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

Woohoo!! Now that I've finally figured out this FTP stuff, I can post pics and other fun stuff. Hooray!!

6:45 PM | allison | # |

Bugger. Just testing. You can just ignore this stuff.

6:36 PM | allison | # |

Man, it's Friday already? I can't believe it. My week just flew by. I've been so incredibly busy at work the past few weeks - crazy busy. Too busy doing my job, to do my job. Or something like that. Hopefully, I can use today to catch up on all the phone calls and paperwork that has been piling up all week.

But first, the Friday Five:
When was the last time you. . .
1. ...sent a hand-written letter? The beginning of this month. I found out an old friend from my hometown graduated with honors from a college in NYC and has plans to direct his own show off-Broadway. I didn't have an email address for him, but I wanted him to know how proud and happy I am for him.

2. ...baked something from scratch or made something by hand? I always bake everything from scratch. I'm Sicilian. That's the rule.

3. ...camped in a tent? Good lord, who knows. Girl Scout camp?

4. ...volunteered your time to church, school or community? I volunteered earlier this month at a charity golf tournament sponsored by the Home Team Foundation, which is a pet charity of my supervisor and some other members of the management team here at work. And it gets better - everyone here is alloted four hours a month of paid time off to volunteer. How cool is that?

5. ...helped a stranger? I can't think of any time recently, which is kind of depressing.

Have a good weekend, y'all.
Oh, and in case I forget later, Happy Birthday, cuz!.

8:56 AM | allison | # |

I guess that's it then. From today's New York Times: Their Job Complete, Last Recovery Crew Leaves Ground Zero

I hope that the families with lost loved ones find some peace in their life.

1:06 PM | allison | # |

Can she get any less intelligent? I sometimes wonder if there are even two functioning brain cells knocking about in that big head of hers.

"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff," -- Mariah Carey

9:13 AM | allison | # |

Ugh. Monday morning. I just want one more day of the weekend. I'd even settle for half-day. That's all I'm asking. Pleeeeease?

Things I accomplished this weekend:
> Bought the missing pin for my microwave table, used 25% off coupon at Bath & Body Works and bought lots of healthy food while grocery shopping.
> Assembled said microwave table.
> Marathon movie session on Saturday afternoon/night, thanks to Blockbuster: The Mothman Prophecies, Behind Enemy Lines and Wet Hot American Summer. I also rented Heat, but its not due back until Thursday, so I still have some time to fit that one in.
> Saw Minority Report with Brooke. Mark and I had discussed this: neither of us were sure that it would be good, even though it was getting great reviews. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. It was long (2 hours, 40 minutes) and the ending was a little iffy, but overall, not too bad.
> Dinner last night with Carol, Scott and Jen. Steaks on the grill. Yum. And playing with their new puppy of course.
> And last but not least, watching Crank Yankers while I ironed. That is some really funny shit.

And now, work. Or something like it.

9:06 AM | allison | # |

Sometimes, I don't realize how much I miss someone until he's not there anymore.

1:36 PM | allison | # |

Wow, this week went by quickly. It almost feels like I just did last week's Friday Five.

1. Do you live in a house, an apartment or a condo? I'm an apartment dweller for now.

2. Do you rent or own? Rent.

3. Does anyone else live with you? Negative. I used to have a goldfish, Seymour, in my apartment in Missouri, but I made my brother flush him before we moved because I didn't think he'd be able to make the trip in a jar.

4. How many times have you moved in your life? Well, only two big moves. One from childhood home to college town (where I moved from dorms to duplex to apartment) and one from college town to my current digs in Texas.

5. What are your plans for this weekend? So far, not much. I've got tenative plans to go see a movie tonight with Brooke, but I'm hoping I can push it back to a Sunday afternoon matinee. Oh, and laundry.

Ok, I'm switching gears now, so you've been forewarned. Today is Mark's last day. I got him a card, but I think it's kind of cheezy and I'm not sure I really want to give it to him. I'm not really sure how to behave or what to say - do I ask him for his phone number or email so we can keep in touch? or do I give him mine and let him take the first step? or should I just suck it up and ask him if he'd like to get together some time?

8:20 AM | allison | # |

Good morning. My head hurts - damn allergies. Feels like someone is sitting on my face.

Hmmm..I'm not sure if that is the picture I wanted to create.

Oh yeah. I've added two more blogs to my daily reads: I'm either a genius or retarded and Tales of a bathroom scale. You should check them out.

Way cool. Dude.

9:46 AM | allison | # |

Just saw this guy's blog when I was supposed to be doing some work. Feh.
I think I just might become a regular visitor of his.

This is my favorite part:
I mean, take me for example. When I know other people are watching, I make it a point to act as freaky and bizarre as I possibly can. That's because I *respect* other people's god-given right to spy on me, and I act the way I would want them to act if *I* were spying on THEM. It's like it says in the Bible - "Do onto others as you would have others do unto you," you know? We all just have to do our best to live like that.

Hell, yes.

1:11 PM | allison | # |

Hooray for Allison! I finally got my ass back in gear last night and will go out for a run tonight. It felt soooo good to be moving again - why did I ever stop?! I think I'm going to have to go slow on my run tonight, but I am going to get out there. It's so bloody hot outside and all the area gyms I've checked out only have small tracks where I'd have to run in circles 10 times just to make a mile. Feh.

Also cooked myself a mighty-fine dinner, complete with seasoned potatoes and grilled chicken. Yum. Which I had again today for lunch. Double yum. And I was in bed by 9:30ish. I just couldn't sit up any more.

Today is kinda of blah at work. There's a bit of tension in the air and I'm not exactly sure where it's coming from. Could be from all the re-org that's going on. This is the scoop: about three weeks ago, I was told by our new VP man that I'm being moved out of the Creative & Design group and into a newly formed group called Leads Generation. Ok, not a bad thing. I don't really do much creative or design. I'm an organizer and a planner, so this move will be good for me. And new VP man told me I really shouldn't say anything about the move until it's officially announced. Ok, no problem. Until I find out Mark has been laid off. Things sucked royally for a couple of days. I'm gonna miss him tons.

So, even though it's not "official" I start working on projects with the new group, in addition to all the stuff I was already doing. Crazy-busy and working late. I love it. L O V E it! But then I heard something from the EA of our Executive VP about how I didn't want to be in his group. Not so, so I had a sit-down with her and we decided that I had just been misquoted or misunderstood or something. Anyway. While we were talking, she pulls out the floorplan for our new building so I can see where I'll be sitting when we move (which I hope is soon. with my luck, however, they'll probably move it up and do it while I'm gone next month on vacation. feh). But when I see the floorplan, I also notice some other strange seating arrangements and ask her about them. Turns out, new VP man is splitting my current group - Creative & Design - into two separate groups: Creative and, well, Design. My current boss will be in charge of the Creative folks and James, who is one of our designers, is going to be in charge of the rest of the lot. Interesting, huh?

It gets even more interesting. So, I know all this information, but I'm not allowed to tell anyone. Growl. I'm terrible at keeping secrets. Especially gossipy ones like this. Which is terrible. A character flaw I'm working on, without much success yet. Anywho, I found out at the end of last week that it seems my new boss hasn't been told about the little switch-a-roo going on, which really didn't surprise me. Mark's boss hadn't been told when he was laid off, which is very bad form to say the least. But then I asked new VP man's EA if everyone knew about the re-org and she said yes - they were all told weeks ago at a Director's Meeting. Hmm. Which leads me to think that maybe my boss knows, but just isn't letting on that she knows, and is inadvertantly causing all this tension.

~~Oh, and one last little rant before I go. I heard a rumor she's looking for a new job.~~

Damn. I need to stop all this gossipy crap. Better get back to work.

12:32 PM | allison | # |

Ahhh the mishaps of those not blessed with even a handful of working braincells:the 2001 Darwin Awards. What's a Darwin? Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it in really stupid ways.

Thanks for the link, Carolyn.

11:54 AM | allison | # |

I got this in an email this morning from my Dad. It doesn't really apply to me so much, but helps me understand my folks a little bit more.

Some Things You Keep

Some things you keep. Like good teeth... Warm coats. Bald husbands. They're good for you, reliable and practical and so sublime that to throw them away would make the garbage man a thief.

So you hang on, because something old is sometimes better than something new, and what you know is often better than a stranger. These are my thoughts; they make me sound old, old and tame, and dull at a time when everybody else is risky and racy and flashing all that's new and improved in their lives. New careers, new thighs, new lips, new cars... The world is dizzy with trade-ins. I could keep track, but I don't think I want to.

I grew up in the fifties with practical parents. My mother, God bless her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it - and still does. A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. They weren't poor, my parents, they were just satisfied. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers and tee shirt and Mom in a housedress, lawnmower in one's hand, and dishtowel in the other's. It was a time for fixing things... a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things you keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.

All that re-fixing reheating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful... Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant there'd always be more.

But then my father died, and on that clear autumn night, in the chill of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any "more." Sometimes what you care about most gets all used up and goes away, never to return. So, while you have it, it's best to love it and care for it and fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. That's true for marriage and old cars and children with bad report cards and dogs with bad hips and aging parents. You keep them because they're worth it, because you're worth it.

Some things you keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate you grew up with, there are just some things that make life important.... people you know are special.... and you keep them close! -- Author unknown

9:31 AM | allison | # |

Well, this weekend kinda sucked. I think I finally figured out why I've been in such a piss-ass mood lately. It the exercise, or in my case, the lackthereof. I haven't really exercised since my dad came down for his surprise visit two weeks ago. I need to get my sorry ass back in gear. Luckily, I haven't gained any of the weight back, but I haven't lost any more either. And now it seems that I really am going to have to be good 'cause it turns out I'm going to St. Louis in August for Mel's wedding reception.

I hadn't planned on going - Leanna was going to be a no-show, Caryn used to have the hots for the groom (aka not attending) and we all thought Lynn was going to be in Thailand already. But it turns out, Lynn will still be in the states, Leanna is planning on attending and Caryn is going to go just so she can see Lynn and Leanna. Growl.

That means I have to go unless I want to be a total bitch and just blow them off. Which I don't. Well, not much. I definitely want to see Caryn and Lynn. But Leanna, eh. And Mel - well, I guess I'm still a little pissy that 1. I didn't get asked to be in her wedding and 2. it's in freakin' Hawaii, so NO ONE is going except family. Granted, it's her wedding. But I always thought weddings were occassions to get up in front of family and friends and declare your intentions for each other. Maybe I'm over-reacting. Bugger.

7:51 PM | allison | # |

Ahh....the Friday Five. This always makes me feel good cause I know the weekend is just hours away...

1. How often do you do laundry? Once a week, usually on Sundays.

2. What's in a typical wash load? Everything. I don't have enough clothes to sort into separate loads like whites and darks and colors. The only thing that gets it's own load are sheets and towels, and only then cause it takes up so much space.

3. Front loader or top loader? Powder or liquid detergent? I've got a top loader now, thanks to the wonderful lady at work who gave me her old washer when she got a new one. It's 20+ years old and still going strong. Woohoo! Oh, and liquid. I'm partial to Surf. It just smells good.

4. Do you use a fabric softener in the rinse cycle? Not anymore. I had a pretty bad spillage incident and haven't used it since. But I still have that cute little Downey ball. And I have yet to figure out how it knows when to open and soften my fabric.

5. Dryer or clothesline? Well, for the summer, I've gotta use the dryer. It's too damn humid outside for anything to dry. But before I had purchased my dryer, I rigged a clothesline up on my balcony to dry everything and I still use it for sheets and towels whenever possible. I love that outdoorsy clean smell.

10:06 AM | allison | # |

Can I just tell everyone how much I dislike telemarketers right now? GROWL!

Yesterday while I was home for lunch (I love living close enough to work that I can go home for lunch!), the phone rang. I was kinda expecting it to be the apartment office telling me to come pick up my package that I've left there for a week and a half, but no, it was some Ms. Jones, informing me that I had won some sort of contest and I needed to call this other guy in order to claim my prize.

A little fishy, yes? I thought so too - I hadn't remembered signing up for any contests or sweepstakes or anything. This is pretty much what our conversation was like:

Me: Are you sure you have the right number? I'm pretty sure I haven't signed up for any contests or anything.
Jones: Is your number XXX-XXX-XXXX?
Me: Yes, that's my number, but I think you might have the wrong person. I didn't sign up for any contests or anything.
Jones: Well, if your number is XXX-XXX-XXXX, then you have a prize waiting for you.
Me: What's the prize?
Jones: Your choice of a 2002 Chevy Tahoe or $25,000 cash.

Ok, so this caught my attention a little. My car was out of commision about this time last year, and I rented a Tahoe for the week and totally fell in love with it.

Me: A Tahoe, huh? What kind of contest did you say it was?
Jones: I'm not sure, ma'am. (Ma'am? I'm only 24! My mother is called Ma'am!)
Me: You don't know what kind of contest it is? Then how do you know I won?
Jones: Ma'am, I'm just a notifier. My only job is to call the winners. If I can give you the number to call, you can ask for Mike Lowery and he can give you all the details.

So I took the number and thought for a bit. I was kind of thinking this is one of those scams that's gonna change my phone carrier or some other bullshit like that. But I took the bait - a new Tahoe was in the balance here.

Me: Uh, yeah, a lady just called and gave me this number and told me I needed to speak with Mike Lowery.
Dude who answered the phone: That's great! But Mr. Lowery is away from his desk, perhaps I can help you?
Me: Yeah. She just said I won some sort of prize and to call this Lowery guy. So I'm calling this Lowery guy.
Dude: Great! I can help you out. Did you say your name was Jones?
Me: No. The chick who called me though, her name was Jones.
Dude: Oh, ok, great!
Me: Look, can you tell me what this is all about?

So the Dude tells me that this isn't really a contest at all. Surprise, surprise. Turns out, instead it was some sort of marketing promotion and I had been picked based on demographic characteristics. I asked him what those demographics were:

Me: What demographics?
Dude: Well, anyone between the ages of 25 and 36, Married or engaged to be married or in a committed relationship and a combined household income of . . .

This is where I cut him off.

Me: I don't meet any of those demographics.
Dude: You don't?
Me: So, I guess that means no Tahoe, huh?

So, anyway, I'm still driving my Taurus.

8:59 PM | allison | # |

Man, what a day. Not super-long or hard, just still feeling a little blah. And I still feel like an idiot every time I open my mouth around new VP man. Double growl.

But there was much fun and merriment last evening. I took my way-cool cuz to see the 'Stros play last night. I cheered for the Cubs even though at heart I know the good guys only wear black. We had pretty good seats - about fifteen rows up behind home plate. Not bad, eh? JB from the Astros gave 'em to us yesterday as a freebie (my company is trying to put together a night out at the stadium for all our worksite employees). And since I'm all about freebies, I volunteered to use the tickets.

Anyway, we had good seats, good hot dogs and stuffed ourselves silly with cotton candy. And there was this really weird guy who sat just behind us. He was pretty big and already slurring when we sat down, and then proceeded to order three more beers while he was still behind us. The funny part: every single time Craig Biggio was up to bat he would stand up and, "You can do it!" Which in itself, isn't really that funny. But he didn't just yell it in a normal voice - he added kind of a Spanish accent to it, so when it came out, he sounded just like Speedy Gonzalas from Looney Tunes. And the funniest part was this guy was about as white as you can get. No reason for the Spanish accent at all. Good stuff, eh? He was funny for a while and then he got annoying, but luckily he moved not too long after that.

We got a little lost, er, misplaced on the way home. We followed the signs from downtown to 59, but then the signs just stopped and we ended up headed east towards Beaumont. Once we figured out where we were, Jen and I decided it was best to head towards Canada. Hey, do you know where you can spend Canadian quarters? Canadia! Sorry, it seemed a lot funnier last night. I guess we had too much sugar in us from all the cotton candy.

9:13 PM | allison | # |

Growl. I wanted to write about our fun at the game last night but I'm swamped today.

If I'm still awake, I'll come back and post again later.

2:16 PM | allison | # |

Ok, so my mom was right. I am a little pissy. And grouchy. And cranky. And highly emotional.
Luckily, I can use PMS as my excuse.
Blech.

The Astros folks visited us at work today trying to get us to have a company night at the newly re-named Minute Maid Park. BTW: how freakin' cheezy is a stadium called Minute Made Park?!? They proposed a bobble head promotion which would be a pretty good deal, but that's more of a branding thing, and we're not really looking for that right now. ANYWAY, I got two free tickets out of the meeting, and good ones to boot. Behind home plate. Sweet.

I asked Mark if he wanted to go, but I guess he's not a baseball kinda guy. I shouldn't be too surprised I guess. He never wants to go anywhere any time Caro or I invite him out. So I'm taking my cousin instead. She doesn't really know much about the game, but she always finds cute guys in the crowd to watch instead.

4:35 PM | allison | # |

I've been reading a lot lately. Mostly fiction, some autobiographies, even some cheap and cheezy romance novels. Not long ago, I discovered the pleasure I get from having a stack of books on my nightstand, just waiting for me. I'm not exactly sure where the pleasure comes from, but it is there.

This afternoon before my marathon cleaning spree, I finsihed Pearl Cleage's What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day. I picked it up last weekend when Dad and I stopped at the Book Stop before dinner. I got it because of the title, which is a bad reason to buy a book, but I couldn't help myself. Luckily, it turned out to be a good purchase.

It's not long at all - not even 250 pages - and I ate it up in about three sittings. The characters were compelling and it was just real. There were a couple of passages that struck me and I wanted to get them down before I forgot.

Sometimes you meet yourself on the road before you have a chance to learn the appropriate greeting. Faced with your own possibilities, the hard part is knowing a speech is not required. All you have you have to say is yes. -page 149

And from the very end of the book: And we danced too wild, adn we sang too long, and we hugged too hard, and we kissed too sweet, and threw back our heads and howled just as loud as we wanted to howl, because now we were all old enough to know what looks like crazy on an ordinary day looks a lot like love if you catch it in the moonlight. -page 244

Just some food for thought.

7:11 PM | allison | # |

My mom thinks I'm a little pissy today. Maybe she's right.

I decided Friday night when I got home from work that I wasn't going to leave the house until Monday morning. I just wanted some quality Allison-time this weekend. The past few weekends have been full with activities and places to go and visiting family and friends. And I just want to be alone now.

I got up at 2 this afternoon and only because the phone rang and I had to pee. The phone call turned out to be a 20 minute survey about my technology and telecommunication usage, during which I took the opportunity to bash the hell out of Kingwood Cable. They suck. If you ever move to Kingwood, Texas, I suggest you move to the part of town that allows you a choice between Time Warner and Kingwood Cable. And chose Time Warner, cause Kingwood Cable sucks major ass.

This afternoon I caught Steal This Movie on HBO (for which I am charged and appalling $80 a month by Kingwood Cable). I thought the movie was pretty good - I can't say I know much about Abbie Hoffman and the Chicago 7/8, but it interested me enough to check into it a little more. I think I'll stop by the library next week and see if I can find some books about it. Maybe surf around a little.

The reason it caught my attention was because Vincent D'Onofrio was playing Abbie Hoffman, and did a pretty good job if you ask me. I've been a fan of his for a long time and had never seen this. I don't think it got wide release in theaters, but I'm going to pick it up on DVD next time I'm out at Best Buy. But anyway, turns out, it has a whole cast of awesome folks - Janeane Garofalo, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Kevin Pollak, Donal Logue and Kevin Corrigan (the last two guys play brothers on Fox's Grounded for Life). It's worth checking out next time you're at Blockbuster.

Good lord. It's nearly 1:30. I need to go to bed.

1:02 AM | allison | # |

Hooray for the weekend! All I have planned is sleep, and I can't wait to get started.

I just saw a great quote as part of the signature on somone's email: "It is amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets credit." -Harry Truman. Pretty good one, no?

I missed the last one and wanted to do today's Friday Five, but I can't get the page to load. I guess I'll try again later.

11:20 AM | allison | # |

I've got a new look. What do you think?

9:11 PM | allison | # |

My feeling of nostalgia has gotten worse. It was reinforced this morning while I was getting ready for work. On the Today Show, Katie interviewed Bill Moyers (I can't find a link for it now, but I'll try to post one later) about his upcoming special on CBS. Today is the anniversary of D-Day, and Moyers is taking a look back at interviews he did 13 years ago with veterans of the storm on the beach of Normandy. Evidently, 13 years ago he took them back to that beach to recollect and pay tribute to the ones who died there.

And then in the car on my way to work, I was listening to NPR and caught part of an interview Bob Edwards was doing with Bob Greene. They were talking about North Platte, Nebraska and the North Platte Canteen where traveling service men were met by the men and women who lived there. What caught my heart more than anything else was something Bob Greene said at the end of the piece - he said, "This story is a quintessential love story. It's about the love between America and her sons."

And all this really made me think - those men who fought and died during the war, they really were heros. They were fighting for everything I enjoy and probably take too much for granted. Not just my freedom, but the pride I have in that freedom. I'm having a bit of trouble expressing exactly what it is I'm feeling. It's pride and awe and sadness and excitement all rolled into one. And a bit of nostalgia as well - I almost wish I had been a part of that generation and could know what it feels like to fight so hard for something I truly, truly believe in.

I remember thinking after the bombing of the Pentagon and World Trade Center that this is what my generation is going to remember. This is what we'll tell our children. My grandparents had the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the courageous war that followed. But we have the World Trade Center. And I'm not so sure the war we're fighting now is nearly as courageous.

9:21 AM | allison | # |

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic tonight. Green Day is playing on the radio and I just watched two episodes of the Cosby Show on Nick at Nite.

And in case you were wondering, yes, I am a nerd.

9:02 PM | allison | # |

Mark, my friend, you have waaaay too much time on your hands.

Everyone else can check out Triumph the Insult Dog here with The Herd of Star Wars Nerds and Triumph just being Triumph.

I must admit though, that dog does some pretty funny stuff.

8:57 PM | allison | # |

This is pretty much one of the funniest things I have heard in a really, really, really long time.

Thanks for the link, Mark!

Oh, and it's not really suitable to listen to at the office. I'd wait and listen at home.

8:41 PM | allison | # |

I got this email from Leanna the other day:

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

From: XXX, Leanna (UMC-Student)
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 12:34 PM
To: 'XXX@aol.com'; 'XXX@hotmail.com'; 'XXX@hotmail.com'; 'XXX@hotmail.com'; 'XXX@hotmail.com'; 'XXX@stltoday.com'
Cc: XXX(UMC-Student); XXX(UMC-Student); 'XXX@aol.com'; 'XXX@aol.com'
Subject: too much High Fidelity

Okay kids--

Here is your challenge. Compile a soundtrack of your life. Choose five songs for Side A and Side B with explanations why.

I will post the results on Midmoia

Leanna

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

It didn't sound too hard, but this is freakin' tough. I haven't got any explanations or anything. The song lyrics have just stuck with me for one reason or another. This is what I came up with:

side a:
"Drops of Jupiter," Train: Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken Your best friend always stickin' up for you even when I know you're wrong Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation The best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me

"Galileo," Indigo Girls: how long till my soul gets it right can any human being ever reach that kind of light i call on the resting soul of galileo king of night vision king of insight

"I Hope You Dance," Lee Ann Womack: I hope you never lose your sense of wonder You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger. May you never take one single breath for granted God forbid love ever leaves you empty handed

"Wild World," Cat Stevens: You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do, and it's breaking my heart in two, cause I never want to see you sad girl, don't be a bad girl, but if you want to leave take good care, hope you make a lot of nice friends out there, but just remember there's a lot of bad and beware, beware, Oh baby baby it's a wild world, it's hard to get by just upon a smile Oh baby baby it's a wild world, and I'll always remember you like a child, girl.

"Funky Cold Medina," Tone Loc: the girls are all jocking at the other end of the bar having drinks with some no-name chump when they know that I'm the star so I got up and strolled over to the other side of the cantina I asked the guy, "why you so fly?" he said "funky cold medina"

side b:
"Woudn't It Be Nice," The Beach Boys: Wouldn't it be nice if we were older Then we wouldn't have to wait so long And wouldn't it be nice to live together In the kind of world where we belong

"Kodochrome," Paul Simon: When I think back On all the crap I learned in high school It's a wonder I can think at all And though my lack of education Hasn't hurt me none I can read the writing on the wall

"You Say," Vertical Horizon: Left alone forever All alone together And you say What did I say What did you say We just Go away

"Look Away," Chicago: I wasn't prepared to hear those words from you I know I wanted to be free Yeah, baby this is how we wanted it to be

"Jailhouse Rock," Elvis Presley: Sad sack was sittin' on a block of stone Way over in the corner weepin' all alone. The warden said, "Hey, buddy, don't you be no square "If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair"

Is this utter cheezines? Do I sound like a total freak?

1:17 PM | allison | # |

Oh my god, what a weekend! It was packed full and exhausting and perfect every single second!

My dad, one of the most super-cool people on the face of this earth, flew down here and surprised me! I had no clue he was coming. My aunt brought him over here about 2 on Thursday afternoon. Just showed up in my cube out of no where. Craziness. But I loved it! And everyone here at work knew! My boss knew and my group knew and Donna knew and my cubemate! Everyone but me!

We spent all of Friday up at Lake Conroe with Carol, Scott and Jen. They had rented a party barge, so we spent all day on the lake, swimming and sunning and just generally having a good time. I got a little sunburned, but not too badly. It's mostly gone now - I'm just a little pink. Saturday we took it kind of easy and slept in. Daddy and I took the family out to lunch at Sweet Tomatoes and then we saw The Sum of all Fears. Kinda scared me, but I can't complain about watching Ben for a couple of hours. We had take-out for dinner and stayed up until after 2 AM playing Trivial Pursuit. Great fun. My aunt seems to think that Lake Tahoe and the Great Salt Lake are two of the five great lakes. Who knew?!?

Yesterday, Daddy took me out to lunch and then we drove down to Galveston and spent the entire day at Moody Gardens. We went to the Aquarium and saw the 3D IMAX of the building of the International Space Station. Tres cool. My 3D glasses were a little big, so some of the images were a little fuzzy for me, but it was still an awesome show. We went back to Carol and Scott's last night for dinner on the grill, which was mighty tasty and then stayed to play TP again. We had to quit about 10ish though, cause I needed a ride home cause I had to work this morning. Sigh.

Daddy doesn't fly out until tomorrow morning, but today he's spending the day with Scott. I think they had planned to canoe around the lake and just generally enjoy each other's company. Daddy and Scott are pretty close and don't get to see each other very often.

I've got a ton of work ahead of me today, so it's good that I didn't take another day off. I was kinda looking forward to coming back in today, but I still wish I could spend the day with Daddy. I'll go over tonight though and see him for dinner.

8:54 AM | allison | # |