Monday, June 30, 2008
Yes We Can!
We were asked to host a house party on June 28th, which also happens to be my birthday. Dave had asked me about throwing a party anyways, so this made an even better excuse.
I was a little nervous people would think it was a secret fund raiser. But, one of the great things about the Obama campaign is they just want people to get involved (I mean, not just, but at this party, anyways). People so often want to get involved or think about getting involved, and yet Barack Obama's campaign gives you very specific ways you can help (registering new voters on July 4th, for example).
And Dave made the best point when he asked, "Do you think you do enough for your country?" I mean, really, we all pretty much think our country is great (even despite its faults) and yet, what do we do, actively, to show our appreciation and to contribute?
So whether you are going to vote for Obama or not, I hope you can appreciate the excitement his campaign has inspired. "We are the change we've been waiting for."
Also, you all remember Will.I.Am's video of Barack Obama's speech? This is the acapella version by a college singing group which I think is even BETTER!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
*operatic* Haaaaaaaaaaaaaappy Birthdaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy...
toooooooooooo yooooooooooooooou!
Don’t sit there like some silly girl
If you wait too long you’ll be too late
I’m not telling you something new
There ain’t no time to lose (No time to lose)
It’s time for you to celebrate
(So get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
Get up, little girl
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
It’s time, your world
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
Your life, your choice
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
It’s time, live it up
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
You don’t have the luxury of time
You have got to say what’s on your mind
Your head lost in the stars
You’ll never go far (No time to lose)
It’s time for you to read the signs
(So get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
Here comes, my hand
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
Take it, you can
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
The time, is now
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
I’ll show, you how
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
On and on, on the beat goes
Say what you like, do what you feel
You know exactly who you are
The time is right now
You got to decide (woo!)
Stand in the back or be the star
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
Here comes, my hand
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
Take it, you can
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
The time, is now
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat)
I'll show, you how
I can’t keep waiting for you
Anticipating that you’ve
No time to lose
I can’t keep waiting for you
(Kanye West: )
Ah, it’s the M part 2 I want you, I’m gonna do to you what I want to do to you
Your girlfriend she wants too, beautiful, just flew F from perry, voulez-vous
In a city that don’t snooze, smooze a monster hoos hoos
And I use my celeb to get this one home
Why everything that feel good gotta be so wrong?
Give me room now, I’m like a vampire under a full moon now
And i don’t know about you now but I think I wanna try some'in new now
See what it do now
And when you sat down, uh, cause you was using your breath now, uh
Cause you be doin’ it to death now, she’d be doin’ either F now, what’s left now?
Mister West now, can you get any more fresh now? I think I just did just now
Talkin’ my shit that's how, I’m a profes' now
I admit that, flashin’ lights so I live that
Fame is a drum, wanna hit that?
Cause I know exactly where to get that, did you get that?
(Get down, beep beep, gotta get up outta your seat…)
On and on, the beat goes…
Gay Pride and Gay Pee
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
DIY Home Improvement
This is what 15 tons looks like, if you don't already know:
Dave did all the digging and heavy lifting. I took pictures. Oh, and squared up the pavers.
Done! Patio I:
I think Dave was looking for his keys...
Patio II was finished last night (before & after):
What's left: digging out, bordering and lining and finishing a breeze walkway. Also on the agenda: addition of ground cover around patio II, garden and hopefully a gazebo-like structure over patio II. More pictures to come!
Monday, June 23, 2008
New Species Discovered: A Sign of Global Warming?
ECH! It's some sort of alien-mutant BUG! Which is cool and all, but doesn't give you the warm fuzzies like seeing a hummingbird would. Has anyone seen anything like this?
Also, I need glasses.
UPDATE: it's a nessus sphinx
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Real or Fake?
You look at a picture and guess whether it's real or fake. I was definitely surprised by some of them!
Sample: Dog meets porcupine, real or fake?
All
I hardly pay attention to the news about oil. All it ever seems to be is "Oil Prices at Record High". But I would really like to UNDERSTAND what is going on and how we can best approach a solution.
In my very brief research on the subject, I learned:
Most of our (U.S.) oil comes from the U.S. (41%), North America and the Western Hemisphere (in that order)
Most of the world's oil comes from Saudi Arabia.
The Middle East has, by far, the largest oil reserves.
Hence why we are so interested in the Middle East (besides the spread of democracy and Christianity). Because even though we don't YET consume very much of their oil, we might need to. Soon.
However, you have to factor in developing nations like India and China. Their oil consumption is increasing exponentially.
I wanted to exhalt the E.U. on its investment in renewable energy resources, but apparently they have fallen short of their goals.
Of course, as a tree-hugger, I don't want to drill for more U.S. oil. I would much rather everyone concentrate on alternatives to oil and I think one of the best ways to urge consumers and industry to do that is to keep the price of oil high. People seem to pay attention to issues when they hit their pocketbook. But then again, I don't want the oil industries to realize absurd profits. And I don't want the U.S. to become even more dependent on foreign oil. And, honestly, I don't want to personally take the hit in resulting increases in food and other prices.
So, looking into WHY oil prices are so high, it seems it's not just the law of supply and demand--it has to do with investors trading commodity futures (as well as the falling value of the Dollar). Their investments in oil have inflated the price. So how is drilling for more oil (which, btw, is apparently only going to keep the U.S. running another couple of years) going to help solve that? Sounds to me like there needs to be regulations regarding that type of investment. Because, much like the housing bubble, it's going to burst and I can't wait to see what bailout the U.S. government will offer up then!
All this being said, I am still extremely ignorant of all the factors at play here, so anyone who knows more is more than welcome to comment/criticize!
Stuff
So, my grandma died. She was a super sweet lady and I think knew a lot more about life than I ever asked her about. She had the best approach--to laugh, because what else could you do? And she just took things as they came (she WAS 90...)
So, as a result, we ended up with some of her stuff. One of the nicest things my grandma did for her family was to downsize--she continually went through her stuff and weeded out the unnecessary items. She was down to a clean 2 bedroom apartment.
So Dave and I took some stuff home, stuff we thought we could use. As we tried to fit some of it in one room, Dave pointed out that just because we COULD use an item doesn't mean we SHOULD. I tend more toward the "I don't want to have to re-buy this or buy something like it down the line" mode, but then I end up with wall-to-wall STUFF. And let me tell ya, Dave and I are both feeling a little bit overwhelmed by our STUFF lately.
We have 3 bedrooms, 2 living areas, a large kitchen. PLUS, a shed. Which is huge. And FULL.
And we are 2 people.
The shed REALLY is beginning to bother me (and has Dave for some time now). I don't even know what's IN there! And if I haven't USED it, why should I KEEP it?
But then the nagging thought: bc you don't want to WASTE it (meaning, get rid of it and have to buy it again later). But, if I could find someone who could USE it, then my conscious would be appeased.
I have a real hard time just GIVING stuff away. I know someone will find it eventually, but I would like to know the right person is getting it.
I know, it's a sickness.
Anyway, we are a shed-cleaning away from a yard sale, then I think I will be able to give up and give it all away.
Also, I read this post on Anchored Nomad and it would seem she's feeling the same way (but writes a more universal statement about Americans and our need to CONSUME).
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Annoying people annoy me
Friday, June 13, 2008
It's finally happening, part II
So, not that I have blogged very much about it, but I was not feeling very satisfied in my job. I wasn't busy, I didn't feel important, and I HATED billing hours every month.
Well, my subconscious prayer was answered last week when they laid me off!
Which, really, is good news. Now I am free to explore my options--think about what I REALLY want to do--and be picky about my next job choice.
So. Now. I am at the end of Week Two and wondering where all my time has gone! I have filled my time weighing job announcements ( Would I REALLY like working in Boulder?), assuming each one would hire me, working and re-working my resume and cover letters, and occasionally cleaning the kitchen. I had this idea I would have so much free time, I needed to make a list so I wouldn't get bored.
On the list: clean out shed, clean out office, go through and organize all the stuff I brought home from my office, work out every day, start garden, apply for at least one job per day, network, get part-time job and work on some of the home histories Dave has.
Thusfar accomplished: I have applied for 2 jobs.
Ugh.
I assume things will really start happening NEXT week!
*Just to be clear--the firm is downsizing. When I started there 5 years ago, I was one of 6 attorneys and we had 2 secretaries. They were down to just me. The other partner is retiring, so my boss would have had to pay my salary alone. And, considering I wasn't exactly working my tail off, I don't blame him for his choice.
Monday, June 9, 2008
It's finally happening!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Today's Tentative Itinerary
The 'rents made it to Chicago! They also had their first experience on the L (nothing to report). Here's a look at today's schedule (pronounced SHED-ule):
- Breakfast at Orange.
- Visit Chicago's famous Magnificent Mile.
- Light lunch (TBD)
- Afternoon drink in the John Hancock Center's 95th floor Signature Lounge.
- 90-min Lake Michigan/Chicago River Boat Tour.
- Dinner (TBD)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
70's chic
On your knees, biotch
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Train Freak of the Day
- Jet black pigtails with tightly shaved and bleached blonde hair on the back of her head
- Shaved eyebrows (and none drawn in)
- A spikey piercing through her lower lip in the center of her mouth
- Super-short shirt dress with ruffles at the waist
- Military jacket
- Stick legs
I also took a picture of a man who looked remarkably like Colonel Sanders, but it didn't come out.
Grandpa's story time
Monday, June 2, 2008
So broke!
And do you know who I blame for that? Bush and his cronies. (Then again, I pretty much blame everything on Bush..."Oh, you got fired from your job? I blame Bush." Or, "Oh, your daughter flunked out of high school? I blame Bush." Or, "Oh, you got syphilis over the weekend from too much orgy sex? I blame Bush.") But all joking aside, it's all a ripple effect...Iraq war leads to higher oil prices which leads to higher gas prices which leads to higher food prices...and higher prices for everything else. Has anyone tried to book a flight or hotel recently? THEY ARE RIDICULOUS. And you know what? I BLAME BUSH.
Does anyone else feel like they are just waiting for the other shoe to drop? Something's gotta give, right? I mean luckily for me, in a few weeks I'll start making really good money. But in this country, most people are really getting screwed. The poor are getting poorer and the middle class is shrinking. But Bush's cronies aren't hurting...
BTW, that picture...all I did was do a google image search for "no money" and found that. I have never heard of Henry Lee Summer but I totally dig his hot hair and I just know that if I heard his music, I'd love it.