Category: Uncategorized

I hate you Punxatawney Phil

Dear town of Punxatawney,
Yep, I said it, I’ve had it with your beloved rodent and his handlers with their top hats and tuxes? Really?
I can not, will not, handle 6 more weeks of winter. I want and need spring to be just around the corner.
Although I know either way, it’s really the same thing but still, this BS about seeing the shadow or not – it’s a sham I say.
I’ll take a sunny, warm patio please!
Get it right next year.

Thanks,
gt

Dear town of Punxatawney,
Yep, I said it, I’ve had it with your beloved rodent and his handlers with their top hats and tuxes? Really?
I can not, will not, handle 6 more weeks of winter. I want and need spring to be just around the corner.
Although I know either way, it’s really the same thing but still, this BS about seeing the shadow or not – it’s a sham I say.
I’ll take a sunny, warm patio please!
Get it right next year.

Thanks,
gt

6

Timbbbbbbbbbbbberrrrrrrrrr………

Saturday I sadly watched as ALL the trees in the yard were cut down. It was absolutely WILD to watch. With all the destruction, there were tree “specialists” literally trolling the streets in their big trucks with chainsaws and ropes in the back ready to work, and for a very high cost for sure.
It had to be done though… some of the trees could not stay up in their precarious position and there was no way any person without super human tree scaling capabilities could get on top of them with out go-go gadget extensions!
These guys just hopped up in the trees and started cutting away. They were more careful with the ones that could be saved but the ones that had to come all the way down – they just chopped away. It almost looked like they were cutting the trees out from under them and jumping down till they got back on the ground.

Also on Saturday afternoon, I went with my mom to bring food to some of her students families. She teaches ESL (English as a second language) and knows that most of her children and their families are very poor. So we went to Walmart and got some milk and cereal and sandwich stuff and some fruit and canned vegetables and took it around to their neighborhoods. It was amazing to meet the kids and their families. Some of the kids had suggestions of who else might need some food and they offered to share what was being given to them with others and hopped in the car with us and led us to where they knew there were people in need. It was very humbling and amazing to see the compassion of these 6th and 7th graders even in their own time of their families need. Even though I still didn’t have power back at my house, I instantly became very grateful for the wood burning stove and gas range and the ability to cook and heat up water if I wanted, and took away all the boredom that I had felt for the past few days…

The remainder of the day light hours were spent learning the true origin of the game pick up sticks, as that is what we did… for a very long time! The city will be picking up all the debris but first it has to be stacked up on the side of the road. Here’s the fort I made… it’s super tall, taller than me for sure and as wide as the entire property line. And this is JUST the from the front yard.

It seems as if most people have their power back, about 30,000 people in Northwest Arkansas still do not have power. MZ’s parents are in that #. They are at his house, it works out well because he’s in Kansas City for the Sam’s Club Year Beginning Meeting for most of the week. I know they are very ready to get back in their house and their routine. I pretty much hit my thresh hold of powerlessness after day 4… I would be freaking out right now without power. I finally had to give up and take a shower over at Zack and Lauren’s house. I had had enough with boiling water to wash my hair and then sitting in front of the fire place to dry out…

0

Super Bowl XLIII ~ 2009

MZ and I went to one of the best Super Bowl Parties yesterday and it was one of the best Super Bowls I can remember as well.
Danielle and Randall had a couple of groups at their house, Tailgating folk and Work folk… Such a great crowd all around.
Nothing could beat the great food either – Randall is a superb cook, he made yummy grilled chicken, chicken wings, pork loin sandwiches with a super tasty oniony peachy something sauce and appropriately coined “heart attack” potatoes – they have cheese and bacon and all kinds of other artery clogging additives – YUMMMMMM! There were about 6 kinds of dips and chips, etc. AND AB made “Death by Chocolate” which brought all the goodness together! I didn’t really care who won and didn’t have any loyalty to either team so I wore my Bears shirt and my Cowboy boots with the rationale that neither Arizona nor Pittsburgh played the Bears, so of course the Bears would have won it all, and well I have to support the Cowboys, why not? There were some pretty passionate Steelers fans and then some pretty passionate fans who would have cheered for anyone but the Steelers, I can’t say that anyone there REALLY REALLY wanted the Cardinals to win because they cheered for them all season long, they just wanted to see the Steelers get crushed. Oh well…

And really, everyone knows I really only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials! I was a bit underwhelmed this year. There were some good ones, but nothing I was super excited about. I did LOVE the Miller High Life 1 second ad and the Careerbuilder.com ad with the screaming woman and the Koala bear. Budweiser had some good ads as well, a fetching Clydesdale and then the circus pony one… the 3D ads were pretty cool too!

What was YOUR favorite ad?

All in all, no matter who won, after the week our community has had, it was so nice to all be together, warm and with electricity!
Thanks to R and D for hosting a great gathering!!!

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Paint the Town Red ’09

Two weeks ago, MZ and I went to Paint the Town Red, a local fund raiser for the American Heart Association. It’s a great fundraiser for a great cause and I personally like it because they have vowed to never move the event to Benton County! I will always go to anything that makes that type of promise to me!
Zack and Lauren joined us at Paint the Town Red as well…

One thing MZ and I have decided to this year is to go to more fund raiser events rather than just going to a bar, this is good for a few reasons:
  1. We would spend just as much money going to a bar, so it might as well be going to a good cause – especially if they are “open bar.”
  2. I get to play dress up which is ALWAYS fun!!!!!!!!!!
  3. Neither of us smell like lung cancer at the end of the night.
  4. It’s a good networking …. uh network.
  5. Most of the local fundraisers also showcase local restaurants so we get to try all kinds of local food!

So, I’m planning out the rest of the year and trying to find some good fund raisers to attend!

Even more exciting, almost $120,000 was raised which is 30% more than last year. That’s quite an accomplishment considering the state of our economy.

0

The Ghost of Christmas Past

I never really gave a full recount of Christmas. It was a very nice holiday season this year. My mother was elated because my sister is finally home from Chile and so now, we can start celebrating holidays again. Secret yay for me since we didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving… MZ and I went to a few parties. I am sad that neither or our offices had work parties – those always make for a good story.
Here’s a recount of some of the those more social events…
One party we went to has a tradition every year of playing Dirty Santa with Alcohol – where everyone brings an alcoholic gift and then we play the mean swapping game with all the libations. Last year we were supreme winners in that MZ got a bottle of Glinlivit and I got a rather expensive bottle of rum. We acquired the Glinlivit because the guy who brought it wasn’t quite told the full rules of the game and he thought he was more bringing it to drink and possibly share, not to be stolen mercifulessly from someone … but after our calculated rounds to make sure we were the big winners MZ still shared the bottle with everyone. I should say that last year we brought a bottle of Pucker and something else equally atrocious. Therefore, we totally came out ahead on that one. This year I would say we faired pretty well again. We came away with a bottle of Hypnotic and a bottle of some sort of whiskey. We came with some type of off brand Jaeger – yes, it was equally disgusting when shot alone; and I actually don’t remember what else we brought… oh well.
Our Jr. League New Member group had an ornament exchange Happy Hour one evening at Hog Haus. It was a great time and good to see everyone and relax since December was so busy. I really wish more people would have come, it was a great time!

1

Ice Storm ’09


Since there is NO ELECTRICITY… I’m updating my blog until my computer battery dies: via MS Word then can cut and paste when the power comes back which will hopefully be very soon, but I’m afraid it may be days.
Ice storms are bad. These are not like snow storms, no pretty white fluffy snow to play in – just ICE – everywhere. I have lost every single tree in my yard. And we’re not talking little new trees – these trees are at least 40 years old and they are gone. Its so sad.
Don’t know why some of these are upside down…. but here’s a just a snippet of destruction!
I lost power on Tuesday morning and still don’t have, they don’t know when it’ll be back on either.

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A couple of weather letters

Dear weatherchannel.com and Weather Channel iPhone app:

Why are you so different?
In this case, opposites DO NOT attract – they irritate us all!
Yesterday as I was tracking the pending ice storm, I was getting totally conflicting reports. wc.com said that there was only a meager 4% chance of precipitation at 4 pm while the iPhone app for the weather channel stated a whopping 80% chance of precip – ice, sleet, freezing rain… basically threats of armageddon actually, yet the computer base forecast was light and airy…

Please get it right going forward, especially as we move into TORNADO season here in Northwest Arkansas!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear channels 5, 7, 8 & 9:
THANK YOU!!!
Of all my years here in NWA, this is one of the few times that you all agreed AND you were all right!
NWA was ready and prepared and you are definitely to thank for that!
Good Job!
Here’s hoping to even more shared and complete info agreement going forward!!!

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Fabulous Friday!

Friday is always oh so fabulous but this on is especially fabulous because it’s been one heck of a week!
So the goings on are…

  • there is apparently a dancing albino Scottish pony troupe in town… probably won’t attend that but ya know… maybe some one will – if you do – please let me know how that one goes.
  • Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boy’s will be making a 2nd appearance at George’s Majestic Lounge Saturday night… and we will miss it for the 2nd time
  • Drumline is at the WAC
  • OZARK POETS AND WRITERS COLLECTIVE: Begins its 15th year featuring local, regional and national wordsmiths and providing an open mic for community writers. Readings are held at 7 p.m. the last Tuesday of every month at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville. Admission is free, but a hat is passed to support the artist and to defray expenses for the monthly event. The open mic is limited to four minutes for each performer. 443-2080 – this could be super fun!
  • The Hogs take on Auburn – dear goodness please let us win a game…

Those are a few of the things happening, for more info check here (Fayetteville Free Weekly) or here (Fayetteville Flyer).

Friday:Arsaga’s Crossover: Scott HarrisonBoom Boom Room: Elise Davis BandFroggy’s: Randy Crouch, 1 oz. Jig, Ringo Alcoa BandGeorge’s: Lucero, Cory Branan, Eoff Brothers, FOS Project,Goodfolk: WheatfieldGypsy: Joey Farr and the Fuggins Wheat Band, TastebudsSmoke & Barrel: Lucio’s Grown FolksSpeakeasy: DJ GregTangerine: DJ JuxTeatro Scarpino: Salsa/Swing DancingWalton Arts Center: Drumline

Saturday:Arsaga’s Crossover: The Philly JoesArsaga’s Gregg: Scotty WaltersBoom Boom Room: Bob Kramer IncidentFroggy’s: Black Water, Bombay BlackGeorge’s: Mixmaster MikeGypsy: Pope County Bootleggers and Deadman FlatsSmoke & Barrel: Matt Smith and GuestsSoul: JazzSpeakeasy: DJ GregTangerine: DJ JuxTeatro Scarpino: 70’s Dance Night

Sunday:Common Grounds: Nathan Hancock, DJ SoulFreeDickson Theater: Drag ShowGeorge’s: Ben Miller BandGoodfolk: Eliza GilkysonGypsy: The Bling Grenades, The Inner Party, Lethal Red, AugerPesto Cafe: Shannon WurstWalton Arts Center: Brian Regan

0

Bring your ID

I take my ID everywhere I go – mainly because I always carry my purse – I just feel naked without it and all my crap. I don’t yet have an entourage so I just have to make sure I have a lot of shit to follow me around – that’s my rationale at least – HA! Laugh… I’m not that shallow… that was funny, please laugh.

My sister (23)and my mother (50)apparently don’t have the same feeling about their belongings… they never ever never bring their id’s or purses or debit cards or anything with them if they go out. They don’t feel the need, but I say, what if you’re in a horrible accident and you are not immediately recognizable – then potentially if you have your ID on you, it might be easier to contact your “next of kin” or something – assuming it survived the firey hot mess. I know it’s morbid sorta but these are the things I think about!
I guess it normally proves to be in their advantage because I can’t remember the last time either of them picked up the tab when they were out with me…. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm? Note to self – free beer may be better than being recognized after a fiery crash.

TOPIC CHECK (who hasn’t taken her drugs today) – so we went to dinner as a “family” a while back, my dad orders a bottle of wine for the table. The snarky little hippie waitress demands to see everyone’s ID – uh oh – this WILL NOT END WELL! Feisty mom retorts back with “really, no you don’t” waitstaff disliking father pops off that well he will just vouch for my sister – I immediately crawl under the table and enter the fetal position, but I left my ID on the table – I figured I’d need that wine super soon! Well the shithead waitress says that NO ONE drinks until she sees EACH ID – really? Power trip much? I have my ID – I’m legal – give me my f-ing drink! Crying sister feins alcoholism and is escorted back to the house to reclaim her ID (if she can find it…) and …………… it gets better! Hold on tight!

Scene: me, mom and our good buddy silencio sitting at a table in an Italian restaurant – yeah the song goes a bottle of red a bottle of white – what’s missing from the equation? My f-ing drink!
ME: “She’s gonna check your ID.”
Mother: “NO, she’s not!” emphatically and might I mention loud.
Waitress: “YES, I am” oh she shouted across the room… I can feel my teeth grinding down to my gums…I text my sister to ensure she also grabs my mothers purse…
Father and sister return with both ID’s – wine arrives, W checks “the ladies” ID’s – then GRAVE mistake, she does not even check for my dad’s ID – my mother gets up, dislodges his ID, chases W down and slaps it on the counter… CHECK THAT BITCH!

I started praying a novena that there might only be one bodily fluid in our food and not multiple….

3

Bad Blogger, Bad Blogger!!!

I know, I know – I’ve been a very bad blogger this week! However, don’t feel sad, my blog is not the only thing I’ve totally ignored most of this week – I haven’t shaved my legs in longer, so there…
What a week it’s been! I can’t yet blog about the Inauguration of Barack Obama, for I’ve not even watched the Inauguration yet… yep, that’s how behind I am! I can say that I got an officially “signed” Barack Obama Sharpie® today at the BlogWell Conference in Chicago from the Sharpie® lady – who was super cool even before I knew she had free Sharpies.®
More to come on the BlogWell Conference in a separate post… but I tweeted about it so if you need instant grat – twitter search #BlogWell and you can read the entire days entries from all the participants – I will say that the internet reception in the venue was much less than desirable, especially since this was a conference dedicated to digital and social media.

On Wednesday, Robin Miller of the Food Network was on-sight to film some short video segments for some upcoming items. It was a great day, but very busy. Segment shoots are always very tedious and make for a super long day, or few days as they all roll into one. I should start by saying that instead of watching the Inauguration live, I was out shopping for items to create a “homey” looking kitchen and other items that would make a good quick change as well as pretty plate presentations without looking super dated in 6 months, because I hope to keep using these segments for a long time to come!!! Here’s the before and after… it doesn’t look all that exciting in still but the shots look great! Also, the flowers are from BLOOM in Bentonville – a fabulous local florist!
Tuesday evening I had a delicious meal at Shogun with a few of our agency team and my boss. No, the immense amounts of food and butter and rice and noodles at Shogun is so not on my diet plan, but I’d been running my ass off in the cold and super tall boots all day so whatev… I ran extra Tuesday night and Wednesday morning so I feel like I made up for it.
Back to the shoot – we had the Corporate Marketing team there – all 2 of us and 2 agency team members, along with Robin, a local makeup artist, camera crew and kitchen crew including a food stylist. The last thing we needed was more “directors” especially those that referred to themselves as such. Nevertheless, we managed, even literally with too many cooks in the kitchen to wrap 10 minutes ahead of time! And I yet again got to over use my favorite phrases “Quiet on the set” “ACTION” “CUT” I also had to revert to a few “Shut the hell up’s” too … We shot about 8 segments in total during the day. When we broke for lunch we had the joys of utilizing our in-house chef team, which did a fabulous job! It’s so nice to have our very own version of craft services just a few feet away at all time! By the time 5 o’clock rolled around I was beat – I don’t even really remember making it home and up there stairs but I woke up about 7 pm and feeling refreshed, went for a run.
We’ve got another Robin Miller video segment shoot coming up in a few weeks and I really hope it goes just as smoothly – she’s such a joy to work with! I’ll also be going to NYC with her in just a very few short weeks for a project!
Interesting little piece of trivia – she loves her some ghetto rap and hip-hop! I will totally be making a “mix tape” for the next shoot. I was not aware of her music taste so I wasn’t prepared – I do have to say that Pandora and Slacker came to the rescue – such great (& free) iPhone apps with unlimited access to all types of music any time of day!

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