Time Out!

Lately, I've been feeling down. Not because of nostalgia or heartache, but because of the current state of the nation. (I dare not even think too much about the entire world, I wouldn't want to get out of bed if I did so!)


It hurts me.


...


Last evening I watched the Republican debate in South Carolina. Wow. Words cannot describe what I felt. And I didn't even watch the entire thing. You might be wondering, "What's the big deal? Debates always happen as we creep closer and closer to an election." Yes, that is quite true. And I don't mind the candidates debating about pro-life/pro-choice, war, and healthcare. But being a student of Economics, I do mind that they talk nonsense about what is best for our economy and for our people.


This is no time for budget cuts. This is no time to talk about keeping tax rates just the way they are or giving out tax breaks to those who don't need them. Maybe I'm a little biased, but don't we all need to agree that our economy is the biggest issue right now? And if this is true, then why can't we all agree to make a real, long-term plan that will ensure solid recovery?

Maybe I'm not making any sense. I guess what I'm really trying to say is: can we all just take a TIME OUT and figure things out? Without attacking one another (individually and political-party-wise)? This is the perfect time to come together and start over. But we can't really do that if we're all stuck at the most superficial level---attacking others' beliefs and appearance, and claiming to be the "best choice" to "beat Obama."

Who cares if you can beat President Obama? Can you fix our nation? That's my question.

...no answer? That's what I thought.

I really do apologize for my rant. I do not claim to be politically savvy or better than a Republican or a Democrat. And I do not claim that I am an awesome arguer. (Is arguer even a word?) But perhaps, my lack of structure reflects my frustration. Please tell me I'm not the only frustrated soul out there.

Music Monday: Home

Happy Music Monday, my dear friends!

It's been a pretty relaxing weekend, and today wasn't so shabby either. I was going to write about some serious stuff this weekend, but on further reflection, I decided to wait till later this week. Today let's accept that life doesn't always go the way we want it to go; it's okay for things to wind us around and around a few times. It's okay for us to take the scenic route in getting our goals accomplished.

On a side note, since it is, after all, Music Monday, I came across this little song on my Pandora station for The Airborne Toxic Event. Enjoy the home-y feeling that arises with this song by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. :) Till next time!

Maybe I'm a Little Crazy...Crazy for Citrus Videos

Good evening Tidbit Friends!

Hey y'all, it's Friday, how about we have some fun?!

Fun, you say??? Oh yeah, totally. I present to you tonight something a little...fresh. I should probably say the following statement first: a while ago, Cuties clementines posted a stop motion video of a little clementine being unpeeled. I was won over by the citrus cuteness. (Man, talking about little citrus fruit makes me feel dumb, vocabulary-wise.) Anyway, I decided to look for that same video this evening on YouTube, and I found it.

I also found more and more videos with stop motion citrus. Aw gee, prepare yourselves for the CITRUS CUTENESS.

You thought that one was cute? Wait till you see this little gem:

I like this third video because it goes forwards. And then it R-E-W-I-N-D-S!!

Ok, these last two videos include non-citrus fruit, but they are still pretty cool. This fourth one has a KNIFE involved.

And this last one...they MORPH.

You know, these videos, though kind of weird, are adorable. And yup, I probably allocated an hour or so unwisely, but really??? How often do you come across STOP MOTION CITRUS?? Well then, I hope you actually watched these videos---if you didn't, I suggest you scroll back up and enjoy every single one. You're missing out big time if you don't watch even after my suggestion.

Anyway, enjoy your evening. I'll go back to a more serious post later this weekend, maybe? Yeah, I think so. :)

Collage

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday. How is everybody doing!? You know, earlier today, when I was at work, I was actually working on a rough draft for today's Teeny Tiny Tidbit. Why, you ask? Well, because there have just been so many things on my mind lately, and I don't know which thing to write about first: Candyman, Paul Krugman, the Republican candidate showdowns, strange dreams, and last (but most certainly not least), more tales on the fine treasures I keep finding at work.

{Yowza! (lolol) the letter W sure let its presence be known in that paragraph!}

Since it is Wednesday, I guess I'll take the wacky way out of this overwhelmingly underwhelming predicament and share the newest treasures I've stumbled upon at work. You know, in my rough draft, I clearly remember writing, "...being at this new job has allowed me to appreciate the little oddities in life a lot more." Upon further reflection, I think I've always been appreciative of such things---the only difference now is that I document my findings more freely. I like this liberty.

Without further ado, may I present first....THE HORSE PEN:

This horse has some attitude. "NO FEAR."

The funnier part of this finding is that my older sister, who also works at this office, is terrified of horses....due to some unfortunate---ahem---beastly video...On another unfortunate note, while this pen is amazing, the ink has dried out, so I can't enjoy using it all day long. Sadness :'(

Also, for my entire "working" life, I have had to deal with and enjoy THIRTY-minute lunch breaks. I used to daydream about the day when I would have an HOUR-long lunch, and it seemed so strange to me, you know? Well, let me tell you, ONE-HOUR lunch breaks are the BEST thing ever. Oh yeah, not only do I have time to eat my meal peacefully, carefully, and in a timely manner (oh god, have I got to tell you guys about my eating habits and mannerisms...but at a later date!), but I also have time to venture outside and do as I please! The other day my sister and I went to Target (in Rowlett, by the way, I'd never been there before), and I found some really cheap, pretty adorable, rubber stamps and ink...Now, I don't really need stamps at work, but you never know...I like self-encouragement.

My cheap rubber stamp set.

My cheap rubber stamp set at work---in both senses of the word.

Near the end of last week, I also got to do just about the most exciting thing ever: I got to refill the candy bowl that goes in the middle of the waiting area table. Here's the thing, it's a large, glossy, ceramic bowl, and when I encountered it, the poor bowl was bare! I found out where the candy reserves are kept, and found not just red peppermints, but green ones as well! OMG. That's your reaction, right? This was my reaction: (-_-). Yes, that face. I didn't go to college for nothing, you know, so I put my degree to good use and made the bowl stand out with what resources I had available. And so, behold, the perfect combination of red and green peppermints. I call it: ILLUSION OF CHOICE. I hope you know why my work of art bears that name.

True Story: EVERYBODY who waits in that waiting area actually takes candy from that bowl. They didn't before.

You're probably asking, what else could top all these amazing happenings? Brace yourself. If you feel overwhelmed right at this very moment from so much AWESOMENESS, you might want to breathe deeply five times and then scroll down for the finale...

...Are you....RELAXed?????

I swear to you, I am NOT making this up. Totally real.

A note to add to the above postcard---yes, it was indeed a postcard---the back of it stated the following pun: "When you're ready to seal the deal, contact {MEHNEMEH real estate agent}!" Ohhhhh, goodness. And I found this in decade-old sheet protectors! Oh, but that wasn't the only genius postcard I found, here's another terrific one:

You heard this postcard: STOP FEEDING THE RENT MONSTER!

Now, don't think I waste time at work. Believe me, I pounce on all assignments, but since it is January, this is supposedly---and definitely apparently---the slowest time of the year. I guess I should embrace it while I can!

Well, this has been quite a long post, and I intentionally made the pictures above huge, so y'all could enjoy them...to the MAX. I could totally be one of those postcard creators. I hope y'all have been enjoying January (and your jobs, classes, activities, etc.) as much as I have. One more thing, when I got off work today and stepped on out, I was greeted by the late afternoon blue Texas sky. A little unseasonable weather, yes, but I love days like today.

Gorgeous.

Alright, I'll tackle POLITICS, Krugman, and Candyman (my favorite horror movie of all time), in the next few posts, ok? Good night! :)

Music Monday: Death and All His Friends

Happy Music Monday, everyone!

It's been quite a first week of January. Sister's car accident on January 1st, first week at new job, finished my yoga special, met with friends, and then found out my poor car was indeed a total loss. Yeah, surprisingly, I don't feel (and haven't felt) overwhelmed by any of this.

And another thing: I feel great, with respect to the former-love-of-my-life. You know, first, it was kind of hard to not think about the time we shared together, and I felt rancor toward him and his new love. But today...I'm no longer lamenting things that could have been. Things happen. I feel no sadness, no fear, no anger. And no regrets.

Treasure Island---I mean, Desk

Today was my second day at my new job, and let me tell you, it's a whole lot easier than my previous job. The only thing I've really had to get used to is answering the phone on the first ring. (Down with phones!!!)

I'll get to the good part of this story. Today, redundantly, my second day, I decided to clean out my desk---I know, my desk!---and I found a few little treasures amongst the dust bunnies and scary wires. Ok, so I only found two treasures: cute paper clips and a trashcan figurine with pigeons.

Cute paper clips, you ask? Yes, adorable, colorful plastic paper clips, shaped like isosceles triangles. I found them in a glass jar by accident. I don't know how this jar got there, but judging by the nice thick blanket of dust embracing it, this jar had been in the dark corner of the desk for a long, long time. I opened the jar, thinking it was just full of big, ugly rubber bands, poured the contents out and guess what came out?

Cute triangle paper clips!

You're probably thinking, what could possibly be more awesome than adorable paper clips? Well, let me show you.

Yes, it is what you think it is.

Who makes this? Don't think this was the only small-scale trashcan (with pigeons) I found---I mean, it literally was the only trashcan, but I also uncovered little "Homies" (i.e. "cholos," "gangstas," etc. lolol). I'm not lying, they really do exist, but I preferred my little trashcan with pigeons figurine over any of those mini human renditions.

See, they do exist!

So yeah, today was a pretty productive day, what with the cleaning of my desk and the discovery of the treasure. I felt like an explorer, really, uncovering things left behind by previous owners of this desk. I myself am not one to leave things behind, but if I do, I hope the next owner of this desk will have the same curious spirit and discover the new treasures. (That mini trashcan is coming with me though!)

Now, I really must go to bed. Yoga has been intense, and I need to rest up. Good night!

Music Monday: O Valencia!

Happy 2012, everyone! :)

To start off this wonderful year correctly, I'm gonna share my favorite song by The Decemberists...Now, I'm not sure if I've shared it before in the "Songs In My Head" section of teenytinytidbits, but here it is: O Valencia!

I hope y'all have a great first week!

P.S. My poor car, Panchis, is currently ill. He was involved in a car accident while my sister drove home from work, and now...I'm still not sure if it's gonna be a total loss or if we can save him. What a way to start the year, right? At least we can listen to some good music!