{stepping on soap box} When I am world ruler supreme, I will mandate that shoes be sold in individuals, rather than pairs.
I know, this sounds nuts. But bear with me.
My right foot is about 1/2 a size bigger than my left foot, which isn't *normally* a problem. For tennis shoes or sneakers, they tie on so it's not a big deal. The struggle comes when I want to wear heels (with no straps) or "ballet slipper" shoes. No strap. No ties. Not easy.
Once, I found a lonely shoe at Target, it was the right size for my right foot, so they let me buy the lonely shoe and a pair that fit my left foot. But wouldn't it be nice if I didn't have to buy TWO pair of shoes just to get the right size? Seriously.
Anyone out there have a bigger left foot than right foot? And wear a size 10-ish? (10 or so in running shoes, bigger or smaller in other shoes, just depends). My right foot is bigger, so if I could find a friend w/ a bigger left foot, we could mix and match shoes! ;)
Those of you who know me know I don't like browsing or shopping as a general rule. I was out the other day and poked my nose into the shoe store. Wedding season is almost here and I need to find a comfy pair of shoes that I can wear all day. To my surprise, I found that Dr. Scholl's has its own line of shoes! This sounds like a photographer's dream come true. Except that I wear a 9 1/2 on my right foot and a 9 on my left foot (on slip ons, I seem to wear a smaller size than 10, which is fine with me!).
UUUUUGH. Seriously, if I could buy one shoe that fit my right foot and one that fit my left, life would be so grand. After all, you can buy your swimsuit in separate pieces ... one that fits your top right and one that fits your bottom .... why should you not be able to do the same with shoes?
For the time being, it looks like I'll have to buy 2 pairs of shoes for this wedding season, one pair for my smaller left foot and one pair for my bigger right foot. But if you or someone you know has a bigger left foot and is in the size 10 range, DO let me know .... because I'd love to talk with her!
(I can't be the only person on the planet with 2 different sized feet, am I? Seriously, wouldn't you love to have TWO shoes that fit instead of one that does and one that doesn't really? Am I all alone in this???)
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Saturday, July 11, 2009
DaTorture of DaMask!
So ... if our walls could talk ... they'd whine about my incessant groanings about my ongoing quest to find a DaMask duvet cover.
It probably started when I got my ShootSac.
Now, you remember Erik's dramatics from a previous post. Well, if you can picture HIS reaction here ... it would involve a BIIIIIG eye roll. ;)
So, why do I want a duvet cover? That's because we already have a comforter. It just needs a cover (ok, we HAVE a cover, but I think it would look more rockin' in DaMask).
Well, this week, I found this product, and LOVE it, but it's not big enough .... so I asked where they got the fabric. From an exporter in China. BOO! I can't get it here. I'm *crossing* my fingers that I can convince them to share with me ... because they describe it as "bluish silver + black." Um ..... PERFECT!!!!!!
Especailly with this sort of wall color:
I think black and white will just be spectacular with this!
But no. I can't have the DaMask I want.
A few months ago, I went on an obsessive quest and found *some* options online ... but I'm just not sure I'm all sorts of crazy about any of them ..... but I should get some sample scraps and see ....
These range from $7/yard to $40/yard. Yikes!!!!!!!
Here's the thing that gets me ..... I go into almost ANY store .... and there are throw pillows in the DaMask pattern, then aprons in Hobby Lobby, then photo boxes .... and the list goes ON. Ugh. It irritates me that I see this pattern EVERYWHERE, but I cannot purchase the fabric in any fabric store around here. Ugh.
Ok, so which ones do YOU like? Leave a comment and tell me which number you like!!!!!
It probably started when I got my ShootSac.
Now, you remember Erik's dramatics from a previous post. Well, if you can picture HIS reaction here ... it would involve a BIIIIIG eye roll. ;)
So, why do I want a duvet cover? That's because we already have a comforter. It just needs a cover (ok, we HAVE a cover, but I think it would look more rockin' in DaMask).
Well, this week, I found this product, and LOVE it, but it's not big enough .... so I asked where they got the fabric. From an exporter in China. BOO! I can't get it here. I'm *crossing* my fingers that I can convince them to share with me ... because they describe it as "bluish silver + black." Um ..... PERFECT!!!!!!
Especailly with this sort of wall color:
I think black and white will just be spectacular with this!
But no. I can't have the DaMask I want.
A few months ago, I went on an obsessive quest and found *some* options online ... but I'm just not sure I'm all sorts of crazy about any of them ..... but I should get some sample scraps and see ....
These range from $7/yard to $40/yard. Yikes!!!!!!!
Here's the thing that gets me ..... I go into almost ANY store .... and there are throw pillows in the DaMask pattern, then aprons in Hobby Lobby, then photo boxes .... and the list goes ON. Ugh. It irritates me that I see this pattern EVERYWHERE, but I cannot purchase the fabric in any fabric store around here. Ugh.
Ok, so which ones do YOU like? Leave a comment and tell me which number you like!!!!!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Pride & Power Tools
SO, Sunday night, there was a special deal via our realtor where you get a special percentage off at the local mom and pop hardware store. BRILLIANT idea .... great partnership.
Ok, so I dragged E there because I feel badly for constantly borrowing Coop's radial sander. We need our OWN, I told Erik. So we looked at them, and settled on one. Great. But there was a fella (who I think likes to hear himself talk ... I don't know anyone like that!), and he was talking the EAR off the salesman. Finally, we just interrupted and told the salesman we want THAT sander, and we're told it's the last one.
Uh-oh. Mr. Chatterbox seemed a little ruffled, but we were able to sort it all out. While the salesman went to get the box, Mr. Chatterbox saddled up alongside ERIK and talked his ear off about all things power tools/batteries. LIke *I* wouldn't understand what he's talking about. Humph.
So, yesterday, we went to Lowe's. I got a gift certificate and wanted to get supplies to work on our outdoor patio. First up: a privacy screen to hide the unsightly air conditioner. :) So we looked at the assembled ones, but at $50 each ... and we'd need 3 ... I felt we could build it ourselves. So we rumbled around the store, gathering our materials. We had to do some creative checking out b/c we had a few coupons for "$10 off your $50 purchase." But we made it all work out.
When we got Erik's beast pulled around, we could fit the posts, but not lattice in it. So, we tied it on the top and away we went!
If anyone wants to help us dig post holes, let me know!!! We have 4 to do. :)
Ok, so I dragged E there because I feel badly for constantly borrowing Coop's radial sander. We need our OWN, I told Erik. So we looked at them, and settled on one. Great. But there was a fella (who I think likes to hear himself talk ... I don't know anyone like that!), and he was talking the EAR off the salesman. Finally, we just interrupted and told the salesman we want THAT sander, and we're told it's the last one.
Uh-oh. Mr. Chatterbox seemed a little ruffled, but we were able to sort it all out. While the salesman went to get the box, Mr. Chatterbox saddled up alongside ERIK and talked his ear off about all things power tools/batteries. LIke *I* wouldn't understand what he's talking about. Humph.
So, yesterday, we went to Lowe's. I got a gift certificate and wanted to get supplies to work on our outdoor patio. First up: a privacy screen to hide the unsightly air conditioner. :) So we looked at the assembled ones, but at $50 each ... and we'd need 3 ... I felt we could build it ourselves. So we rumbled around the store, gathering our materials. We had to do some creative checking out b/c we had a few coupons for "$10 off your $50 purchase." But we made it all work out.
When we got Erik's beast pulled around, we could fit the posts, but not lattice in it. So, we tied it on the top and away we went!
If anyone wants to help us dig post holes, let me know!!! We have 4 to do. :)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Won't do it!
I know there are all sorts of fancy programs out there to follow the 3,068 blogs I regularly stalk. But I won't use them.
Why?
Because I LOVE that I can go and look at the stats for my own blogs .... I can see where people are looking at them ... when .... and all that jazz.
If people use a reader and never physically visit the blog, I have no idea how many people are reading it. Having this info does a few things. 1) keep me motivated to blog. 2) lets me know when people are reading. 3) lets me know when/where they click off to look at other things.
Random, but it's Thursday. :)
Why?
Because I LOVE that I can go and look at the stats for my own blogs .... I can see where people are looking at them ... when .... and all that jazz.
If people use a reader and never physically visit the blog, I have no idea how many people are reading it. Having this info does a few things. 1) keep me motivated to blog. 2) lets me know when people are reading. 3) lets me know when/where they click off to look at other things.
Random, but it's Thursday. :)
Friday, February 27, 2009
RIP Rocky Mountain News
I sit here with a blank mind as tear after salty tear runs down my face.
When I first heard that the Rocky Mountain News CLOSED, I thought I heard wrong. Is it for REAL? Seriously? Like, the Final Edition. Obituary Time.
There's just such a strange sense of emptiness when I think about this ... in fact, it's difficult to wrap my mind around this.
Ok, given the economic climate, it's not shocking to hear of a business closing. And let's face it people, a newspaper (despite duties to the community) is, after all, a business.
But .... I guess I think of small-town, po-dunk newspapers closing down. And that's not shocking. But here's the rub: In the last decade alone, this paper was awarded FOUR Pulitzer Prizes. FOUR.
This is an award-winning newspaper.
I still remember the photos produced by staff photographers after the Columbine shootings.
And it's closing.
Oh, did I mention it's almost 150 years old?
How is this possible?
But it is.
Oh, and not to neglect sports ... according to a story on the former paper's Web site, this week, the sports section was named one of the 10 best in the country.
I'm ill.
Let's take a video break .... it's about 20 minutes, so if you wanna watch, get comfy.
Final Edition from Matthew Roberts on Vimeo.
But ... I think this is sweet. It's a site called IwantMyRocky.com.
There are so many reasons things fall apart. But one thing I found interesting was some of the reporters commented people are getting their news from blogs, not necessarily going to a news source. REALLY? Seriously peeps?
But I guess I shouldn't be shocked. I've lived with people who don't know the difference between a column on the editorial page and a news story. And readers ... we'd get calls in the newsroom from people looking for a "story" in the paper .... after I went through all the local and wire stories, I dug through the editorial page. Still no luck. Know what they were talking about? AN ADVERTISEMENT!!!!!!! *sigh* But do people really not know the difference between an unbiased source that has to verify sources and is accountable?
Think about it.
Newspapers are chronicles of history. If Denver were a one-paper town, who would be around to document history? Who would keep local officials accountable?
Sad.
And other papers, such as the Tucson Citizen, a paper that's been around 138 years could close, too?
To think, just 7 months ago, I was a reporter. I'd spent my entire high school and college career training to be a photojournalist and even learning to write "just in case." ... this field is one I've put so many years and such effort into ... and it's shriveling up.
I can't imagine how people who have been doing this for decades upon decades must feel.
And ... while I hated being known as "there's the newspaper lady" .... I very much WAS "the photographer" or "the reporter." It became an integral part of who I was and am. And I left willingly .... how would it be if I was told my newspaper became the news. Ugh.
Mike LIttwin so pointedly writes:
"The guys in suits - and I say that as someone who doesn't own one - don't understand what it means to be in a newsroom, or if they once did, they forgot.
They're businessmen, who talk in terms of quarters. We talk in terms of stories. The Rocky lived. It breathed. It told stories that annoyed and ones that thrilled. I love both.
I signed up - and stayed signed up - because there isn't a job where you could possibly have more fun."
Ok, I think that column sums it up best. I have to say it is a more accurate description of my thoughts than I've expressed here in my ramblings. To read it all, CLICK HERE
On a positive note, strawberries and grapes were on sale tonight at the supermarket.
When I first heard that the Rocky Mountain News CLOSED, I thought I heard wrong. Is it for REAL? Seriously? Like, the Final Edition. Obituary Time.
There's just such a strange sense of emptiness when I think about this ... in fact, it's difficult to wrap my mind around this.
Ok, given the economic climate, it's not shocking to hear of a business closing. And let's face it people, a newspaper (despite duties to the community) is, after all, a business.
But .... I guess I think of small-town, po-dunk newspapers closing down. And that's not shocking. But here's the rub: In the last decade alone, this paper was awarded FOUR Pulitzer Prizes. FOUR.
This is an award-winning newspaper.
I still remember the photos produced by staff photographers after the Columbine shootings.
And it's closing.
Oh, did I mention it's almost 150 years old?
How is this possible?
But it is.
Oh, and not to neglect sports ... according to a story on the former paper's Web site, this week, the sports section was named one of the 10 best in the country.
I'm ill.
Let's take a video break .... it's about 20 minutes, so if you wanna watch, get comfy.
Final Edition from Matthew Roberts on Vimeo.
But ... I think this is sweet. It's a site called IwantMyRocky.com.
There are so many reasons things fall apart. But one thing I found interesting was some of the reporters commented people are getting their news from blogs, not necessarily going to a news source. REALLY? Seriously peeps?
But I guess I shouldn't be shocked. I've lived with people who don't know the difference between a column on the editorial page and a news story. And readers ... we'd get calls in the newsroom from people looking for a "story" in the paper .... after I went through all the local and wire stories, I dug through the editorial page. Still no luck. Know what they were talking about? AN ADVERTISEMENT!!!!!!! *sigh* But do people really not know the difference between an unbiased source that has to verify sources and is accountable?
Think about it.
Newspapers are chronicles of history. If Denver were a one-paper town, who would be around to document history? Who would keep local officials accountable?
Sad.
And other papers, such as the Tucson Citizen, a paper that's been around 138 years could close, too?
To think, just 7 months ago, I was a reporter. I'd spent my entire high school and college career training to be a photojournalist and even learning to write "just in case." ... this field is one I've put so many years and such effort into ... and it's shriveling up.
I can't imagine how people who have been doing this for decades upon decades must feel.
And ... while I hated being known as "there's the newspaper lady" .... I very much WAS "the photographer" or "the reporter." It became an integral part of who I was and am. And I left willingly .... how would it be if I was told my newspaper became the news. Ugh.
Mike LIttwin so pointedly writes:
"The guys in suits - and I say that as someone who doesn't own one - don't understand what it means to be in a newsroom, or if they once did, they forgot.
They're businessmen, who talk in terms of quarters. We talk in terms of stories. The Rocky lived. It breathed. It told stories that annoyed and ones that thrilled. I love both.
I signed up - and stayed signed up - because there isn't a job where you could possibly have more fun."
Ok, I think that column sums it up best. I have to say it is a more accurate description of my thoughts than I've expressed here in my ramblings. To read it all, CLICK HERE
On a positive note, strawberries and grapes were on sale tonight at the supermarket.
Friday, January 16, 2009
High school reunion
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuugh. It's that year. Yes, my 10 year high school reunion.
That thought makes me scowl.
Some people feel old when they hit a certain age ... but I feel old now that my 10 year reunion is here.
Aren't most people jumping for joy over these reunions? Am I a curmudgeon?
I'm not sure why I am so strongly opposed to this ... we didn't have a five year reunion (and I'm SERIOUSLY glad we didn't!). I certainly wasn't ready to see everyone after five years .... am I now that it's been 10?
It took me 4 calendar years, 3 academic years to breeze through college. SO ... what the heck have I been DOING for the last 6 years? Truthfully, not very much. I've lived a rather dull existence.
Quite a few of my classmates were upity and would barely give anyone but the 7 people in "their circle" the time of day. Do I particularly want to see them again? I can't decide.
Here's the other thought I have: I was in a variety of activities from journalism to theater to choir. I would LOVE to have a reunion with those groups, but the groups had a mix of grades/graduation years. I'll see a fraction of the people I spent most of my high school years with.
Another hesitation, and this is silly, but I'm just behind the times. Erik and I were *just* married ... the bulk of the people I went to school with are married and are on the family track. I can think of TWO of my married friends who don't have kids. TWO. We'll be in the corner talking about wine tastings while the other mommies talk about mommy things (whatever those are).
I've actually heard of people having "pre reunion reunions" ... and sort of like the idea. I'll have to mull it over a bit, but we'll see. Right now, I'm just feeling OLD.
That thought makes me scowl.
Some people feel old when they hit a certain age ... but I feel old now that my 10 year reunion is here.
Aren't most people jumping for joy over these reunions? Am I a curmudgeon?
I'm not sure why I am so strongly opposed to this ... we didn't have a five year reunion (and I'm SERIOUSLY glad we didn't!). I certainly wasn't ready to see everyone after five years .... am I now that it's been 10?
It took me 4 calendar years, 3 academic years to breeze through college. SO ... what the heck have I been DOING for the last 6 years? Truthfully, not very much. I've lived a rather dull existence.
Quite a few of my classmates were upity and would barely give anyone but the 7 people in "their circle" the time of day. Do I particularly want to see them again? I can't decide.
Here's the other thought I have: I was in a variety of activities from journalism to theater to choir. I would LOVE to have a reunion with those groups, but the groups had a mix of grades/graduation years. I'll see a fraction of the people I spent most of my high school years with.
Another hesitation, and this is silly, but I'm just behind the times. Erik and I were *just* married ... the bulk of the people I went to school with are married and are on the family track. I can think of TWO of my married friends who don't have kids. TWO. We'll be in the corner talking about wine tastings while the other mommies talk about mommy things (whatever those are).
I've actually heard of people having "pre reunion reunions" ... and sort of like the idea. I'll have to mull it over a bit, but we'll see. Right now, I'm just feeling OLD.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Grrrrrrrr ... Quickbooks me no likey
*warning, I'm going to rant and whine*
UUUUUUUUUGH. I have NO LOVE for Quickbooks. Yes, I should have gotten my backside into gear and gotten it at the beginning of 2008. BUT ... I am a Mac girl (GO APPLE!) and they only had old versions (2007). The new version just came out. Yay!
BUT in the meantime, they released an online version. I think this is the solution to all of my worldly problems ... until I go online this morning and it tells me I need to be running on Explorer. UGH. Seriously? I have to use a buggy PC browser to use your product? Could you be any more UNFRIENDLY?!??!?!?
As if I wasn't irritated before, I'm irate now. :-(
Oh, and to add to things, the only "tax work" I've done is to throw receipts into the box with the "I'll do it with the new program."
What a fool I was.
UUUUUUUUUGH. I have NO LOVE for Quickbooks. Yes, I should have gotten my backside into gear and gotten it at the beginning of 2008. BUT ... I am a Mac girl (GO APPLE!) and they only had old versions (2007). The new version just came out. Yay!
BUT in the meantime, they released an online version. I think this is the solution to all of my worldly problems ... until I go online this morning and it tells me I need to be running on Explorer. UGH. Seriously? I have to use a buggy PC browser to use your product? Could you be any more UNFRIENDLY?!??!?!?
As if I wasn't irritated before, I'm irate now. :-(
Oh, and to add to things, the only "tax work" I've done is to throw receipts into the box with the "I'll do it with the new program."
What a fool I was.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
COMPLETELY puzzled
So .... we're married. Yay for us.
Now it's time to get all of my paperwork/documentation in order. UUUUUUUUUUGH.
So, the DMV wants me to change my info with them within 10 days of name change ... I need to get my act in gear with the Social Security office ..... and it takes up to TWO MONTHS for me to get a certified copy for the SS people.
'Scuse me. I have a life.
What a friggin headache. Makes me want to NOT change my name.
I loathe this.
Now it's time to get all of my paperwork/documentation in order. UUUUUUUUUUGH.
So, the DMV wants me to change my info with them within 10 days of name change ... I need to get my act in gear with the Social Security office ..... and it takes up to TWO MONTHS for me to get a certified copy for the SS people.
'Scuse me. I have a life.
What a friggin headache. Makes me want to NOT change my name.
I loathe this.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
NPR break!
Soooooo, I was on the road earlier this week and have to say I got the BIGGEST laugh out of this story about the guys who did voice overs for the political ads. I'm not interested in discussing politics on the blog here .... just suiffice to say I'll be glad when this election is OVER. From the national to the local, races are just down and dirty. I'm ready for all the mud-slinging to be DONE.
As I was prowling through NPR's Web site, I had a flashback to an earlier blog post about the Little House on the Prairie lawsuit. Yeah, it made it to NPR!!!!!!!! Seriously, un-friendly Family Productions ... it's outrageous. Click HERE to check it out.
As I was prowling through NPR's Web site, I had a flashback to an earlier blog post about the Little House on the Prairie lawsuit. Yeah, it made it to NPR!!!!!!!! Seriously, un-friendly Family Productions ... it's outrageous. Click HERE to check it out.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Are ya KIDDING me???????
This morning, I was reading the paper and read a lawsuit is being filed against a non-profit org near where I used to live in Independence.
Lawsuit filed over Little House museum in Kansas
By ROXANA HEGEMAN
The Associated Press
"WICHITA | A California production firm has filed a lawsuit against a museum on the southeast Kansas homestead where writer Laura Ingalls Wilder once lived, saying it owns the rights to the name "Little House on the Prairie."
Friendly Family Productions, the maker of the television series based on the best-selling book, filed a lawsuit last week in federal court in Los Angeles against Little House on the Prairie Inc., a nonprofit group that runs a small museum on a farm outside Independence. The suit claims trademark infringement, unfair competition and trademark dilution."
UNFAIR COMPETITION????????? ARE YOU FREKIN' KIDDING ME?????????? This place is in the middle of nowhere, Kansas. Not even CLOSE to California. Gawsh...c'mon guys!
Oh, but they *did* throw the little organization a bone, the article said: "Schodorf said Friendly Family Productions offered the Kansas museum $40,000 for its trademarks and to change the name of its Web site and online store, Schodorf said."
What a JOKE.
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE. And feel free to leave a comment HERE.
It's unfortunate how litigious our society has become ... that a giant in California would sue over a historic site's name. COME ON PEOPLE! Find better things to do with your lives!!!!!!
Oh, to check out the site in Southeast Kansas where the family lived, CLICK HERE.
Lawsuit filed over Little House museum in Kansas
By ROXANA HEGEMAN
The Associated Press
"WICHITA | A California production firm has filed a lawsuit against a museum on the southeast Kansas homestead where writer Laura Ingalls Wilder once lived, saying it owns the rights to the name "Little House on the Prairie."
Friendly Family Productions, the maker of the television series based on the best-selling book, filed a lawsuit last week in federal court in Los Angeles against Little House on the Prairie Inc., a nonprofit group that runs a small museum on a farm outside Independence. The suit claims trademark infringement, unfair competition and trademark dilution."
UNFAIR COMPETITION????????? ARE YOU FREKIN' KIDDING ME?????????? This place is in the middle of nowhere, Kansas. Not even CLOSE to California. Gawsh...c'mon guys!
Oh, but they *did* throw the little organization a bone, the article said: "Schodorf said Friendly Family Productions offered the Kansas museum $40,000 for its trademarks and to change the name of its Web site and online store, Schodorf said."
What a JOKE.
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE. And feel free to leave a comment HERE.
It's unfortunate how litigious our society has become ... that a giant in California would sue over a historic site's name. COME ON PEOPLE! Find better things to do with your lives!!!!!!
Oh, to check out the site in Southeast Kansas where the family lived, CLICK HERE.
Friday, July 25, 2008
It ain't sexy, but....
I've been meaning to post this for quite some time, but have never quite found the time. Somehow, today, it seems important.
A few weeks ago, I was talking with my parents about changes to wills and powers of attorney and all sorts of that stuff. Yeah, it sounds morbid to talk about "what do you want me to do when you're gone" but it's VITAL to find out NOW!
Some good questions to ask your loved ones:
• Do you have a will? If so, where is it/ who is the attorney?
• Who is in charge of the finances? Is there a financial advisor or accountant I should be aware of?
Granted, an unmarried person like me probably doesn't have quite the need for a will that others do. I have no kids, no house, no real estate ... just investments. BUT these investments (and even my car) do have a TOD (transfer on death) to an immediate family member (and even Erik on a few of them).
So, why the heck does this all matter? For we singletons, not much now. But what about my married friends, siblings or parents? You need to know about the wishes of your family, and even if you don't have reason to have a will, make a point to find out the expectations your siblings/parents might have of you in THEIR will (raise the kids, dogs, etc.).
Some of my friends have kiddos, but no stipulations regarding the kids ... no provisions made for the little ones. Yes, godparents have traditionally "raised" kids in the case parents were not around, but we godparents have NO legal rights. If you want the godparents to raise your kids, PUT IT IN A WILL. If you would like your parents or sibling to do so, PUT IT IN A WILL.
Mom and I were talking about it, and she's seen cases where parents made no provisions and a child was REMOVED from its extended family and put into foster care. Scary, but true!
Sorry about the soap box rant (and I KNOW we're in our 20s and it seems crazy to think about this stuff!), but having some sort of guidelines is a smart move.
A few weeks ago, I was talking with my parents about changes to wills and powers of attorney and all sorts of that stuff. Yeah, it sounds morbid to talk about "what do you want me to do when you're gone" but it's VITAL to find out NOW!
Some good questions to ask your loved ones:
• Do you have a will? If so, where is it/ who is the attorney?
• Who is in charge of the finances? Is there a financial advisor or accountant I should be aware of?
Granted, an unmarried person like me probably doesn't have quite the need for a will that others do. I have no kids, no house, no real estate ... just investments. BUT these investments (and even my car) do have a TOD (transfer on death) to an immediate family member (and even Erik on a few of them).
So, why the heck does this all matter? For we singletons, not much now. But what about my married friends, siblings or parents? You need to know about the wishes of your family, and even if you don't have reason to have a will, make a point to find out the expectations your siblings/parents might have of you in THEIR will (raise the kids, dogs, etc.).
Some of my friends have kiddos, but no stipulations regarding the kids ... no provisions made for the little ones. Yes, godparents have traditionally "raised" kids in the case parents were not around, but we godparents have NO legal rights. If you want the godparents to raise your kids, PUT IT IN A WILL. If you would like your parents or sibling to do so, PUT IT IN A WILL.
Mom and I were talking about it, and she's seen cases where parents made no provisions and a child was REMOVED from its extended family and put into foster care. Scary, but true!
Sorry about the soap box rant (and I KNOW we're in our 20s and it seems crazy to think about this stuff!), but having some sort of guidelines is a smart move.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Pool survey!
It's summer and that means pool time .... except here in Salina.
Ok, Salina DOES have a pool, but it doesn't quite match up to the aquatic parks in Hays or Independence.
SO, how does this affect you, our blog readers? If you are willing to GO HERE AND FILL OUT A SURVEY on what you like in an aquatic facility, I can show it off to you when you come to visit us. :-)
I've been quite spoiled in my last two towns to have awesome aquatic parks (I even got to watch them build the one in Indy!), and it's interesting to watch the process of trying to get one built here!
Ok, Salina DOES have a pool, but it doesn't quite match up to the aquatic parks in Hays or Independence.
SO, how does this affect you, our blog readers? If you are willing to GO HERE AND FILL OUT A SURVEY on what you like in an aquatic facility, I can show it off to you when you come to visit us. :-)
I've been quite spoiled in my last two towns to have awesome aquatic parks (I even got to watch them build the one in Indy!), and it's interesting to watch the process of trying to get one built here!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Champagne Thursday...
Remember my obsessing over this jumbo size bottle of champagne???????
Tonight, when Erik said "let's get a bottle of champagne," I knew I wanted to try some Veuve Clicquot.
At the liquor store, I headed straight to the shelf and picked it up. The clerk commented "the lady has expensive taste." THEN I looked at the price. ACK! $64. And then the bottle was quickly returned to the shelf. :-(
Erik mentioned he'd like to try some Moet. But .... at mere pennies less, we opted for the no-frills Korbel.
So now, we're waiting on lovely Kristine to join us for some refreshments. :-)
Oh, and who can be the first person to leave a comment on the movie where the blog title came from???
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Blog peeves....
This is random, but bear with me.
I have some SERIOUS blog peeves. But wait, what is a blog peeve???? It's basically a pet peeve about blogs. So I simply smooshed the terms together.
1) Absentee bloggers. I have some photo colleagues who blog MAYBE once a quarter and it drives me NUTS. Yeah, life is busy, but the blog is something clients I talk with LOVE. I'm amazed at what they'll mention from a previous blog post.
2) Comments that take you to a new page ..... i.e. the comment box does not pop up in a brand new window, while leaving the current page alone. Does this make sense???
Here are the steps for Blogger users to remedy this:
- log into blogger
- select "settings"
- select "comments"
- under "comment form placement" select "pop-up window"
- click "save settings" at the bottom of the page.
3) (This is similar to the post above) Links that do not pop up in a new window like THIS ONE does. Here's another option, but notice how when you click on HEARTLAND PHOTOGRAPHY it takes you to the site, but in this same window.
Here's how to remedy it:
< a href="http://www.heartlandphotography.org" target="_blank">Heartland Photography
You'll have to add: < / a > after the end and BE SURE to delete the space after the first < and between everything in < / a >. I had to add the space so the code would show up on the blog
the secret is the "target="_blank" in the code.
If you have any questions, or think I"m nuts, feel free to drop me an e-mail.
I have some SERIOUS blog peeves. But wait, what is a blog peeve???? It's basically a pet peeve about blogs. So I simply smooshed the terms together.
1) Absentee bloggers. I have some photo colleagues who blog MAYBE once a quarter and it drives me NUTS. Yeah, life is busy, but the blog is something clients I talk with LOVE. I'm amazed at what they'll mention from a previous blog post.
2) Comments that take you to a new page ..... i.e. the comment box does not pop up in a brand new window, while leaving the current page alone. Does this make sense???
Here are the steps for Blogger users to remedy this:
- log into blogger
- select "settings"
- select "comments"
- under "comment form placement" select "pop-up window"
- click "save settings" at the bottom of the page.
3) (This is similar to the post above) Links that do not pop up in a new window like THIS ONE does. Here's another option, but notice how when you click on HEARTLAND PHOTOGRAPHY it takes you to the site, but in this same window.
Here's how to remedy it:
< a href="http://www.heartlandphotography.org" target="_blank">Heartland Photography
You'll have to add: < / a > after the end and BE SURE to delete the space after the first < and between everything in < / a >. I had to add the space so the code would show up on the blog
the secret is the "target="_blank" in the code.
If you have any questions, or think I"m nuts, feel free to drop me an e-mail.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
A recipe for disaster
Siiiiiiiigh. The other day, I heard about Dunkin' Donuts pulling a Rachael Ray TV ad while I was listening to NPR.
Internet searching led me to the story on MSNBC.com.
I don't have many nice things to say about this. How ridiculous! Seriously! I ranted to Erik for awhile, but then had to pause and look at the other side of the coin.
When I was headed ton Africa about a year and a half ago, I certainly was more than a little intimidated of some of my traveling companions. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was skeptical of talking to the guy next to me on the plane from Atlanta to Paris. He looked middle-eastern to me (see how easily we can all buy into being terrified of people different than us?). Come to find out, he was a wonderfully nice business man who spent a lot of time between India and the U.S. on business. He had a young son, who he missed like crazy, and just wanted someone to talk to.
Then, in Niger, Africa, you didn't have to look far to see men wearing head scarfs. Heck, I was spending two weeks in a Muslim country, what did I expect. But did that mean they were all terrorists? No and HECK NO.
Less than one second after disembarking from the bus that took us to Agadez on the edge of the desert, I KNEW why they were all wearing scarfs around their heads. The wind was crazy and kicked up dust and sand into your hair, face, eyes and any other exposed part of your body. It did NOT take me long to purchase a head scarf of my own. Heck, does that make ME a terrorist? No and HECK NO.
I guess my basic message to anyone who reads this blog is this: Just because someone looks or dresses vastly different than you, jumping to conclusions is often the worst thing you can do. If you take a few minutes to engage with someone, you might have not only a new respect for their culture, but a wider world view. And that's something we ALL could use more of.
I'll close with this commentary from The Chicago Tribune. I think it hit the nail on the head!
Internet searching led me to the story on MSNBC.com.
I don't have many nice things to say about this. How ridiculous! Seriously! I ranted to Erik for awhile, but then had to pause and look at the other side of the coin.
When I was headed ton Africa about a year and a half ago, I certainly was more than a little intimidated of some of my traveling companions. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was skeptical of talking to the guy next to me on the plane from Atlanta to Paris. He looked middle-eastern to me (see how easily we can all buy into being terrified of people different than us?). Come to find out, he was a wonderfully nice business man who spent a lot of time between India and the U.S. on business. He had a young son, who he missed like crazy, and just wanted someone to talk to.
Then, in Niger, Africa, you didn't have to look far to see men wearing head scarfs. Heck, I was spending two weeks in a Muslim country, what did I expect. But did that mean they were all terrorists? No and HECK NO.
Less than one second after disembarking from the bus that took us to Agadez on the edge of the desert, I KNEW why they were all wearing scarfs around their heads. The wind was crazy and kicked up dust and sand into your hair, face, eyes and any other exposed part of your body. It did NOT take me long to purchase a head scarf of my own. Heck, does that make ME a terrorist? No and HECK NO.
I guess my basic message to anyone who reads this blog is this: Just because someone looks or dresses vastly different than you, jumping to conclusions is often the worst thing you can do. If you take a few minutes to engage with someone, you might have not only a new respect for their culture, but a wider world view. And that's something we ALL could use more of.
I'll close with this commentary from The Chicago Tribune. I think it hit the nail on the head!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Why oh why ...
can't be registering at Lowe's or Home Depot be SIMPLE???????
[sorry, I'm interrupting the Missouri trip blogs from Erik, but this is getting my goat!]
So, a friend in Hays wants to throw us a bridal shower. Great! BUT there's nowhere in Hays we're registered. SO I go to Home Depot's web site, thinking I'll create a registry similar to the ones for Lowe's or Target. WRONG. Can't do it. Gotta go to the store. THEN when I got to the store, I was given a piece of paper with SEVEN LINES on it for all of my registry items. Umm.....not enough.
I encountered something similar when we registered at Lowe's. I had to walk around the store with a sheet of paper. It is seriously annoying. BUT at Lowe's, at least I can go online and adjust my registry. BUT I never got a clear answer at the store of whether my registry will be at multiple stores ... again, NOT helpful.
At Home Depot, it was VERY clear — the registry was tied to the individual store. Again, NOT helpful.
Seriously, what the heck???? Target has an awesome registry program. You show up, sign up and they give you a scanner gun to go around the store with. THEN you can go online and change the registry, and the registry is available at ANY Target store in the country. VERY helpful.
So....point of all of this? Target is the only place I found with its act together. Oh, and if you are wanting to go to HD or Lowe's for a registry, I suggest you go to our wedding registry page and print OFF the list from the link there, THEN go to Lowe's or Home Depot and do your shopping (the brands might be different, but you'll get a general idea of what we're needing to fix up Erik's house based on the registry).
Bottom line? There are plusses and minuses of each place. The Home Depot team was VERY friendly. EVERY employee I encountered asked how I was doing and if I found everything ok. Lowe's didn't have that awesome customer service, but does have online registry options....
[sorry, I'm interrupting the Missouri trip blogs from Erik, but this is getting my goat!]
So, a friend in Hays wants to throw us a bridal shower. Great! BUT there's nowhere in Hays we're registered. SO I go to Home Depot's web site, thinking I'll create a registry similar to the ones for Lowe's or Target. WRONG. Can't do it. Gotta go to the store. THEN when I got to the store, I was given a piece of paper with SEVEN LINES on it for all of my registry items. Umm.....not enough.
I encountered something similar when we registered at Lowe's. I had to walk around the store with a sheet of paper. It is seriously annoying. BUT at Lowe's, at least I can go online and adjust my registry. BUT I never got a clear answer at the store of whether my registry will be at multiple stores ... again, NOT helpful.
At Home Depot, it was VERY clear — the registry was tied to the individual store. Again, NOT helpful.
Seriously, what the heck???? Target has an awesome registry program. You show up, sign up and they give you a scanner gun to go around the store with. THEN you can go online and change the registry, and the registry is available at ANY Target store in the country. VERY helpful.
So....point of all of this? Target is the only place I found with its act together. Oh, and if you are wanting to go to HD or Lowe's for a registry, I suggest you go to our wedding registry page and print OFF the list from the link there, THEN go to Lowe's or Home Depot and do your shopping (the brands might be different, but you'll get a general idea of what we're needing to fix up Erik's house based on the registry).
Bottom line? There are plusses and minuses of each place. The Home Depot team was VERY friendly. EVERY employee I encountered asked how I was doing and if I found everything ok. Lowe's didn't have that awesome customer service, but does have online registry options....
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