LOLCatz... makin' me laugh for over a year

*Because I pledged (in a way) to BEDA (Blog Every Day in April) and because it's Monday (so I don't have a lot of spare brain power to spend writing a clever post) you're getting my favorite lolcats from the past week. (Although, it does take significant brain powers to correctly embed the pictures...) Don't forget to smile :) *

Amen.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Cute.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Funny AND timely.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Awwww.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

hahaha.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

I could go on. OR you could just go the website. http://icanhascheezburger.com/ ... making Mondays more memorable...

Beyond Expecations

My friend Ashlee from high school (now in a love-hate relationship with law school in St. Louis) twittered the following video this morning. Amazing.



From this video, I remembered Paul Potts, who sings opera.



This video brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it (and makes me want to see an opera). Happy Easter :)

Use Somebody

I had kind of forgotten about Kings Of Leon since Christmas when I gave my sister the CD and meant to borrow it from her. I don't think she actually likes it, so my request will be "to borrow it" with the intention of never giving it back. I gave her my new earrings I liked so much and ordered myself another pair so it's only fair. And I wouldn't want the music to go to waste! But here's their newest video for "Use Somebody", a song that makes me want to make out with someone but breaks my heart at the same time.

Kings of Leon - Use Somebody

Living your life online

Ah, the internet. Suck a fickle beast, no?

Let's start with a couple things you can read, do, see, track, monitor within your Google account. Lots, right? There's your blogger account. (ie THIS blog!) And you can keep track of all the blogs you "follow" through your dashboard. OR, you can use Google Reader. I've heard good things about the Reader although, I've just started exploring it. Can anyone tell me the reasons to use Reader instead of just tracking the blogs you follow through the Dashboard? I guess you can keep track of more than just blogs?!

I don't know who I heard mention this, but, through the use of Google Alerts, you can monitor your online presence. Enter your name as an alert and google will email you every time something new is out there on the internet with your name! I just set mine up. Hopefully, no one plans on writing anything bad about me because I WILL KNOW!

In addition to reading news or watching videos, you can also date online. I do have a profile (site to remain unnamed) it hasn't been that successful for me. But every so often I get the most bizarre messages. Here's one I got today.

"That's a lot of info packed into your profile. I guess you have a pretty good start on sounding like an interesting person to get to know (very cute smile by the way) Tell me something...what is there about you that would make me want to get to know you better?"

Besides it coming across as slightly RUDE, how the heck would you respond to this? Maybe HE should be giving ME a reason to respond. Argh. I still believe dating is dumb. Maybe because people are stupid and frustrating!

Blogger?

Does anyone know how to start a draft of a blog, but when you go to post it, post it for the time/day you finish it and not when you STARTED the draft? This bothers me.

On the up side, I JUST figured out how to receive notifications of when someone comments on a post. Yeah, I'm a genius.

*B

The Credit Situation

In high school, when I was getting ready to go to college, I decided it would be a good idea to get a credit card. You know, emergencies, build your credit, etc. After months of searching with a friend who also needed credit, a "student" bank finally gave us a credit card. Well, two years later when rent > income, I was excited to learn my current apartment (apartment #1 of many, but that's a post for another day) accepted credit card payments for rent. Did I say "excited"? I meant STUPID. Then began my use of the credit card for things that YOU DON'T PUT ON A CREDIT CARD. Like rent and an occasional bar tab.

I have now been in my current, salaried job for 10 months and I'm STILL paying off my credit cards. I have the "Big One" which may take me another 18 months and several smaller ones (ie Gap, Old Navy, Target). I received my federal government refund 10 days ago (I only really only worked 8 months last year) and promptly paid off the balances on my Target and Old Navy credit cards. And on Monday, I canceled them. I was ecstatic. In preparing to call the first company (Old Navy), I braced myself. They don't like to let you cancel your credit cards and I was ready for the battle. But what's this? I don't have to talk to anyone? "Push 2 to cancel your card". Really? I pushed 2 and wallah: No more Old Navy credit card! I did not have the Target card at work with me, so I would call to cancel that one later in the evening. My disbelief at not having to actually SPEAK with someone turned to triumph. I had beat the system. (Let's not talk about how much in interest I've paid on that one over the years. No, really, let's not. I don't know and I don't want to know.) So, I got home, found my Target card, called the number in the back, punched in some numbers and listened for the "cancel option". I pressed "3" but the automated system did not give me the "okay, we'll cancel your card" option. It gave me the "ok, let us connect you to customer service" message. I tensed. I had to talk to a live person? Crap. Yes, I know you can pay off the balance right after you make the purchase. No, I don't care that I'm losing 765 points. My biggest strategic plan: "I have no credit" didn't even work. They have ways AROUND that. I think I said "I really just need to cancel it" 11 times. I had been working towards paying off and canceling as many cards as possible for several months. These 6 1/2 minutes I spent pacing the kitchen, dining area and laundry hallway so my resolve would not waiver. If I stopped, they could inch away at my shield. I even promised to keep shopping at Target. I would have liked to threaten to not continue spending my money at Target, but who would I have been kidding, really?

So, while I have the majority of my debt left to pay (me and student loans are going to be GOOD friends for 18 more years) getting these two of my plate felt good. I may even get to start SAVING money next month. I can only hope, for my sanity, that I will be able to.

BEDA

Maureen Johnson is young adult fiction writer. Don't ask me how I found her blog, but I did and it's hilarious. (And I am no longer a young adult. What does that say about my maturity level since she's writing FOR young adults? No se...) Well, she made an offhand crack (via Twitter, I believe!) to blog everyday in April because she had been neglecting her blog (or something). Well, her followers thought it was a real thing and thought she should do it. Well, now she's doing it and, I guess, it is a real thing.

So, even thought I missed the first few days (with family, you never have time for anything, let alone BLOGGING), I'm going to attempt this. Should be easy, no?! (ESPECIALLY since THIS counts as today's entry!!!)

You can even follow the project on Twitter: @BEDA09

One year ago today...

...I was in Allen Fieldhouse. (Baseketball again, I know. But this will be it until October!) Not watching KU play live, but watching a video on the big video board of the men's basketball team playing in San Antonio. We (yes, it's a collective "we") were down by 9 with just over a minute to go and several spectacular plays later (and several missed free throws by Memphis and Mario Chalmers (with a scrappy floor-assist from Sherron Collins) hit the most magestic 3-point shot I will ever see sending the game into overtime. As a KU fan, you almost knew the outcome from there.

Here is the pep talk from KU Coach Bill Self before the game on April 7, 2008:


A video from where I was:


And then we went to Mass. Massachusetts Street that is...


Here's to next year, an unstoppable team, I'm sure!

(Oh, and GO SPARTANS! MSU beat KU in the tournament last weekend, so it's better if they win! I think?!)

Working on a coherant thought

My sister turned 21 today so I was in my hometown for the weekend. Last night (early this morning) was a lot of fun but exhausting. Then I got to drive 4 hours home. In the snow. Basically, I'm a grumpy mess. Thankfully, I restarted Netflix and have episodes of Weeds to watch. I'll probably be asleep before the sun goes down. OH WAIT, it's COMPLETELY gray out today. Argh. A weekend with this much family time always deems necessary some reflection. So, I'm working on that. I was also able to enjoy some good conversation about the Iowa Supreme Court's decision to overrule a law banning gay marriage. Exciting! LOVE my home state :) Apparently, in addition to other great thing this does, it will help the Iowa economy - now a popular wedding destination!

Thank goodness for recaps because I forgot 4 out of 5 details of Weeds at the end of season two. This family is in SO many predicaments, it's ridiculous. My fave quote of the first episode:
"Looked a little young to be driving. But with all the preservatives people are eating nowadays, people are looking a lot younger."

Don't believe what you read today..

Happy April Fool's Day! Be on the lookout for google and other fun websites to pull some pretty fun pranks!

Here are its pranks since 2000. The one I fell for? The free printing services it would offer (including free delivery!) Yes, I felt dumb. And last year, Google owned You-Tube jumped into some of the fun with some rick-rolling.

I definitely appreciate Google's good-natured humor. As long as I'm in on the joke!

Celebrate Earth Day With a Giveaway!

Go to www.loveMaegan.com to find out all your ways to enter!
You can win up to three bags! You should DO IT!
(You should also follow Maegan's blog because it's GREAT!)
And don't forget to recycle and take care of your planet.
Have a happy EARTH DAY!!!

I like my independence, thankyouverymuch

I work on a college campus (a rather liberal one at that...) and let me tell you: NO ONE with whom I work (85% female office) would go for any of this. This makes me muy grateful to have grown up in the very latter part of the 20th century. But really, if we HAD been a housewife in the 50's, this article would not seem as ridiculous. And THAT is the scary thing!

Missing the frenzy; my book abandonment tendency

In college, I did a lot. Too much, really. Any leisure time I used was usually accompanied by large amounts of guilt. I should have been reading for western civ, working on a journalism project, preparing a pols outline for a paper or sending emails for SUA. I rarely read for fun (maybe during breaks), was never caught up on the tv shows I wanted to watch, did not work out as much as I wanted and my apartments were never tidy. I had grand plans for post-undergrad degree life, some of which aren't exactly working out... (Seriously, I thought I'd have so much more money to spend! Damn you student loans and bad credit decisions!)

But reading can be cheap, right? (Hellooooo public libraries!) Yet, I seem to have ADD in my life without a million things going on (ie college!). Right now, I'm reading approximately two thousand books. I started on Wuthering Heights but couldn't quite get interested. I started Farewell to Arms but leave it at work to have something to read during lunch. I watched a recent Vlog about The Great Gatsby and got out my copy from the bookshelf in my room - it's now my main bedside book. I also have a collection of short stories I bought before Christmas by F. Scott Fitzgerald and am somewhat invested in The Last Campaign, a book about Senator Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign.

The last book I actually finished was David Sedaris' When You Are Engulfed in Flames. And that was all short stories. Apparently, I'm not focused enough to finish a full length novel. I'll let you know if it happens.

40 minutes 'til gametime!

As previously discussed, I love KU basketball. I've also decided in the past week college basketball is probably one of my top 10 favorite things ever. (Possibly top 5 even!)

KU plays today, and even though they are playing the Cinderella team of this year's tournament, I would encourage you to root for KU today. If not because we have an AWESOME mascot...





...than do it for me. Because the tournament is not nearly as enjoyable when KU does not make at least a decent run. Decent = advancing to the 2nd weekend. Now, we KU fans are pretty spoiled. This year, though, we were a little generous with the team. We WON the championship last year and all the starters left, so the '08-'09 season was billed as a "rebuilding year". Apparently, we should not have let our expectations down as KU ended being the Big 12 champs of the regular season. Yes, Oklahoma and Texas, we're in a rebuilding year and we STILL win the regular season. Do you see what I mean about being spoiled?!

I could go on and on about KU basketball, it's history, it's LEGENDARY status in college hoops. But I won't because sometimes you can't explain it with words. Here, watch these videos (below text from my facebook photo album description of pictures I took on during the final 4 game against UNC and the championship game against Memphis.)

ONE SHINING MOMENT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKKbrHMGkD4

WHY MARIO IS MY HERO, UNBELIEVABLE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHt0tszfk3A
(can we also notice how FAR Sherron FLEW after he passed that ball? Best assist EVER!)

AND THE MAN WHO LED THE TEAM TO VICTORY, because KU Basketball is great and watching these Jayhawks is much freaking fun. We will ALL remember that night for the rest of our lives!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrG3BYQiI1Y

and because we all need to KEEP ON DREAMING:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U53afA3SNdo

one more, because BILL SELF HIGH FIVES BIG JAY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxM9c4kqjT0&feature=related



The scene at Allen Fieldhouse after we won the championship. Thousands gathered at the shrine of college basketball to watch the game on the jumbo screens. The winning was pure joy.

Dressing for the Occasion

There comes a time in your life where everyone you know is getting married. Sometimes you get invited, sometimes you're a bridesmaid and sometimes you're the maid of honor! And sometimes you even get to plan the wedding because your fabulous friend you miss terribly is in Japan. Just so happens, this is all relevant for me this year.

First up, I'm a bridesmaid for my friend Lindsey. The other bridesmaids (maybe co-maids-of-honor?!) are her sisters so I'm very honored to be in this wedding. Lindsey and Phil were engaged July 2007, asked me to be in the wedding in November '07 and we were fitted for dresses in May 2008, a whole year before their big day. The dresses are now in so the next time I'm in Des Moines I can try on this fabulous dress:










I will be attending two weddings in June; on the 20th in Kansas City and on the 27th another Des Moines wedding.

On July 31st, in the dead heat of a Kansas summer, I will be the maid of honor for my friend Megan who is currently living in Japan. She and her fiance (actually, they're married in Japan!) will be back for two weeks and will have their states' wedding in Lawrence. As the maid of honor, she wants me to stand out *cringe* so I will be wearing navy and the other bridesmaids will wear candy pink. Here is our dress:





I'm actually helping out with some of the leg work here in town since Megan and Nathan are living in Japan! I'm very excited to be a part of the wedding and to have a hand its fruition. (I <3 event planning!)

Overall, the next 5 months will be a blast! Definitely no bridezillas! Now I just need to find a date! A fun one, preferably!

In other fun news, I was lounging this morning watching music videos (CMT + VH1)and Kelly Clarkson's "Life Would Suck Without You" video came on. I had heard the song and thought it was good but the video is hilarious. I had also been hearing her new cd was good so I headed over to KC's myspace to see if there were other songs from her album (there weren't) but I was happily distracted by her concert list. As I perused the list, I remembered she never did shows in the midwest because she apparently does not get good concert attendance. Then I noticed the Ohio State Fair: that's midwest-ish. I then got WAY TOO excited when I saw she would be at the Iowa State Fair. The ISF is another post in itself but I immediately headed to the concert line up for the fair and (thankfully!) August 22 is a Saturday and I prayed to the concert gods my ISF buddy, Ashley, would be excited as I was about KC's concert. I urgently texted her: ALERT: ISF CONCERT LINEUP HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. As I expected, moments later, she called me for the info. I started my story from the beginning and as soon as I said Kelly Clarkson, I knew that's the show we'd be going to: Ashley was as excited as me! (Obviously, we're good friends!) Tickets go on sale April 11; and this time, we're going to get some damn good seats!

Fake news or just calling the BS?

Maybe you've heard of this week's growing feud between Comedy Central's Jon Stewart and CNBC's Jim Cramer? (If not, you apparently don't watch ANY news. Seriously, it was everywhere. Even on "serious" news channels. Last night, Cramer was a guest on Stewart's Daily Show. And it was ugly. Early reports from the taping indicated the interview went long because Stewart "repeatedly chastised" Cramer. And that was putting it lightly.

While some might not take this to be an important interview, it definitely indicates a growing dissatisfaction with those controlling our country's financial well-being and those that deem themselves worthy enough to make it "entertainment". (Even on sakd "serious" news channels.) Gawker.com is one of my most-frequented sites, but those commenting on the article about the Stewart/Cramer interview questioned a "comedy" show's ability to make judgments on moral practices of other news shows. My question is where did the term "fake news" come from? If anything, The Daily Show may be a parody of traditional news shows, but the news is still true; it's just ridiculed. And for good reason. What was particularly clear in last night's episode is the ability of Jon Stewart to call bullshit on any situation and to any person. And I applaud him for that.

All aTwitter

About a year ago, a friend I know from an internship we did together, invited me to this new social networking website. I joined (I was probably bored or avoiding homework) but didn't do much with it. Last summer, said social network was prominent in several news events; during an American's imprisonment in a foreign country and was used to communicate information during the November Mumbai attacks. After President Obama was elected, another friend, still an undergrad at the local university, was planning a trip to the inauguration so I started frequenting this site a bit more. Starbucks, CNN, other Lawrence residents, former coworkers, National Debt, The Daily Show. And if you keep paying attention, the number of people you follow could balloon to 124 people by March.

Yes, I Twitter.



When people who are barely familiar with Twitter try to explain it, they get the basics: 140 characters per "tweet" and the question, "what are you doing". The thing is, these are the basics. And to make a judgment on Twitter based on this information and the fact that the people you track is called "following" leads to some pretty unintelligent and uniformed commentaries on Twitter. And it's happened. Google "Twitter" and I'm sure you'll find said evaluations about Twitter.

The thing is, Twitter has evolved from communicating just "what" you're doing and is now communicating anything you can share in 140 characters. Usually, news and media information, but also pictures (with the use of TwitPic) and sports scores (a helpful tool during March Madness day games). Without being involved, those evaluating Twitter cannot accurately comment on the tool.

Although, I'm not currently pursuing a career in any type of communications (marketing, PR, etc) I am a proud graduate of KU's J-School. So,I've rationalized my use of Twitter to stay up to date with media and networking developments. Just in case I eventually jump back into any type of communications. And really, it's also a lot of fun.

@bailann

Donna Brazil has the recipe

Sometimes I forget how fortunate I am be living in the cultural epicenter of the state of Kansas. Lawrence may be in the middle of the country, but it's a pretty spectacular place to live.

Last night, the Hall Center for the Humanities hosted The Emily Taylor and Marilyn Stokstad Women's Leadership Lecture featuring Donna Brazile. (See link for all Ms. Brazile's amazing accomplishments). Let's just say, I found a new hero. Besides not letting Anderson Cooper be her boo and washing all the nasty things she wants to say out of her mouth with chardonnay at the end of the day, Donna Brazile knows her stuff and has been a part of some amazing things in modern American politics. DB told AC he wasn't her boo because he was pushing for some information. This incident took place the night of the Democratic National Convention and AC wanted to know what candidate Barack Obama said to her the night before the day of voting. She would not reveal to AC what was said between her and Senator Obama. But last night she DID reveal that conversation. Candidate Obama was asking DB (among other superdelegates) to change their choice and cast their vote for Senator Obama as their nominee. DB told Senator Obama she would not and he accepted that. And then went on to say how much he had learned from Senator Clinton and how great he thought she was. (As a campaign volunteer for Secretary Clinton when she was Senator and Candidate Clinton, this warms me to our current president even more.)

Ms. Brazile, a native of New Orleans, LA, was asked and responded to the performance of current LA governor, Bobby Jindal, and his response to President Obama's address to Congress two weeks ago. First, although Gov. Jindal is a republican, Ms. Brazile acknowledged his impressive political resume, made more so by his young years - only 37. She went on to say the first thing Gov. Jindal should have done was to thank the American people for their resources (ie TAXES) being used to rebuild New Orleans after the horrible destruction and catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina. He should have thanked the American people and gone on to tell them WHY New Orleans was important to our country. A major export point for goods in the midwest and importer of 30% of the petroleum used in this country; New Orleans is a vital port for this country. Ms. Brazile then scolded (in an appropriate, responsible way, of course) Gov. Jindal for politicizing such a horrible event. The tone in her voice was not to be argued with as she recounted her efforts in requesting assistance for her mentally disabled sister who lived in an assistant living facility. FEMA told her that assisted living facilities and mental institutions were not priorities in the evacuation. I was dumbfounded. For this to be their policy is very, very wrong; but to communicate this to a loved one is just disgusting. Ms. Brazile made her way to a network camera and told the country what was going on. Within an hour (5 days after the storm), her sister and 3 others were rescued from the facility by the Lousiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries. Only FOUR people survived the week from that specific hospital.

Ms. Brazile's lecture focus was "Women in Politics: Are We There Yet?" but it was the stories she injected into the lecture that made this a truly memorable evening. She spoke of her "political children" and how she made her way to the platform for this year's inauguration with her sister Lisa and Lisa's three disposable cameras. (The lecture included lots of laughs). Though Ms. Brazile strayed from her speech several memorable times, her message was still clear. We have not made it to political gender equality in this country. She mentioned being 57th out of 58 countries in terms of women participating in governing (I'm still trying to find this specific statistic) and this truly saddens me. As my own interesting in being involved in politics has increased over the years, specifically since 2000, my grandpa has remarked several times that he expected me to run for office. I always just smiled and said "no, grandpa, I'd rather be behind the scenes", since I was definitely the shy one in school and didn't much improve my public speaking skills in college. But if there were one inspiration to start a career in public service, it would be Donna Brazile. I cannot even fully communicate what she said but it was something along the lines of "if you as a woman don't step up to serve, how can you expect others to do it?" It was a very different approach to being a leader and getting involved to make things happen; to realize the fully potential of this country.

She ended her lecture speaking about an assignment she had give to her students in 1994. Her students had to create a plan to elect a black candidate to the presidency. Looking back at what she had assigned, Ms. Brazile spoke with some former students and talked to them about creating a plan to elect a woman to the presidency. Lucky for us, she believes they've found the recipe.


Additional quotes from the local article about Ms. Brazile's appearance:

On the Sebelius HHS nomination:

“Kansas is coming to Washington, D.C. Thank you for sending your governor. I’m telling you she has one major responsibility with over 14,000 Americans losing their health insurance each and every day. I know Governor Sebelius is up to the challenge.”

Rush Limbaugh challenging President Obama to a debate:

“Sorry, Mr. Limbaugh, but he’s busy right now. He inherited a huge mess.”

About women seeking the presidency:

“I know that it’s our turn and that we must prepare ourselves to take our position at the table even if we have to bring in folding chairs.”

Her conversation with Obama when two superdelegates would have given him the nomination:

“He said, ‘I admire (Hillary Clinton) so much. I’ve learned so much from her.’ He was so complimentary of Senator Clinton that I grew to like him even more that night.

The Lunch Hour

So, I haven't posted a blog in 8 days. I feel bad about it. Why? I don't have that many followers. I don't blog for a living. But I wanted to have a more relevant blog this year. One of my early 2009 goals. (Not a new year's resolution, because my NYR was to have more fun.)

Yet, I have nothing to post about. I'm sitting here in my office over lunch with no inspirations. I could talk about my new office with a big, room high window that I loooove. But there's not much to say about it. Someone left so we all shift to better offices depending on seniority. I have this much seniority ----> l l. Yes, between those 2 lines. Not much. But enough for a window.

So, I'm looking out my window (even though the day is gray), and pondering blog topics. I've been thinking about trying to position this blog so it has a specific topic and it's more marketable (this is my PR degree kickin' in), but my interests are all over the place and I use this as more of an outlet for several things. I could write about my viewing of "Watchmen" this weekend, but I'm still absorbing the experience. Yes, I absorb movies. One thing I can say I did love about it was the music. I also decided "The Sound of Silence" is definitely on my list of top 5 favorite songs. I need to more thoroughly listen to my "Best of" Simon and Garfunkel CD.

See my problem? Work, movies, music. And I definitely can write about current events and politics when I get the inspiration. Never one thing. I guess that's what makes me the scatter-brain I am. Although, the only comments I get are on the most random blog entries. So, maybe I need to go with the "stream of conscious" posts more often?

And the context, please?

Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4 and write down what it says.

..."and never let anybody lodge there willingly."

Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte

Feelin' kind of preppy

Maybe it's my anticipation of spring or maybe the blogs I've been reading have a slightly preppy feel to them, but I've definitely been putting together some slightly preppier outfits lately. Pearls and pink tend to make that happen. So, I'm REALLY excited about this giveaway from Preppy Princess. I'm moving offices soon and I think I could use some fun things to spruce it up a bit. I'm eyeing that mousepad in envy, especially after spotting my ugly black one out of the corner of my eye. Yay for giveaways!

Just a teeny splurge

So, I got paid today. And even though I have many bills to pay, I'm anticipating my tax refund soon, so I splurged. Just a bit, just a teeny bit. It wasn't even a BIG splurge, I went to TJ Maxx! I had been reading about great J.Crew products at TJ Maxx and decided it had been far too long since I had gone on a real bargain hunt.
AND I found a couple of great things! I found these Vera Bradley note cards which are pretty fun. I also bought a super cute pair of loafers/moccasins by Me Too. I CANNOT for the life of me find them online but they're kind of a rich honey brown suede with two gold loops as a type of buckle. I'm kind of in love with them right now and am super excited about my solid investment. Even if they WERE purchased at TJ Maxx.

Happy Friday all!

Quit your whinnin'

Ok, this is going to be some what related to this funny haha post about an SNL skit. But this is going to be serious because it's making me mad!

We had eight years of Republicans doing whatever the heck they wanted with their majority and control in the executive and legislative branch of the U.S. government. And you know what? They didn't do a very good job, either. So now, when A LOT needs to be done to fix the mess they made, they're complaining and holding things up because the democrats aren't being bipartisan? Didn't it take about FOUR WHOLE WEEKS to get this stimulus package passed because of concessions that were made for MORE republican support? How frustrating!

Sometimes....

...you just have a gloomy day that affects everything you do. Today, it was raining, sleeting and just plain gloomy. It does not matter that everything right now is going pretty dang well and I don't have a lot to complain about. I could if I tried, but it's better for your general health and sanity to think about what you have, not what you don't have. So, I'm thankful for the opportunities I've had, my job (I really cannot say this enough) and the people in my life.

But today, it was like coming down from a high and facing reality. Yesterday was slightly overwhelming and when I got to work today, I wanted nothing more than to get back on the bus, head home and get in bed. If the general mood of today was bad, it was nothing compared to leaving work (finally) and facing a cold front that whipped my hair into unavoidable knots in less than a minute. Yes, today was a real winner. Standing in the progressively colder air, the stark trees bare against the darkening gray sky, it seemed the grayest day I had felt in awhile. Not only was the day dull and dreary, but I was exhausted from the week; and, when revelations occur suddenly as they tend to do, overly aware of the complexities of life. Nothing is ever one way only. Situations can never be understood from one view. Life is funny, life is strange and life is bittersweet. And today, things leaned to the bitter side of things. Songs I normally heard as sweet and fun became sad and more complicated. Specifically, 'Wedding Day' by Rosie Thomas and 'Hey There, Delilah' by Plain White T's and 'I Need You' by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw (this one specifically not a particular "upper" for a single someone the day before Valentine's Day!). Before 'Wedding Day' was a particular freeing type of wedding day. A wedding for the relationship you have with yourself, when you're independent and living the life you want. 'Hey There, Delilah' always had a particular sweet innocence to it; the ideal you had about life in high school. 'I Need You' was so earnest and boiled love down to a very basic instinct. But today, they just seemed sad and lonely. False and hopeless.

Sometimes, it's just one of those days.

I'm so sensitive.

Sometimes you have those days where A LOT happens. Today wasn't supposed to be a particularly busy day outside of the usual Thursday meetings but most of the time, life does not go the way you would expect. And it is when those things happen that you learn a little bit more about yourself. So, without going into much detail about what happened, I'll outline the new things I learned about myself today.

1. I am very good at being able to pick up moods and attitudes of those around me. If someone is uncomfortable or mad or annoyed, I can sense this. This is helpful if you want to ask for something and don't want to ask at the wrong time. Or sometimes, people just don't have the patience for what you need to talk to them about. Today, I just kind of new something was coming and it was NOT fun.

2. Along the same lines, my day of meetings has always made me a little crazy by the end of the day. First it was the caffeine, then just general loopyness (yes, it is a word). Today, I deduced what was causing my swing in emotions on the day before the best day of the work week. Like I said, I'm sensitive, but I also have a reflective personality. I pick up on what others are feeling and how they are acting and incorporate it into how I am feeling and acting. So, after hours of meetings on Thursdays with lots of people, discussing lots of problems and challenges, I have a lot of attitudes and feelings to reflect. Thus, I am all wound up about the day. This is also why my closest friends, and those I get along with well, are usually friendly, outgoing and talkative people.

So, that's what I learned about myself today. Here's to tomorrow!

Things about the economy, etc

What? You don't want to be a "dancer".?
Ok, maybe our economy is sucking, but we solved this problem.

Also, this is troubling to hear when you work for a state university. Just so the karma gods know, I really like my job and am very grateful for it. *amen*


Somewhat related (?) check out this ridiculous Gawker entry about the creation of Pepsi's new logo. It is so elaborate it is either totally brilliant or the biggest load of crap ever. Either way, very imaginative (or something). And Pepsi does have a cool new branding theme. As always, cool and young, but this year it also includes a little bit of that Obama-Hope.



Pepsi, along with alcohol, makeup, fast food joints and desperate car companies will be the only advertising you see besides primetime infomercials. Oh, the horror.

Sometimes SNL hits it

My favorite:

Nancy: I will admit some disappointment in Harry and his colleagues to cut $50 billion for schools, because I thought we cared about education.
Reed: Nancy, maybe if you hadn't put in 200 million for condoms we wouldn't have been in such a tough position.
Pelosi: Can I say something about condoms?
Reed: You probably shouldn't.
Pelosi: Now I know it's a blast to poke fun of san fran Nancy for her ideas about sex ed but maybe if we spent money on condoms and education, the next generation won't have so many stupid people ruining our economy. But no, by all means, I'm the villain. The hero is the woman with six kids who had octuplets. Let's get her on Oprah.

Obviously, SNL is usually extreme satire but sometimes I cannot help but totally agree with them. This clip is one of them.
A few things, yes 200 million is an excessive amount for condoms (I don't know what the true amount was) and Armisen and Wig's caricatures of Reed and definitely Pelosi were extreme. BUT a few good points were made. Democrats are doing what they can to make this a truly bipartisan bill. But the Republicans are being a little whinny. THEY apparently forgot about the 8 years of Bush veto and their own 6 years of partisan decision-making.


I just hope something gets done soon. The whole country is figuratively at a stand still waiting for congress to do something. And hopefully, psychologically, the country is able to get going again after the bill's passage.


Oh, and this was pretty awesome too:

We live in Kansas; you don't think we haven't heard that before?

The University of Kansas has a pretty good men's basketball team. Ok, who am I kidding?! It's pretty legendary. Right now I'm watching them play at Baylor. We won the championship last year (OMG SO EXCITING!) and lost all 5 starters. So, kind of a rebuilding year but still only 4 losses. So, we're playing Baylor (a much closer game than it should be) but still exciting! And have lived in Kansas for 5 1/2 years now, you kind of expect the Wizard of Oz jokes every so often. But as far as fan signs go (when the team is playing away games) this is NOT creative:

You're not in Kansas anymore!

This usually happens when we play anyone in the Big XII besides Kansas State University. The other 10 teams are super, duper creative, right?

*sigh*

But anyway, Rock Chalk Jayhawk, GO KU!!! Enjoy this:



The victory, the glory, the power, the legends, the titles, The Tradition. This video gives me chills just watching it at home. I got to see it for the first time before the game I went to on Saturday. On Saturday, I had goosebumps and shed tears. Kansas Basketball is amazing.

Misc.

Ridiculous. A yes you can sale? Really, Southwest, Really?

Also, I don't get the Snuggie.
Gawker has mocked it. Mrs. Newlywed bought one. And apparently, a bunch of other people. It's a marketing anomaly.

It's everywhere and I'm trying to understand it. Is it the nation collectively turning to the fetus position in our current state of gloom and plummeting economy? And why can't we use a blanket or just use a robe? Why?!

I smell like a tomater!

Ok, I don't really talk like that. But, currently, I DO smell like vegetables. Tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, etc. I don't even like eating vegetables that much, do you think I can count them as a serving if I put them on my face?

I didn't just slice up some veggies and slather them on my face, I'm using some of Burt's Bees natural products! I'm excited to see how this goes, because I was just recently at an Arbonne party (also uses mostly natural products) and it made me think about all the crap that goes into the products you put on your face. Mineral oil in particular is kind of nasty stuff. I did absolutely nothing to triscuit in several hours; another triscuit in water became totally mushy.

So anyways, I was looking up some Burt's Bees products online today and while at Hy-Vee, I got a couple things:

Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Complexion Soap:


















Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner:


















I also got some fun foot creme that I'm looking forward to using before bed tonight! And who doesn't love their lip balm? I've also found their Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme is awesome. (I got this one from my friend Becca - thanks Becca!) For the life of me, I don't think I'll ever be able to stop picking at my nail beds and fingernails but this and a fresh coat of clear nail polish every night is going to keep them from looking their worse.

So, 30 minutes after using my vegi-filled face products, my face definitely feels different. The toner is supposed to help balance the pH level of my face which will help decrease the amount of oil production (here's hoppin', I have the face of 15-year old!). It's also maybe a little dry but I did not buy any moisturizer since it was a bit more expensive and I didn't know how much money I wanted to dedicate to my "natural" cleansing routine.

Life and Death, Justice and Morals: The Theme of Thursday TV

Grey's Anatomy had a two episode main storyline that delved quite deeply into a moral gray area. (Grey's/gray, kind of fits.) A prisoner on death row had to have some sort of brain surgery (I am fuzzy on the details) even though his execution was scheduled in five days. This prisoner somehow finds out there is a child who needs an organ transplant. And (in the wonderful world of tv) they happen to be a match. The prisoner wants the doctors to let him die so he can give his organs, but should he be allowed the redemption? McDreamy doesn't think so but Meridith wants to show the prisoner compassion in his final days (despite his crimes) and Miranda wants to ignore her doctor's oath to save the young patient in need of the organs. In the end, the prisoner will be dead. But what of the means? Do they matter when the outcome is the same? In this moral gray area, I thought they should let the prisoner die; perhaps, for what I saw as the greater good: the boy in need of the organs. In the end, they didn't have to kill one to save the other but what if that other choice wasn't there?

In Private Practice, two doctors squared off in the debate over assisted suicide. A double edged sword; can you let someone suffer though the only alternative is helping them die?

Another patient in "Private Practice" had behavioral issues and wouldn't go outside because she was "afraid of everything." I think that could be my biggest fear: not being able to overcome your own self-doubt and the judgment of others to enjoy what is good and joyful about life. Because why live if you're scared of every minute?

Why, helllllloooooo 44

I wonder how long it will be until we don't love absolutely EVERYTHING they do. I hope it lasts awhile. Because it's kind of a nice feeling to be ABSOLUTELY. IN. LOVE. with the president and the first family.

The giggly sensation of watching President Obama (I love saying that!) and the lovely first lady having their first dance at the first inauguration ball (or prom? or their wedding?) is like crushing on that cute senior boy in high school. Who also happens to be really smart and likable.

Also awesome: "Now I'd like to dance with the one who brought me. She does everything I do but backwards and in heels. My wife, Michelle Obama." He's charming AND funny!

Fact: KU Med Center lost access to their online patient records today because SO MANY PEOPLE WERE WATCHING THE INAUGURATION ONLINE.

Fact: People generally accept President Obama as the 44th president (he self-referred himself as such in his speech) but now people are arguing this is wrong because Grover Cleveland served 2 terms non-consecutively and is counted twice. So, really 43 people have now served as president but President Obama is 44, President Bush 43, President Clinton 42, etc. Stop nitpicking and enjoy the hope-y feeling people! Don't be hatin'!



Best KU b-ball fan sign from last night read: 2008 National Champions, KU Basketball and Barack Obama (included pictures). Other side: Barack Chalk Jayhawk. I love the play on words.

Also, my friend Briana got to be AT the inauguration. Like ON the mall. Check out her twitter!

She was here:

Lazy Sunday and My Favorite Things

(Note: due to title, obligatory SNL skit posted below. Because it's awesome. And I figured out how to embed clips from Hulu.)

Sitting here in my sun-filled room, online shopping at J.Crew and enjoying the sounds of the adult alternative music channel on my cable box (channel 914, if anyone is curious). I think my favorite music since I was old enough to have favorite music was adult alternative. Which is funny, because as a 12-year old, I definitely was not an adult. Just proves that this particular music sub-genre is mis-named.

Favorites so far:
"Satellite" by DMB (on top 5 list of favorite songs)This song was on a mixed tape (yes, TAPE) a friend made me in like 8th or 9th grade. I think that's why I love it so much. I think she made this tape because I literally knew NOTHING about music at all. I still don't know much.
"I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz (also a strong contender for top 5 songs)
A song by Donavon Frankenreiter. Had never heard of him before, but am now listening to more on myspace. Kind of beachy, chillaxed, Jack Johnson kind of songs.
There was also an Adele song. 18 I think? I was *this* close to buying her cd at Target last week. I think I'll visit her myspace sometime soon.

"Slide" by Goo Goo Dolls is my number one favorite song. Dizzy Up the Girl is my favorite CD ever. Room for Squares by John Mayer may be a close 2nd for favorite CD. And, obviously, the Garden State soundtrack. I've tried to keep a list of top 5 favorite songs, cds, etc. but I always am looking to make edits months later. So, it's definitely not a permanent list.

Friday Funday

Sometimes, you have a rough week. Today was one of them. Yesterday, I wrote this (and forgot to post it):

I almost fell over into the copy machine while copying this afternoon. I was not tired but exhausted from all the work this week. I think I shut my eyes a little too long and lost track of equilibrium. Then I felt that falling action like when you're sleeping and have the falling dream. Except I was actually leaning over, very slowly, into the copy machine. I then decided I couldn't wait until tomorrow night at 6 pm when I can have a couple of drinks to celebrate the end of graduation certification!

So, definitely needing some drinks tonight. This morning went lightening fast. Not good since it is the last day of this very important certification time for my job. Lots of final decisions to be made on the fate of some students... sometimes I wonder at the amount of responsibility this job entails.

Anyway, weeks like this make for days that feel like you're on the struggle bus. Struggle bus you ask? Just one of those days where you do stupid things and life in general is just challenging and/or taxing. Apparently, it's a term that's been around (see facebook group description: "You're riding the struggle bus. Sometimes we get run over by this bus, or we're chasing it. Its ok. Join your fellow riders."

I heard it from Jason Laipply, self-described motivational speaker, but most importantly, creator of the Evolution of Dance. See below for your Friday Funday video:

I'm rooting for the polar bear...

more animals

I appreciate this type of animal/modern issue humor...

If I were in DC next week...

I would want to attend the Green Inaugural Ball. Mostly because I would want to wear a fabulous emerald green dress.

Like maybe the one Kiera Knightly wore in Atonement.



If ONLY I were so fabulous.

I'm So 'Lost'

What is the reason they are on the island?
Why does that one guy never age?
Polar Bears? Black Smoke? Whispers?
Why does Locke want to "protect" the island. Why does it cause miracles? (Him walking, curing Rose's cancer, Sun conceiving the baby when Jin HAD been sterile.)
And why are they lying? Why can't they tell the world there are still survivors? Why do they go along with Locke's request to lie:
"Lie to them Jack. And if you lie to them half as well as you lie to yourself, they'll believe you." Oooh, Locke, that burns!

There is so much coolness with the show 'Lost'. The philosophers (Locke, Rousseau, Hume), the biggest modern battle: science vs. faith (remind me to tell you about the girl who is studying Atmospheric Science because she wants to discover god's power. Actually, don't remind me). The science vs. faith battle is one of my favorite themes. They use it well in The X-Files (who didn't love Mulder and Scully!?).

Honor of season 5, 5 favorite Lost moments:
5) Discovering how connected everyone was before, years before!

4)Basically ALL of Locke's background. But most notably that he couldn't walk when he boarded the airplane in Australia, but could after the plane crashed.

3)When you realize the these seemingly normal people having book club meetings are "The Others" on the island.

2)Desmond and Penelope talking on the phone. Best. Convo. Ever. Love them.

1) Dude, where's my island. Seriously, how does time traveling make the island disappear? (Yes, I'm making the argument that even IF we COULD time travel, that wouldn't cause the island to disappear. These are the crazy things you just accept in the world of "Lost".

But I think the biggest question about this next season is: WHY DO THEY GO BACK. Because they do. And it totally baffles me.

SNL + NPH = LOVE

Can Doogie (aka Neil Patrick Harris) become a full time cast member? Much love to him and SNL cast for a great show Saturday.

I cannot embed hulu clips, so here's the link: Broadway Skit

Golden Globes!

Little late here... but first, must say, I LOVE awards shows. Well, some of them. And so does Megan - but are they shown in Japan? Don't think so... this is for her! I'm sad I missed the red carpet! And the first hour of the show. But we're just getting to the good stuff.

Gerard Butler shushed the Golden Globes. He is the man. And totally foxy. A totally foxy man's man.

Seth Rogan...lookin' good! He's trimmed down. And has some great glasses!

Best Screenplay. Ben Button or Slumdog! Here's hopin'... But I haven't seen the others. Slumdog is the winner! Who knew a movie based upon a Who Wants to Be A Millionaire would be SO. FREAKIN' GOOD. Based upon a book called Q & A.

Amy Poehler - love her! And Patrick Dempsey... so dreamy! (Cute dynamic, you two!)
30 Rock, The Office! And David Duchovney! Loved him for so long! Glad to see him about and about! Alex wins! Because 30 Rock is so brill.Tina Fey is a genius, glad to see Alec recognize this! And Rumer Willis is a Golden Girl! Love that dress.

Side commercial note: Eva Longoria looks better with long hair. Kate Walsh totally kicks ass in that Cadillac commercial. Totally sexy. Love it. And now want a Cadillac. Also, why can I not remember anyone's name tonight? (I've had to google everyone whose name is not announced.

Renee Z. in the movie "New In Town". Trailer made me fall out of my chair laughing when I saw it. Mostly (well, only) because of an inside joke (with the family no less). I'd go into, but let me just say: "New Ulm, Minnesota". Hilarious.

Kate Winslet! Give her an Oscar! She needs one!
Transformers! Cannot wait for the sequel! Megan Fox has a really bad makeup line.

Things to see: Bernard and Doris. John Adams.

Recount was a good, if not sad, movie. Yay for Wilkenson and Spacey. Yay for Giamatti for winning!

"This was a hell of a job, a hell of a job, this little costume drama we put on" - Paul Giamatti.

Apparently I missed Heath Ledger winning best supporting actor. Who accepted?!

30 Rock should win! Clip from show: "socionomically speaking you are more like an inner-city latina" (Jack to Kenneth). And it does! Biggest LOL:Tracy Morgan accepting on behalf of the show. He is now the spokesperon for the show since Obama won. Love it. (Megan - did you vote?!)

I need to catch up on Weeds!

Looking at other winners I missed. Anna Paquin for True Blood. Interesting. I enjoy the show, but didn't think it was that great. The girl does give a good scream though. Apparently, all the quality drama is no longer on network tv. ACM, TNT, HBO, Showtime, etc.

And Meryl Streep didn't win for best actress in a musical/comedy? Where you at Mamma Mia lovers?
Apparently Kate Winslet winning over Pennelope Cruz (Vicky Christina Barcelona) was an upset? I didn't realize VCB was being taken seriously. Not that I saw it. I just don't take Scarlet Johansson seriously anymore.

Best Original Score HAS to be Slumdog. But again, only one I've seen... GG goes to SLUMDOG! I'm basically behind SDM winning anything.

DD only actor to win in drama and comedy...because he's the BEST!

Best actress in tv comedy: And is America Ferrara engaged?! I love all these nominees so any should win! Tina Fey wins because, once again, 30 Rock is totally brill. Am I repeating myself? Her speech is funny. She talks about feeling that maybe you're too good after the year she's had, but "there's this thing called the internet". And she names some internet user names and tells them to suck it.
Also, gives a shout out to Will Arnet for a joke about owning the action figures of all the Hollywood Foreign Press, group that picks the winners.

Martin Scorcese is getting old. That is a head of WHITE hair. But the same glasses. Now he's yammering on about Steven Speilberg. I'm bored... but he just got weirdly quiet and emotional. Speilburg is... an ARTIST! Now a little video clip of movies by Spielberg. Jaws, ET (which I watched a few weeks ago - still makes me cry)
Midnight of Sun ( I think) which I should see. Christian Bale is in it. Jurassic Park! LOVE IT. Schindler's List ( I should see that again), Saving Private Ryan (love Tom Hangs and Matt Damon), Minority Report was pretty cool (had a dream about Tom Cruise hunting me after that movie), Catch Me If You Can (made my love Cate Blanchett) and of course Indie. Wow, Speilberg's done a crapload of stuff!Also produced: Back to the Future, Roger Rabbit, Men In Black, Twister! Memoirs of A Geisha, Transformers. Now he's getting an award. Probably lifetime achievement (I said I wasn't paying attention at first!)

(Apparently Pierce Brosnan was high when he introduced the Mamma Mia clip? This is according to confidential internet sources - ha.)

SS is still talking. So I'm browsing red carpet photos. Brad Pitt looks like he's in the middle of a midlife crisis.

(Chris Pizzello/AP Photo)

He needs to do whatever he did for Benjamin Button. Him as his 40 year old self was HOT.


















Love these two (Matt Sayles/AP Photo):



I can't wait for Last Chance Harvey. But I think Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman are Deee-RUNK. But Emma Thompson is freakishly TALL! Announcing Best Director, GG goes to: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire. This movie IS CLEANING UP!













Sigourney Weaver looks lovely. And she's talking about Revolutionary Road. The reuniting of Rose and Jack! (Kate and Leo). I saw the preview for this movie a couple weeks ago and it looks AWESOME. So pretty. (Matt Sayles/AP Photo)
























Sandra Bullock has a great dress. Love her. Winner for Actors in a Comedy. Apparently, In Bruges is a comedy? Whatev...I still loved it. but Colin Farrel wins. And he cannot believe it. He and Brandon Gleeson are buddies - love it. He's so Irish, adorable.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona wins best Comedy? I apparently should see this movie. And whoever announced this made, what the audience believed to be, some questionable jokes about the economy and Madonna losing an assistant (ie Guy Ritchie). Sandra Bullock shook her head in that way like she wanted to laugh but knew she should disapprove of.

Mark Wahlberg is hilarious. Also, just remembering the Wahlberg impersonation, once again on SNL last night. hilarious.
GG for Best actress in comedy: Kate Winslet! Yay! She's screaming is surprise. Maybe she will get her Oscar! She's hilarious and great. She just thanked Anne, Meryl, Kristin and forgot the other - it was Angelina.
Aw, there's so much Kate and Leo love. She's loved Leo for 13 years. God, she's the best. I want to be BFFs with her.

Ooh, Rainn Wilson and Blake Lively just introduced each other as "tv actors". And they didn't know they were supposed to read the nominees. HA, they got out of the mishap well. Best Drama TV show: MadMen. I don't really care. Although, I've heard it's good. But the person accepting just dissed Kate Winslet by saying "the british actresses stole my bit - I was going to cry." At least use her name, she would kick your ass.

Susan Sarandon! Is. So. Cool. Announcing best actor in drama. Mickey Rourke gets it. For what movie? I don't even know. I think it should have gone to LEO! But I'm prejudiced! Oh, The Wrestler. I've never heard of it.

MOTION PICTURE DRAMA...oooooh, the suspense is dra-mat-ic. HA. Slumdog wins it. So exciting! I think the director accepting cussed and was censored. Hilarious.

Slumdog Millionaire basically dominates. That would be my synopsis of the show. Yay for award show season!

You can't take a picture of this, it's already gone

Have you ever experienced something so haunting, so poignant, so beautiful it made you cry from the sadness and the happiness and also made you so aware of THIS very life you're living all in one burst of emotion? I love good tv and appreciate good characters and shows but I never thought a show could impact me so much. Six Feet Under has been over for 4 years now but I just started watching it 6 months ago. I finally finished the last season with a friend last night and it was absolutely incredible. I thought about yesterday while I should have been working and couldn't stop listening to "Breathe Me" by Sia when I went to bed on Wednesday night.

It was truly exquisite. And I hope to say, years from now, that it had a deep-down impact on my life. Hopefully, more loving, care-free and embracing of life. Because, right now, that is what the show has made me want to appreciate more about this existence.

Here is video of Sia, singing "Breathe Me", the song from the last few minutes of the episode. It definitely made the finale what it was.

An e-mail I got today: I'm angry too!

Bailey --

I know it's not good practice to fire off emails when we're angry, but right now I need to make an exception.

In case you missed it, a giant wave of more than 1 billion gallons of toxic coal sludge came barreling down on a community in eastern Tennessee from the nearby Kingston Coal plant over the holidays. The disaster is 48 times larger than the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Tens of thousands of people in surrounding counties are now searching for clean drinking water. Yes, here in America.

What really irks me is the fact that this was not a natural disaster. This was a "man-made" disaster tied directly to our reliance on dirty energy, and it's only the tip of the iceberg. More than half of the country lives within 30 miles of a coal plant like the one in Tennessee.

Fortunately, we don't need to watch more Americans spend their holidays digging out of toxic coal sludge. Tell the new Congress that coal is dirty and unnecessary -- we want clean energy now:

http://www.1sky.org/sludge

The Coal industry spent over $45 million last year trying to convince Americans that the dirtiest fuel on the planet is in fact "clean." This just proves that in reality, there's no such thing as "clean coal."

Despite this tragedy, the coal industry wants to build more pollution-belching coal plants. You can help prevent that from happening. You can help stop the coal rush.

Your Members of Congress have the power to stop dirty coal plants from being built, so tell them that investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency would result in more jobs for the same amount of power -- without the toxic sludge:

http://www.1sky.org/sludge

Thanks for your quick attention on this, and please forward this message on to your networks far and wide to be sure that Congress gets the wake up call.

Gillian Caldwell
1Sky Campaign Director

PS. To see videos of the devastation in Tennessee and get more information, visit this blog tracking real-time updates as well the United Mountain Defense website.




PPS. The picture above is of a resident living on Swan Pond Circle Road, the residential area closest to the breach site. She's holding a picture of what her back yard used to look like before the Kingston Fossil Plant coal sludge spill. Photo credit: SouthWing

Do I need to tell you what you ate for breakfast, too?

Some things about working with undergrads (now that I'm not one...)

I'm beginning to question the intelligence of the many, many students with whom I attended KU. Coming straight into my position from being an undergrad (ok, yes there was a 6 month delay...but I labeled that working on my mental health...) there are going to be a lot of students who come through my office who I actually know. I'm sure it will take 3 years or so for everyone I knew as a student to be flushed out. This is me being optimistic. I knew some smart people. Not the kind to take 8 years to graduate. I hope. Kind of weird, yes; but weirder (and more embarassing) are the things that these students (well, not the ones I know) believe about the graduation process at KU. You "graduate" and officially have a degree once you COMPLETE all your classes. You "walk down the hill" in May after you graduate OR whenever the heck you want to. In my case: I WALKED in May 2007 but officially GRADUATED in December 2007. Kind of cheating, whatever, but I wanted the experience.

A short synopsis of walking down the hill at KU: The only official, university-wide graduation ceremony is in May. All the graduates line up in awful black polyester on Memorial Drive and proceed through the Campanile (proceed makes this sound easy. It is not. 4,000 people is a lot to get through a tower...). THEN on the other side of the Campanile is a hill. And NO, not just a lovely hill like the one in your backhard but a BIG hill in which you walked up for (at least) four years earning you "KU Calves". So, we all parade down this hill with friends and family taking pictures, crying, etc and the ceremony is at the bottom in Memorial Stadium. Everyone's name is NOT called (but who needs that - the REAL photo op is coming down the hill) and the Chancellor speaks. So, to a general outsider (aka a non-Jayhawk) this might not sound exciting AT all. Well, it is and it has been done for about 100 years now, so deal with it. We like our nostalgia and tradition at KU!
SO, with 4,000 people (plus 10,000 screaming fans, I mean family members) everyone is screened before they walk down the hill, right? WRONG. Seriously, who has time for that? This is about as organized as 4,000 people can be with a couple of well placed signs and crowd control ropes. So, you can basically walk down the hill however often you want. But I wouldn't for several reasons. 1. Did I mention black polyester? In May? In Kansas? Right...moving on. 2) There's this little thing called IF YOU WALK THROUGH THE CAMPANILE BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY FINISHED, YOU WON'T GRADUATE. Seriously. Maybe a myth, but I would NOT want to mess with something like that. 3) Did I also mention this is freakin' one of the coolest things to do? Ever? On my list of top 5 favorite experiences. You don't want to demean it by doing it more than once. Unless you get another degree, then by all means do it again!

So, back to my point. You may *think* you're graduating. You walk, etc, pomp, etc. family, etc., circumstance, etc. But, did you finish that incomplete class? Did you transfer those juco hours? Did you REALLY need 45 junior/senior hours? Yes, yes you DO need all that to officially be granted a degree.
So, when a student emails asking, did I graduate in May and we respond, "no, because your hours didn't transfer" and then you come back with "but did I walk?" Well, here begins my theory on the intelligence of some people. We do not know if you walked. Did we hold your hand? Did you see us take a picture of you? Geez.

Silly undergrads. I can say that now since I am no longer actually an undergrad.

Let's look at the REAL message

Oh, look. John Edwards would consider something in the Obama administration. Of course he would! But you know what? That's NOT the freaking story! Edwards' anti-poverty campaign IS the story. It would be nice to see the media covering this instead of being repetitive, boring and discussing who might be Obama's VP. There's only so many times you can talk about it!

Ugh.

6

Hemingway's best work? Six words. Inspiring.

Obnoxious Articles Day

The biggest liars ever.

The article itself isn't obnoxious but the truth of it is.

Seriously. Seriously?

Could he please just go away? Please?

Summer Movie Blast: Part One (May - June-ish)

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Prince Caspian is a hottie and I still love darling little Lucy. And why the heck did it take so long for Aslan to show up, honestly? I think I liked this one better than The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. And the hostility betwixt William and PC was fantastic. Expected, but definitely fun. And I loved Edwin's grown up attitude. Quite the humorist of the bunch and a bit more mature. Fantastic. Did you know he grew like 6 inches while filming the first CON? Talk about a grown spurt. And internet bless IMDB, for that bit of information.

Sex and the City. It was damn fun. A little bit more serious than you're used to seeing in a 30-minute episode, but something had to happen for there to be a plot. So, there's this middle to end 3/5 of the movie that isn't quite the laughs and humor you get used to with SATC. But, enjoying it with a cosmo and old friends made for quite an enjoyable evening.

The Incredible Hulk. Did I mention I'll see almost ANY movie if you get me in the right mood? It was a rainy Sunday, what else was I supposed to do? Edward Norton is a hottie and a damn fine actor, so I loved his performance. Liv Tyler, well I would really like to BE her, so I thought she was great. And Tim Roth pulled off a nice antagonist to the BB's alter ego. Yet, I didn't feel the motivation was quite there for his character's action. Initially, yes. But then? Well, maybe the gamma is addicting in low doses. And he did have some absurd lines, all the actors did really, but what else are you to expect? It's an action movie and it was good, summer fun.

Trailer-in-waiting: While, I grew absolutely GIDDY in seeing The X-Files trailer (I knew it the minute I saw Amanda Peet and heard her say "you're not exactly the most popular woman with the FBI, right now...") I'd really like a Harry Potter trailer. If that hits me unexpectedly (without any WB announcement beforehand) I might spill my Diet Dr. Pepper. So, future movie goers watch out. You have been warned.

The Floods, The Tornadoes and the Spring that just won't end

Everyone I know has been generally lucky so far, but who feels like they have a target over their city or town? Raise your hands. You all should. Because this is getting out of control and I don't know if the weather we've had this year is ever going to stop.
If you're lucky, one of two things can happen. Despite the loss of life, the destruction of homes, the ruin of whole towns; humans can surprise you with their compassion.
And then there's this 13 year-old who, naturally as an Iowan, is blowing away the rest of the country with his or her commentary on what he or she has seen helping out people in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. And damn, can he write. You cannot expect that level of writing proficiency from any given adult, let alone a 13 year old. That's because Iowa education rocks! :D
Good luck everyone, I hope you and your families stay tornado and flood-free.

Oh, and the other thing that can happen? People scream and shout and complain and basically, you remember what an ugly world this place can be. So, let's hope we stay on course with option one.

Well, alright.... if you insist

This is what? A week late? But, yes, I took a pic of the tv. There were so many emotions in this evening...and I had a lot to deal with. I thought HC would be the better president, but I now must accept that BO is the nominee. And, I've been thinking about this for a few months, he's not a horrible second choice. And damn, that man can GIVE a speech. I am also confident he will do better things for our country then any republican ever could. But that's maybe why I'm a democrat...

Pride & Prejudice

Which Pride and Prejudice character are you most like? (PICCIES) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Elizabeth Bennet You are independent, passionate and unconventional, with a sharp tongue and a quick mind. But you have a quick temper and sometimes forget who you're talking to... Elizabeth Bennet 85% Mr. Darcy 80% Charlotte Lucas 75% Kitty Bennett 55% Lady Catherine de Bourgh 50% Mr Bennett 50% Mr Bingley 50% Jane Bennett 50% Mary Bennett 45% Lydia Bennett 45% Mr. Wickham 40% Mrs Bennett 25% Mr. Collins 25%

Favorite New Word: Prayfullness

Somehow, I find myself watching PBS. I have three channels in HD, so I might as well learn something. I'm watching an episode of Prayer in America. The episode description: "Examines how prayer has contributed to the fabric of American history, culture and everyday life". I'm not a religious person, but I can appreciate learning about a religion from a... well, outside point of view. I like approaching it like you would anything else in history or popular culture. As a scholar, not as a person of faith. Not that I do not have faith. I have much faith. I would have given up on the job search long ago without faith. More, I do not have a religion and religion has, in fact, probably turned me off from having faith in the past. Thankfully, I have since been educated (pause for haughty look from a highly educated young woman....oh, wait - that's not me. The haughty look, not the educated part...) and have been able to find a distinction between having an established religion and and being religious (or having religious tendencies like faith or prayer). I'm still wary of religion and the ridiculous things it makes people do. I cannot deny it has had a positive influence on thousands of lost souls and others needing hope and a definite say in the structure (whether positive or negative, I do not know) of our country (best class I ever took: American Studies/Sociology 110) but it has also done some largely negative things for our world. Which, given a certain 5-year anniversary taking place today I refuse to discuss since it makes me absolutely sick, is a whole other post for several other days.
But, prayfullness. It was used in this episode of Prayer in America and it made me giggle. The man using it was totally serious and academic and the use made sense..but prayfullness? America should really stop making up words. I think we're out of any good options.

Wow, and that was going to be a short entry. Whoops.

Anyone else remember how much ice we got in December? It was like living on a skating rink which is very tricky when going to campus on a giant hill. Or a mount. Mount Oread that is. Still, with all the time I spent on campus because of Campaigns, I got some awesome shots of Stace and I celebrating the completion of The Plans Book (to remain unseen) and a cool shot of our lovely ice-covered campus.
A bit of tweaking in Picasa made this picture look a little grainy (from the sharpening) but also rather striking and mysterious.

some clips from the wise people we pay to teach us

"I'm warning you - if you don't get this read you're going to flip my bitch switch. I'm gonna be pissed" -DD

"The proof is in the pudding" -Dr. JF

"Starbucks is to blame for global warming" - Dr. JF

"Guyssss" -Dr. G

That's all I can remember for now. Maybe I'll edit later. Basically, you have to be crazy to be a college professor.

The Emmys Finally GET It!

Unprintable song up for Emmy on Saturday

Update: IT WON!

advertising, promotion, publicity, public relations, sales

"... if the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying 'Circus Coming to the Fairground Saturday', that's advertising. If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk it into town, that's promotion. If the elephant walks through the mayor's flower bed, that's publicity. And if you get the mayor to laugh about it, that's public relations." If the town's citizens go the circus, you show them the many entertainment booths, explain how much fun they'll have spending money at the booths, answer their questions and ultimately, they spend a lot at the circus, that's sales."

this is from Reader's Digest...

i can't help myself

apple and google are basically going to take over the world. (with the help of cbs and youtube)
and. I. don't. mind.

I want an iPhone.

2007

As the calendar year changes, people tend to look back and reflect on the previous year. Yeah, 2006 was great. And it sucked. And the war got worse. We spent too much time on facebook. Sexy was back. We're still waiting on the world to change.
And as fun as it is to read top lists from last year and say "oh, I remember that!" I am much more excited about what is going to happen in this year. 2007. double-o seven. It's a big year for me! A total of EIGHT people I know are getting married. (1 cousin, 3 from work, 1 former coworker, 2 friends from high school and there's another person that I can't remember. That's what happens when everyone decides to get married.)
I'll also be finishing college. That one word, "college", encompasses so many things. Yes, it means completing 25 more credit hours (starting next Friday!!!) and receive a degree. But I've done so many other things that have really highlighted my experience. And still so much to do!
I get to finish up an amazing year with sua...(my fourth and final actually). I get to delve into a new leadership position with the homecoming steering committee. I will hopefully scrape up a few thousand dollars to study abroad. I'd like to intern at the statehouse in Topeka and make a path to a political campaigning job in '08...it looks like they'll be plenty of candidates to work for.
That's one year to do all that. I don't know if they'll be enough time. Wish me luck!

headlines

my favorite headline in a long time:

Brownback polling better in Israel than in Iowa

progress

Katie Couric anchored her first CBS news cast this evening. She is the first woman to ever host an evening news show without a male co-anchor. That's pretty sweet. I'm excited. And, I thought she did a good job for her first night. In a few months I think she'll find what works best and make it her own news program. Changes are already visible. Since CBS is in 3rd place for this time slot they won't be afraid to make the changes needed. This will hopefully revolutionize evening news.
Yay for change. Hopefully, now we can elect a woman president in '08.

weird news

uh-oh. good thing I'm no longer a freshman...