For Ladies Over 25

Check out this posting I wrote for our work blog about Doree Lewak's The Panic Years: A Guide to Surviving Smug Married Friends, Bad Taffeta, and Life on the Wrong Side of 25 Without a Ring. This book sounds quite amusing!

Now Playing

So they aren't new releases, but I just added a few CD's to my music collection. I had to give them their own playlist on my iPod & iPhone (I'm an "out of sight, out of mind" kind of gal). Here's what I've been listening to this morning:

1. "The Best of the Three Tenors" (Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo & Jose Carerras)
2. "La Boheme" (The Dream Cast)
3. "All of the Above" (Hillsong United)
4. "Our God Saves" (Paul Baloche)
5. "Under the Iron Sea" (Keanne)
6. "My Generation-The Very Best of The Who" (The Who)

Amusing Antics: Boys

My office is located in Pioneer Square (Seattle). Enough said? The comments I receive while passing by the "regulars" range from strange to hysterical. Today I was given this verbal gift:

Man: (yelling out after I passed by) "Nice hair cut. (pause) Actually, you have a really nice shaped head".

First, how did he know I recently got my hair cut? Second, "nice shaped head"--is that supposed to mean I'm pretty or just look better when I'm leaving? Third, thank you to whoever you were for giving me a little Friday afternoon laugh. I was (and still am) quite amused.

My Achilles Heel: Follow-Up

Ha! Thought I'd amuse myself with some popcorn personality tests (courtesy of Tickle).

My Music Match: Smooth Soul Singer
Like your music match Alicia Keys sings, "Some people want it all. But everything means nothing if I ain't got you." While you may come across as cool, you've got depths that run deeper than most. Sure material possessions are nice, but you know there's more to life than diamonds, fancy cars, and big houses. It's about connecting and sharing a deeper bond with others. And having someone to share those nice things with.Maybe you're a romantic who's got a way with words. Maybe you're just more expressive than other folks. Whatever it is, one thing's for sure — you've got soul.

My Theme Song: I Will Survive
The fiery confidence you normally keep under wraps blazes in your eyes every time your theme song turns on the table. People stand back and wait to be impressed by you—whether leading a project team, or firing up for a girls' night out. You mean business and people look to your leadership because you're so sure of yourself. So whether you're looking fine in the latest styles or throwing a bone to your 70's polyester double-knit blouse, this disco anthem always reminds you that you are true to yourself and are one of the lucky few who recognize that change starts first on the inside. Whether you're in your car, at a party, or on a date, you feel more resilient than John Travolta's acting career when your song comes throbbing through the speakers. Your friends dig you because you've learned to say what's on your mind. Life's too sweet to feel hurt and misunderstood. Yes indeed, with this as your theme song, you don't have to worry about surviving. You're well on your way to succeeding.

My Achilles Heel

(IM: 3/13/08)
Coworker: who are you singing lullaby's to?
Amanda: sorry....my mind thinks in music sometimes....I do it without even realizing...it manifests itself in more frightening ways at home that I try not to subject my co-workers to :)


It's dreadfully foolish to offer ones weakness up for general consumption. The only reason I feel safe publicizing to the world (there's an ego, thinking "They're" ALL hanging on my every word), has to do with the nature of my suggestible trait: Music. Nonsense or fact? I live in a constant state of music suggestibility. It's not that I'm a weak-willed individual. But this is one area of life where I am unable to stay in control.

I welcome you inside my head for just a minute. I'd extend the invitation, but I can barely hear all the voices as it is and I'm afraid you might become frightened, or bored (which is even worse). It's possible that you also share in my torment. If so, you will quickly recognize these signs...

How to know if you suffer from Music Suggestibility:

1. You've gotten used to your co-workers, friends, family (or the bus full of fellow commuters) attempting to appear unshaken as they watch you out of their peripheral vision. You question their strange behavior as you sing or hum quite loudly.
2. You struggle to find your "own words" to express how you feel, but can think of a million Broadway tunes that perfectly explain your inner turmoil.
3. The people you have truly enjoyed living with (spouses, roommates, family members, etc...) are the ones that have a song for every occasion, sunrise to sunset (ala, Fiddler on the Roof).
4. You have entire "conversations" composed of a medley of original tunes, sung in harmony (yes, you don't know what the next word or note will be, but it's sung in harmony) and you think: what an enlightening discussion.
5. A soundtrack follows you wherever you go, enjoying a musical background to each moment of the day.
6. TV ads, Retail stores, and websites with music share one (sometimes horrendous) quality. You can't get the music out of your head!
7. You have a theme song. And your friends know what it is.
8. You once had "Yellow Submarine" (as sung by the Beatles) stuck in your head for an entire year, prior to that it was "I Feel Good" (as sung by James Brown) for 2 straight years.
9. At any given moment you find a song in place of thoughts. This is complicated by the fact that songs are even more difficult to from spilling out the lips.
10. You have used actual minutes of your life thinking about how awesome it would be to split your vocal chords, so that you can harmonize with yourself.

You might think I'm crazy, maybe I am. At least I've taken this opportunity to remind others who share my affliction that they are not alone. A fair exchange methinks ;)

On the bright side...

STARTING today you can add a cool Shelfari app to your MySpace page. Strangely enough, it's only properly viewable in Firefox (MySpace's issue, not ours). To be one of the first to add the application: http://www.myspace.com/shelfaribooks.

Uggh!

MySpace. Only because of work (which I love, MySpace I do not). I've been avoiding the inevitable quite successfully for years. Alas: http://www.myspace.com/regalruffian

Bad Amanda, Naughty Amanda!

It's true. I did it. I said I wouldn't go--promised myself I was stronger, more disciplined and above that kind of activity. I lied. Do we ever truly know the monster inside? That raging beast that fills my mind with deceptive dreams and uncontrollable urges. I didn’t mean to go; I don’t know how I got there. It started innocently enough. I just needed to stretch my legs and enjoy the Seattle sunshine (rare in March, who can resist?). Where am I going? Why this direction? Relax Amanda. Perhaps it’s the sun, merrily lighting up the afternoon sky. That’s it…it’s just the sun. What’s this? The doors graciously open and I find myself surrounded by their glorious, heart-warming spines. It’s impossible to contain the smile. Ahh…I’m home. Forget the promise I’ve made and lose myself amongst the shelves. Run my fingers gently over the beautiful, intriguing covers and admit the truth. My name is Amanda (pause) and I’m a bibliophile*.

My recent “misadventures” resulted in the acquiring of:

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Novelties & Souvenirs: Collected Short Fiction by John Crowley
• The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn
• The Last of the Mohicans by J. Fenimore Cooper
• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
• Book Lust by Nancy Pearl
• The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
• Atonement by Ian McEwan

*A person who collects or has a great love of books.

Exposing your Inner Geek (you can run, but you can't hide)

From: New York Times "Geek Love"

Self-Portrait: March 8, 2008

Saturday "How To" Tip

Question: How do you keep French pressed coffee warm for 2 hours*?
Answer: Foil, tightly wrapped around the French press.
(Bonus: Add boiling water to the mug to warm it up.)

*A little background: my roommate tends to sleep in later then me. If I make coffee, it's sometimes necessary for it to sit around before she gets up...potentially a serious problem, when the most important thing on a Saturday morning is coffee and breakfast :)

Now if I could just figure out how to sleep in on a Saturday....you'd think a 3am bedtime would have helped. grrrr!

I'm amused to have on my TBR list

• Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite by June Casagrande
• How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending Planet Earth Against Alien Invaders, Ninjas, and Zombies by Daniel H. Wilson
• Smile When You're Lying: Confessions of a Rogue Travel Writer by Chuck Thompson

What's in a Name

The Toys
As a kid, I named all my stuffed animals. Unfortunately, I had this short-term memory issue. With so many stuffed animals, I had to rename them each day. Mind you they were always organized and well dressed (including my teddy bear I got at 4 years old, determined it was a boy, somehow he always ended up dressed in drag...hmmm).
The Car
My first car was named Chadwick. I know, cars are "supposed" to be girls, believe me Chadwick was a boy.
The Camera
Then there was Ella, my beautiful photographic companion (Canon Digital Rebel XT). She is one of the things I would save in a fire. Seriously.
The Laptop
My work laptop received its special name as the result of a good friend's inspiration. It goes something like this:
Amanda: Today I got my laptop. It's cute!!!
Friend: does it have a name?
Amanda: Not yet--it almost has the Russian look to it...hmmm
Friend: tatiana the tiger that kills people?
Amanda: I like Tatiana!
Should I warn people about her?
Friend: --the tiger that kills people
yes
only if they ask, though
"does this laptop kill people?"
"yes, it is tatiana."
Amanda: I'll create a sign over my desk warning about the tiger on the loose....perhaps, Warning: Tiger on the Loose. Then if they ask about the death toll, I'll have to tell then it's simply to hard to keep track, but I'd be happy to add their picture to the wall if they find themselves victims of Tatiana's terrifying teeth
Friend: oooh, good, good.
The Phone
Now I need helping naming my iPhone. Suggestions?

What's getting me through Thursday

1. Opera (seriously, I've been on a kick for the past two days...I'm a moody music listener).
2. Knowing that my collection of The Office will be complete VERY soon (waiting for Amazon to deliver the 3rd season).
3. Coffee. It's Seattle, need I explain myself?
4. The fact that I have a "Humorous" folder in my work inbox. On a daily basis I get emails that cause spontaneous outbursts of laughter. It's always necessary to save those for a "rainy day" (please don't hate me if it rains tomorrow, not my intention at all).
5. Plans to hang out with two of my (favorite) brilliant friends tonight. I'm not quite sure what my place is between such intellectual ladies...comedic relief?

BONUS: Websites like this: http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/

All the cool kids are doing it

That must be the worst reason for starting a blog. On that resounding note of positivity, I've determined to start a personal blog. It would be for the one & only Amanda , however, my current count (results courtesy of Google) says there are 4 Amanda 's in the USA. All that to say, "Hello World!". For those of you NOT in a tech related field, just ignore the bad joke. I have a vague agenda for this piece of web real estate--life is an adventure. I try to find the joy in each moment and invite you to join me (when you have a chance).

"The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think."

~Horace Walpole (English Author, 1717-1797)