Category: Uncategorized (Page 13 of 114)

I took today off – yesterday was super hectic with work, and some of it came out of preparing for a long weekend. But I’m not sure how relaxing things are going to be for me – I made a list of everything I wanted to do (and some are “need” to do…) and holy smokes, it might take me until November to get it all done!

Today, I spent the first half of the day in a madcap dash through Overland Park, starting at Joann’s, then hitting the Holiday Mart, which is a big shopping fundraiser run by the Junior League. I could only take about an hour of that stuff – there were 200 vendors and a lot of “stuff” and a lot of people wandering and stopping directly in front of you. I did have amazing parking karma, though I thought two women were going to shoot me because I scored it and they didn’t. Yipes! It’s a cutthroat world at the OP Convention Center… After that, I went to Michael’s and Whole Foods. I managed to get an hour nap in before JWo came home, and we had a yummy stir fry for dinner.

Tripper is still here; James has had a couple friends who’ve been interested, but their wives put the kebosh on it. Bummer. I’ve still got mixed-up feelings about him – he’s a wonderful, awesome puppy who is a fast learner – but he’s a boy (yes, I’m that prejudiced, I love girl dogs) and this was completely unplanned. There’s just sooooo many things that go into raising & training a well-behaved dog, and it requires constant vigilance – it’s a lot of work! But I also know that I don’t want some stranger who’d outside-kennel him to have him, either. (I’m not a block of ice, I’ve done a pretty good job in 6 days of conditioning him to be affectionate & loving!)

Tomorrow has its own list of shopping & errands and things I want/need to do…. I think as long as I get a nap in consistently, it’ll all work out, the list and the puppy and the to-do’s.

Naps are the new black.

This week, we got thanked for all our hard work and it was acknowledged that we were humping as fast as we could.

Kristin & I descended into giggles. We’re 12-year old boys. Booger.

Speaking of hump, or humping, Tripper? Lives to hump Polly. Who tolerates it 0.7 seconds and then it’s all teeth snapping and fighting. It’s great. Except she ignores him if she thinks she’s going to get petted, so it was like a frickin’ conga line in the living room tonight, and we were laughing too hard to make it stop.

Sigh. Don’t let the laughing fool you. The puppy is wearing me out. I know everyone thinks we’re gonna keep him, but I can’t let myself go there, because the house shrunk by 33% when he came in the door, and it’s bedlam and melee every morning and night. And knowing that he could be gone soon makes me cling to my heart and not let it go, even when he looks up at me with his dopey face and leans so SO so hard against me, every atom of his being wiggling and saying “I love you, lady!” I know if he doesn’t go to James’ friend, I’ll eventually wear down and I’ll have to put up with a smaller house and a humping fiend. He’s housebroken, he learns quickly, he’s an awesome little dude!

But I’m tired. And I have a big day tomorrow, with a presentation and whatnot, so I need to go to bed. As long as I can get this earworm out of my mind…. you know which one……

my humps! my humps! my lovely lady lumps, check it out!
;)

We had a rep lunch today, up at Piropos. It was a classic example of how the media team interacts and can provide a rep who doesn’t know us with a very hodge-podge sketchy sort of stand-up comedy routine that is filled with topics ranging from knitting (of course) to emu (and their crazy need to migrate) to crime.

WE ARE DIVERSE. And eclectic.

I ordered the lobster ravioli, and had a flashback when it arrived, because I got six (6) ravioli, each approximately the size of one (1) Doritos chip. Portion size flashback! Black and red striped ravioli, btw. I immediately saw my alma mater’s colors (Go Grinnell Pioneers! Woot! Where our motto was, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s nothing!”) In a too-salty sauce, alas alack. But it was still tasty and would have made a great appetizer! Suffice it to say that right now, I am prepared to eat things that have mustard on them, just to illustrate how hungry I am.

But the whole point of this story is how we were zipping back to the office so we could make our 1:30 status meeting, and I was sort of on auto-pilot and discovered (as I was driving at the roadblock) that I-35 is closed off the Broadway Bridge, and since it’s one-way, there was no choice but to veer right and keep going. But my time at another agency reminded me that there was an alternate road, one I’ve lovingly referred to as “Dead Sofa Way”, for it is a stretch of isolation along the West side of Downtown, and because of the isolation, a favorite dumping ground for large bulky items, mostly sofas. I was all, “AHA!” and “Look at us go!” and feeling very satisfied inside that I knew how we could get out of the roadblock situation and still make progress on getting back to work.

Only somewhere along the way, Dead Sofa Way got put under construction. Sort of. Nobody was there, working on it. And suddenly things turned to gravel. Well, I say suddenly, but there might have been a very large piece of heavy moving equipment and two large concrete barriers and a sign that was moved, but there was ROOM to get through and seriously? I am like a man and do NOT like to turn around. My two passengers were laughing and screaming and one might have been begging me to turn around. But why? I have a fabulous sense of direction and like a homing pigeon, I don’t want to backtrack! So we off-roaded it a bit. And I seriously was feeling TRIUMPHANT. And as we neared the end of the construction it became quite apparent that there was no way, no how, I was going to get through the concrete blockade on this end of the road. Fuckety fuck. I even eyeballed the mound of gravel, and Kristin offered to get out and level it, just so I wouldn’t have to turn back. But there we were, without a shovel. Sigh. So it was backtrack and into the West Bottoms to get back up on a highway.

I love taking the unknown way. I did it constantly when I moved here. I have always trusted my brain to know (generally speaking) which way is North and which way I Need To Be Going, and that with those two pieces of information, I can get there – even if it’s a roundabout way. (There was that one time, in Swope Park, in the dark, that we got totally jacked up, turned around and ended up in Raytown. I own it, I was lost. It just is rare.) Sometimes you get to see new things (once I saw a woman walking her pig. On a leash!), sometimes you get to laugh and sometimes you remember that the old way of doing things may be comfortable and can get you there? But that the adventure lies in taking the new path, winding around to give you new vistas and remind you the choice to do so is always there. However, just a piece of advice…it’s important to pay attention along the way….I was dead-set on making sure the road didn’t end with say, Sudden Drop-Off and Plummeting. Plummeting = Bad.

A Cautionary Tale.

OK, maybe I’m going over the top here. But you know that you can’t jump in and out of your car & rub your legs and arms together & then remove the gas pump from your car, because you could EXPLODE! You know this. You’ve even seen video, of combustion in action. (I’m particularly fond of this version, as it is titled in Spanish. Cuidado! Incendio!)

So we had a weird power blip this morning, and I noticed that the cordless phone blinked as the power came back on – but I was so focused on resetting clocks (Must! Restore! Order!) that I didn’t notice the blinking continued. And it was blinking when I got home tonight. I investigated a bit further, to discover both phones downstairs were dead. I unplugged them from their electrical source (cuidado!) and re-plugged them in, and the same problem. Maybe the phone was knocked off the hook upstairs – so, thump thump thump, up I go. Nope. Not off the hook, no signal. None in the craft room. Thump Thump Thump, down to the basement. Checked the wires down there, plugged & unplugged the alarm, back upstairs, (thump thump thump), no signal. Test the alarm. It works. But we have wireless on it as well so there’s no way to know. FUCK. So I went outside, to look at the wires out there. Nothin’. You can’t even get IN the box out there, locked down tight, (cuidado! phone service technicians only!), thump thump thump, back upstairs. I get the number to my phone company and call. The service technician puts me on hold and comes back on with the news.

His diagnosis? Static electricity buildup in the phone jacks. What I’m supposed to do is unplug all phones from the wall, unplug the power source to cordless phones, and wait five minutes. I bit my tongue and refrain from asking if I was supposed to sacrifice a chicken and walk in a circle backwards six times while reciting a nursery rhyme in French.

You might say I was skeptical. But why stop running up and down the stairs at this point, eh? And I might as well try it, preposterous as it sounded. So I unplugged the phones on the main level. Thumpity, thumpity….thump. Back upstairs. Tackle the craft room because LAWD knows, getting at that phone jack on the wall requires moving the cutting table, which happens to have four boxes under it, and piles of sorted yarn in bags next to it. (Yes, I said sorted. I did get some work done up there.) After I determined I would have to hurtle across the table, or under it, and possibly risk serious bruising, I decided to skip it and unplug it at the phone. On a lark, I pick up said phone and – lo and behold – a dial tone.

FOR REAL.

So static electricity DOES build up and it can completely screw up your phone service. And your evening! Static electricity is totally getting kicked out when I rule the world.

….When K-FED is designated the better parent? Dope smoking, camel-toe-socks-in-sandals and braids and all. Eesh.

In other breaking news, we got a Wii. And someone keeps beating me at all the games, except maybe tanks, and for a competitive spirit, it is difficult to see my Mii over and over, dejected with her head-hanging down. I’m just saying. The boxing training sessions are going to begin soon. KaPOW!

I just thought this morning, “I have a good life.”

I know, I bitch & moan, and rail at the heavens, and shake my fist at those stupid drivers, and freak out about work, but really, if you made me put all the beans in two piles, good & bad, there’s so much more that’s good.

I had a long conversation with a friend, and partway through, even though I knew it would heighten emotions, I leaned over and put my hand on her arm and told her one of the things I admire most about her. I won’t make this into a weepy post, but you know what? We all need to hear those things. And they have to be genuine, and heartfelt, and you can’t do it every time you see them because then you’d be kind of a dork, you know, that person that gushes and makes you uncomfortable every time you’re around them, but you know, I challenge you to try it. Don’t force it, but sometime in the next week, tell someone with whom you have regular interaction something that’s great about them. You don’t even have to touch them while you do it.

See, we get going. And we catch momentum. And we forget to stop, that we have the power to stop. This world is so fast now. We make half (or more) of our decisions and conclusions in front of a glowing screen that’s not much bigger than a purse. (My purse :is: bigger. Sigh.) We read things and decide things and we don’t see the facial expressions or have the chance to know that there are 100 other things going on outside of that keyboard and screen, and we have email and websites and instant messenger and cellular telephone devices and some people even have the iPhone. Hell, we still have a fax machine at work and it’s the most antiquated tool we use. Used to be that very device revolutionized how business, and communication was done.

There is no substitute for talking to someone face to face. Seeing their face, seeing their humanity, seeing they are just like you. And me. And we need things we’ll never, ever get from a computer. But we forget it, because we get so used to the endless stream of data and information, and that is the norm and it feels strange to demand more. I was just thinking about my challenge, and had automatically started to mentally write emails to people, to tell them something great. Again. My challenge to you, and to myself, is to do it in person. In the moment. It is the purest essence of being there, and you will feel more reconnected than any of those rechargeable, wired/wireless devices could possibly do.

Let us know how it goes. (That’s all the readers here, all 14 of you, not the Royal Us.) Put it on your blog. I know there’s irony in it. Using this one-sided form of communication to challenge other people you know to stop using it – but I never said all this internet stuff was bad – it’s just different. It has changed how we process and react to things and in some ways it is phenomenal. I have a whole circle of people I like and I’ve never met (most) of you – and we only communicate through the glowing screen. But I found my mind wandering to the dream of taking a trip, so I could meet all of you. (I’d call (or email!) first, don’t worry.) Because the foundation and the solidness of our loves and friendships comes from the face time. I know I probably won’t meet everyone I like and know through the online community – but I know on some level my life would be far richer if I could.

Go do something real, live and in-person. Slap a little love on someone who needs to hear it. And if it makes you want to chuck your iPhone, send me an email, I’ll give you my mailing address. ;)

Because the mouse that has decided OUR house is much lovelier than, say, his previous home, in a thatch of grass or even hubby’s workshop, has moved IN. There’s nothing like seeing something skitter across the floor out of the corner of your eye – and knowing you weren’t hallucinating or anything. Eeeeyow. I have no idea how having my shoes on helps? But it makes me feel a little more secure. I have no desire to stomp a mouse, or even really kill one, but seriously when the chips are down, it’s him or me, and I can tell you, evolution-believer or not, I will come out on top.

Polly is not a cat. She snoozed through the entire skittering. I wish Wo and I weren’t allergic, because having a cat right now would be great, except then I think how said cat might wake us up with said dead mouse in mouth, as a joyous 2 a.m. offering, and that would be say, not so lovely.

I have been cranking – I am teaching three classes at the Studio this Fall/Winter session – Baby Surprise, the Brea Bag, and Chevron Scarf. I have Baby Surprise completely done, with buttons basted on, and the Brea bag is done – took me a frantic day to find the long-ago purchased purse handle – and while I didn’t get the lining done, the bag itself is DONE. And Chevron is going to have to wait to be finished, but I am half done, will block it tonight, and we can display it in its prettiness until it’s time to teach the class & I’ll finish that bad boy. I’m definitely going to make Polly model it, because it looks great on her!

Wow, I have a lot of work to do tomorrow, I can’t think about it or I’ll never fall asleep! Must block, then bed….

Hello! How are you? We thought you would be here by now. In fact, one of your pieces of luggage arrived a week or so ago, and we got very excited. We changed the sheets in the guest room, tidied up the clutter in bathroom & fluffed your pillow, just so sure you’d be on our doorstep at any moment, to stay for your usual duration of a few months. We even started to think about knitting on things that are larger than a loaf of bread, such was the anticipation and excitement.

Sadly, and you know you are my favorite of the seasons, so I tell you this in confidence, your idiot brother Summer showed back up, and has not only eaten all the cheese (and I mean the GOOD cheese), potato chips and popsicles, he has been sleeping on the couch, leaving the toilet seat up, not turning off the lights when he leaves a room, and in general, being a veritable nuisance. Not to mention all the sweating. It’s the end of September, he has far overstayed his welcome, and I’ve left NUMEROUS messages with his mother (Nature) and she seems to be avoiding my calls.

So, dear, please get here as soon as you can, because we are anxious for the autumnal color show you put on, and the crisp evenings and the soup-making. Summer has got to go! Anything you can do to speed that up would be greeeeeat.

Much love,
Jennifer

My friend Beth asked me what shows might be worth watching, and my email to her was so long, I decided it could also be a good blog post! I’m going to edit it for a slightly better sentence structure, and we’ll see how many shows I decide to actually link to. (I just wrote the whole thing? The answer is NONE. Sorry. It’d take me an hour.)

As I say at home, partially to remind hubs why the DVR is squeaking and dual-recording things and cock-blocking him from watching something else, this is my bidness. I love all forms of media, by & large, and the new fall season of TV is like getting a big catalog of fun in the mail. You peruse & look and sometimes even laugh & point at things that will never, ever make it.

Do you wonder how I figure out what I can realistically watch? I take a highlighter to a new season schedule & I’m still going to have to juggle some cable shows for a few weeks to keep the DVR from exploding. Thank goodness those cable shows do immediate repeats. And we do have an extra DVR, and it’s moving down to the treadmill shortly. Might as well get some walking in while watching!

So here we go! Remember, everyone’s tastes vary, which explains why Smith was yanked after three episodes, but ER continues to live on…and on…. and on.

Honestly, and despite all the brouhaha, I think Kid Nation looks good. I doubt I will add it to the lineup, but Kristin thinks she might watch it. The extended clip we saw from the station really shows a wider breadth of experiences, and the society these kids build. It could also be heart wrenching.

I’m going to give Cane a go, on CBS, Tuesday nights, 9p. Jimmy Smits, good eye candy, heavy production budget, it looks like the first mainstream tv show that also will speak to Hispanics. I feel like this is a Smith Risk, because it could also be so expensive that CBS decides it’s not worth the bucks for the eyeballs they get. They’ve certainly marketed the hell out of it!

I’ve already added K-ville, a cop/crime drama on Fox (Mon, 8p), and it’s done very well in the ratings; I haven’t watched it yet, though.

Reaper on the CW, Tues. 8p, looks hilarious. It’s directed by Kevin Smith of Clerks.

Big Bang Theory, 1/2 hour sitcom on CBS, Mon, 7:30 is also going onto the DVR. The clip was hilarious and I love geeks & nerds.

I’m going to give Private Practice (Kate Walsh/Grey’s Anatomy spin-off) a go, though I’m reserving judgment. It could really tank. Same goes for Dirty Sexy Money, and 90% of why I’ve got that one marked to watch is because it has Peter Krause in it, and it does look pretty entertaining. Those are on ABC, Wed, 8p & 9p respectively.

I’m also going to watch Women’s Murder Club on ABC; Fridays at 8, but that doesn’t premiere until mid-Oct.

Shows getting buzz that I’m not going to watch? Gossip Girl (CW, Wed, 8p), Bionic Woman (NBC, Wed, 8p) and Chuck (NBC, Mon, 7p). Back to You, with Kelsey Grammar (Fox, Wed, 7p), also looks pretty funny – I’m just not a sitcom gal and Big Bang looked funnier.

Cavemen & Carpoolers are on the short list for who’ll get canceled first. Viva Laughlin? The CBS show with drama, singing & Melanie Griffith? Gets my first-to-get-the-axe vote, but because it doesn’t premiere until 10/21, something else will die first. But hands-down, that show will perhaps air once, maybe twice. We’ve obviously learned nothing from Cop Rock. I wish CBS would just give me half the money they spent on that damn thing so I could tell them to keep the other half & we’d both be happy. They have overestimated the star power of Hugh Jackman, too. If America wants a sing-along, they have Singing Bee and Don’t Forget the Lyrics.

Despite this list, looking at my highlighted stuff – of all the new shows, I’m not watching many of them. My tried-and-true line up includes Prison Break, CSI & CSI Miami, Law & Order (all of ’em), Criminal Minds, Survivor, Without A Trace, Grey’s, Earl & Office. Plus Damages (Fx), which has about five episodes left.

And if ever there was a time to have Showtime, it’s now. I’m hooked on Weeds & Brotherhood, and the new season of Dexter premieres in a week. There’s still time to watch the first season on-Demand. My god, what a great show. Michael C. Hall has outdone himself and his tightly wound performance as a serial killer (but for all the right reasons!) containing his demons while living a “normal” life nearly rivals the still-reigning king of my heart, Vic Mackey, of The Shield (Fx, final season starts sometime in ’08).

I love the telebision. I get lots of knitting done on the weekends when JWo has gone hunting, and having shows to watch while treadmilling will be good. Most industry predictions are that ABC will have the best fall, in part because their new shows are good (except Cavemen/Carpoolers) and are of course sandwiched among their many #1 shows. NBC continues to flounder to find an identity, but may break through on Bionic Woman. CBS will stay middle-of-the-road and pray that people don’t get tired of crime dramas and all their other dramas that keep them afloat. We’ll see if that inexplicable viewership of Ghost Whisperer really wants to stick around for a series about a vampire (Moonlight). Fox just waits for January and the cash register to start ringing like mad for American Idol, and My TV learned the hard way last year that telenovellas are NOT sweepin’ the nation in a tv sensation. The CW has gotten spunky & should do pretty well with younger viewers – and even me for Reaper.

So! I attempted to get here and just typed in Logger.com, and guess what? It takes you to a lumberjack kinda site. Go me and the inability to type right now.

What a wonkers week. WON! KERS! It’s like my new personal cheer.

I started this um, an hour ago? My brain, it’s fried. I actually typed “fired” but seriously, I haven’t got a brain-waiting-in-the-wings, so I’m in no position to let the current one go. It’ll just go wandering in the streets with my gnomes and leave me here to watch Court TV all night. Let’s hope I get through the weekend at this rate….. I’ll definitely have lots to blog about after this big weekend! The Greensburg Afghan seam-up & the Yarn Harlot! Woo hoo!