May 01, 2003
Leftovers and 999 Abuse
From the "I-can't-believe-this-one" category ...
His wife gave him two leftover sandwiches instead of preparing a proper dinner, so he telephoned the local police: -Reuters story. Audio samples link of what the Avon and Somerset police (UK) posted about 999 abuse: here.
May 05, 2003
Particles
ARGH! I don't know if it's simply that I'm not used to typing up my daily rant in a box or if I've got writer's roadblock. For the last hour or so I've been pinging the brain cells to get moving and write this entry but realized the harder I try, the worse it became. Therefore, I give up.
May 06, 2003
My Boyfriend is a Twat
I found this weblog via another and couldn't stop reading it. Zoe's weblog, titled My Boyfriend is a Twat, is so funny and well-written you MUST go there NOW and read it. Don't miss her story about bras ...
By the way, she lives in Belgium and is looking for a job.
May 07, 2003
Random Thoughts for Today
1. Ever have one of those days where you feel like a beached whale?
2. It was 78 degrees in NYC today, 67 at the ocean. The numbers should be reversed.
3. Are you Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now?
4. Anyone know anyone in Belgium who wants to hire Zoe? (see previous post)
5. While we're busy finding a new job for Zoe, can we find jobs for ALL THOSE PEOPLE out of work in NYC, PLUS those soon-to-be graduates???
6. Mayor Bloomberg's popularity is low (32% for those of you who get excited over numbers,) but not as low as it should be (that would be, lower than whale sh-t.)
7. I have a nasty habit of walking into building supports and store windows.
8. People who send spam email for a living should ___ [insert your suggestion here.]
9. I deleted #9 and #10 due to telephone interruption and the brain train derailed.
10. Deleted.
11. I've been informed by mearreyuk@yahoo.com that a squipper, (or as they typed it, a "squiprper"), is also a name for royal air force survival equipment fitters.
12. Friend Captain Doctor Henry, stationed in San Diego with the US Navy, also informed me that, "As a career Navy man, I too am referred to as a squid!"
1-. I don't particularly care for that number on the left.
14. And I numbered this list because ...?
May 08, 2003
Swirling Items in the Mental Dust-Pan
Ya Think?
Berlin: Man Arrested With Severed Head Says He was Provoked -- Reuters story.
Forget About NYS Cell Phone Tracking
ION, New York's Governor George Pataki says there's no money for a statewide cell-phone tracking system. Sure there is. Just ask Bloomberg for a loan. Anyway, what this means is that if you call 911 in an emergency, don't bother, because your call won't/can't be tracked, so forget about it. Unfortunately, this lack of funds and lack of a tracking system resulted in the disappearance 4 teens, who were in a boat that was taking in water and dialed 911 for assistance. The distress call was taken by a 911 supervisor, and the teen who made the call could not provide the exact location of where they were (gee, corner of one wave and another?) -- anyway, this entire thing infuriates me. Priorities for this state have not changed at all, and it is obvious that no lessons were learned after September 11. How quickly they forget.
Reminder ...
Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 11.
May 09, 2003
An Example of Logorrhea
Logorrhea: when the words come so fast they don't make it to the wastebasket ... [aka: excessive use of words.]
Uh, Er, Dear Mom:
The reason your Mother's Day card looks abnormal is because your daughter neglected to check the size of the envelope that went with the card upon making her purchase. When the realization hit that said envelope was undersized, YOUR brilliant daughter took scissors in hand, and ... yes, cut off the cute flowers at the bottom and yes, scalloped the edges. Sorry.
P.S. The card is from your daughter, #3. (You know, the blonde one.)
The Bullshit Meter Went Off this Morning ...
...and the problem with it is that you can't shut it off like your alarm clock.
Then There's Gut Instinct
When some little voice inside your head tells you something that you know instinctively, but instead you look at your gut and say, "oh shut the hell up!"
No Hair Cut Today
And I was so looking forward to the delicious neck/head massage I get each time I go. Thought it would help rid me of the evil twin syndrome ... oh well. Next week!
More Cards I had to Purchase
Outside of Mother's Day, there's also my sister's birthday and my niece's graduation from law school. Sister #2, [as in the pecking order of mom's kids,] has a good sense of humor, and with that in mind, here's her card:
On your birthday, want to hear a joke so funny you'll laugh your boobs off?!!!
Oh. I see you already heard it.
Hmm...think she'll laugh?
Yeah, she'll laugh.
Only if there's money in that card.
ION
In other news, the niece graduates from law school next weekend. I'd be attending, but logistics got in the way and I'm departing the country for a hop over the pond ... and I'm not so sure I want to drag along ALL this stuff with me: laptop, digital camera, cell phone, German cell phone, presents for friends AND my clothes. Hmm...maybe leave the clothes home?
May 14, 2003
Your Most Embarrassing/Humiliating/Mortifying Moment EVER
Okay, I'll begin. There was the time not too long ago when 9 shots of tequila on an empty stomach was not the brightest idea on the planet. I had been at a meeting with my 2 bosses and a potential client (aka, the PC.) The PC kept ordering tequila shots, and we just sat there and tossed them back. [Hindsight being 20/20, I should have declined the shots.] Some hours later we were on our way out the door, and the minute I walked outside into the humidity and rain, my one boss saw my face turn various shades of green. He was quick, he was gracious, he was in chivalry mode. He grabbed me by the shoulders, pulled me into a dark area between two buildings and hid me from public view. He knew I was about to lurch forward and do what we all hate doing: regurgitate your insides. It wouldn't have been so bad if it had been done in the stall of a bathroom. But no, I had to give it the full monty and make my deposit on one of his very long legs. That was his reward for trying to help me.
I also recall TELLING Mr. Chivalry earlier in the evening that I wanted to go home because I was not well and he insisted that I stay (just take notes, he said) -- so there I was at the table with the 2 bosses and the potential client -- busying myself by taking notes until the PC said, "what the HELL is she writing!?!" Mr. Chivalry looked across the table, grabbed the notebook from my hands, ripped the page I'd written out of the notebook, folded it up and put it in his wallet. He showed it to me the next day. Although I could easily read what I'd written, it did indeed look like a language other than english. Hmm...I wonder if he still has it. ;-)
I'm still amazed my boss found this incident highly amusing instead of firing my sorry butt.
Okay, it's YOUR turn.
Jobs
Did we find a job yet for Zoe? I don't recall seeing any comments or emails about it ... Zoe, did you get any leads?????
Chocolate or Breath Mint?
Today I pondered this little ditty: hotels (well, the better ones) place a small, wrapped piece of chocolate on your pillow as a part of its turn-down service. Wouldn't it be lovely if instead of chocolate, the hotel placed some breath mints on your pillow? Not wanting to go to sleep or wake up in the morning with horse breath, (unless of course you're alone, which would then make this entry useless) I know I'd prefer the breath mint. So ... if given a choice of the two, which would you choose?
May 19, 2003
Procrastinating ...
It's 6:43 a.m. and I should be packed and ready for my trip to Europe. Car service comes by at 1:30 p.m. .... but before that, friends show up around 8:30 a.m. or 9 so we can go to breakfast.
Perhaps I should skip breakfast so I can pack. Duh!
Undecided about dragging the laptop along. We'll see what ends up in the suitcase. If there are no entries here for the rest of the week, say ... up until next Tuesday when I return, you'll know why!
May 29, 2003
Duh. IT Doesn't Matter?
Harvard Business Review's Nicholas Carr carries on in a recently published article claiming IT doesn't matter. David Kirkpatrick of FORTUNE magazine provides his commentary in Stupid-Journal Alert: Why HBR's View of Tech is Dangerous
May 31, 2003
Podding
It's a perfect day to shut out the world.
Okay, that was temporary. Now on to play with blog colors!