So, Scott and I were sitting on the couch today and he tells me that people are blaming cookie monster on childhood obesity....really...an puppet (Muppet) is causing children to eat processed, greasy, food and not go outside and play on a regular basis. Interesting. It's just one on the long line of incorrect placement of blame that goes on today. First, McDonald's get sued...for serving hot coffee...then, I hear all this stuff about the Baby Einstein video's and how people are SHOCKED that sitting their kids in front of a television for hours on end, doesn't make them a genius, and now this. How about we try this from now on America.
Take some darn responsibility for your own actions. As a Manager, I am the first to own up when I make a mistake. I always provide a solution, and offer an apology. I tell me team to make mistakes, take a chance...its the way you learn. But when you cross the line, or when you make a bad decision, you have to own up to it. I am by no means perfect, but I'd like to think I am good at being responsible for my actions.
If we are going to start placing blame on Sesame Street for childhood obesity, perhaps we should blame the parents who allow hours upon hours of sitting in front of the television, or playing Wii as a part of exercise. Perhaps we should blame the hot pockets, frozen pizzas, or lack of vegetables and fruit in school cafeterias.
Or maybe, I will just start changing my tactics. When I send an email to the wrong person...Ill blame outlook. When a project implementation doesn't hit our execution date, I'll blame the clocks...spring forward made me lose an hour. When I'm late for work, Ill blame it on the bed for being so comfortable, or my alarm for somehow shutting off when I meant to hit snooze.
You gotta blame it on something....You gotta blame it on something....Blame it on the Rain, yeah, yeah!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Aruba, Jamaica...ooohh he's gonna take me...
For those of you who have been living under a rock and havent seen me lately, I have great news!!!!
A couple of weeks ago, I got home from work and Scott was at class, and there was a file folder on our coffee table with a note on top that said something to the effects of "Melissa, I love you, I know you have been stressed about several things, and now winter is coming so you are going to be sad about the weather too, so I wanted to give you something to look forward to. I open up the file folder and there is a picture of Aruba...along with plane tickets and hotel reservations for January 6-10, 2010.
Why Aruba---
Let me take you back to July 2007....
Scott and I had been dating almost a year and were getting ready to go on our first "vacation" camping with a bunch of Scott's friends. We were out on Scott parents boat (so it was 2007, cuz gas wasnt $500/gallon (2008), and it was actually warm enough to go out on the water (not so for 2009). As Scott's dad was trolling us around on the dinghy, we were talking about camping and Scott's dad so nicely said to Scott something to the effect of, "Scott, why dont you spend some of your money and take this girl somewhere nice...like Aruba". From that moment on, all we have heard about from his parents is when are we going to Aruba? We go to his house and I swear his parents must DVR all the Aruba travel shows and play them, so they can say, wow, Scott, look how beautiful Aruba is.
Now, for those of you who dont know me....I love the islands. I love being warm, sunbathing like a turtle, reading my book listening to the waves crash, swimming in the ocean, feeling the warm sand exfoliate my skin...it is all amazing. I haven't been to a beach (a real beach, not North Ave. beach) in quite some time...several years actually. My afinity for beaches came to a peak my semester in the DR. Carribbean beaches are not your Florida beaches. The spotless white sand, the "island time" culture, the warm golden sun...yeah!!
So, we leave in 2 months. I can't wait. With all the holidays and maddness, rushing around for the next several weeks, it will definately be a vacation needed.
and, don't worry...I already know...My boyfriend is THE BEST!
A couple of weeks ago, I got home from work and Scott was at class, and there was a file folder on our coffee table with a note on top that said something to the effects of "Melissa, I love you, I know you have been stressed about several things, and now winter is coming so you are going to be sad about the weather too, so I wanted to give you something to look forward to. I open up the file folder and there is a picture of Aruba...along with plane tickets and hotel reservations for January 6-10, 2010.
Why Aruba---
Let me take you back to July 2007....
Scott and I had been dating almost a year and were getting ready to go on our first "vacation" camping with a bunch of Scott's friends. We were out on Scott parents boat (so it was 2007, cuz gas wasnt $500/gallon (2008), and it was actually warm enough to go out on the water (not so for 2009). As Scott's dad was trolling us around on the dinghy, we were talking about camping and Scott's dad so nicely said to Scott something to the effect of, "Scott, why dont you spend some of your money and take this girl somewhere nice...like Aruba". From that moment on, all we have heard about from his parents is when are we going to Aruba? We go to his house and I swear his parents must DVR all the Aruba travel shows and play them, so they can say, wow, Scott, look how beautiful Aruba is.
Now, for those of you who dont know me....I love the islands. I love being warm, sunbathing like a turtle, reading my book listening to the waves crash, swimming in the ocean, feeling the warm sand exfoliate my skin...it is all amazing. I haven't been to a beach (a real beach, not North Ave. beach) in quite some time...several years actually. My afinity for beaches came to a peak my semester in the DR. Carribbean beaches are not your Florida beaches. The spotless white sand, the "island time" culture, the warm golden sun...yeah!!
So, we leave in 2 months. I can't wait. With all the holidays and maddness, rushing around for the next several weeks, it will definately be a vacation needed.
and, don't worry...I already know...My boyfriend is THE BEST!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Book Review: The Red Tent
I've always been a reader. I was the girl who looked "forward" to getting sent to my room, as I knew I could just sit up there and read and allow my books to take me to places unknown (now when I was a child, that place was usually Stoneybrook, CT, as i was a little addicted to this little chain of books known as "The Babysitters Club". I always hoped to be half as cool as Stacy.
In college, pleasure reading became a long lost and foregotten pasttime. There was no more reading things other than Plato, Arestotle, and some really interesting communication books.
once I got myself settled in Chicago, I had a wonderful best friend who lived a short ways away frm me and we would trade books...she also hearts books. It was great to always have someone to bounce book ideas off, sounding board for deeper meanings of books, or just talking about the good laugh reads. Well...she moved (silly husbands), but luckily for me, I ended up finding some lovely ladies who wanted to join a book club...so we created one.
For the month of October, we read "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant.
Background:
"The Red Tent" is the story of Dinah, a mid-wife from Old Testimant times, who was the daughter of Leah and Jacob...and more famously, the sister of Joseph-and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat. In the bible, she is mearly a footnote, a sister who left her family to go be a mid-wife, was raped, and then left her family after they raised havek on the city to "clear her name". That's history, written from one point of view, handed down from generation to generation. This story is told from Dinah's side, a strong, smart, considerate girl who grows up to be a stronger woman.
My Thoughts:
I loved this book, couldn't put it down, read a 300 page book in 4 days. Ms. Diamant does an excellent job of explaining the geography, the brothers, the wives of Jacob. She tells the story in a way that makes you not want to put the book down. The charactors are real. The Red Tent, was a menstral tent, where the women of the house would go during thier "visit from Aunt Flo", sit around like chickens and gossip, for 3 days. There was a funny story in there about how the men think this is a huge curse and painful, and the women just let them think that. The women of the book are strong, self-suffeciant women. As much as the world has handed down the notion of women as submissive, this book pointed out how self sufficiant they were, even when it was not "kosher". Jacob's wives were consulted regarding moving, eating, and most other life decisions.
Dinah left home to be a mid-wife, as she learned her trade from one of her "mother's", Rachael (Joseph's mother....she was Jacob's favorite wife). When she was practicing her mid-wifery, she met a boy (a prince) with whom she fell in love. The consumated, and therefore thought of themselves as "married" and lived as such. The prince went to Jacob to pay his bridal fee, and Jacob's brilliant sons decided that money wasnt enough. The prince needed to be circumsized. The silly prince actually agreed, and him, his father and the whole CITY were circumsized...as adults...YIKES! Well, the brothers thought this still wasnt enough, so they go to the town, ransack it and murder every man in the town. The take Dinah home, but she leaves and goes back to the city and is taken in by her "mother-in-law".
Life goes on, Dinah is known throughout the lands as a great mid-wife, makes some friends and travels alot.
My favorite parts of this book were the strong female relationships. Dinah's mothers all taught her something, all believed in her, all hoped for her. They had thier fights, their disagreements, but they were still a family, still a part of each other. Also, everyone seemed to "Human". Not like the bible, where everyone is depicted as these great oracles, men of knowledge, who didnt drink, didnt have/enjoy sexual experiences, didnt feel jealous. In this book, Jacobs wives get envious of each other, they can hear Jacob on his wedding nights with his wives and on the nights he chooses to spend with them. There is laughter, lust, longing. There are bratty brothers and homemade beer. I could relate to every situation, every thought.
The end, I thought, was a bit predictable. but my bookclub said they didnt see it coming, so maybe it was just me. But I highly recommend this book. Happy Reading!
In college, pleasure reading became a long lost and foregotten pasttime. There was no more reading things other than Plato, Arestotle, and some really interesting communication books.
once I got myself settled in Chicago, I had a wonderful best friend who lived a short ways away frm me and we would trade books...she also hearts books. It was great to always have someone to bounce book ideas off, sounding board for deeper meanings of books, or just talking about the good laugh reads. Well...she moved (silly husbands), but luckily for me, I ended up finding some lovely ladies who wanted to join a book club...so we created one.
For the month of October, we read "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant.
Background:
"The Red Tent" is the story of Dinah, a mid-wife from Old Testimant times, who was the daughter of Leah and Jacob...and more famously, the sister of Joseph-and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat. In the bible, she is mearly a footnote, a sister who left her family to go be a mid-wife, was raped, and then left her family after they raised havek on the city to "clear her name". That's history, written from one point of view, handed down from generation to generation. This story is told from Dinah's side, a strong, smart, considerate girl who grows up to be a stronger woman.
My Thoughts:
I loved this book, couldn't put it down, read a 300 page book in 4 days. Ms. Diamant does an excellent job of explaining the geography, the brothers, the wives of Jacob. She tells the story in a way that makes you not want to put the book down. The charactors are real. The Red Tent, was a menstral tent, where the women of the house would go during thier "visit from Aunt Flo", sit around like chickens and gossip, for 3 days. There was a funny story in there about how the men think this is a huge curse and painful, and the women just let them think that. The women of the book are strong, self-suffeciant women. As much as the world has handed down the notion of women as submissive, this book pointed out how self sufficiant they were, even when it was not "kosher". Jacob's wives were consulted regarding moving, eating, and most other life decisions.
Dinah left home to be a mid-wife, as she learned her trade from one of her "mother's", Rachael (Joseph's mother....she was Jacob's favorite wife). When she was practicing her mid-wifery, she met a boy (a prince) with whom she fell in love. The consumated, and therefore thought of themselves as "married" and lived as such. The prince went to Jacob to pay his bridal fee, and Jacob's brilliant sons decided that money wasnt enough. The prince needed to be circumsized. The silly prince actually agreed, and him, his father and the whole CITY were circumsized...as adults...YIKES! Well, the brothers thought this still wasnt enough, so they go to the town, ransack it and murder every man in the town. The take Dinah home, but she leaves and goes back to the city and is taken in by her "mother-in-law".
Life goes on, Dinah is known throughout the lands as a great mid-wife, makes some friends and travels alot.
My favorite parts of this book were the strong female relationships. Dinah's mothers all taught her something, all believed in her, all hoped for her. They had thier fights, their disagreements, but they were still a family, still a part of each other. Also, everyone seemed to "Human". Not like the bible, where everyone is depicted as these great oracles, men of knowledge, who didnt drink, didnt have/enjoy sexual experiences, didnt feel jealous. In this book, Jacobs wives get envious of each other, they can hear Jacob on his wedding nights with his wives and on the nights he chooses to spend with them. There is laughter, lust, longing. There are bratty brothers and homemade beer. I could relate to every situation, every thought.
The end, I thought, was a bit predictable. but my bookclub said they didnt see it coming, so maybe it was just me. But I highly recommend this book. Happy Reading!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Cheer, Cheer for Old Notre Dame
Two weeks ago, I got to go to the "most beautiful place my eyes have ever seen"....South Bend, IN...Notre Dame Football Game! I have been an ND fan since college, when I refused to be a Nebraska fan, due to their arrogance, fair-weatheredness, and the fact that you couldn't go ANYWHERE on a Saturday without the Husker game being on the radio...I mean, no place was safe...the Mall, Panara, Movie Theaters...it was CRAZY. So I decided to become a ND fan...they also had Brady Quinn as the QB at that time...yum yum...so it wasnt difficult to cheer.
Well...the problem is that I started dating this guy, Scott, who went to Boston College...he despises ND football and we have always fought during the ND/BC game. This year, Scott's awesome friends George and Ann, had an extra pair of tickets and two extra seats in the car for us to go...so we woke up early on Saturday, October 24th, and ventured to South Bend. IT WAS CRAZY!!!! We seriously got out of the car, walked 10 minutes and ran into our friend Billy...who we didn't even know was coming! We were meeting some other friends who had been in SB since Thursday who had an awesome tailgate...full of chili and sandwiches. I found the greatest tailgate drink at the store...margarita's in a box! so, the girls and I carried around the margarita boxes and had ourselves great time in the rain.
We also ran into a girlfriend of mine who was in a wedding with me (AKA- Best Maid of Honor Ever), who was also a BC alum. It was great to see soo many Chicago people in South Bend.
Well...the problem is that I started dating this guy, Scott, who went to Boston College...he despises ND football and we have always fought during the ND/BC game. This year, Scott's awesome friends George and Ann, had an extra pair of tickets and two extra seats in the car for us to go...so we woke up early on Saturday, October 24th, and ventured to South Bend. IT WAS CRAZY!!!! We seriously got out of the car, walked 10 minutes and ran into our friend Billy...who we didn't even know was coming! We were meeting some other friends who had been in SB since Thursday who had an awesome tailgate...full of chili and sandwiches. I found the greatest tailgate drink at the store...margarita's in a box! so, the girls and I carried around the margarita boxes and had ourselves great time in the rain.
We also ran into a girlfriend of mine who was in a wedding with me (AKA- Best Maid of Honor Ever), who was also a BC alum. It was great to see soo many Chicago people in South Bend.
Luckily the rain cleared right before the game started, and though it was a nice crisp day, it was PERFECT for football. I will admit that a football game that is taped for NBC takes FOREVER!!!! but ND was victorious.
I cant wait to go back to look at the beautiful campus, see TD Jesus (we didnt get to see it:() , and watch ND kick some more a$$.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Oh How the Years Go By
This last weekend I went home for an unfortunate event. A good friend of mine from high school's father passed away. Mr. Jim Bob Johnny (as he was known by one very special friend....namely, me) was a wonderful, kind-hearted, loving, devoted family man. His family was very important to me growing up and I spend a good amount of time over there. (When they werent mad at me for sneaking thier daughter to farmington to secretly visit her boyfriend (who later became her husband and loving father of 3). As I stood in line at the visitation, I couldnt help be think of how crazy it was. First of all, I do not think me or my friends are old enough to lose our parents. Second, I genuinely missed the people that I got the chance to see. I havent seen my friend in several years. She somehow found a time machine and put her oldest son in it and he is going to be 10....Im sorry....WHAT???!!!! What do you mean, he is going to be 10. I havent gotten 10 years old, so how has he? I saw her husband, who was a very good friend of mine in high school. I was telling him that while on my quick journey home and I picked up my cedar chest for our new apartment to put some of our sheet/blankets/thing that go in a cedar chest. i took out all of my "notebooks", scrapbooks, high school newspapers with stories of my friends and I, high school football programs with hearts around, oh...a good 50% of the players...ie: things that would help the cedar chest burn and burn baby if there was ever a fire. I told Scott (my friends husband, not my Scott) that I should have brought the notebooks for a good, well needed smile and to take my friends mind off the very rough days she has in store. There were notes to "Jaqueline" from "Renee" because we thought using our names from French class would make it that much less likely to discover who we really were (in case the WORLD didnt know who we were in "love" with.).
But it certainly made me think....as we get older, why does it take something, like a funeral to bring us all back together. Now- granted- I am probably the worst person to keep in touch with. Thank God for Facebook---as I now somewhat know where people live, when they got married, and how many kids they have...but how is that not kind of like stalking?
We made plans to get together around christmas...I really hope it happens. I would love to see them, see how we have grown, blossemed and changed since high school. I would like to meet thier childern, have them meet (my) Scott, meet the husbands I haven't met yet. See if thier dreams from high school came true. I suppose this is why I should have gone to our high school reunion...but I couldnt make it. there are very few people i talk to on a somewhat regular basis (namely, Virginia) but for all others out there.... I would like to apologize for the ghost I have been for the past several years. I would really like to get together, see people, learn....
And- Mr. Jim Bob Johnny- you will be forever missed. A,S- I am here if you need anything! Love you all!
But it certainly made me think....as we get older, why does it take something, like a funeral to bring us all back together. Now- granted- I am probably the worst person to keep in touch with. Thank God for Facebook---as I now somewhat know where people live, when they got married, and how many kids they have...but how is that not kind of like stalking?
We made plans to get together around christmas...I really hope it happens. I would love to see them, see how we have grown, blossemed and changed since high school. I would like to meet thier childern, have them meet (my) Scott, meet the husbands I haven't met yet. See if thier dreams from high school came true. I suppose this is why I should have gone to our high school reunion...but I couldnt make it. there are very few people i talk to on a somewhat regular basis (namely, Virginia) but for all others out there.... I would like to apologize for the ghost I have been for the past several years. I would really like to get together, see people, learn....
And- Mr. Jim Bob Johnny- you will be forever missed. A,S- I am here if you need anything! Love you all!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Our House...is a very very very fine house (er...apartment)
So....we are finally moved in, and with a little "crap, we just invited people over for dinner tomorrow night and now we really have to get the place in order" pressure, it actually has started to come together quite nicely....or at least nicely enough that I am happy to share some pictures of our lovely establishment
This is our kitchen. The kitchen was supposed to be Scott's domain (he loves to cook...yeah!)However, Scott has been super-duper busy with school and the pantry so I have done my fair share. His chores are still the dishes and the garbage, which he is doing a very nice job with.
Feel free to admire the ample cabinet space. I love having so many cabinets, drawers, and counter space. Its also very nice to have enough room on top of said cabinets to throw all the crap we don't use very often (like 2 blenders, 3 toasters, 2 fondue pots...you get the drift).
Dining Room:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE to have people over for dinner! I used to invite people over to Scott's for dinner all the time...I'm sure Scott's roommates loved it! Anyways, I have a wonderful large dining room table that seats six. (and it has a lazy susan...the best stinking part). So all this means, a dining room is a must have on the Melissa apartment hunting list. Dining rooms are not easy to come by in Chicago (esp. if you are not in a 2/3 flat....but we found one. It is very nice sized. Soon we will have curtains for the windows...but now you can see my herbs...they are growing like crazy!!!!Living Room:
As many of you know, I am a little obsessed with Paris. Ive only been once, but it was beautiful and got lots of magnificent art work. I like to have my living room show my Parisian gusto.
Guest Room-
A guest room was also a must for two reasons. 1. So 
we would have somewhere to go to "cool off" if ever anger struck, and 2. We LOVE to have guests (come on over!!!!)
we would have somewhere to go to "cool off" if ever anger struck, and 2. We LOVE to have guests (come on over!!!!)We decided to make out guest room "Chicago Lovin". Scott has some great pictures that adorn the walls and we have some neat coffee table books, maps, etc. that will be a free for all for all guests. The guest room will also have a desk in it at some point and serve as a pseudo office.
So now we are ready for visitors. Who wants dinner?
Thursday, September 10, 2009
BEST.WEDDING.EVER
so, first off, I apologize to the million and a half of you whose weddings I have already been to. They, also, were fun. However, I think the cake goes to Emily and Marc (hereafter referred to as M&Em Olsen.
The following bullets are ways to make your wedding enjoyable to the plethora of out of town guests:
1. Have the most awesome wedding party ever (and ensure they have equally as awesome dates). Ok- Im speaking mostly of the brides side and the male siblings of M&Em, but I have never been in a bridal party where everyone got along, laughed, and enjoyed themselves for the whole weekend
2. Make a weekend of it (by the time Sunday came around, I had already made new friends, and so by the time the wedding was there, I felt like I knew everyone.) M&Em have AMAZING, SMART, SOPHISTICATEd (minus myself) AND ENCHANTING Friends. So funny, so entertaining. You know when your abs still hurt two days later that the festivities were quite impressive.
-Steps to Making a Weekend Out Of It
A. Determine what is the best thing about your city and ensure everyone else has the chance to enjoy it
B. Make several itenerarie, for all the various people who will be enjoying the festivities
C. Ensure alcohol is served at most locations- it loosens people/me up and ensure everyone has a good time
3. Live Band/Great Music/Surprises
From the AMAZING Georgia Tech Glee Club to the wedding party's redention of "Single Ladies" M&Em ensured thier guests were enjoying themselves for every moment of the weekend.
Congrats M&Em. Thanks for a memorable and fabulous wedding.
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