It is going to be a good day.

Customer just called, and the first thing he said was "I hope you can help me, because I love your voice." And then he asked me out for coffee.

Too bad he's in Arkansas.

I hurt my back last night and my first thought was "is this going to get in the way of having a good time this weekend?" The jury is still out on that.

I also saw I, Robot last night. Entertaining is about the only word I can use for this movie. The slo-mo shots made me laugh every time, because subtlety was not something they were really after. And the gratuitous shower scenes? I think I could have done without them. And did you know that the guy who played Sonny was also the pirate guy from Dodgeball? And they never did explain what happened to his arm.

Thank the gods that it's Friday. Anyone want to come to a party featuring mostly single people tomorrow night in the Mission? It's gonna be a hoot. Lemme know.

It's Fun With Misspellings Week!

A co-worker opened a call with the following description: customer is trying to [do something rather important] and is having no lunch.

That's my new SOL phrase - having no lunch.

You can't find that other sock? You're having no lunch.
Her car broke down? She's having no lunch.

You know you're kind of a nerd when you see something for Palatine Public Library, and you think "Palpatine? Why would they have a library named for the evil emperor?"

On the other hand, I finally bought a new pair of jeans that actually fit, and it's amazing what that has done for my self esteem.

I probably should have worn them today.

El Mansour is a lovely restaurant, with lovely servers, a lovely belly dancer, and lovely chicken with honey and prunes (don't let the prunes put you off, this is the best dish EVER). And when you're done eating all your food with your hands (a la raccoons), they wash your hands with rosewater (that was almost written roastwater, which would have been a very different experience indeed).

I smell even better than I usually do. Yeehaw.

Happy birthday, a few days early, to Amit.

Blame me.

I hereby take the blame for the amazingly beautiful weather (highs in the lower 80's -- about 20° lower than it should be right now).

The weather is beautiful for one reason, and one reason alone: my new car has amazingly awesome air conditioning. Air conditioning that could easily combat even the hottest of San Francisco summers.

But noooo! Much like when you get new windshield wipers and it doesn't rain, my new car with awesome a/c means cool weather.

It's 2pm and 81°! The loveliness of the day forces me to open my car windows and enjoy the polluted air!

So, blame me for the mornings with a slight hint of coolness in the breeze. Blame me for afternoons stuck in the office longing to be outdoors. Blame me for evenings that you can grill out. Blame me for the fantastic weather.

Also, paypal me cash for car payments so we can keep this weather up.

For those of you who didn't know me in my pre-blogging days, I have become very bold in my old age. I have gone from the epitome of wallflower to something approaching assertive.

Me, bold. It's scary.

I forgot to turn off my home computer this morning, so it is downloading my booboolina mail before I can see it here at work. If you need to get in touch before this evening, either choose an IM name from the list on the right, or write to enigmatic2u at yahoo dot com, or kristinthegreat at gmail dot com. Happy Wednesday!

Weekend review:

The last thing I did at work on Friday was break my headphones. Now I'll never be able to block out the loud talkers here at work. And given that we just released a major software update a week and a half ago and have two empty cubes in my group, it promises to be a busy busy busy week. Yay!

Anybody have any recommendations for headphones? I don't want complete sound blockage, since I do need to answer phones and people come by to talk all the time, just comfort and good sound.

Went drinking and dancing that night. I really needed it, as last week kinda sucked.

My brother and his girlfriend came to visit me Saturday morning. I thought they were coming in the afternoon and we'd have lunch and then they'd rush off, but they arrived several hours earlier and so we had breakfast and then went sight-seeing. I liked it. It's been a long time since I have been able to play tour guide, and it was a pretty day for it.

Had an early dinner, as there was some confusion with the restaurant, so the going-away dinner had to be rescheduled from 6:30 to 4:30. It was pleasant though, as Beppos is a great place for group dinners, and I got to meet some new and interesting folks.

Yesterday the fog had rolled in by the time I woke up and I knew - I just knew - that it was sunny everywhere else. And I was right. I headed south and spent the day in Mountain View with Jessa and Joey, where the sun was bright and warm, and there was even a little breeze to keep it comfortable. When I drove back home, the fog had become so thick and close to the ground that I had to use my wipers and turn on my headlights to see anything.

I have started the second season of The Office, and ... um ... I'm not sure I like it as much as the first season. But I've only seen two episodes. We'll see.

Oh, and remember the non-puppy kicking guy? He reposted his ad, and I wrote to him to express my appreciation of his brilliance. We had a short exchange regarding the previous success of the ad, his tendency to find schizophrenic women, etc. By the end of the weekend, I discovered that not only did Jessa know him, but I had been at a party with him a few weeks ago!

The world, I tell ya, is theeese small (accompanied by the hand gesture resembling that of "I crush your little head!").

Lack of personal content on this site is not caused by the ubiquitous "real life intruding" excuse.  Rather, it's because all I'm doing these days is whining, and I thought I'd spare y'all.  When the ratio moves from 90/10 to 50/50 whining/being normal, I'll tell you more about the author.  Things are good though.  Boring.  But good.
 
The Duel [via Davezilla]

Attention Co-Workers: I know when you google me.  If there's something you'd like to know, you could just ask. 

From the Just How Wrong Can Wrong Be department: Give the boys a little support while daring to bare!

My parents are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this year, and I'm getting no help from my siblings re: ideas for a party.

Have you been to any good anniversary parties? What were they like? What was it that worked so well for them?

I need help!
(thanks :))

You know those emails from the African princes/military families/accountants promising millions in unclaimed money if only you'll help them move the money around are scams, right? Right?!?! Well, take a cue and get back at them. You won't make millions, but then neither will they, and that's what it's all about. [link via Jon]

How often do you get complimented on your outgoing I'm-not-here messages?

Mike: I live vicariously through your IM away messages.
Me: good to know.
Me: I'll try to spice them up a bit from now on. I know that lunch one is getting rather old.
Mike: I wish I had the social life your away messages have.
Mike: I'm not tired of it yet.
Mike: It's a classic.

I'd totally date this guy, if only he was a little older: I don't kick puppies!

Unfortunately, the anonymous email address has expired, so don't try to write to him and tell him that if you were closer in age, you'd date him. 'Cause it won't get to him. Trust me.

Pity. I wonder if there's any other way to get in touch.

Also, via Mike: This Land

Should I ever grow up, I want to be just like Sarah. How beautiful and talented and just plain cool can one person be?

Although it was one of the mellowest shows I've been to, it was also one of the best concerts I've seen in a long long time. She did all my favorite songs, and even made the one that I'm not altogether fond of sound good.

I liked her opener too. I bought the cd and waited in line to have it autographed. I never do that.

It's good to be able to apply lessons learned in previous jobs* to current situations,** like knowing how to turn around the box of toilet seat covers in the ladies room.

* This would be the second worst job I've ever had: cleaning a restaurant during the summer b/w my junior and senior years in college. I was home for the break with nothing to do and no money to do it, and they were promising non-taxed income.*** I couldn't go in before midnight and I had to be out by 6 a.m. Generally, if all was well, it would take only 3 hours.

It didn't last long, and I got another job later that summer that put the nail in the coffin of my foodservice career ambitions. But while there, I did learn that there is a proper way to put tp on the roll, and toilet seat covers in the holder thingy - we liked specific language, can you tell? - and how to clean those mats that the bartenders walk on (bleh!).

**You see, the cleaning crew put the last batch in wrong. Yes, there is a wrong way, as evidenced by the obvious signs that many people could not get the covers out of the dispenser in a graceful manner, including myself. Who wants to spend time jimmying the covers out of the holder thingies just so they're intact?

***If you have other alternatives to dealing with people who prefer to pay under the table, take 'em. It was only after I uttered the magic word "IRS" that I got paid.

*yawn* Can those of you with unprotected keypads on your phone learn about and use the lock feature (if you don't already, and especially if you have my phone number saved)? I like getting calls at 4:45 a.m. as much as the next person, but I like it more when there's someone who intends to talk to me on the other end, not the gentle sounds of fabric rubbing across the mouthpiece and early morning sounds from wherever you are.

Thanks!

A friend loaned me The Office (first season) yesterday. I have only seen the first two episodes so far, and I'm hooked.

You should rent it. Go on! And don't be ashamed to turn on the subtitles. I'm assured that after the 100th viewing, you don't need them anymore.

I haven't verified this, but it sounds good!

Governor Schwarzenegger is conducting a phone poll that includes same-sex marriage. Predictably, right-wingers are flooding the office with calls.

Since we are trying to pass a slew of marriage and domestic partner bills here in California, it's a good time to show support on the issue.

Call our governor to support gay marriage.

It's really easy and takes less 30 seconds.

You don't have to wait through the choices.

Just do exactly what the instructions say.

You don't have to talk, just push buttons. Then pass this message on.

Call (916) 445-2841
On the phone tree, press in order:
Press #5 for "Current Hot Issues."
Press #1 for Same Sex Marriage.
Press #1 to support gay marriage in California.

Tidbits:

Saddam plays rock/paper/scissors. Funny even for those who don't support Bush.

Honeymoon with My Brother [via FryKitty] It's not as ewww as you think.

GTray [via Bill] I was just thinking that this is exactly what I want. Well, mostly. I'd also like some support and a guarantee that my computer won't crash. So why don't you test it and let me know how it goes for you? Thanks!

Happy 4th of July!

.
(click on the image!)

New pictures posted! Some of the highlights:

I drove a truck in today's 4th of July parade in Redwood City.

I saw the Pride Parade last Sunday.

And I saw my niece a few weeks ago - the pictures start here.

Didn't drink. Home early.

Coincidence? I think not.

Milk, it does a body good. [via Josh]

So I didn't think it was possible, but I finally met an opera I didn't like. It wasn't entirely terrible, or I would have left as soon as the claustrophobia set in, but it just wasn't my style. That, and sometimes I'm more literal than performance art can tolerate ... and so I can't tolerate the performance art.

And thanks to Jon, this is what I came home to find on my computer: The "Brief Safe". I'm glad there's no link to page 67.

Does this web thing ever amaze you anymore? It amazes me. I can't remember how I found places before maps.yahoo.com. I can't remember what I did in my spare time before blogs - it couldn't be all books, could it? And I'm pretty sure that I'd still be some introverted wallflower who never met anyone, interesting or otherwise, if not for the social aspect of my web activities.

Speaking of amazing: Muppet Phenotypes [via a very roundabout route from Spinning-Jennie]

And this! Another one of them Photoshop contest thingies that cracks me up: Work-Safe Art. I like this one. [via A fictional character]