joy and shadows

I discovered this weekend that there is not enough alcohol in the world to get me to sit through Star Wars Episode II. I'd heard it was bad, but wow - it was just that bad.

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My cleaning tip is to watch How Clean Is Your House if you are having trouble getting motivated to clean. Half an hour of this program, and I'm feverishly scrubbing the stove.

Yesterday they featured a family who had an infestation of really disgusting beetle larvae. It was hideous.

the awesome list!

John Cho (aka Harold) is playing Sulu in the new Trek movie

Simon Pegg (aka Shaun of the Dead) is playing Scotty in the same (no word on whether he will fire two phasers whilst jumping through the air)

Max Brooks, who wrote the Zombie Survival Manual and World War Z, is Mel Brooks' son

James May contributes to Sniff Petrol

Did you hear anything awesome? Tell me about it!

Yeah, it's been a while.

The trip to Scandinavia was a great experience, although it would have been even better if we'd been able to go in the spring or summer. This is such a dreary time of year, and there's been no snow in Uppsala, which the Swedes lamented because it meant no local skiing. (aside from the whole climate change thing etc.) Most of our trip was spent in our meeting, as it should be, but we did go to Stockholm one day for a look-around. We didn't get to do much there, as it seemed that most of the attractions closed at about 5 PM, and we didn't get there until about 2 PM. There wasn't much to see in Uppsala besides the cathedral, but we did enjoy the restaurants. I also had a very tasty treat called a punchbulle.

( More trip to Scandinavia )

Tagged by irenak.

List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
Tag seven people to do the same.
Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag "whoever wants to do it" OR ELSE YOU FAIL.

1. I have extra bones in my feet where a tendon attaches from the ankle to the foot. It makes me prone to falling off high heels. It's good to have an excuse not to wear them.

2. I've been going to the same town in Maine for vacation since I was five.

3. I've never had a formal interview for a job.

4. Habits: I bite my cuticles constantly. I've been doing it since eighth grade.

5. The rest of the house might be a complete mess, but the bed will always be made.

6. Some people have life goals of fame, fortune, and happiness. Mine is to own a house at the shore and live there forever-and-always.

7. I was in a commercial once for the MS Read-a-Thon.

Tagging: angstymcgoth, scathachdhu, jaina, sarcasticval, buttercup0222, maeveth, and fallnangelspike.

Dissent of the testis

Never let it be said that doctors don't have a sense of humor.

Let's see... what's new...

I might be going to Sweden in February on an audit trip. This would be extremely awesome, especially if any or all of the following happen: 1. I get to fly business class 2. my boss lets me stay a couple extra days to visit fireceremony 3. my boss lets me fly home from seeing fireceremony on the company dime even though I'd be flying home from a different country 4. that homebound flight is also business class.

We are taking my little cousin Alicia to New York on Saturday to go to the American Girl Place as a Christmas present. Looks like serious business. My husband and I have both been sick, and I was pressuring him to put the trip off a week, but he thinks he'll be well enough to go.

The Giants play Dallas on Sunday, and if you think I will be anywhere but parked in front of the TV screaming my head off, YOU ARE SORELY MISTAKEN. I don't expect them to win, but wouldn't it be exciting if they did? AND THEN I WOULD HAVE TO SCREAM MY HEAD OFF NEXT WEEKEND TOO, YES.

Looks like another year will be spent wasting a perfectly good Saturday sitting on the couch to watch the NFL draft. So sad that Ray Rice is leaving RU, but I want to see where he goes.

FFT is addictive. Good storyline so far, too. The cut-scenes are gorgeous! It almost makes me want to cosplay again. *sniffle*

Still not over this bug that's been going around. It's been almost two weeks of yuck. How annoying.

I have to stop procrastinating on this presentation. Back to work.

I wish I could tell you all that I did something interesting for New Year's, but my husband and I are at an age where all of our friends have toddlers, so our usual party pack has turned into a bunch of party poopers. So, we stayed home and had a wild and crazy evening using the pasta roller on the Kitchen Aid for the first time to make sheets of pasta for homemade ravioli. Husband found a half-bottle of champagne, and we had a toast and went to bed just after midnight like the old farts we are.

Just as well, because I have managed to catch my usual post-Christmas bug (which brings to mind the miserable sinus infection I had at Ohayocon last year) and it makes me glad I am not getting on an airplane in a few days. Husband spent the day moving a phone jack for me and has been bringing me soup and tea and I love him very much. :)

Besides New Year's anticlimax, we have been busy. After my parents left, there was a Q family party, and then we went to the Giants/Patriots game. It was a good game, even though the Giants lost. The downside was that my aunt, who owns the two seats next to us, had donated her seats to a charity auction, which in and of itself isn't a bad thing. However, the winner was a real dickhead. He arrived drunk with his brother-in-law as the designated driver, and he continued to drink through the entire game. Partway through the second quarter, he thought it would be fun to scream, "CHEATERS!" and "CHIESELERS!" as often as the impulse made it to his brain through the alcoholic haze. It got old in a hurry, and he didn't quit until the game as over.

Just to make the game more fun, husband discovered on the way back out to the car that he had lost the car key. At midnight. At the end of a football game. Needless to say, it was an unhappy and tense time until husband got back into the stadium and discovered that the usher had found the key. Thank goodness, or we'd still be there.

Then it was husband's birthday, as he is one of the unfortunates who has a birthday around Christmas. I went for the esoteric this year and bought him a bottle of absinthe from France. We haven't tried it yet, because the glasses and spoons are still on their way. But, I hope it will be drinkable and not too bitter!

Back to work tomorrow, unless this bug gets worse. Let's hope not, it sucks to be sick.

...and to all a good night.

I have a new PSP and a new digital camera, among many other lovely presents. I hope the fat man was good to all of you and that you have been enjoying your holiday with friends and family!

fadingembers, the Hero of Canton has been wearing his new hat all over the house.

I misplaced my Official Red Swingline Stapler on the copy machine the other day. This morning I realized it was missing. I would have gone around asking about it except there was no way to do it with a straight face. (It was since found in the secretary's office.)