Wordless Wednesday (posted on Thursday)

We were lucky enough to spend time with friends yesterday evening

Things I've Googled This Week

1) "Why are honeycrisp apples so tasty?"
Honeycrisp apples are very tasty! Unfortunately no definitive answer as to WHY
could be found.

2) "wei wang is my dad"
Long Story

3) "frankincense, myrrh, diarrhea"
Even longer story

What did you find yourself googling this week?

Christmas Awards

Most people realize that around Christmas time is when award season picks up. The BAFTAS, OSCARS, Golden Globes and of course E's Preschool Award Ceremony.

Last night I am proud to report that E swept the Athletes (her class name) in all categories: the Friendship Award, The Sharing Award and the Helping Hands award. Watch the videos below:

Planet of The Apes, Or Reasons Why "Planet of the Apes" is my favorite Christmas Movie

You never know how or when a christmas tradition will begin. Mine began with out me realizing it. One Christmas many, many years ago, (probably 1988) I found myself watching television in my room. I had an old television in my room at the time. The kind of tv that had analog and only received about 5 stations. I found myself one evening transfixed by a movie on t.v. This movie was called, "Planet of the Apes". I cannot give just one reason why I couldn't tear myself away, but I just could not even blink. This movie about talking apes and a man named Taylor....this was just the kind of movie I had always wanted to see (years later my husband finally told me I liked movies in the Science Fiction genre. My Oprah Ah-Ha! moment).

Another reason 1988's Christmas sticks in my mind is not only was that my first time to see Planet of the Apes, but it was also the first time my parent's house received carolers. Now usually having random people ring your doorbell to sing christmas carols would be insanely fun, but not when Planet of the Apes is on! C'mon people! I am eight years old! Let me enjoy my movie in peace! Also I remember my grandparents visiting that year from New York. With all of these activities I now find it peculiar I chose to spend the evening in my room watching POTA. But I digress.

Whenever Thanksgiving is in the rear view window, I find myself so eager to have my annual review of Planet of the Apes. Thankfully with technology, the movie is available at my delight to watch instantaneously. This year, the good people of HBO have given me my delight. Thank you HBO.

Saying that, with this being my 15th or perhaps 20th time watching the movie I thought I would give some reasons why I think "Planet of the Apes" is the best christmas movie of all times.

1. No Matter What, Some Women Have Bad Taste in Men



During the movie Taylor, the protagonist, finds himself drawn to this beautiful brunette he decides to call Nova. Now Nova is a meek woman. She was captured by the gorillas in the same field as. She is scared, but like Taylor, drawn to this man the scientists call Bright Eyes. The screen shot was taken just after she escapes from captivity to be with Taylor. Her face is obvious - she is wondering a big WTF. She has just left the safety of captivity to be with this unknown. Her facial expression has a close resemblance to the last shot in 'The Graduate' When the two lovers escape onto the bus to realize they have no plans beyond the moment that has passed them by. So Nova is attracted to this bad boy if you will. This goes to show, that no matter what planet in the universe, some women will always be attracted to the bad boy. Thankfully for our girl Nova, Taylor is not only a bad boy, but a highly intelligent man from another planet...

2. For Being so smart...You Sure Are Dumb


Taylor, our hero astronaut, has flown for millions of miles for our great country. This mission was ambitious. Only the select few of few were chosen. I can only imagine Taylor's resume reads something out of the extraordinary. The science-y stuff he must know. For knowing all of this, I find it awfully peculiar that when he stands before what is obviously the Grand Canyon. He doesn't, for an instance, say, "Golly-gee. This sure does look like the Grand Canyon". C'mon now, Bright Eyes!

3. No matter what Planet you are on, Fashion Reigns King


POTA was filmed in 1968. How little the set designers and stylists would understand about our world of 2011. But let's all take a minute and obsess over this gorilla's boots. Aren't they just fabulous?

GoodbyE

As I leave my post with the office after two years, I find myself reminiscing about my time here. Mostly good, though some outrageous. Voted by coworkers, here are my top moments with the Bank:

3. My Starbucks explanation at staff meeting - One crisp January afternoon I began a 5 block walk back to the office down Congress Ave. I had just had a very positive interview with another bank. The world was my oyster as I scooted down the street. To my delight I ran into a friend. She too was excited on this happening and demanded she buy me a coffee. I agreed - a free cup of coffee AND some time to catch up? Life was looking up indeed. We chatted and then I noticed the time - almost 3 pm - time for the Bank weekly staff meeting back at the office.

Now let me give you a little back story on these weekly Bank Meetings. It typically involved about 1 hour of people staring at each other with little being said. That actually summarizes my reason for departure. But I digress...

On that cool winter day, day I was feeling particularly punk, so when it was my turn to give any updates, etc. I merely stated a friend who works for XXXXX bought me a cup of coffee and that gave me an opportunity to inform her on the Bank and how it could help. Now XXXX is for a large organization and my friend a very prominent person in that organization. Anyways, bewildered by my comment, the Director just ignored what I said and went on to the next person's follow up. Me? I didn't think anything of it. But one coworker in-particular found it completely hilarious I would share a Starbucks story at the staff meeting. So hilarious that it was brought up from January until the present day of writing. Thus it is now #3 on my memorable moments.

2. Answering the fax machine - Before working at the Bank I was unemployed. D and I had traveled from coast-to-coast and with the looming financial crisis, obviously I could not find a job. Needless to say after being out of the job market for 19 months, I was feeling a little less than confident on my general office skills. A few weeks after starting with the Bank I heard a phone ringing. I looked around...where was this phone? And then I saw the fax machine. It was ringing! Now, I claim no expertise on fax machines, but I am pretty sure I had actually never heard a fax machine that rang and rang with out starting the robotic beeps and purrs almost automatically. So this fax machine keeps ringing...it must not be a working fax machine. So like any person would, I walked over to answer it. Well, when I answered with a cheerful, "hello", I was greeting by those all to familiar bips. Sheepishly I put the phone receiver down and went about my day, not realizing coworkers had seen my move. Going forward, anytime the fax machine rang, I was gently reminded NOT to answer it. That's #2 folks.

1. Stapling my hand - One morning I went over to the intern's desk to follow up on a task. I went to lean on the desk and...OUCH...there was a staple in my index finger. How did that happen you ask? Well, as I went to place my hand on the intern's desk, I placed my fingers inside the stapler, and when I leaned, I pressed on the top part of the stapler. Brilliant!
Now after the staple went into my finger I started wailing about (silently). Natalie, the greatest intern ever, grabbed my hand and pulled the staple out. Everyone around just stared in shock. Who...puts their hand inside of a stapler and thinks that is a good idea? Me. That's Who. #1 people. Pure absurdity is how a story makes itself #1.



This is a photo of my map with push pins representing everywhere I have traveled for the Office.

Say ChEese

Groupon might quite possibly be the best website ever known. Why? Well $25 meals for $10, $40 worth of paint supplies for a mere $19 and a photography session with Jackson Wright Photography. For months in the back of my head I had been thinking to do an actual professional photography session of my little ole family. So when Groupon presented me with the photography opportunity, I could not press "Buy Now" quick enough!

Cory, the photographer, met us at our nearby park for the photo session. I had been so nervous about the weather cooperating. I knew I wanted outside photos, so placed myself at the mercy of the rain gods. Lo and behold...it rained the previous evening, but by the 9:00 am shoot the sky had cleared and all was good in the world. Here are a few shots from the shoot.

My Song to E

Sometimes you hear a beautiful song and just know it is YOUR song. I love my iPhone Pandora and always listen to it while working. My Edith Pilaf station is my absolute fav that gives me many smiles throughout the day. But I digress.

Melody Gardot has an absolutely enchanting song that somehow puts all my wishes for E in a beautiful, melodic song. This really is one of those songs you wish to put a bow around and give as a gift. Here's a link to the song, courtesy of YouTube

Here are the lyrics:

IF THE STARS WERE MINE
by Melody Gardot

If the stars were mine
I'd give them all to you
I'd pluck them down right from the sky
And leave it only blue

I would never let the sun forget
To shine upon your face
So when others would have rain clouds
You'd have only sunny days

If the stars were mine
I'd tell you what I'd do
I'd put the stars right in a jar
And give 'em all to you

If the birds were mine
I'd tell them when to sing
I'd make them sing a sonnet
When your telephone would ring

I would put them there inside the square
Whenever you went out
So there'd always be sweet music
Whenever you walk about

If the birds were mine
I'd tell you what I'd do
I'd teach the birds such lovely words
And make 'em sing for you
I'd teach the birds such lovely words
And make 'em sing for you

If the world was mine
I'd paint it gold and green
I'd make the oceans orange
For a brilliant color scheme

I would color all the mountains
Make the sky forever blue
So the world would be a painting
And I'd live inside with you

If the world was mine
I'd tell you what I'd do
I'd wrap the world in ribbons
And then give it all to you

I'd teach the birds such lovely words
And make 'em sing for you
I'd put those stars right in a jar and
Give them all to you