Our Yard... landscaping from start to finish!

Recent Pictures!!!

www.flickr.com

Live Video From The Fabulous Wireless Webcam!!!

Click here to enlarge.

Live Video From The Second Fabulous Wireless Webcam!!!

Click here to enlarge.

Thursday, October 28, 2004
9:42 AM

Color Copy Me Happy

As I was driving home from work yesterday I heard an ad on the radio that started out something like "The difference between people who look forward to going to work and people who dread going to work is having a job they love." First of all - duh! Second of all, I highly doubt that anyone actually looks forward to going to work (with few exceptions). Already two major flaws in the ad. But wait, it gets better.

I admit that the lead in did hook me for a minute. After all, who wouldn't want to hear about how to have a job that you can't wait to get to in the morning?? (Granted I do like what I do, but I'm not sure I would say I "look forward" to getting to work each day.) So I listened, waiting for enlightenment. Man was I disappointed.

The ad was for - wait for it - some sort of color imaging, scanner, printer thingy. Yes, basically a color copier. Clearly that is exactly the solution to everyone's workplace woes. I know that when I am stuck at work at 8 p.m. after getting in at 7:30 a.m., what I am thinking is "If only I had a color copier, my job would be perfect." And when Dana has to deal with an obnoxious customer, I'm sure everything would be better if she could just make a couple of color copies.

When did the ad companies decide to get so outright ridiculous with their ad campaigns? And why in the world would the Color Copier Maker listen to this proposed ad and think "Yes, I'm glad someone finally realizes that color copies do change the world." Why waste your ad budget??

What I would love to hear instead was "We know that a copier isn't going to make you hate your job any less, but at least you can entertain yourself with a color copy of your face." Or "Annoying customers got you down? Just give them a color copy of your finger - you choose the finger." Now those would be a lot more realistic and even entertaining.

Well I have to get back to work. If only I could go make some color copies instead.

0 comment(s) so far!

Click Here to Read or Post a Comment

Wednesday, October 20, 2004
3:26 PM

My Precious

I was digging in my purse recently trying to find my chapstick which always seems to disappear amongst all the pens, business cards, mints, etc. that are floating around in my purse. Before I could extricate the chapstick, I came across a little plastic ring with a U.S. flag on it. And it made me a little sad to find it.

Back in June, I was sitting in the bleachers at the high school with the family waiting for Alex' graduation to start. Rachel and the boys were there and being a smart mother she naturally brought toys to keep them busy. The flag ring was one of the things Chris was playing with, but he was worried that he might drop it under the bleachers and lose it. I offered to store it in my purse and there the ring went. And has been since June.

Obviously both Chris and I forgot about it and I've been carrying it around for over 4 months. I've even changed purses since then. I don't remember moving the ring but somehow it managed to teleport itself the new purse along with all of the other odds and ends (maybe I'd better make sure that it doesn't have any other mystical qualities like the ability to make me invisible).

When I found the ring I was a little sad because I realized it will probably be a while before I will see their family and can give it back to him in person. Probably long enough that he won't even care about it anymore (given how long I've had it, he probably already doesn't).

I know that they are doing well up in Oregon and that they are doing what is best for their family, but we miss them. Even though I didn't see them constantly while they were here, it sucks that they are many hours away now and visits will have to be arranged far in advance. I like having the whole family nearby and now one branch is a little farther.

I suppose I could mail the ring to Chris, but I have to admit, I kind of like having it. Besides, it could get damaged in the mail and that would be unacceptable. I wouldn't want anything to happen to it. So I'll hold on to it for now. And I'll wait to give it back in person. Hopefully soon.

0 comment(s) so far!

Click Here to Read or Post a Comment

Tuesday, October 12, 2004
10:43 AM

It's A Hearing And A Blog Entry!

Right now, as I type this, I am in court on a hearing. Ok, not quite. The more correct statement would be that I am sitting on the phone listening to court while I wait for my hearing to be called.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the telephonic hearing. Yes, I am actually working and blogging at the same time. All from the comfort of my office. The ultimate in multi-tasking.

I love appearing by phone. You don't have to worry about what you wear. You don't have to worry about looking bored while the judge goes through the other matters on calendar (not that the hearings are ever anything but unbelievably fascinating!). Most importantly, you can get other stuff done while you wait. It's all good baby!

It does take some getting used to. When you appear it's just like being in court in terms of what you say. Notwithstanding the informality of the phone, you have to act just like you always do. It's not like a run of the mill phone conversation. It's no big deal but just takes a couple of times to adapt.

We're now at number 13 on the calendar - I'm number 19. Pretty good progress. But lots of lawyers are rather verbose so it may be a while.

It's been 2 weeks since we returned from Europe and it already seems like months ago. Work has been absolutely insane since we got back (hence the general lack of blogging). In addition to this hearing, I have two others today, one that will take all afternoon. We have 3-4 more tomorrow and another on Thursday. That's the problem with vacation. You'd better really enjoy it because it will more likely than not be sheer hell when you return. Oh well, such is life.

Still on number 13. . . got stuck in with one of the verbose ones. He also doesn't seem to read the judge very well. Just keeps going even when the judge is getting annoyed. (That's another drawback of appearing by phone - you don't actually get to see the Judge and read his body language - but sometimes you don't need to). Let it go man!!

Uh oh. We're going backwards. Number 12. Wha-huh?? This is not good. And it's the same chatty lawyer. Starting to wonder if I am going to be late to my other hearings. Hmmm.

Ah, finally moving on - on to number 14. Again, same lawyer. This is killing me!!! Grrr.

Uh oh he finally started moving - I'm up. Gotta go! Have a good day!

0 comment(s) so far!

Click Here to Read or Post a Comment

Wednesday, October 06, 2004
10:34 AM

Steal the Pork Product?

During the Course of our trip we noticed many, how shall I say this, hmmm, interesting cultural differences in both London and Spain. They are both totally different from the U.S. and totally different from each other. Case in point: pork products. Yes, pork products.

During our first full day in London we visited the British Museum and then the National Gallery. Both great museums, but incredibly huge and tiring (especially when jet lagged). So after much viewing of antiquities and art (see the Fabulous London Pictures for examples), we just wanted some food. A burger to be precise. We managed to locate a place that looked good in Leicester Square and ordered two bacon cheeseburgers (yes, we are total Americans). The food arrives, we look at the burgers and strangely enough no bacon. But there is a piece of ham on each. Yes, ham. What's up with that? The menu didn't say "Ham and Cheese Burger". Apparently the British don't get the wonderfulness that is a bacon cheeseburger. Oh well. Their loss really.

Given that we were starving, the ham certainly didn't deter us. The burgers were fine and off we went on our merry way touring the heck out of London. (Side note: the British do get the concept of fries or as they call them "chips". Amen to that.)

Then on to Spain. At the hotel I ordered an appetizer of ham with tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella cheese. Food comes and it isn't ham, it's cured meat - clearly in the same family as bacon. Huh? Why are they doing this to me?? At this point I figured that the Europeans were just scheming to drive the crazy Americans even more crazy. And they were using something as insidious as pork products to do it.

What is up with all the confusion over pork products that apparently exists in Europe? Ham and bacon are two different concepts. They are not interchangeable (at least not in my egocentric world). What do the school children play over there? It can't be "Steal the Bacon" given all the pork confusion. "Steal the Bacon which is Really Ham"? "Steal the Ham Which Is Really Cured Pork"? I am really not sure. I suspect that this game simply doesn't exist over there, which is a serious loss to all those European school children.

At least I had th sense to keep my mouth shut and eat what was put in front of me. But I did stop ordering pork for fear of what might turn up next . . .

0 comment(s) so far!

Click Here to Read or Post a Comment

Saturday, October 02, 2004
1:45 PM

Europe Pics

Yes, they are finally more or less ready. Links to each album are below. But we haven't had time to add any comments yet (it took long enough weeding from over 300 pictures to around 100). I'll try to add comments soon (especially to the ones from Spain).

London
Spain

Enjoy!

0 comment(s) so far!

Click Here to Read or Post a Comment