2.25.2010

What You Need to Know! Week of 2/22/2010

Right on schedule... I have to say the snow gods are finally looking out for me as this blizzard so kindly decided to miss us and head up North this go around. I've never been so happy to wake up and not see snow. If we can make it through March without anymore snow, I will be a happy lady.

So one of the stories on today's news cycle is the woman who was killed at Sea World after being dragged under water by a killer whale. While this is tragic, I dont understand why people still act surprised when wild animals attack after being put in domestic,controlled environments. Especially when the animal has the word "killer" in its name. The worst part is there have been reports from people that the whale seemed "agitated" in the day/hours before the attack. That should be a sign to back off for a while. Any woman can attest to that. One word for you... Crikey!

This weekend marks the end of 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver so I would like to take this opportunity to talk about how much I love the Olympics. They have so much to offer: the fierce competition, cinderella stories. You get to learn about the culture of the host city/country. There's something for everyone. So for my list of the week here are my 5 favorite winter olympic events:
5. Half Pipe
4. Hockey
3. Ski Jumping
2. Speed Skating
1. Cross Events- Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross

2.17.2010

SNOW TESTED WILL POWER - My Physical Challenge Update

As you can see from Marie's post below, the Washington DC area got a little snow over the past couple weeks. A crippling 36 inches to be exact. I choose the word crippling here very carefully because that is exactly what snow does to my day to day routine, cripples it. For this reason I have compiled the short list that you will see below.

FIVE THINGS I HATE ABOUT SNOW

5. I have Raynaud's Phenomenon. I'm cold. Always. No snow necessary.

4. I can't drive in wet weather. It makes me slip and immediately vomit on myself following, literally.

3. The majority of people can't drive in wet weather. They scare me and make me want to vomit on them.

2. I like to watch the snow. This doesn't sound like a problem, however, the best place to watch it from my apartment is from the front windows which are conveniently located next to the kitchen/pantry/fridge. I am fatter than I was two weeks ago.

1. I can't drive (already mentioned), I can't run (that's just stupid), and I park my ass in the kitchen. Add these all up and you get limited race training, a hold on yoga, and increased eating. Again, I am fatter than I was two weeks ago.

Needless to say, the snow can be pretty and fun for the first day, but by day four of working from my apartment and a tiny lap top, it's enough to make anyone go crazy.

In addition to working from home, I also have had to alter my physical challenge. Yoga has been cut back to once a week because it is almost impossible to find parking in the city due to the mountains of snow randomly placed along the side streets and running has been limited to indoors only. I'm not a hamster. I don't like the treadmill so I would be lying if I said my runs were never cut short.

This morning was the first time I had the courage to step on a scale since the first flake of snow fell and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Nothing has changed. Not really what I was hoping for four weeks into my challenge, but could be worse. Damn you window by the pantry. Damn you.

More to come...

What You Need to Know! Week of 2/15/2010

Sooooo I missed a week. Things have been a little crazy in this girl's life. Now that the snow is melting and work has calmed down, I'm starting to recognize my life again. A long overdue shout out to Erin, the boy's wife, for her 27th birthday which was Feb. 7th. Happy Birthday Erin!

Since I've had my head stuck in the ground for the last 2 weeks I dont really know what's going on in the world so here, as promised, are my favorite and least favorite commercials from the Super Bowl. (with links so you can watch)

Best 5
1. Volkswagen Punching Game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ3wgX2Oruo
2. E Trade Commercials (like them both)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbLTl7egwlU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYC23yL6KY8
3. Kia w/ the sock monkey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBh3r2mVFR8
4. Snickers w/ Betty White (She's so funny)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rauK4fBjkI
5. Google - this commercial (subject matter aside) was a glimpse into my work day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnsSUqgkDwU

Worst 5
1. Boost Mobile- it wasnt funny, it wasnt original, it was miserable
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLCbh2hAdqE
2. Taco Bell feat. Charles Barkley- How do you make Taco Bell food seem more appealing? You dont ask Charles Barkley, who has recently put on 300 lbs, to sell it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfw4xDQdbWQ
3. All of the Go Daddy commercials- these have always been bad and always will be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iRODW6Q40s
4. All of the Doritos commercials- this is out of spite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nxz-qiA8UQ
5. All of the Bud Light commercials- Weak sauce. Expected more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3d12ekAi14

Other commercials worth mentioning,
-Tim Tebow's commercial- I dont know if it was edited after the uproar when the announcement about Tim Tebow doing an anti-abortion ad was made but this commercial was harmless and didnt really stand for anything.
-Letterman/Oprah/Leno commercial- It was funny the first time they did this a couple years ago with just Oprah and Dave, but now it doesnt really mean anything. Kinda fitting for Jay. Someone should have had gotten Conan to do a commercial. People could get into that. I should be in advertising.

I promise to have more exciting news to discuss next week.

2.03.2010

The Ball Sack Adjustment

I work in a very male-dominated, testerone and ego-filled environment. Some days I love it. Some days I want to jump out the window. Unfortunately ladies, most of these men are over the age of 45, slowly balding, with bad suits, and growing pot bellies.  But back to the subject at hand (literally). I have a question for the five people who read this blog.

What is up with men adjusting themselves in the middle of a conversation, meeting, or presentation?

A few of my male colleagues (and boss) do this constantly, and its all I can do to keep from slapping their hands away from their crotches.  It is never discreet, often while sitting (which makes it even more obvious because sometimes a hip or leg lift is also required), and often while I am sitting or standing directly across from said male. Isn't this inappropriate? Isn't this one of those things your mom or dad teach when you're a little boy?  Or something your wife nags about? Is there an appropriate response or mannerly advice regarding the public ball sack adjustment, or will the victims of such flagrant acts forever remain victims, scarred by the careless and barbarian acts of our males colleagues?

2.02.2010

What You Need to Know! Week of 2/1/2010

I'll tell you what you need to know.... WINTER F'ING BLOWS!
Its the middle of the week. I havent been able to get into the office for a full day all week and don't think I will due to bad weather, babysitter's kids are sick, etc AND I'm having the busiest week I've had in about a year. So, its almost 9:00 (in the PM) and I'm sitting at my dining room table trying to get work done (but actually blogging and drinking a beer). I spent 2 hours this evening scouring the greater Richmond area for a pair of snow boots.... couldnt find any. Not to mention they are calling for even more bad weather this weekend. So on this Groundhog Day in the year 2010, I say SUCK IT, PHIL! AND SUCK IT HARD!
Tomorrow I will continue my search for winter boots and head to the grocery store to stock up on whatever is left on the shelves. (Just so you know, I'm not one of those people who buys 10 loaves of bread and 12 dozen eggs everytime there's a flurry. I haven't been to the store in 3 weeks and we ate the last piece of protein in the house for dinner tonight... and I'm going to need more beer)
If I didnt have a job, and could eat Chinese food and pizza every day, and didnt have a crazy dog that wants to go out every 5 minutes I wouldnt mind the bad weather so much. Unfortunately for me, that is not the case.
So that is all I know this week... sorry.
Marie, can't NOAA do something about this?