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My favorite things!
I love the USA show, Burn Notice, and not just because I think Jeffrey Donovan is gorgeous. I think it's just a really good show, lots of action, a little good humor and Sharon Gless. You can subscribe to the show and put it in your queue on hulu.com. I got B hooked on it and he's watched 12 episodes tonight.
I'm also in love with the sunglasses he wears. For the first time ever in my whole live I went to the website and tried to find out what they were...and lo and behold there is a whole section on what he wears on the series. So, I found the glasses I must have. Oliver Peebles, Victory 58 Gold with Pink Quartz. Available for between $320 and $400 depending on where you look. I've got an inside track to get a 40% discount on them so maybe you'll see me sporting them soon.
As long as we're discussing things I love, Thomas Pink cufflinks are also on my list this year.
October 31 at 10:15 PM | Comments (2)
Happy Halloween! I'm Quarantined. :(
What a great Halloween this is going to be. B has the chicken pox and guess who's never had them? That's right. Me. So, since I immediately called my doctor when B was told he had them, I'm also on medication.
When he called me at the office and told me, I hung up the phone and shouted, "I'm tainted!" and walked out of the building.
So, I'll be playing the role of caregiver this weekend.
October 31 at 9:39 AM | Comments (0)
Winter? Not so fast...
It was cold last night so, of course, everybody is speculating about the winter!
October 28 at 7:15 PM | Comments (0)
Wassup
The "Wassup" guys eight years later...(watch it)
October 28 at 8:25 AM | Comments (0)
No more bail outs!
Have you read the articles about the auto industry, among others, lining up to get some government money? The latest talk is about bailing out the big three automakers. Their rationale is that because lending criteria has tightened they are unable to get loans approved to sell their cars. Uhm...that's fine by me. If you don't have good credit and you can't afford it, then you shouldn't be buying a car!!!.
Continue reading "No more bail outs!"
October 28 at 7:47 AM | Comments (0)
Austin is so much cooler than you
B and I stumbled upon Thrill The World Austin on Saturday and watched 881 dancers participate in 5 minutes of choreographed brilliance that is the Thriller dance in an attempt to break the world record. It was one of those things that make me really love living here.
October 27 at 11:02 PM | Comments (1)
Do you have ICE in your phone?
I do. I finally got around to putting ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact in my phone. Emergency workers will look there for your emergency contacts.
Take a minute to add a few emergency contacts in your phone. I actually had to think what numbers I'd put in there. Sure, B would be there but what about work? What about my mom? I narrowed it down to four numbers. BC, MD, Mom and then my office. I figured one of those ought to be reachable.
October 27 at 8:00 PM | Comments (3)
I voted!
I voted this morning. The line was fairly long at the library to cast my ballot early. I love that we can do that here in Texas. So convenient! I'm such a voting nerd, though. I asked for an extra "I Voted" sticker to keep in my wallet so I can wear it on November 4. I don't want people to see me on election day and think I didn't vote!!
Here's a PDF of the early voting locations in Travis County.
October 27 at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)
Quick Question
Why would parents or any other adult let an 8 year old shoot an Uzi?
October 27 at 7:59 AM | Comments (0)
Crisp and Clear
The air is dry and the nights are crisp here. I love Indian Summer in Austin!
October 27 at 7:54 AM | Comments (1)
The Greatest Love of All
In a nutshell...I dreamt that B and I took a drive up the East Coast to see the leaves change. We stumbled upon a charming New England town that was having a historic home tour, joined in and wound up buying a house there. At the town's talent show I sat next to Whitney Houston and encouraged her to get up and sing, telling her "Your voice is back, Whitney, show them how it's done." She brought down the house, naturally.
Now enjoy a little classic Whitney with your morning coffee.
October 27 at 7:46 AM | Comments (0)
Rrrrrrooooooolllllll Tide! Roll!
Alabama brought down bitter rival Tennessee last night and continues its place in the run for a national championship. Could it be a Alabama v. Texas matchup in Pasadena?
October 26 at 9:09 AM | Comments (2)
Thrill the world, Austin.
B and I took a walk around Town Lake this morning and we stopped to watch a rowing regatta (Head of the Colorado) for a while. Then we walked over to the Long Center for the Performing Arts where the Alamo Drafthouse was staging an attempt to create Thriller magic.
They had assembled 881 dancers to re-enact the famous dance and beat the world record. Looks like they'll do it, too.
Don't know if it will be as cool as what these French students did last week. But, it will surely be awesome. I'll post a video as soon as they do!
Tonight we're headed to a Halloween street party to get us in the mood for next weekend!
October 25 at 2:46 PM | Comments (0)
We're all in this together.
From Towleroad:
Some inspiring words from Barack Obama in Richmond, Virginia yesterday:
Obama"With the challenges and crises we face right now, we cannot afford to divide this country by race or class or region; by who we are or what policies we support. There are no real parts of the country and fake parts of the country. There are no pro-America parts of the country and anti-America parts of the country. We all love this country, no matter where we live or where we come from. Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, rich, poor, gay, straight, city-dwellers. Farm dwellers. It doesn't matter! We're all together."It is exactly what I was looking for in a leader. Someone to bring us together, as Americans, to work together in spite of our differing opinions to rebuild this country's economy and rebuild our position of strength and honor in foreign policy matters.
I'm not interested in treating politics like a football game with winners and losers, good and bad, Patriot or Traitor...There is a lot more at stake in this country and this election than can be boiled down to a scorecard.
Watch the video of Obama inspiring you.
October 24 at 8:36 AM | Comments (1)
The place is coming together!
B is here and he's getting the place together very quickly. We still haven't hung anything on the walls, but we're close! I'll have photos soon. The living room and master bedroom are finished and they are gorgeous.
B is on a learning curve about Austin. He's not understanding how people can leave the house looking like they do...I tell him about how Austin is laid back and has hippie roots and he just doesn't get it. It's funny to see him so upset over some woman wearing socks with her sandals and a fleece vest with a t-shirt and a skirt.
We should take bets on how long it will be before B stops ironing his t-shirts. HA!
October 23 at 8:00 AM | Comments (3)
I don't have cable television!
I ditched cable television when the whole dustup happened with KXAN and Time Warner. I admit that I missed it! But, last night I plugged in an antenna and have been amazed at the HD channels I get clear as a bell...clearer picture than when I did have cable! I'm getting NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, PBS (2 of them!), and for some reason MTV. I've also hooked up my laptop to the television and have been watching hulu.com and movies streamed on Netflix. The quality is unbelievable. I don't think I'll go back to cable.
I will criticize the ABC video player here for just a minute. After their in-content commercials you have to "click to continue" the show instead of the video just continuing after the commercial. This means I have to get up and click the mouse to keep watching. Hate that.
October 23 at 7:56 AM | Comments (2)
I still don't get it...
Wachovia announced losses of $23.9 billion dollars. How in the world do you lose $23.9 billion dollars? How does any decision maker keep their job? How are they keeping their doors open to the public? Why would anyone deposit money in this bank or use them for any purpose at all...how could you have any faith in a bank that can't even balance its own checkbook?
I'm still obsessed over this economic news. I don't think we are doing enough, as a country, to go after these executives and decision makers. I want more FBI investigations.
October 22 at 7:49 AM | Comments (1)
GOTV
We are closing in on election day. Here in Texas, we can vote early and on the first day of early voting there were long lines at the locations. Reports say 5% of registered voters have already voted today! Travis County is predicting an 80% turnout this year. I'm so excited.
But, I want to take a moment and remind everyone that it is important that you vote. Don't let huge numbers and high turnout and the possibility of long lines fool you into thinking your vote doesn't count or isn't needed or is going to be too much of a hassle this year.
I work in media and you would be shocked at the types of emails we receive attacking both candidates. The vitriol is unspeakable. For every person that thinks their vote isn't needed, there are five people foaming at the mouth to cast their vote.
This is a historical election. It is your duty to vote. Take the day off of work if you have to, ride the bus or call party headquarters and ask for a ride to the polls. I truly believe that voting is one of the most important things I do as an American and I insist you vote.
Mark your calendar. November 4. Election Day. If you can vote early, go ahead and get it out of the way. If not, make sure you know where to vote.
VOTE.
October 20 at 10:13 PM | Comments (1)
What else you got?
JM posted a calculator that projects your life expectancy. Mine is 88 years old. Woo hoo...30 years left! I kid..I kid...
Here's what part of my results said:
You noted that you don't manage your stress as well as you could. Do a better job and you could add a quarter of a year to your life expectancyGee, that's easy. Why don't I just start this action plan right away!Cutting back on your hours at work, approaching, if you can, 40 or fewer hours, could add half a year to your longevity
October 20 at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)
We're still counting down...
MySpace Countdowns
October 20 at 1:42 PM | Comments (1)
Early Voting Begins Today!
Early voting in Texas begins today and I am hoping I get a chance to get out today and get this knocked out today so I can stop stressing about it!
Record turnout is expected and there were lines this morning at some locations. It's countdown time!
October 20 at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)
If I can't sell it...I ain't gonna give it away
October 19 at 9:40 PM | Comments (2)
My neck! My back!
It is not a badge of honor that every massage therapist I have seen from coast to coast have all said a variation of the same things to me. "My God," and "You're one for the books" when it comes to the knots in my back. The massage that follows is a painful experience no matter how many times they remind me to breathe. The inevitably ask me what I do for a living and then they follow up with a tentative, "Do you like it?"
After every massage I resolve to work on relaxing and taking more epsom salt baths and such. Maybe it's time I seriously considered yoga and more exercise.
October 18 at 6:03 PM | Comments (2)
No words can tell the story my eyes can tell...
Last night I had a great dinner with JM, JH and FM for JM's birthday. We went to Green Pastures and it was a fantastic meal. You can't beat having Bananas Foster made right at your table. That's RICH. I came home right after and went straight to bed. All I could think of was how B will be here Monday and I feel like my life is on hold until he's here.
October 18 at 4:14 PM | Comments (1)
Housekeeping!
Housekeeping knocked on my door at 7:15 a.m. this morning. Seriously?
Oh, in case you aren't aware...the Austin Chronicle released their annual "Best of Austin" list today. I mention it for no reason in particular.
Best Local News Website: KXAN
Sometimes you want a fancy website with lots of bells and whistles. Not when you are trying to get your news. You want it quick and dirty, a simple format that's easy to peruse in a hurry, with information instantly, videos to give it to you visually, and the top stories (not only of the city but of the whole country) at your fingertips. Literally. For ease and a simplistic design made specifically for convenience, no one does it better. It's local news at its best - as a website
Continue reading "Housekeeping!"
October 16 at 5:27 AM | Comments (1)
Wow...it's totally Autumn!
It's cool in New England and the trees are very colorful as it is really the Fall season here. I didn't really want to go to dinner with everyone, I've got work to do in the hotel room. So, I begged off and went on my own for dinner and brought cheesecake back to the room.
I got back in time to watch the debate. Yipes. It was so mean. I was very distracted by the "instant" pulse of the audience thing CNN was doing.
October 15 at 9:52 PM | Comments (0)
2,415. 3. 13.
I have 2,415 unread emails. I have to travel on business for the next three days. I spent 13 hours at the office today. In 48 hours we complete (fingers crossed) a major project at the office.
Lessons learned: First of all, email is no longer the best way to communicate with me. Since I receive so many a day, I probably won't reply even if I do read the message. What else? Pack lightly!
I remember the days when I used to thrive on weeks and months like this. Now, I'm just old and tell people how tired I am all the time.
October 14 at 10:28 PM | Comments (1)
Don't ya just love stupid?
I was checking out this blog, cakewrecks, and decided I felt so much better about myself. I figured I can add cake decorator to my potential fall back careers...because if these people have jobs...surely I could do it, too!
October 13 at 7:42 AM | Comments (2)
Nothin' dirty goin' on...
Seriously, I'm not kidding when I tell you that "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" is a movie which has shaped my world view, been a source of guidance in decision making and probably something that actually got me to live in Austin....
October 13 at 7:28 AM | Comments (0)
The new luxury
I had a great weekend. I did what I refer to as my new luxury...which means I got a chance to shut off my phones, not check email and sit on my sofa and read...eat, watch a movie and stare out the windows at the view.
Friday night's birthday party was great fun and, if my math was right, most of the attendees were coupled. It was an unusual shift from when I thought it was weird when a couple walked in the door.
I'll be in New England for a few days this week and then B will be here and we'll finally be moved in and we'll show you some photos of the new place.
Hope you had a great weekend!
October 13 at 7:22 AM | Comments (0)
OMG...30 Rock is coming back!
Oh, and to further my hope that NBC is back on a track to being the network I love...this Weekend Update clip about the economy made me howl.
Seriously..."Identify the problem, then FIX IT. Repeat as necessary." Genius.
October 12 at 8:54 AM | Comments (0)
Equality Rocks
October 10 at 5:17 PM | Comments (0)
October? What October...
It's still in the 90's here during the day. That's nice and all but you would not believe the amount of cashmere I have that's getting bored not being showcased in my wardrobe. It's a real shame.
October 10 at 8:11 AM | Comments (0)
Focus!
Work has pulled my focus. We are so busy with three major projects right now and not enough staff that I have not had time to do anything except work lately. I hate that. I used to love to read blogs and the news every morning and for the last few weeks the only thing I've been able to follow in the news is the economic crisis. Hence my series of alarming blog posts.
October 10 at 6:54 AM | Comments (1)
Et tu, Big Blue?
Even IBM got pulled down in today's market free fall. GM and Ford fell off a cliff, too. "We are in a free fall right now and fundamentals have been thrown out the window," said Phil Orlando, chief equity market strategist at Federated Investors.
I cannot stop obsessing over the economic news. It's fascinating and horrifying at the same time.
October 9 at 10:27 PM | Comments (0)
Word of the day: Vigilantism
A sheriff in Illinois says he's not serving any more eviction notices. I understand his rationale that they are winding up evicting renters that have no idea their landlord was being foreclosed and the mortgage company did not identify that renters occupied the property, but still. That is a legislative issue that must be brought to light and dealt with in the legislature, not at the hands of a sheriff. When the "law" starts setting bad examples we could see a breakdown in the entire orderly workings of government. The man should be removed from office immediately.
October 9 at 7:33 AM | Comments (2)
Playboy=Pervert?
Back in the day, Hugh Hefner and the Playboy lifestyle were something to be envied. Rich, sexually free and living a life that became a stereotype. Now, he's 82 and he's announcing his breakup with one of his three girlfriends. She is 28. In the interview he discusses that two 19-year old girls are now living in the mansion and may be his new girlfriends.
He's 82. Here's me judging...in 3, 2, 1...
October 9 at 7:24 AM | Comments (0)
Economy burnout
I wake up this morning and the first news I see is that the Fed made an emergency rate cut. Yesterday we learn that AIG spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a retreat even though they knew the end was near.
There was a survey that said 80% of Americans are feeling stress, worrying about the economy. Count me in. I read something Suze Orman said that the economy had been based on a lie. If people had not done things they could not afford and if banks had not given loans to people they knew couldn't afford to pay them back we wouldn't be in this serious of a situation. She said she wouldn't be shocked to see us move to a "cash economy" meaning if you can't pay cash for it, you don't get it.
Quite frankly, I think it's a lesson America needs to learn. I've learned it. I have zero debt. If I can't pay for it, I don't buy it. I can remember my grandmother's stories about living during the Great Depression as a child. It got me to thinking about all the effects of an economic downturn...it's not just foreclosures, it's unemployment like we've never seen before, it's homelessness, it's abject poverty in the streets, it's a rise in crime, it's more boozing and just a complete shift in our world.
I don't endorse such a thing.
October 8 at 7:12 AM | Comments (1)
Mail Goggles
Love the new gmail feature that makes you solve math problems late nights before sending an email. If you are too messed up to do math then maybe you shouldn't send that email.
October 7 at 4:36 PM | Comments (1)
Dancer for money...
I'm obsessed with Tina Turner this week. I'm downloading songs so I can work out my own routine to "Private Dancer." And seriously, this bitch is working a wig at the Grammy's in 1985. And who hasn't asked that age-old question.."What's love got to do with it?"
FIERCE TRANNY FIERCENESS
October 7 at 7:21 AM | Comments (3)
Good morning, Monday
I'm much less bitter about the upcoming week than I was about the last one! The office is still quite busy and we have another project that's going to make it even more busy but I'm getting organized, I'm not letting the chaos of things I cannot control dictate my schedule and I'm exercising to de-stress.
It's also only 15 days until B gets here and I cannot wait for that. I miss him entirely too much.
We went to Dave and Busters this Saturday night and I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I had a good time. My favorite is a game that simulates you flying a Boeing 777 (I think that's what it was) from takeoff to landing. I was sweating when I went off course and was coming in to shallow for a landing. Talk about nerve-wracking. I played it about 10 times. LOVED.
I'm totally buying a flight simulator game for the house now.
Hope y'all all had a good weekend.
October 6 at 7:28 AM | Comments (0)
I even bought new shoes!
I'm starting to exercise. Dammit. It's actually a great stress reliever and the scenery around the lake is gorgeous.
October 6 at 7:25 AM | Comments (0)
Hello new week!
MySpace Countdowns
October 5 at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)
Week wrap up
I thought many times this week that I was done with budgets and over the crisis that had me stressed out and then I thought I'd get more moved in and B would be here sooner than he really will be. I have to say that I'm glad this week is over and maybe I'll just stare at a blank wall for a few hours. I obsessed over the financial meltdown and bothered my poor accountant and my financial advisor with the dumbest of questions. I appreciate their patience and guidance.
I also have enjoyed the de-stressing results of my 2.5 mile long walk around Town Lake every afternoon. I've snapped some beautiful photos and can complete my 2.5 miles in less than 35 minutes. Not a speed demon, but at least I am working up a sweat. We'll check out the gym with B. We have a personal trainer coming. Mostly for me.
I miss my boyfriend. How many days until the 21st again?
October 4 at 1:17 AM | Comments (1)
Walking...not after midnight
I'm trying to keep it up with a little bit of exercise. I'm hitting the hike and bike trail and it's gorgeous out there. I manage to snap a picture every day and I'm loving what I get to see. Now if I could only see a few pounds go away!
October 2 at 8:09 PM | Comments (1)
If my marketing department were designing a stop sign
October 2 at 7:45 AM | Comments (0)
Bitchy?
We are working on a lot of projects right now. When it gets that crazy I really look forward to lunch as an opportunity to get out of the office and take a break and get my head back together for the rest of the day. But, our east coast headquarters is scheduling conference calls every other day for the next week and a half at NOON our time.
Seriously? 3 conference calls a week at NOON? I know that's 1 pm their time and I think that's great, but it means I'm either ordering lunch for my team three times a week or trying to get to lunch at 1 pm or so, which is nearly impossible because things tend to blow up in the afternoons.
The bitterness will continue thru Mid-November. Just in case you were wondering.
October 2 at 7:36 AM | Comments (1)
It's October...time to
Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
It is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. See your doctor for your routine mammogram. The American Cancer Society recommends that a woman obtain her first baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 to 40. After the age of 40, she should receive a yearly mammogram.
October 2 at 7:15 AM | Comments (0)
You know what? Don't vote...
Yeah...it's only the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. It's only a war that's been mismanaged from day one. It's only rising gas prices and our depency on foreign oil. It's only a flawed energy policy. It's only about your right to choose. It's only about education. It's only about the destruction of the middle class. It's only about a small town mayor and governor of a state nobody ever thinks about being a heartbeat away from the presidency.
So, uhm. Yeah. Go ahead. Don't vote.
October 1 at 10:19 PM | Comments (2)
I want it back.
Twenty-three million dollars. That's the compensation for the CEO of Wachovia in 2006. I want it back. Send the Treasury Secretary over to his big ass house in Charlotte, knock on the door and tell him to give it back. The executives of WaMu will get up to $19 million in severance. Severance! For driving their company into the ground! I want it back. Fannie Mae's CEO got $12 million in compensation in 2006 and he took at 15% pay cut in 2007 since they were in trouble. I want it back.
These CEO's ought to be strung up for all I care. I don't begrudge people making money, but I do begrudge you making 23 million dollars while you destroy the economy. I begrudge the feds jumping to save these institutions but they haven't done jack shit to save the middle class struggling with $4 gas prices!!
Grrrrr. I didn't buy a house I couldn't afford. I don't have thousands of dollars in credit card debt. I am not giving one red cent to bail anybody out of anything.
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