Wanted: Network GPS

An early e-mail to my boss and colleague served as my white flag of surrender to work from home. I was trying to be optimistic that my fever and sore throat would go away. My fever kept visiting and leaving throughout the day. I didn't accomplish much for work; I kept experiencing technical difficulties with logging in remotely and my applications kept freezing which didn't help.

One of the most frustrating things was trying to get a map from the person who created it. She didn't respond to my instant message so I asked her boss 30 minutes later for a copy since it affects his department. He wasn't at his machine either. I then asked a lead technician and he had to look too. I progressed to a helpdesk technician and he didn't have it either. I then asked Tawnyia if she had one, but she was working at home like me. Last chance was my friend Jill -- she had maps, just the wrong ones. She gets brownie points for producing something.

I finally asked my colleague to scan mine from my desk and send to me. Of course, the original person I asked found her copy an hour later from my original request. Was Hoffa holding it for her? Was it in a secret vault? We could have used a GPS to find this map in our network. Good golly! Here's the question: Excluding my colleague, how many IT folks does it take to find a simple map? Six. They say technology IS progress? Crimony!

I really talked to Tawnyia, too, who was teasing me with links to craft projects I would love to do. She lives to torment me. Glad she was feeling better...

My day was interspersed with talking to Yummy when I wasn't working or when he wasn't taking a nap. He is still at home sick but getting better slowly. Poor baby! Kisses on his forehead.

I made a pitiful effort to continue working at night, but I just couldn't get into the groove. I am used to the dual monitors I have at work which makes things much easier. Tomorrow is another day and I have to be at work. Sick or no. Ugh.

Wanted: Network GPS

He Gives Me Fever

Felt funky but functional today which was much more than I could say about Yummy who was out cold in bed from a type of flu. Yummy teased me about the spreading computer viruses. Maybe I was zapped with his cooties over the Internet? He is more viral not virile at the moment. Ha! Funnily, he received my card with a cute octopus on it and a whole bunch of red heart sprinkles that he can vacuum later when he feels better. At least he received a smile today.

Tawnyia was still out again. What is going on? All kinds of cooties going around...My temp came in for a short visit so she could pick up a cookie order from a coworker. Her dad came with her since she was not yet allowed to drive. Good thing Tawnyia wasn't there in case she could transmit her cooties while my temp was still recovering from surgery.

I talked to Myrna on the way home which was nice and helpful to me while I drove home. I was feeling feverish and still am. Night driving and me when I am feeling sub par is just not good even with taking a major thoroughfare instead of the highway. I thought about getting some Chinese take-out on the way, but decided to go straight home and make some homemade soup.

Tomorrow is another day; hopefully, everyone feels better. Hugs.

He Gives Me Fever

Noise Canceling Headphones

Three words that were beautiful to me today: noise canceling headphones. I put them on so I could drown out the world and hustle through buying hardware and software. First Wave from Sirius satellite was helping me groove at my desk.

My being quiet and having the headphones did not preclude me from being bothered by my boss, my peeps who wanted to say hello and users who had questions. Take the hint people!

Tawnyia was out sick today with flu-like symptoms. She didn't sound good at all. It reminded me of my own throat that still tickled. Only now it had a friend, a stinging sensation in my sinuses....Cancel Cancel (mantra for canceling out negative thoughts).

Yummy had an event tonight so we caught up a bit before via IM and then much later for a short chat on skype. He is simply amazing!

Sigh. Feeling rather tired and not very bloggie tonight...

Noise Canceling Headphones

Squigglies

Someone I know was having a Maalox morning because of experiencing technical difficulties with his laptop and iPod. Something about a virus and wiping out his music catalog on his iPod. He had to take a nice walk to work off some of the frustration...poor thing. Glad I wasn't on that side of the universe.

Today I had lunch with Dianne (aka Possum) at Maggiano's. As usual, without calling each other, our clothing colors complimented one another and we dressed similarly in the tone of dressy casual. She must secretly be my girlfriend in where the universe knows but we don't. HA!

We started out with lightly breaded and fried calamari. They cooked it just right. It was very tender and good flavor. The best part are the "squigglies" or tentacles -- yum! We almost fought each other for them. They went well with our cocktails, Possum/Mojito and me/Raspberry Martini.

Our lunch lasted a little over two hours and we both had snacks for later. It was great to catch up with her and reminisce about our old job together. She is such a great friend to me. I am her touchstone to get her perspective back when her life goes haywire or hectic. I can't wait to see her again next month!

Yummy and I had an early skype session so he could get to bed earlier. He was in a better frame of mind than in the morning and we had fun talking...I had a tickle in my throat which I hope amounts to nothing. Your AGOL is rarely sick and is not a good patient. Tomorrow's schedule should help things right along. Oh joy.

Squigglies

Tip-Tacky-Ho

My weekends are becoming decompression sessions from my escalating workload. Twice-daily chats with Yummy over Skype are definitely part of the sessions and badly needed. It is like going to the doctor for good meds....only better!

A section of my day consisted of going to get my nails done. Taking off the Hookerella Pink for a French manicure was definitely on the agenda.

So here's the story...While I was having my nails done, I watched as this lady's daughter who maybe was six years old meandered all over the salon. Later the same girl had her toes painted for free by her mother's nail tech as a treat.

It came time for the lady to pay for the services performed (fill-in manicure, spa pedicure and eyebrow wax). Now this place is a small neighborhood salon run by Vietnamese and this is Florida...It came to only $56. The guy asked if she wanted to tip on her credit card and she said yes and to add $6. I almost died! Before I knew it, the manager, who was filling my nails started to speak Vietnamese and a rolling twitter made its way around the salon. I knew what it meant. They were talking about the lady.

The workers in this salon are very professional, very friendly, quick and do a wonderful job even better than a lot of the higher end spas around town. The service they provide is worth every penny and more. It is not easy finding a place that does nails well for near nothing. The very least we can do as patrons is tip them well since it reflects on how we feel about the services performed. It is all about respecting them and their skills.

Hats off to the people who work in any service industry because that lady would've worked my last nerve. In this intance, the line in the movie, "A Walk in the Clouds" sums it for me: "Just because I speak with an accent doesn't mean I think with an accent."

Yummy had his AGOL Nail 101 lesson furthered by the explanation of this whole thing. Poor baby...He really tries and may I say he does a great job of understanding and already knowing what a French mani was before I told him -- white tips and the rest painted pink. He was indeed correct!

Tip-Tacky-Ho

Nothing But a Thing, Chicken Wing

Stressing out over work two hours before actually being there is a sign....a serious alert. Luckily, my boss was able to absolve me from attending the morning meeting I was invited to late afternoon yesterday. I was not prepared because of doing my regular job which has reached near maximum threshold. Reminding myself that there is only so much I can do is going to be prayer pretty soon.

Tawnyia worked from home today so I didn't have her to bounce ideas against or bemoan my job...I did get to spend time with her while we shopped last night. Forgot to mention that yesterday. I had a crisis on my hands: I ran out of hairspray AND hair conditioner at the same time. Yes, I know, alert the Fashion Po. We had the best time in the card section reading cards. I think it is time to start sending friends random demented cards even if theme is for a birthday and the receiver isn't having another one for 11 months. It'll be a scream!

Girl Scout cookies came today. Yeah..not excited. I have two boxes of Thin Mints. Someone tried to offer me Samoas which have the dreaded dessicated coconut. No thanks.

Talked to Yummy today via IM and discussed my obsession with 80s music. You saw yesterday's entry? It was great to be able to discuss them and he actually having heard of them. It is not a given just because they all hail from the UK. (For Yummy)

Myrna came back home tonight from her Virginia trip. We agreed to get together for dinner. After I took care of Cabal, I called her to pick me up. We giggled the whole entire time, but the poor thing started to get food coma after our meal and she would soon hit the pillow at the first available moment. I am so glad she made it home safe and sound.

I worried for naught today. I know I will be putting some hours this weekend which should help me cope. Better mindset is in order. I am very pleased it is Friday.

Nothing But a Thing, Chicken Wing

Siriusly?! Seriously...

Apparently I missed the memo that this week we were celebrating "Suck Week" at work. The black hole of despair was trapping anything good and sublime in its high suckage setting, making all disappear. Today followed Tuesday and Wednesday in a Groundhog Day pattern...

Impromptu invites to meetings where you are required to actively participate is definitely a big turn on...Not! I have asked my boss for a moratorium on meetings, but this was not included. I even got a follow-up invite for more updates tomorrow! I need my happy pills.

Hey -- it's true -- music does soothe the savage biatch. I found a killer station listening online to Sirius satellite radio under Rock called First Wave which has the early alternative music (especially from England) permeating the US scene in the 80s. This is heaven letting me relive some of my favorite music from ages 11 to 18. Here are links to youtube.com vids as a sample slice of music a younger AGOL loved:

My man David Bowie in "Let's Dance"
Note: This is the song and video that started it all for AGOL after coming to the US of A...sigh.
King singing "Love and Pride"
Note: I still dig this guy's hair and the combat boot action. Very upbeat song.
Spandau Ballet's "I'll Fly for You"
Note: Yes, we all liked lead singer Tony when we first saw him in "True", but the saxophone player Steve was my personal favorite.
Blow Monkey's "Digging Your Scene"
Note: Dr. Robert, the singer, is way strange, but I love this song.
Echo and the Bunnymen's "Lips Like Sugar"
Note: Love the band name and love the band.

The best parts of this week are my conversations with Yummy... This is one of the best Yummy stories yet. Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Yummy letting me know that around 6pm his time, he had been talking to a coworker and while looking down at his sweater, he noticed a lone metallic red heart sprinkle. As part of his Valentine's gifts from me was a card filled with these heart sprinkles. He'd gone all day with no one telling him he had it on his sweater and no one asked why he even had it. Nice solid tall gorgeous gentleman with lone heart sprinkle...seriously cute!

Siriusly?! Seriously...

Merrie Melodies

This was the best part of a really hectic day. Need I singa more?

Owl Jolson -- who knew? I didn't watch this until I got home and owled with laughter. Now the song is stuck in my head. My Yummy devil sent this to me today. He was at home with a dissipating migraine and sometime decided to jazz up my day. I dig that he really gives a hoot. Okay...enough owl references; I have to watch this again before I turn in for the night.

Merrie Melodies

Sullen at Seven

How I feel about going to a family get-together this afternoon...sullen. This is one of Yummy's favorite pictures of me. Somethin' not quite right about that man. Gotta really dig a guy with a sick sense of humor.


(AGOL at seven years old. Picture taken while living in the Philippines. Sullen even then.)

Evening Update: The family get-together wasn't as bad as I thought. I arrived late on purpose and left early, too. I had to get home to talk to Yummy in time. Poor thing is feeling under the weather and he's off tomorrow to trek around for dragons with his best-friend. It is for a book in case you think a fever has taken over. Sending him groovylicious healing vibes...Now to log online to work and get some stuff done.

Sigh....Sullen again.

Sullen at Seven

Rice, Tea or Me

Laughter should fill everyone's day. This morning I started my day laughing with Yummy. Our differences in cultural upbringing and our individual personalities make for a wonderful time together...

My other plan today was to have lunch with Myrna before her trip to Virginia. She is helping a co-worker move back there so she can be near her family and new boyfriend. We ended up at one of our favorite Citrus Park haunts, Rice & Company - An Asian Bistro, where they serve pan-Asian food and have an impressive sushi bar. As always, we had very delicious meal accompanied by some hot jasmine tea for me and hot green tea for Myrna.

Nothing can horrify an Asian more than running out of rice. Luckily, I had more than enough jasmine rice to cook in the rice cooker this weekend. Myrna was kind enough to take us to Oceanic Supermarket after lunch so I could get another bag along with some other goodies like teas and coconut milk. I haven't been there in a long time when it was so busy that the parking overflow made its way to the business building nearby. It is Chinese New Year and the store was peppered everywhere with lanterns, banners, food and red envelopes.

Yummy and I talked again in the evening and I got to try my new packets of instant hot Thai tea which I sipped in between bouts of laughter. He really is very funny even when he's tired. Poor baby, I think he is catching a cold - his voice was a giveaway. He also reminded me tonight that it is the Year of the (Fire) Boar which is his Chinese sign. I have a distinct impression it will be his year and richly deserved, too!

Rice, Tea or Me

Steps and Symbols

The cold wind rushing between the parking garage and the corporate building where my company occupies two suites reflected the chill I am now starting to feel coming into work. The closer my steps get to the building, the more dread I feel of reliving what has come to be Groundhog Day at work. Even my laptop bag's bottom rollers getting caught slightly at the threshold of the automatic doors reflected the hiccups befalling my department. Do I really have to go in?

I am trying to stem the internal panic I am feeling that my partner's last day will be March 9th and my temporary employee's last day will be Monday until we get her back from her surgery which should be in a few weeks. Getting gridlocked by meetings and my boss' seeming need for my "we're in the same boat and we're in this together" support is fraying my usual cool composure. Luckily for me today Yummy was off and he was able to bring levity and warmth to my day via IM...

Tawnyia was still in Atlanta and had finished her class and taken the exam. I was finally able to call her on her cell in the afternoon to bounce some ideas and office news off of her. It made me feel better. Tawnyia has knack of being able to have an objective perspective on things and to see them for what they really are. I really value that in her. Her husband Jeff was just minutes away from meeting her there to spend a weekend alone together exploring the area.

I left the office an hour later than normal; the pressure to perform too ingrained to ignore. Of course, I ended up logging in later at home. A lovely lady named Leslie was able to get my mind off things when I passed by her cube on the way out. She is a Messianic Jew (very very loosely translated as Jews for Jesus).

Every Friday (except today) Leslie wears a kippah (or yarmulke in Yiddish for cloth skullcap) on her head to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath which begins at dusk and later she showed me a set of blue and white tzitzis (tassels or fringes) she wore as a belt around her waist. She also either wears the Star of David or more recently a necklace symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. Things relating to Judaica have always been fascinating to me. My respect for her is immense since she wears these outward symbols consciously not only as a custom but as a reminder of her faith. The little Jewess in me loves to hear her explain the symbolism...

By this evening, I had made a big investment as a symbol of my faith in the abundance I have accepted into my life. My faith for this abundance was there from the very beginning, it was only a matter of time in taking the actual step...The Universe has given all of us a buffet of choices that leads to living an abundant life. It is up to us to partake (claim) in what has been offered to us all along and to honor its immeasurable value.

Baruch attah adony eloheinu melech ha’olam, she’hakol nihiyeh b’dvaroh .

Steps and Symbols

Happy AGOL Day - Go Diva!

If there is one day that my friends know that belong to me, it is Valentine's Day. It has been my way of making up to them for being depressed and sulky all Christmas season starting in October. I've also loved this day ever since I passed out my first Valentine card in elementary school. Spreading love, joy and beauty into the world should be everyone's goal. A little of one or each makes the world a more beautiful place to live in. We owe it to each other to show a little kindness.

I live the essence of Valentine's every day. It is my trademark. Whether it is passing by someone's desk to give some candy as a pick-me-up or complimenting someone on how they look or just listening to them just takes a few moments out of my day and is well worth the effort. Everyone needs to feel validated at least once a day, to feel that they matter and someone noticed their existence at least for one moment. It is the priceless gift we can give each other and costs near to nothing.

Yummy and I have been talking about promoting yourself as a brand. The genesis for this idea was not mine but a genius article in a maverick magazine called "Fast Company" where I first located an article 10 years ago entitled The Brand Called You. If you like this article, I highly recommend searching the words "Brand You" and see what other articles come up or just checking out the website for fresh ideas.

When my friends think of me and acquaintances, too, they can rattle off the same things that they know me for and of course the idea of Love is central. Jeff and Tawnyia are the ones who gave me the moniker Asian Goddess of Love (AGOL). It has started to become interchangeable with my full name in some circles. Quite strange sometimes. More R&D needs to be done, but it is an evolving brand. I do have my own logo with my last name and a graphic accompanying it; I've had it for about six years now. It probably needs a reworking, but I will leave that to the R&D group.

In the midst of meetings today, I was the receiver of Love vibes from Yummy and it came in the manner of a beautiful giant box of Godiva chocolate. Nothing say lovin' like a box of Godiva truffles and chocolates! Here's a picture I took at my cube at work.

Red Suede Heart Shape Box of Godiva Chocolates...Texture and Taste!

When I got home and picked up my mail, I also received a really great card from Yummy with a beautiful dragonfly poem inside. You want to talk about Yummy trademarks? Romantic ranks No. 1 in my book. As the AGOL, he is perfect. This man just takes my breath away. He has a manner of catching me off guard which is rarely done. I am indeed very blessed and lucky to have him in my life. He is awesome. Thank you, Peter, for my wonderful Valentine's gifts -- I just love them!

My day ended with talking to Yummy. Did I mention that since he couldn't be with me in the same country this time round, he offered to babysit his godkids for his best friend? Talk about a Hot Move in the AGOL handbook! Love, joy and beauty. That is what it is all about.

Happy AGOL Day - Go Diva!

F.O.C.U.S.

Follow One Course Until Successful. Yes, that would've been really great today if it were not for all the interruptions. One task today should have taken only 20 minutes but instead took an hour and half! Annoying really.

I was in earlier today and had more clarity than yesterday which was Blur Day. My to-do list was at hand and I had a launched nuclear missile concentration of a mind. Missiles have never encountered bosses or co-workers either. Sigh.

Soldiered through the day from one task to another until a meeting that halted my marching to a dead stop. Found out today that my partner in the department had put her notice in. She would be taking a more managerial position up north and be close to her family as well. I am genuinely happy for her, but am trying not to reel from the workload coming on. It's not that I haven't done the work of four people before, but I do relish sleeping and having weekends off. The powers that be will have to sort it out for themselves. There is only one of me and there is only so much I can do without compromising my health and personal life. Neither one is negotiable at the moment.

Barely saw Tawnyia today before her training trip to Atlanta. She left the building shortly after 3PM. I called her cell and left her a voice mail. She ended up calling me back later after she landed. Her luggage didn't arrive at the same time she did so a courier had to bring her clothes to her later in the evening from the airline. I teased her that she would have to do laundry over the sink to make it to class the next day.

I had also lamented that she would be missing the Official AGOL Holiday tomorrow. How could she abandon me? She was also abandoning her husband and their 21st anniversary! Her husband is driving to Atlanta for the weekend to spend time with her which will be great fun exploring little towns around the area.

Yummy and I had a later chat. I always feel guilty for keeping him late in his timezone, but he knows his own self and usually begs off when he is really about to nod off. He was out tonight with an old college buddy and made some good networking connections. Yummy is trying to change the way he does things and I have a great feeling he will be immensely successful.

Valentine's Day is usually the day I get really carried away in my baking, but not this year. I did make my signature Rhumba Rum Cake and also packaged a humorous gift for Jill at work who I know will be having a rough day of it. I think she is baking a lot of chocolate flavored goodies tonight, too, so no one will feel neglected in our area.

I'd better make a bee-line for bed now so I can be fresh for my holiday tomorrow.

F.O.C.U.S.

Electronic Emissions

The sky was clear and beautiful this morning but there was still some serious radio signal interruptions. Did the sun send some extra radioactivity? My laptop was sporadically emitting a scratchy static sound that drove Cabal to try to leap in my lap while I talked with Yummy this morning. His paws first dug into my thighs while I sat and then my arms where he left a little bruising. Yummy and I had to switch to talking via IM instead of through our mics. Later the TV had static on almost every channel I tried to tune into.

I talked to Angie twice today which was a treat. Been missing her a bit. She and her pals got to go the Getty Museum in LA where she lives. I live in such a sucky city; it has no real culture I am interested in unless it visits the city. Sigh.

It was slow at the salon and I never have an appointment so I had my nails done right away during the afternoon. I must have brought the crowd in since about a half dozen more walk-ins came in within 10 minutes of me arriving. The male nail tech did my nails this time around which was different, but the lady finished up with polishing on the color I bought at Sephora last weekend. I didn't know it would be a lighter shade of pink than my phone. Might need to get the color changed next weekend after living with it for a week.

Glad it was a low profile weekend. I hope I am mentally well-rested for next week, I'd better be. Half watching the Grammy's now. James Blunt is singing his beautiful song which is making me think of beddy-byes; he is singing it with an acoustic guitar and he has put more a lullaby melody to it.

Electronic Emissions

Sweet, Salty Nuts of Life

Stresses of the week must have gotten to me since I ended up waking up later. Of course, Pretty Boy Dog had no problem reminding me. It wasn't the alarm I had silenced 30 minutes earlier that woke me, but his whining. I will do anything to stop the whining...any whining for that matter. Ugh.

The thing that kills me every time when we finally go out for his first morning walk is that he switches moods; he is immediately happy and ready to sniff and leave his mark at every possible point along the way. When we return inside the apartment, he goes back to whining but this time for his breakfast. He gets his breakfast and back to whining for play time. It is my fault for spoiling him, but geez can he be a pest with his long nose hitting you on your arm or on your leg. Guess who the boss is of this relationship?

I was still wiping the sleep from my eyes when I talked to Yummy. Of course, he's already visited a French bakery and eaten a nice breakfast. Too bad he couldn't have beamed some over for me...Later in the morning, Kristey returned my call from Thursday so we caught up on each other's stuff which was good. I miss her; we're still planning that outing at the Tiki Bar near her home...I am laying low this weekend since the following week will be hectic especially when my temp goes for her surgery. Not looking forward to the extra workload.

Talked with Yummy in the late afternoon before he nodded off for the evening in his timezone. This time he was eating some salty nut mix of cashews and peanuts. It sounded really good. Started talking about Filipino street food and how when I was a young girl in the Philippines, I would buy fried peanuts that still had the red skin on them. The vendors would usually add crushed whole garlic to the oil so it would be marvelously infused. They would also put your serving in a small brown paper bag and salt it -- you could add additional spicy hot oil if you wanted. The brown bag would begin to absorb the oil, but at that point you wouldn't care if your fingers were oily since the peanuts were so good.

I decided to go and run some errands at night like filling up my car with gasoline for the week. Wouldn't you know it -- I found myself in the endcap with the selection of nuts. Talk about the power of suggestion. A package of sweet, salty cashews made its way to my hand. I crunched on the way to the grocery store where I needed to get laundry detergent. Of course, a full cart of groceries later, I made it home around 10:35pm to put the stuff away and eat a late dinner. Now that's nuts!

Sweet, Salty Nuts of Life

Global Priority

Found out first thing that Yummy received his Valentine gift early. The postman pounded on his door really early before he was even up! He was supposed to receive it Monday, but it came today instead. I sent it Global Prioriy which is 4-6 days. I mailed it Tuesday and he received it Friday. Go figure.

He really loved the package and the mini-gifts inside as well as the card. Where most men are ambivalent about a near mushy gift, he was really ecstatic. What a great guy! It is sometimes difficult to be a receiver when you're used to being a giver. I am a giver, too, and have lots to learn about being a receiver. It's never too late to learn how as long as you have a buddy.

One of the things I love to do is wrap and give presents. I have dozens of fabric ribbon, some with French wire and not. I also have rolls of wrapping paper and cellophane for different occasions. Have I mentioned my obsession with confetti sprinkles in cards? Everything is better with sprinkles, I always say. Luckily, my friends are used to me and my confetti madness. It has become one of my many signatures.

If only some time-sensitive equipment had arrived on time at work let alone early. This caused some friction among different groups today, but I ignored them all. I was busy listening to BBC Radio 1 and some dance music on streaming Sirius on the internet. Of course, it is hard to ignore your boss when he is standing at your desk. He's a good guy so I indulge him. Ha!

The afternoon seemed to stretch interminably, but I made it through. I did leave a half hour earlier. I might log in during the weekend; we'll see... I just wanted to rush home to talk to Yummy. To my surprise, I received a fun and quirky card from him. It was like going halfway around the globe and back again in one day between the two of us receiving things from each other. It made for a happy Friday.

Global Priority

Mysterious Mist

The mist rolling in must have woken me up earlier than normal. I waited in bed and hit the snooze alarm about four times before finally decided to gear up and take Cabal for a walk around 4:30am.

We were at our halfway mark when I heard a dog barking in the distance. It didn't sound good and Cabal was probably thinking the same thing since he stopped and got quiet from his normal happy-go-lucky demeanor. I decided to head to splitsville while we could.

His second walk before I left for the day found us talking to a police woman in an unmarked car who informed me, after she handed a can of pepper spray to one of the groundskeepers, that a loose dog with no collar was going around chasing residents. Oh, great. Just great. Cabal was quickly ushered back in the apartment to avoid any mishaps...

On the drive to work, when I am not pitifully mooning over Yummy, I am planning the course of action to my day. My first priority was finishing up something for an emergency project which didn't start out so well. I read an e-mail that sent me into a tailspin and found me calling the offending party to open a can of whoopass. Aargh. I don't like starting my day out ugly, but certain people must be cut to the quick. Within 15 minutes of ending our conversation, her manager called to apologize.

Besides any conversation with Yummy, the best part of my day was lunch when I found myself being flirted at by a baby boy. I was sitting with Jeff and Tawnyia in the outer area of the food court. He watched me while I ate. I smiled at him and he beamed back. Ohmigosh - what a total dollbaby! I was in luuuuvvv. I got up to get something else and his eyes followed me and when I was no longer in his vision because I was coming around him, he followed me with his eyes and turned his torso towards me...

Walking back to the table, I realized I knew who the dad was. It was my friend Kristey's brother! The little boy was her nephew who just turned a year old. I hadn't seen him since the summer. I said hello and even touched the baby on his face. His expression grew as if he would just expire from the attention. He was all sweetness.

His dad wanted to send me more pictures of him at his recent first birthday. I found an extra napkin and jotted down my e-mail addy. While I leaned down, my hair formed a curtain shielding my face from the baby. He leaned forward and attempted to look around my hair. Talk about cute!!! Sadly, I had to interrupt my interlude and head back to work.

The ending of the day didn't go that well either. I had to open another can for the same issue. Good grief! I gave everyone an update including a detailed timeline which should make everyone happy...not.

Talked with Yummy in the evening who wanted to hear me pronounce "whoopass". Sometimes he is rather disturbing, but then again he is British. We all know what that means, don't we? He grew up talking funny.

Misty in my neighborhood.

On the drive to work:

Raymond James Stadium...looking bleak like the Buccaneers:

Mysterious Mist

Cool Mad Rush

Brrrr...It was chilly again this morning both inside and out of the office. I tried to warm up by working through things as fast as I could so I wouldn't have to think about the temperature. I slurped a big bowl of Italian Wedding Soup from downstairs and brought it to my desk to eat so I could work through lunch before two afternoon meetings. I didn't get to talk to my cohorts that's how busy it got...

Still a little peeved at getting a catalogue-sized envelope yesterday from my sister Suzanne in Killeen, TX. I haven't heard from this woman since we were at our niece's high school graduation in Merritt Island a couple of years ago. I've even sent her pictures of stuff, etc. and she hasn't responded. Not even a friggin' word through our dad. AND THEN the biotch has the hard audacity to send me some advertising about her daughter who is invited to go abroad for advanced students? Her daughter is trying to raise money to go which I dig, she deserves to go and I will send her something, but what gets me is there wasn't a handwritten note from my sister. What the heck? I just need to let it go. My cousin Angie and close girlfriends are better sisters to me and I am definitely keeping them...

The lawyer tap dancing number in the movie musical "Chicago" played in my head as I tried to get through two successive meetings in the afternoon. I really need to get an intravenous tube of coffee piped from the breakroom up through the ceiling tiles, along the plenum and down to my arm. Is that extreme? Not as extreme as the lady astronaut wearing diapers on her way to confront her perceived rival. What an idiot!

Speaking of idiots, why is it that other people's lack of proper planning causes an emergency on mine? Just asking.

I left work earlier than normal so I could escape midweek and be home early to talk to Yummy. Tawnyia needed a ride home so I happily took her. We did stop somewhere so I could get a green salad with chicken for dinner. Cabal was fed and played with by the agreed time with Yummy, but he didn't quite make it. He surprised me by texting me that he was going to be later which was nice. We did finally connect, but for a shorter time since he turned into a pumpkin soon after. Poor thing. I need to rush to bed early tonight since I have pumpkin-itis, too.

Cool Mad Rush

Be Very Quiet - It's Monday

Several people were out sick today including my department colleague and even Tawnyia. Both apparently suffered from migraines. Must be the weather which has turned into a chill. It never actually gets cold in Trampa, but sometimes you can say it is thanks to the humidity.

Very busy today, but I didn't have a lot of distractions so the day sped by quickly, thank God. I thought I would feel overwhelmed, but not having my colleague there eased my energy levels. She just has a way of affecting my mojo even with the feng shui cures I have in place. I can only imagine how it would feel without them! Let's not.

Very surprising thing today...One of the guys I run into in the lunchroom handed me a poem to read. He wrote it for his wife for Valentine's Day. He is a regional manager at work and in jest, we give each other a hard time. The poem was entitled, "Sand and Sea" which was really pretty. I even sent it to Yummy since he lives by the water. He came by my desk later and knew that I practiced feng shui by all the placement of objects. It just goes to show you just don't know your neighbors all the time. I liked being pleasantly surprised.

IM'ed with Yummy later who was in rare form. Trapezoid? Ha! His wit is so quick that I even have to put my game face on sometimes. Rare that that happens with men. That's one of the many reasons we get along so well and keeps me coming back for more of his brand of yummyness. I am supremely blessed to have such a caliber of man in my life and I take none of it for granted. He is a nice warm blanket when the world gets a little cold. I think I will enjoy that thought now while I quietly sip some hot tea.

Be Very Quiet - It's Monday

Swirl, Tap and Buff!

I was up early for a Sunday and pretty alert soon after. Grand plans were in my eyes...and stayed there. I decided to investigate my new make-up instead.

My Bare Escentuals DVD was actually good. I was following the mantra of "Swirl, Tap and Buff" on how to use the wonderful brushes with the mineral powders. A little definitely goes a long way. I am a new convert!

My only concern is that the Fairly Light powder is not light enough for me, but I remember Tawnyia always telling me I am obsessed with a slight kabuki look. She just knows that when "Memoirs of a Geisha" came out, I felt vindicated to have the very pale look. Whatever. Bare Escentuals does have a lighter powder called Fair (not albino either!). Guess who might be getting that soon?

Yummy got up late. He probably needed to catch up on some sleep. Poor thing. We talked for a while in the morning. I told him about my adventures in Girlie Land yesterday which he does find interesting since to him it is a new culture of sorts. Little does he know it is one of my obsessively favorite subjects and I am an expert. I even considered getting a part-time job at Sephora while I was there playing with everything, but that is just asking for trouble. My cabinets would soon be filled with all the girlie accoutrement one could ever wish for.

I ended up venturing out a little in my neighborhood, but didn't actually go inside the grocery store since there was no parking! Everyone was getting last minute snacks and beer for the Superbowl. I am so disgusted anymore with the Superbowl. Glad Dungy's team won though -- he deserved it especially after they let him go at the Bucs here. He built up the team and his successor reaped the rewards of his work by the Bucs winning the Superbowl the following year. I should've watched half-time since Prince performed -- been loving that man since 1982!

Talked with Yummy later after I watched "Wings of Desire" that Tawnyia ordered on NetFlix for me. German language with English subtitles, gotta love it! I didn't know that this where "City of Angels" ripped off it's basic storyline. Americans are running out of original ideas, I swear. The movie is long, but the black and white shots with splashes of color were really good to watch and the scenes in Berlin. Bruno Ganz was wonderful as the angel Damiel who falls in love with a trapeze artist Marion. The last 30 minutes make the whole thing really worthwhile. Thanks for telling me about this, honey!

Before bed I ended up watching more of the other DVD...can't help it.

Swirl, Tap and Buff!

Girlies Still Love Pop Rocks

Today was designated Girlie-Girl Day with Sarah and Tawnyia. Our mission: go to International Mall and visit my second home, a boutique after my own heart. Let's just say there was a 'plethora at Sephora'...

I started out the day IM'ing and talking to Yummy. He still gets a kick out of my girlie-girl stuff. I don't mind since it is quite funny. Ended up taking a nap after talking with him; I had gotten up at dark-thirty to take Cabal out.

My shirt was taking too long to dry in the dryer which made me a little late picking up Tawnyia. I bribed her with an iced latte and a donut from Dunkin' Donuts. She asked me if I was waiting for my hair or nails to dry when I told her that I was waiting for something to dry. Apparently, she knows me. She should -- today was our ninth friendship anniversary.

I don't enjoy the mall as much as I used to especially when I have to deal with soccer moms who have too much money to spend on stupidity. These women all shop at the same store so they all look alike. The conversations are so insipid that you want to give them a list of topics to change it up a bit. Tawnyia and I left an accessories store because of this.

Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite though. Especially today when I made a special trip to go and buy a new make-up line which in my own freakish way I find traumatizing. Talk about insipid conversation to change brand lines. I am brand loyal, but bareMinerals by Bare Escentuals has been calling my name. It is a make-up line that uses crushed minerals as a base and is 'free of preservatives, talc, oil, waxes, fragrances, and other chemicals' which can irritate skin. As I get older, I have to really think about what I am using on my skin.

I tormented Tawnyia with "come here! lookee!" at each counter and line I flitted to in the store. We also had fun in the perfume and cologne displays. Lots of yummy things for the inner girlie.

I took Tawnyia to lunch and we went to an arts and crafts store before I took her home. Along with some supplies, I ended up buying some old school candy called Pop Rocks, a candy processed with carbon dioxide. We had a surreal conversation in the car while we ate these.

We both had our mouths open to hear the popping sounds, but it must've looked like we were trying to catch flies or something. Tawnyia would stick her tongue out with this stuff at the end. We broke out in gales of laughter. I told her that as much as I think all men are the universal age of 12, women are five years old. She completely agreed.

I also sitted for Nan while my aunt and uncle went to Channelside to go to Hooter's and also see a movie after their dinner. They were in desperate need of a date night. When I wasn't talking with Nan, I hopped on the 'net and e-mailed some peeps... My aunt and uncle were very appreciative when they got home.

Almost to bed, but will try and watch the "how-to-use-this-crap" DVD for my new make-up. So specialized, it needs one! I can't decide whether to think that is pathetic or not. Aargh.

Girlies Still Love Pop Rocks

Atomic Dog

Talk about oblivious. I didn't know tornadoes were hitting our state. Without watching the news, the only hint I received was the windy conditions when I walked my dog last night. I found out about the aftermath at work this morning since our office in New Smyrna Beach was affected. The police have surrounded the building and no one can get through.

Cabal didn't like the his walk this morning at 4:30AM since he got wet. He hates to get his paws wet and doesn't like the rain, but he is good sport about the whole thing. I had an old towel to dry him off with when we came back. His new cologne Eau de Wet Pooch was apparent. Poor Pretty Boy Dog!

Even with the rain, the king of funk George Clinton can get your groove on with "Atomic Dog" on the way to work, followed by the oldie-but-goodie "Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc. To round out the a psychedelic music trip was "Perfect Way" by Scritti Politti just before I parked my car in the garage on the 4th floor. It was a jammin' morning for this AGOL.

Too bad it went downhill from there. Worked just sucked overall. Blame it on 'la bella luna'. The moon was in full force. Tried to 'snap out of it', but had a hard time. People were just insane lunatics...Could I just add anymore of references from the movie, "Moonstruck"? Uh, yes, actually I could.

Meanwhile, Yummy was experiencing technical difficulties at his office. Sometimes technology is its own worst enemy. I know, I am surrounded by mad IT folks....We talked after I got off work and it made everything better. 'The moon brings the woman to the man. Capice?' (Okay that was the last one, I promise.)

Atomic Dog

Poison Control

My phone was beeping a little after 11AM when I got back to my desk from getting more coffee. It was a voice mail from my San Francisco friend Trisha. I could barely make out what she said, but she didn't sound good at all. I could bits of 'can't get to computer', 'overdosing' and for me to call her back. I did and had to leave her a worried voice mail.

She finally got me on the line several minutes later and she explained to me that she had not been feeling well and miscalculated the dosage on some over-the-counter drug she had been taking (teaspoons vs. tablespoons). Her body had been rejecting the meds so she felt like a freight train had run her over. She asked me to look up the generic name of the drug and to see what measures could be taken to reverse or lessen her discomfort without calling 911. I did and ended up giving her the phone number to the national Poison Control Center.

Several minutes later, I get a text that said 'PCC says im gonna will live'. I waited for more but got nothing immediately. Trisha then turned it into a joke and texted, 'Why wasn't it w/a fun drug'...and then 'Kill my street cred...i O.D.'ed on 'tussin'. I was not that amused since I was very concerned and received the call instead of someone in her own city or immediate friendship band.

I should be used to this by now. Trisha has always been a little melodramatic since I met her in our Saks Fifth Avenue days in Chicago. She has been a great friend and its been recently that we've met up again via the Internet. I just take it and move on, but I am glad crisis was averted...until the next.

Yesterday my colleague was telling me what I should be doing. Keep your wannabe-supervisor actions to yourself! Tend to your own issues which are not so stellar, by the way! I decided to tune her out by putting on my noise-canceling headphones and playing a CD by Godsmack instead of my groovy John Mayer. She's so loud; I need to counterattack with the same volume and intensity.

This whole bit with my colleague galvanized me into action by me sending my resume to our boss this morning so he could see what I am capable of doing. We've all been trying to get our bearings in our new department and new responsibilities. I just don't need to be railroaded while we are trying to get on even footing. My boss did appreciate my e-mail note and the attached resume. He was going to ask for it soon anyway...

The evening found me learning about dragons in Sussex, England. Yummy and his best friend were investigating with maps, etc. the lore of dragons in the area for project they will be working on together. It reminded me of this bumper sticker, "Do Not Meddle In the Affairs of Dragons for You are Crunchy and Good with Ketchup". Hmm...Maybe I need more ketchup at work.

Poison Control