2nd Star to the Right :: Neverland. I think I want to live there.

Everyone has fabulous New Year's Eve plans I presume? I have none and I'm actually kind of looking forward to that. I know there will be drunken reveling in the parking lot of my building, illegal fireworks shot off from the house with too many holiday lights and my uber-loud neighbor will probably be going at full force. And I'm ok with that. It's been a hectic year and I like the idea of just sitting and thinking back on this, the last day of 2002.

2002 Highlights:
- January - December - lost 36 pounds, just over half-way to my goal.
- February 3 - Cirque de Soleil 's Dralion in Houston.
- February 13 - Neil Diamond at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
- February 17 - 24th birthday and mom's surprise visit.
- March 8 - Home to see daddy's show, Over The River And Through The Woods - Rompere un piedino, padre! Sono cosi fiero di voi!
- March 15 - Wisdom teeth out and mom's visit.
- March 29 - Spent the weekend in Austin with Carol and Scott, visiting Christy, Jeff and Gabe.
- April 11 - First time blogging.
- May 30 - June 4 - Daddy's surprise visit.
- June-ish - Begin reporting to JC instead of Marsha.
- July 5 - Got a new microwave
- July 18-23 - White water rafting with the fam. Pictures of daddy in the river here.
- August 9 - 11 - Carl here. He got his tattoo. I chickened out.
- Augustish - Work starts to get super-sucky with JC.
- August 30 - September 2 - Emergency trip home because I needed a hug.
- September 6 - Miles was born.
- September 23 - Composed the following haiku for my good friend, JC: You have a project. Why am I doing the work? Please just go away.
- September 28 - First date with Chris.
- October 5 - Phantom Planet and Elvis Costello in Dallas with Jen.
- October 18 - Last date with Chris.
- November 11 - Sent out first resume.
- November 26 - December 1 - Home for Thanksgiving.
- December 6 - Marketing Department holiday party, celebrated with bowling and Chick-Fil-A.
- December 13 - Carol, Scott and Jen officially moving to Denver.
- December 22 - December 28 - Home for Christmas holiday.

Besides all the crappiness at work, it's been a pretty good year. I've got a lot to be thankful for. So I'm going to be. Next year will be good. I'll make it good.

And my happy thought for 2003: Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's heaven for? - Robert Browning

9:55 AM | allison | # |

I found a job listing this morning that listed this in the benefits section: Excellent benefits include profit-sharing, free Starbuck's coffee, chocolate and beer. I think I want to work there.

10:57 AM | allison | # |

Oy. Back at work and a return to relative normalcy. The office is still super-quiet. I'm beginning to think I'm the only one here. Is there a holiday between Christmas and New Year's that I didn't know about?

A quick re-cap of the holidays:
- Number of times flyin' on a jet plane: 2
- Number of seats all to myself on the first flight: 3
- Number of seats all to myself on the second flight: 1
- Times I nearly exploded from waiting so long to go to the bathroom because I dislike airplane bathrooms so much: 2
- Average temperature at home during the holidays: 30
- Average temperature in Houston during the holiday: 57
- College football games watched: 3
- Professional football games watched: 3 (including the bashing of Green Bay last night)
- Minutes until Christmas daddy put off wrapping his presents: 54
- Games of Trivial Pursuit played: 1
- Miniature liquor bottles cleaned and put on display: lost count after 173
- Cookies and treats baked: about 5 dozen
- Puns made by my dad: too many to count
- Extra days I stayed at home: 1
- Movies I went to see: 3 (Two Weeks Notice, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Catch Me If You Can)
- Times I almost cried from happiness and joy: 4
- Money won from lottery tickets in my stocking: $3 $2
- Inches of snow on the ground Christmas Day: 2-3
- Christmas miracles: 1
- Songs I got to hear my brother play at Fat Bean: 3
- Days until I see my family again: too many

And of course, there are pictures: Well. There will be. When I get them working.

Daddy, explaining to us why he had to put a present to himself in his own stocking...still a little fishy, if you ask me.

Our "documentation of the wretched excess."

My Christmas Miracle - snow on Christmas Eve!

Snow angel, in my Christmas Miracle snow.

An after picture, documenting the wretched excess.

After the wretched excess - it's tiring work, after all.

Carl playing at Fat Bean.

A million minis...and this isn't even half of them!

9:54 AM | allison | # |

This year's holidays seem much more intense this year than they have in the past. Perhaps it's because I'm older, or because I live so far away, or because of all the stuff I've got going on in my life right now. But this year, everything smells more strongly, the colors are more vivid and intense and the feelings and emotion are almost too much to bear.

Last night, Christmas Eve, I felt like a kid again. I baked about a zillion cookies with mom while daddy and Carl worked outside. The fire was going, the holiday music was playing and the house was warm and cozy. And it snowed! I had been hoping so hard for snow, but the weather guys were only predicting a light flurry. Late afternoon, though, they changed their minds - the storm that was hitting the Texas panhandle and parts of Oklahoma was moving farther north and we got snow! Mom and Daddy and I went on a snow walk last night and I'll post the pictures soon.

It was pure magic. All the excitement from the day ended in the beautiful covering of snow we got last night. It was perfect, like in a story or fairy-tale. A little bit of a Christmas Miracle.

I'm so lucky to have a place to come home to for the holidays and any other time I need a hug. I look around and see my friends unhappy at the prospect of going home to spend a few days with their family and I wonder what it is that makes them feel that way. My home, my family, is the place I can always go. They love me here and will always let me in.

3:31 PM | allison | # |

Late yesterday afternoon and last night I got to thinking about how un-festive I've felt this year during the holiday season. I put up a small tree and have lights on my balcony and a ribbon on my front door. I've got my Santa advent calendar and my plush snowman that sings and dances. And I still can't get into it. My Secret Santa has not forgotten me, I've finished nearly all my shopping and I leave for home in less than three days. But I'm still not in that holiday mood, you know?

And then it hit me. I got an email earlier this week from my brother's girlfriend, whom our family adores. She sends out Christmas spirt emails every year to get everyone in the mood and thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. It's different for everyone - the whole world doesn't celebrate Christmas. Some celebrate Hannakah, some celebrate Kwanza, Ramadan or the Winter Solstice. And what it means to everyone is different too. It made me think what the holidays are about. I feel like I can relate a little bit to Charlie Brown when he was searching for the true meaning of Christmas.

For me, it's the time I get to spend in close proximity with those I love the most. We finish last minute shopping with cold noses and pink cheeks. Bake and decorate oodles and oodles of cookies and goodies and distribute them to the Fire Department, Police Department and the Hospital for those who are kept away from their families on Christams Eve. We often spend Christmas Eve playing a board game, looking through old pictures or wrapping the last of the presents. We stay up late and laugh long and loud.

When we were younger, my brother and I would wake up mom and dad at very nearly the first light and wait anxiously at the top of the stairs while they woke the other adults and let the first pot of coffee brew. We weren't allowed downstairs until we heard the first notes of Christmas music. Now that we're older, mom and dad are the ones waking us up, trying to get the un-wrapping fury to take place before noon.

My gift-giving is a little less extravagent this year than it has been in years past. My rent went up and my salary did not. I'm paying off my student loan and doing my best to fully support myself. It's not easy and I don't get to see as many movies as I'd like, or eat out as often as I want, but I pay my bills on time (mostly) and have the satisfaction of knowing I did it on my own. Mom and dad both said it's not the gifts we give that counts, it's the thought behind them. I never believed them until now. I'm on a much tighter budget this year and I searched long and hard to find gifts I think will be appreciated and enjoyed.

I'm beginning to feel it now - the magic that is associated with the season. I can feel the excitement building in my tummy and it's getting easier to smile and wish everyone I pass in the halls and on the streets a happy holiday. I'm beginning to feel like a kid again, anxioulsy waiting for Santa to arrive while I sleep and pile presents high under the Christmas tree. Our family is smaller than it used to be, with family members gone from life, but not our hearts. It almost makes the holiday bittersweet. But I know they are all looking down and enjoying the holiday with us. Knowing that makes me smile and remember and hope that someday I can make their holidays as special as they helped make mine.

The holidays are nearly here. And I feel the magic.

I hope everyone's holidays are safe and happy and that 2003 brings hope and joy for you and the world around you.

9:43 AM | allison | # |

I am bored out of my mind at work. I'm way too efficient for my own good. I keep finishing my to-do lists for each day by about 10:30. Yesterday, I spent most of my afternoon playing Diamond Mine, reading my copy of the Best of 2002 Entertainment Weekly year-end issue, flipping through an old issue of Self and Southern Living.

So now, it's about 8:30 AM, the office is totally quiet and I only have one thing on my to-do list today. It's a good thing I brought my Martha Stewart Living in today. It's one of the guiltiest of all my guilty pleasures.

8:32 AM | allison | # |

Hmmm ok. So I got online to get a copy of my transcripts and because of when I graduated, I can do the online request form. So I did. And this is what I got:

You have a hold on your account. Before we can process your transcript request, you need to call the Cashiers Office at 573-882-XXXX or email us at blahblahblah@missouri.edu.

Do I still owe them money?! I'm almost done paying off my student loans. Really, I am.

8:22 AM | allison | # |

I still seriously believe that I am Hobbes searching for my Calvin. Bill Watterson, where for art thou? Why did you stop creating my beloved?

And totally un-related...you should go check this out now. It's a little amusing and quite on the mark.

8:38 AM | allison | # |

Dude, we just had our monthly company meeting and I was reminded once again why I cannot wait to get out of here. As we were walking out, I told a co-worker that I dislike this place more and more every day.

Turns out, new VP man was standing behind me the whole time. I wonder if he heard me say that my boss, JC, can kiss my ass?

3:52 PM | allison | # |

I do believe it is another list kind of day:
- Number of trips made pulling brush and tree limbs from my uncles yard through the neighbor's yard and to the dumping area for such things: 23
- Number of goodies baked this weekend for office co-workers: 93 (including the white chocolate-dipped pretzels)
- Gifts bought, wrapped and placed under the tree: 0
- Days until I head home for the holidays: 7
- Number of times I changed clothes this morning before leaving for work: 2

And in other news...This morning my entire department was invited upstairs to the coveted fifth floor where our management team resides for goodies and refreshments to celebrate the completion of the building and the final moves that are taking place. You might want to skip ahead if you don't want to listen the rant - I have one more totally un-related topic to cover before I actually get to work.

1. First, the fifth floor is accessible only with a key card. I guess there is no disturbing the Powers That Be without prior approval or an appointment.

2. Second, there is a media room with a 61 inch plasma screen (btw: MSRP: $24,995.00), with speakers and reclining leather seats. A great place to watch the Super Bowl, no? I can't even get decent reception on my radio in my cube.

3. Third, an EVP that will go un-named has a saltwater aquarium built into the wall between his office and private conference room. Oh yeah, private conference room - all of the management team has one - all of them.

4. Fourth, this same EVP has a glass etching of the company's stock symbol and NYSE symbol that is taller than me.

That's all I have to say about their digs, but one more thing while I'm on the subject...all this excess while we are laying people off. Wouldn't it have been wiser, not only to gain employee respect and loyalty, but also to show the industry that we are the best at what we do, if the management team would say, "Hey, you know, we're going through a rough time right now. I'm going to take a $5,000 pay cut this year." or "You know what? I'm going to try and save us some money and trade in my [insert incredibly expensive car name here] and drive a Chevy for a while." I also found out that merit raises won't be as generous as they have in the past. Wonderful - guess who has a performance review coming up?

I'm done ranting now, and need to add just one last thought: I heard on NPR this morning that Al Gore has decided not to run for election in 2004 because he is afraid that the election would be more about what happened in the past than what needs to happen in the future. Good form, Mr. Gore. Good form.

10:17 AM | allison | # |

All right, my lovelies, all the links and such have been updated to reflect the new layout and colors. What do you think?

And OMG, you have to check this out. Hurry. Go there now!

2:36 PM | allison | # |

I think I'm in love - aren't these little ones the cutest things you've ever seen?

9:01 AM | allison | # |

Ok, so I don't want to complain because I'm really feeling tons better, but this antibiotic totally leaves a horrible taste in my mouth. And the funny thing is, it smells wonderful. When I first opened up the bottle, I noticed the lovely smell - it's just like one of those French Vanilla Yankee Candles.

But, ugh, the horrible taste it leaves in my mouth - I've been brushing my teeth and chewing gum non-stop since Tuesday afternoon.

8:40 AM | allison | # |

Modern medicine never ceases to amaze me. Thanks to a 1000 mg of an antibiotic and 230 mg of a decongestant, I am well on the road to recovery. It's incredible what a couple of pills can do.

That and a full night's sleep. There was no rebel rousing by my good buddy in #109 last night. But I'm not taking security guy off my speed dial just yet.

8:36 AM | allison | # |

UPDATE: It turns out, my landlord lady was awakened by all the pumping bass last night too. She gave me the phone number for the area security guy and told me to call him if I hear the music again. Evidently, the security guy is huge and hates being woken up in the middle of the night.

So, come on #109, make my evening. Just go ahead and play your music. I've got the phone within an arm's distance of my bed and the security guy's number on speed dial.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I composed this last night as I was trying to sleep:

Dear Noisy Neighbor,

First, I wanted to thank you for keeping me up until nearly 2 AM. That is not a treat I get to enjoy often. I especially enjoyed it because it left only a few hours until I would have the chance to be awakened again by my alarm. Like most folks, I'm normally fast asleep by that time and it was so nice to be awake, listening to your music and watching the pictures on my walls vibrate from the obscene level of the bass. Thank you.

Second, I'd like to ask you for a repeat performance. If you're so inclined, I'd love to lay awake in my bed again, listening to the thumping of the bass and the buzzing the vibrations causes in my walls. It's such a soothing sound - I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep without it.

I knocked on your door last night, to encourage and congratulate you on your total disrespect towards myself and your other neighbors. Unfortunately, however, my knocks went unanswered. I am not sure if you did not hear my knocks over the wonderful sounds coming out of your apartment, or if you were simply too shy to open the door and let me praise you face-to-face. I am hoping it is the latter.

Whatever the case may be, I thought it only fair to share my high opinions of your actions - they did not go unnoticed and I can promised you they will not go unobserved in the future. My first step will be to contact our landlord, in hopes that they might be able to catch one of your superior performances. If they are unavailable, I am sure that Houston's finest boys in blue would be more than happy to attend in their place.

Sincerely yours,
allison

Is the sarcasm too much?

3:29 PM | allison | # |

Rediscovery: I pulled out my body pillow over the weekend and have re-discovered the incredible, undeniable comfort obtained from such an object. Now, if only I could sleep for more than four hours at a stretch, things would be nearly perfect.

And I just looked up a word that appears on the back of my over-the-counter sinus medication.
Expectorant: promotes the ejection of mucus from the respiratory tract by decreasing its viscosity.

I am thoroughly grossed-out.

8:53 AM | allison | # |

It's a list kind of day. A.k.a., I'm too lazy to write real paragraphs.

- She put into words just about everything I feel about a friendship of mine that just ended.
- This is probably one of my most favorite songs in the history of the world. It reminds me of being little and still believing in Santa Claus.
- I have a plush snowman sitting on my desk that dances and sings I'm a Snowman (to the tune of I'm a Soul Man) everytime my phone rings or another loud noise is made.
- We have a half-day today so our department can go bowling, eat Chick-Fil-A and celebrate the holiday season. Yup, that's how we celebrate the holidays here. We go bowling.
- I bought this to give at our white elephant gift exchange at the holiday bowling party. I'm a little tempted not to tell anyone which gift I brought so I can take it home for myself.
- I actually have one of these in my house. And no, I did not buy it from an infomercial. But only because I couldn't afford it. I got mine second-hand for a third of MSRP.
- This place has become my eBay.
-

9:06 AM | allison | # |

Can anything be more satisfying than crossing things off your to-do list?

I submit that it cannot.

3:14 PM | allison | # |

I woke up this morning to work out, but I just couldn't do it. The goo in my head and throat still hasn't cleared and I don't want to make it worse by huffing and puffing with Billy Blanks through thirty minutes of Tae bo. But you know what? I actually wanted to work out this morning. My body was, well, still is craving it. I never thought that I'd get to the point where I would get cranky when I couldn't work out.

I kinda like it.

8:42 AM | allison | # |

I am out of kleenex. My nose, apparently, is not out of goo. This could get messy.

1:50 PM | allison | # |

I can't hear out of one ear. I can breathe out of only one nostril. My tummy is making funny noises and doing flip-flops. And there is an icky goo sliding down the back of my throat. I think I'm sick.

Bloody hell.

8:38 AM | allison | # |

Some days, I'm really glad I live in Texas. We've got a conceal and carry law here, which is totally scary sometimes, but on days like today, I'm very grateful for the 6'4" cowboy-hat wearin', mo-fo truck drivin', drawl so thick you can barely understand them boys who thought that law was a good idea.

But I'm thinking now it was probably a good thing I wasn't armed during that meeting. I could be in jail right now.

3:31 PM | allison | # |

Ok, first of all, I'm back at work, so that totally sucks. But I had a wonderful long weekend with my family and will be back with them again in only three weeks. There was a ton of great food, good company and lots of laughter.

It was quiet when I arrived this morning, which is nice. It's kind of like the stillness in the air before a big storm pops up. I'm kind of hoping for a big storm too - I'm ready for a brawl, fists or words, whichever JC prefers. I have a feeling I'd be able to kick his ass either way.

And I cannot help but share this:
People have asked for an explanation of Marketing. Perhaps the following analogies will help clear it up:
- You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and say, "I'm fantastic in bed." -- Direct Marketing

- You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a handsome guy. One of your friends goes up to him and pointing at you says, "She's fantastic in bed." --
Advertising.

- You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and get his telephone number. The next day you call and say,"Hi, I'm fantastic in bed." -- Telemarketing

- You're at a party and see a handsome guy. You get up and straighten your dress. You walk up to him and pour him a drink. You say, "May I," and reach up to
straighten his tie brushing your breast lightly against his arm, and then say, "By the way, I'm fantastic in bed." -- Public Relations

- You're at a party and see a handsome guy. He walks up to you and says, "I hear you're fantastic in bed." -- Brand Recognition

- You're at a party and see a handsome guy. You talk him into going home with your friend. -- That's a Sales Rep

- Your friend can't satisfy him so he calls you. -- Tech Support

- You're on your way to a party when you realize that there could be handsome men in all these houses you're passing. So you climb onto the roof of one situated toward the center and shout at the top of your lungs, "I'm fantastic in bed!" -- Spam

And you wonder why I'm in marketing?

9:04 AM | allison | # |