Kamikaze Ladybugs

Have you ever experienced a kamikaze ladybug? I have. Maybe the term kamikaze is a little extreme, since the ladybugs didn’t die. I’m referring to the ladybugs the bombarded me at the beach last weekend. We were just sitting on our towels minding our own business when I noticed a ladybug crawling on me.

“Oh hello, Mrs Ladybug. Want to play?” See, I was being nice. This comment, of course, sparked conversation about whether or not the ladybug was actually a lady. You all remember the ladybug guy in “A Bug’s Life” right? The one with a really deep voice who got offended every time someone seemed surprised that he, as a ladybug, was actually a he.

Well, shortly thereafter, another ladybug joined the party by crawling on me. No big deal. They were nice. I was preoccupied with digging a hole to China, so as long as they were not interrupting my project I didn’t mind them hanging out with us.

Then, a kamikaze ladybug came crashing right into my forehead. KLUNK! My forehead is not made of steel, but is still pretty hard when you are a kamikaze ladybug traveling at light speed. This third ladybug rebounded off of my forehead into the hole I was digging. I had to pull it out and dust all the sand of her. Boy, was she a mess. Now, all three ladybugs are flying around, all energized and possibly angry at the sand for making their wings heavy. They continued to crash into my forehead! Why? I still don’t understand why ladybugs would come straight into my forehead and continue to KLUNK right down into the hole I was building. The whole situation got very annoying.

I left the ladybugs and put my feet in the water. We were at the beach after all.

Question: What is there for ladybugs to do at the beach? There are no flowers.

Women Rock!

It continues to amaze me how strong women are. We can handle so much in our daily lives! Aside from the daily pressures of becoming a working woman and surviving stressful meetings, many women are raising families and taking care of men. We may break down from time to time. It feels great to cry! But, the women I know, always keep it together until everything is solved. For example, I've learned that I can be strong and hide my fear, until the meeting (or situation) is over. Then I cry. Boy does that feel good! Men should cry more. It's a great release. One of my co-workers is dealing with a recent miscarriage. I'm amazed at how strong his wife is. They are an extremely strong couple of people, and he agrees that she is definitely the stronger of the two.

As I continue to grow in this world, I'm proud to be female. I only hope that I can be as good as the strong women role models in my life.

(For a debate about the physical strength of women and their roles in combat go to the Craigorian Chant link on the right)

The morale: Appreciate women for the strengths they have. Yes, that includes you! Everyone is strong in something :)

Friendships

Isn't it great to be around friends that "know" you? I've been lucky enough to begin rekindling some old friendships lately. It's really nice to have long lasting, forgiving, dependable, and fun friendships.

Thanks friends!

Safeway and Disasters

So, I'm wandering the aisles of Safeway last night, taking my time. I like to go up and down each aisle slowly pondering the individual items. As my mind discusses different cereals with itself, the loudspeaker interrupted. "Attention Shoppers: Hurricanes, Tsunamis, Earthquakes and many other natural hazards cause disasters all over the world. They happen in California too. If a disaster occurred today, do you know what to do? May is Disaster Preparedness Month in California and Safeway is proud to help."

Being that I'm completing a thesis on Disasters, this was very strange. At first, I thought I was having a Seinfeld moment. Actually, I started laughing. I couldn't tell if the other shoppers were listening. How is it that I have been studying disaster planning for a year, and I miss the fact that May is Disaster Preparedness Month? Shouldn't someone have told me?

Anyway, it's true. Arnold declared it, and Maria has been publicizing it. Check out the links on the right for more info and a coloring book! I love coloring.

TOP TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD DO NOW:
1. Learn which kinds of natural and human-caused disasters pose a risk for your area (earthquakes, fires, floods, etc.)
2. Draft a Family Disaster Plan in writing.
3. Build Disaster Supply Kits for your home and car.
4. Choose an out-of-town contact person family members may call to report how and where they are during an emergency.
5. Know where to go during an emergency; designate a park, school or other convenient location.
6. Prepare your children and remember those with special needs, such as infants, seniors, and people with disabilities.
7. Include pets in your Family Disaster Plan.
8. Eliminate hazards in your home and office.
9. Learn how to keep yourself and your family safe by taking first aid, CPR and other preparedness classes.
10. Get involved -- donate blood, educate your neighbors, join Citizen Corps and volunteer!

Funny thing is... (Title of Ellen's book)
I have #s 7 and 10 completed! The whole no pets situation takes care of # 7 easily. I just gave blood today and I'll consider this post as an education to my neighbors.


However, if you could see my apartment right now, you'd think I was condoning Disaster Creation Month rather than Disaster Preparedness Month.

Go Ellen! Go Ellen! Go Girl!

Emmy Update
Ellen DeGeneres swept the Daytime Emmy awards, winning best talk show host for the first time while "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" picked up best talk show honors for the second straight year.

"Oh, man, I love my job," DeGeneres said Friday night during the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall. "It's basically just sitting there and listening to people talking. It's like a bartender."

DeGeneres even learned she had a fan from another generation when Merv Griffin, standing next to her as he accepted a lifetime achievement award, whispered: "I watch you every day."

Her talk show has won five Emmys this year overall.

Bubble Clouds

I played a new game in the bubble bath last night. You might be thinking this story is too risqué for a blog posting. Trust me, it’s innocent. Please keep reading.

You’ve gazed at the clouds and seen recognizable shapes in them before right? Everyone plays that game. One time, on the elementary school playground I was gazing into the clouds looking for elephants, trapeze artists, cakes, etc. and my teacher said “Be careful Wingnut, you could get dizzy staring at the clouds like that”. I never understood this comment. I still gaze and have not gotten dizzy once.

So, last night, I started seeing shapes in the bubbles in my bath. These were not the super foamy piled high kind of bubbles. There was just one layer of really tiny bubbles floating along the top of the water. I wasn’t looking for shapes, but all of a sudden I saw Homer Simpson. Then a blob globbed onto him and he was hunch backed. At this point Lisa (Bart’s sister, not the baby) appeared to rescue him. I don’t even watch the Simpson’s so it was rather weird that they joined me in the bath tub. The next thing I saw was three blobs come together to form the cutest teddy bear I’d ever seen. It was so cute I got bored with the game. Nothing was going to top the perfect teddy bear. I soaped up and finished my bath.

Getting Up

I know I said that I had everything figured out with regards to which side of the bed to get up on. The foot! It seems so logical to crawl through the tunnel of covers and end up on the floor at the foot of the bed. Unfortunately, by the time I remember this logical idea, I'm usuall up. I've been getting up from the left side of the bed. That is my left side while I'm laying on my back. That's the side next to the closet, so it's pretty convenient. Please be assured that I am not exclusively committed to getting up on this side of the bed. Should it happen one morning that I wake up on the other side, I may very well get out of bed on that side. It's nice to be flexible.

Wingnut Dreams

Last night was a very active evening for me. Perhaps it was the 2 hours of G.G. watching that ramped my brain for creative dreaming. I had three dreams. They may have all happened during the 6:30 am – 7:30 am period where I was denying the fact that my alarm went off. You know that half awake, dozing off phase that we all go through during the following internal debate:

“You must get up”
“But I don’t want to”
“People at work will think you’re a slacker if you don’t go”
“It just feels so early, and I have nothing to do anyway”
“Hey, wake up!”
“Wow, that was a good dream…”

And finally you roll out of bed for chocolate cake and orange juice. (Or at least I do.) Of course, the garbage trucks in the ally didn’t help the snoozing period. They are rather loud. I worried about them crushing my car when I saw large dumpsters looming in the air through my window. I guess those trash truck drivers know what they are doing, since there were no scratches on my car. Pretty impressive.

Ok, the dreams.
1) I dreamt that Ellen Degenerous sent me a birthday message. She signed it “Ellen”. I think it said “Happy Birthday Corinne”, or something clever like that. She’s really funny. It was very thoughtful of her to think of me (even though it’s not my birthday). I suppose a present would’ve been nice.

2) I dreamt that Jenny Jones (an old friend from elementary school) was in the lobby of my work applying for a job. She had just finished her architectural degree and was looking forward to a career with my company. Crazy! The last times I’d seen her she was working at a grocery store, and now she’s an architect! Go Jenny!

3) I dreamt that I arrived to work at 7am and was falling asleep at my desk. Of course, I was hoping no one would notice, and thinking that I should’ve just stayed home to sleep an extra hour. (Can you tell this one was definitely during the “snooze period”?) At 7:30 one of my many supervisors (the one notorious for working very late) came out of his office, jacket in hand, and said “Good Night”. I replied with a “Good Morning” and he looked very confused. We have windows, you’d think he would’ve noticed it getting light outside. Oh well, he’s a hard worker. I, apparently, am a napper.

It was an exhausting night. I think I need some rest to recover.

G.G. Part 2

Whew! That was some major excitement on Gilmore Girls last night. I definitely feel that we have not reached the "jump the shark" moment yet (see links on the side bar). I'll be anxiously awaiting ALL SUMMER LONG to rejoin the lives of Lorelai and Rory.

In fact, the episode took so much energy out of me, I had a tough time getting out of bed this morning. I didn't make it in to the office until 8:45! It's a good thing I'm still new and have a light workload :)

Happy Wednesday to all!

G.G.

Tonight's the big season finale of Gilmore Girls! In talking with my friends about this excitement, since I missed last week's episode (No, I'm not sure how I'm still alive...I guess owning the DVDs has paid off), I've been introduced to that website that everyone already knows about. You know the one. They recap all the hip TV shows (and even some not so hip ones). It's called TV Without Pity. I spent my lunch break reading the witty, funny, writeup of last week's GG episode. No, I was not sorry. In fact, I may even read all the recaps. It's kind of like having the Gilmore Girls in novel style. Plus, the commentary by the recap author is great!

Another concept I've been introduced to is "Jumping the Shark". The question is where is the Jumping the Shark moment for the Gilmore Girls? Was it when Lorelai and Luke hooked up? Or is it still coming? Is it possible for such a great show to have a peak moment where it stops getting better?

Between Ellen Degenerous, Lorelai, Rory, and Emily Gilmore, I don't know if I could ask for any better females in my life!

Mondays

Monday came. My first weekend as a newly employed career woman went by awfully fast! I guess they do though. You'll be happy to know that I continue to begin the day with a shower, so my co-workers still think I'm clean.

My office decor now includes a huge poster of Yosemite, so I can escape into the forested oasis at any moment. Perhaps it will become a moving picture like in the Harry Potter books, or a portal like in a C.S. Lewis book. If I disappear one day, try stepping into my poster and joining me :)

For you star wars fans, I recommend that you check out the Craigorian Chant site (see links on the right). Craig's been analyzing it like crazy. Having not seen the classic films, I am unable to relate. (Okay, I've seen parts, but never a whole movie. Someone would have to chain me to a couch and continuously feed me popcorn in order to get me to sit through all six.) They are just not my thing.

Happy Monday to all and to all a good night.

A Wingnut Record

Wow! I've taken a shower every single morning this week. Plus, there have been a few bonus evening time bubble baths. This is definitely a cleanliness record for Wingnut! I'm sure my co-workers appreciate it.

The New Guy

Okay, I know I'm a gal, but people don't say "The New Gal", they say "The New Guy". I'm definitely the new guy at work. Today, day four, I was invited to lunch!!! It felt so great to have someone introduce themself to me, and then invite me to lunch with his crew. I haven't worked with these folks yet...and they haven't been with the company very long so there's potential for the creation of a new crowd :) Making friends is great! Plus, the way the company is growing, I won't be the "newby" for too long...

Dilbert has timed this week's comic strip perfectly with my first week of a new job...especially a corporate "Office Space" kind of job. Check it out here: Dilbert - The New Guy

P.S. I've decided to just get off the foot of the bed in the mornings so as not to play favorites with either of the right sides.

P.P.S. Beginning the day with a few pages of Ellen Degenerous' new book is a great great great way to start the day! She really knows how to look at life and all of its quirks.

Waking Up Dilemma

With it being the first week of a new job, I’m very concerned about getting up on the wrong side of the bed. The problem is, that every morning I debate with myself which is the RIGHT side and which is the WRONG side. Is the RIGHT side, the right side of the bed when I’m laying on my stomach, or when I’m laying on my back? Does it depend on how I’m laying when I wake up? Logically, both sides are equally convenient, since the bed is in the middle of the room. How do I choose the RIGHT side to get in a routine with?

Best Breakfast Ever!

Chocolate cake and orange juice is perfect for getting the day started right!

Working Wingnut

Today was Day One at a new job :) The day began with a sign. As I was heading out of my new apartment to my new job, the radio was playing
"it's the end of the world as we know it. I feel fine."
You know the song... I felt it was only appropriate that I had just woken up in my own apartment (never lived by myself before) and heading to a brand new job, never worked in planning before... So it's truly the start of a new life for me :)

Day One went very very very well. I got a cubicle next to the windows!!!! What more can you ask for?

In the spirit of starting a new life and new schedule, I direct your attention to a handy friend of mine: clocky