25 Days of Thanks- Day 9

Thankful-80s Cartoons

The following need no introduction:

My two personal favorites:

There are others but these were some of the classic ones.  

It's ok to have these in your head the rest of the day.  You can thank me later. 

Not So Thankful- Shredders 

What happened to those days back in the 80s when real credit cards came in the mail, when you could throw away everything, when we weren't so worried about information security.  

Nowadays I shred everything.  Whether it's old magazine covers to bank statements, a lot of my mail and reciepts end up in the shredder.  I even shred the return postage paid envelope.  All because some wacko at the right place at the right time could find one piece of paper that could lead to them finding out everything about my credit life.  

Must go to happy place... Bouncing here and there and everywhere...  Ok, I feel better.  

Until tomorrow, thanks for reading.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 8

Thankful- Channel One 

At CCHS, I was involved in a bunch of stuff ranging from theater to mock trial.  Even had some time for sports with golf and tennis.  But every morning for a few years I was one of two people (Hi Kim if you happen to be reading this) who'd get out of homeroom and get up to our "TV studio".  Really, this "TV studio" was a large closet.  But while prepping for the morning announcements, the group would try to catch what they could of Channel One.  

Even with all the commercials and product placement, it did a good job of recapping the news of the day.  We didn't have the internet back then and Tom Brokaw didn't exactly spark a young kid's interest, but we did have Channel One.  A little news, a little sports, a little quiz, it was pretty cool provided I wasn't rushing to do my homework that was due for first period.  

Not So Thankful- The Broiler Part of the Oven

Contrary to popular belief, I do do some cooking.  "Some" being the key word.  But the broiler part I haven't quite mastered yet.  But what is there are a bunch of pans, cooking sheets, cooling racks, stone racks, stone pots, and 40 different other things.  

Really what it's become is the most frustrating drawer in the whole kitchen.  Even though I currently have only 1 other drawer, even when I did have a bunch, this thing was and is a gateway to a temper tantrum.  

Yes, I've caused it myself by putting a bunch of different things in there.  So much so that trying to open it is like trying to get a cranky 4 year old past the candy part of the checkout.  There will be tears, there will be flailing of limbs, and there will be a voice saying somewhere, "Calm down!  CALM DOWN!  Be nice and maybe I'll get you what you want."  Gentleness and patience does eventually win out, but how much really is it to replace that dented cookie sheet I practically bent in half when ripping open the drawer.  I think it gives it character and adds to the perception that I actually do cook.  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 7ish

A little late...

Thankful- Swedish Fish

This post would have been posted 10 minutes ago if I hadn't lost the bag of these tasty treats I bought today.  All through little league and when I was an umpire, these little red and purple (more on that in a minute) candies got me through those summers.  For $1 you got a 100 of them.  It was awesome.  Then, at different points in college, I'd come back from Albany with a huge box to eat and give out to the floor.  

Now I enjoyed the red flavor but the grape ones were the best things on earth. 

Side story, think I just ate a minty red fish.  My mouth is a little tingly (not allergic tingly, just that minty tingly) .

Anyway, grape swedish fish = awesome.  Can't seem to find them anywhere though:-(

Not So Thankful-Nose Hair

Nothing good comes from a long nose hair.  Nothing.  

All you get is an itchy nose.  And it always comes at the worst times.  So you start itching away at the thing, trying to get it to move but it just keeps coming back.  And if it happens when you're in public or in front of a crowd, you can't really go at the thing too hard or it just looks weird.  

Ok, so then you trim the hair.  But then all your left with is stubble which, if you itch your nose, pokes the sides creating more itching.  

Plucking is a personal torture and always brings me to tears.  

Recently while on a trip to buy a friend's wife's birthday present (Happy early birthday Melissa! She already knows what she's getting so I'm not spoiling anything!), we got a tour of the men's part of a spa and salon.  One of the services they offer, nose hair waxing.  

Now as odd and painful as it sounds, I'm oddly intrigued.  My mind was running when she was explaining it but I heard something about q-tips and my friend talking about looking like a walrus but I'm curious to see what it entails.  There has to be something to take care of the little itchy bastards. 

25 Days of Thanks- Day 6

Thankful- IPods

When I got my first (and only) IPod, I was a little hesitant to accept it.  I thought with me being a gadget fan, that I had probably 20 other doo-hickeys that did the same exact thing.  But, I was sooo wrong.  

It's a perfect music machine.  Everything gets loaded on there.  With it, I can borrow music from other folks and rip it right to the device.  Throw in the ease of the Apple Store and downloading music, I don't know what I'd do without it.  It's also awesome for long trips down the thruway.  No more changing stations as I pass in and out of radio signals.  

One thing that has changed with my IPod is that I used to listen in the car through a device that would broadcast the music over a specifically tuned radio station.  If I was travelling with someone in another car, I could also play DJ on WJEF.   On a recent trip to Boston, my sister got to hear WJEF for the last time as now my Corolla has an IPod In jack.  

Not So Thankful- The Snooze Button

7:45am

Beeeeeeeeepppp....

Devil sitting on one shoulder: Go ahead, press it.  10 more minutes of blissful sleep.  

Angel on the other: GET YOUR BUTT UP!  This way, no rushing.  You could enjoy the morning for once!

Devil:  Oh, go ahead, press it and really enjoy the morning! You could dream of beaches, winning the superbowl, seeing tha...

WHACK!

7:55am

Beeeeepppppp

Angel: Ok, that's 10 minutes, you got it in.  Now get up!

Devil: Oh come on, 10 more minutes, that 8:05.  You'll be fine.  

WHACK!

8:05am

Devil: Do I really need to say anything?

WHACK!

8:15am

Angel: 45 minutes to get to work

Devil: You live on campus.  Your office is on campus

WHACK!

8:25am

Angel: YOU NEED TO SHAVE!

Devil: Isn't the scruffy look in right now?

WHACK!

8:35am

Angel:  HAHAHA  25 minutes... dumbass.  I tried telling you!  You learn one day.

Me: Crap

_____________________________

You've just read my morning routine Monday thru Friday.  It never changes.  I even found a clock that has does not have a snooze button but I have quite built up enough faith in it yet.  Yes, the thing is loud but it's a once or nothing thing.  There's no leeway.  The snooze alarm is the bane of my morning existence.  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 5

A few minutes late, but hey, it's a Friday night!

Thankful- Thunderstorms

My perfect house includes a screened in porch perfectly attached.  The view from it is majestic with no trees, no other houses, and no city lights affecting the view of the stars or an incoming thunderstorm.  I love a good thunderstorm.

My brother and I used to stay up at night and rate the lighting strikes near the house.  I think it was my dad though that got me excited for a good storm.  He would take me outside and we would watch the lighting until the last possible safe moment.  Then we'd head inside the house but he would still leave the front door open to watch.  This would soon be followed by a "discussion" between my mom and dad about the "danger" of what he was doing.  I think we were probably safer there though than the window we'd eventually get to.

Anyone ever seen lighting during a snow storm?  I can remember exactly where I was and who I was talking to at the time.  Standing on the balcony of the Main Delevan Apartments at Canisius College, I had stepped outside to talk to my grandparents about the huge snowstorm that Buffalo was in the process of getting.  I remember my grandma getting on the phone as I stepped outside and interrupting her mid story to say, "Is it possible that there could be lighting during this?"  I was floored.

If I can't have the house with the screened in porch, then I hope to have my second favorite place, atop a tall building in NYC.  When I lived and worked at 26th Street Residence Hall at NYU, myself and a few others were "allowed" to go up on the roof to take in the view or get some peace and quiet.  If the storm was coming in the right way, you could see the lighting off in the distance and the thunder would roll through the streets in an amazing way.  Granted, I was always too scared to stay up there when the storm got close but if you caught it right, it was an amazing view.   I love a good thunderstorm.

Not So Thankful- Blu Ray

I am a techie.  I'll admit it.  I'll also admit to getting a hunger for the latest gadget out there.  But when the HD DVD/ Blu Ray war started, I picked my side way to early.  It's like the scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indiana is in the chalice room.  A cup gets picked and the old crusader says to the bad guy, "He chose... poorly".  I should have waited and learned more about how the format war was going to play out.  Instead I sunk some money into a HD DVD player and am now stuck with it.  Granted it upgrades the DVDs I currently have, but that hunger is back for the surviving format.  I've got the self discipline to make it through it (that, and a limited budget:-)) but it does look purrrdy seeing it in the stores.    

25 Days of Thanks- Day 4

Thankful- Snow

I love the snow.  I've been thinking about where my next move might be and while Hawaii is very tempting, 4 seasons is even more.  I love it not only for the skiing, or sleigh riding (sledding seems to be the more popular word), or other snowy activities, but I feel at a certain level of peace when walking in the snow.  It's wierd, I know.

When I'm walking in from my car, I find myself staring at the traffic light, mesmerized by the passing snow flakes.  During the day, it's still nice to look at and watch, but something about it at nighttime makes me want to go on a long walk.  It's so quiet.  I know I just wrote a post yesterday about being thankful for white noise but everyone needs thier moments of peace.  While I do get those moments in more than just the winter time, something about a good snowy night could keep me occupied for hours.  

Not So Thankful- New Car Smell

Having a new car is great.  Mine was brand spankin new.  6 miles were all that was on it when I got it.  But that also means, only 6 miles of air have moved through the darn thing.  

I got in, took a good breath, let it out, and did put a smile on my face after signing the contract.  Then, I headed to Albany, and after, oh, 100 miles of breathing in and out that new NEW car smell, my mind got to thinking, what exactly have I been breathing in.  Your mind starts wondering, the window goes down, and you find yourself inching closer and closer to the fresh air even though it's 20 degrees outside.  After a while that new car smell gets to be new "I don't feel so good" smell.  Thankfully it has passed by now, or I've just gotten used to it, but let's just say my stomach is turning a little bit just thinking about it.  

The new car smell is, understandably, a sense of accomplishment for a lot of people.  I 100% support that and encourage you all to enjoy, relish, savor, and experience that smell.  I just wouldn't recommend sitting in it for 4 hours.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 3

Thankful- White Noise

Yes, I still live in college owned housing. Proud of that fact dagnabit!  But living on campus comes with it, some, well, super powers.  It's true.  I have the uncanny ability to name you 20 songs from any bass line in a song.  I can hear conversations through walls.  I can also tell you if there's a fire truck within 5 miles.  Oh yes, it's true.

I understand living in a residence hall or apartment building, that there are college students living around me.  College students who should be able to live their lives, play their music loud, dance when they want to, and scream to let stress off.  I'm not the type of residence life person who's going to jump on every little noise or every moment of loud music. 

White noise for me is usually an air conditioner or fan.  So I am thankful for white noise for two reasons:

1. It drowns out the random noises from the different apartments around me.  
2. It's tough for me to sleep at my parents house.  Why?  It's too quiet.  There's nothing at nighttime and so I start trying to listen for any little thing. I sometimes will bring a fan or turn on a radio just to get something in the background. 

I'm sure I'll get over it quickly once I move into my own house but for right now, the fan will do.  Oh and wave to the police car that's about to go by your house/apartment right now.  I hear it coming...

Not So Thankful- TIVO Guilt

I can't take credit for the coining of this term but read this article and then come back:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/02/tivo.guilt/index.html

I have TIVO guilt and I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I've gotten better at it little by little.  Due to time and space, I've dropped a few shows from my regular recording schedule just because I never watched them.  But one thing remains on there and has been there for almost a year and a half.  

I'm a big fan of the Price is Right.  Back at CCHS, a few students would eat lunch in Mr. Corbiel's classroom every day right at the time the show was on.  He'd break a few rules by letting a few people stay and watch the show with him.  Even before then, my grandparents had, what I think was, the first version of the home board game.  I grew up not loving the sentimental favorite Plinko, but the game Cliffhangers (Yo-Do-Lo-De-Oh).  Anyway, I recorded Bob Barker's final show and have not watched it since.  

I have no idea why.  What I do know is that the guilt is there.  Every time I go to my list, it pops up "The Price is Right, 6/15".  While sharing a DVR issue story with a co-worker, I let slip that I didn't want to lose that show.  Since they he and others have vowed to throw a Price Is Right themed party just to get me through the guilt.

One day, my DVR list will be clean, only to be filled back up with something else.  

25 Days of Thanks: Day 2

I'm being proactive since, technically, it's after midnight:

Thankful- Facebook

Facebook is great in a lot of ways from reconnecting with old friends and classmates, to being easy access for students to reach me.  Some enjoy it for the games or the little programs, me, I enjoy it just keep in touch with people who I might never had been able to connect with.  

Not So Thankful- "People You May Know" Section on Facebook

Every time I log in, there they are, staring at me.  People who maybe I've met once or twice, or people from the way distant past who I'm thinking, "Would they remember me?"  You don't want to come off stalker-ish but you also don't want to be "I'm not your friend".  3 faces.  The guilt flows through me when I log in.  Some I've just taken the jump, clicked on the "Add them as a friend" button, and put the ball in their court.  But others, I'd like to be there friend but the rejection...

Granted it's been a helpful tool a lot of times when you see someone and you think, "OH!  I didn't know they were on facebook!"  Those people it's a easy click.  

By the way, all people who are currently in my "People You May Know" section, it's not you, it's me.  I'm the problem.  I'm just not a "Oh my God I'm going to add everyone" type person.  Sometimes it's just the fun of the surprise when you come across somebody who either sends you a friend request or you see out there in someone else's profile.  But if you see me in yours, go ahead and add me.  Most of the time, I'm in.

Yep, and I've also spent way too much time thinking about this one.  Facebook, a blessing and a curse.    

25 Days of Thanks: Day 1

A lot has happened this year and with that comes a ton of reflection about the things we should be thankful for and the things we aren't.  Now my family taught me to be thankful for everything but there are just somethings in this world that you're like, "Really?  That made it into the mix of creation?"  So with that, I plan on posting, each day, one thing in each category.

Thankful- Monday Night Television

The DVR is running wild on Monday nights for me.  After finishing that first day of work from the weekend, I know I can just plop down on the couch and relax from 8- midnight.  Here's the optimal lineup:

8pm- Chuck on NBC-  Guy from nowhere becomes secret agent.  Well written and they keep things interesting

9pm- Heroes on NBC- Back to back geekdom.  Who hasn't dreamed of having the ability to fly?

10pm- One Tree Hill on CW- Trashy show that has seen it's better days but, yea, I've got nothing to justify this pick.  

11pm- Big Bang Theory on CBS- Recorded from earlier in the evening.  Some of the jokes in this show hit a little too close to home.  

11:30pm- How I Met Your Mother on CBS- Also recorded.  Each week is a different, hilarious theme.  

No So Thankful- The towels at the gym 

A while ago on this blog I mentioned that I'm trying to get in shape.  I'm continuing to do pretty good but part of one goal always kept alluding me, the not looking like a tomato when I'm done.  Admittedly, the running part has also been, well, absent, but, on average, 5 days a week I'm down at the gym playing basketball either by myself or with some co-workers.  My basketball ability will be addressed in a later post, but each time I arrive at the gym I grab a towel and a basketball.  And each time I leave the gym, I give everything back and get a funny look from the cage attendant.  I've gotten used to the funny look.  It's because my face looks like a tomato.  I'd giggle inside if I saw my face approach. But tonight it all clicked thanks to the light shining just at the right angle...

I'm allergic to the towels at the gym

Yes, there's a lot on the allergy list.  Today's reaction to the detergent or cleaner was horrible though.  Eyes and cheeks swelled up.  It was not pretty, both literally and figuratively.  So note to self for the future, bring own towel.