Hagioscope

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

packing it in





OK, how ridiculous is this?

The top photo shows the abundance of packaging in which I received a gift yesterday.

  • At the top of the frame is the outer box, which was about 2 ft x 3 ft x 1 ft.
  • To the left is the red gift box that was inside the outer box, about 1.5 ft x 1.5 ft x .75 ft.
  • To the right of that, obscured by pink tissue paper, is the innermost box, which was inside the gift box. It measures about 1 ft x 1 ft x .5 ft.

The bottom photo shows all the packaging plus the gift that was inside. Can you spot it? It's a small silver jewelry rack, perfect for hanging dangly earrings from the cross-posts.

I like it a lot (Thanks, Mom!), but I don't see the reason for all the dead-tree cushioning. The rack is in no way delicate. It's made of metal, for heck's sake! What's the deal?

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

it's OK to be OK

Last night I went to a party at the home of a former coworker from the HMO, from which she was also laid off last year. Also attending were a couple other people who still work there. We exchanged how-are-yous, as you do. Halfway through, they interrupted my professions of happiness to remind me how great the HMO is. Then they turned away — one woman literally turned her back — and dove earnestly into HMO shop talk.

Well.

This past year has been eye-opening: I'm surprised by how many people really, really don't want to hear that I'm doing well. Misery loves company, after all, so happy people become unwelcome.

The irony here is that the party was in honor of a friend who recently won a very hard battle: We were there to celebrate the fact that she's now cancer- and chemo-free. I hope she wasn't too damn happy for her guests.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Step 1: Admit you have a problem

Last weekend, the words "I don't need a boyfriend, I have an iPhone" actually passed my lips.

That's bad, right?

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Thursday, January 17, 2008

Light reading

My new reading light from Ikea

t'ai one on

Yesterday's T'ai Chi class at the HMO (from whence I was laid off last year) was a success — by which I mean some people finally showed up. Most of them paid me, and a few even paid in cash. I'm not going to get rich doing this, but it'll at least keep the Subarushi gassed up.

Not much else going on today. I'll need to spend some time cleaning house this evening and/or tomorrow, as I'll be having company; Sister-san and CNE will spend the weekend with me while Chef Jeff and his teammates hold a fund-raising event for charity. Those guys will also be making a polar bear plunge into Lake Superior on Groundhog's Day, so I'm going to donate some cookies to help them add a little insulating body fat. They're going to need it. BRR!

Geekwise, I finally managed to download the updated iPhone software yesterday, and my little gadget is now cooler than ever. You should get one.

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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

the year of living deliciously

It's been one year and three days since I was laid off from my marketing job at the big HMO last January. And what a grand year it has been! Lady Luck and I have become BFF, and she's even sharing her favors with my laid-off friends — Nicole, Shauna, and Mary have all found new jobs, and Alex has kicked cancer's ass. Plus, Julie shed the shackles of corporate life, Sister-san and her family are digging Duluth, and Laura is moving to Paris. Meg is flourishing in San Fran. Warren is eating, playing, and purring. So my little corner of the world is pretty sunny.

Sunny, but cold. Here's where my only complaint comes in. This morning I waited for the bus in -3 weather. I only have to do that twice a week, but at this time a year, that's twice too many. If I can find a way around that little problem, I think I'll be all set.

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Wednesday, January 09, 2008

a good sort of day

Today has been the kind of day I love. My schedule:

  • Got up. Did the online crossword puzzle. Held cats. Did a little work on the computer.
  • Showered and dressed. Ran errands.
  • Arrived early to teach a T'ai Chi class. Did a little work on paper while waiting.
  • Taught class (two whole students!).
  • Went to Darth Mall for haircut, computer-related errand, window shopping. Did a little work on the phone.
  • Resisted buying beautiful black leather purse; although deeply discounted, it was too big. But soooo pretty!
  • Arrived early for cocktails with friends. Finished on-paper project while waiting.
  • Enjoyed beer and flautas with friends.
  • Came home. Played with cats. Did a little work on the computer.
  • Watched TV. Held cats. Blogged.

Nice and easy. No fuss, no hassle. And I might have a banana split for supper.

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Monday, January 07, 2008

kitsch as kitsch can

If you don't have time to meander through your local thrift shop and gawk at the krep people deposit there, get your fix from Thrift Shop Horror, a community photoblog showcasing the worst of the worst.

I can't believe anyone bought most of that stuff in the first place, let alone that anyone would want to buy it used. But hey: One person's junk is another person's online time-waster, right?

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Friday, January 04, 2008

2008 good so far

I'm wearing my favorite t-shirt today, and it speaks the truth.
Example: I just got off the phone with my first new client of the
year. Yay!

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Something fishy

Close-up of Sprite with her favorite X-mess gift, a catnip fish with
crinkly fins and long tailribbons for easy carrying. It's fintastic!

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Wednesday, January 02, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy 2008, everybody. I'm back in the metro after a long, cold trek eastward from the Hills. The cats, who traveled with me, were very vocal in expressing their displeasure about spending so much time in the car, but otherwise OK. They're both crashed on the couch now, one at each end.

I made the trip in two parts this time to avoid driving on potentially snowy roads in the dark, which meant I had 7 hours to kill in a motel yesterday. I spent the time flipping amongst marathon showings of TV programs I normally never see because they're on cable and I'm not: My Super Sweet 16, America's Next Top Model, and Monk. I'd seen Monk before and like the title character, but the rest of the cast reeks of ham. I'd never watched the other two, though. 16 made me want to spank everyone involved, from the spoiled diva brats and their parents to the producers who glamorize their obscenely conspicuous consumption.

But I found ANTM strangely interesting (despite the size of Tyra Banks's forehead, which reminds me of certain aliens from the original Star Trek), and I'm not sure why. Most of the contestants weren't terribly interesting, and I didn't know enough about modeling or fashion to be hooked on the inside-the-industry aspects. The judges were bitchy, but not in interesting ways, and the drama contrived. You could glean the gist of any episode from a 3-minute highlight reel. So why did I watch it? I'm still trying to figure it out.

Meanwhile, I suppose I should be looking ahead into the new year and making grand predictions and resolutions. But I'm tired from the drive and too much of the turkey chili I carted away from Mother Media's house along with my other loot. So instead of looking forward, I offer this link that provides a look back: PlaidStallions.com, where the motto is "Mocking the 70s one catalog at a time." Today's featured item: Sesame Street slippers!

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