side note

For those of you who may have heard my nightmare haircut story recently...just a clarification: NO...this is NOT where I got my hair cut. I would have taken one look at that sign and kept on walkin'.



(Thanks for the pic, Todd)

sad day

My office friend, described in this post back in July, is wearing a short-sleeve button up shirt with a tie today.

He does get points for the button up shirt, rather than button down - and if you want to know about that, maybe I'll write about it tomorrow - but gets complete disqualifiation for today's ensemble thanks to the short sleeves.

Guys...please pay attention...don't EVER wear a tie with ANY short sleeve shirt. In fact, you shouldn't even OWN a short-sleeve button up in a solid colored "wear this to the office" kind of material.

When I saw it, I sighed "Oh NO" (very Phoebe-esque) audibly. He didn't hear. Thank God for small blessings.

For the record, it's not an eternal deal-breaker...the boy can be taught (I mean, he went to Oxford and all...so surely he's a fast learner), but it's still a sad day.

quotable seuss

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”
  - Dr. Seuss

don't use your brain

I think this is what the TSA folks tell all their bag-checkers at the airports. I mean, if they were to let people judge for themselves what is safe and what isn't safe to carry on a plane...they might let the wrong person through the line. That's the only way I can reconcile what happened to me on Sunday.

I flew back to the UK from Houston on Sunday night. I dutifully checked online to see what I was now allowed to carry on the aircraft, and it looked like there was nothing in my purse that would be considered contraband. Yay!

I made it through the first security screening without any problems. I did a little shopping and got to the gate with a new book ("This is NOT Chick Lit", more on that after I've actually read it) and a few magazines to enjoy.

When they called our flight for boarding, I passed through the gate and into the hallway leading to the plane...and here's where things went dreadfully wrong.

I saw that we were being put through a secondary security screening after the gate...no problem. I'm a happily compliant traveler. I waited to be called forward, and AS I WAS STEPPING UP TO THE TABLE I hear one of the TSA staff members say "If we haven't called you to the side, please keep moving forward". I immdiately think "Grr...I wouldn't have to wait for this if I'd been here the last time he said that", but in reality I don't mind...I've got nothing to hide.

Then the guy searching my purse says, "Oh...I can't let you take this with you" and pulls out a small almost-empty tube of lip gloss. BLAST! Then he spots the replacement tube for the soon-to-be-discarded one..."Oh...not this one either"...rummage...rummage...then, "What's this one?" My reply: "Well, it's not lip gloss, but it's not a solid lipstick either." TSA guy: "Oh, sorry...that one's out too."

Walking away, I'm thinking "DAMMIT...I just lost at least $25 worth of lip stuff because I didn't hear or realize they were only doing spot checks at the gate!"

Normally, this wouldn't irritate me that much, because, well...maybe I didn't read Continental's website closely enough...and maybe it still says (or implies) that lip gloss isn't ok. So...I decided about 2 minutes after the lip-stuff-confiscation that I was over it.

BUT...somewhere along the way on the flight, I reached into my purse to get my pen (oh, yes...to fill out my landing card) and what did I find? Are you ready for it?

• one remaining tube of lip gloss
• one pointed-tip metal fingernail file

SO many more thoughts on the subject...but I'll just end with this:

SERIOUSLY????

keeping it real

I got some new body lotion. It's from Kiehl's. They make really good stuff. I've liked every single product I've ever had with their label on it.

Their product labels are very old-world apothecary-like (well, that's how they look to me), and just beg to be read (I mean, there's a whole lot of text there, compared to the average label). As I read the label on my new bottle of lotion, I was amused by the claims that it makes...apparently, the marketing folks at Kiehl's belive this particular it's so good that this is what they say about it ON THE BOTTLE: "Continued use for 10 days will provide a skin texture heretofore unattainable."

I think it takes a lot of confidence (to put it lightly) to make that sort of statement.

However, I've had (and have been using) the lotion for 6 days, and I think the good folks at Kiehl's are just keeping it real...I haven't even made it to day 10 yet and I'm already impressed with my new and improved skin texture. No wonder this lotion is one of the best-selling things in their shops.

Now I don't want to hear a peep from all you people out there who are thinking "yeah...sure...10 consecutive days of ANY lotion would probably yield a skin texture heretofore unattainable". I'm not interested in your naysaying. Just let me be with my over-priced lotion. It's the closest to posh I'm ever going to get, so I'd like to enjoy my pseudo-poshness in peace and tranquility...as I smile silently to myself over my soft and supple skin. I deserve to enjoy it - I paid good money for it!

6 random facts

1. The first movie I remember seeing in a theater was Xanadu, and I still sing the theme song in the shower sometimes.
2. I can make a very weird shape with my tongue.
3. I played the flute in middle school, and still regret ever giving it up.
4. I had my first boyfriend in kindergarten.
5. My dad helped build the Astrodome.
6. I can say the Pledge of Allegience in French.

bugger

Has anyone ever noticed that after the first person makes a comment on a blog entry (on the blogspot platform) that the page thereafter reads "1 comments" until another comment is made and all is right in the subject/verb agreement universe again.

Man...that bugs!!

in julia's shoes

Thanks to my good friend Mike, I have some really sweet friends in London that invited me to the BBC Proms on Friday night.



The BBC Proms is a classical concert series that runs for several weeks and features various conductors and orchestras. This year the Proms is celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday, and quite a few performances are of his various works, but we saw a SPECTACULAR performance of Symphony Fantastique by Berlioz.

I felt like I was in Julia Roberts' shoes for two reasons:

1. TOTAL "Pretty Woman" scene - all dressed up, sitting in box seats at the very fancy Royal Albert Hall and sipping champagne.
2. The same piece of music is prominant in another of Julia's movies, "Sleeping with the Enemy".

For the record, the entirety of the piece is much less ominous than the bits that are played in that film.

the irony of it all

So, I have a good friend (we'll call her Heather) who totally goes gaga over the South African accent. I myself am partial to the Scottish accent (as has been well documented).

Now...there's a South African guy at MY office...and a Scottish guy at HER office. And by "at MY/HER office" I mean to say that we both have to speak to these guys daily...it's not like either of them is some random guy at the other end of the floor that we maybe talk to once every few weeks.

What's up with that?!

wasted time?

I fell in love with all things Scottish about 9 years ago...but recently my eyes were opened to a related group of people - the Irish - who have given the Scots a run for their money to occupy that special place in my heart.

Now I've discovered that I may have been misdirected in my affection all this time...because apparently, I would settle well in the land of St. Patrick.

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

sigh

I went to my first-ever salsa lesson last night with a friend from work. Two words: GOOD TIMES!

Dancing is one of many times in life when I'm so thankful to be a girl. It's so nice to just be able to feel the vibe and be LED by the man. I don't envy you guys for having to think of the beat, the moves, directing the woman's moves, etc.

I think it's especially hard for a man to lead those of us who have a tendency to "get it" and try and anticipate where you're going, etc. Hmm...life lesson there? Anyway, back to the subject at hand.

Ladies, what IS IT about a man who's got rhythm, can dance and leads well? I mean, I totally fell in crush with the instructor last night...just because he was a fabulous dancer.

Don't get me wrong. You don't need to win "Dancing with the Stars" for me to want to dance with you...but guys, take a note here. Even if you think you're not very good, take some lessons...you're probably not as white as you think you are (in the rhythm department), and the ladies will swoon.

mr. yuck is mean...

...mr. yuck is GREEN!

brilliant marketing

Many thanks to my good friend Basim for pointing me to this brilliant piece of marketing.

I hope the person that thought up this campaign got a raise.

i'm not a stalker...

...but I feel like one some days!

See, I have an acquaintance at work that needs to become my friend, but he could NOT be more quiet, introverted and a generally keeps-to-himself kind of guy. He's actually quite chatty when you get him to talk, but otherwise you wouldn't even hear him make a peep! I'm not making him out to seem very interesting, am I?

Well, let's just trust my judgment, kids. He's good people, and we'll become friends if we ever get to talk for more than 2-minute increments in the kitchen/copy room. However, since that's our only current social interaction at the office...this is how it goes down (here's where I start to feel stalker-ish):

I can see the door to the kitchen/copy room from my office. Therefore, I can see when my coworker/friend enters said room (mostly to pick up copies, if you must know), so in order to facilitate little chats here and there, I have developed a tendency to print stuff and leave it to be picked up whenever it strikes my fancy, which usually coincides with my friend visiting the copy room to pick up his own printing.

Now, I realize this might seem a bit scary. Honestly, I happen to think it's VERY funny as well...and the bottom line is that we actually usually have a decent chat or two every week thanks to my planning efforts. Someday if we really become good friends, I'll tell him about this and we'll have a good laugh.

For now, I just laugh at myself, especially when I miss him (he's quite a fast walker) and wonder how many other people do this sort of thing around the office...especially when there's a crush involved (which is not what I'm saying is involved here...but the social scene at the office is a bit dry, so give me a break).

I mean, don't get me wrong...it's not like this is a completely one-sided friendship development plan. We met for drinks one afternoon a couple of weekends ago, at his suggestion, and we chatted for 2 hours. I'm just sayin'...

Besides, I'm the marketing girl. And it's part of my JOB to make sure people are enjoying their job, getting the support they need...and building relationships among coworkers is all part of that.

But go ahead...let me have it...I'm a strong girl...I can take it!

Oh, one other thing: I tend to think this is very much a girly behavior...but I'm curious to know if the male population of my readers has/would ever demonstrate such antics.

Discuss.

giggle

I'm composing a letter to a someone called Nguyen Quoc Thang...so I've just written the phrase "Dear Mr. Thang".

That cracks me up.

i suffer from etc

I think the reflexologist at my gym is trying to drum up some business. I first noticed a few home-made ads around the locker room and workout floors a couple of weeks ago, but never paid them much attention.

This weekend, while queuing at the fountain to fill up my water bottle, I actually read one of the ads. I've recreated the part that struck me below:



Now, although I occasionally do suffer from stress (I mean, who doesn't?), it's not often a part of my daily life. Thankfully, the reflexologist made it clear what other ailments I might have that she could address, namely: etcetera. If she hadn't included that one in the list, I might have thought she couldn't do anything to help me.

a new word for the OED?

Don't you hate it when you know several people who know this person you've never met...and they all think he (or she) is really cool...and you know you'd be friends if fate hadn't somehow kept your paths from crossing before one of you moved away from ALL of the people involved?

Yeah...I call that being "pre-friends" with someone.

Troy and I are pre-friends (although I'm not sure he's aware of this status or the name of it).

Troy is friends with Todd and Laurie and all sorts of other cool people in Houston. And we'll be friends if he still lives in Houston when I get back. But for now, I am getting to know him through bits and pieces on several blogs, including his own. But since there's a degree of separation between our blogs, I forget to read it for days at a time...so I've remedied that today by adding him to my links.

Some might call this stalking, but as I established above, I call it being pre-friends, and I'm considering a letter to the OED editors requesting credit when they add it.

Wimbledon is a tough act to follow, but...

...how about this:

I'm MOVING!



After much debate I have decided that, although I have *loved* this last year (aka "The Year of Decompression"), I miss the buzz of city life. So, I'm heading in to settle myself somewhere inside the Big Smoke.

So, if you want to take advantage of the current spacious and luxurious accomodation I've landed in the suburbs, I suggest you get here before mid-August. I'll be happily settled in (probably much) smaller and more modest quarters from September forward.

wimbledon!

I spent the day at Wimbledon today...it was months in coming, but it totally snuck up on me! Months ago, I sent in the public lottery form, opting to take whatever tickets I could get (you do have the option to say I want this particular day on this particular court...but I don't follow tennis closely enough to care who I saw or when I went).

A few months later I got a letter telling me I had been chosen in the lottery...and now had the option to purchase tickets for Court No 1. WOOHOO!

I went for it, but have been so busy the last few months that it feels like the last time I thought about it was 2 months ago, and then suddenly last week I realized it was almost time to party with the rest of the tennis-loving world!

So...here are a few pictures from today's festivities!

iPod...don't leave home without it

On Saturday, I trained in to London for a day of neighborhood exploration (I'm considering a move closer in to the Big Smoke). Because I was carrying around my handy-dandy A to Z guide, I wasn't up for any additional and unnecessary paraphernalia to weigh me down, so I left my iPod at home (and any consideration of a second book for reading material was certainly out of the question).

Bad move.

On the train home, we left Waterloo station right on time (as usual), but stopped about 8 minutes into our journey for a 10-minute delay due to 'faulty tracks in the area'. No problem. Minor delay.

In about 10 minutes, we were again merrily on our way. And then we slowed to a second stop just before reaching Wimbledon. This time, the train guard made an announcement that there was a signal failure further down the line, and there were NO TRAINS moving anywhere in the area and the expected delay was approximately 40 minutes.

Nice.

At this point, the sum total of my entertainment consisted of trying to count the leaves on the tress outside the window of my train compartment. About 15 minutes later, we pulled in to the Wimbledon station, where there was plenty of people-watching to be done, thankfully. But even that bit of mental stimulus would have best been accompanied by some fresh tunes.

I arrived home approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes after my train departed Waterloo station. Normally, this journey would have taken 30 minutes (including the walk from the Woking train station to my flat). Certainly, it could have been a lot worse, but...

I will never ever again be without my iPod on a train. Never.