Brown Goes Down

Posted on January 23, 2009 by Frog

For Christmas we gave the MIL a rose bouquet a month from FTD. We bought the six month plan and today she was supposed to get her second delivery. UPS claims they can’t find the recipient name and won’t deliver the flowers until Monday. That’s awesome. Flowers hanging out in a truck/warehouse until Monday. Assholes. Now, I ask you how the frak did FedEx manage to get the delivery there without incident in December but UPS can’t seem to find a HUGE adult living community?

I went to FTD to lodge a complaint and I am sick to death of websites that say EMAIL US and then they proceed to strangle the everliving out of your complaint by not actually giving you the opportunity to complain unless it fits into a very narrow choice of pull-down menus. After fiddle fucking around on their site, I finally managed to send them an email. I know I could have called an 800 number, but I’ll be damned if I’m calling India to get a flower delivery issue in Richmond, VA resolved on Friday afternoon.

It just goes to prove the adage of No Good Deed Goes Unpunished and the newer adage that you may not have heard of When It Comes To The MIL There Will Be A Black Hole.

Posted in General Spleen Venting | 2 Comments

Words, No Pictures

Posted on January 21, 2009 by Frog

I just finished completing some information on a monthly report that everyone in my department must complete, but I get the lucky experience of being responsible for the entire thing whereas everyone else just updates and goes about their merry way. As I finished typing in some details about a course revision I just finished, I decided to look at all the things I’ve done this month. I’ve updated 5 courses this month, observed a day of training, passed a draft of an elearning course to a SME and managed to write an evaluation of why a course should not be moved to elearning. I’ve also worked on three online course modules.

I think I may have blown my wad for the entire quarter in the first three weeks of the year. At least I’ll have time to fiddle around with those three online modules and finish them with plenty of time leftover before the deadline pops up. And, I’ll have time to tinker around with school related activities.

Since the dissertating diva has talked me into speaking to one of her classes (with an activity no less), I’ll have time to figure out what I’m going to do about that. She’s also asked me to teach her how to make garlic hummus and so, as a smart-ass, I’m figuring out a way to do that via elearning. If it turns out well and fairly anonymous, I may post it here. I know, the excitement of it all!

Posted in Thinking | 3 Comments

Duck prosciutto is a many splendored thing

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Frog

We let the duck breast hang in the garage one extra day because we wanted to be sure that it was cured enough. The garage has been especially cold and we were worried that the drop in temperatures out there would slow the drying process.

I’m happy to report the prosciutto turned out really well. We ate a couple of slices plain and some with balsamic vinegar.

The whole breast before slicing (the powdery stuff on top is white pepper not mold):

We sliced the ends off for munching and my ability to take a picture that’s too dark is absolutely top notch isn’t it?

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W, Don’t Let It Hit You On The Way Out

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Frog

doorknob

Posted in Generic Thoughts | 2 Comments

The beer and the ice were cold

Posted on January 18, 2009 by Frog

I had a beer from Star Hill last night. Only one beer at a hockey game? It’s so I didn’t have to get up and disturb the natives. The natives were restless and rowdy.

There were two fights within the first 10 seconds of the game. The first one happened during the face-off. The ‘Gades lost. Not surprising because they played like crap until the third period. Not sure, but I think the officials screwed Richmond.

Posted in Watching | 2 Comments

Tonight BSG Is Back

Posted on January 16, 2009 by Frog

Hallelujah!

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I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees

Posted on January 15, 2009 by Frog

Dear Interwebs:
I have a fairly big decision to make and I’m not sure how to go about making it. Because the result of the decision will change my life–definitely within the next 5-7 years and probably for longer. If I decide the outcome of the decision is just too hard and I let the possibility freak me out, I’m worried that I’ll end up with regret. I, fortunately, don’t have much regret at this point in my life and I’d like to keep it that way.

So. How do you make life-altering decisions?
Do you talk it to death? This is what I feel like I’m doing and the talk keeps going in a circle.
Do you decide to not make the decision because you figure it’s situational and once the situation changes a bit you’ll lose interest and that means you were never that driven to the outcome anyway?
Do you ask others who have done similar?
Do you read available literature?
Do you flip a coin?
Do you jump in with both feet and worry about the implications later?

Signed,
Trapped in an Existential Funk

Posted in Thinking | 3 Comments

Restraint

Posted on January 14, 2009 by Frog

Yesterday after work I went to the grocery store. While I was going through the checkout line the cashier grabbed my container of extra-firm tofu and read the package. Then she looked at me and asked me if it was tofu. Instead of asking her if she had not just stood there for several seconds reading the container, I just said yes.

Today a co-worker I haven’t seen in awhile asked me if I was going to be able to do anything with the degree I’m going to get in May or if all this work was for fun. I said my degree will be highly useful. I left off the part just not here.

There must be something about me when I’m standing still or sitting down that makes people feel like they can say the most inane things to me. Somehow when I’m up and moving around they seem to be able to hold themselves back.

Posted in General Spleen Venting | Comments Off

Name that Thing

Posted on January 12, 2009 by Frog

The picture below is of something we just put into the garage:

Here’s a close up:

So, what do you think it is?

Posted in Eating | 2 Comments

Back in My Happy Place

Posted on January 11, 2009 by Frog

Boy I’ve sure used the word “suck” a lot this weekend. Don’t know why because it’s been a pretty good weekend. Anyway, I decided I needed another playlist and this one is called “Let’s Have a Drink”. Perhaps this will help me to not play DJ the next time we have cocktails.

Here’s a partial playlist:

As you can tell from the list, I’m not afraid to admit I like some cheesy music.

Posted in Listening | Comments Off