and i'm still up, not wanting to go to bed and kicking myself for eating so much chocolate today. seriously, when am i going to get out of this christmas/holiday/month of december/cookie fest. i keep telling myself it's time but then bad self says "you still have one more holiday to go, why start now?" i think i will have to go cold turkey next.
not much going on here. e left town today and i think i'm in shock. he has been around so much lately that it's just plain weird. this is probably the reason i'm still up.
yeah, i don't have much to say.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
back in the swing of things...sort of.
today i headed back to work. i would say about half the staff is gone so you know what that means...there is a whole lot of slackin' goin' on.
the holiday was good. family, family and more family. this year i made an effort to try and just relax about things. i think it made for a better time but honestly me totally relaxing is never, ever going to happen.
today i had a minor emotional breakdown at the blood bank. i think it is just emotionally draining me. physically i'm ok but i think i get bogged down by a few things - not knowing how long i will need to do this, wiggling of the needle, waiting for an hour and a half and flaky phlebotomists. there was a little crying and a very nice attentive employee that made sure i was ok. all i could say was, "i'm ok, nothing really hurts. i'm just really emotional and there was wiggling." good night, i'm a dork.
the holiday was good. family, family and more family. this year i made an effort to try and just relax about things. i think it made for a better time but honestly me totally relaxing is never, ever going to happen.
today i had a minor emotional breakdown at the blood bank. i think it is just emotionally draining me. physically i'm ok but i think i get bogged down by a few things - not knowing how long i will need to do this, wiggling of the needle, waiting for an hour and a half and flaky phlebotomists. there was a little crying and a very nice attentive employee that made sure i was ok. all i could say was, "i'm ok, nothing really hurts. i'm just really emotional and there was wiggling." good night, i'm a dork.
Friday, December 22, 2006
the end is near...
so my friend/co-worker amy had a tacky christmas cube contest this month. this week we had the final judging. and after a fierce battle (involving glowing snowmen, tinsel, and a blow-up santa) i was named the tackiest. i think the blow-up santa put me over the top (thanks to radial angel) but brenda lee and a little jig on my part helped. below are a few pics of the cube. these really don't even get the full effect and i'm too lazy to take more photos. you can't see the large banner that says "feliz navidad" or the 4 ft. long stocking. oh well.
anyway, next week i am moving to the window desk and i'm giddy with the thought of sunshine.
my christmas celebration (or drudgery depending on your perspective) begins tomorrow. we are heading to my grandparent's house tomorrow morning and will stay until sunday afternoon. then we will return to okc and go to my parent's. then home for a little personal christmas time. and we will spend christmas day at eddie's parent's house. sigh. i wasn't going to take tuesday off but i decided that it was going to be a very long weekend and i might need some recovery time. so tuesday i will sleep late and decompress after family overload.
and since i'm a planner i've already started composing a list of resolutions for the new year. they include the typical - get eating under control, make a budget, establish an exercise plan, blah, career goals, blah, blah, learn something new. and i've been thinking about how i really don't buy into that whole resolution thing because honeslty i make goals and plans all the time. and generally i post them here and promptly not follow through. you know, lose a few pounds, run a race, learn a new task. and so i was wondering - why is it that i want to do a long list for new years. and i think i figured it out. starting in late november things go crazy (for everyone, every year) - there are large meals to eat, people start bringing chocolate around more, you spend too much money on gifts and other random things, your schedule gets out of whack because of shopping, holiday parties, dinners, etc. so i think mine really aren't resolutions as much as my desire to find some normalcy in my life. to have a normal schedule, to avoid shopping establishments, to not spend money, to not see a cookie every 5 minutes, to not think it's ok to eat biscuits and gravy for dinner (yep. that was my dinner last night) - all i want for christmas is my boring, non-holiday life back.
so there.
anyway, next week i am moving to the window desk and i'm giddy with the thought of sunshine.
my christmas celebration (or drudgery depending on your perspective) begins tomorrow. we are heading to my grandparent's house tomorrow morning and will stay until sunday afternoon. then we will return to okc and go to my parent's. then home for a little personal christmas time. and we will spend christmas day at eddie's parent's house. sigh. i wasn't going to take tuesday off but i decided that it was going to be a very long weekend and i might need some recovery time. so tuesday i will sleep late and decompress after family overload.
and since i'm a planner i've already started composing a list of resolutions for the new year. they include the typical - get eating under control, make a budget, establish an exercise plan, blah, career goals, blah, blah, learn something new. and i've been thinking about how i really don't buy into that whole resolution thing because honeslty i make goals and plans all the time. and generally i post them here and promptly not follow through. you know, lose a few pounds, run a race, learn a new task. and so i was wondering - why is it that i want to do a long list for new years. and i think i figured it out. starting in late november things go crazy (for everyone, every year) - there are large meals to eat, people start bringing chocolate around more, you spend too much money on gifts and other random things, your schedule gets out of whack because of shopping, holiday parties, dinners, etc. so i think mine really aren't resolutions as much as my desire to find some normalcy in my life. to have a normal schedule, to avoid shopping establishments, to not spend money, to not see a cookie every 5 minutes, to not think it's ok to eat biscuits and gravy for dinner (yep. that was my dinner last night) - all i want for christmas is my boring, non-holiday life back.
so there.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
a whole lot of shakin' goin' on.
i've just be imagining what i would have done/thought if this happened at my house. it just makes me laugh.
Temblor shakes Midwest City area
By Augie FrostStaff Writer
MIDWEST CITY — A small earthquake was recorded in the Midwest City area about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, the Oklahoma Geological Survey confirmed.
Residents in Midwest City, Del City and parts of eastern Oklahoma City heard a large boom, followed by a brief ground tremor, said Jim Lawson, of the Oklahoma Geological Survey. The quake measured a 2.6 magnitude on the Richter scale initially.
No injuries or damage were reported, but calls poured in to Midwest City police dispatchers, Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said.
"The quake scared a lot of people,” Clabes said. "We had multiple calls about shaking homes. They thought it was some kind of explosion.”
The epicenter of the earthquake could not be precisely pinpointed because there is no major fault line in Oklahoma County, Lawson said. Tremors could have been felt up to 10 to 15 miles away, but the quake was "small.”
The boom that many residents in the area reported hearing was directly correlated to the quake, Lawson said.
Lawson asks that anyone who experienced the quake go to www.okgeosurvey1.gov and fill out a short survey.
Temblor shakes Midwest City area
By Augie FrostStaff Writer
MIDWEST CITY — A small earthquake was recorded in the Midwest City area about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, the Oklahoma Geological Survey confirmed.
Residents in Midwest City, Del City and parts of eastern Oklahoma City heard a large boom, followed by a brief ground tremor, said Jim Lawson, of the Oklahoma Geological Survey. The quake measured a 2.6 magnitude on the Richter scale initially.
No injuries or damage were reported, but calls poured in to Midwest City police dispatchers, Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said.
"The quake scared a lot of people,” Clabes said. "We had multiple calls about shaking homes. They thought it was some kind of explosion.”
The epicenter of the earthquake could not be precisely pinpointed because there is no major fault line in Oklahoma County, Lawson said. Tremors could have been felt up to 10 to 15 miles away, but the quake was "small.”
The boom that many residents in the area reported hearing was directly correlated to the quake, Lawson said.
Lawson asks that anyone who experienced the quake go to www.okgeosurvey1.gov and fill out a short survey.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
long day...
today was one of those days. i felt bad. too much drama at work. cold rain. but it ended nicely. i had dinner with anne at pf changs. a nice relaxing way to celebrate christmas with no gifts exchanged. a good time. thanks anne.
this holiday season i've been thinking about posting random bad pictures of christmas lights and here is my first. this is a really bad picture (sorry) but i would like you to note that the lights are wrapped around the posts on the porch and then the extra 5 feet of lights are just tossed on the bushes. i'm wondering - did they just run out time, loose interest or do they think it looks nice? anyway, i come from a line of bad christmas light users (ie. my grandma) and i have a unique appreciation for bad decor.
i had some extra time tonight so here are a few nyc pics.
brooklyn bay bridge. we walked about halfway across the pedestrian walkway. it was a great view and such an interesting structure.
this building was near chinatown. we thought it was funny because it's an old building that says "the first national city bank of new york" and now houses a payless shoes. i did a little haggling for a coach wristlet (for my sister) and a couple of watches in this area. very intense and a definite feeling a shadiness.
i really, really enjoyed chinatown. so unique and just all around cool. probably my favorite part of the trip. nyc is like a billion little cities.
i read about the chinatown ice cream factory online and figured it would be a cool place to check out. i decided to go for a unique flavor since i was in chinatown afterall. i had a scoop of black sesame seed - it was sort of like peanut butter.
little italy. chinatown runs into little italy and i really loved this area too. we had dinner in a restaurant and it was a very odd experience. ten italian waiters with four customers and really bad service, a country christmas cd playing and a yelling old lady in the corner.
this holiday season i've been thinking about posting random bad pictures of christmas lights and here is my first. this is a really bad picture (sorry) but i would like you to note that the lights are wrapped around the posts on the porch and then the extra 5 feet of lights are just tossed on the bushes. i'm wondering - did they just run out time, loose interest or do they think it looks nice? anyway, i come from a line of bad christmas light users (ie. my grandma) and i have a unique appreciation for bad decor.
i had some extra time tonight so here are a few nyc pics.
brooklyn bay bridge. we walked about halfway across the pedestrian walkway. it was a great view and such an interesting structure.
this building was near chinatown. we thought it was funny because it's an old building that says "the first national city bank of new york" and now houses a payless shoes. i did a little haggling for a coach wristlet (for my sister) and a couple of watches in this area. very intense and a definite feeling a shadiness.
i really, really enjoyed chinatown. so unique and just all around cool. probably my favorite part of the trip. nyc is like a billion little cities.
i read about the chinatown ice cream factory online and figured it would be a cool place to check out. i decided to go for a unique flavor since i was in chinatown afterall. i had a scoop of black sesame seed - it was sort of like peanut butter.
little italy. chinatown runs into little italy and i really loved this area too. we had dinner in a restaurant and it was a very odd experience. ten italian waiters with four customers and really bad service, a country christmas cd playing and a yelling old lady in the corner.
i hate wednesdays.
wednesday is my official blood giving day. and blood giving sucks. please suck a pint of blood from me every week. it's great. big needles, hard to find veins and a feeling of weakness.
yes, i know it could be so much worse. i know. i really do. but right now on my scale of uncomfortableness and annoyances - this one is right at the top. because in addition to the big fat needle, there is now additional weekly testing, insurance issues and lack of control and knowledge on my part.
errr. but on a positive note - i get to eat oreos afterward.
yes, i know it could be so much worse. i know. i really do. but right now on my scale of uncomfortableness and annoyances - this one is right at the top. because in addition to the big fat needle, there is now additional weekly testing, insurance issues and lack of control and knowledge on my part.
errr. but on a positive note - i get to eat oreos afterward.
Monday, December 18, 2006
nyc...to be continued.
so i have more pictures to post but i just can't seem to get to them. things have gotten very chaotic. christmas = chaos. and i am in full stress mode. why i'm not sure but i'm freaking out a bit and trying to calm it down.
sigh. i hate living in my head.
i have a big meeting today for my big stupid project and i had to wear nice work clothes. even though it's a casual week...eerrrr. but after today no more ironing.
later gater.
sigh. i hate living in my head.
i have a big meeting today for my big stupid project and i had to wear nice work clothes. even though it's a casual week...eerrrr. but after today no more ironing.
later gater.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
what can you say about this?
World's Tallest Man Saves China Dolphins
Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) -- The long arms of the world's tallest man reached in and saved two dolphins by pulling out plastic from their stomachs, state media and an aquarium official said Thursday.
The dolphins got sick after nibbling on plastic from the edge of their pool at an aquarium in Liaoning province. Attempts to use surgical instruments to remove the plastic failed because the dolphins' stomachs contracted in response to the instruments, the China Daily newspaper reported.
Veterinarians then decided to ask for help from Bao Xishun, a 7-foot-9 herdsman from Inner Mongolia with 41.7-inch arms, state media said.
Bao, 54, was confirmed last year by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's tallest living man.
Chen Lujun, the manager of the Royal Jidi Ocean World aquarium, told The Associated Press that the shape of the dolphins' stomachs made it difficult to push an instrument very far in without hurting the animals. People with shorter arms could not reach the plastic, he said.
"When we failed to get the objects out we sought the help of Bao Xishun from Inner Mongolia and he did it successfully yesterday," Chen said. "The two dolphins are in very good condition now."
Photographs showed the jaws of one of the dolphins being held back by towels so Bao could reach inside the animal without being bitten.
"Some very small plastic pieces are still left in the dolphins' stomachs," Zhu Xiaoling, a local doctor, told Xinhua. "However the dolphins will be able to digest these and are expected to recover soon."
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our .
Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) -- The long arms of the world's tallest man reached in and saved two dolphins by pulling out plastic from their stomachs, state media and an aquarium official said Thursday.
The dolphins got sick after nibbling on plastic from the edge of their pool at an aquarium in Liaoning province. Attempts to use surgical instruments to remove the plastic failed because the dolphins' stomachs contracted in response to the instruments, the China Daily newspaper reported.
Veterinarians then decided to ask for help from Bao Xishun, a 7-foot-9 herdsman from Inner Mongolia with 41.7-inch arms, state media said.
Bao, 54, was confirmed last year by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's tallest living man.
Chen Lujun, the manager of the Royal Jidi Ocean World aquarium, told The Associated Press that the shape of the dolphins' stomachs made it difficult to push an instrument very far in without hurting the animals. People with shorter arms could not reach the plastic, he said.
"When we failed to get the objects out we sought the help of Bao Xishun from Inner Mongolia and he did it successfully yesterday," Chen said. "The two dolphins are in very good condition now."
Photographs showed the jaws of one of the dolphins being held back by towels so Bao could reach inside the animal without being bitten.
"Some very small plastic pieces are still left in the dolphins' stomachs," Zhu Xiaoling, a local doctor, told Xinhua. "However the dolphins will be able to digest these and are expected to recover soon."
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our .
i'm looking too...
e and i had to do a little shopping last night - christmas is upon us. i like many of you are are desperately trying to find the good things in this crazy holiday. i'm trying to pace myself, not stress out and avoid becoming angered by the pressure of it all. i hate all the pressure to just buy, buy, buy. and buy something for everyone. even though you have no idea what your aunt, that you barely know, that you rarely see but are expected to give a gift to. so you buy a generic candle or picture frame that will likely end up in a box to goodwill. why? i love the idea of seeing something that says to me "yes, your grandma would love that" so you buy it and it perfectly fits that person. but that's not the way this holiday works.
i recognize the pressure is allowed by me. i fall into the ritual. i could stop it. i think to myself that i don't know how but i do. you just stop. you say "i love you" and "merry christmas" and you don't worry about what your family says. because honestly, i know they are saying bad things about me anyway. my husband is measly paid musician and i'm 31 and have no children - there is already plenty of talk.
so why do i let it happen? why do i waste the money on pointless gifts? why don't i buy homeless people socks or canned corn? poor kids won't have a christmas but my aunt and i will both gifts that we really don't like.
and then there is that jesus part which sadly i am very, very far detached from right now. so far detached that it seems almost foreign. i suppose that going to church might be a good start.
sigh. that was heavier than i meant for it to be.
i'm feeling a bit better today. i'm just really tired and i am ready for this week to be over. between travel, sickness and being back at work - i am spent.
by the way, there are more pictures to come.
i read this today and thought it was interesting and possibly the greatest invention ever.
Hewlett Packard is producing cameras that can slim the subject, negating the old "camera adds 10 pounds" rule. The slimming effect can be subtle or dramatic, depending on what the camera operator chooses.
AOL.com 11.17.06
i recognize the pressure is allowed by me. i fall into the ritual. i could stop it. i think to myself that i don't know how but i do. you just stop. you say "i love you" and "merry christmas" and you don't worry about what your family says. because honestly, i know they are saying bad things about me anyway. my husband is measly paid musician and i'm 31 and have no children - there is already plenty of talk.
so why do i let it happen? why do i waste the money on pointless gifts? why don't i buy homeless people socks or canned corn? poor kids won't have a christmas but my aunt and i will both gifts that we really don't like.
and then there is that jesus part which sadly i am very, very far detached from right now. so far detached that it seems almost foreign. i suppose that going to church might be a good start.
sigh. that was heavier than i meant for it to be.
i'm feeling a bit better today. i'm just really tired and i am ready for this week to be over. between travel, sickness and being back at work - i am spent.
by the way, there are more pictures to come.
i read this today and thought it was interesting and possibly the greatest invention ever.
Hewlett Packard is producing cameras that can slim the subject, negating the old "camera adds 10 pounds" rule. The slimming effect can be subtle or dramatic, depending on what the camera operator chooses.
AOL.com 11.17.06
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
hope you're not bored yet...
i promise only a couple more days of pics.
i really enjoyed our trip to the statue of liberty but it was soooo cold and we were on a small island. i'm convinced the wind chill was around 10 degrees. e took all the photos and i think the top two are quite nice.
random subway shot.
from our trip to MOMA. i enjoyed it but really wasn't in a museum-y mood. i'm afraid i didn't make the most of it.
on wednesday we saw martin short's broadway show. i was unsure but e really wanted to go and i'm glad we did. it was fuuuuny. and rob lowe and jon stewart were in the audience. jon stewart actually particpated in the show. it was a good time.
i really enjoyed our trip to the statue of liberty but it was soooo cold and we were on a small island. i'm convinced the wind chill was around 10 degrees. e took all the photos and i think the top two are quite nice.
random subway shot.
from our trip to MOMA. i enjoyed it but really wasn't in a museum-y mood. i'm afraid i didn't make the most of it.
on wednesday we saw martin short's broadway show. i was unsure but e really wanted to go and i'm glad we did. it was fuuuuny. and rob lowe and jon stewart were in the audience. jon stewart actually particpated in the show. it was a good time.
cough, hack, cough, cough.
i think i might be slightly high from my cough syrup. is this possible? could two measly teaspoons make me feel a little loopy? hmmm. anyway, i'm struggling today. i also had to go to the blood suckers and i was told i would likely get 10 times sicker in the next 24 hours. great. she said something about baby blood cells.
while poking around online over at catie jo's site i stumbled onto www.reprodepot.com. what a fun little store. and i just had to share this t-shirt. after all of my liver drama it just made me laugh (sorry - not the best picture).
You Are My Liver Tee
i also saw this cool little product today.
while poking around online over at catie jo's site i stumbled onto www.reprodepot.com. what a fun little store. and i just had to share this t-shirt. after all of my liver drama it just made me laugh (sorry - not the best picture).
You Are My Liver Tee
i also saw this cool little product today.
Monday, December 11, 2006
day two.
the chrysler building...ohhh how i dig this building.
a couple of views from the empire state building.
the rockettes were really cool. i expected a few kicks here and there but it was a great show. good production. e was in charge of the camera and didn't get a shot of the kicks. geez.
at fao schwarz.
the new 24 hour apple store with traveling cashiers.
i'm still feeling pretty sick but i survived the workday and turned in my final drawing. i think i will easily make a B in the class and i'm feeling pretty good about it.
and for those of you transplanted okies...i leave you with this.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
party, party, potty
so our first night in the big apple we tackled the subway, stopped at grand central station, saw the infamous tree and went to times square. here are some photos from that outing.
grand central with kaleidoscope light show - i love this building
yes, those dark figures are us. some nice woman offered to take our photo and this is what we got. there were about a bizzilion people there.
and of course we made it by the charmin pottys. it was a very odd experience. there was a song and dancing cleaning people. very odd indeed. i took a few photos inside the potty but it was very small.
sadly e spent the last few days of the trip sick. and i've started feeling bad just in time to head back to work tomorrow. i'm not looking forward to work especially after the last month i had. oh how i dread a full week.
my christmas tree is up and i've actually wrapped some presents. tomorrow is my last drawing class and i have to turn in a final drawing - which i've yet to start...sigh. i'm off to do that now.
grand central with kaleidoscope light show - i love this building
yes, those dark figures are us. some nice woman offered to take our photo and this is what we got. there were about a bizzilion people there.
and of course we made it by the charmin pottys. it was a very odd experience. there was a song and dancing cleaning people. very odd indeed. i took a few photos inside the potty but it was very small.
sadly e spent the last few days of the trip sick. and i've started feeling bad just in time to head back to work tomorrow. i'm not looking forward to work especially after the last month i had. oh how i dread a full week.
my christmas tree is up and i've actually wrapped some presents. tomorrow is my last drawing class and i have to turn in a final drawing - which i've yet to start...sigh. i'm off to do that now.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
i'm back...
will have more pics and stories to post later. in the meantime a couple of tidbits...
- i would be skinnier in nyc. such fast walking.
- there are 51 starbucks listed in the manhattan phone book.
- hot dogs and candied nuts from street vendors...yummy.
- the subway is quite easy afterall. we didn't take one wrong train.
- so many people. so many languages spoken.
- cold. but no rain...yea. (thanks catie for the scarf via melissa - it served me well.)
- my nose looks big in this picture
Saturday, December 02, 2006
the final countdown
still have some errands to run, clothes to pack and information to compile. what did i do the last two days? oh yeah, there was veggie chili to make, a trip to target and the new chickfila in blizzard like conditions, having the biggest stupid needle i've ever seen stuck in my arm, three cups of hot chocolate with real whipped cream and a little bit of laziness.
oh well. all will get done and we will be on the plane at 8:30 in the a.m.
i'll be back in a week.
oh well. all will get done and we will be on the plane at 8:30 in the a.m.
i'll be back in a week.
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