Geez, another issue with Chinese imports: FDA detains Chinese seafood due to drug fears.
Pet food, tires, toys, toothpaste, and now seafood. I'm beginning to think that it's not such a bad thing that I can't stand Chinese food.
I especially love this sentence:
"China, meanwhile, insisted Thursday that the safety of its products was “guaranteed,” making a rare direct comment on spreading international fears over tainted and adulterated exports."
If this is the case, China needs a lesson in English. See, "guaranteed" would mean that no safety concerns exist, which is clearly not the case. Their guarantee is a complete joke in light of all of these issues. Why would they even make such a comment? It's enough to make you wonder if they're just trying to poison us...ah, the conspiracy theorist in me...
Friday, June 29, 2007
Country music
I'm not sure why, but lately I've taken to listening to country music, primarily from the 90s. I used to listen to it a lot when I was growing up because that's all my step dad listened to. And I grew up, in part, on my grandparent's farm in eastern Washington, so I listened to it a lot over the summers when I was working there with my cousins.
I'm definitely into all kinds of music. The only thing I really can't get on board with is smooth jazz. But, I tend to get in a music mood and it will last for a period of several weeks to several months. This is the same thing that happens for me with certain foods. I guess I just don't get easily bored.
Anyway, I went onto iTunes the other day and downloaded a bunch of country songs that I used to love, and have been listening to my new playlist every day since. One thing that I notice about country music, is that a lot of it (at least the older tunes) have some really great stories, more so than a lot of other genres of music. Reba McEntire has some really great story songs, like Fancy (girl turned call girl to move up in the world) and her cover of The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia (complete with murder mystery and sentencing the wrong person to death).
This got me to thinking. Most songs are about attraction and love (either getting it or losing it). This seems to be the biggest theme in music. So, it's kind of refreshing to listen to some songs that have an actual plot to them.
I'm definitely into all kinds of music. The only thing I really can't get on board with is smooth jazz. But, I tend to get in a music mood and it will last for a period of several weeks to several months. This is the same thing that happens for me with certain foods. I guess I just don't get easily bored.
Anyway, I went onto iTunes the other day and downloaded a bunch of country songs that I used to love, and have been listening to my new playlist every day since. One thing that I notice about country music, is that a lot of it (at least the older tunes) have some really great stories, more so than a lot of other genres of music. Reba McEntire has some really great story songs, like Fancy (girl turned call girl to move up in the world) and her cover of The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia (complete with murder mystery and sentencing the wrong person to death).
This got me to thinking. Most songs are about attraction and love (either getting it or losing it). This seems to be the biggest theme in music. So, it's kind of refreshing to listen to some songs that have an actual plot to them.
Yawn
I'm tired and grumpy. I had to come back into work about 11:30 tonight to fix an issue with one of my test computers. Normally, I'll work at home in the evenings when I have a lot of stuff to finish up. Recently, this has been working at home in the evenings and well into the mornings to finish up a big project at work. Tonight, as I remotely connected to my work machine, something I installed went pretty wrong. This isn't completely out of the ordinary, since I'm working with pre-release software and I happened to grab a build of this software that clearly wasn't OK. So, I had to come in and rebuild my test machine so that I can finish up all of my stuff by tomorrow evening. Good times, made even better by the fact that I got stuck in a crazy rainstorm on my way back into the office. And then, made even more better (no comments on the crazy grammar) by the fact that my reinstallation crapped out after half an hour, so I had to search for yet another build. It's installing now, so I'm patiently waiting to figure out whether this build will get past the point it did last time. Fingers crossed...
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Heavenly massage
Yesterday afternoon I was treated to an hour-long massage at The Sanctuary Spa in Redmond. My manager treated all of us to massages to thank us for the hard work that we've been doing this year. It was nothing short of amazing. When I first got there, I got to take a eucalyptus steam shower to loosen up a bit. Then I went in for my massage where my shoulders, neck, and legs all got a good rub. Afterward I was given a nice warm restorative drink and some time to sit with a heat wrap around my neck while I listened to the waterfall. I walked out of there feeling like a million dollars. I can't remember the last time my neck and shoulders felt so free of tension.
I used to get a half hour massage each week at work. We had a masseuse who setup in one of our conference rooms, and we could go get a nice respite from the work day. That always felt nice, and I think it was good for me to do. Now that we no longer have that luxury at work, I've become bad about doing such things for myself. After yesterday, I decided that I should try to get a really good massage in once a month. Of course, going to the spa is much more expensive, but it's also much more comprehensive and I think that doing it once a month would even out about right with when I used to go each week for the half hour session. It's definitely worth it.
I used to get a half hour massage each week at work. We had a masseuse who setup in one of our conference rooms, and we could go get a nice respite from the work day. That always felt nice, and I think it was good for me to do. Now that we no longer have that luxury at work, I've become bad about doing such things for myself. After yesterday, I decided that I should try to get a really good massage in once a month. Of course, going to the spa is much more expensive, but it's also much more comprehensive and I think that doing it once a month would even out about right with when I used to go each week for the half hour session. It's definitely worth it.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Saying goodbye
Last week was an interesting week. I said goodbye to a really good friend, J., at work. She left the company to move across the US to take on a new job and live closer to her husband. They've been living across the nation from one another for almost a year and a half while he was finishing up school and then finding a good job. It turned out that he found a really good job near Connecticut, but she wasn't quite ready to leave until recently. She found a good job in New York, so they are finally going to live closer to one another until both of their leases are up and they can find a good location in between. It will sure beat having to travel across the US a few times a year to see one another.
There has been quite a bit of turnover in our organization over the last year, and it's always hard to say goodbye to people, especially when you really respect them and like working with them. J. was the kind of person who was always willing to answer a question and lend a hand. Right after my divorce, I went out with her and several women in my group for her bachelorette party, and after that we became better friends. It was really nice to find a group of women that I enjoyed spending time with and who were really supportive of everything that I was going through.
And it's always nice when you work with people who try to make your job easier simply by being willing to share knowledge with you and working with you for a better outcome. That was J. Some people in our industry act really high and mighty about the things that they know, and look down on you if you don't know as much as them. These are the kind of people who make my job harder by expecting me to play a game to get information that customers want and need. This is not how everyone acts, but I have worked with several people throughout my career that think this is the way to do things. It's very frustrating. So, I'm always sad to see people go when they are like J.
But, even beside that, J. was just a really fun person and really open minded. I learned a lot from her about her culture, family, and religion. It was really neat to talk with her and compare and contrast our experiences. I really enjoy having friends with different backgrounds so that I can learn more about the world around me. I will really miss her, but I hope that she loves her apartment and finds friends as good as us at her new job :)
There has been quite a bit of turnover in our organization over the last year, and it's always hard to say goodbye to people, especially when you really respect them and like working with them. J. was the kind of person who was always willing to answer a question and lend a hand. Right after my divorce, I went out with her and several women in my group for her bachelorette party, and after that we became better friends. It was really nice to find a group of women that I enjoyed spending time with and who were really supportive of everything that I was going through.
And it's always nice when you work with people who try to make your job easier simply by being willing to share knowledge with you and working with you for a better outcome. That was J. Some people in our industry act really high and mighty about the things that they know, and look down on you if you don't know as much as them. These are the kind of people who make my job harder by expecting me to play a game to get information that customers want and need. This is not how everyone acts, but I have worked with several people throughout my career that think this is the way to do things. It's very frustrating. So, I'm always sad to see people go when they are like J.
But, even beside that, J. was just a really fun person and really open minded. I learned a lot from her about her culture, family, and religion. It was really neat to talk with her and compare and contrast our experiences. I really enjoy having friends with different backgrounds so that I can learn more about the world around me. I will really miss her, but I hope that she loves her apartment and finds friends as good as us at her new job :)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Banning popcorn
OK, this is likely to show up on the Colbert Show, as he seems to always find the most ridiculous things about Seattle. I love the guy who talks about popcorn popping going under ground if this actually takes hold - illicit popcorn, news at 9:00!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
If I had a hammer
This totally cracks me up. I got mail from the Handyman Club of America today inviting me to become an official member of their club. Of course it was addressed to "Mr." instead of "Ms.", but oh well.
But, why me? Well, according to their letter:
"It's no secret among your friends and family that you are an outstanding handyman. As someone who is passionately devoted to do-it-yourself home improvement and maybe even woodworking, you're exactly the kind of person our Club is always looking for."
Oh yes. I am soooo dedicated to DIY home improvement and maybe even woodworking. And I am outstanding. In fact, I changed the handle on my own toilet just yesterday! These people know me so well.
And reading further into their letter, I am pleased to see that I wasn't just picked out of a barrel to be nominated for this prestigious club. Oh no. They tell me that "It's not for lukewarm handymen! Nor is it for the kind of handymen who are content with doing things in the same old way. This Club is for do-it-yourselfers who constantly want to learn more. To improve their skills. To deepen their understanding. To express their creativity. To expand their knowledge."
And the best part? I don't even need to send money right now! The membership dues are so low that they'll just bill me later if I respond to this letter.
You know, the funny part is that it took me awhile to figure out how I got this thing in the first place. I mean, I'm used to getting all kinds of catalogs based on the online shopping that I do, and occasionally I get a catalog that just baffles me. But this is completely out of the ordinary. I think I probably got it from going to the Seattle Home Show and filling out the form to get the This Old House magazine for free for one year with my paid admission to the show.
Oh well. The executive director of this Club was kind enough to send some preliminary gifts for me with the letter including a drill bit guide, a notepad, a toolbox label, address labels (complete with the Handyman logo), and utility box labels (with stickers for up to 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms).
Oh well, it's the thought that counts. If I were actually someone used my tools for things more complicated than hanging a picture or a curtain rod, this might make sense. But alas, I am not. After having lived through the kitchen remodel with my ex-husband (most of which we completed ourselves), I can honestly say that some things are worth paying a little extra for to help save your sanity and relationship.
But, why me? Well, according to their letter:
"It's no secret among your friends and family that you are an outstanding handyman. As someone who is passionately devoted to do-it-yourself home improvement and maybe even woodworking, you're exactly the kind of person our Club is always looking for."
Oh yes. I am soooo dedicated to DIY home improvement and maybe even woodworking. And I am outstanding. In fact, I changed the handle on my own toilet just yesterday! These people know me so well.
And reading further into their letter, I am pleased to see that I wasn't just picked out of a barrel to be nominated for this prestigious club. Oh no. They tell me that "It's not for lukewarm handymen! Nor is it for the kind of handymen who are content with doing things in the same old way. This Club is for do-it-yourselfers who constantly want to learn more. To improve their skills. To deepen their understanding. To express their creativity. To expand their knowledge."
And the best part? I don't even need to send money right now! The membership dues are so low that they'll just bill me later if I respond to this letter.
You know, the funny part is that it took me awhile to figure out how I got this thing in the first place. I mean, I'm used to getting all kinds of catalogs based on the online shopping that I do, and occasionally I get a catalog that just baffles me. But this is completely out of the ordinary. I think I probably got it from going to the Seattle Home Show and filling out the form to get the This Old House magazine for free for one year with my paid admission to the show.
Oh well. The executive director of this Club was kind enough to send some preliminary gifts for me with the letter including a drill bit guide, a notepad, a toolbox label, address labels (complete with the Handyman logo), and utility box labels (with stickers for up to 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms).
Oh well, it's the thought that counts. If I were actually someone used my tools for things more complicated than hanging a picture or a curtain rod, this might make sense. But alas, I am not. After having lived through the kitchen remodel with my ex-husband (most of which we completed ourselves), I can honestly say that some things are worth paying a little extra for to help save your sanity and relationship.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Pacemaker
Well, my step dad got his pacemaker put in today. He was doing pretty well yesterday, although his heart did start spiking last night. He went in for surgery this morning shortly before 9:00 AM, and didn't get out until about 1:00 PM. The procedure lasted about 2 hours longer than the doctor originally estimated because they were having trouble stopping the bleeding. He rested for the remainder of the day, and will go home tomorrow. I know that he was really against getting the pacemaker originally, but I think that it was a really good thing that this happened. If my mom had left for the weekend as she had originally planned, I can't help but wonder what would have happened if he were home alone. I'm so thankful that things happened the way that they did, even though it was stressful and we weren't necessarily prepared for it to happen. Now, I just hope that he can get the prostate cancer under control again.
What a trip
This is like something out of a classic novel: After 19 years, man wakes to changed Poland.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Hospital visits
My mom took my step dad into the hospital on Friday afternoon. I got the message a little after 4:00. He had come home from work early because he wasn't feeling well. My mom was home, getting ready for a quilting trip in Leavenworth with some of her friends. My step dad kept taking his pulse because it would go from beating really quickly to slowing down dramatically.
He's been dealing with some heart trouble for the last month and a half, but the doctors hadn't really been able to figure out what was going on with him until he went to the emergency room on Friday. It turns out that he has a condition where his heart will go from something like 40 beats to 150 beats and it keeps switching back and forth. They're going to put a pacemaker in on Monday, but they kept him in the hospital this whole weekend to monitor him. He can't even get out of bed unless he has assistance because they're worried that he'll tax his heart too much.
Understandably, he's not excited to be in the hospital, but my mom spent all evening with him on Friday, and again all day today. L. and I went to visit him today, and brought him and my mom some things. My mom is staying with me this weekend, since I live very close to the hospital where he's at. L. and I have been looking after their poodle, Diego. We went to the store tonight to get some stuff for dinner and some goodies for mom to take with her tomorrow. We'll bring her some lunch tomorrow, too, since the hospital food leaves a lot to be desired. Mom was exhausted when she got home tonight, so I made her some dinner, and then sent her to bed in my room after she started falling asleep on the couch.
All I know is that I hope that the surgery goes well on Monday, and I hope that this solves the problems that he's been having. Of course, after this he's got to deal with his prostate cancer coming back. He had surgery to remove it several years ago, but it's come back. So, he's got to do radiation after all of this is over. I sure hope that after all of this, he comes out better than ever. He deserves to be able to retire and have a nice life with my mom after all that they've worked for.
He's been dealing with some heart trouble for the last month and a half, but the doctors hadn't really been able to figure out what was going on with him until he went to the emergency room on Friday. It turns out that he has a condition where his heart will go from something like 40 beats to 150 beats and it keeps switching back and forth. They're going to put a pacemaker in on Monday, but they kept him in the hospital this whole weekend to monitor him. He can't even get out of bed unless he has assistance because they're worried that he'll tax his heart too much.
Understandably, he's not excited to be in the hospital, but my mom spent all evening with him on Friday, and again all day today. L. and I went to visit him today, and brought him and my mom some things. My mom is staying with me this weekend, since I live very close to the hospital where he's at. L. and I have been looking after their poodle, Diego. We went to the store tonight to get some stuff for dinner and some goodies for mom to take with her tomorrow. We'll bring her some lunch tomorrow, too, since the hospital food leaves a lot to be desired. Mom was exhausted when she got home tonight, so I made her some dinner, and then sent her to bed in my room after she started falling asleep on the couch.
All I know is that I hope that the surgery goes well on Monday, and I hope that this solves the problems that he's been having. Of course, after this he's got to deal with his prostate cancer coming back. He had surgery to remove it several years ago, but it's come back. So, he's got to do radiation after all of this is over. I sure hope that after all of this, he comes out better than ever. He deserves to be able to retire and have a nice life with my mom after all that they've worked for.
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