Drama Queen

We saw this commercial on one of those random TV shows that my Dad loves to watch. Something about the funniest commercials of 2010 or along those lines. I wanted to share since I thought this one was absolutely hilarious. Enjoy!

Bad Idea

Bad Idea: Having a coworker convince you to finally try KenKen when you really need to be finishing up grad school applications. Or working...haha.

Overly Ambitious

Really, Mr. Mailman? Some days we can't even get you to come to our office and today you come twice? Don't complain that my packages are posted for tomorrow's date. It's your own fault for being overly-ambitious during the holiday season.

Stormy Weather...

My drive to work this morning:

Okay, it wasn't quite that bad. But I do have to say that after avoiding flooded streets, spending 12 minutes trying to go 1 block, 3 major intersections with the lights out, Jeronimo Rd closed due to mud, multiple fire trucks and sirens, passing two accidents, and driving under one hanging wire - I finally made it. I do still love the rain, though...

PS - One perk of the weather is that the canyon people are coming out again into the real world. We usually only get to see them during the fires, so this is epic!

Super Shoes

I saw these amazing shoe add-ons on Design Mom and had to share. I could definitely use all of my Superhero capabilities with a pair of these babies:

What could you do with a pair of shoe wings? If I ran races, I would definitely buy a pair to add to my shoes and thus intimidate all those around me.

The Case of the Hiding Dog

So, as MacGregor gets older, he has started having some health issues. He can't see very well and his back legs are really weak, so he is constantly bumping into things like door jamps, walls, you name it. Luckily, he spends 23.5 out of 24 hours of the day sleeping, so he doesn't run into too many things.

One of the funny things that has changed, recently, though was that last weekend he went through a phase where he decided that he wanted to sleep in hiding.

After a Saturday morning where it took 25 minutes just to get him into the bathtub to wash him off (and not because he is mean, but because he is a heavy golden retriever and when he doesn't want to do something he becomes completely limp and is really heavy to carry), he decided to hide from us. The only way we found out where he was sleeping was because my Mom went over by the computer and heard a little snore. She looked over, and there he was, fast asleep, between the step maching and the window - completely hidden.

Then, the next morning, while getting ready for church, I heard this amazing snore coming from the bathroom. I turned around and couldn't see anything through the partially-opened bathroom door. I poked my head around the door and this is what I saw:

He slept in the hidden bathroom spot for over 4 hours. Wow. Apparently, he really wanted to remain hidden and was still traumatized after the bath from the day before and needed to recover his strength.

Oh, Gregor, how we love you. I know Grandpa always says we should put you down, but we like you around, even if you just sleep all the time!

What the...seriously?

One of the weird things I have noticed working at a nonprofit is that everyone feels like you owe them something.

We seriously had a woman contact one of our staff members wondering if she could get a cookbook at a discount or for free because she had fundraised $50. Seriously? I don't even get a discount and you think you should? Why don't you just not give that donation and buy the book yourself? Sigh.

And, no, I don't want to feel pressured to buy Tupperware from you because you are on my volunteer planning committee - I work for a nonprofit, not a moneypot!

They also think that your logo is free property and have no issues with stealing it off the website and using it in company emails, shirts...whatever. Really? Would you do that with the logo of, say, McDonalds? Toyota? GAP? No! Why would this be any different??? If anything, nonprofits need to be even more careful about how their logo is used!

Anyway - just wanted to get some of that off of my chest.

Just Not Strong Enough

Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed by all of the websites and networks I am a part of and think I need to cut down. But then I can't. I just stay connected and constantly feel guilty that they aren't updated. Is that weird?

Spider Love

So, I don't know what's been going on recently, but I have been surrounded by spiders. Not just any old spiders, but big, ugly spiders. I mean really big. Bigger than I have ever seen in the area (though I do have to admit that they are not bigger than the spiders I saw in Mozambique and Brazil). The thing is - I really think they are following me.

For example, in the last couple of days, I have had some serious sightings. First, we spotted one of these really large, fat spiders on a web while going on our lunch walk at work. Not only did we just spot it on it's really large web, we saw it attack and eat a fly as we walked by. That sucker was fast for his girth, that's for sure.

Then, on my walk around the block, I had to duck under another really big spider web with a big fat spider on it multiple times.

What really convined me that they are following me, though, is that between my 2nd and 3rd times around the block (probably about 7 minutes apart), one of the big fat spiders literally built his web across the sidewalk and saw there waiting for me to walk through it. Really, just between those 2 rounds around the block, the stinking thing set a trap for me.

All I'm saying is that the spiders have it out for me. Maybe it's a part of our weird El Nino-ish weather this year. Maybe I just never knew it, but spiders are a part of the Halloween festivities because they normally come out more this time of the year and I never really noticed?

Not sure, but I just have one request - if they can't leave me alone, can they at least make their webs very visible? I definitely wouldn't want to accidentally run into one of these bad boys.

Something Beautiful

Your secret from Jean-Sebastien Monzani on Vimeo.

Saw this video on another blog and wanted to share. Calm and beautiful. I like the concept.

Hunger for The Hunger Games

So, those of you who know me, know that I love to read. I can especially get caught up in young adult literature. Recently, some family members introduced me to The Hunger Games. Unfortunately they introduced me when only 2 out of 3 of the books have been published. And now I am hooked. And now I am really mad that it is not August when the 3rd book comes out. Argh!

Poema para um dia de chuva

When I was in Mozambique, we studied Mozambican literature from a textbook that our professor had written. This is one of my favorite poems that we read (in it's English translation). Someday I think I would like to have this posted near my front door:

Poem for a Rainy Day

My home is a lighthouse in the middle of the night.

Come, whoever you may be

at first you'll be like the stem of a flower

dripping over the carpet

and we will watch you

as the color of the rain

but immediately, almost immediately

you will feel in yours the warm palms

of our hands

and you will find in the design of our smiles

the translation of the hour.

- Gloria de Sant'Anna

as translated by Frederick G. Williams

Madness of March

So, things are really busy at work right now. I mean really busy. I won't go into detail, but it is enough that I am wondering if it is related to some of my health problems lately. So, what was I doing all day today? Checking my bracket for our Yahoo! group. Am I even a big college basketball fan? No, not really. Are we talking about avoidance? Yes, definitely. Recognition is the first step, right?

Dear Kaiser

Dear Kaiser,

Thank you for thinking of me as one of the recipients of your post-appointment surveys. I must ask, though, if you really want me to fill out a survey when I have been feeling horrible for 3 months and nothing you are doing seems to help? Think about it.

Sincerely,
Joanna

Peeking

I had a moment lately when I was in my room and pleased that I could see my neighbors outside their houses in the cul-de-sac through my bedroom window. Then I realized that that means they can also see me and so I must completely close my blinds at night. Darn neighbors for cutting down the big beautiful eucalyptus trees that used to block our backyard. Tree haters!

Making Kisses

I remember having these giant Rice Krispie Treat kisses as a kid - so fun! I decided to make them for our office Valentine's Party on Friday. What better way to spread the love?

When you just know

I just know that I am going to love this movie. Will you see it with me?

New York...

Absolutely love this...

Today is the Day

So, working where I do, we are constantly trying to find ways to get people concerned and aggressive about taking care of their physical health. Did you know that this generation of children is the first generation that is expected to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents (due to obesity and bad cardiovascular health)?

Also, did you know that heart disease is the number one killer in the US - killing more people each year than all forms of cancer combined?

On that note, we are always looking for ways to inspire people to take control of their health and to get started. We have this great website that I wanted to share with you that I just found to be pretty inspiring:

www.todaysthedayistart.org

Love Hurts

During the holidays, we had the opportunity to watch my sister's kids for a couple of weeks while she and her husband went on a special vacation.
One of the best parts of that visit was this question from my 8-year-old nephew, Schuyler:
"Jo, what do people mean when they say 'love hurts'?"
Dare I say that I suspect my nephew has been exposed to some 80s rock? I certainly hope so...

I love bavarian cream eclairs

So, there is a definite possibility I have said this before, but I absolutely love, love, LOVE the bavarian cream eclairs that are sold at a little bakery near my house. The thing is that lately I have been having some stomach problems and most of my eating is confined to pretty plain rice and potatoes. I don't know if it is because of that, but I have definitely started a serious craving. What I really want to know, though, is if any of you have made bavarian cream? If so, do you have a good recipe? I just love that it isn't like I'm eating an eclair full of pudding.

Oh eclair, why do you tease me so?