Commuting to the Refrigerator

Yesterday, I worked from home waiting for the plumber to arrive between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. He finally called at 1:30 p.m. and arrived at 2 p.m. However, that's not the point of this post.

So, there were some significant pros and cons to working from home.

Pros:

• No commute
• It doesn't matter if you're having a bad hair day or don't feel like wearing make-up
• You can throw in a load of laundry on your lunch break
• Fewer office ambient noise interruptions

Cons:

• It might get a little lonely
• I would get a little stir crazy
• It is a little quiet
• I would weigh 8,000 lbs

I'm sure the carpet is always cleaner in the other office.

P.S. we have a new garbage disposal and water filter system.

Ouch

So this morning, someone didn't think I was wearing green and they pinched my arm. There are two points here: 1. my bracelet has a green pearl (maybe even two or three), and 2. I had never heard of this whole pinching thing.

So I turned to the St. Patrick's Day etiquette and all-knowing www.wikianswers.com for the answer.

Why do people get pinched on St. Patrick's Day if they do not wear green?

• You get pinched because you're a nonconformist.
• Pinching gives you a bruise so you can have some green on you.
• The act of pinching on St. Patrick's day began in America with Irish settlers who tried to get their kids to behave by telling them that fairies would come pinch them.

And the answer ACTUALLY is:

Pinching those not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is an American tradition, having really nothing to do with Ireland or St. Patrick. It's thought that the pinching started in the early 1700s, about the time that awareness of St. Patrick's as a holiday came to the fore, too, in Boston, in the Massachusetts colony. They thought if you wore green, it made you invisible to the Leprechauns, which was good because they would pinch anyone they could see. So the pinching is to warn and remind you about the Leprechauns.

Your Friend is Just Not that into You

De-friended. Yep. That's right.

Are you wondering what in the world I'm talking about? In the social network, Facebook, your goal is to find your friends and add them to your friends list. It's easy, this is how it works.

To add a friend, just use Facebook Search to find people you know and then click on the "Add as Friend" button on the right side of the page. A friend request will be sent to that person. Once they confirm that they actually are friends with you, they will show up on your Friends List.

Well, I recently found out it was equally as easy to be "de-friended." Unlike a notification you receive when someone wants to become your friend, there's no notification. So how do you know? You begin to realize that you haven't seen any of their recent status updates. And when you do a search to find them, they once again say, "Add as Friend."

I'm not sure how I feel about being de-friended.

#54,742

I just received my annual notification to confirm my position on the Green Bay Packers season ticket waiting list as of the end of 2008 season.

My new Green Bay Packers waiting list priority is #54,742. That's up from #56,267 in 2007 and #57,027 in 2006.

At this rate, Brian has determined that I will be 105 years old by the time I get my four tickets.

Simon

No, this is not Milton Bradley's Simon game.

From Thrown Into Training:
Click here to determine what personality color you are.

Reds and blues are extroverts, though red is a “fighter” and blue is a “flighter.” Greens and yellows are introverts, although gree is a “fighter” and yellow is a “flighter.”

So reds and yellows are opposites and blues and greens are opposites. That doesn’t mean bad, just different ways of thinking. As with most tests of this nature, if you score similarly in 2 or more categories, you have bits and pieces of each in your personality. Or, you might score very high in one category overall.

So, in order to approach each person based on their personality color, scroll down toward the bottom of the chart.

"It's time to leave"

After coming out of retirement for a year, Brett Favre has decided to retire...again. And this time, it sounds like it's for good as he's already filed his retirement paperwork with the NFL.



The Packers also released a statement:
"Congratulations to Brett on a remarkable career. The Packers organization wishes him and his family well. Brett always will hold a special place in Green Bay Packers history, and we remain committed to retiring his number at an appropriate time in the future."

To Friend, or Not to Friend: That is the Question

If you want a really odd experience, join Facebook. Before you know it, you'll have 200 friends and all of your worlds will be colliding. What do I mean? You will be friends with people from:

• Elementary School
• High School
• College
• Church
• Professional
• Actual Friends! forbid

There is no other category other than "friend." At one point, Brian updated his Facebook status with the following:

Besides the category of "Friend", what other categories should FB offer?

Some examples:

"Acquaintance",
"I may know you"
"I-think-I-may-know-you",
"I don't know you, but I'm a facebook floozy and will 'friend' anyone"
"I know you, but I don't like you in real life",
"That was in college, it's all a blur, …. um... Read More…. I may know you"
"No!! That was you! Did you go through rehab?"
"Poured a milkshake on your head in 10th grade, but I'm nicer now"

He's so right.

You will also begin using "friend" as a verb: "Today, I friended Joe."

Stop the madness!

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God

Today, my heart feels truly broken for the Fitzgerald family.

Ray was diagnosed last May with metastasized liver cancer. After nearly seven months of chemo and radiation, his doctors determined on Tuesday that everything medical that could be done had been. Ray's home going was Wednesday, his cancer is healed and he has no more suffering.

Although, we rejoice with his family that Ray is in heaven, we pray for those that are mourning for him on earth, especially for his wife, Kristin and his three young daughters under the age of 7, Nora, Maggie and Lucy.

Kristin has been such an inspiration. Her courageousness is truly beyond any earthly ability. Even when sharing the news of Ray's death, she closed her email with this verse.

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins." Isaiah 40:1-2

Inauguration 2009

Check back throughout the day for more photos.

Competitive Basket-Hockey-Golf-Calisthenics

I may have lost a competitive Basket-Hockey-Golf-Calisthenics game. I'm not sure; rules changed every three seconds, the 5 year old was sure of the outcome and happily declared she had won the match. The 5 year old is one of our favorite short people, and belongs to the class of children known as Emergency Broadcast Children, but that's another story.

Apparently, the 5 year old is named: She-has-an-unbelievable-amount-of energy….will-she-ever-slow-down…NOW-what-is-she-doing!

We believe that's her given name, because whenever her parents talk about her they do two things:

1. Quickly twist their heads about to possibly catch a glimpse of the blur they believe is their 5 year old daughter.
2. Say her aforementioned name

For ease of use, we can call her, 'Evie'.

Here is an unre-touched transcript of the actual Basket-Hockey-Golf-Calisthenics game.

Evie: Ok, first, first, first … um …. you hit the ball through there - in the goal BUT you can't hit it with the stick like this …. you MUST hit it slower than me …..
Me: Ok.
Evie: I get a point.
Me: How? (I realized I had much to learn about the game)
Evie: Now, we'll … um … we'll place the ball here and you have to hit ….
JuJu ... Stop It...STOP IT (to her older sister, Juliette, aka JuJu) …

- - - - - -

We go to commercial break while my worthy competitor, Evie, and her older sister, Juliette, carefully and thoughtful discuss who is allowed to play the game. Their mother has to intercede the gentle and civil discussion only three times.

With only minor gnashing of teeth, we return from commercial break.

- - - - - - -

Evie: OK…. Um ….. you can't stop my ball from getting the goal, but I can block yours.
Evie: (with out doing anything) I get another point, I'm leading by 5 points now.
Me: ??? (Apparently, my strategy is to stand around and wait for Evie to score more mystery points.)
Evie: Can I have some water?
Me: (Thinking: A-Ha! My big break! While she is distracted by using both hands on the "big girl cup", I can be assured a victory of the game)
Evie: (Apparently aware of my plans) I don't want any water, anymore.
Evie: I get another point.
Me: ??? (Apparently, I'm still flawlessly executing my strategy of standing around and waiting for Evie to score more points)
…

The rest of the evening continued this way until we had run out of points; apparently Evie had won all of the points "in the entire world". During the post-game press conference, I was careful to mention that Evie "came ready to play" and "wanted the win, more then me"

But I'm not worried about this loss, there will be more Basket-Hockey-Golf-Calisthenics competitions –

When that happens, I'll be ready. (Evie! Look! Over there! It's Mickey Mouse!)


(c) 2009 b shaw

Well-Vented to Reduce Odor

The nation's capital is decked out in portable restrooms. They literally line long portions of the National Mall and many sidewalks along downtown streets.

To the right is the "Deluxe Restroom," which seems to be the model of choice.

The product's website states the following. A couple of words specifically jumped out and I have bolded them in case you miss them:

[Company name] is a premier provider of portable restrooms for events held in the Metropolitan region. Whether you're hosting a wedding, show, race or festival, we'd be proud to service your event.

If you find yourself visiting one of the capital's portable restrooms. These are the features that you will find (with additional commentary):

• Forest green colored restrooms blend in nicely with outdoor settings [how about brick?]
• Dedicated event unit (never used on construction sites) [just your other four million friends]
• Indoor lock for privacy and optional outside lock to allow restricted personnel use [do they mean "personal" not "personnel?"]
• Interior non-slip floor [unless it's under 32 degrees]
• Extra large door opening easily accommodates people of any height [how about width?]
• Well-vented to reduce odor [very reassuring]

Did I mention that there have been reports that there are about 7,000 portable restrooms. Great, that means there's about one for every 575 people. Let the fun begin!

Business PJ

Business PJ (sometimes called PJ casual) is a popular dress code that emerged in offices along the Inauguration parade route in 2009 in response to the anticipated crowds, bridge and road closures, security screenings and prohibited items.

I Make a Lovely Wengormick Bull Terrier

Source: http://wengormickbullterriers.co.uk/html/Ellie.htm

Don't come any closer, or the orchid gets it!

This is what I found when I returned to my office today.

What was once my beautiful, blooming white orchid is now broken off half way up the stem.

However, I think the note clearly sums it up.

Happy New Year!

We wish all of you a Happy New Year!

As we ring in 2009, we are feeling blessed that no one was injured and no other structures were damaged in a fire that destroyed my sister's SUV in my parents' driveway in the middle of the night.

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRIAN!

Happy Birthday, Brian!

Hope you had a special day.

5-9; 9-5

Should I even ask how many games have been lost by fewer than seven points?

How many games has defense lost? How many games has offense lost? How many games have, in essence, ended by an INT? Dare I say, TOO MANY!

Had we wanted INT endings, we should have kept Favre, at least the Packers might be seeing a football field in January, not a golf course.

Speaking of stinkers...notice who's in the last "Struggliscious" bracket? Yes, yours truly. It hasn't been the best of seasons for the Cheese. Struggling just a little less than the Packers at 6-8, the Cheese finds itself holding a slight lead in today's battle against Smell the Coffee. Barring a huge fourth quarter explosion in Sunday night's game, both teams have one more player in Monday Night Football to determine Week 16. Come back Tuesday for an update.

Mrs. Grinch

Well, it all started with a "discussion" on why we should/shouldn't get a Christmas tree. We have this discussion every year. Because we often travel around Christmas, my reasoning is that if we don't get a tree during Thanksgiving weekend, we shouldn't get one. I know, I'm Mrs. Grinch! You should have extreme empathy for Brian.

It made me think about my MBTI® personality type.

The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) personality inventory is to make the theory of psychological types described by C. G. Jung understandable and useful in people’s lives. The essence of the theory is that much seemingly random variation in the behavior is actually quite orderly and consistent, being due to basic differences in the ways individuals prefer to use their perception and judgment.
Read more

I am an ISTJ:

Quiet, serious, earn success by thoroughness and dependability. Practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, and responsible. Decide logically what should be done and work toward it steadily, regardless of distractions. Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organized – their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty. (Here's another ISTJ description.)
See other MBTI® personality types

However, here is a "funny" description of the types. Perhaps, there's some truth. :-)

ISTJ: "Bean Counter"
Like the ESTJ* but with less vision.

*ESTJ:
"Stuffed Shirt" - No imagination, no flexibility, no common sense, no capacity for tolerance of others with different priorities.
Read more

What's your MBTI® type? Check it out at www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/the-16-mbti-types.asp. (If nothing else, leave a condolence comment for Brian!)

Christmas at Luther

"Christmas at Luther: Night of Glory, Dawn of Peace," the 27th annual Luther College Christmas concert, was this weekend. The five performances were sold out.

Granted so much has changed since I graduated in 19...never mind that's not the important part! :-) Here are some fond memories from my participation in Juletide Fest (now Christmas at Luther):

• Driving back to Luther from Thanksgiving with family at home in order to be on time for Sunday evening dress rehearsal
• All of the logistics and choreography involved to make the concert look seamless
• Our freshman year when then Pike Kor (now Aurora) opened the concert with "Before the Marvel of This Night;" I still get chills
• When we were at Luther, I think we only had two or three performances of Christmas at Luther; however, we also performed Handel's Messiah once or twice
• Performing Silent Night in a candlelit auditorium
• A finale composed by John Rutter that we learn from a faxed copy
• The absolutely indescribable sound of singing with a mass choir of more than 500 voices

Luther is a very special community. I have rarely heard anyone else talk with such fondness about their college experience, the friends they made and those they still stay in contact with, than I have with other fellow Luther alums. Thanks for letting me reminisce!

Here's information about this year's Christmas at Luther. Perhaps you can catch this year's broadcast on one of the many public television station:

More than 600 Luther student musicians present traditional holiday carols and sacred Christmas choral anthems, performing in one of the nation's top college concert halls, the Luther Center for Faith and Life.

The concert includes performances by Nordic Choir under the direction of Craig Arnold, Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Baldwin, Cantorei under the direction of Linda Martin, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Frederick Nyline, Cathedral Choir and Aurora under the direction of Sandra Peter, Collegiate Chorale and Norsemen under the direction of Timothy Peter, Luther Ringers under the direction of Gregory Peterson, and the Christmas Flutes.

Organist is Gregory Peterson, and faculty accompanists include Du Huang and Xiao Hu, piano; Juan Tony Guzman, guitar; and Jacquelyn Venter Ridder, harp. Ann Sponberg Petersion is the narrator, and the narration was written by Carol Gilbertson.

Each year, more than 6,500 people attend the Christmas at Luther performances on the Luther campus. The concert has been broadcast on almost 100 public television stations in 25 states, and it is broadcast annually on public radio.
Read more