7.31.2006
7.27.2006
Wag-A-Flag
Seriously, I don't know what could be better then an LCD flag that waves in three dimensions. I have never felt so proud of my country! (I'm not joking either. I am DAMN proud of US right now! God Bless This Crazy Country!)
And you know this technology was made in Taiwan. You just know it!
Labels: random
7.26.2006
Beach Resort by the Beach
So, let me get this right: there's a fake beach right next to the real beach? Sigh. Japan needs to get out more.
Ugly-@ss Album Cover Competition
Recent ones only for this competition. Antiques (Joyce, you know who you are) need not apply. Let's say, for the sake of rule-keepers, last ten years. Go to, kids. Best one wins a lifetime of smug satisfaction. My entry here (although not eligible for prizes) is the ugly-@ss cover of Ben Arthur's Edible Darling.
7.25.2006
Conversations With My Boyfriend
Me: You know what one of the distinct advantages of walking on water would be?
BF: Are there any disadvantages to walking on water?
Me: Huh, no, I guess not. But one of the advantages is that you can get where you're going without any physical barriers or obstacles.
BF: Maybe that's why Jesus did it.
Me: Yeah, to get from point A to point B.
BF: Are there any disadvantages to walking on water?
Me: Huh, no, I guess not. But one of the advantages is that you can get where you're going without any physical barriers or obstacles.
BF: Maybe that's why Jesus did it.
Me: Yeah, to get from point A to point B.
Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is on the 9th of August this year. Sister's Day is the 5th of August. I will try to send out as many rakhi to as many of you (men, women, boys and girls) as I can, who ask for one and supply me with an address.
Happy Brother/Sister Day!
Happy Brother/Sister Day!
Labels: brother, holiday, raksha bandhan
7.24.2006
Motivator Monday
Here's a little help (albeit a bit late in the day) to help us all on a slow Monday to get crack-a-lackin' on those tasks we've put off since before the weekend:
You don't have to do anything you don't want to do.
David Harold Fink
One of the strongest characteristics of genius is the power of lighting its own fire.
John W Foster
Make sure you visualize what you really want, not what someone else wants for you.
Jerry Gillies
Instruction does much, but encouragement does everything.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
The best morale exist when you never hear the word mentioned. When you hear a lot of talk about it, it's usually lousy.
Dwight D Eisenhower
7.21.2006
Bedtime Story
Once upon a time there was a man. He looked like other men and thought like other men, but he was not like other men. He was tall. Taller than other men around him. ANd he stuck out like a sore thumb. This tall man tried very hard to fit in the chairs that society had made for him. He stooped under doorways and crouched into cars. He folded himself to get on the bus and even rolled himself up to carpool with his fellow workers. But secretly he longed to be average. He looked with envy on the short little men who walked into stores and ice cream parlors without banging their heads and without slouching so far down that they had breathing problems. If only, he thought, I could stand up straight in the world. If only I didn't have to slouch just to get along.
One day as he hunkered over his computer screen on his short desk in his teeny swivel chair, a co-worker stopped by and said, "Hey man, why don't you take up biking?"
So he did. He bought the tallest bike he could (it still wasn't tall enough) and he walked slowly to the end of his street. He placed one leg on either side of his bicycle and sat. He pedalled forward and began to pick up speed. Soon he was going down a long hill, pedalling faster and faster, the wind whistling past his ears and his hair. He clung to the handlebars as the houses on either side raced by....
One day as he hunkered over his computer screen on his short desk in his teeny swivel chair, a co-worker stopped by and said, "Hey man, why don't you take up biking?"
So he did. He bought the tallest bike he could (it still wasn't tall enough) and he walked slowly to the end of his street. He placed one leg on either side of his bicycle and sat. He pedalled forward and began to pick up speed. Soon he was going down a long hill, pedalling faster and faster, the wind whistling past his ears and his hair. He clung to the handlebars as the houses on either side raced by....
(How do you think the story continues?)
Labels: interactive, random, story, writing
7.20.2006
Diary Minute
I'm just gonna scribble down a few words here, because in an unlikely turn of events, I actually have a minute to do so. A giant storm system is passing overhead and will continue to do so for the evening and night taking our scorching hot and unbearably humid weather with it.
Our office has been quiet today, but in order to restore balance to the universe, this little perk was neatly counterbalanced by the loss of our air conditioning. We were an hour into mugginess before someone stepped to the vent and received a face full of steamy hot air. We promptly shut off the "air conditioning" and called maintainence. They told us the "chiller" had been acting funny. We said, "No s--t, Sherlock." When the cold air came back on, we sank gratefully into our desk chairs again. Only to have it go out a second time. I don't know how you fair in humid weather, but in a stuffy room where no air is moving, I panic and get claustrophobic. It is amusing to watch me rush around the office trying to find a fan or a vent of fresh air. Eventually we opened a window.
The guy with HIV in England called again to see what we were doing to get him back in the country. I know it's stupid, but I'm afraid to touch his file now.
The bf and I had a long talk last night (Too long for Convos with my BF) and settled on short skirts for me and big hugs from him. I think that sounds like an agreement we can both be happy with. I'm going shopping after work.
I had sweet and sour chicken for lunch. And then a bag of Dorito's. And two cookies Dolly made (SO GOOD).
And that's it for my Minute Report.
Our office has been quiet today, but in order to restore balance to the universe, this little perk was neatly counterbalanced by the loss of our air conditioning. We were an hour into mugginess before someone stepped to the vent and received a face full of steamy hot air. We promptly shut off the "air conditioning" and called maintainence. They told us the "chiller" had been acting funny. We said, "No s--t, Sherlock." When the cold air came back on, we sank gratefully into our desk chairs again. Only to have it go out a second time. I don't know how you fair in humid weather, but in a stuffy room where no air is moving, I panic and get claustrophobic. It is amusing to watch me rush around the office trying to find a fan or a vent of fresh air. Eventually we opened a window.
The guy with HIV in England called again to see what we were doing to get him back in the country. I know it's stupid, but I'm afraid to touch his file now.
The bf and I had a long talk last night (Too long for Convos with my BF) and settled on short skirts for me and big hugs from him. I think that sounds like an agreement we can both be happy with. I'm going shopping after work.
I had sweet and sour chicken for lunch. And then a bag of Dorito's. And two cookies Dolly made (SO GOOD).
And that's it for my Minute Report.
FYI
Largest non-round Balloon Sculpture:
It's important to keep up on things like this. There could come a day when such knowledge will come in handy. You know it will. You'll be in line at the grocery store and a mother will be yelling at her fussy child to shut up and sit down in the cart when the child will rear back and say, "You're the biggest non-round balloon structure in the whole world!" and poke his lower lip out. And while the mother stands there with her jaw hanging open, ready to beat the whelp black and blue, you will just nip in between them and say, "No, actually the world's largest non-round balloon sculpture is of two soccer players on a field of balloon grass!" And harmony will be restored.
It's important to keep up on things like this. There could come a day when such knowledge will come in handy. You know it will. You'll be in line at the grocery store and a mother will be yelling at her fussy child to shut up and sit down in the cart when the child will rear back and say, "You're the biggest non-round balloon structure in the whole world!" and poke his lower lip out. And while the mother stands there with her jaw hanging open, ready to beat the whelp black and blue, you will just nip in between them and say, "No, actually the world's largest non-round balloon sculpture is of two soccer players on a field of balloon grass!" And harmony will be restored.
Labels: random
7.19.2006
Handy Dandy Printables
Tired of handwriting out the same things over and over? Want some shortcuts you can print?
Here they are: Kristin's Guides
Thank you, Kristen!
Here they are: Kristin's Guides
Thank you, Kristen!
Labels: interactive, website
Cold Snap
Cleveland hit its record high temperature for the Summer this week: 96 F.
We all complained and many suffered through a long, hot night with no electricity because we all had our A.C. on at the same time and blew a collective fuse. Me, I suffered through the attic heat for as long as I could, because I like that bed the best, but by 3am I gave up and trudged half-drunk with sleep and heat exhaustion to the welcoming arms of a cooler room downstairs.
If you're feeling the heat today, take a peek at this super cold destination: Harbin Snow and Ice Festival. Aaah! That's nice!
We all complained and many suffered through a long, hot night with no electricity because we all had our A.C. on at the same time and blew a collective fuse. Me, I suffered through the attic heat for as long as I could, because I like that bed the best, but by 3am I gave up and trudged half-drunk with sleep and heat exhaustion to the welcoming arms of a cooler room downstairs.
If you're feeling the heat today, take a peek at this super cold destination: Harbin Snow and Ice Festival. Aaah! That's nice!
Poster Child
Can you come up with a great quote about fame? Best ones will have a poster created for them.
"Fame is a fickle beast and we all want to pet it."
"Fame is a fickle beast and we all want to pet it."
Labels: contest, interactive, quotes
7.18.2006
Hum a little ditty
Tuesdays, you know, once they start, they just don't stop till it's Saturday or something. So far mine has included two long-distance errands, informing someone they will probably be deported and learning that the handsome flirt from England was detained in his home country because of HIV. What a day. Here's a song you can put on in the background of your workstation and replay (and replay and replay). It's on loop in fact, but it took me four minutes to figure that out. Those clever Japanese!
How have you all been?
How have you all been?
7.14.2006
Spacial
It's Friday and I'm in the mood to just space out. Here's something pretty to play with while we're all waiting for brain cells to grow (which of course, we all know they don't [or do they?]). Fun.
7.13.2006
B.Y.O.C.
Fidel Castro brought his own chickens to the U.S. when he came for a visit. Little did he know there was a KFC just down the street. But then, I guess dictators can do whatever they want. Even carry their own poultry.
7.07.2006
Bizarre Kennedy Death of the Day
Do you know how Joe Kennedy Jr. died? Testing how much explosives a plane could hold without exploding. He never found out. And they never found him. But then, you try flying a plane full of explosives and see how you like it!
7.06.2006
Start
Sometimes it gets me, the fragile start of a new day. Night's last remnant of tattered darkness is pulled away by the delirious, bold, colors of morning. And I open my eyes and see it. Naked, ancient and yet brand new. The sunrise. Nothing more unknown than the start of a new day. Nothing more consistent than the turning of the globe. And I am Magellan, on the prow of a great ship, leaning hard into the winds of uncharted waters. And I am the greatest of poets because today is the book in which I will write my own story. And I am within the wilds of life itself; a welcome wanderer, a lover, a child.