He Likes the Spankin's

Mix it into conversation; it makes every chat more lively, trust me.

I found out tonight that a friend's beloved cat passed away this weekend. I'm so sorry he's gone; he was truly a friend and my heart is heavy tonight at his loss. He was a fine animal, a good friend, and a loving member of the family. My thoughts are with his family in their loss.

Fat Boy was always up for a petting, or more specifically a spanking. He would fall off the couch in an effort to get closer for some more lovin's. And then look up at you and expect love on the floor now. Over here, and scratch behind the ear, and then some more spankin's.

He was such a sweet cat, except to his sister, Midget, who he regularly chased, bit and sat upon with his large bulk. And later, sometimes moments later, you would find them curled up together licking each other and sleeping in a big furry white, black, and grey pile. Because that's what brothers and sisters are for, torture with a grooming chaser followed by a nap.

I can remember when he first came home, after flying half way across the country to live in his new home. At first that consisted of one room, mostly under the bed in that room, for upwards of two or three weeks. He was a small ghost of a cat, moving so fast you could hardly see him. The Boy and the kitten-who-would-be-Fat-Boy met each other and grew to love one another. Fat Boy would often be found sleeping with The Boy, if he wasn't laying on his mom's legs so she couldn't move in the middle of the night.

The last time I spent time at my friend's house, I watched some Food Channel while Fat Boy curled up next to me and purred. I gave him some spankin's but only when Mom came home did he get the really good lovin's. He was so happy to get his lovin's, you could almost see him smile.

Good-bye, sweet Fate, you are already much missed.

How Normal Are You?

You Are 50% Normal (Somewhat Normal)

While some of your behavior is quite normal... Other things you do are downright strange You've got a little of your freak going on But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

How Normal Are You?

What do you want to drink?

When out to eat, you invariably get asked what you want to drink. And more than anything right now I want to have a Coke, nice brown fizzy drink, filled with sugar and caffeine, two of my favorite things. Two things that I have given up to follow this new healthy plan.

So when the nice waitress asked what I wanted to drink, I said "I want a Coke, but I'll have a water, please."

So when she comes back, she brings me a water and a Coke and two straws. "Oh, I'm sorry, I can't have the Coke, I meant I wanted one but I really can't have one."

The waitress was cool with it, she said she'd drink it and then took it away.

Later, she comes back and says that she didn't mean to tease me, and perhaps I'd like a diet Coke.

"No, thank you, I can't have the caffeine. And I can't have a Sprite because it has the sugar... so the water will be fine, thanks."

All in all it was a pleasant experience, except the moment I wanted to leap across the table and pour the Coke, ice and all, down my throat all in one gulp. That was a bit startling, and even so, it was kinda funny.

So must be careful what I ask for, I just may get it...

Lyrics in my head

Surrounded by stories
Surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library
Once upon a time

- Love in the Library
Jimmy Buffet

Morning Commute

This morning, as I do every morning, I turned off of the turnpike onto a state highway for the last leg of my commute. The parkway was a bit slow. I was running a bit late to work already and I knew this would just make me later. But what can I do? I continued along and then out of my rearview I saw this motorcycle zooming along in the right hand breakdown lane. Then another car saw him and decided to follow suit.

I have been in a few fender benders, had a couple speeding tickets (many years ago), and one careless driving ticket (long story about a U-turn and no turn signal). And as Girlzoot will tell you, I’ve run my share of red lights (they were PINK!)(well, except for that one on Leetsdale, it WAS red). In general, though, I take my safety and the safety of others around me seriously. Besides, I know that if I do something so flagrant, I’ll get caught, there’s no question.

Something else that has been bothering me: no one in their car is more important than me; we all have somewhere to be but that doesn’t mean you have to break the law or be a jerk. Besides, what would happen if there was an ACTUAL emergency and someone needed the lane, or everyone had to get over for an emergency vehicle? But that wouldn’t happen, not for just a moment while I’m driving over here in this completely empty lane… not to me… I’m so IMPORTANT…

So this morning I’m thinking that I would just get caught if I pulled anything that stupid. And as I pull around the final curve and make ready to pull into the right hand turn lane and what do I see but the little car, the motorcycle, and three or four other cars all pulled over to the side getting ticketed by two police officers. I felt such vindictive glee as I made my turn and went to work. Was I wrong to be happy at another’s misfortune? Well, they kind of brought it on themselves, now didn’t they?

And I’m still smiling.

"Save The Date"

I was going through my work emails today and I found a “Save The Date” request. I checked it out and realized it was for our Christmas party last December. (Ok, so this means I need to clean out my inbox more often, I know, I know) In years past we have had lavish parties at the Historic Boulder Theater, a stunningly beautiful venue. This past December was no exception, we had a lovely dinner along with magicians entertaining us with slight of hand and silver coins, and, of course, a live band.

During this evening of fun and frivolity (company-sponsored, of course) I spoke briefly with someone I had become close to in the past few years. Over the course of the last few seasons we had drifted apart and now, at the end of the year, I was facing a stranger that I once knew. It was awkward; I was both flattered to be sought out yet a bit stand-offish since we had not spoken since Halloween. By the end of our conversation, I was a bit confused and just wanted to go back to somewhere I can only visit in memories.

At the end of the evening (which came early as it was a Sunday and everyone had to be at the office the next morning) only the dancers and a few others were left out of the huge influx of people. And I got my set-list from the violist, and I left without looking back.

And today, I found that email, and realized, I haven’t heard from or spoken to my old friend since that night almost four months ago. And that makes me sad for what was, and I’ll probably be a bit melancholy today, but somehow it doesn’t bother me as much as it did last year this time. I suppose time does heal, and distance yields perspective. Yet on windswept days where the sky is clear and the mountains seem close enough to touch, I miss him.

Quote

If you press me to say why I loved him, I can say no more than because he was he, and I was I.

-- Michel de Montaigne

I am a Dragon

My buddy Shaych took this test...

You scored as Dragon.

You are the Dragon. You store a lot of knowledge about everything. You are generally one who is good with personal growth and can regenerate yourself after a bad experience.

Dragon 83% Crow 83% Eagle 75% Wolf 75% Stag 67% Deer 67% Bear 58% Bull 58% Dog 58% Fox 50% Salmon 50% Ram 50% Horse 50% Snake 25% Which animal totem best suits you? created with QuizFarm.com

Healthy Choices

I decided to start the Body Type diet this week. I’m a T-type, which means my thyroid is my dominant gland. So all of last week entailed getting as much of the foods that I couldn’t have any more. In my twisted logic, it meant that I could have all the Coke with caffeine and sugar (mmmm Coke…), cookies, crackers, fruit juices, chocolate, and refined flour starches. And I did. And now that I overindulged, I’m actually doing quite fine on the scheduled regime.

I started last week having eggs for breakfast (hard boiled) and that went well. I like eggs, and hard boiled are so portable! Lunch today was a single piece of organic rye bread and 4oz of tuna and 1T of light mayonnaise, and a cup of green beans. It seems so strange to be eating a sandwich and a bowl of cooked vegetables. I suppose I’ll get over that!

One of the cornerstones of the plan is the special herb tea. The Raspberry Leaf tea is yummy actually, and I look forward to a nice cup of it this afternoon. Of course, I’m going to keep Traditional Medicinals in business buying 2-3 boxes a week… but that’s the price you pay. I’d like to find some loose, Whole Foods didn’t have any.

And speaking of Whole Foods, I have NEVER seen it as busy as it was Sunday afternoon. All the little carts were gone and I had a big huge one and kept running into shelves and stuff, it was a bad scene. One of the lovely Whole Foods personnel got me a smaller cart after a bit, such nice people.

I also got some awesome help from Ashley in the supplement aisle. I had this 2 page list and she got me all sorts of good vitamins and minerals and other stuff (amino acids, essential fatty acids, etc). I’m going to double check the bottles against the list tonight to make sure I’ve got everything I need, but I’m really happy to have the start I do with Ashley’s help.

And I think I’m going to move in next to the splendiferious seafood counter at Whole Foods. I am definitely getting some Scallops for next week (and I probably will shop up by my office instead of down in Denver).

To tell the truth, I’m actually excited about starting to eat healthier. And the fact that I have the opportunity to shop at lovely natural food stores only adds to my joy. I am pleased to say that this is a plan I think I can stick to, and even enjoy the journey. After all, everything tastes better fresh (and organic)!

New Technology stuff

I like technology. It's fun, useful, and makes me sound interesting when I talk about it at length.

I came across this press release and I just had to share it. I'm so excited about this platform independent realtime speech technology. Hope you get excited too!!

P2P Revolution

Let me know what you think!

Fatal Error, Reboot Brain

As a rule, I don't play many computer games. An occasional stop by the online arcade to play a puzzle game or a word game, possibly playing Tradewinds - an Oregon Trail type game of buying and selling set in late 19th century China, or pulling out the PS1 for a rousing round of Dukes of Hazzard racing or mahjongg. But lately, the PS1 has been collecting dust (and needing to be put back in its safe home under the TV cabinet) and I haven't fought pirates from Edamame to Shanghi in quite some time.

Back in the day, I used to play Origin's Ultima series, then I played Lands of Lore. I never finished either. My mother, however, still brings out LoL to play to cleanse her gaming palette for a new game. Or she recently found Eye of the Beholder I,II, & III and played them through with her favorite characters. She gets the walk throughs, and sometimes the cheatbooks and finishes the game with 500,000 gold pieces and all the treasure and special skills available. This makes her happy, and amuses me as well (I get to tell all the cute tech boys at the store that my mom's a gamer, too... endless joy out of that!)

I don't generally get into the computer games (console included) because I, like my mother, tend to get lost in them. I also have shunned the online versions of adventure games, the ones you can talk to other people and hang out and kill mobs with them. Those I tend to become much immersed in the social aspect and spend much of my time chatting and not playing (a chat room would be better, but somehow just as addicting so I stay away from those too.

I also have a job which requires me to sleep and arrive ready to work, and I no longer have the capacity I had just a few years ago to stay up late into the wee hours of the morning and still function like a semi-competent human being the "next" day. Now I need the sleep, in my own bed and not on someone's lumpy couch, to get me through the day. (Although, I have slept on many a comfy couch as well - thanks!!)

All this brings me to my point. I made the fatal error of getting a "new" computer game. New to me, not to the world at large, I might add. At the Red Store, I found a copy of The Sims and the expansion pack Makin' Magic. And later that week I ran out and bought (or my mom bought for me) Unleashed (where you can get the little animals to love, and who love you back - aww!).

So now I'm the proud, and often frustrated, owner of a bunch of Sims who do what I want, but only if they don't have anything better to do, who complain, get depressed, and generally make me tear my hair out. But then they do such great things like coming home from work every day and playing with the puppy first thing, even before getting something to eat or going to the bathroom. How can you stay mad at a person, Simulated or not, that loves their doggie so much... I know I can't, so I give him a pool and a computer and a grill... and use the funky cheat code to give him as much money as possible so he doesn't run out of puppy food or tell me he isn't having any fun.

Of course, I can't get him to interact with his neighbors... perhaps that's a reflection of my own relationship, or lack thereof, with my neighbors, of which I know exactly no one's name, and barely recognize them, but I'm pretty sure I could tell you their dog's names and when they walk through the courtyard on a weekend day...

And on a certain level I'm jealous of my Sims, they have nifty robots to clean the house, a refrigerator that always has fresh tasty food in it, and they can miss work and go to the park with the dog. And on another level, I sometimes feel like a Sim, with my Queue of things to do (like go home tonight and take out the trash, do the dishes, do some laundry, pay my bills).

All in all, I am enjoying myself, after all, isn't that what games are for?? Besides, just a few more minutes, that's all I'm asking. I just want to see him get into bed... safe and sound... well, maybe it IS time for bed myself...

CFO's R US

My company is going through some changes, people coming into the company, people moving around in the company, and people leaving. One of the people leaving is our current Executive VP/CFO. I wondered how long it would take to fill her position, and what the search would entail.

Earlier this week, we met our interem CFO at a lunch for the accounting department. When he got up to talk, he said he was part of a group of current and former corporate CFOs who provided companies with a person to fill that position on a temporary or permanent basis. I'm thinking to myself, this is like a temp company for high level corporate types. CFO's R US... And it can be temp to hire, some of the people stay with their temporary positions at the request of the companies who needed their services.

I did some temp work back in college and after, and it even started me on the path to my current position. Never did my temp company call me up and say, hey, would you like to work at XYZ company as their temporary CFO? Be in charge for a while? Nope, never happened. But now I know, they have their own group or service. Things you learn...

Check it out

Ok, I've been sadly neglecting this blog... but here's something that I have been doing lately:

Funny Forwards

Hope you enjoy it!

Books I'm reading (or trying to)

I am a pretty voracious reader; I enjoy a good book, high literature, modern short stories, early science fiction, all sorts of different, exciting books.

Since the beginning of the year, I've finished a few books and been at a bit of a loss for my next book(s). I tend to read at least two if not four or five different books at the same time. I've always done this, even as a young girl. I generally have a book in my handbag, a book on my nightstand, and a book in the living room (with an additional book in the car, or one at my desk at the office).

My handbag book is currently Foundation by Isaac Asimov. I've decided to re-read these books for pleasure as well as to retrain my science fiction mind. I just recently finished Deadline by John Dunning, a mystery based off of Mr. Dunning's experiences working at the Denver Post (a local newspaper). His books always keep me reading, and I enjoy the ride. Before that was the Medusa Stone by Jack Du Brul. A far flung, diamond chase across the deserts of Africa and into the politics of the Middle East. I'm the first to admit that I am not always the first to figure out whodunnit or where a mystery is leading, but I enjoy the relaxation of knowing that everything will be tied up in a nice neat bow at the end. Books such as this are mind-candy to me; a palate cleanser of sorts. It's a pleasure to lose myself in the twists and turns of the plot.

I've also recently finished three nightstand books (these tend to wander about the house as I often wish to read more than just a few minutes at bed-time). I think this is where my wandering is coming from, as one book was the finish to a six book series (one of my very favorite series) and another is the third of a series (book 4 is out; but not in my hot little hands).

Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb finished the Tawny Man series, which began with the Farseer Saga with Assassin's Apprentice. I have loved these books from the start, and even bought two of them at full hardback price because I couldn't wait for the paperback to be published. The ending was bittersweet, and left a life to live for the charaters while definitively denying any idea of another visit to this rich world filled with these people I know like my own friends and family.

After I finished Fool's Fate, I delved into the hilarious hijinks of literary detective Thursday Next in The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde. This foray into the parallel world where the Crimean War is still raging in the year 1985, and there are secret government agencies dutybound to protect the sanctity of literature, gives a peek into the Well where unpublished books are kept and generics learn to be characters in books. Highly entertaining and very breezy read. I recommend The Eyre Affaire and Lost In a Good Book (books one and two) first to ground you in the world (which can be discombobulating, so similar and yet so different from our own).

Finally, I read Skywriting by Jane Pauley. I've always liked Jane Pauley; when I was growing up I would watch the Today show with my mom as we got ready for work and school. This was an autobiography; extremely easy to follow, for all the twists and turns her appearingly simple life has taken. I really enjoyed the book.

Now, I've tried to start Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (I just saw Man of La Mancha from NetFlix) and whereas it's a relatively easy read so far (being a reader some 500 years after its inception) the one thing that is troublesome (and only to me, and only as I try to read it before bed) is the vast quantity of endnotes (footnotes are there too, but I don't have to turn to the end to read them, they're right there!) Now, I read Les Liaisons Dangereuses a few years ago with endnotes, and I enjoyed it (not the endnotes specifically, but the book as a whole). I could read it without the endnotes, but invariably I'll come across something that needs the note and then I'll see all the notes I breezed by. So, Don Quixote is more of a lounging book rather than a off to bed type book.

So, I started Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende. So far, I'm a few pages in, and my biggest vision of the book is the great and terrible bed of the POV charater's paternal grandmother. Nice geneology in the front, makes it easy to follow who is who and how they're related. Similar to but of a completely different feel than One Hundred Years of Solitude.

And my mother lent me the latest Grisham, The Last Juror, which of course is tantalizing and difficult to put down. Perhaps this will be my next book. Or perhaps I'll finish it instead of Portrait (rather before it).

If you have any ideas about books to check out, I'd love to hear them.

On the right track

Ok, I have turned in my paperwork for my new 401k, taking advantage of my employers generous matching contributions, and am ready to take aim at the former employer's plan manager's mistake. I did already talk to the plan management company, and they suggested a course of action. However, I also talked to a financial advisor of sorts and have received another recommendation to pursue. And now that I have started my current 401k (I've been lax; been eligible for oh, 22 months now...) my other options are easier to manage.

I feel proud that I took a step in the right direction. The direction of a savvy, forward-looking member of Corporate America. Gotta do what I gotta do.

Television Shows and Netflix

I finally did it; I joined the DVD service NetFlix. I've already got nearly 200 movies in my queue and over 350 discs for tv shows. I like the separate queues you can have, even tho I'm currently the only one who uses this service in my house, I can still separate the tv shows (which take up lots of space with 2 to 6 discs per season or up to 12 for an entire series...) and get my fix of movies and tv episodes (in order no less!).

I don't have cable TV. I used to have free basic cable in my old place. When I moved into my new place over a year ago, I decided that I could afford one new service. I chose DSL. The cable company offered up in my neck of the woods was unknown to me and I didn't want to buy hardware and install a dish and everything. And the nice complex I live in is so new, they don't have an antenna to connect the tv to for better reception. So I have rabbit ears and not even all of the network channels (no WB, some CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, UPN and like 3 home shop network types). And knowing myself, I'd want the shiny digital w/ a tv guide and the music channels and some movie channels which costs more than I care to contemplate.

So now, for a much more reasonable amount, I can rent as many movies as I want, they come in the mail, and I can just drop them back in the mail when I'm done. What marketing genius came up with this idea? I hope they've made a buttload of money off it, because from everything I've heard (I know several people who belong) it's a GREAT service. And it was a lot of fun to fill up my queue (well ok, to put some stuff in there, it's not maxxed out like some people I know...)

Another letter and my 401k

Ok, I received another letter from my Wyoming lady. And two votes to send back a personal letter. I have returned the letters and cards through the postal service, hoping perhaps that the apt number or the address is just a little off and these can be delivered. Here's the deal, if I get another one, I'm going to write a note to the sender and let her know that whoever this woman she is writing is, she does not live at my address and I hope everything can be straightened out.

Two other strange pieces of mail in my box:

I also received a bill from the prior resident that I had received mail for several months ago. It went in the return mail with a note as well.

I also got a nice juicy check from my prior prior company's 401k administrators. I received my quarterly report in January, everything still there, still making a little money, and I know who to contact when I decide it's time to roll everything into my new company's 401k (which I need to start this year). Except, that I got a distribution check for the entire amount of my account (less the vesting they claimed I wasn't due (I was 100% vested, grandfathered in when the company was bought by a bigger one) and less the massive taxes taken out at the time of the disbursement.)

Now, I am not of an age to be expecting to qualify to withdraw from my 401k, nor did I request this disbursement. The only thing I can think of is that they're cleaning up their accounts and I have been separated from this company since late 2000. However, I received NO notice of this and I'm confused and a bit pissed because I had to pay taxes on it; now I can't roll it over w/o penalty; and I had absolutely NO say in this. They have my address, they've been using it to send me the quarterly reports. Nothing I've received from them stated this was a possibility.

Well, I guess tomorrow I'm going to be making quite a few calls (my HR for information regarding 401k laws, the prior company's HR to find out what happened, and finally the lovely 401k administrators.) Hopefully I can get this straightened out and get the money back into the account to be rolled over w/o penalty. *sigh*

Musical wanderings

Earlier this week, Bowling for Soup played at a local venue. Well, I didn't have tickets, and as I'm getting old and set in my ways, I have a hard time going to shows on a work night. But the guys from BFS were on my radio station in the afternoon for a quick interview. They played two or three songs and then Bo asked them to play a couple of sit-com theme songs.

They then played Gilligan's Island (a three hour tour...) and then they played The Dukes of Hazzard (Just the good ole boys, never meaning no harm...). Aww, I had forgotten the good ole boys song... and the deep subliminal messages imbedded into the music made some post-hypnotic suggestion to me and being as I am easily convinced to do something I already want to do, I went to my local DVD store and bought the Dukes of Hazzard Season One on DVD. And Season Two. And the Bowling for Soup cd - A Hangover You Don't Deserve.

So my nostalgia has been completely sated, as I spent many hours perusing the episodes where John Schneider was eighteen and just as cute as I remember. I don't remember their shirts off quite so much (but it's still nice) and I don't remember how terribly cute John's smile was. Or how um, well, dumb (for lack of a better word) his character was written. Ah well, it was still quite fun. Although yee-haw is still ringing in my head and I'm sure I'm going to be saying y'all a mite more than normal next week...

Mail oddities

Recently, I've received three lovely greeting cards that were addressed to someone I don't know at my address. They're all within the last three weeks, one I returned at the post office and the other two I picked up today (jan 15 and jan 19 postmarks). Now, I've received mail at my address last year for a man's name, but never a woman's name. I moved in a year after construction was completed, so I'm only the second tenant in this unit. It's been over a year, so whatever forwarding was submitted has expired as well.

The cards are all addressed to the same woman, and the handwriting is very clear and very clearly states my address and number. It looks like someone is reaching out to this person who likely lived in my place before me. It's possible that the wrong number is being used and the unit up the block from me is the actual owner of this mail. Many things are possible and that's what's got me thinking and rambling tonight as my clothes tumble in the dryer.

The cards, all three of them, are very nice cards (I didn't open them!) from the evidence of the envelopes, which are all decorated and are from Tree Free, which makes lovely cards which are all blank. So someone is writing cards, not just sending a pre-printed sentiment, and whoever they belong to isn't getting them delivered.

Is this a mother reaching out to an estranged daughter that she hasn't spoken to or heard from in over a year? Is it a sister sending thoughts and recipes to her younger sister, far from home? Am I just a bit obsessive about these cards?

See the thing is, I like to get cards. I recently spent some time organizing my cards, and realized I need to catch up my correspondence with several people. The hand written note, the thank you note, even greeting cards seem to get pushed to the side with the advent of the instantaneous communications, namely the telephone (evolving into the cell phone) and email (as well as text messaging). I recently had a conversation with several associates where the fact that one used to spend hours a day corresponding; it was an expected social convention. Whereas now we probably spend hours emailing, and talking on the phone. I didn't even do Holiday cards this year (it took me a way long time to get into the spirit) but I have purchased new cards for next year and put them where I can find them!

I like to look back and see someone's handwriting, to have a tangible record. I like getting real mail in my box, not just bills, and junk, and credit card offers (which are junk, but take my time and thus earn a category as I have to shred them). And I know that I need to send things out myself, that's the only way to get correspondence back. It has to be a two way street or the corresponder could develop feelings of resentment and disenchantment with the correspondee.

Back to the greeting cards, I wonder if there is some way that these cards are getting to their intended receipient, or if they're slowly being returned, unopened and unread, to the writer. And how does that make her feel, out there in the windswept plains? I wonder...

Lunchtime Musings

I made a totally nostalgic purchase yesterday at lunch. I went into the EB by the shop I got lunch at, and I got myself a “previously played” copy of The Dukes of Hazzard racing game.

When I was little, I loved this show. I would watch it every week, and after every show, I would write to John Schneider and tell him how great the show was. I had a photo of John , a black and white 4x6, “autographed” that I toted around with me in a little wicker basket. I even snuck into my mother’s closet and borrowed her strappiest high heel shoes and pretended I was Daisy Duke. Ah, to be 9 again.

At any rate, the game is pretty fun, and even tho I’m really good at racing games, I’m not so good at them on the Dual Shock controller (but the analog stick is easier to use than the buttons) And you get to hear voices from the show and get to go over ramps and do the General Lee horn sound. So for my ten bucks, it was worth the ride.