1) Duh.
2) Sadly, I think this is getting more coverage than when the 9/11 Commission released its final report.
3) Duh.
4) The Pirates only had two people linked to steroids during their time with the team. So now we have yet another reason why they never win.
5) Duh.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
Doug 2007!
Q: What do I do on a December Sunday when I know the Steelers are getting their butts handed to them?
A: Put up my Christmas decorations!
Back in an easy-access apartment, yahoo for being able to get a real tree again! (Douglass Fir...funny how they all end up being named Doug.) So now I'm happy, it finally feels like the holidays. I'm a big fan of the holidays. Not religiously, certainly, just culturally. It's really the one time of year that people of so many different cultures have a big celebration, and something about big celebrations in the middle of cold and snow just makes one feel warm and fuzzy.
Actually, as much as I love my own decorations and Christmas tree, one thing I really love about Squirrel Hill is that's it's one place that you really have the warm and fuzzy holiday feel, but it's not just Christmas shoved down your throat. I'm sitting in my office right now (Blogging at work? Shh...don't tell!) with the office Christmas tree, Santa Claus everywhere, and an explosion of red and green cube decorations. I'd much rather be at CTR or the library in Squirrel Hill, where it feels festive but not so exclusive. Not to say that people who've grown up celebrating Christmas shouldn't do so (my own cube has red tinsel), I just like being in an environment with more of a mix of people who celebrate a whole range of things.
A: Put up my Christmas decorations!
Back in an easy-access apartment, yahoo for being able to get a real tree again! (Douglass Fir...funny how they all end up being named Doug.) So now I'm happy, it finally feels like the holidays. I'm a big fan of the holidays. Not religiously, certainly, just culturally. It's really the one time of year that people of so many different cultures have a big celebration, and something about big celebrations in the middle of cold and snow just makes one feel warm and fuzzy.
Actually, as much as I love my own decorations and Christmas tree, one thing I really love about Squirrel Hill is that's it's one place that you really have the warm and fuzzy holiday feel, but it's not just Christmas shoved down your throat. I'm sitting in my office right now (Blogging at work? Shh...don't tell!) with the office Christmas tree, Santa Claus everywhere, and an explosion of red and green cube decorations. I'd much rather be at CTR or the library in Squirrel Hill, where it feels festive but not so exclusive. Not to say that people who've grown up celebrating Christmas shouldn't do so (my own cube has red tinsel), I just like being in an environment with more of a mix of people who celebrate a whole range of things.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Memos
With a nod to MT for this fun blog post format.
To: Anthony Smith
RE: Guarantee
Perhaps it is unwise to taunt the most talented quarterback/receiver combination in the NFL. Just a thought for next time, unless of course you were trying to challenge Ben to beat Brady's 400 yard, 4-touchdown performance.
To: Mark Recchi
RE: We still luv ya
Good luck in Atlanta! You should know that is MD's secondary team, so she's happy to see you there. The Burgh still loves the Wreckin' Ball, unfortunately there just wasn't a home for you on the ice.
To: Ray Shero
RE: Class
As with John LeClaire, you showed crap tons of class in handling Recchi. There are very few businesses that would be willing to take a several hundred thousand dollar budget hit just to try to see an employee be happy and have a chance. Way to not be Anthony Smith.
To: Christmas Lights
RE: Yay!
Twinkle, twinkle. Christmas lights rock.
To: Anthony Smith
RE: Guarantee
Perhaps it is unwise to taunt the most talented quarterback/receiver combination in the NFL. Just a thought for next time, unless of course you were trying to challenge Ben to beat Brady's 400 yard, 4-touchdown performance.
To: Mark Recchi
RE: We still luv ya
Good luck in Atlanta! You should know that is MD's secondary team, so she's happy to see you there. The Burgh still loves the Wreckin' Ball, unfortunately there just wasn't a home for you on the ice.
To: Ray Shero
RE: Class
As with John LeClaire, you showed crap tons of class in handling Recchi. There are very few businesses that would be willing to take a several hundred thousand dollar budget hit just to try to see an employee be happy and have a chance. Way to not be Anthony Smith.
To: Christmas Lights
RE: Yay!
Twinkle, twinkle. Christmas lights rock.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
It Goes By Quick
LT and I went to see the Chihuly exhibit at Phipps yesterday, as part of a fun day that also included a triumphant display of LT's boat-building prowess, and lots of snow. We went around the conservatory, enjoying the day, the exhibit and each other's company.
There was an older lesbian couple going through the exhibit, and we kept sort of crossing paths but not interacting with them, just ending up in the same general vicinity. It happened that we all ended up at the exit at the same time when we were done. As we were walking out, one of the women said to us, "We just want you two to know, it goes by quick. It goes by quick."
It was such a small interaction, but so impactful. Certainly there was the obvious impact which she intended; I had already been thoroughly appreciating the beauty of the day, but having her say that made me take even additional time to take everything in and soak it up, cherish it, for the rest of the day. And not just the day, but LT--being able to share it with her, being a part of her earlier success and current happiness.
The other piece of it, though, was the joy that came from that acknowledgment of us and our relationship. For those of you who are straight, it may be slightly difficult to understand why it meant so much along those lines...I will take a shot at explaining, because I want all of my friends to understand how I was touched.
A young straight couple in love, they can wander around holding hands and staring into each other's eyes, letting all the world see that feeling of adoration and joy. People say, "Awww...how sweet," and are happy for them (provided they aren't being obnoxious). For gay couples, it isn't always that easy. You can just hold hands and risk anything from uncomfortable stares to derisive comments to physical violence. Something so great as love can become a source of deep hurt when other people, including even family, use it as an excuse to be cruel to you.
LT and I are generally very comfortable as a couple. We often hold hands and hug, and even when we don't I feel like our interaction and the way we position ourselves relative to each other mark us off very definitely as a couple. At most, I generally just hope for no "incidents" as a result, that even people who are uncomfortable with us will just live and let live. So, it was an incredibly pleasant surprise to have this validation of our relationship, this acknowledgment of what we felt.
"We see your happiness and it is beautiful."
It's not a message that I get to hear spontaneously from strangers very often. Apparently when I do, it makes my day.
There was an older lesbian couple going through the exhibit, and we kept sort of crossing paths but not interacting with them, just ending up in the same general vicinity. It happened that we all ended up at the exit at the same time when we were done. As we were walking out, one of the women said to us, "We just want you two to know, it goes by quick. It goes by quick."
It was such a small interaction, but so impactful. Certainly there was the obvious impact which she intended; I had already been thoroughly appreciating the beauty of the day, but having her say that made me take even additional time to take everything in and soak it up, cherish it, for the rest of the day. And not just the day, but LT--being able to share it with her, being a part of her earlier success and current happiness.
The other piece of it, though, was the joy that came from that acknowledgment of us and our relationship. For those of you who are straight, it may be slightly difficult to understand why it meant so much along those lines...I will take a shot at explaining, because I want all of my friends to understand how I was touched.
A young straight couple in love, they can wander around holding hands and staring into each other's eyes, letting all the world see that feeling of adoration and joy. People say, "Awww...how sweet," and are happy for them (provided they aren't being obnoxious). For gay couples, it isn't always that easy. You can just hold hands and risk anything from uncomfortable stares to derisive comments to physical violence. Something so great as love can become a source of deep hurt when other people, including even family, use it as an excuse to be cruel to you.
LT and I are generally very comfortable as a couple. We often hold hands and hug, and even when we don't I feel like our interaction and the way we position ourselves relative to each other mark us off very definitely as a couple. At most, I generally just hope for no "incidents" as a result, that even people who are uncomfortable with us will just live and let live. So, it was an incredibly pleasant surprise to have this validation of our relationship, this acknowledgment of what we felt.
"We see your happiness and it is beautiful."
It's not a message that I get to hear spontaneously from strangers very often. Apparently when I do, it makes my day.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Is Three Times a Charm?
Plant attempt #1 didn't have a name or a chance. I'm not even really sure what kind of plant it was...whatever it was, it's fate was brutal and short. It was a housewarming present, alas it did not find my house to be warm.
Plant attempt #2, Spike, was an ornamental pepper. Spike was gone within a month or so, I think. I made a last ditch attempt to save hyr by shipping hyr off to LT's apartment where ze might be able to get more sun, but alas it was no use. LT does insist that the blame is partly hers, as Spike was transported to my apartment in her backpack. But I think that's kind of like a dockworker taking credit for deaths on the Titanic because he broke a lifeboat oar. There were just too many things fate had in store for that to make a difference.
So now I've moved down a level in the plant-care ladder to bamboo. The Twins, Thing 1 and Thing 2, share a little decorative mug on my window sill...LT claims that they are virtually impossible to kill, to which I say, "Sounds like a challenge to me."
Augh! That damn JB Robinson commercial is on again!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Farewell to a Work Computer
For five and a half years now, you've sat by my side, churning and plugging away with me through help files, manuals, customer support sites, and XML research. When I first came here, you were a wonder, and an enigma. The first Pentium IV in our office, you challenged the IT department to greater heights, figuring out how to make our software work on you. After a few weeks, they emerged victorious, and I was able to do something besides read hard copy manuals.
We've been together since then. Through the RoboHelp x4 nightmare, new versions of Office, and even an operating system upgrade to XP. I can't lie, as the years progressed I began to notice how other people were able to build their help more quickly, copy source to and from the network in far less time. But, in general you were trustworthy and crash-free. The only times I've regretted our partnership are when you make The Noise. Your random, phantom fan noise that comes and goes as you see fit. I can hear your voice softly ringing in my ears....
"GGGGGHHHHGHHGHGHKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCCKCCKCK!!!"
But still I stuck with you. I even thought it was cute how you toyed with the IT guys, stopping the noise whenever they came around, and making them think it was the fan on the right no matter how many times I told them it was the fan on the left.
So, I don't know why you are so angry with me today. I didn't request your replacement, I swear. The IT guy came knocking on my cube door, saying another group needed a set of identical machines and you fit the profile, and asking if I would give you up for a new machine. How could I possibly keep you from this higher calling? You've been hand-picked for a greater purpose! (Or maybe to be a lab machine, but that's important too.) I know I've been playing with the new laptop I got last week, but I wasn't planning on replacing you.
So please, don't ruin our last days together. Please.
I beg you. Stop....making....that....infernal...NOISE!!!!!!!
We've been together since then. Through the RoboHelp x4 nightmare, new versions of Office, and even an operating system upgrade to XP. I can't lie, as the years progressed I began to notice how other people were able to build their help more quickly, copy source to and from the network in far less time. But, in general you were trustworthy and crash-free. The only times I've regretted our partnership are when you make The Noise. Your random, phantom fan noise that comes and goes as you see fit. I can hear your voice softly ringing in my ears....
"GGGGGHHHHGHHGHGHKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCCKCCKCK!!!"
But still I stuck with you. I even thought it was cute how you toyed with the IT guys, stopping the noise whenever they came around, and making them think it was the fan on the right no matter how many times I told them it was the fan on the left.
So, I don't know why you are so angry with me today. I didn't request your replacement, I swear. The IT guy came knocking on my cube door, saying another group needed a set of identical machines and you fit the profile, and asking if I would give you up for a new machine. How could I possibly keep you from this higher calling? You've been hand-picked for a greater purpose! (Or maybe to be a lab machine, but that's important too.) I know I've been playing with the new laptop I got last week, but I wasn't planning on replacing you.
So please, don't ruin our last days together. Please.
I beg you. Stop....making....that....infernal...NOISE!!!!!!!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Pet Peeve #43: JB Robinson
Ah yes, it's the holidays again, which means the J.B. Robinson jeweler ads are out in full force. The same ones they've had for years...the video looks older and fuzzier than the TV rerun of The Hunt for Red October that I'm currently watching. For the record, no she didn't find his secret hiding place, yes he was still able to surprise her after all these years, and amazingly enough, he still was never worried about the earrings/bracelet/necklace/whatever.
At least the one where the guy puts the necklace on his wife while she's sleeping and then pretends to be asleep when she wakes up is sweet and endearing. Much more romantic than the Rick Santorum lookalike and that horribly awkward hug the couple gives each other at the end. And the song in the other one is way better.
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