Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Fish. Not Just for Sushi

The boss at work randomly asked his assistant to get him a goldfish for his office. After much discussion, the assistant and I have decided to name him Sen-nin after the bosses favorite sushi place.

Sen-nin the goldfish...named after sushi...it just doesn't stop being funny.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Let's play a game

I thought we would play which of these things is NOT true again! Leave a comment telling me which of these things is NOT true about me.

1. Every night I wake up at least twice to check my email.

2. I have never done any illegal drugs and didn't drink before I was 21.

3. I have issues with telling people I love them and say "I know" every time anyone tells me they love me.

4. My favorite comfort food is this dish my parents make consisting of yellow mustard peach jam and soy hot dogs.

5. I once was seated on a plane next to Nate Berkus, Oprah's decorator.

6. I was very nearly on a reality TV show but the show never aired.

7. I once stood up a blind date because I saw him through the window and he wasn't cute so I just left without going inside the restaurant.


Any guesses?


Friday, September 26, 2008

It's officially Fall in my world...

I'm wearing closed toed shoes for the first time in MONTHS!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Advice for the guy behind me at Starbucks

Screaming POUR THE DRINKS does not make the baristas go faster and just annoys the rest of us.

On a related note do you think that someday I will wake up and realize that I probably spend more time at Starbucks than I do with my family. Hmmm
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

#2

For reason far too complex and irrational to explain, work is giving me a SECOND additional blackberry to carry at all times.

How connected does one person need to be??!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Help Me Pick A New Desk

I am in dire need of a desk and I'm torn....right now it's going to be in my living room, but eventually when I grow up and move out of NYC I will likely have a dedicated home office. RIght now, they key thing is storage. I've got to maximize every inch of space.....here are the options I am looking at, and feel free to suggest others! I need all the help I can get!

Option 1:



Option 2:


Option 3:



Option 4:



Option 5:

Closed:


Looks similar to this when open:


Which do you like best?

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Lesson Learned

Taking sleeping pills and then doing your PM Yoga video (in that
order) is NOT a good idea.

Halfway through said video you will get very sleepy and will end up
falling on your head.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Perfection...

I've gotten quite a bit of photo retouching work recently. It's mostly been portrait retouching: skin softening, digital nose jobs, slimming, etc. Initially, I needed some photos to practice on so I took some of myself to try the techniques on, but quickly learned that doing that was a self-esteem crisis in the making.

I've been noticing that this work is beginning to alter my idea of perfection. I've always know that magazine photos are retouched and that celebrities don't really look like that in real life, but to actually do it, to alter your OWN face, really starts to mess with your perception of beauty. I've never had a problem with my nose, but yesterday I was practicing "digital nose jobs" and I realized how much better I could look. I'll never get a nose job, double chin removal, liposuction or any of the other real-life procedures that I know the Photoshop equivalents to, but here I am staring at my own "what if" photo.

I feel so disheartened for young girls who look at magazines and see these images of photo retouched perfection and strive for that ideal. Sure, there is the Dove campaign but from what I've seen, most magazines are still primarily using highly retouched images. Despite my chosen profession, I can only wonder "what if" we had a realistic, attainable model of beauty in this country.

And for the record, I don't think Sara Palin is it.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

A Meme...cause it's been awhile.

I saw this over on Antique Mommy and figured it would be a decent way to fill my Saturday afternoon. Since I'm not going to the salon.


1. How long have you been blogging?

Since August of 2004. A friend had been talking about "this blog thing" and I had always written journals but always with pen and paper. I decided to jump on the bandwagon and go digital.

2. What are the good things blogging has brought to your life?

Blogging helps me get the negative thoughts out and helps me process life. It's brought wonderful friends and experiences to my life, I wouldn't have otherwise had.

3. What would you consider the pitfalls?

Fear of being "discovered". Certain situations in life need to be written about and emotions explored, but sometimes I censor myself out of fear of work finding my blog, or worse, my mother.

4. Tell us about your blog name. Ever think of changing it? If so, to what? Why?

I've never thought about changing my blog name...it's simple and explains my blog perfectly. These are the thoughts from one mind in the world.

5. Knowing what you know now, was starting a blog a good thing for you? Why or why not?

Blogging has been good for me. It's my version of therapy sometimes, it's my support system and it makes laugh. All anyone wants from life is to not take the journey alone, and my blog definitely makes me feel less lonely on that path.

6. How do you think blogging, bloggers, or the blogosphere has changed since you started?

Definitely more people have blogs now and it's become it's own little social-sphere. It's like getting to sit with the hip kids at lunch.

8. Ultimately, what would you like your blog to accomplish for you or others?

For me, I'd like my blog to be about getting the thoughts and emotions of the day out and processed so that I can learn about myself and to heal from the past. For others, I'd like to hope that at least something I've said in the 4 previous years has resonated and made you examine pieces of your own life in a way that you might not have otherwise.

Who are you? Really?

1. Name something or a few things that bug you and expound. We want your unfettered opinion(s). Shouldn’t be blog related.

Bad customer service is a pet peeve of mine, as is close-mindedness. I also hate unfairness and intolerance.

2. Tell us about one of your best childhood memories.

My best memories are playing cards with my grandfather. Family card cames were (and still are) huge in my house and I love the moments when the extended family gets together for huge trash talking games.

3. Describe your perfect day.

A good morning kiss from an attractive man holding coffee and the paper....leisurely reading the paper in bed with said coffee and attractive man. Going for a walk through a park or walking some trails and then coming home and cooking a fabulous dinner that magically gets cleaned up on its own and finally sitting on the couch with a good movie and an even better glass of wine.

4. Do you have a hobby that you love?

Photography, though I guess that's now more of a business than a hobby. Can your business be your hobby? Aside from that, it's got to be reading. I read everything and anything and am famous for my collection of books.

5. Tell us the best and the worst thing about being you.

The best thing about me is my knowledge and way of thinking and processing things, the worst thing is my fierce independence. I'm at the point where it doesn't even occur to me to do things with other people, and forget asking for help ever. It's not in my vocabulary.

6. What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you? We want all the details.

I tend to block out all humiliating events from my consciousness as soon as they are over. I suggest you try it.

7. What blog related thing bugs you?

Spam, mean commenters, when blogger eats my posts.

Personal stuff:

How old are you? 29
Married? No
Children? No

Favorite season? Fall
Favorite pass time? Laying in bed watching movies.

Favorite color? I'm not a fan of color, though I do love the many shades of Grey

Favorite movie? Ocean's 11
Favorite song? It changes weekly, this week it's I'm Not Over by Carolina Liar

Mac or PC? I actually like em both.
Dog or Cat? Dog
Salt or Pepper? Pepper


Vanilla or Chocolate? Organic dark chocolate....YUM

Diet Coke, Sweet Tea or Evian? Coke Zero or really good plain black iced tea

Steak, Chicken or Shrimp? I'm not a huge meat eater, but I can deal with chicken.

Annoyed!

There's a little hair salon I walk past every morning on my way to work. This morning I thought I would try to make an appointment for a simple eyebrow wax so I called them up and inquired about making an appointment. The man who answered the phone said I could come over any time and they would just do it.

I threw some clothes on and headed over. The receptionist (a woman) told me they were too busy and to "come back later". When I asked to make an appointment, she just said to come later. I again inquired as to what time and she finally said, I guess 4pm, but didn't take my name or anything.

I am so annoyed I don't even want to go back. There is a fancier salon somewhat nearby that I could try to go to, but at this point I think I'm just going to get out the tweezers and start hacking away myself. Ugh! What happened to good customer service???!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Less of a Person

There are 3 of us in my group at work and yesterday one of my group
members unexpectedly quit. The other remaining girl was asked to step
up and take on the job of the one who quit. When asked, she declined
saying she was getting married and needed to be home with her husband
and would not take on any additional work, which of course meant that
now the responsibilities will fall to me (for a variety of reasons
they don't want to replace the person leaving). I am incensed and
can't seem to get past it. Why is my time less valuable because I'm
single? I have another job and am taking classes right now, *I* also
need to be home, but don't have the "I have a husband" card to play.
Second jobs are HIGHLY looked down upon here, so I don't feel
comfortable sharing that information with my boss anyway. The whole
situation is terribly unfair. I've always been the one in my group to
shoulder the burden. I'm the ONLY one who comes to work on time. I
never leave for lunch, take personal calls at work or make
appointments during the day. I don't want the additional job
responsibilities, but quite frankly, I'm actually slightly offended it
wasn't offered to me. I know I'm a much better employee than my
co-workers.

The "getting married girl" only supports ONE person, I already have
two bosses and work significantly more than 40 hours a week. She comes
at least 15-30 minutes late daily and leaves exactly on time every
day. The new job would mean that she would take on one additional
person and it would even the playing field. Now, I will have 3 people
to report to and her just the one. All because I'm not married and
don't have a family.

I feel as though I'm being looked at as less of a person simply
because I'm not in a relationship. I fully acknowledge that I already
look at myself that way (and so does my mother) so I'm oversensitive
to the issue and took it personally when the woman declined to take on
additional work for "marriage" reasons, but I've long felt that I've
done MORE than my fair share of the work (and coincidentally am paid
less than the others, despite being here 4 times as long).

Why does being married mean you are better, and your time is more
valuable, than someone who is single?

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Because I couldn't NOT Post This Link

I wasn't going to post anything 9/11-related, partly because I'm still processing that day 7 years ago and partly because I know there is no way I could do any of the emotions justice, but I randomly came across this post and couldn't bear NOT to post it.

See Metro Dad's tribute....and have the Kleenex ready.

Why my Utopia is Having my own Washer and Dryer

I was all excited to do laundry last night...I had sorted, dug the fabric softener out of the closet, loaded everything into my basket and was headed out the door.

Until I realized I had no quarters, no cash and my ATM card was at work.

Ugh. I DREAM of a world where I don't have to go outside, cross two streets and treat quarters like gold currency in order to wash my sheets!

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Project!

I'm bored at work and have decided to take on a major project:

Organizing my iTunes. I work in the entertainment industry and get a LOT of free music and it's overtaken my iPod. I'm digging in, weeding out and making all new playlists.

Wish me luck. If I don't surface by tonight it's because I lost in a sea of Weezer, BB King and Linkin Park.

Friday, September 05, 2008

Crossroads

I've been doing the freelance photography/photo retouching thing for awhile and it's going well. I've been learning a lot and it's something I really enjoy doing. I've made some money doing it and have probably broken even considering the money I've spent on classes, software, etc., but I've reached a point where if this is something I am going to do more I need to make a significant investment into upgrades and equipment.

I would love to jump in and seriously attempt to continue my path to making this into my main career, but I'm plagued with fear of failure and the nagging voice in my head that says "you are not good enough to do this". I hate that voice, but it's there and I can't help but hear it.

It's the ongoing battle in my head, do I make the decision based on practicality (finances, ability or lack thereof) or emotion (passion)?

Growing up is hard.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Ugh

Worst night of my life. Finally snagged a date with a guy I've liked for almost a year and he spent whole time talking to another hot girl. Was hoping this was a week to be moving on and not being sad and instead just crying over men once again. I'm so bummed.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Insensitivity or Sensitivity?

While in LA I spent a lot of time with an attractive male friend of mine. During my last day there we ate at a cute little outdoor bistro. After we got back to the hotel, he mentioned that when he had stepped away to use the bathroom, our waitress had cornered him and given him her phone number!

I was pissed! How did she know that the two of us weren't a couple??! I would never give a guy my number who was dining with a woman alone. (She didn't inquire as to his status before she offered up her number, I asked him).

Was she being insensitive or am I being over sensitive?? Thoughts?

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Back

Back from LA. Trip was great. Very relaxing and I think I got some good photos. Red eye was a bad idea though. Just got off plane and have to go straight to work.

Please send lots of virtual coffee please!!!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry