My sleep patterns are completely out of whack. Since FB™ and her hubby keep odd hours due to their careers, it has been a week of staying up 'til somewhere between 2 am and 4 am and getting up usually (for me anyway) at around 10:30 am or 11 am. They usually sleep in a bit longer than that, depending on work.

I couldn't really stay asleep last night / this morn. At around 4 am, the tree outside my townhouse was alive with the sound of extremely cheery birds. I stayed there in bed hoping for sleep and gave up at around 4:50 or so. I couldn't remember if the gym was open yet due to the holiday so I checked online. Voila. Nothing like an early work out. I love knocking it out of the way and feeling accomplished. Bonus points go to that lovely, "I don't have to go the gym right after work" feeling.

I am not really a morning person though. Not for workouts. I think my body responds best to working out between 3 and 5 pm.

Anyway...

Here I am back at work. I've been thoroughly bored out of my mind today so I've had time to take in my cube decor. I was looking around it today and realized that I forgot to bring the new Gir items I picked up from Hot Topic prior to my vacation. I also realized that my cube is decorated very non grown-up compared to everyone elses in my department. I don't have kids so I don't have any cute kid created drawings. I'm not a sports aficionado so there are no bobble head collections of sports players or calendars or anything like that. I do have pictures of my kitties and friends and family but everything else is very 'fun' for lack of a better word. (sigh...so much for majoring in English literature.)

There's a pic of it I took a while back here. I've got a row of Kinder Egg toys on top of my cabinet now that aren't in the picture of the 'main' view of my cube.

So, yeah...bored and I think that this post shows just how much. If you were able to feel my complete boredom and sleepiness, then I have done my job. Well, not the one I get paid to do, but...you know...

Songs for the day:
Dirty Harry, Feel Good Inc and All Alone by Gorillaz.
Beverly Hills and Island in the Sun by Weezer

Labels: FormerBlondie™, Music, Work MI

I forgot to share this when it happened.

A couple of weeks ago I stopped by a grocery store on the way home from work. It was actually on the first gorgeous day Ann Arborites had experienced in quite awhile. I parked kind of far back in the lot to enjoy the sunshine. Since there was some traffic in the parking lot, I walked down the right side of the road. The rears of the parked cars were to my right.

As I neared the crossing area to get to the store, I found myself walking behind one of the cars in the handicapped spaces. There was an elderly guy in the car. All of a sudden, his back up lights were on and the car started moving. I was directly behind this old dude's car.

He started honking at me. I hadn't stopped walking mind you. He was honking something fierce, too. So what did I do, I turned around and proceeded to yell at him.

"Why don't you watch where you're backing out?!"

Well, that was just too much for him. He started honking even more at me. By this time I was nearing the entrance of the store. Some people had looked around at the 'ruckus'; not a lot of yelling in parking lots goes on in Ann Arbor.

By the time I got in the store I wondered where the hell that came from. Apparently you can take the girl out of South Florida but you can't take the South Florida out of the girl.

Labels: Ann Arbor, Glitzy: Crabby

On our way to UGA, FormerBlondie™ and I stopped off at the Tanger Outlets on I-85 and 441. There was a Dollar Tree in one of the strip malls that FB™ wanted to run into to pick up some stuff for her patients at the hospital.

I guess I had a quizzical look on my face because she proceeded to explain to me that the hospital where she works does not supply diddly in the way of toiletries for the patients. She has been a cardiac nurse at the same hospital for six years; they just recently started providing toothbrushes for the patients. Toothpaste? That's extra. She wasn't exactly sure how much but she did know that one time a patient ordered Blistex and that was $50.00.

"What?" I asked her. I was completely dumbfounded. "Was it gold plated Blistex?"

She just kinda shrugged in response.

Six dollars spent later, she had some combs, soap, lotion and other goodies for her patients. All of the other nurses in the unit contribute items too. When they have a spare minute most of them make sure to primp up their patients. It does a world of good for how they feel and their families feel better seeing them looking a little better.

A couple of days later, we went to lunch with one of her work friends. After some rousing conversation about projectile vomiting, they got to talking about the new birthing center that their hospital constructed. Apparently there is a large 'wall of water' which I'm guessing is a fountain of some type and brand new high end furniture and fixings as you walk in. It's not being used very much and there's talk of the hospital losing the money they put into it.

This is such a crazy world. A facility that is supposed to help those in need of health care does not provide the patients that stay at there anything that would provide good hygiene but put the money that could go to that toward some fountain at the birthing center.

Labels: FormerBlondie™, Vacation

Research and problem solving appeal to me greatly. There's an aspect of sleuthing involved and the sense of accomplishment that goes with it is satisfying like tiramisu.

Well, almost like tiramisu.

Due to the fact that documentation and communication regarding processes where I work cannot always be counted on, I've had to research things. I'll usually research before going to someone else for help because I don't like seeming like someone who can't think for herself.

If I loved MI, I could very easily stay working where I am now forever and ever. The pay is not as great as it could be but the benefits are nice. Though there would be some change in my work, my brain wouldn't be effectively challenged over the long haul.

I can't live with that. I won't.

So this coming week I am going to UGA to check out the campus and their graduate program in Artificial Intelligence. Then, I get to make some heavy decisions about life.

"Life. Don't talk to me about life." - Marvin the Paranoid Android

I'll be staying in the Charlotte area with my friend, Ms. FormerBlonde™. She's got a new house to show off. I was also informed that there are outlet malls on the GA/NC border and in Athens so it looks like we'll be doing some financial damage to ourselves too. Have a great week and and a great Memorial Day weekend. Can't guarantee that blogging from grand ol' NC will occur.

*grabs the baton from darth*

Total volume of music files on my computer?
On the server where Unfriendly and I store our MP3s - 30 gigabytes.
I have 5 gig on my pc I've been too lazy to transfer over.

The last CD I bought was:
Franz Ferdinand (self titled)

Song playing right now:
Nothing. I have Manu Chao's Me Gustas Tu running through my head though.

Five songs I listen to a lot or that mean a lot to me (in no particular order):
Wasted Time -Eagles
Dear God- XTC
A Letter To Elise - Cure
Thank You - Led Zeppelin
No One Is To Blame - Howard Jones

Which 5 people are you passing this baton to, and why?
melanie - because music is her life
ms. bees knees - because she's clever and witty and we seem to share a brain at times
truecraig - because he's so damn amusing when he's drunk and when he's sober
mister underhill - because he was raised by feral chickens
phoenixnyc - because he was not raised by feral chickens and got see U2 live in Jersey this week

Labels: Memes, Music

other Saturday with a group of guys. As of last Saturday, gaming is on hold since the GM (game master) and his wife are expecting their second child within a couple of weeks.

Three of the friends in the gaming group are Unfriendly's buddies from work (past and present work). The other three are friends of these friends. When the group started out, the gaming session was held out in Livonia at one friend's house. After he and his wife had their first kid, the gaming moved over to Farmington Hills. The friend who started hosting was one of the only single ones. He shared a really nice two story with a basement with his grey and white kitty.

I only got to meet the new gaming host once. He held a party for family and friends last year. I believe the excuse was an important basketball game. He seemed perhaps a bit awkward with himself since he was a bit heavy set and seemed like the stereotypically nerdy / momma's boy type. He did do very well at playing host to all of the folks in his house. He tolerated the ribbing by his buddies for being 'Uncle Bubba' to his nieces and tried his hand at bantering back.

My clearest memory of him that evening is him worrying about getting taquitos out of the oven to serve to us all.

He died on Friday.

Unfriendly and I aren't really sure of the details. We know he had seizure at work and that he possibly didn't regain consciousness. He was 31.

My weekend was good at keeping my mind busy. I didn't have enough at work to keep my mind busy today. I was and still am struck by the suddeness of his death. Throughout the day, I've been getting lost in thought about mortality and haven't been able to concentrate on much else.

A quote from the t.v. show Angel keeps running through my mind. Darla, an older vampiress who sired Angel was brought back to life at one point in the show by the evil law firm, Wolfram and Hart. At this point in the story, she is human and is talking to Lindsey, one of the lawyers, about him wanting to kiss her. He expresses that he wasn't sure if she wanted him to or not. To that she says,

" You think I ever hesitated when I wanted something? Life's too short. Believe me, I know. Four hundred years, and still too short."

Too short indeed.

Labels: Tales of Trauma, Whedonish

My original title for this post was "It's Friday" but somehow posting got away from me until today.

I mentioned how happy I was that it was Friday to a co-worker in the kitchen area and he said, "Yeah, only two days 'til Monday"

Boo.

And now, Monday is just some hours away.

It's been a bit of a sobering and frustrating week. Unfortunately, the weekend didn't take some of that away the way I was hoping it would, but going out and not having to think about work did help.

Friday:

Headed out to Novi to see Kung Fu Hustle (for the third time) with a friend who used to work with Unfriendly. He goes by the moniker Bloodygecko, so I'll just stick to that. And yes, it was the 3rd time that I paid $ to see this movie in a theatre. I just think it's fantastic.

Unfriendly told me about Shaolin Soccer after he visited his friend the Nerd God one eve. I didn't understand his excitement and amazement about that movie until I caught it on Starz one day this past month. After seeing most of that movie, I just had to see Kung Fu Hustle as soon as I could.

Prior to movie time, we all went to Border's where I picked up a copy of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes. It's a book I haven't read in over 10 years. High time for a re read. My one book pick up was paltry compared to Bloodygecko's; he picked up about 8 - 10 different books! After that we headed to Friday's from some drinks and chat. Pretty much a good eve all around.

Saturday:

Headed out to the Blue Nile for some Ethiopian cuisine with Unfriendly, Cedric and his new gal. I've been there once and thought it was really tasty. This was over three years ago so I payed this establishment a long overdue visit. We had the Ethiopian Feast which was a sampler of all meat and vegetarian dishes served. Everything was neatly presented on a flourless bread plate. Our 'utensils' were triangles of the same type of bread you would tear into pieces and use to pinch bitefulls of food. My accomplishment? I was wearing a light colored top and manged not to wear my food!

After that, we saw the new movie version of The Hithchiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I was really, really skeptical going into it. Overall, it was decent.

*sigh* I just lost the rest of this post somehow in blogger. I think I said something clever but I can't remember what it was.

Final note: If you go to see Hitchiker's stay for most of the credits. There's more stuff at the end.

Labels: Literature, Movie Review, Movies

Back when I was doing Bikram yoga regularly, I got into Glaceau's smartwater because it had electrolytes. It's great water to have after a 90 minute yoga session in 100+ farenheit room.

Over the weekend, Unfriendly and I made another trip to Whole Paycheck, otherwise known as Whole Foods. We were good this time. Only fruit and veggies were purchased along with some vitaminwater which is also made by Glaceau. I didn't get to drink mine until today.

Now, smartwater bottles have cute little meters on their sides with messages describing your current rate of hydration. I think you're at genius level when you drink it all down.

I just noticed the following commands on the side of the vitaminwater label. Nothing cute or pithy on the vitaminwater. I guess it's serious business since it's water with vitamins and not just plain ol' electrolytes.

First command:

enjoy cold.

Yes, that is an option. Some might not enjoy cold lemonade. Maybe most do, but SOME don't. Bossy water.

The next command on the label:

refrigerate responsibly.

What, pray tell, is irresponsible refrigeration? Is it an X Game? Does it involve Jell-o shots and little people? Uneven shelving? Forgetting to buy baking soda? Boggles the mind I tell you.

Labels: Healthy Glitzy, Observations

I discovered the animation stylings of Bernard Derriman through Unfriendly's lastest post. Funny stuff.)

Enjoy.

Labels: Article Link

Found this in the comments of one of my fave blogs. What's your No Pants Personality?

You Should Wear Panties! Panties are sexy, but not too aggressive. You might feel a little naked at first, but just remember: "naked" means not wearing ANY clothes at all, so that naked feeling must be wrong. Find out which No Pants Day outfit YOU should wear! No Pants Day is May 6th, 2005. To find out more about No Pants Day, visit www.NoPantsDay.com

Labels: Online Quizzes

Today is finally a beautiful day. It's 63 and gorgeous.

I went to my local grocery store to pick up some lunch and veggies for dinner tonight. While I was in line, I went over to the next aisle to pick up some gum and a guy managed to take my place in line in that 5 second span. I noticed he worked for the same company that I do since his work badge was attached to the front of his polo. He was farsighted. His blue eyes were magnified and seemed a bit vacant. He seemed to be in his mid-thirties but missing some blonde hair on top.

"Did I just take cuts?" he asked me. I smirked.

"No, I stepped out of line. That's ok. You've got less stuff than I do." I replied noticing his deli stash of Thai noodles and a tupperware bowl.

"Because I've been known to do that. Take cuts."

With that he turned around and got rung up. I continued to smirk. Take cuts? I've used and heard the phrase 'cut in line' but had not heard of 'take cuts'. Perhaps this is a Midwest thing that I didn't notice until today.

Labels: Ann Arbor

but not in Texas

Labels: Article Link, InternetLand WTF

Yesterday as I was listening to Channel 95.5 on my morning drive a rap song was played. (Monumental, right?) It wasn't announced and as it started I found that the intro to the song was familiar. I was merging onto the highway and trying to figure out the song that was sampled and when it clicked, I was just in shock.

The song? "Sugar on My Tongue" The band? Talking Heads.

Not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, some people may discover Talking Heads through this song. On the other, there's a little voice in my head screaming, "Why?".

Labels: Music

My attention span is completely shot today. I minimized all the stuff I have open on my work pc three times before I remembered what the heck I wanted from my pc desktop. I can't even blame it on lack of sleep or being super busy. I also can't blame it on doorways, which I'm wont to do when I spaz.

I contend that the doorways of the world have little devices within them that cause you to forget what you wanted from the room you are entering as soon as you walk through them.

Wait a minute. What was I gonna post? It wasn't just this, was it? ...hmmm...

Labels: Observations