Just an Observation or Two (Who's Counting?)

It's Friday, and I've come to the true (i.e. "OMG I can't believe this is really real"---pardon the redundancy and /or limited/poor word choice) realization that April is pretty much GONE. Goodbye April, goodbye 1/3 of the year 2012. Isn't that crazy? I dunno about you guys, but now that I have been out of school for two---can you believe that, TWO---years, time just flashes before my eyes. My schedule is (sadly) a very predictable routine: wake up, get ready, work, go home, tiny moment (it seems) for personal activity/errands/exercise, sleep. Repeat Monday thru Friday. Saturdays are mostly taken up by babysitting and/or laundry. Sundays I can relax a bit, go to church, (and lately, watch 3 or 4 corny horror movies*). And then start all over again.

Routine is dull, but the silver lining is the fact that I have time to read more about different economic and political news going on. Goodness, let me just tell y'all, it seems like the term AUSTERITY is becoming as common as the word CHAD did back in the 2000 elections.

What's austerity? Prior to this drawn-out economic "downturn" (euphemisms rock!), I admit I only knew of the word as an adjective:

austere - adj. 1. stern and cold in appearance or manner; somber, grave; 2. morally strict: ascetic; 3. markedly simple or unadorned; 4. giving little or no scope for pleasure; 5. of a wine: having the flavor of acid or tannin predominant over fruit flavors usually indicating a capacity for aging

But with regards to the past few years, the word austerity---which, the way I see it, is an approach to fixing the economy by cutting down on spending and debt so that people/investors/countries/the world can become more confident in a particular country/economy, so that the economy can start growing once more---has been heard in a lot (A LOT) of economic articles, blogs, reports, etc. Some people have stubbornly defended it, even though this super genius idea (which goes against what econ textbooks teach us) has made matters no better, if not worse; just take a look at the latest European economy news. Others, including my economics-role model Paul Krugman, have long argued against it.

But I'm not trying to make any big arguments about austerity; from what I've read in the news and junk, even though the evidence is there, plain and clear, that this "cost-cutting and deficit-reducing" approach to stimulating the economy (in Europe, and to a smaller/unofficial degree, in the U.S.) is making things worse, our totally intelligent leaders will stay on the same great plan. I'm just making an observation, and I hope I'm wrong about remaining on the same austerity plan. Just an FYI:

austerity - n. 1. the quality or state of being austere; 2. an austere act, manner, or attitude; an ascetic practice; 3. enforced or extreme economy

(I got the exact definitions from Merriam-Webster Online. Oh yes, I love finding and sharing definitions. I love words.)

It's okay, by the way, if you completely ignored the observation above. I know I may not be very interesting when it comes to this subject---economics isn't for everyone hahaha---it's just something I had to get off my chest. Here, for your troubles, enjoy some annoying sun pictures, courtesy of some poor marketing ploy:

It's laughing at you. Whatchu gonna do about it?

Absolutely nothing. Let jaundice take over. And don't tell it the beard looks tacky.

Well now, did y'all know this is my 99th post? The next one, I can assure you, is gonna be EPIC, AWESOME, and PURR-FECT(?)! Just be patient my friends.

P.S. I don't know why the second sun picture wouldn't let me turn it over correctly. Probably because of the jaundice. Wait, hepatitis?

*If you were curious on what the asterisk was for, here you go! Corny horror movies are awesome. I will track them down on the internet and share my favorites along the way. :)

Music Monday: Semi Charmed Life

Happy Music Monday, y'all! Boy, I've been sick since the latter half of last week up until today. I'm still plagued by a runny nose, but at least that is all that remains from my earlier malady.

Anyway, while ill, I had some pretty strange dreams---ranging from REALLY PUFFY BATHROBES to my own death, oh and I flew, too! I've had pretty crazy nights, I guess you could say, but I'm ready to fully recover and be completely conscious.

In addition to eccentric slumber, I watched a few really corny horror movies over the weekend...the first of which was...TORTURE GARDEN!!! (Note: I seriously didn't realize Burgess Meredith was in this movie until I started looking for it online...OOPS. Another note: trailer courtesy of TCM.)

Torture Garden is basically one of those vignette movies---showing each character how evil he/she could be and the consequences that would follow, should they choose to be evil. Some parts were kind of CREEPY, while others (e.g. a piano throws a girl out the window) were just HILARIOUS. Yup, it was a great movie...tolerable for a sick day, at least....Oh wait, you thought that was the only corny horror movie I saw??? If you did, well, I gotta tell you you're wrong...What could be better than TORTURE GARDEN???

Nothing, but this next movie was worth a laugh...DARK HOUSE:

Yeah, Dark House is one of those horror movies...you know, the ones with a nonsensical story, unnecessarily abundant profanity, and a messily juxtaposed lesbian romance. By nonsensical I mean that it makes no sense whatsoever why the director guy would use that particular house (a house, witness to a gruesome murder spree of sorts) to film a mediocre "horror" show/movie/whatever-it-was-supposed-to-be...Anyway, if you're sick, stuck at home, and cuddled up with your favorite penguin blanket and furry slippers, this movie is worth watching---at least for the laughter caused by its sheer ridiculousness.

...I think this is turning out okay?? Pecan pound cake??

Anyway, today is Monday, I've just prepared my own improvised version of a pecan pound cake and now it's in the oven. I guess I'll see how it turns out...really, I don't even eat these things, I just enjoy preparing them, hahahaha! You know, I feel better, now that I've finished typing up this little post---not little literally, but you know what I mean...

Music Monday: 12 Fingers

Happy Music Monday, Friends! :) I'm kind of sort of sorry I didn't really post anything more last week---honestly, I have been wondering how to write about my favorite (corny) horror movie of all time, but I keep starting, and then I think it looks bad, and then I erase my words, and then I try to start over, and THEN I say, "I'll just do it later..."---so, hopefully this week I'll do better.

This morning, as I was getting ready for work, I remembered Young The Giant. And I wanted to listen to their album, at that very instant, but couldn't, since I was pressed for time. Anyway, I brought my iPod along to work, so that I could listen to it during my lunch. Needless to say, I had an awesome lunch, mostly because I got to listen to 12 Fingers. ENJOY! :)

By the way, I got another haircut this weekend: I'll be updating my picture soon. Aaaaaand I was totally excited and happy that the NY Giants won last night. The winning touchdown (and extraordinarily hilarious) picture:

BOOTYLICIOUS. LOLOL! Courtesy of Chris Faytok/The Star-Ledger.

OMG, I totally didn't even realize that I made a mini-Giant-theme for this marvelous Monday. Ha! See y'all next time! :)

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! :)

A Whale of a Week

Good afternoon, friends,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (I think I already said that before in this week's Music Monday post, but all the same...) with friends and family. These past few days have been ~*~*~GREAT~*~*~. Oh, I forgot to tell y'all -- I got a new job and I start the first week of January, which is just AWESOME, because you know, "new year, new career" never sounded so true and real to me. I really don't know where this new job will take me, but the way I see it, things can only get better -- there's no time for bad things this coming year, 2012 will be the best year yet in my young life.

The point I'm trying to make here though is the following: since my last day at my previous Bank job was on Friday, I have this entire week off. Granted, without pay, but regardless, it's been good to me. Just yesterday for example, I basically ran over 5 miles during my workout. INTENSE. Oh, and I went to a vintage costume shop with my younger sister, went on a barstool finding adventure with the older sister, and got the OK from the mother to get only the most awesome bath mat ever (a WHALE bath mat from Urban Outfitters). And tonight, if everything goes as scheduled, I will attend my first public yoga class with my younger sister. We'll see how that works out~~~fyi, I'm just ready to stretch and get taller again (#petitewishes).

(Side Note: maybe, just maybe, I might be crazy enough to get my hair cut and styled before this great week is over...)

And now....do you guys remember how I wrote about my whale affection? If you don't remember, you can refresh your memory by reading this whale-post. Well! My younger sister, being the awesome sister that she is, got me the following for Christmas:

• whale faucet cover thingy
• whale bath caddy
• whale panties
• other cool things that didn't have anything to do with whales, but they were still cool

I cleaned the bathroom on Monday, just so I could boast my new whale faucet cover thingy...

It says, "Get ready for a WHALE of bath!"

It's been such an adorable thing to look at when I take a shower, and it's been fun to say to my guests and family, "Have you taken a look at my bathroom? Would you like to look at my bathtub?"

And then....yesterday, after my vintage costume shop adventure with the younger sister, we went to Target to buy some cream of mushroom for my mom's "poulet champignon" (lolol), and guess what else I found????

Whale cup and bowl that say, "I LOVE U THIS MUCH."

These little babies are gonna be a great way for me to enjoy my lunch at my new job. Oh yeeeeeee-ahh! And so, I'll let y'all go for now, but before I leave let me give you guys a preview of the whale bath mat:

This is blurry, but nevertheless, A-DORABLE.

P.S. You know what else is awesome? Watching corny and terrible movies on that horror movie channel, FearNET. Hilarious times....this week we watched Trucks, based on a short story by Stephen King. If you go the IMDb website, you'll see the action phrase "U-turn, U die!" Really, the story doesn't make any sense, but it is something worthwhile to watch, if you want to waste time and not do anything else. Just one bit of advice...KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD. Enjoy! :)