Friday, April 30, 2004
Dream Car Addition
Was reading the Chicago Tribune online today and came across an article for the Lotus Elise. I now have another car to add to my growing list for when I (or the P's) win that huge lottery. This car is cute, fun and powerful.
Current List
Hummer (the original, HATE the H2)
Dodge Viper
Jeep Wrangler (Already had one, but I'd have it again for a knockabout vehicle)
BMW Z4
Was reading the Chicago Tribune online today and came across an article for the Lotus Elise. I now have another car to add to my growing list for when I (or the P's) win that huge lottery. This car is cute, fun and powerful.
Current List
Hummer (the original, HATE the H2)
Dodge Viper
Jeep Wrangler (Already had one, but I'd have it again for a knockabout vehicle)
BMW Z4
Monday, April 26, 2004
Weekend of Highs and Lows
The P's and Terror are GREAT!!!! Spent Saturday with them celebrating my dad's and my birthdays. The P's and Terror got me the 2004 Real Madrid David Beckham soccer jersey. When I took the jersey out of the gift bag, I sat there for 5 minutes with a BIG OL grin on my face. All I saw of the shirt was the top 3rd, yet I knew what it was.
As I've known for a while, I wasn't the only person celbrating a birthday a couple of weeks ago. Jennifer Garner and Victoria Adams Beckham (Posh Spice) also shared the day with me. Not bad company.
Note to self: Never read work emails on the weekend.
Addendum to above note: Never read work emails from a specific sender.
I've had the above note in the back of my head for a while now, but yesterday it really bit me in the butt. Due to circumstances somewhat in my control and somewhat not, a collegue got some unexpected news. I have the ability to give some forewarning, but last week was distracted by other goings on in the office and missed a couple of things. The rest not really able to control. The end result was a scathing e-mail about me sent to a few levels above and same level co-workers. In addition to getting the pleasure of reading the e-mail and not really able to do anything about the situation, I got to spend last night tossing and turning reviewing the situation instead of sleeping. Needless to say not a good way to start the week.
On the plus side, during the team's Monday morning conference call, two different co-workers said "God Bless Fusion for his help last week" in front of The Boss and the nasty e-mail sender. Warm fuzzies for me. Additionally, The Boss said the e-mail was over the top and the situatation didn't need the response given as such. The Boss agrees with the essence of the e-mail, just not it's verbage. I can't disagree with that. I even think I screwed up, just not as bad as its been made out to be.
As of now I'm feeling calm. My dark low last night has been offset by The Boss's understanding and co-workers praise. I can handle calm.
The P's and Terror are GREAT!!!! Spent Saturday with them celebrating my dad's and my birthdays. The P's and Terror got me the 2004 Real Madrid David Beckham soccer jersey. When I took the jersey out of the gift bag, I sat there for 5 minutes with a BIG OL grin on my face. All I saw of the shirt was the top 3rd, yet I knew what it was.
As I've known for a while, I wasn't the only person celbrating a birthday a couple of weeks ago. Jennifer Garner and Victoria Adams Beckham (Posh Spice) also shared the day with me. Not bad company.
Note to self: Never read work emails on the weekend.
Addendum to above note: Never read work emails from a specific sender.
I've had the above note in the back of my head for a while now, but yesterday it really bit me in the butt. Due to circumstances somewhat in my control and somewhat not, a collegue got some unexpected news. I have the ability to give some forewarning, but last week was distracted by other goings on in the office and missed a couple of things. The rest not really able to control. The end result was a scathing e-mail about me sent to a few levels above and same level co-workers. In addition to getting the pleasure of reading the e-mail and not really able to do anything about the situation, I got to spend last night tossing and turning reviewing the situation instead of sleeping. Needless to say not a good way to start the week.
On the plus side, during the team's Monday morning conference call, two different co-workers said "God Bless Fusion for his help last week" in front of The Boss and the nasty e-mail sender. Warm fuzzies for me. Additionally, The Boss said the e-mail was over the top and the situatation didn't need the response given as such. The Boss agrees with the essence of the e-mail, just not it's verbage. I can't disagree with that. I even think I screwed up, just not as bad as its been made out to be.
As of now I'm feeling calm. My dark low last night has been offset by The Boss's understanding and co-workers praise. I can handle calm.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
The Non-Stop Week
It has been almost two weeks since I wrote something. For the most part nothing blog worthy has occurred. On the other hand, I didn't have the energy or time to write anything. Here's why.
For Easter, B and I decided to have people over for brunch. Friday night we rented a car and went shopping for brunch needs at IKEA and COSTCO. Even with a specific, narrow focused list in hand, IKEA still took over 1 1/2 hours to get in and out. I now understand how people fear that store. It doens't want to let you out. All told, we spent 5 hours driving to and from and shopping Friday night. Saturday was filled with errands to resale shops and house cleaning.
Easter Sunday was great, but we always spend the following week second guessing our hosting skills and our friends enjoyment level. Entertaining is tough. Our first guest came at 11:45am. All guests had arrived by 1:00pm. The last person left at 10:00pm. It was a long day, but fun. Note to self: 3 Cans of tomato juice is not enough for 20 people and their Bloody Mary addictions. 6 bottles of Champagne is perfect.
Monday and Tuesday were spent in Budget Planning meetings. Budgets are torture. This is my first time really getting to go through the process. Now I understand why my former offices hated seeing me in October and November. Dealing with an audit and budgets is too much. Either on their own I now understand are drink worthy. The fun part of these two days was the Monday night Bowling event for the Chicago group. I bowled 3 games, got better each game, and finished my last game with a score of 159 and 3 strikes (Turkey) in the 10th frame.
Wednesday I got to get up at 3:30am for a 6:00am flight to NYC. While I'm used to these flights, its still not fun and it was on United. I HATE United. Give me American. Had an all day meeting in NYC before catching a 6:00m flight home. I crashed around 10:00pm. My body was starting to scream from lack of calm.
Thursday was email hell. From 5:30pm Tueday to 9:00am Thursday, I received 129 emails. Thankfully a third were straight FYI emails, but it still took 2 hours to go through them. The afternoon was spent working on my first 2 budgets in preparation for Friday distribution.
Friday the last 2 budgets to be distributed were completed. There still remain 2 budgets to create, but they are a little more minor and will be completed later. The four I did do are painful enough. A fifth budget was not needed to some reorganizing going on. Came home and wanted to collapse. The previous week had been go, Go, GO.
Saturday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was beautiful in Chicago, if a little chilly along the lakefront. Not wanting to do anything but enjoy the day, B and I went for a walk around the neighborhood, ended over by a friend's house, and left the friend's at 10:00pm. What was to be a quick hello turned into a 5 hour evening and barbeque. It was a great birthday.
Sunday - Recovery from birthday. Oy.
And that folks was my last week and a half. See nothing blog worthy.
P.S. My NCAA brackets came in 7 and 8 out of 9. I just need to stay away from sports.
It has been almost two weeks since I wrote something. For the most part nothing blog worthy has occurred. On the other hand, I didn't have the energy or time to write anything. Here's why.
For Easter, B and I decided to have people over for brunch. Friday night we rented a car and went shopping for brunch needs at IKEA and COSTCO. Even with a specific, narrow focused list in hand, IKEA still took over 1 1/2 hours to get in and out. I now understand how people fear that store. It doens't want to let you out. All told, we spent 5 hours driving to and from and shopping Friday night. Saturday was filled with errands to resale shops and house cleaning.
Easter Sunday was great, but we always spend the following week second guessing our hosting skills and our friends enjoyment level. Entertaining is tough. Our first guest came at 11:45am. All guests had arrived by 1:00pm. The last person left at 10:00pm. It was a long day, but fun. Note to self: 3 Cans of tomato juice is not enough for 20 people and their Bloody Mary addictions. 6 bottles of Champagne is perfect.
Monday and Tuesday were spent in Budget Planning meetings. Budgets are torture. This is my first time really getting to go through the process. Now I understand why my former offices hated seeing me in October and November. Dealing with an audit and budgets is too much. Either on their own I now understand are drink worthy. The fun part of these two days was the Monday night Bowling event for the Chicago group. I bowled 3 games, got better each game, and finished my last game with a score of 159 and 3 strikes (Turkey) in the 10th frame.
Wednesday I got to get up at 3:30am for a 6:00am flight to NYC. While I'm used to these flights, its still not fun and it was on United. I HATE United. Give me American. Had an all day meeting in NYC before catching a 6:00m flight home. I crashed around 10:00pm. My body was starting to scream from lack of calm.
Thursday was email hell. From 5:30pm Tueday to 9:00am Thursday, I received 129 emails. Thankfully a third were straight FYI emails, but it still took 2 hours to go through them. The afternoon was spent working on my first 2 budgets in preparation for Friday distribution.
Friday the last 2 budgets to be distributed were completed. There still remain 2 budgets to create, but they are a little more minor and will be completed later. The four I did do are painful enough. A fifth budget was not needed to some reorganizing going on. Came home and wanted to collapse. The previous week had been go, Go, GO.
Saturday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was beautiful in Chicago, if a little chilly along the lakefront. Not wanting to do anything but enjoy the day, B and I went for a walk around the neighborhood, ended over by a friend's house, and left the friend's at 10:00pm. What was to be a quick hello turned into a 5 hour evening and barbeque. It was a great birthday.
Sunday - Recovery from birthday. Oy.
And that folks was my last week and a half. See nothing blog worthy.
P.S. My NCAA brackets came in 7 and 8 out of 9. I just need to stay away from sports.
Thursday, April 08, 2004
HISTORY
Today in Eric Zorn's blog, he was commenting on the 5 best things about London. His number 3 choice was London's history.
"London is so rich with sites of great world importance covering the last 1,000 years or so that a week wasn't even close to enough time to see them all. Everywhere we went, from the Tower to Hampton Court to St. Paul's Cathedral to the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theater to the Royal Observatory, I regretted not having done my homework in advance, and with great eagerness and awe soaked in whatever the guidebooks, docents and placards had to say. Adding to this richness was a seemingly limitless supply of excellent and very funny tourguides."
While I may be reading into this too much, but I really dislike when people make comments like these, as if the US is lacking. Don't get me wrong, London is amazing. I recommend everyone to visit it. But remember London has been around for over 1000 years. Most cities in the US are lucky at 100 - 200 years. I just feel like its comparing apples to oranges, 1000 years to 200 years. I have a feeling that when Chicago hits 1000, there'll be plenty to see.
Today in Eric Zorn's blog, he was commenting on the 5 best things about London. His number 3 choice was London's history.
"London is so rich with sites of great world importance covering the last 1,000 years or so that a week wasn't even close to enough time to see them all. Everywhere we went, from the Tower to Hampton Court to St. Paul's Cathedral to the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theater to the Royal Observatory, I regretted not having done my homework in advance, and with great eagerness and awe soaked in whatever the guidebooks, docents and placards had to say. Adding to this richness was a seemingly limitless supply of excellent and very funny tourguides."
While I may be reading into this too much, but I really dislike when people make comments like these, as if the US is lacking. Don't get me wrong, London is amazing. I recommend everyone to visit it. But remember London has been around for over 1000 years. Most cities in the US are lucky at 100 - 200 years. I just feel like its comparing apples to oranges, 1000 years to 200 years. I have a feeling that when Chicago hits 1000, there'll be plenty to see.
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Hi, my name is 999-123-4567
As for many of us, I spent as much time writing 999-123-4567, as my own name during college. My social security number was forever being used on exams and any number of forms for this and that. If we didn't know our social security number before entering college, we sure did by the end of the first week.
In the Sunday, April 4 2004 Dear Annie (Ann Lander's replacement column) a mom wrote in how kids in 3rd grade and above are given a number and that is how the teacher addresses them for the year. "No. 15, you need to turn in your homework." It seems the kids have started calling each other by their numbers out on the playground also. I thought living through college being 999-123-4567 was bad enough. To go through 3rd grade as #15 and no one calling me by name would be too much. Annie said if the kids didn't mind and it wasn't affecting their schoolwork, the no harm. Sorry but I disagree. I chose Blade's name for him when I adopted him. Had I wanted people to call him #15, then I would have named him #15. I don't know what the teachers/school officials are thinking, but this doesn't fly with me.
As for many of us, I spent as much time writing 999-123-4567, as my own name during college. My social security number was forever being used on exams and any number of forms for this and that. If we didn't know our social security number before entering college, we sure did by the end of the first week.
In the Sunday, April 4 2004 Dear Annie (Ann Lander's replacement column) a mom wrote in how kids in 3rd grade and above are given a number and that is how the teacher addresses them for the year. "No. 15, you need to turn in your homework." It seems the kids have started calling each other by their numbers out on the playground also. I thought living through college being 999-123-4567 was bad enough. To go through 3rd grade as #15 and no one calling me by name would be too much. Annie said if the kids didn't mind and it wasn't affecting their schoolwork, the no harm. Sorry but I disagree. I chose Blade's name for him when I adopted him. Had I wanted people to call him #15, then I would have named him #15. I don't know what the teachers/school officials are thinking, but this doesn't fly with me.
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Well the Notre Dame alumnus from yesterday regrets his choice of words. He feels he should have included "white" athletes as well. Guess that makes all the difference. Still irked, but at least I wasn't the only person who was unhappy with his comments.
