Wednesday, January 31, 2007
New computer
I ordered a new laptop today. It'll have all the new bells and whistles, and will free this laptop up for work. I can't wait to get it!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Geico's caveman commercials
I know it's corny, but I love the Geico caveman commercials. They absolutely crack me up. I think my favorite is the one where the caveman is on a TV program being quizzed by the host and he rattles off all of the things that cavemen did to further the human cause, such as inventing the wheel, and then follows up with, "sorry we couldn't get that to ya sooner." I like the one where he's in the psychiatrists office, too.
I hate the ones with the Gecko though. My mom loves those, but they annoy the heck out of me. I guess this is a good example of a company that uses varied advertising for different audiences. It's a pretty great approach really. I can forgive the stupid Gecko commercials since I love the caveman commercials. Brilliant...
I hate the ones with the Gecko though. My mom loves those, but they annoy the heck out of me. I guess this is a good example of a company that uses varied advertising for different audiences. It's a pretty great approach really. I can forgive the stupid Gecko commercials since I love the caveman commercials. Brilliant...
Monday, January 29, 2007
Annoying people at UPS
I had to pick up a package at UPS today. It's a bit of a complicated story of how I ended up having to pick it up rather than have it delivered to my house. But suffice it to say that when I had tried to reschedule the delivery date of the package originally, I got stuck in automated phone hell and screwed the whole delivery option up to the point where I just decided that I needed to pick the package up myself. As a side note, when you call UPS, call during normal business hours. That way you can talk to an actual person who can help you with what you're trying to do, instead of starting an annoying cycle with the automated gal who tries to help you during off hours and can't understand anything outside of the automated options.
Anyway, back to my trip today. I live within several minutes of the UPS customer center, so you'd think this would be a quick trip. Since I worked from home today, I headed out about 1:30, which I figured would be better than trying to go during lunch hours. When I got there, there were 3 people in front of me in line and one customer being helped at the counter. Of course, there was only one guy behind the counter, so I could already tell I'd be there a little while. I don't expect anything different. As long as I've been having things delivered and occasionally having to pick things up, UPS has never done a good job at staffing at the customer center. I absolutely love my delivery guy - he's super friendly and very willing to work with my time needs. But the customer center leaves a lot to be desired. However, as I said, I have come to expect this, so I figured it would be a good 1/2 hour until I got to the counter. Two of the people in front of me were of pretty much the same mind. However, one older couple who I'll refer to as Ma and Pa, were quite despondent over waiting. I heard Pa mutter, "we'll be gangin' up on ya'll here in no time" no less than 15 times while it was just the few of us standing there. It was as though that was the only thing he knew how to say. A few minutes later, another person walked through the door, and Pa got a little gleam in his eye and said again, "ye, we'll be a' gangin' up on ya in no time". Over and over. He finally tapped the woman in front of him on the shoulder and informed her of the same thing, to which she politely replied, "yeah" and then turned back around.
Finally, a guy came out of the warehouse and started assisting with the customers. When Ma and Pa got to the counter, the UPS guy asked them if they had printed out a label for their package, to which they replied, "no". Lemme tell ya - there were signs everywhere and the first thing that you see when you enter the store are computers instructing you how to print out the label for your package. So, he walks Ma and Pa over to the computers and shows them how to enter information and print out the label - 3 times. He then walks back over to help me.
I didn't stick around to see how that one turned out, but all I could think of was if Pa had spent a little less time staring down the guy at UPS and muttering the same thing over and over like a psycho, and a little more time reading the 50 signs around him, he might have figured out the whole label thing before holding everyone else in line up...
Anyway, back to my trip today. I live within several minutes of the UPS customer center, so you'd think this would be a quick trip. Since I worked from home today, I headed out about 1:30, which I figured would be better than trying to go during lunch hours. When I got there, there were 3 people in front of me in line and one customer being helped at the counter. Of course, there was only one guy behind the counter, so I could already tell I'd be there a little while. I don't expect anything different. As long as I've been having things delivered and occasionally having to pick things up, UPS has never done a good job at staffing at the customer center. I absolutely love my delivery guy - he's super friendly and very willing to work with my time needs. But the customer center leaves a lot to be desired. However, as I said, I have come to expect this, so I figured it would be a good 1/2 hour until I got to the counter. Two of the people in front of me were of pretty much the same mind. However, one older couple who I'll refer to as Ma and Pa, were quite despondent over waiting. I heard Pa mutter, "we'll be gangin' up on ya'll here in no time" no less than 15 times while it was just the few of us standing there. It was as though that was the only thing he knew how to say. A few minutes later, another person walked through the door, and Pa got a little gleam in his eye and said again, "ye, we'll be a' gangin' up on ya in no time". Over and over. He finally tapped the woman in front of him on the shoulder and informed her of the same thing, to which she politely replied, "yeah" and then turned back around.
Finally, a guy came out of the warehouse and started assisting with the customers. When Ma and Pa got to the counter, the UPS guy asked them if they had printed out a label for their package, to which they replied, "no". Lemme tell ya - there were signs everywhere and the first thing that you see when you enter the store are computers instructing you how to print out the label for your package. So, he walks Ma and Pa over to the computers and shows them how to enter information and print out the label - 3 times. He then walks back over to help me.
I didn't stick around to see how that one turned out, but all I could think of was if Pa had spent a little less time staring down the guy at UPS and muttering the same thing over and over like a psycho, and a little more time reading the 50 signs around him, he might have figured out the whole label thing before holding everyone else in line up...
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
House flipping
As L. can attest to, I'm addicted to court shows and home decorating shows. Lately, I've been watching a lot of shows about flipping houses, where you buy a property in need of updates and renovate it, then sell it for a big profit (hopefully).
The one thing that is almost always blown is the schedule. Some of the flippers are actually pretty good at budgeting, but others totally blow the money aspect as well. Blowing the schedule and blowing the budget equal a pretty bad flip (usually).
When my ex-husband and I bought our house, the kitchen was horribly out of date. The rest of the house needed little things here and there, but the kitchen was really awful. C. and I planned to do it ourselves with a little help from our friends who were into construction work. Our original plan was to do everything in a week, so we took the time off and started demolition. A little over a month later, things were finally coming to an end (both with the house and with us). But, we did stick to the budget pretty well.
I learned a few things during that project. Perhaps the most important is that you have to be really realistic about the schedule. We were depending on different friends for different areas of expertise (such as electrical, plumbing, cabinet work, etc.) and all of them had different time constraints. Some had family responsibilities, and others had school or finals. However, it helped us a lot monetarily to not have to pay for labor, so that was where it paid off. I think you either have to budget enough for the labor or for extra time. The two don't seem to work well together when you reduce both. In the end, we took everyone out for a big dinner with plenty of drinks to thank them for the help. And the kitchen turned out beautiful. I was really happy with my design ideas, and when we sold it, the buyers told me that the thing that really sold them was the kitchen.
When L. asked me if I was interested in flipping houses, I thought about it for a minute and then pretty much said no. It would have to be a very specific kind of project for me to want to do that again. It was really stressful, and although there were several other things going on with our marriage, the renovation surely didn't help things much. Even without that in the mix, it's a big commitment both in time and money. The only way I'd want to do it is if I were given a budget from someone who wanted my design expertise. I'd be more than happy to come up with a plan, find the materials, and put that part of it together. So, I guess that means that I'd really just be happy being a designer. So, maybe in another part of my life I'll think about that. But for now, the writing is working out well.
A couple of weekends ago, L. and I watched one show where I was actually rooting for the woman to fail. I've never actually wanted someone to fail at a project, but this woman was a complete idiot in the way that she took on the flip. First, she was very spiritual and new agey, which isn't really a problem for me except that it led her to make some extremely bad decisions along the way including letting the house "talk" to her and "guide" her in what it wanted. I'm sure that if I let my condo talk to me, I'd end up with marble floors and countertops, hardwood floors, all new appliances, a separate tub and shower, etc. These are all things that I can't afford and would frankly overimprove for the area I'm in.
Anyway, as you can imagine, this woman blew the schedule and the budget because everything got so out of hand. It was one of the worst flips that I've seen, but not because of the quality of work. She was smart enough to hire a really good contractor, but I'm amazed that he didn't walk out on her during the project after having to listen to her every day. He did actually walk out on her at Home Depot at one point because she was busy with random stuff that completely wasted his time. She was so offended, and in her defense he could have said something to her, but she probably would have been too busy "talking" to the kitchen cabinets to have heard him.
She ended up painting the place a hideous shade of yellow based on a "painting" she did in the front yard. I use the term painting very loosely because I think my 1 1/2 year-old nephew would have come up with something better. But, I digress.
In the end, I was happy because all she ended up doing was breaking even on the project. I know that sounds mean, but this is a person who has no business flipping houses. There are times that people just need to understand their own limitations and this was a huge signpost in her life. But did she decide to take note of it? No. She said that she plans to flip again. I pity the people working with her on the project, as well as the people who end up with the house.
The one thing that is almost always blown is the schedule. Some of the flippers are actually pretty good at budgeting, but others totally blow the money aspect as well. Blowing the schedule and blowing the budget equal a pretty bad flip (usually).
When my ex-husband and I bought our house, the kitchen was horribly out of date. The rest of the house needed little things here and there, but the kitchen was really awful. C. and I planned to do it ourselves with a little help from our friends who were into construction work. Our original plan was to do everything in a week, so we took the time off and started demolition. A little over a month later, things were finally coming to an end (both with the house and with us). But, we did stick to the budget pretty well.
I learned a few things during that project. Perhaps the most important is that you have to be really realistic about the schedule. We were depending on different friends for different areas of expertise (such as electrical, plumbing, cabinet work, etc.) and all of them had different time constraints. Some had family responsibilities, and others had school or finals. However, it helped us a lot monetarily to not have to pay for labor, so that was where it paid off. I think you either have to budget enough for the labor or for extra time. The two don't seem to work well together when you reduce both. In the end, we took everyone out for a big dinner with plenty of drinks to thank them for the help. And the kitchen turned out beautiful. I was really happy with my design ideas, and when we sold it, the buyers told me that the thing that really sold them was the kitchen.
When L. asked me if I was interested in flipping houses, I thought about it for a minute and then pretty much said no. It would have to be a very specific kind of project for me to want to do that again. It was really stressful, and although there were several other things going on with our marriage, the renovation surely didn't help things much. Even without that in the mix, it's a big commitment both in time and money. The only way I'd want to do it is if I were given a budget from someone who wanted my design expertise. I'd be more than happy to come up with a plan, find the materials, and put that part of it together. So, I guess that means that I'd really just be happy being a designer. So, maybe in another part of my life I'll think about that. But for now, the writing is working out well.
A couple of weekends ago, L. and I watched one show where I was actually rooting for the woman to fail. I've never actually wanted someone to fail at a project, but this woman was a complete idiot in the way that she took on the flip. First, she was very spiritual and new agey, which isn't really a problem for me except that it led her to make some extremely bad decisions along the way including letting the house "talk" to her and "guide" her in what it wanted. I'm sure that if I let my condo talk to me, I'd end up with marble floors and countertops, hardwood floors, all new appliances, a separate tub and shower, etc. These are all things that I can't afford and would frankly overimprove for the area I'm in.
Anyway, as you can imagine, this woman blew the schedule and the budget because everything got so out of hand. It was one of the worst flips that I've seen, but not because of the quality of work. She was smart enough to hire a really good contractor, but I'm amazed that he didn't walk out on her during the project after having to listen to her every day. He did actually walk out on her at Home Depot at one point because she was busy with random stuff that completely wasted his time. She was so offended, and in her defense he could have said something to her, but she probably would have been too busy "talking" to the kitchen cabinets to have heard him.
She ended up painting the place a hideous shade of yellow based on a "painting" she did in the front yard. I use the term painting very loosely because I think my 1 1/2 year-old nephew would have come up with something better. But, I digress.
In the end, I was happy because all she ended up doing was breaking even on the project. I know that sounds mean, but this is a person who has no business flipping houses. There are times that people just need to understand their own limitations and this was a huge signpost in her life. But did she decide to take note of it? No. She said that she plans to flip again. I pity the people working with her on the project, as well as the people who end up with the house.
Stye in my eye
Dang it. I've got a stye. I get them every so often, and they sure are annoying and painful. I'll have to put a warm washcloth on it frequently and hope that it goes away soon. Darned eye problems. Isn't it enough that I'm blind as a bat without my corrective lenses? That reminds me - I guess I'll toss the contacts that I've been using recently and open up a new pair. But until this goes away, it's glasses for me...
Friday, January 19, 2007
Study shows that women are safer drivers
I've never actually had anyone comment that they're scared of my driving habits, but I've heard plenty about the difference between male and female drivers, and how males tend to fare better. However, this report (on AP) seems to show something different. Men have a 77% higher risk of death in car accidents than women: "As for men being more likely to die than women? McCartt and Fischbeck said men take more risks, speed more, drink and drive more." The report had a lot of other interesting information, from ages and types of vehicles involved.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Golden Globes fashion commentary update
I totally rocked the fashion commentary, based on what I read from the pros in the Best and Worst dressed lists from last night's award ceremony. Out of the 41 photos (in the arrival gallery) that I looked at last night, many of them ended up on the best and worst lists as I had picked them.
For worst dressed, I got Beyonce Knowles, Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ellen Pompeo, Patricia Arquette, Nicollette Sheridan, and Gillian Anderson. The other people photographed in the Worst gallery were not in the arrival gallery on which I commented.
For best dressed, I didn't have a ton of picks, but I did get Reese Witherspoon. The other best dressed pictures were not in the arrival gallery on which I commented with the exception of Sienna Miller, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. I picked Sienna Miller as a worst dressed individual, and I didn't actually comment on the photo of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie because they never look bad.
I'm actually quite impressed with myself, if I do say so myself...
For worst dressed, I got Beyonce Knowles, Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ellen Pompeo, Patricia Arquette, Nicollette Sheridan, and Gillian Anderson. The other people photographed in the Worst gallery were not in the arrival gallery on which I commented.
For best dressed, I didn't have a ton of picks, but I did get Reese Witherspoon. The other best dressed pictures were not in the arrival gallery on which I commented with the exception of Sienna Miller, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. I picked Sienna Miller as a worst dressed individual, and I didn't actually comment on the photo of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie because they never look bad.
I'm actually quite impressed with myself, if I do say so myself...
Monday, January 15, 2007
Commentary on fashion at the Golden Globes
I realize that I am not famous, and own little that is actually designer. But, I think I have pretty good fashion sense, and manage to clean up pretty well when I step out for the night. So, I figured I'd try my hand at some fashion commentary for this year's Golden Globes. Here goes...
One distubing thing I found while looking through these 40+ photos is that apparently when you're old, your whole body is no longer worth taking a picture of. For example, Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep. Both are lovely women, but apparently whatever they decided to wear to the Golden Globes wasn't worth the film. I guess that must have to do with the fact that their boobs aren't pinned to their chins like the younger actresses.
Second, a quick note on the men. Are there really many ways to change how a tux looks? Not really. Yes, you can mix things up a bit with the shirt and tie, but the rest of the ensemble is pretty much stock.
The Good
OK, with that out of the way, let's start with the the real winners for the night:
Reese Witherspoon
Vavavavavoom. Reese is just nothing short of graceful and beautiful, and look at those shoes! I love the combination of yellow and red. Her hair looks fabulous, too. Eat your heart out Ryan Phillipe.
Sheryl Crow
She's glowing, literally. Eggplant is a beautiful color to accent her hair color and skin tone. And unlike the other gowns from this evening where layers of fabric swallow up a figure, Sheryl Crow's dress still gives her shape without actually hugging her body. Eat your heart out Lance Armstrong.
Maggie Gyllenhall
I love Maggie, and she looks stunning for having a baby a few months back. She's very beautiful in a very non conventional way.
The Bad
Next, we have the ones that were almost good, but had something awry:
Hilary Swank
I actually think the dress is really cute, despite the wrinkled area around the middle. As a woman, I know that it's really hard to keep formal dresses looking as nice as they did after you got them pressed. The problem that I have is that her accessories are a bit understated, and the hair is a little young for her. A bracelet, a little bit larger earring or a necklace, and a soft upswept hairdo would have been really cute with this.
Felicity Huffman
It's a beautiful color for her, and the upper part of the dress is nice. But the bottom leaves a bit to be desired. It takes the focus away from her lovely upper half and makes you wonder what's swallowing her from below.
Jenna Fischer
The whole thing would be really cute if the dress accentuated her figure a bit better. As it is now, it's a bit blobby looking. But, she's still georgous.
Ellen Pompeo
She's beautiful, white looks great on her, and her accessories and hair are spot on. However, her makeup is a bit heavy and the style of the dress is odd. Perhaps she thought that if she happened to run late to the award ceremony, someone could just pull the fabric that loops from her hip to her shoulder and fling her like a rubberband.
The Ugly
OK, and now for the fun ones. These fall into my "what the hell?" category:
Beyonce Knowles
I love Beyonce Knowles, but her fashion sense can be hit and miss. Unfortunately, I think that her dress for the Golden Globes falls into the miss category for me. First, what's with this pose? She must have lost her mind for a minute and thought that she was suddenly Marilyn Monroe filming Gentlemen Prefer Blondes or something. Second, the dress is flashier than the sun, which should be the first sign that something has gone horribly wrong with an outfit. I've always been of the mindset that a little something flashy here or there equals a good accessory. So when the whole dress fits that bill, I think you've gone a bit far.
Patricia Arquette and Rosanna Arquette
Apparently these two decided to fashion their dresses from their own furniture. Patricia Arquette went for that kinda rock n' roll leather look paired with a traditional dress style, while Rosanna Arquette decided just to pull out grandma's tablecloth and dye it blue. Shudder.
Shonda Rhimes
Oh, where do I start with this one? I think it's my winner for worst dressed from the photos that I've seen. First, it looks like she took the Arquettes' idea and decided to make a dress out of fabric that was clearly meant to be drapes or a bedspread - and an ugly set of drapes or bedspread, at that. Second, she took what might be a cute bow on some other dress, and decided to throw it on here for good measure. Good thing that she built pockets into the dress, or she might misplace her keys or the numbers of the numerous designers who are probably clamoring to stop her from appearing anywhere else looking like this ever again. You know, it reminds me of a dress that I wore to church when I was roughly 8 years old. That was a good 20-ish years ago now, and although I'm aware that 80s fashion is making a renewed appearance, this is still out.
Gillian Anderson
I know that she just had a baby toward the end of last year, but this is really an awful look for her. Just because you're carrying some baby weight, doesn't mean that you have to dress like this. Look at Maggie Gyllenhall for an example of looking fabulous shortly after having a child.
Tina Fey
This is really close to being cute, but it's too short and winds up looking a bit trashy. I think that the bottom part would have been really cute with a different top. It's definitely the top that's throwing the look off. It almost looks like she should be selling cigarettes in a seedy bar. Too bad, because Tina Fey is a really pretty funny woman, but I don't think she expected her outfit to look like a joke.
Vanessa Williams
Damn! This whole thing is just overkill, from the fried, huge hair, to the awful fur shrug, to the bizarre dress. And like Eva Longoria, it looks like the rubberbands took hold at the waist and knee area on this dress as well. It would be a really nice color on her if it weren't such a hideous dress.
Sienna Miller
I think that she must have been a bit confused. Maybe she thought that she was going to the chapel with on-again-off-again beau Jude Law. Even at an event like the Golden Globes, you shouldn't need a maid of honor to fix your train.
Renée Zellweger
I have sort of a love-hate relationship with Renee's fashion. Sometimes she's so cute, and other times, she's...well...she's like this photo. I don't even think that it's the dress I hate so much as it is her pose and icy-pouty stare. I think it's pretty tough for anyone to pull that look off.
Eva Longoria
She's one of the hottest women alive, but even she can't make this dress look good. First off is the seemingly beaded macrame straps that hit right below her breasts. Then the rubberbands that attached themselves at the waist and under the knee. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't like anything that makes me bulge between my girls and waist area - such as a macrame atrocity and a rubberband.
Sarah Paulson
I don't know what the full ensemble looks like, but the earrings are awful. They look like something you get out of a gumball machine or out of my niece's dress-up collection. Too bad, because she's such a cute girl.
Nicollette Sheridan
No, her feet didn't suddenly explode. This is simply an example of why the mermaid-style dress looks good on no one - not even someone as smoking hot as Nicollette Sheridan. Oh, and she needs to stop taking posing tips from Renée Zellweger, because the icy-pouty-almost-smile look doesn't work for Sheridan either.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Too much fabric, and the bow on the front looks quite juvenile. Also, the color does little for her. This dress makes her hips look as big as mine, and that would be something really disappointing for someone who has access to nutritionists, personal trainers, and plastic surgeons, and who has a job that requires that you work out and eat well for a living.
One distubing thing I found while looking through these 40+ photos is that apparently when you're old, your whole body is no longer worth taking a picture of. For example, Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep. Both are lovely women, but apparently whatever they decided to wear to the Golden Globes wasn't worth the film. I guess that must have to do with the fact that their boobs aren't pinned to their chins like the younger actresses.
Second, a quick note on the men. Are there really many ways to change how a tux looks? Not really. Yes, you can mix things up a bit with the shirt and tie, but the rest of the ensemble is pretty much stock.
The Good
OK, with that out of the way, let's start with the the real winners for the night:
Reese Witherspoon
Vavavavavoom. Reese is just nothing short of graceful and beautiful, and look at those shoes! I love the combination of yellow and red. Her hair looks fabulous, too. Eat your heart out Ryan Phillipe.
Sheryl Crow
She's glowing, literally. Eggplant is a beautiful color to accent her hair color and skin tone. And unlike the other gowns from this evening where layers of fabric swallow up a figure, Sheryl Crow's dress still gives her shape without actually hugging her body. Eat your heart out Lance Armstrong.
Maggie Gyllenhall
I love Maggie, and she looks stunning for having a baby a few months back. She's very beautiful in a very non conventional way.
The Bad
Next, we have the ones that were almost good, but had something awry:
Hilary Swank
I actually think the dress is really cute, despite the wrinkled area around the middle. As a woman, I know that it's really hard to keep formal dresses looking as nice as they did after you got them pressed. The problem that I have is that her accessories are a bit understated, and the hair is a little young for her. A bracelet, a little bit larger earring or a necklace, and a soft upswept hairdo would have been really cute with this.
Felicity Huffman
It's a beautiful color for her, and the upper part of the dress is nice. But the bottom leaves a bit to be desired. It takes the focus away from her lovely upper half and makes you wonder what's swallowing her from below.
Jenna Fischer
The whole thing would be really cute if the dress accentuated her figure a bit better. As it is now, it's a bit blobby looking. But, she's still georgous.
Ellen Pompeo
She's beautiful, white looks great on her, and her accessories and hair are spot on. However, her makeup is a bit heavy and the style of the dress is odd. Perhaps she thought that if she happened to run late to the award ceremony, someone could just pull the fabric that loops from her hip to her shoulder and fling her like a rubberband.
The Ugly
OK, and now for the fun ones. These fall into my "what the hell?" category:
Beyonce Knowles
I love Beyonce Knowles, but her fashion sense can be hit and miss. Unfortunately, I think that her dress for the Golden Globes falls into the miss category for me. First, what's with this pose? She must have lost her mind for a minute and thought that she was suddenly Marilyn Monroe filming Gentlemen Prefer Blondes or something. Second, the dress is flashier than the sun, which should be the first sign that something has gone horribly wrong with an outfit. I've always been of the mindset that a little something flashy here or there equals a good accessory. So when the whole dress fits that bill, I think you've gone a bit far.
Patricia Arquette and Rosanna Arquette
Apparently these two decided to fashion their dresses from their own furniture. Patricia Arquette went for that kinda rock n' roll leather look paired with a traditional dress style, while Rosanna Arquette decided just to pull out grandma's tablecloth and dye it blue. Shudder.
Shonda Rhimes
Oh, where do I start with this one? I think it's my winner for worst dressed from the photos that I've seen. First, it looks like she took the Arquettes' idea and decided to make a dress out of fabric that was clearly meant to be drapes or a bedspread - and an ugly set of drapes or bedspread, at that. Second, she took what might be a cute bow on some other dress, and decided to throw it on here for good measure. Good thing that she built pockets into the dress, or she might misplace her keys or the numbers of the numerous designers who are probably clamoring to stop her from appearing anywhere else looking like this ever again. You know, it reminds me of a dress that I wore to church when I was roughly 8 years old. That was a good 20-ish years ago now, and although I'm aware that 80s fashion is making a renewed appearance, this is still out.
Gillian Anderson
I know that she just had a baby toward the end of last year, but this is really an awful look for her. Just because you're carrying some baby weight, doesn't mean that you have to dress like this. Look at Maggie Gyllenhall for an example of looking fabulous shortly after having a child.
Tina Fey
This is really close to being cute, but it's too short and winds up looking a bit trashy. I think that the bottom part would have been really cute with a different top. It's definitely the top that's throwing the look off. It almost looks like she should be selling cigarettes in a seedy bar. Too bad, because Tina Fey is a really pretty funny woman, but I don't think she expected her outfit to look like a joke.
Vanessa Williams
Damn! This whole thing is just overkill, from the fried, huge hair, to the awful fur shrug, to the bizarre dress. And like Eva Longoria, it looks like the rubberbands took hold at the waist and knee area on this dress as well. It would be a really nice color on her if it weren't such a hideous dress.
Sienna Miller
I think that she must have been a bit confused. Maybe she thought that she was going to the chapel with on-again-off-again beau Jude Law. Even at an event like the Golden Globes, you shouldn't need a maid of honor to fix your train.
Renée Zellweger
I have sort of a love-hate relationship with Renee's fashion. Sometimes she's so cute, and other times, she's...well...she's like this photo. I don't even think that it's the dress I hate so much as it is her pose and icy-pouty stare. I think it's pretty tough for anyone to pull that look off.
Eva Longoria
She's one of the hottest women alive, but even she can't make this dress look good. First off is the seemingly beaded macrame straps that hit right below her breasts. Then the rubberbands that attached themselves at the waist and under the knee. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't like anything that makes me bulge between my girls and waist area - such as a macrame atrocity and a rubberband.
Sarah Paulson
I don't know what the full ensemble looks like, but the earrings are awful. They look like something you get out of a gumball machine or out of my niece's dress-up collection. Too bad, because she's such a cute girl.
Nicollette Sheridan
No, her feet didn't suddenly explode. This is simply an example of why the mermaid-style dress looks good on no one - not even someone as smoking hot as Nicollette Sheridan. Oh, and she needs to stop taking posing tips from Renée Zellweger, because the icy-pouty-almost-smile look doesn't work for Sheridan either.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Too much fabric, and the bow on the front looks quite juvenile. Also, the color does little for her. This dress makes her hips look as big as mine, and that would be something really disappointing for someone who has access to nutritionists, personal trainers, and plastic surgeons, and who has a job that requires that you work out and eat well for a living.
Working together: what a novel idea
I think that this is a really good sign: Scientists, Christians unite on climate fight.
There are a lot of issues where people need to move past their differences in the hopes of solving a common problem. Global warming is one area where the outcome affects us all, whether or not we believe in evolution or that God rested on the seventh day. Same thing with a lot of other common things, such as better education, ending poverty, increasing equality, access to health care, etc.
There are some areas, such as abortion or stem cell research, where I'm not entirely sure such different groups can get along unless people understand that their own personal religious beliefs should not dictate public policy. But, you don't find many evangelicals who get that, and thus the problem. But, at least things such as global warming can be a start toward bridging the gap between people with such disparate views of the details.
There are a lot of issues where people need to move past their differences in the hopes of solving a common problem. Global warming is one area where the outcome affects us all, whether or not we believe in evolution or that God rested on the seventh day. Same thing with a lot of other common things, such as better education, ending poverty, increasing equality, access to health care, etc.
There are some areas, such as abortion or stem cell research, where I'm not entirely sure such different groups can get along unless people understand that their own personal religious beliefs should not dictate public policy. But, you don't find many evangelicals who get that, and thus the problem. But, at least things such as global warming can be a start toward bridging the gap between people with such disparate views of the details.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Addicted to crosswords
Lately I've been addicted to crosswords. I like the Monday New York Times puzzles (the easiest day), and go through them like water. I've already completed three mini books, and I'm currently working my way through the omnibus book that has 200 puzzles in it.
I've tried doing some of the harder puzzles, but find myself getting overly frustrated doing something that is supposed to just pass time. As it is, I can't always finish the easiest of the puzzles anyway. When I first started doing them, I thought some of the words were absolutely ridiculous. And they are, really, but they're crossword words. Once you get a handle on those words, you're pretty much golden for several clues in every puzzle.
Recently, I figured out that doing the down clues first were easier than the across clues. I don't know why that is, but it seems to work better for me. So, I usually start with the down clues and double-check a few things along the way in the across section to make sure that I'm not totally off. The other method that I used to try was doing one section at a time - both down and across clues - in one corner and filling in everything that I could before moving onto the next section of clues. This method actually works, but it can be a bit slower than working through all of the down clues and then all of the across clues. The payoff, however, is that it's usually a bit more accurate.
And if all else fails, I'll look up a couple of the ones that have stumped me and fill them in, then try to work from there. I figure that's better than giving up altogether, and it at least gets my mind jump started on the remaining clues.
The downside to all of these crosswords is that I've been putting off a lot of reading. I have a few books that are still in the works, and a few that are patiently waiting for me to pick up. I thought that I'd read a lot over the holidays, but the crosswords took up the bulk of my time.
I think that after I finish this omnibus book, I'll put the crosswords away for a little while and catch up on my reading again. Then when I've had a little time away from the puzzles, I'll pick them back up and try to do only a couple at a time instead of 6 or 8 at a time. We'll see...
I've tried doing some of the harder puzzles, but find myself getting overly frustrated doing something that is supposed to just pass time. As it is, I can't always finish the easiest of the puzzles anyway. When I first started doing them, I thought some of the words were absolutely ridiculous. And they are, really, but they're crossword words. Once you get a handle on those words, you're pretty much golden for several clues in every puzzle.
Recently, I figured out that doing the down clues first were easier than the across clues. I don't know why that is, but it seems to work better for me. So, I usually start with the down clues and double-check a few things along the way in the across section to make sure that I'm not totally off. The other method that I used to try was doing one section at a time - both down and across clues - in one corner and filling in everything that I could before moving onto the next section of clues. This method actually works, but it can be a bit slower than working through all of the down clues and then all of the across clues. The payoff, however, is that it's usually a bit more accurate.
And if all else fails, I'll look up a couple of the ones that have stumped me and fill them in, then try to work from there. I figure that's better than giving up altogether, and it at least gets my mind jump started on the remaining clues.
The downside to all of these crosswords is that I've been putting off a lot of reading. I have a few books that are still in the works, and a few that are patiently waiting for me to pick up. I thought that I'd read a lot over the holidays, but the crosswords took up the bulk of my time.
I think that after I finish this omnibus book, I'll put the crosswords away for a little while and catch up on my reading again. Then when I've had a little time away from the puzzles, I'll pick them back up and try to do only a couple at a time instead of 6 or 8 at a time. We'll see...
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Fire alarms
For some reason, I always seem to get stuck in buildings with fire alarms going off during inclement weather. Tonight is no exception.
When I was a freshman in college, a fire alarm went off about 3:00 in the morning (only an hour after I had gone to bed studying for a final). Everyone in our dorm had to trek out in their pajamas across the street while the firemen went in to check everything out. Of course, none of us were prepared for the snow that started to fall as we waited outside.
A quarter later, after I had moved into my sorority house, the fire alarm went off on a very stormy night. Shortly thereafter, the power went out and we had to wait outside in the dark until the firemen could verify that there was no fire. During that time, my friend A. and I decided to walk to my cousin's apartment where the two fell in love, and after 8 1/2 years of marriage they now have a 1/2 year old boy. I'm such a good match maker :)
But I digress. Tonight, about 8:45 PM, I was on the phone with a friend when all of the fire alarms in my condo started to go off. I about had a heart attack, and my friend thought I was in a bomb raid or something. Having settled in for the night, I had to quickly grab a few things to wear and get outdoors where it was freezing and snowy. About 45 minutes later, we were finally able to go back inside.
So what was the cause? We don't know. The firemen were able to tell that the problem alarm was on the second floor, but two out of the three units were unoccupied at the time. They did their best to check in the windows to see if there was any smoke or other evidence of a fire, but didn't see anything. So, their solution was to disable the alarms on the second floor and allow us back into the building. When I asked whether that was really safe, considering they didn't actually search the two unoccupied units, they responded that they always try not to knock down any doors unnecessarily and that with older alarm systems such as ours, false alarms are usually the culprit. So, I suppose I'll know later tonight if my alarms start going off again and my floor is on fire from the unit below me.
Good times...
When I was a freshman in college, a fire alarm went off about 3:00 in the morning (only an hour after I had gone to bed studying for a final). Everyone in our dorm had to trek out in their pajamas across the street while the firemen went in to check everything out. Of course, none of us were prepared for the snow that started to fall as we waited outside.
A quarter later, after I had moved into my sorority house, the fire alarm went off on a very stormy night. Shortly thereafter, the power went out and we had to wait outside in the dark until the firemen could verify that there was no fire. During that time, my friend A. and I decided to walk to my cousin's apartment where the two fell in love, and after 8 1/2 years of marriage they now have a 1/2 year old boy. I'm such a good match maker :)
But I digress. Tonight, about 8:45 PM, I was on the phone with a friend when all of the fire alarms in my condo started to go off. I about had a heart attack, and my friend thought I was in a bomb raid or something. Having settled in for the night, I had to quickly grab a few things to wear and get outdoors where it was freezing and snowy. About 45 minutes later, we were finally able to go back inside.
So what was the cause? We don't know. The firemen were able to tell that the problem alarm was on the second floor, but two out of the three units were unoccupied at the time. They did their best to check in the windows to see if there was any smoke or other evidence of a fire, but didn't see anything. So, their solution was to disable the alarms on the second floor and allow us back into the building. When I asked whether that was really safe, considering they didn't actually search the two unoccupied units, they responded that they always try not to knock down any doors unnecessarily and that with older alarm systems such as ours, false alarms are usually the culprit. So, I suppose I'll know later tonight if my alarms start going off again and my floor is on fire from the unit below me.
Good times...
More snow
Brrrr... It's cold and snowing. I'm really tired of all of this snow. I live in (or rather, near) Seattle for many reasons, but among the most important is the temperate climate. It's like we switched places with the east coast this year or something, because they've been unseasonably warm there. I wish that the snow would stay in the mountain passes, where skiers, snowboarders, etc. can enjoy it without it interrupting everything in the city.
Traffic is pretty much crawling, and people still at work are taking up to an hour to get out of the parking lot. I'm glad that I decided to work from home today in anticipation of the weather. Although they are much more prepared this time than they were in November, it will freeze over night and become icy, which is always a good combination with driving (not).
Check out the brief video from my backyard:
Video: Snow Day
Traffic is pretty much crawling, and people still at work are taking up to an hour to get out of the parking lot. I'm glad that I decided to work from home today in anticipation of the weather. Although they are much more prepared this time than they were in November, it will freeze over night and become icy, which is always a good combination with driving (not).
Check out the brief video from my backyard:
Video: Snow Day
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
