Conversation

I'm used to being the youngest or one of the youngest in a group. This type of conversation has got to stop.

Coworker: Yeah, back in 1996... What was that, junior year in high school?
My officemate: Yeah, it was.
Me: Hmm...
Coworker: Dianne is like, (exaggerated voice) "That was my first year at IMS!" - ha ha ha!
Me: Second, actually.
Coworker and officemate, in unison: *blink*

Wise words

This quote is from a friend in response to an email I sent her in which I vented my frustrations with trying to lend support to a hurting friend.

In a perfect world, there'd be this great monologue you could speak to her, like in a movie, at the end of which the veil would be lifted from her eyes and she would see her way clear to moving forward with purpose and determination in the way you envision she could. In reality, who she is (and who we all are) isn't likely to make a major shift and you'll need to decide how much of yourself is available to her. It's better to give a smaller part of yourself - that's able to just be with her where SHE is and where she's determining the course of things, even if that course merely stagnates - than to offer an amount of yourself that's not able to deal with the lack of progress, etc. and end up in a fight or saying things you can't take back.

Why do people think of things like this?

Kevin received a bag from one of Andy's coworkers. It was filled with fun toys - and this.

 
What a cute little polar bear!

 
It has an opening for these jelly beans that came with it.

 
And if I push down on its rear end, out comes a jelly bean!

 
That looks delicious.

Reviews

Movie: I Am Legend - tense! Will Smith! Grade = A
Event: officemate moving out - less talk! no quick venting! Grade = D
Movie: Spiderman 2 - romance! lame! Grade = C
Event: "Symphony of Lights" in Columbia - lights! colors! great for the kids! Grade = B+
Food: Mint Chocolate M&M's - mint! chocolate! candy coating! Grade = A+
Movie: Live Free or Die Hard - fun stunts! wacky computer stuff! Grade = A+
Book: An Inconvenient Book by Glenn Beck - things I agree with! things I disagree with but which should be voiced! humor! Grade = B
Event: "traffic in shopping centers in December" - too much! too slow! Grade = D
Music: Daughtry by Daughtry - gruff voice! rockin' riffs! Grade = A+
Event: new officemate moving in - more talk! quick venting! immediate help with PostgreSQL! Grade = A
Movie: Ocean's Thirteen - not as good as first two in series! Grade = C+
People: who think they deserve better than everyone else - stink! Grade = F(-)

Stream of consciousness song

I'm feelin' kinda crappy,
Feelin' kinda crappy,
Feelin' kinda crappy on this morning

Feelin' kinda crappy,
Feelin' kinda crappy,
Hmm, but I guess it could be worse

God don't smite me,
Don't make me nauseous,
I guess I could feel mu-uch worse

So, thanks for helping me
To feel thankful
And making me feel so good this morning!

Festival of Lights

 

This goes for the Christ candle in your Advent wreath, too

I'm going to post this article without any personal commentary - because it's that obviously stupid.

In a campaign that has spread like wildfire across the Internet, a group of Israeli environmentalists is encouraging Jews around the world to light at least one less candle this Hanukka to help the environment.

The founders of the Green Hanukkia campaign found that every candle that burns completely produces 15 grams of carbon dioxide. If an estimated one million Israeli households light for eight days, they said, it would do significant damage to the atmosphere.

"The campaign calls for Jews around the world to save the last candle and save the planet, so we won't need another miracle," said Liad Ortar, the campaign's cofounder.

Read more at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1195546797524&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter