What I learned today from spell checker

In an email today, I wrote 'let me know' but didn't leave a space between me and know, so spell check picked up 'meknow' and suggested 'Mekong'. Of course, I had to google it.

The Mekong River is one of the world’s major rivers. It is the 12th-longest river in the world, and 7th longest in Asia. (discharging 475 km3/114 cu mi of water annually).
Its estimated length is 4,350 km (2,703 mi), and it drains an area of 795,000 km2 (307,000 sq mi).[1] From the Tibetan Plateau it runs through China's Yunnan province, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
All except China and Burma belong to the Mekong River Commission. A South Asian regional association, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation is named after this river. The extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls have made navigation extremely difficult.

You're welcome for your geography lesson.

this makes more sense

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

sort of funny, catchy and sort of scary!

found on : http://thefoodmonkey.com/?p=946

Dear Spring, come home soon.

@#$^&^$! shoveling. We probably got about 10 inches of snow, and yes it is starting again. Please please please stop now. So anyway - I went out around 1:30 to dig out my car... and now my wrist and elbow are killing me. Nevermind the fact that I am a klutz, accident prone, and probably used the shovel wrong. It's the snow's fault for accumulating and being heavy.

ick

Face Off is on TV right now. Of course I turned it on at the part where they are lasering off John Travolta's face. EW. This is the movie that made me really dislike Nicholas Cage - his voice, his demeanor, ugh I can't stand watching him.

** and, because I am home and it is snowy and there is nothing else on - I WATCHED IT. ah well.

snow day and bad daytime TV

MORE snow. I know - everyone in New England is sick of it. . hopefully this is the last storm. So - our office is closed today , which I'm happy about bc I didn't want to dig out my car at 8am and drive down there. But - I could have used the distraction of being in the office.
I'm flipping channels on TV - and on Maury, which I cannot stand - the title is "I was in a coma - I can't be your baby's father." This looks pretty ludicrous so I stopped on it. The woman says she has never been w/ anyone else so the guy has to be the dad, but she has no money and has to sell blood for money. Can you even do that?? And she said she does it twice a week. UM that is impossible lady! You have to wait 56 days to give blood again. Unfortunately, the bleeping of the swearing got to me in about 1 minute so I will never know the outcome, but that's not such a bad thing.

Old movies and silky blankets

My sister recently saw "Wicked", which I have seen twice and LOVE. I have a love / hate relationship with "The Wizard of Oz." When I, well - we - were younger we would watch The Wizard of Oz at least 3x's a week.* For whatever reason, I was drawn to the movie. ** In middle school or highschool, I saw a documentary on the making of the movie and learned about all the problems on set and issues they had filming -

- the original Tin Man (Buddy Ebsen) being allergic to his aluminum powdered makeup that coated his lungs and made him sick

- during one take of the Wicked Witch leaving Munchkin land in her ball of fire - her hat and cape caught fire and she suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns.

- rumors of a munchkin hanging themselves on set /in a scene, etc.

After seeing this - I was a bit freaked out by the movie. I wondered why I wasn't more scared of the witch, and the movie in general when I was younger. The Tin Man is creepy looking , and those monkeys are SCARY. Anyway - in highschool I had a new found fascination with it, when I learned it had a historical allegory. But it still freaked me out.

The point of all this - is that Heather and I just talked about our obsession w/ the original movie. and also talked about how we would go to my Grandma's, and after 'Perry Mason' was over, we would run right over to the VCR (or BETA player, cause they definitely had one) and put in Wizard of Oz, Annie, Heidi (WHY??) or Sword in the Stone. We'd eat chips from the Charles Chips can, and wrap up in the silky fantastic blanket. Man, I wish I was about 6 yrs old right now, laying on the couch in that blanket and watching one of my fave movies.

*this is a pattern in our lives. We find movies we like and watch them OVER and OVER and OVER - Hocus Pocus, Annie (when we were little), The Santa Clause, Sweeney Todd (Heather), etc.

**It wasn't until I was much older that I realized we were watching a version from TV with the commercials cut out - one day I wondered where the 'by Mennen' part was - only it wasn't in the movie because it was part of the cut out commercials!

ew

So there are some words that I HATE the sound of. Words that conjure up disgusting visuals, or make you think of gross sounds. One word is 'yeast'. For work, I have to order donuts for a shoot. Unfortunately for me, I have to refer to the product as 'yeast ring' or 'yeast shell' when talking to the bakery. EW EW EW.

repetitive

Isn't it funny how if you look at a word too many times it starts to look funny? Today's word: picture

what a *pretty* sweater !

Bad Sweater party highlights:






you can't see it, but it has a hood. And the turtleneck is separate.

Cheap Eats

I read about this on wisebread.com -
Until February 15th - Go to Restaurant.com and purchase a gift certificate, and type in the coupon code TREAT. You will get 60% off right away on your gift certificate so the $25 gift certifcate is only $4!

Win $2k??

I think I found this on www.mentalfloss.com - but then again it could have been anywhere.
Anyway - this Australian site has a 'secret sound' that you go online and listen to. You then guess (very specifically) as to what it might be. If you're right - you can win money. The harder the sound, the more money you win.
http://www.mysecretsound.com/Default.aspx
You can only guess once per day - but you can keep guessing as long as the sound is up - it's changed when someone gets it right.

Where do these dreams come from?

This morning I had a strange dream:
I came home from NY and the house was trashed. The living room had streamers and balloons as if there was a party. The pull out bed (w/ no mattress) was sticking up straight, and there was a big bowl of pasta under the couch. The dining room was purple and had different colored dressers lining the walls. The built in bookcase in the wall was gone and I was not happy about it. I went to the garage and someones boyfriend (but not any of my roommates or friend's actual boyfriend) was using a saw - I go - where is the bookcase? He goes, it's out here. I said, jen is ok w/ this? He said, she didnt want to start a fight.
I come back inside and Jen goes - the bookcase is in the garage. we had to put it back. it was there when we moved in and now that we're leaving we have to put it back. (In real life, this is not true)
Then my cousin kaitlin shows up w/ a cocker spaniel named Ralphie. Ralphie runs out into traffic / the street (which is busy and not the street my house is on) and we are yelling for him to come back. Suddenly ralphie turns into a 6 y/o girl on a bike weaving in and out of traffic. I start to walk away, and hit the button to unlock my car. Instead of my car it is a red and white striped Mini. Then I realize I have two sets of keys. I hit my button and my car is underground. Then my Uncle Tim, Kaitlin's dad - shows up and says, you have to wait. We're going into the city to get some bagels.
then I woke up.

ummm - what??

Ja-Ja-Jaded

Three years ago, I was 23, and working at Subway, in their advertising group. It was my first job out of college, and we had just gotten new leadership - someone who was listening to what my co workers and I had to say, empowered us to discuss what needed to be changed, and overall supported us better than we had been previously. I was easily fired up about things that plagued our team - happy to have someone listen to me offer up my naive suggestions, and want to make it all better. I was sort of idealistic and ready to take on everyone to fight for my causes.
Shift to 2009, I'm almost 27, and just listened to a 24 year old co worker plead her case on the phone to a boss/coworker, etc. She sounds like I did a few years ago - eager to make changes, and up for the fight. Sadly, with experience in corporate America - you learn that some battles aren't worth fighting. The ones you were all fired up about 3 - 4 years ago are now things that you know better than to fight against, and instead you are perfecting the art of managing expectations. It makes me a little sad to think that I might not get that fired up anymore.

harsh

So, I feel as if I have been a bit harsh on the housing frustrations. It seems to be easier to be lenient with your friends, and let little things go. I am starting to think that I need to calm down a bit - and even though I get annoyed and mad about little things that happen, there isn't much else I can do. . people will catch on or not, and I can either be mad, or find something else to do so I'm not bothered by it.

To each his own... strangely

Heather has 'Crazy of the Day' on her blog, and that's exactly what I thought when I saw this van this morning on my way to work.

If you can't read it, the stickers on the window read, "Jesus is coing back soon. Are you ready?"

I'm not sure I'm ready, but I'm also not sure I believe him. Good for him for utilizing his power of free speech.

Per usual

The more I have going on, the less I blog. Ironic actually - you think that is when I would say the most!
Stay tuned for:
- Beatle Juice @Johnny D's
- Ugly Sweater Party
- life updates

it's like that dream where you forget to wear pants to work

Do you listen to your Ipod/music at work via headphones? Do you ever worry that you will start singing out loud or humming to yourself? Because I do. Worry, that is - not sing out loud or hum. At least - not that I know of. And knowing the people I sit around, they'd tell me if I was. Probably by laughing and pointing.
Anyway - I almost did it today. I was listening to the random playlist of the week and fought the urge to sing 'American Boy' out loud. I feel like randomly singing out loud would be quite embarassing - similar to those dreams where you are at school, work, the bus, etc. without pants, or something.

For my Boston Commuter friends

Dunkin' Donuts hands out free Charlie cards
via Loaded Gun by Sam Baltrusis on 1/20/09

On Friday, Jan. 23, Dunkin' Donuts teams up with actor Peter Ostrum, the former child star from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," to hand out 10,000 pre-paid Charlie Cards to morning commuters from 7-10 a.m. at Boston's North Station, South Station and Back Bay.

Ostrum will work with Dunkin' Donuts in presenting one lucky commuter with a "Golden Ticket" for a year's worth of Dunkin' Donuts Coffee and a Charlie Card for unlimited subway rides on the T for one year.

Unfortunately, Oompa-Loompas are not eligible for the "Golden Ticket" prize.

To help spread their so-called "Kin' Do" spirit, Dunkin' Donuts is launching a free transportation program in January in Boston and select markets throughout the Northeast.

Let's take a look back

at our exiting President:



Though this all was pretty entertaining, I am happy Obama will be in the White House.

negative

It is super cold here, but at least I am not in Maine! Jen's brother sent this pic to her today. It was -23 in his car. YIKES.

reader

Recently found this blog courtesy of another blog. It is the story of a guy named Matt, whose wife had a baby 3/24/08 and then she died the following day. His blog chronicles his life raising his baby girl, Madeline, mainly by himself. (but with some assistance from family and friends.)
Last weekend, I think I sat down and read about 90% of the past posts, and have since added this to my google reader. I love the way he tells his stories, and he is a fantastic photographer.
Today he launched a website for a foundation in honor of his late wife, that donates money to families that have lost a parent.

Steve in Real Life

Steve Carell buys Massachusetts general store

MARSHFIELD, Mass. – Steve Carell is going from "The Office" to the general store.
Carell, who plays bumbling boss Michael Scott on the NBC sitcom, recently bought the Marshfield Hills General Store. The 45-year-old actor is a part-time resident of the town on Massachusetts' south shore, 25 miles south of Boston.
He put sister-in-law Tish Vivado in charge, but said customers should not be surprised to see him working there on occasion.
"I will be manning the cash register, and stocking the shelves as time permits!" Carell wrote in an e-mail to The Boston Globe.
He said the purchase was more of an "emotional investment than a business one" and an opportunity to preserve a piece of Americana.
The store's previous owner, Sherry Bechtold, said she and her husband, Bob, sold the 155-year-old building and business to Carell after being convinced he wanted it "for the right reasons." She said she wanted to make sure the new owner retained the store's character.
Vivado took over as store manager on Jan. 1.

Awesome ring tone of the day

is......
"What is love" - the song's claim to fame is being featured in the SNL skit(below).
Awesome. Click here to read about ring tones in the office.

accidente

No wonder the ride to work today took over an hour.

A dream involving Britney Spear's kids?

I had a weirdo dream last night that I need to discuss.
I got a call that I needed to babysit - which wasn't weird in the dream but is sort of strange bc I haven't babysat in years. So I went over to this house, which was massive and had gates. I get inside and I am at Britney Spears' house. She has been arrested and I have to watch her kids. So I am playing w/ her sons, hanging out. Then, Britney comes home and says it was all a joke, she is not arrested and is laughing a lot. Next, I am sitting in the back of a van, and the doors are open. Someone tied up my hands w/ plastic ties (I saw this happen in an episode of How I met Your Mother at the gym yesterday) but told me it was just for a bit for a radio show. Then I see a guy from a local radio station roaming around the park we are nearby. And the person I am with goes, 'Look - it's the Gunner!'* Then I woke up.

*the Gunner is a fan of the aforementioned radio show - who is always hammered and calls up the show with nonsense comments.

interview

Not with a vampire, or Steve Buscemi as Pierre Pierre, but with me - courtesy of Paula.

1. Do you tell people you know, in real life, about your blog and/or tell them the URL so they can read it if they want?

Yes, but sometimes I think about starting a completely anonymous one so I can full-on vent about everything and talk about whatever I want without having to ever think about censoring it.



2. If you were given the option to have an epic kiss with any famous person, who would it be and why?
I'm going to take this as - you have to have the exact kiss that occurred in the movie scene with that celeb. SO - I will have to go with Brad Pitt in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. There are some pretty good ones in there. However, if you can pick any scene and any actor, I would take the Notebook kiss (the running/jumping one) w/ Christian Bale.



3. If you had the option to swap lives with someone, who would you choose? (Anyone - someone you know, or someone famous)
At this point, I can't say I want to swap lives with anyone. Maybe swap lives with some people I know to get a better idea of what goes on in their world.. but that's about it. (and no, I can't name names)



4. If you were only allowed to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Only one?? I guess I'd have to pick cereal. You can eat it day or night, dry or w/ milk - and there are a ton of varieties so there would be less chance of getting sick of it. My other thought was pizza - but I think that if I had that a few days in a row, I'd get bored quick.

5. Are there any reality tv shows you would consider taking part in?

I used to want to be on Real World - until it got completely out of control and obnoxious. Now, the only one I would consider is Amazing Race. Even if I lost - it'd be cool to travel around. Although it would be a pretty stressful way to see the world.

X marks the spot

Snow sucks when you have street parking. You have to shovel out a spot and then you leave and risk losing it. In Boston, residents are allowed to reserve parking spots they shoveled out after a snowstorm for 48 hours by placing an object on the pavement. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO MEDFORD. I should know, I called the cops to ask.
Our fantastic* neighbor, who we've dubbed 'Joan Jett' - is marking her spot with cones. It snowed Wednesday, so even if she was allowed to follow the 48 hour rule, it is over now. Things that my friends and I have discussed doing to the cones:
- pouring water on them and hoping they freeze to the street
- putting them on their front porch
- stuffing foul smelling items inside (i.e. dead fish, etc.) so when they put the cones in their trunk the car smells
- removing them and hiding them/throw them away
- burning them (this will not be good for us bc burning plastic smells and is bad for the environment.)

I have yet to bring myself to move the cones, or do anything about it. . partly because I think it is just as petty and immature as Joan Jett putting the cones out in the first place. She is crusin' for a bruisin'.** haha.

*Joan Jett thinks she is entitled to a parking spot in front of her house bc she does not have a driveway. Unfortunately for her, the street is public parking and we all pay for permits to park here. She calls our landlord to complain. our landlord says, put in a driveway - they can park wherever they want. She leaves notes on our cars that say, your car has been in front of my house for 2 days (someone was away for the weekend) please move it since we don't have a driveway and want to park in front of our house. If Joan was sick, or had a disability, I'd be way nicer about it. She is just a b*tch.

** when we were younger and annoying my mom, she'd let us know we were on thin ice by telling us we were "crusin' for a brusin'."

juicy?

Ridiculous - have you heard of this site - http://www.juicycampus.com/ ? Apparently some Duke University grad started it as a forum to anonymously gossip about your school, classmates, etc. I found out about it on boston.com, and was disgusted.
People list names of classmates for comments and discussions - and the information can be completely true or completely fabricated, and it's up to the public to form their own opinions. The comments and discussions also cover topics such as where is the best place to live on/off campus, best bars, etc - but that also turns ugly when people comment out of control.
Seriously - why do people find it entertaining to spend their time talking about other people and speculating on their lives? At some point in life, everyone gossips - sometimes innocently, as in - did you hear so and so got engaged. Sometimes maliciously - as in - Did you see person x & person y sitting in the cafeteria? That must mean something is going on between them. Come on. Find something else to do.
In high school - I couldn't wait to leave and get to college where I though petty situations like that might die down a bit. To my disgust, it got worse. When I entered the working world, I thought - Finally the b.s. will stop. Nope, not there either. I am grateful that I am not in college now - because this juicy campus b.s. would be too much to deal with. I'm sure it causes all sorts of unnecessary fights, with people accusing their friends of making comments or whatever. And - it is just mean and hurtful. Why do people think they have the right to post on a forum like this? (Even if it is 'anonymous') If you can't tell someone something to their face that you are telling others - then you probably shouldn't be saying it at all.*

*unless of course you are planning a surprise party or something fun!

Puzzling

I do not understand:
- people who watch your TV on your treadmill at the gym while they have their TV on a different channel. Put on the same channel, then you won't have to crane your neck into my space.
- People who do not wear sports bras while working out.