August 29, 2007
Show Me Your To Do List
I'm totally not a Type A person. As if I actually needed to say it -- there's probably a giant tattoo on my forehead that announces it to everyone I ever meet. Disorganization oozes from my pores.
That said, I *do* like small amounts of organization. So I've been trying to perfect my To Do list skills, keeping a list separate from my regular working notes and creating yet another list just for non-work related tasks. My lists are becoming ridiculously long and since they don't contain much in the way of mundane everyday tasks, I'm not sure how to shorten them aside from actually *doing* the things on them. I start a fresh list at least once a week, usually when I've crossed off at least half of the original list or the new items overwhelm the old.
There must be a better way. I want to know about your To Do lists, list-making strategies, and list-keeping habits.
Posted by criminal at 6:09 PM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2007
The Most Awsomest
Have I ever mentioned how completely amazing my husband is? He is the most awsomest. And not just because he loves me. This morning he brought me an iced coffee and a breakfast sandwich while I was stuck in line at the DMV just down the road from his office. It took two hours even though I was there when they opened, but I was refreshed and happy thanks to Jon.
Posted by criminal at 11:23 AM | Comments (0)
August 27, 2007
The Long and Short of It
In early July I got my hair cut at Wal-Mart. A couple inches shorter, a few more layers. And while it was what I asked for, it wasn't really want I wanted. I had trouble taming it and keeping it from looking shabby, even when I put in extra effort. When I looked at pictures of my little buddy Ainsley's pixie cut I was jealous. It was so effortlessly cute and stylish. I wanted something that felt like that.
Inspiration struck a couple weeks later while watching Amélie. Her bob is adorable, especially with its fringe bangs. And it's just as cute when she pins it back, which is what really won me over. I have to be able to pull my hair out of my face. I thought a slightly longer version would look great on me, but because I haven't worn my hair short since I was a kid, I was a little uncertain. In fact, there have only been two cuts in the last 20 years that have come close to baring my neck: when my curls had to go at 10 because I caught lice and again at 20 when boyfriend trouble made me crave change. I regretted those bobs and didn't want to feel that way about this one.
Enter the Internet, powered by Google. A little research turned up the inverted bob, a very clean and classic style. While it's short in the back to add volume, there's still some length in the front to flatter my chubby face. After missing my window of opportunity this weekend, I made an appointment with one of the salons at the mall for this afternoon. The stylist knew exactly what I meant and reassured me that it was a great choice while lopping off half of my hair. Less than an hour later I left with a cut that still has me grinning from ear to ear. Photographic evidence will come in time, but suffice it to say that it looks even better than I hoped.
Posted by criminal at 5:19 PM | Comments (3)
August 25, 2007
Another Day Older
A very happy birthday to Jon, the best husband I could ever ask for.
Posted by criminal at 5:01 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2007
Temptation
Earlier this month I promised myself that I wouldn't buy any clothes or shoes or crafty things until September. I bought a t-shirt while I was in Portland and a camisole yesterday, but the shirt was more of a souvenir (from Bridgeport Brewing) and the camisole was absolutely necessary to keep my underthings from showing with the dress I wore yesterday. I also bought a bunch of things at the A Muse store in Seattle, which was excluded from my shopping ban because it had been planned since the trip was first conceived. I've been strong, restricting myself to what is essentially window shopping.
Enter the back-to-school e-mails with coupons and fall specials. I'm not sure how much longer I can last with Crocs, Eddie Bauer, and TwoPeas sending me several e-mails a week about new and wonderful products. I think I'm most anxious to order the new Alice style from Crocs because I've been so happy with my Primas and they're just cute.
Posted by criminal at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2007
Give Me Caffeine
I think I'm going to need a few more coffees before the day is over. My to do list is spilling onto it's second page and I'm not even half-way through writing it. And today is my phone day. Tomorrow too. I have a sneaking suspicion that someone somewhere is stealing hours from my day because there just don't seem to be enough of them.
Posted by criminal at 12:38 PM | Comments (0)
August 21, 2007
Baby Fever
One of my coworkers is nearing the end of her pregnancy and I think there are more than a few people in the office catching baby fever. I'm trying to deny that I have it, using the cover that I'm looking at adorable baby clothes for Amy's wee muffin, but that can only float for so long when you're 27, happily married, and fertile.
Posted by criminal at 3:45 PM | Comments (0)
Forget About It
Given how important the Internet has been to me (and in many ways still is), I'm surprised that there are days when I don't even think about my web site or writing in my online journal. Days and days. Weeks even. And then all of a sudden I'll remember that I want a record of my life, that I have an online journal that helps me do just that. I'll have dozens of things to write about and never manage to get them all down.
Should I be making an appointment to write each and every day? The Artists Way books I used in my Creativity in Management class recommended three whole pages every morning. Ali Edwards is encouraging scrapbookers to "create a little something every day that tells a story from that particular day in your life." She calls it a daily something. And it's definitely something to think about.
Posted by criminal at 2:03 PM | Comments (0)
August 15, 2007
Self-Cleaning Restrooms
Bottles of all-purpose cleaner were added to each stall of the ladies room this afternoon.
So we can clean up after each other.
While I was on vacation, it seems the women in our office had a little meeting about the troubles in the ladies room. Someone using the facilities had trouble with their aim last week and repeatedly left "presents" for other restroom users on the seat and floor. How a woman can miss so blatantly, given our basic anatomy and the convenient design of a standard toilet, is beyond me. But they did. And now we have the tools to clean up after grown women who can't or won't clean up after themselves. I'm almost afraid to use the bathrooms now, for fear of what I might find when I open the stall door.
Posted by criminal at 4:13 PM | Comments (0)
The Beast
One of the enhancements I requested in the development tracking software at work is number 666. I'm convinced this is a sign of some sort. Of what, I'm not sure, but it has to signify something. Even if it's that we have an awful lot of bugs.
Posted by criminal at 4:09 PM | Comments (0)
August 14, 2007
Going Gray
Oh. My. God.
I think I have a gray hair. I caught a glimpse of it in the mirror just a few minutes ago, but I can't be certain because it's on the very top of my head. I'm impatient for Gillian to get back to her desk so she can verify.
OK. She says she can't see it. And that maybe it's just an extra shiny hair. I'm convinced it's there though. Most likely brought on by the stress of returning to work after a nice vacation. Or getting old. Because I'm certainly feeling old these days.
Posted by criminal at 12:03 PM | Comments (1)
August 2, 2007
One of Those Days
I can already tell it's going to be one of those days.
I spent most of my morning folding laundry and doing some pre-packing. There are still a few items in the dryer that I would like to pack and I'm already overflowing my little suitcase. That's not including any shoes, toiletries, or other travel essentials. I need to go through everything again tonight to make sure each planned outfit is complete and satisfactory (read: no holes or glaring fit issues).
Because I was busy with my pre-packing (and sleeping in), I skipped breakfast and figured it would be easiest to stop at Dunkin' Donuts for an iced coffee and breakfast sandwich. I didn't realize the drive through would be as slow as molasses and get my order wrong twice. Or that I would dump iced coffee all over my white sweater set.
Needless to say, I was late to work. And I forgot the spare keys for Gillian, our designated cat-sitter. My lunch, a Healthy Choice frozen dinner of some sort, is still in the car, melting. And I'm on phone duty today. If I go to dinner with Jon and Steve as we've planned, this is going to end up being one incredibly long day.
Posted by criminal at 11:12 AM | Comments (0)
August 1, 2007
A Much Needed Vacation
Jon and I are leaving for a much needed vacation in the Pacific Northwest early Friday morning. In just 48 hours we'll be standing in Washington with our luggage and hopefully no baggage. I want to leave all of my stress here in New England for the week and I hope Jon does the same. In fact, if he had a separate phone of his own, I'd make him leave his work phone at home. Alas, he has just the one, so I will have to hope that no one makes the mistake of calling him for advice before the sun has begun warming the west coast. I'm guaranteeing they won't make that mistake twice...
We're starting our trip (with Steve and my in-laws) in Seattle with a Red Sox game Friday night. We'll be at Saturday's game too. Then we're heading south toward the Columbia River gorge and Oregon. We'll spend a few days seeing the sights around Portland (read: breweries, brew pubs, and wineries) before heading back to Seattle to catch another flight on Friday.
It's just eight days, but I can't help but feel that I'm going to forget to pack something important. I know that I don't have enough Red Sox gear to represent for two days in a row, but I'll make due. I'm more concerned that I won't be prepared for the weather. The last time I was in Oregon, which was also during August, the cold night air took me by surprise. And I don't know how I'm going to fit everything I want to bring in one little suitcase with room for souvenirs (like stamps from A Muse and Jon's beer collection). It's a happy problem to have. I'm going on vacation and I can't wait.
Posted by criminal at 3:00 PM | Comments (2)