It's a good think we all manage to keep a case in the kitchen of our homes because you never know when everyone will pop over and just assume you have three bottles in the fridge!
A serious thanks to JM for Friday night. I had been in a funk and the fabulousity of Friday night was just what the doctor ordered.
February 17 at 9:50 PM | Comments (3)
Craigslist Missed Connection of the Day
One of the reasons I continue to check out the Missed Connections is no longer do I hope that my Prince Charming is trying desperately to find me after I rushed out of the ball at midnight, but to peer into the minds of what I can only hope are mentally disturbed people that mingle among us.
They appear normal until they post a missed connection and then all of their crazy comes out.
I give you:
BAREFOOT Hispanic Guy At Fried Chicken Place - m4m (I pasted it in the extended entry in case it gets taken down)
Continue reading "Craigslist Missed Connection of the Day"
February 17 at 10:11 AM | Comments (2)
That was then, this is now
I saw a photo of this cute guy coming out of a pool and then I found out who it was. Wow. It's like looking into the future!
February 17 at 9:03 AM | Comments (0)
It's FRIDAY
I am so excited that today is Friday. Tonight we are going out to celebrate my birthday and if it isn't severe thunderstorms and hailing we should have a fantastic time. J has arranged a high-fallootin' evening and now I can't decide what to wear!
Work was awesome this week, too. It was finally not a week of 14 hour days and we celebrated some huge successes. I'm also settled into the house by now and can't wait to start working in the yard. I even dreamed last night that I found the perfect dining room table I'm searching for.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes, y'all.
February 15 at 7:59 AM | Comments (1)
Come On And Listen To, The Lullaby Of Greenspan
The former Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, once again says the US is on the verge of recession. My response? Well, no shit. He also says housing prices have not hit rock bottom. I did see the foreclosure rates for Austin this morning and they are up something like 20% over last Quarter, so if there is room to fall it is continuing a race for the bottom here. That's despite all the local talk that the nationwide foreclosure crisis won't hurt Austin. So naive.
February 14 at 9:39 PM | Comments (0)
Has MySpace Jumped The Shark?
When I logged in this morning, I noticed this...
Now, don't get me wrong. I think Don Rickles is very funny and is surely a comedy legend. However, it just seems out of place to see someone more associated with the "Rat Pack" on a page trying to appeal to a demographic whose parents weren't even born when Don Rickles was a headliner last.
I got called out yesterday for not having my facebook page all updated and my only excuse is that I'm too old to understand facebook. I don't get it. I don't understand the whole wall thing and the "poke" and why can't I search for people and see their profile like I can on MySpace?
Wow...these are the important issues of the day.
February 14 at 7:30 AM | Comments (1)
Y'all....I'm wild
I overstayed my budgeted time out. I promised myself I'd be home by 11:30 and here it is 1 a.m. I met some great new people and BELTED out some karaoke. I met a guy who graduated high school in 1998! 1998! Ugh. Such a sweetheart, though. When we talked he said he hadn't had sex in something like 2 years and I though OMG, if I were that age and hadn't had sex in 2 years I'd be a total mental case. As opposed to the slightly mental case I am today.
So, birthday over. Singing out loud, meeting new people, flirtation...it was good.Someone did Karaoke to my favorite song of all time and we totally got a group up and busted it out with a whole dance routine.
February 14 at 1:08 AM | Comments (3)
An Old Love Returns In A New Way
I finally ditched the Motorola Q today when my boss gave me a new Blackberry Pearl. Mmmm, so happy my Blackberry is back in these loving arms. Oh, how I've missed the familiar interface!
I also got two birthday cakes from this great place called Mad Cakes and warm cookie delivery at the office.
February 13 at 7:06 PM | Comments (0)
Only In Texas
February 13 at 3:54 PM | Comments (0)
The Way Back Machine
This song is the very first 45 record I owned. I played it so much I wore it out. Proving that a.) gay is genetic and evidenced even before puberty and b.) since a child I have been chasing the elusive love of my life.
Oh, and this song still holds up for me. I totally turned it all the way up and sang my way through my morning shower. WHAT A SURPRISE CAUSE I NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE...
February 13 at 8:00 AM | Comments (3)
Happy Birthday to me!
Today is my birthday. On a Wednesday. How dull is that? I was born on Friday the 13th so it's kind of a letdown on a Wednesday. So, off to the office and then for a fitting. There will be festivities...and Botox.
February 13 at 7:34 AM | Comments (9)
The Strike Is Over!
I'm not much of a TV watcher, but I'm glad my favorite shows will come back next year. Of what TV I do watch, I hate reality programming.
February 12 at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)
Not in control
This artist builds dioramas and photographs them. While I think they are interesting and make wonderful photographs, I was a little thrown by her "world view." She doesn't like to go on location or, for that matter, leave her house and that's why she does this. She wants to control her setting.
That made me think how life is so uncontrollable. For that reason I'm not sure I would want to own one her pieces.
Nevertheless, here's a video about her work.
February 12 at 10:16 PM | Comments (0)
Why you gotta be so judgmental?
I took a little flak for my criticism of the Grammy Award for Amy Winehouse. I was not pleased that the show made arrangements for her because she had visa troubles, nor was I very plussed that she won. While I do think she has talent, I just don't think she should be encouraged.
Let me tell you why.
Continue reading "Why you gotta be so judgmental?"
February 12 at 7:39 AM | Comments (2)
Well, that's weird.
I love it when a headline makes me do a double-take.
February 12 at 7:36 AM | Comments (2)
Blind Dates Are Scary!
I've had some awful dates...and that's when I have met the person prior to going out with them. You can only imagine how bad my blind dates have been. KXAN is doing a story on Valentine's Day about a new website here in Austin called crazyblinddate.com. Apparently you sign up and just go on a blind date. I asked the reporter about it today.
My worst blind date ever was when I showed up a Starbuck's to meet a guy with jacked up teeth and he told me he was an assistant manager at Burger King. Seriously? I just stood up and said out loud, "I am going to kill James (the guy that set me up)" and walked out in shame.
Who else has bad blind date stories?
(Oh, and shut it...It's February Sweeps...I'm obligated to promote this.)
February 11 at 7:12 PM | Comments (3)
Did you watch the Grammy's?
I kind of did. I went over to J's house and had champagne and chocolate covered strawberries and only really paid attention to the Beyonce/Tina Turner number. Did you see Beyonce step on Tina? You know Miss Turner pulled out Beyonce's weave when they got backstage.
Aretha Franklin looked HOOOGE and yellow was really the wrong color for her. Also, Nelly Fertado looked like King Tut in whatever bunting and choker necklace outfit she was wearing.
What else? Oh, Amy Winehouse? Seriously? I'm opposed to her winning anything. I think it just reinforces her bad behavior and sets a bad example. Go ahead kids, snort all the cocaine you want and you, too, could win a Grammy!
February 11 at 9:49 AM | Comments (5)
OOF. That's Tough.
Bride Dies During Marriage's First Dance.
February 10 at 9:35 AM | Comments (2)
Something Always Brings Me Back To You
Do you know who Sara Bareilles is? I am loving her CD. This song, Gravity, is beautiful and I'm a sucker for a beautiful song showcasing my own vulnerabilities. Another song I really like is "City" and these lyrics must be familiar to every single person living in the city at some point. You know, surrounded by people everywhere you go, but not connected to any of them. That's deep, y'all.
Here in these deep city lights
Girl could get lost tonight
I'm finding every reason to be gone
Nothing here to hold on to
Could I hold you?
February 9 at 9:12 AM | Comments (1)
Tech People, Help Me Out
Ok, so that stupid video "Charlie Bit Me" makes me laugh. I wonder if I could download the audio part and make, "Charlie bit me and it's still hurting" my ringtone? Can someone figure that out just for fun?
February 7 at 7:49 AM | Comments (6)
American Tragedy?
Rolling Stone will have Britney on their cover this week with the headline: An American Tragedy. Don't you think the economic malfeasance of George Bush and in turn, his entire administration is an American Tragedy? Britney Spears bipolar path to self-destruction and ultimate death are not so much an American Tragedy as maybe a Cautionary Tale.
Spears' story should become one that leads to even more scrutiny of these Disney kids that are plucked from obscurity to become megastars at the age of 15 and how that long-term impacts their social development as well as their mental development.
All that being said, that poor girl is whack, yo. She needs serious electroshock and perhaps to be tethered to a pole inside a room somewhere so she can't go outside and show everybody her hoo ha.
Still, there is a part of me that does pity her. I think a lot of people feel that way, we see she is gone mental and want to reach out and help her because clearly she is not getting the help she needs in Hollywood. Her destruction is reinforcing every bad stereotype I have about the Hollywood 'show business' world.
The fact that I do want to "help her get help" is my own mental issue I struggle with myself. Perhaps if I didn't have this desire to help those that are destructive in their own lives, I wouldn't have had such destructive relationships and toxic people in my own life. OOOOOO....I gotta go call my therapist y'all. We're on the verge of breakthrough here.
February 7 at 7:38 AM | Comments (1)
What are you going to do if a monster comes in your room?
Why, I'd kick his ask, or course.
February 5 at 11:24 PM | Comments (1)
Seriously?
Found this in our parking lot.
February 5 at 3:44 PM | Comments (1)
Super Tuesday
I guess everybody will be paying attention to what happens today. People here are talking about it, wondering and speculating. It sucks that I live in such a huge state, yet we rarely get a chance to decide the party's nominee. Y'all don't screw it up for us.
Oh, and tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. I'll be at noon services if anybody wants to go with.
February 5 at 7:43 AM | Comments (2)
Maladjusted?
Yes, I have a personals ad. Yes, I still naively think I will meet husband-potential men this way. Shut it. Anyway, some guy emailed me but then said I might think he was maladjusted but if I wanted to meet as friends that would be ok. He is 41. Maladjusted at 41 isn't in any way appealing and I certainly am not interested in meeting any more maladjusted people than I already know.
My reply?
Maladjusted? Boring. Not interested.
I'm now taking reservations for the next loser in line, please.
February 3 at 11:15 PM | Comments (1)
Words to live by
I was talking with a friend about dealing with difficult people and I told him a story about a woman I worked for in Dallas that taught me a lot about business. Plus, she looked and dressed like Maude. She taught me one of the most valuable things I've learned in life and in business.
Simply put, "You are only treated how you allow yourself to be treated." In regards to whatever type of "difficult" person you are dealing with, remember that. I have been known to terminate a conference call or a meeting because of one person simply not willing to communicate with me in a professional or effective and productive way. The first time you get up and just walk out of a room, you make an impact.
February 3 at 11:07 PM | Comments (0)
This is all we need..you, me, some Veuve Clicquot and Dinner.
Dinner and drinks with friends is one of my favorite things. Last night J and E came over and we had some champagne and talked about the world, New Orleans, and life and then went to Hyde Park Grill for a late dinner. I ordered off the menu a starter for us, fried eggplant with pesto and tomatoes with fresh parmesan and it was so delicious I teared up.
February 3 at 9:58 AM | Comments (1)
