shaken, not stirred.
My mind is all a-boggle today.
And while that’s nothing terribly new, I think I can tie this particular boggle to huge doses of cough suppressant and decongestant leaving my system. I’m weaning myself off of all of it, after being pretty much high for almost a week. I’d like to see how my body is doing… really.
I am feeling better, although the death rattle cough remains, and I’ve used my weight in Kleenex (do you know how HARD that is?)
Mostly I’m just happy that I no longer have to drag my head behind me like a ball and chain.
But I DO need some entertaining.
Everyone’s been pretty quiet out there for the past little while, which is easy to blame on Spring Break and SAD sufferers and winter malaise and our natural tendency to observe without engaging online. I do it, too.
Sometimes I can only think of really stupid things to say, and that doesn’t seem worth adding to anyone’s comment boxes (although the Benylin did rob me of some judgment last week, to be sure.)
I feel chatty today, though. I’d love to find out what everyone’s up to, what everyone’s thinking about.
Sooooo….
1. How are you? And I mean really, not in a two-word answer sense.
2. If you have a blog, have you been posting much this winter? Why or why not?
3. What are the last five things that made you happy?
4. What are the last five things that irritated you?
5. If you could ask me any question in the world (about me or anything else), what would it be?
March 20th, 2007 at 9:20 am
1. Well, my allergies are kickin’ up, so I went out at lunchtime and got some Zicam Allergy Relief. I hope it works.
2. Yes, I’ve been posting pretty regularly, because I’m obsessive that way. Then I went and got signed up to do another one, so I had to do even more blogging.
3. a: The coffee milkshake I had for lunch
b: The pictorial joke I got in my email from a friend I haven’t heard from lately
c: The dollar-off coupon attached to the Zicam
d: My boss likes my animation!
e: Chats with friends this morning.
4. a: My sinuses.
b: My knee.
c: The traffic on the way to work.
d: The line outside of the car wash that was blocking my lane.
e: The state of my bank account.
5. So how are the Canucks doing?
March 20th, 2007 at 9:34 am
The Canucks are actually doing BRILLIANTLY… now granted, they could stand to be more consistent and not win so often in overtime (or lose to pansy teams after beating major contenders) but I’m impressed with the direction we’re headed.
At this point, we really have to thank Roberto Luongo for keeping us in the party, though. Our defense is wildly erratic most of the time, and the guys who are supposed to be our top scorers have really dropped the ball. Except for the Sedin twins. They’ve earned their cheques.
March 20th, 2007 at 9:58 am
1. i am doing well, and i know that the beautiful spring weather contributes to my glorious mood. (springtime in boulder is really beautiful…something to behold, indeed). i am managing my stress level pretty well, and haven’t had any major freakouts about the fact that we just bought a house and are having a baby and i will be quitting my job all at the same time oh my god there is too much going on ACK! but really, mostly well.
2. no, i haven’t been posting regularly because i can never create a decent post without questioning myself and what i want to write about, so i end up sharing nothing at all.
3. the two kit-kats i ate after breakfast. wearing flipflops to work. getting hugs from kindergarteners. a compliment from a “pseudo boss” who previously revealed to another that she “questioned my ability and dedication” to my job.
4. no coffee for me. having to climb two flights of stairs to use the bathroom. sinus pressure. the bird chirping outside my window way before my alarm clock this morning. stubbing my flip-flopped toe on my desk.
5. am i having a girl or a boy…what’s your guess?
March 20th, 2007 at 10:21 am
You know, I’m thinking it’s going to be a girl. Usually I think “BOY” for everyone, which is weird. Why do I want everyone to have little boys. I just get the sense that you’ll have a little girl. I have no idea where that comes from. I have no basis in fact. But I think you’ll give her a cute name, and that she’ll have a perfectly round head.
March 20th, 2007 at 10:23 am
1. I am ok, taking 2 days off (or rather it was agreed that I deserve them for the work that I was doing). And health wise I am doing good.
2. I am blogging almost everyday and mostly 2 or 3 posts in a day. I find that it is the one common thing I look forward to everyday.
3. (i)Watching ‘Bon Cop, Bad Cop’
(ii)An sms from a friend
(iii)Playing with my 5 month old neice
(iv)Chatting with another friend, Jalpa
(v)The fact that my two days off were given to me
4. (i)My mom
(ii)My mom’s ranting
(iii)Noises made by my nephews
(iv)The time it takes to download a tv episode or movie
(v)The heat in this part of the world
5. Will you marry me?
March 20th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Ha! You know, that’s sweet, but I’m going to have to take a pass. As much as an Internet wedding would be easy to organize, the cake probably wouldn’t taste very good. :-)
March 20th, 2007 at 10:35 am
1. Overtired and a little down, but luckily not being completely sucked under. The sun is out today, and I’ve had a chance to get some Perspective.
2. Yes, I have two blogs, and yes, I’ve been posting regularly. Reasons: Blog #1 - Because I’ve resolved both to write regularly and to not get on myself for not writing. This somehow clears mental logjams. Blog #2 - Winter is hockey season, and since this is a hockey blog, there’s a lot to write about (plus my teammates totally get on me for *not* posting).
3. a. Trader Joe’s Green Tuna Curry.
b. Falling asleep without effort last night.
c. Having dinner with my two year-old and then walking to the library with him.
d. Scoring an amazing goal on Saturday.
e. Um, something private. Involved husband.
4. a. The run of insomnia that I’ve had since returning from Hawaii the night that the clocks jumped forward.
b. The neck pain left over from whacking my head on the ice on Sunday.
c. The fact that my eyes are burning even though I got a whopping 6.5 hours of sleep last night (the most in over a week).
That’s about it, surprisingly. I’m usually an irritable person by nature.
5. Did it completely freak you out that I e-mailed you about Dreamweaver?
March 20th, 2007 at 10:41 am
No way! Did I not write back to say it was totally all good? If anything, I was like AAAAH I WAS BITCHING ABOUT A PRODUCT SOMEONE FROM MY BLOG WAS WORKING ON.
I hate to be that person. BUT… improving things is awesome, too.
I put the word out to my fellow officefolks to send me suggestions to send to you, but they’ve been a little slack about it. I’ll put something together soon — believe me, I have a couple pet peeves. One thing we always bemoan is lack of “Word Count.” Does that make sense?
More to come. But you can email me anything you like.
March 20th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Yes, Word Count is something I always switch to, well, Word for. :) I believe there *is* a free extension for Dw that does it, tho.
I don’t mind the bitching at all — we’re always passing around links to blog posts that mention frustrations with Dw. Helps us figure out what most drives people nuts, and therefore what we should spend our time trying to fix. You can e-mail me directly at the adobe address any time, but I won’t be offended if you just post your frustrations here. :) I can’t really say much about our product cycle/timing… but right now is a good time to gripe.
Thanks for writing so well, btw. I really enjoy reading your posts!
March 20th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Yeah, we just cut and paste text out of DW and do our WCs there… it just would be nice to skip the step:). I’ll look around for that free extension!
And thank you… you’ve very kind. :-)
March 20th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
1. Right now I feel like I haven’t eaten anything in a week. In reality, it’s been about four hours.
2. I have been posting. I always post. Some people don’t post on the weekends, which confuses me.
3. My biology class, a cold glass of Diet Coke, talking to the boyfriend, listening to country music (shhh), and eating.
4. Unsolicited advice, people at Job Two, getting my period, having no new books to read, and being hungry
5. Do your parents read your blog? How does that affect the content?
March 20th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Hey Denise! There’s nothing wrong with country… no shame!
They do read my blog… both of them! Regularly. They refresh the page a gazillion times a day, actually, looking for new content or comments. My mom comments as “Mom” or “Meg’s Mom” and my dad is “iSore.” My brother even reads it (iTex) and a few of my aunts, etc.
It definitely affects the content I produce… I won’t lie to you. If I think something would hurt them or shock them, I’d be very reluctant to post it. They’ll write me emails about things if they’re really disturbed.
Actually, though, the fact that several of my co-workers read it contributes to some of that reticence as well. You don’t want people you work with going AAAAUGH I DIDN’T NEED TO KNOW THAT ABOUT THE PERSON IN THE NEXT CUBE.
Add to that the fact that I’m a freelancer and this is my main stop on the web, and you get some editing.
I don’t really have a problem with that, unless I’m dying to be risque in some random way. But mostly it just keeps me from looking like an asshole. Sometimes.
And I would never use my blog to slam people I know, or other people online… so I’m not afraid of being found out there.
March 20th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
1. I am feeling awesome! I got accepted to grad school, am moving back to Vermont, and am ready to start on that part of my journey. Aside from that, I am getting a little anxious about figuring out the logistics of moving and apprehensive about starting school.
2. No blog.
3. Trying to speak German in the car with a friend over lunch, Heather’s Happy Mix cd, sun outside, completed stack of papers, getting the move closer to finalized.
4. My annoying office banter with coworkers (”oh ha! Isn’t that just so funny!” yep, that sort of fake thing), miserable coworkers who love being miserable, an office without windows, Jamie Cullum, feeling icky from sitting all day.
5. Meg: how do you/can I let go of the fears and everything that holds you/me back?
March 20th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Holy crap, child, that’s MAJOR.
I wish I knew how to deal with all of them. I’ve got a lot of random fears bobbling around in my head wanting attention. Irrational ones, rational ones, old ones, new ones, ones I came up with on my own, ones others handed to me…
It’s a big job, overcoming fear. And I think it’s not really something you do all at once, in a big chunk, and then find all the freedom you need. Sure, some people probably have that experience, but for most of us, it’s a matter of making day to day choices about what limits us.
In 2004, I kind of began a crash course on facing up to my fears. I began by leaving a job I was really good at (but was wearing me down FAST) to take up freelance writing (which was something I’d always dreamed of doing.)
Hello, broke.
I was exhausted from my old job, crying out for cash, making due with meagre work (I had no reputation! How did I think this was going to work!) and wondering about my own value. But I knew I had to make a change, and I’d made it.
The next thing I did (in 2005) was get a job in a field I didn’t know well, and start on that learning curve. WHOA, is all I can say. Amazing and wonderful and scary all at once. Insecure-making. That was also my cancer scare year (!)
Then, in 2006, I went to the doctor (which I’d been putting off) to figure out why I wasn’t particularly healthy. I got the worst news of my life… the one thing I’d feared above all — that I couldn’t have kids. Then I had to go into treatment for my autoimmune disorder and hormonal disorders and WHEEE! suddenly I was Miss Medicine. Erg.
Add in some major changes in friendships, a couple serious boy rejections, and a yo-yo figure, and you have MEG FACING HER FEARS WHOOAAA.
I think it just takes small steps, consistently made. And being accountable to someone who knows you well so they push you to keep moving forward. And it never gets unscary. It just doesn’t hurt as much after a while.
But it all started with one choice. Snowball!
March 20th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
1. All things considered, I am well. I am enjoying my work, AND I’m on vacation next week :) I still can’t sleep or manage any kind of introspection. So it’s a mixed bag, really.
2. I’ve been posting plenty but it’s all nonsense.
3. The beer I’m drinking, my year 9 class who I LOVE, one of my parents who told me I’d turned her son onto English, my lunch (big ass piece of chicken), listening to country in my classroom.
4. Falling off a chair and ripping my second favorite suit all to hell, various parents who lack one or two key parenting skills, my back, how I’m so tired but know I won’t be able to sleep, English weather.
5. Meg: What’s your favorite kind of cheese and why?
March 20th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Cheese. Hmmm. I’ll tell you which one I HATE: BRIE. EWWWW. BRIE. BLEECCCH. It makes me ill.
I can’t even think about it.
I also don’t like weird, artifically-flavoured cream cheeses, or cheeses full of herbs or jalepenos (leave the havarti alone!).
I would say that my favourite cheese is a good hard chunk of parmesan reggiano, either shaved to eat with antipasto or shredded over a salad or pasta, or even eaten in incredibly rich cubes. LOVE IT.
I also really like a nice Edam, good strong blue cheese, aged cheddar, good soft mozzarella, and feta.
I’m rather pedestrian, really.
March 20th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Oooh, and I like goat cheese.
March 20th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Meg - thanks for the great answer! So choices snowball until it all gets a wee bit simpler? I like it. Thanks!
March 20th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Ar’nt feta and goat cheese the same cheese? Thats what i thought and hope you’ll tell me the truth because i avoid ordering anything with feta. I dont think i want to eat any part of a goat.
Meg, have you tried Havarti with caramelized onions? If not you really must. Its not caramelly nor does it have an onion flavor. Its just soooo very special and the taste will remind you instantly of a wonderfully pleasant memory from the distant past. Or something. Safeway never seems to have it so try Save On or whatever they call it now-a-days.
March 20th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
1. I’ve been a lot better, but perhaps worse too. My 66-year-old uncle (and godfather) suddenly died of a heart attack last Monday (in southern California, where most of the family lives), thereby sending all of us aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews spinning. Spent the week with my family, though, and had a tremendously fun time remembering an awesome and unforgettable man. At the same time, though, I was also working on my mother in law’s house (she died in October last year, 10 days before the Hub and I tied the knot), as we’re going through the hideous process of probate there. So honestly, I’ve been smiling with glee today and yesterday at the dreary TYPICAL NORMAL rain of Seattle I see out my window. I miss normalcy.
2. Let’s say I HAD a blog. As I haven’t posted anything for about a year. Why not? Dunno. I guess I don’t think there’s much of any value to others floating through my head down to my fingertips right now.
5 Happy Things?
1. My family.
2. Listening to Rick Steves as the speaker at lunch today. I want to go somewhere again. Or at the very least, reopen my mind the way it was when I was still a student (no, not via drugs. more via lectures and what have you. things stifled by corporate jobs.)
3. The Samoa Girl Scout cookie I just ate.
4. Cleaning the bathroom. Seriously. Something is wrong with me.
5. Making dinner. See above.
Irritated?
1. My boss.
2. Business trip.
3. My brother’s floppy hair.
4. Sorting through someone else’s trash.
5. Expensive plane tickets.
Have an opinion on this one? Ducks or Kings?
March 20th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Mari… I think you’re right, but I was speaking of the soft, creamy version of goat cheese as “goat cheese.” I think you can get feta made with other milk, too.
I’ve never tried the caramelized onion thing, no. But I’ll keep an eye out for it. I more object to random herbs and peppers being stuck in things. It irks me.
March 20th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Ack… Ducks or Kings. I would say Kings if I had to choose on a purely emotional level, since our old coach is the coach there. But really? Anaheim is kicking them sideways on the board.
March 20th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
1. My husband just went out of town for a week. I’m thrilled (I love being home alone–especially since I got to be so infrequently, now that he is retired.)
2. Every day, whether I need to or not. Today is my 7 year journalversary (or maybe I should say blogaversary)
3. [a] a phone call from my best friend
[b] a fabulous organ concert
[c] dinner with old friends
[d] Kettle Korn
[e] puppies
4. [a] G.W. Bush
[b] the Bush administration
[c] Karl Rove
[d] G.W. Bush
[e] The Bush administration
(can you tell my political leanings?)
5. What are the last five things that irritated YOU?
March 20th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
1. Pretty crappy really…not to be a downer, but you asked. I’ve just been feeling angry and sad and as a result I have shut everyone out of my life. Things still haven’t been resolved with my friend and I’ve stopped emailing her and I don’t answer her emails or texts or phone calls. I just don’t want to talk to her right now, don’t know if I ever will again and as a result…well, I’ve just stopped communicating with anyone except my husband. It’s kind of lonely here.
2. No blog.
3. The chocolate donut I ate yesterday; getting out of the shower and into fresh pj’s; playing with the dogs in the yard; sunny and warmish weather; my husband coming home from work.
4. The oatmeal raisin cookies I just baked (too sweet, didn’t brown enough); the fact that I ate 5 cookies even though I don’t think they’re that good; our muddy backyard with totally saturated ground and pools of water; the puppy ripping half of a bush out of the ground; chasing the puppy all over the muddy yard trying to get the bush to correct his behavior.
5. Would you ever shave your head?
March 20th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Bev, the last five things were as follows: my ass; Windows XP; my slow coach of a brain; my lack of pastry; and my cough.
March 20th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Hey Liz… good to see you. I’m sorry things are so crappy. If I can do anything, please let me know, ok?
As to shaving my head? Yeah, if I was about to lose my hair because of radiation treatments; if I had committed to take part in one of those cancer fundraisers, or if I were in a position where hair was a liability somehow, or was causing me discomfort.
My hair isn’t that great, as vain as I am about it. I could lose it for the right reasons.
March 20th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
1. frustrated and angry at most of the medical professionals charged with my care. Tired of being the one to come up with possible causes to the cough that has been with me for nearly three years now and then getting passed off to yet another doctor.
2. i try to post daily, but sometimes they spirit just doesn’t move me and then again, sometimes i post 3 or 4 in one day.
3a. NSM’s smile at her birthday dinner.
3b. seeing my cat waiting patiently for me in the window when i arrive home from anywhere.
3c. finally buying paint for my kitchen, dining and living room.
3d. hearing that i can start weaning off the nexium.
3e. the arrival of my company’s daffodil days order and finding that everything was exactly as it should be.
4a. adobe acrobat glitchs
4b. being hungry ALL the DAMN time because of the steroids i am taking.
4c. running out of vanilla creme hersheys kisses.
4d. my cat chewing on cardboard.
4e. my roommate that NEVER puts her dishes in the dishwasher.
5. who do you want the canucks to face in the first round?
March 20th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
1. I’m good, tired, but good. Have been dieting (by changing my eating habits and cutting down on amounts) and that is kicking my butt.
2. No, I have not been posting much. Work has been wild and I’ve been lazy, and then there’s that tired thing that I mentioned earlier.
3. The seniors at school made “American” food (I was the guest chef) and they liked it, I finished knitting some fingerless gloves, I got to talk on the webcam with my daughter and granddaughter this weekend, my other daughter is coming for Easter, and my husband and I split a pizza for dinner.
4. Some students took some labels from the library and stuck them all over the place (including a few computer monitors and a light fixture), someone has been stealing from their classmates, the dog whining, my computers (both work and home) are giving me problems (one on start-up, the other on shut-down), and I need a candy bar and we don’t have any treats in the house.
5. Why don’t you wear shoes?
March 20th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I just cut off 10 inches for a Locks of Love donation. My hair was so long and pretty, halfway down my back but I started to get a little sick of it and bored with it. Now it’s about mid-neck and while it’s a little shorter than I had wanted, I’m still really happy with it and with my decision to donate it. Some kid’s going to be happy (I hope) with the wig that the hair will help make. That is one thought that keeps me smiling these days.
Sorry I’ve been absent recently. And I’m glad you are feeling a bit better.
March 20th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Barbie, holy crap. I don’t know. Florida? Ahahaha. Just kidding. We have such a tough conference, and the race is so tight. It’s impossible to know where everyone will end up. I think it might end up being Dallas?
March 20th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Ah, Sandy. My non-love of wearing shoes. Well, the reality is as follows:
1. I LOVE adorable shoes. I have expensive taste in shoes. But I hate spending money on them.
2. I hate spending money on cheap shoes, too… they just fall apart.
3. I absolutely KILL shoes. I wear the ones I have into the ground.
4. I get overwarm really fast if my feet are hot.
5. I love the feeling of flip flops and bare feet.
6. The kind of flip flops I wear — Havaianas — look great, last forever, and come in a zillion colors.
7. I have the luxury of living in a fairly temperate climate.
It all adds up to shoelessness:).
BUT… I love sandals and boots and ballet flats and kitten heels and I would probably buy tons if I were flush with cash.
March 20th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Delurking here…
1. Lovely, now that I can breathe again and the sun has peeked out - thanks for asking
2. No blog, journal every day - not as much fun
3. The sun, finding a perfect pair of shoes, writing, chocolate, the look on my son’s face when he’s sleeping
4. being placed on eternal hold, my sinuses, loud gum chewing, no chocolate, insomnia
5. What is your foot-care regimen? Isn’t it impossible to have great feet when you wear flip-flops?
March 20th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Hey Nanc,
Well, my feet can be a bit haywire at times:).
But Gehwol cream, a good foot scrubber, moisture socks, and a lovely pedicure now and then keep them okay.
My toenails are always, always painted.
March 21st, 2007 at 1:41 pm
I love ballet flats best of all shoes in the universe. As to names, I think I love Prada flats and Kenneth Cole flats and Michael Kors flats. Can I afford any? NOPE.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:05 am
1. I’m doing well, all things considered. I’m fairly excited that I have one more full day of work before a week off. Yay me!
2. I have been trying to post a lot, but it’s not working very well. I seem to get bogged down looking for porn. And by porn I mean Prison Break tattoo porn. (I need a life)
3. Being told by a 5 year old that I was his best friend, the large double-double I had this morning, eating the best butter chicken i’ve ever tried last night, guiltlessly spending $200 on DVDs and CDs (Alexi Murdoch’s CD “Time Without Consequence” is AMAZING!), re-reading ‘Jarhead” by Anthony Swofford. (and finding out that PB was renewed for a 3rd season)
4. My mom yelling at me for not wearing socks today (It’s 9 degrees); coming home last night at 1030 after having been gone (at both jobs) ALL day, to a sink full of dishes and a broken dishwasher; students telling me that my assignment was too hard; students having sex in their cars while they’re supposed to be in my class WHILE there’s other students in the same car doing the same thing; people taunting me with the Starbucks that I gave up for Lent
5. How do you get so many people to read (and comment on) your blog??
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Well, my blog is still relatively small in readership compared to many of the blogs I read, so they’d probably be able to give you a better indicator of what it takes to build an audience. :-)
As for me, I think people were just gracious enough to keep coming back! And I abuse their grace by assaulting them with multiple posts.
I think the most comments come when I ask questions, which makes sense… people always have something to say, if you give them the opportunity. And I love hearing all the little details and notions and opinions, and I try and communicate that.
I’m way too curious for my own good.
I guess if I had to chalk it all up to one thing, I think people come back because there’s usually something going on. But I’m just lucky they show up.