At least I wasn't stuck at DEN, but my flight was delayed 5 days due to the blizzard in Colorado. I've finally made my way to the Hawkeye State after 3 days of basically sitting on my ass in SJ, free from working, doing nothing.
Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Happy Festivus. Merry Christmahakwanzaka.
More later.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Smalltown, IA U.S.A.
I will keep the name of this town anonymous to protect it's dignity. (I love under the marriage statistics that they include everyone 15 years and older.)
Population (year 2000): 1,401.
Estimated population in July 2005: 1,310 (-6.5% change)
Males: 676 (48.3%)
Females: 725 (51.7%)
Median resident age: 43.0 years
Median household income: $29,958 (year 2000)
Median house value: $46,400 (year 2000)
White Non-Hispanic (84.6%)
Hispanic (14.3%)
Other race (3.3%)
Two or more races (1.2%)
Ancestries: German (21.0%), English (10.6%), Irish (9.4%), United States (5.1%), Swedish (3.4%), Scotch-Irish (2.9%).
For population 25 years and over
High school or higher: 74.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 10.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.9%
Unemployed: 4.2%
Mean travel time to work: 14.8 minutes
For population 15 years and over
Never married: 23.9%
Now married: 54.1%
Separated: 1.4%
Widowed: 10.5%
Divorced: 10.1%
Population (year 2000): 1,401.
Estimated population in July 2005: 1,310 (-6.5% change)
Males: 676 (48.3%)
Females: 725 (51.7%)
Median resident age: 43.0 years
Median household income: $29,958 (year 2000)
Median house value: $46,400 (year 2000)
White Non-Hispanic (84.6%)
Hispanic (14.3%)
Other race (3.3%)
Two or more races (1.2%)
Ancestries: German (21.0%), English (10.6%), Irish (9.4%), United States (5.1%), Swedish (3.4%), Scotch-Irish (2.9%).
For population 25 years and over
High school or higher: 74.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 10.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.9%
Unemployed: 4.2%
Mean travel time to work: 14.8 minutes
For population 15 years and over
Never married: 23.9%
Now married: 54.1%
Separated: 1.4%
Widowed: 10.5%
Divorced: 10.1%
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Cereal Dating Status - Month 1
I HATE when profiles ask you about your "status." It's not like I'm single on purpose, or that I don't enjoy being single. Where is the "picky" status or the "happily unattached" status? Furthermore, there is no "cereal dating" status, and there really should be - at least for me. Here is my current cereal dating status, in case you were wondering, or if you are just plain confused:
Cornflakes
East coaster, lived all over
MA Stanford Engineering Grad who is taking time off of work to apply for MBA programs. His top choice? - Stanford, of course.
Non-offensive, looks like a Stanford guy. Goes to a lot of Stanford sporting events.
Date #1 A Stanford vs. SJSU basketball game
Date #2 Cajun food and a HS benefit music concert
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO: Like an idiot, I leave my purse behind at our seats. I run back to get it. When I return, he has a hamburger and fries – for himself.
STATUS: Never called each other back.
FEELINGS: None.
East coaster, lived all over
MA Stanford Engineering Grad who is taking time off of work to apply for MBA programs. His top choice? - Stanford, of course.
Non-offensive, looks like a Stanford guy. Goes to a lot of Stanford sporting events.
Date #1 A Stanford vs. SJSU basketball game
Date #2 Cajun food and a HS benefit music concert
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO: Like an idiot, I leave my purse behind at our seats. I run back to get it. When I return, he has a hamburger and fries – for himself.
STATUS: Never called each other back.
FEELINGS: None.
Rice Crispies
Also from the "I" States, moved here 6 years ago
Law School Grad working in high tech
Dark and handsome, with a bit of geek. Likes karaoke. Not your typical "I" State ‘fratguy’.
Date #1 Dinner at a tapas restaurant
Date #2 Japanese food and dive karaoke
Date #3 Pizza and James Bond
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO: Strange attempt at first kiss.
STATUS: Have invited him to Christmas Cocktails at the CoHo.
FEELINGS: I feel like this guy may have everything programmed.
Porridge
He's a local
SJSU marketing alum working in high tech
Dark, cute, nice dimples, plays soccer.
Un-official Date: Pub Crawl
Official Date #1: A walk around Santa Cruz
Date #2: Cuban food and coffee
Un-official Date #2: A friendly night out in Los Gatos
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO: A girlfriend of mine was having a fight with her boyfriend. She gave him the, “You know SHE’S not into you, but what do you think of ME?”
STATUS: I hope he doesn't hope we are dating.
FEELINGS: Please go out with my friend. She could really like you.
Lucky Charms
North of Chicago, has been here for 2.5 years
Went to a small, liberal arts school in Ohio, works in high tech and is quite a "monster"
VERY tall, big hands, big feet, big hair. VERY Irish.
Date #1: Italian food
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO: Outside in the parking lot, he asks me to guess which car is his because, “I hope people don’t have the wrong impression of me by what I drive.” He drives a BMW, which I would have thought was perfectly normal, had he not made such a big deal about it. I lived in Germany – I know they are reliable cars.
STATUS: He asked me to a movie, but when I found out Special K was coming to town, I made up a lame excuse not to go.
FEELINGS: Ditching a guy and using a lame excuse is not good. Should just cut off contact and not make any more plans.
Also from the "I" States, moved here 6 years ago
Law School Grad working in high tech
Dark and handsome, with a bit of geek. Likes karaoke. Not your typical "I" State ‘fratguy’.
Date #1 Dinner at a tapas restaurant
Date #2 Japanese food and dive karaoke
Date #3 Pizza and James Bond
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO: Strange attempt at first kiss.
STATUS: Have invited him to Christmas Cocktails at the CoHo.
FEELINGS: I feel like this guy may have everything programmed.
Porridge
He's a local
SJSU marketing alum working in high tech
Dark, cute, nice dimples, plays soccer.
Un-official Date: Pub Crawl
Official Date #1: A walk around Santa Cruz
Date #2: Cuban food and coffee
Un-official Date #2: A friendly night out in Los Gatos
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO: A girlfriend of mine was having a fight with her boyfriend. She gave him the, “You know SHE’S not into you, but what do you think of ME?”
STATUS: I hope he doesn't hope we are dating.
FEELINGS: Please go out with my friend. She could really like you.
Lucky Charms
North of Chicago, has been here for 2.5 years
Went to a small, liberal arts school in Ohio, works in high tech and is quite a "monster"
VERY tall, big hands, big feet, big hair. VERY Irish.
Date #1: Italian food
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO: Outside in the parking lot, he asks me to guess which car is his because, “I hope people don’t have the wrong impression of me by what I drive.” He drives a BMW, which I would have thought was perfectly normal, had he not made such a big deal about it. I lived in Germany – I know they are reliable cars.
STATUS: He asked me to a movie, but when I found out Special K was coming to town, I made up a lame excuse not to go.
FEELINGS: Ditching a guy and using a lame excuse is not good. Should just cut off contact and not make any more plans.
Special K
From west Chicago burbs, moved to LA, lived there for 5 years, lived in ND before moving here 2 years ago
Went to the same school as my sister, works in automotive industry
Best smile, very kissable, works out a lot. Dry sense of humor, great laugh.
Date #1: A really weird Monday night on the town in which someone (not him) drank a little too much.
Date #2: A Tuesday night in Santana Row after a hard-days work.
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO:He’s from out of town, here on business, so he’s staying in a hotel. Um, this could potentially be sleazy/ appear to be sleazy.
STATUS: We really need to get together on a weekend. I've invited him to a Christmas Party in Davis.
FEELINGS: Kind of warm and gushy.
From west Chicago burbs, moved to LA, lived there for 5 years, lived in ND before moving here 2 years ago
Went to the same school as my sister, works in automotive industry
Best smile, very kissable, works out a lot. Dry sense of humor, great laugh.
Date #1: A really weird Monday night on the town in which someone (not him) drank a little too much.
Date #2: A Tuesday night in Santana Row after a hard-days work.
AWKWARD DATE SCENARIO:He’s from out of town, here on business, so he’s staying in a hotel. Um, this could potentially be sleazy/ appear to be sleazy.
STATUS: We really need to get together on a weekend. I've invited him to a Christmas Party in Davis.
FEELINGS: Kind of warm and gushy.
Anyone in the hopper? A lawyer named Jeff.
Anyone else? No, I'm tired.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Where's the damned snow?
If there were a red or blue pill that gave me the option go either go through the holidays, or to skip it -- I would skip it.
I would wake up on Monday, January 8, go to the gym where I would run an easy 30 minutes on 7.0 treadmill speed and stretch. Before showering, I would stop by each mirror to marvel at how thin I look. I would go to work, where there would be plenty of important items on my desk. During lunch, I would check my bank account online to see that I have plenty of funds for a pedicure and a trip to Ann Taylor. No one would say, "Happy Holidays!" or ask for the millionth time what I'll be doing for Christmas, New Years, etc. No one would ask me what I did for Christmas, New Years, etc. It would be fabulous.
Unfortunately I must endure these holidays with everyone else. Even the party-loving, gift-buying, Christmas-In-The-Park-going people who think that is what the holidays are all about. These are the same people that honk at you on the freeway, take the last can of pumpkin, and steal your parking space because THEIR Christmas is sooo much more important than yours. I hate them.
I don't know why the holidays stress me out so much. So, I blame it on the weather.
California Christmas is confusing. I can understand wanting to spend Christmas on a beach, under a palm tree, relaxing, drinking something out of a coconut. I can also understand staying inside under a blanket because you can't get your car out of the snowed-in driveway. But, I don't understand the holidays having anything to do with rain or leaf blowers. I'm in more of a mood to go shopping for school supplies than to put up a Christmas tree. This is FALL, people. NOT winter!
A group from my choir is getting together next week to sing carols at Christmas in the Park. San Jose's Christmas in the Park scares the crap out of me. There are scary animated figurines and FAKE snow. Sure, I was spoiled as a child to enjoy walking down Chicago's historic Michigan Avenue to view the intricate window displays of Marshall Field's and the world famous Bloomingdales Christmas tree in the cold. But, why even bother pretending that there is snow on the ground? Doesn't this just confuse little children.
Caroling SEEMS like it would be fun, but, how many Christmas carols do you know that have nothing to do with winter? I think California and other no-winter states should do some carol rewrites and stop misleading people. Really, this is for the good of the children!
Oh the weather outside is delightful,
And forest fires are so frightful,
And since the weather is so tame,
Let it rain! Let it rain! Let it rain!
I'm dreaming of a foggy Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the marine layer covers,
And birds still hover,
To hear our next door neighbor mow.
In the bleak midwinter,
Mild, wet wind made moan,
Earth stood soft and muddy,
Water flowed, flowed, flowed
Rain had fallen, rain on rain, rain don't you know?
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a horsepowered SUV!
Cell phones ring, are you listenen?'
On the freeway, traffic lights glistnen'
We're honk at them all, as we see a car stall,
Parkin' in a crowded shopping mall.
I would wake up on Monday, January 8, go to the gym where I would run an easy 30 minutes on 7.0 treadmill speed and stretch. Before showering, I would stop by each mirror to marvel at how thin I look. I would go to work, where there would be plenty of important items on my desk. During lunch, I would check my bank account online to see that I have plenty of funds for a pedicure and a trip to Ann Taylor. No one would say, "Happy Holidays!" or ask for the millionth time what I'll be doing for Christmas, New Years, etc. No one would ask me what I did for Christmas, New Years, etc. It would be fabulous.
Unfortunately I must endure these holidays with everyone else. Even the party-loving, gift-buying, Christmas-In-The-Park-going people who think that is what the holidays are all about. These are the same people that honk at you on the freeway, take the last can of pumpkin, and steal your parking space because THEIR Christmas is sooo much more important than yours. I hate them.
I don't know why the holidays stress me out so much. So, I blame it on the weather.
California Christmas is confusing. I can understand wanting to spend Christmas on a beach, under a palm tree, relaxing, drinking something out of a coconut. I can also understand staying inside under a blanket because you can't get your car out of the snowed-in driveway. But, I don't understand the holidays having anything to do with rain or leaf blowers. I'm in more of a mood to go shopping for school supplies than to put up a Christmas tree. This is FALL, people. NOT winter!
A group from my choir is getting together next week to sing carols at Christmas in the Park. San Jose's Christmas in the Park scares the crap out of me. There are scary animated figurines and FAKE snow. Sure, I was spoiled as a child to enjoy walking down Chicago's historic Michigan Avenue to view the intricate window displays of Marshall Field's and the world famous Bloomingdales Christmas tree in the cold. But, why even bother pretending that there is snow on the ground? Doesn't this just confuse little children.
Caroling SEEMS like it would be fun, but, how many Christmas carols do you know that have nothing to do with winter? I think California and other no-winter states should do some carol rewrites and stop misleading people. Really, this is for the good of the children!
Oh the weather outside is delightful,
And forest fires are so frightful,
And since the weather is so tame,
Let it rain! Let it rain! Let it rain!
I'm dreaming of a foggy Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the marine layer covers,
And birds still hover,
To hear our next door neighbor mow.
In the bleak midwinter,
Mild, wet wind made moan,
Earth stood soft and muddy,
Water flowed, flowed, flowed
Rain had fallen, rain on rain, rain don't you know?
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a horsepowered SUV!
Cell phones ring, are you listenen?'
On the freeway, traffic lights glistnen'
We're honk at them all, as we see a car stall,
Parkin' in a crowded shopping mall.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Special K®
A complete breakfast?
I googled "What's so special about Special K" and got the following hit:
Ketamine, or "Special K", is a veterinary anesthetic as well as a popular recreational drug due to its short term hallucinogenic effects.
Not exactly what I was looking for. So, now that we all know what is special about the hallucinogenic drug, Special K -- what about the cereal? The Kellogg's Special K website, did not give much scientific explanation to the mystery of this popular breakfast cereal other than saying "The prize is inside." Apparently there's a lot of good/healthy stuff in there. There is also the Special K Challenge:
The Plan
Eat a serving of one of the FIVE varieties of Special K® cereals with 2/3 cup skim milk and fruit for two meals a day.
Eat your third meal as you normally do.
For snacks, choose from the following:
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- a Special K® Bar
- a pouch of Special K® Snack Bites.
Consume beverages as you normally do.
The man, Special K, is also pretty special. He's a classic -- funny, slightly sweet, he's not full of bullshit. I liked him without hesitation the first time we spoke. We finish each other's sentences. It's a little scary. I'm having a hard time attaching him to a cereal, because there are really no outstanding cereal traits that make him fun to write about. As my friend, TC, pointed out - "Maybe you aren't "cereal" dating this guy. Maybe you are just dating him." Hmmmm... perhaps he's an hallucination?
In order to keep dating him, there will have to be a "plan" because he lives at least an hour from me. Isn't this ALWAYS the way it works out? So, I'm trying to make plans to get to know him a little better, which is difficult over the holidays. We both have trips planned back to the Midwest for the holidays (yes, he's from Chicagoland), work, and other engagements. Look for Special K at a Christmas party near you!
I googled "What's so special about Special K" and got the following hit:
Ketamine, or "Special K", is a veterinary anesthetic as well as a popular recreational drug due to its short term hallucinogenic effects.
Not exactly what I was looking for. So, now that we all know what is special about the hallucinogenic drug, Special K -- what about the cereal? The Kellogg's Special K website, did not give much scientific explanation to the mystery of this popular breakfast cereal other than saying "The prize is inside." Apparently there's a lot of good/healthy stuff in there. There is also the Special K Challenge:
The Plan
Eat a serving of one of the FIVE varieties of Special K® cereals with 2/3 cup skim milk and fruit for two meals a day.
Eat your third meal as you normally do.
For snacks, choose from the following:
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- a Special K® Bar
- a pouch of Special K® Snack Bites.
Consume beverages as you normally do.
The man, Special K, is also pretty special. He's a classic -- funny, slightly sweet, he's not full of bullshit. I liked him without hesitation the first time we spoke. We finish each other's sentences. It's a little scary. I'm having a hard time attaching him to a cereal, because there are really no outstanding cereal traits that make him fun to write about. As my friend, TC, pointed out - "Maybe you aren't "cereal" dating this guy. Maybe you are just dating him." Hmmmm... perhaps he's an hallucination?
In order to keep dating him, there will have to be a "plan" because he lives at least an hour from me. Isn't this ALWAYS the way it works out? So, I'm trying to make plans to get to know him a little better, which is difficult over the holidays. We both have trips planned back to the Midwest for the holidays (yes, he's from Chicagoland), work, and other engagements. Look for Special K at a Christmas party near you!
Lucky Charms
"They're always after me Lucky Charms..."
There's something sexy about a big type-A personality: the big ego, the drive, ambition. These people (men or women) are not afraid to put their personality on the table -- and as loud as possible -- because it's gotten them pretty far in life. I appreciate those hard-working, money-makers who enjoy their career and are at the top of their field. Unfortunately, I also think they come in contact with a lot of people in the single world who are not so much after their drive as their pocketbooks, and try a bit too hard to please them. I'm not one of "them."
Lucky Charms, who is Chicago-Irish, sweet and crunchy, made a reservation at a slightly-posh, yet comfortable Italian restaurant in Los Gatos. He's a big guy in all aspects of the word. Big body, big hands, big hair, big voice.
The restaurant had reserved a small table, which would have been fine, but LC wanted us to be comfortable, so we waited for a (big) booth. At the bar, he pulled out my stool for me and literally had to pick it up, with me in it, to slide it under the table. It was actually kind of funny -- especially since I'm weird about chivalry, and we both knew how blatantly chivalrous it was. We got a giggle out of it. This guy doesn't do anything half-way.
We sat down, and ordered a couple of drinks. He ordered some complicated scotch drink, "straight up" and I had a glass of Chianti. At this point, LC let me know that dinner was "on him." Well, thank you very much. That's fine. It's 2006, and chivalry is dead -- but he invited me, so I'll just shut up and enjoy it. For dinner, LC orders the lobster ravioli, of course. I ordered some tortellini thing.
Our conversation revolved much around Chicago, "big" projects, work ethic in the Bay Area, un-PC comments and jokes, naming pets, and paintball. We pretty much hit everything, although all of his work stuff was completely over my head, as singing and working in the performing arts was over his. LC moved to the Bay Area after being charged with moving a project at his (big) tech firm. Apparently, they thought he could get people moving on it with his dominant personality. He doesn't like to shit around -- he's a man of results. I can appreciate that, but at the same time, parts of the conversation seemed a bit arrogant to me, also with the scotch drinking and lobster eating. I'm usually the one who keeps the conversation going when meeting someone new, but I would say he took the prize for thinking up interesting date topics. So, here is the question: can two dominant personalities co-exist?
Perhaps his big personality is threatening to me... But, I accepted for another date. Am I after his Lucky Charms?
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