tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32438952011-04-21T13:41:58.922-07:00Good Hair DayBecause in heaven, it will always be that way....Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comBlogger3661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1101316107700836792004-11-24T09:07:00.000-08:002004-11-24T09:13:11.113-08:00"Holiday letters are a lot like fruitcake: People either love them or hate them."
If you produce an annual Christmas letter for family and friends, this article provides some helpful hints. (This is a service I'm providing to reduce the number of bragsheets disguised as holiday greetings.)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1100645239961758972004-11-16T14:46:00.000-08:002004-11-24T09:10:42.856-08:00I have to laugh whenever I see that Goodwill is running a 20 percent off sale. Do they really think it's the prices that keep us from shopping there?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1100561461970891982004-11-15T15:30:00.000-08:002004-11-16T14:45:08.910-08:00When I tell people I work for a hospital, the first question most people ask is, “Are you a nurse?” Thankfully, public relations is far removed from the aspects of patient care that make some of us squeamish. Well…usually.
A few days ago, my boss called to let me know that our Intensive Care Unit needed a photo taken “before they closed the wound.” Realizing that a condition requiring ICU Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1100116410911517122004-11-10T12:48:00.000-08:002004-11-10T11:56:48.423-08:00The frenzy surrounding today's opening of the Valley's first Ikea store makes me very glad I visited the San Diego location a couple of months ago to satisfy my curiosity. Judging from reports that the parking lot was two-thirds full at 6:00 this morning, it could be a while before it could be considered sane to shop there.
An article in today's Arizona Republic poses the question I ponder everyKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1099689788207199812004-11-05T13:22:00.000-08:002004-11-05T13:23:08.206-08:00The older I get, the more I marvel at the fact that the whole realm of dating is still so much like it was in high school.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1099431551388259582004-11-02T13:38:00.000-08:002004-11-02T13:39:51.140-08:00I requested a mail-in ballot for today’s election, then chided myself later for procrastinating on completing the ballot. I realized on Friday that I’d put it off to the point that it was risky to depend on the mail to deliver my vote on time. I ended up turning in the ballot at my nearest polling place this morning, and realized I’d ended up with the best of both worlds: the convenience of Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1098992637783178412004-10-28T13:39:00.000-07:002004-10-28T12:43:57.783-07:00It's one of Phoenix's rare rainy days, and for a change I was smart enough to grab an umbrella before dashing out the door this morning. The umbrella is a traditional full-size style with a wood handle, not the compact fold-up variety that everyone else carries these days. I feel like Mary Poppins.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1098943919675438732004-10-27T23:10:00.000-07:002004-10-27T23:12:12.473-07:00In the past week, two people have told me that I walk like Meg Ryan. I've never heard this before in my life. Is this a new skill I've developed without even trying?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1097701892789832512004-10-13T13:59:00.000-07:002004-10-15T07:24:10.146-07:00Four years after buying my house, I've finally saved enough money to remodel my bathroom and replace my worn living room and dining furniture. So my spare time in the last few weeks has been largely devoted to trips to Lowe's, The Home Depot, and just about every furniture store I can think of. The process may sound like fun, but it's a lot of work for those of us who are decision-making Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1096918330336058802004-10-04T13:31:00.000-07:002004-10-04T12:32:39.650-07:00I've been listening to a lot of 70s and 80s music in recent months, and have come to this conclusion: I like nothing by Elton John or the Eagles.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1096668887377324662004-10-01T15:13:00.000-07:002004-10-01T15:17:20.973-07:00Oh, to be back in junior high now that they've come out with Hostess-inspired lip balms with flavors that mimic Twinkies, Ding Dongs, SnoBalls, Cupcakes and Fruit Pies. If I were 12, I'd be, like, using these all the time.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1096413208030165332004-09-28T16:09:00.000-07:002004-09-29T11:22:24.223-07:00Tips to spur creativity, from the Direct Marketing Association :
Avoid isolation. Force yourself into situations where you interact with people of different races, ethnicities, religions, etc.
Travel. Be it to Europe or a cattle ranch, break out of your element.
Browse. Hit the Net regularly and log on to a new site every day.
Channel surf. Sample every one of your 694 channels - and no skipping Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1095785800634845512004-09-21T09:55:00.000-07:002004-09-21T09:56:40.636-07:00Fall is my favorite season. So why do I always feel a tinge of sadness when summer comes to an end?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1094859732097465482004-09-10T16:38:00.000-07:002004-09-10T16:45:01.280-07:00Today's puzzling phone call:
(Phone rings. Panel on phone displays co-worker's name.)
Me: Hi, Michael.
Co-worker: Can't talk right now.
Me: You called me.
Co-worker: I know. Can't talk right now. See ya.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1094781092572080882004-09-09T18:50:00.000-07:002004-09-09T18:51:32.573-07:00An MVD employee actually made a joke while she assisted me this afternoon. I'm still recovering from the shock.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1094749799394128722004-09-09T10:07:00.000-07:002004-09-09T10:09:59.393-07:00I have to visit the Motor Vehicle Division today to replace a lost driver's license. I'm dreading it. I suspect the MVD employement applications include a line at the top that reads, "If you're not surly, don't even think of applying to work here."Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1094231586012028142004-09-03T10:08:00.000-07:002004-09-03T10:13:42.620-07:00When people greet each other in the morning, it's not really a greeting as much as an identification of the time of day: "Morning." (The "Good" that used to precede it has apparently been dropped in the interest of efficiency). Strange, when you think about it. Nobody encounters someone at lunchtime and says, "Noon."Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1094147238581824312004-09-02T10:46:00.000-07:002004-09-03T10:16:18.633-07:00What is wrong with toymakers, that they came up with this?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1093645598079759982004-08-27T15:26:00.000-07:002004-08-27T15:26:38.080-07:00Using the power windows in my new car brings back a childhood memory of shutting the window of our family car when my brother’s neck happened to be in the way. (It was an accident! Really!) This is a story that is retold again and again around my family’s dinner table, especially when we have a new guest among us.
Some people can hold serious grudges.
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1093562435983456982004-08-26T16:10:00.000-07:002004-08-26T16:20:35.983-07:00Sometimes you can't get past people's initial impression of you, no matter how much information you provide that you're not quite the person they perceive you to be. Someone mentioned a song title to me, with a smirk that suggested he was certain I wouldn't be familiar with music from that genre. I immediately began reciting some of the lyrics, which apparently didn't prove a thing. "You don't Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1093394792471765862004-08-24T17:44:00.000-07:002004-08-25T13:28:46.970-07:00It actually does cool down at night around here. Granted, it's been unseasonably cool the past few days (for Phoenix, in August, that means anything under 100 degrees). But I was surprised to walk outside after my middle-of-the-night video shoot on Monday and discover something that resembled a chill in the air. I've lived in this city for more than 20 years, and can't remember August being Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1093393454199392842004-08-24T17:04:00.000-07:002004-08-24T22:19:53.906-07:00All in a night's work
A local news station featured our Emergency Department on its Monday morning show, and sent a crew to videotape the department in action the night before. I volunteered to coordinate the shoot, even though I'm not a night person and it meant working from 1-3 am. A few random observations from the experience:
Where EDs are involved, expect the unexpected. I was told that the Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1093044213174905462004-08-20T16:06:00.000-07:002004-08-20T16:23:33.176-07:00I replaced my answering machine with Qwest voice messaging several years ago. For some reason, it was far more disappointing to come home to a steady red light - indicating no messages - on my answering machine,than it is to pick up my phone and discover a normal dial tone, which gives me the same "nobody called" information.
But now I have the occasionally empty e-mail in-box to deal with (Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1092784325654103122004-08-17T16:10:00.000-07:002004-08-17T16:12:14.696-07:00Some people long to return to childhood, but I prefer being an adult. I get a particular enjoyment out of running the air conditioner and leaving a window open at the same time. Just because I can.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1092266536582030062004-08-11T16:21:00.000-07:002004-08-11T16:22:16.583-07:00I should never go to lunch early. This afternoon seems like it's about 11 hours long.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1092096894383036592004-08-09T17:01:00.000-07:002004-08-09T17:17:39.703-07:00Zoom, Zoom
I traded my tired Honda Civic for a Mazda 3 on Saturday. It's my first new car in almost a decade, and the first time I've had any of the extras that most of my friends have had for years - power windows, power door locks, CD player, cruise control. It's great fun to drive, except I have typical new-car jitters.
Yesterday I was stopped at a stoplight when an oversized truck in front Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1091770150264608342004-08-05T22:20:00.000-07:002004-08-06T16:05:02.183-07:00My boss hates the sound of what she calls "paper scraping" - the faint noise that occurs when you run a fingernail across the folded edge of a sheet of paper. Because I've never known another soul who's bothered by this, I find myself doing it absent-mindedly until her shuddering reminds me that it's a problem.
If she were a regular co-worker and not the one responsible for my continued Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1091767510861591362004-08-05T21:43:00.000-07:002004-08-05T21:47:07.606-07:00Sign that you're really ready to buy a new vehicle: You have trouble finding your car in a parking lot, and actually feel excited rather than panicked at the thought that someone may have stolen it.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1091514532126602622004-08-02T23:14:00.000-07:002004-08-02T23:32:12.266-07:00I went on a moonlight hike with friends Saturday night. The two-mile excursion was really more of a nature walk, led by a park ranger who stopped frequently to point out distinctive plants, tell some of the region's Wild West tales, and offer desert survival tips. While it was good to learn ideas for locating water in the wilderness, my only real survival concern was avoiding any potential West Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1091220963441904442004-07-30T13:54:00.000-07:002004-07-30T13:56:13.986-07:00I'm still trying to get used to how people drive in the area where I'm working now. It's not the aggressive driving I'm used to in downtown Phoenix. This is just plain stupid driving. Either that, or they're giving driver's licenses to the blind out here.
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1089844657864384822004-07-14T15:34:00.000-07:002004-07-14T15:37:37.863-07:00This week's monsoon clouds have been a nice change of pace. But I'd have to say my hair prefers when it's a dry heat.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1089675651561553522004-07-12T16:40:00.000-07:002004-07-12T16:40:51.560-07:00I joined a group of friends for night golfing a couple of weeks ago - a nice enough concept, since it allows people to enjoy the game without having to endure the oppressive heat of summer daylight hours. The course provided lighting at the pins and gave us glow-in-the-dark balls, but these gestures proved to be hardly sufficient to compensate for the darkness. I could barely see my clubs, and Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1089389605572583882004-07-09T09:12:00.000-07:002004-07-09T09:15:01.766-07:00Looks like Joe Arpaio's Tent City is the place to be tonight.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1089263841064666062004-07-07T22:00:00.000-07:002004-07-07T22:24:01.783-07:00A co-worker whose last name is Sanders rolled his eyes as he told me about countless people who crack themselves up by calling him Colonel Sanders, each one thinking they're being original. My friend Kelly frequently has to endure the "Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly" song from Cheers. Another friend, Marsha, charges people a dollar if they insist on addressing her as "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia."
So if Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1089145561662925162004-07-06T13:24:00.000-07:002004-07-06T13:26:01.686-07:00From the book of snappy comebacks:
Q: How are you getting to the airport?
A: I'm flying to one of them.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1088625453891687512004-06-30T12:57:00.000-07:002004-07-07T22:20:44.196-07:00Some friends and I were talking about favorite cereals from childhood. The ultra-crunchy varieties – Count Chocula and Fruity Pebbles in particular - topped our collective list. One friend’s assessment: “If your gums weren’t bleeding by the time you finished, the cereal wasn’t very good.”Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1088023762338600552004-06-23T13:48:00.000-07:002004-06-23T13:49:32.980-07:00As of yesterday, I've completed the three-month probationary period of my job. Apparently they plan on keeping me.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1087879113552686362004-06-21T21:35:00.000-07:002004-06-21T21:50:25.443-07:00Since I have over 180,000 miles on my car and repairs are becoming more and more frequent, I've started shopping for a replacement. Though I'm not very far in the process, I've already encountered a few frustrations:
After having my eye on a dark-green VW Jetta for the past three years, I've learned that it's overpriced and underrated. I'll have to be content with simply continuing to admire my Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1087594169446165922004-06-18T14:28:00.000-07:002004-06-18T14:30:33.473-07:00When you’ve been single forever, people often suggest that you’re too picky. Maybe so. Consider my recent missed opportunity:
A man approached me at the gym the other night, using the junior-high approach to flirting. “Nice tan,” he said, making a mocking reference to the complete lack of pigmentation in my skin. Then he pointed out that Cleopatra had fair skin, and proceeded to smile at me Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1086988523308639942004-06-11T14:06:00.000-07:002004-06-11T14:15:49.416-07:00I've been exploring the possibility of buying a new home, but my own little house has begun to look more and more appealing after looking at the drab options available in my price range. The appeal was reinforced when a friend who's in real estate told me, "You have the perfect house..."
I felt a bit deflated, though, when he finished his sentence: "...for remodeling."Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1086892713729901882004-06-10T11:29:00.000-07:002004-06-10T11:41:04.076-07:00I'm part of a group that's planning a weekend retreat for my church singles' group, and we've been brainstorming ideas for recreation. Dancing is out, since the retreat center we're using adheres to a somewhat archaic notion that dancing is a less-than-wholesome activity. But the center does offer paintball, for a small additional fee.
So let me get this straight: Dancing is wrong, but it's Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1086801001217861572004-06-09T10:09:00.000-07:002004-06-09T10:20:56.420-07:00After seeing his cartoons for Monday, Tuesday and today, I may decide that I like Steve Benson after all.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1085626032305562762004-05-26T19:43:00.000-07:002004-05-27T22:30:18.230-07:00A co-worker and I were talking about favorite childhood TV shows. My top five, in no particular order:
Leave it to Beaver
Little House on the Prairie
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Get Smart
Gilligan's Island
Just in case you were wondering.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1085603637515985992004-05-26T13:32:00.000-07:002004-05-26T13:33:57.516-07:00Though my birthday, fittingly, occasionally falls on Sweetest Day, I didn't know about the holiday's origin until I read this.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1085547684806235712004-05-25T20:56:00.000-07:002004-05-25T22:08:41.616-07:00I was on my way to hike Piestewa Peak after work yesterday evening, and got stuck in unmoving traffic at a freeway intersection near my house. Rush hour was over, so I figured I'd ended up behind a stalled car or fender-bender. Then I noticed a man and woman on foot, darting frantically between vehicles nearby. Two police cars flew off the freeway and screeched to a stop not far from my car, and Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1085005818439666942004-05-19T15:26:00.000-07:002004-05-19T15:30:18.440-07:00I have an electronic day planner, a booklet-style day planner, and a calendar feature on my office computer. And yet I can't seem to get away from relying on Post-It Notes stuck to my computer to remind me of important meetings. Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1084338116677854642004-05-11T21:58:00.000-07:002004-05-11T22:06:07.270-07:00I'm feeling significant guilt over my recent weblog neglect. The new job has been busy, and this week has been particularly so. I worked 12 hours yesterday and 14 today, with the insanity promising to continue into week's end. So this plea for sympathy is about all I can manage for now. Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1083690841536195602004-05-04T10:14:00.000-07:002004-05-04T10:21:35.496-07:00My alma mater loves to give honorary doctorates, even though it can't award real ones. (The school has no doctoral programs.) This is the oddest one yet.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1083299906396785602004-04-29T21:37:00.000-07:002004-04-29T21:41:32.920-07:00I'm not sure why, but I really detest voice mail greetings that close with, "Make it a great day."Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1083011696384867632004-04-26T13:34:00.000-07:002004-04-26T13:37:59.590-07:00I'm really curious about the incident(s) that caused my new employer to have to spell out, in the dress code, that "bedroom slippers are considered inappropriate business attire."Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1082508030219131122004-04-20T17:40:00.000-07:002004-04-20T17:46:45.546-07:00I decided to take part in National TV Turn-Off Week this week, since the number of mindless shows I watch seems to be steadily increasing. I did set my VCR this morning to record my top four weekly programs, just in case someone starts raving about how great one of my TV staples was the night before. I wonder if that's considered cheating?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1082087349780911732004-04-15T20:47:00.000-07:002004-04-15T20:55:56.186-07:00Okay, I admit it. I'm one of those people who didn't mail my taxes until today. At least I've improved over the year I had to drive to one of those mall drop-off sites to get everything postmarked before midnight.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1081921262522920392004-04-13T22:37:00.000-07:002004-04-13T22:43:52.996-07:00I'm starting to get past the newcomer stage of my new job, where everyone's so polite it's almost painful. I finally told a couple of coworkers I was open to a little good-natured sarcasm now and then. Yesterday one of them made fun of the "robotic" voice on my voice mail greeting, and I felt like I'd arrived.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-108139570908801002004-04-07T20:40:00.000-07:002004-04-09T00:44:46.233-07:00People in the medical field don’t always realize that not everyone has the stomach for their line of work.
Recently I took on a freelance writing assignment for a neurological research center, and met with a department head* to gather background information for an article. The meeting was uneventful at the beginning. He described the steps taken for a typical research project, and I scribbled Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1081196705050807822004-04-05T13:25:00.000-07:002004-04-05T13:30:54.640-07:00The area where I now work has a disappointing shortage of restaurants. I'm having to adjust to having no Chipotle or Einstein Bros within easy reach. Despite my aversion to misspelled business names, I've stooped to frequenting a spot called Steve's Krazy Subs. Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1081144900876193622004-04-04T23:01:00.000-07:002004-04-04T23:04:22.716-07:00Some friends and I were talking with visitors from Maryland after hiking Camelback Mountain. We were comparing Arizona's dry heat with the humid summertime misery of their home state. One of my friends offered a good analogy: "Here, it's like opening your oven. There, it's like opening your dishwasher." Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1080531370301223422004-03-28T19:35:00.000-08:002004-03-28T19:38:44.530-08:00Confessions of a closet carb fiend:
Dave Barry on AtkinsKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1080403124256615482004-03-27T07:43:00.000-08:002004-03-27T08:14:42.170-08:00I used to help straighten pew racks at my church, taking a few minutes after the morning service to rearrange hymnals and pick up stray pieces of paper. As I was working my way toward the back of the sanctuary one Sunday, I heard a man's voice behind me: "Did you find a stick of gum back here?" I looked up and saw sports mogul Jerry Colangelo, holding the hand of his small granddaughter.
Since Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1080402105665576832004-03-27T07:39:00.000-08:002004-03-27T07:44:18.326-08:00I'm a little suspicious about the 12 different settings on my blender. Is there really a difference between Chop, Grate and Ice Crush? I think I'd do just as well with two simple settings: Off and Pulverize. Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1080267965279613562004-03-25T18:16:00.000-08:002004-03-27T07:45:13.000-08:00Four days into my new job, I've already accomplished quite a bit:Worn a path back and forth through a maze of hospital corridors, wondering why a series of signs pointing to the elevators suddenly stops before said elevators are anywhere in the vicinity
Left a work-related videotape in my car all day, not realizing our unseasonably warm weather was hot enough to warp plastic into a Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1079676171869581172004-03-18T22:00:00.000-08:002004-03-18T22:24:14.530-08:00I was a guest at a Toastmasters meeting a few weeks ago. One of the speakers that morning was a firefighter who opened his first speech, I’m told, with this admission: “I’d rather be standing in a burning building than in front of you right now.”
I guess that pretty much sums up how most of us feel about public speaking.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1079389841853533872004-03-15T14:30:00.000-08:002004-03-15T14:33:03.090-08:00How much black clothing can one person own and still be considered well-adjusted?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1079140110731308682004-03-12T16:53:00.000-08:002004-03-12T17:10:49.280-08:00I'm finally rejoining the world of full-time employment, after nearly a year of piecing together an income through various part-time, temporary jobs and freelance projects. Amazingly, I have not had a single day without work. But I've spent more hours in isolation than I care to, and I've missed the safe predictability of every-other-week paychecks. I'll be returning to hospital public relations,Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1077844166904178552004-02-26T16:37:00.000-08:002004-02-26T22:58:13.263-08:00A group from my church meets every other Tuesday for a book discussion. Right now we're reading Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them, which deals with the need for (and challenges of) community. Our group had a good discussion this week about why people in our culture have so much difficulty connecting with one another in any meaningful way. We agreed that the biggest deterrent is Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1077599859802561332004-02-23T21:09:00.000-08:002004-02-23T21:19:40.403-08:00I was getting ready to go out Saturday night when a giant roach appeared on my bathroom sink, right next to my curling iron. I sprayed the offending creature with Raid, and then became paranoid about breathing the fumes. The rest of my preparation process was spent holding my breath as long as possible while I worked on my hair, dashing into the hallway for a gasp of air, then going back to the Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1077245551278176262004-02-19T18:52:00.000-08:002004-02-19T18:54:56.436-08:00Once again, I didn’t get the job.
For the second time in recent months, a promising opportunity fell through because an unexpected internal candidate came along. But the disappointing news came with one of the best compliments I’ve ever received about my writing. This, coming from the head of Public Relations for a large health system, went a long way in offsetting my disappointment.
I Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1076648213443108012004-02-12T20:53:00.000-08:002004-02-12T21:01:11.013-08:00A friend told me about stopping by his barber shop on a workday, right after an off-site meeting. Though he had a flexible schedule that allowed for such things, a co-worker harassed him about getting his hair cut "on company time." My friend's response: "Well, it grew on company time."Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1076420369179426882004-02-10T05:39:00.000-08:002004-02-11T15:10:28.466-08:00My next-door-neighbor is a pretty good guy, but most of our conversations center around his grousing about one thing or another. During last summer's brief gas shortage, he was waiting in line for his turn at the tank when another man cut in front of him. My neighbor yelled out, "You [insert not-very-nice word here]!" When he told his wife about the experience, she responded, "What do you think Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1076379542291414882004-02-09T18:18:00.000-08:002004-02-10T05:39:32.200-08:00Something I've discovered after writing professionally for years (the exact number of which shall remain undisclosed):
I never get tired of seeing my byline.
Shallow, aren't I?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1076032024714984962004-02-05T17:40:00.000-08:002004-02-09T18:22:30.936-08:00I spent hours preparing for a job interview this morning, but could not possibly have anticipated this question: "If you could invite five people, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would you invite and why?"
Knowing I didn't really have time to give significant thought to my answer, I started rattling off random names of people I would consider either interesting to talk to or fun to be Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1075868592778604282004-02-03T20:20:00.000-08:002004-02-03T20:29:53.780-08:00The W-2 and 1099 forms are pouring in from last year's myriad jobs and freelance clients. I'm glad I have an accountant to deal with such things, since taxes from an ordinary year are overwhelming to the underdeveloped math side of my brain.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1075758674195471622004-02-02T13:49:00.000-08:002004-02-02T13:52:53.700-08:00I went to a Super Bowl party yesterday, and watched no more than 30 seconds of the game. Most of the party was spent around an outdoor fire pit, talking with friends and eating. In my book, that's a great Super Bowl party.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1074628041044957322004-01-20T11:45:00.000-08:002004-02-02T13:54:21.373-08:00I never read forwarded e-mails that begin like the one I received this morning: "Whether this is legitimate or not I do not know for sure, but it sure sounds like it is, and is information worth having...."
In my experience, that's usually a sure sign of an urban legend.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1074623157410785652004-01-20T10:18:00.000-08:002004-01-20T10:27:23.373-08:00I know that job-hunting requires work, but positions in my field sometimes require more than what I would consider reasonable.
Last week I had a brief phone interview for a position with a local magazine. Later that afternoon, my interviewer sent me three articles to edit, which I was asked to return along with five story ideas (and optional sidebar articles) for the magazine. I have no real Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1074556051820600652004-01-19T15:42:00.000-08:002004-01-19T15:48:56.903-08:00This weekend I hit golf balls, hiked Pinnacle Peak, and ate Sunday lunch on a friend's patio, enjoying absolutely perfect weather. It was one of those winter weekends where we all say, "Oh, this is why we live in Phoenix."Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1074044760276931762004-01-13T17:45:00.000-08:002004-01-13T17:52:44.513-08:00I can remember what I had for dinner at a relative’s house 20 years ago, but can’t recall my own cell phone number. Okay, so I finally did memorize the number, but I won’t admit to how long this actually took. It’s an ongoing challenge to get numbers to stick in my head.
Sometimes I miss the simplicity of living in a small town, where everyone had the same phone number prefix. When you asked a Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1073949203579944832004-01-12T15:12:00.000-08:002004-01-12T15:39:04.246-08:00My three least-favorite personal chores, in no particular order:
Going to the bank
Filling my gas tank
Paying bills
When I get around to actually doing them, they're really not all that bad. So why do I always seem to put them off until the last possible minute?
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1073748940940051902004-01-10T07:18:00.000-08:002004-01-10T07:37:13.606-08:00The gym where I work out usually has an array of magazines available for those of us who like to be distracted during the more mundane parts of our exercise routine. Since the magazine supply last weekend had dwindled down to a couple of battered copies of Field and Stream, I ended up watching Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire during my workout last Saturday. I normally can't endure Saturday Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1073059619810050892004-01-02T08:04:00.000-08:002004-01-02T08:12:02.530-08:00Lake Superior State University has released its annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness. One I'd add to the list: "24/7".
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1072276469122218182003-12-24T06:33:00.000-08:002003-12-24T06:38:00.216-08:00Interesting article about Bill Watterson for all the Calvin and Hobbes fans out there.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1072158756897735372003-12-22T21:51:00.000-08:002003-12-22T21:53:58.543-08:00I know I will be alienating women everywhere by admitting this, but I am so, so sick of shopping right now.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1071708704132884972003-12-17T16:49:00.000-08:002003-12-17T23:04:58.623-08:00Something to think about on this 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight:
In the century since, travel by airplane has gone from a barnstormer's novelty act to such a routine that it brings more complaints than ruminations on the extraordinary fact that it simply can be done. - Associated Press
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1071532635791830182003-12-15T15:56:00.000-08:002003-12-15T15:59:44.653-08:00Joy to the World: Peggy Noonan on the capture of Saddam HusseinKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1071085031494430032003-12-10T11:35:00.000-08:002003-12-10T11:46:04.310-08:00Advertising and marketing executives were asked to describe the strangest responses potential employees have given when asked why they should be hired. Some of the responses:
"The candidate noted there were no redheads in the company and said we should hire one."
"The applicant said he'd been rejected by the good agencies."
"The job seeker said he just won big in Las Vegas and was on a roll."
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1071033521001133592003-12-09T21:16:00.000-08:002003-12-09T21:24:31.746-08:00One of my favorite Christmas specials, "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was on tonight, but I couldn't bring myself to watch. The part with the Island of Misfit Toys is just too sad. Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1070949275174945572003-12-08T21:42:00.000-08:002003-12-08T21:57:29.326-08:00I found a set of DVDs that seemed like the perfect Christmas gift for my dad, so I e-mailed my brothers to let them know what I was buying. I suggested they choose something other than DVDs for their own gifts, so that my dad would enjoy some variety.
A week later, my younger brother called to admit - somewhat sheepishly - that he'd just ordered the "Shogun" DVD for my dad. (His reasoning: "Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1070948192600102042003-12-08T21:28:00.000-08:002003-12-08T21:39:22.826-08:00Last week I interviewed a dentist for an article I'm writing for Children's Dental Health Month. I couldn't let a perfectly good opportunity pass me by, so at the end of our conversation I asked him, "I've always wanted to know - do dentists floss every day?"
He laughed, then proceeded to sidestep the question. He made a reference to doctors who smoke and eat poorly. Then he mentioned that Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1070492622323554482003-12-03T15:03:00.000-08:002003-12-03T15:04:21.360-08:00About a month ago, a public relations director I know vaguely contacted me about a position opening up in his department. I was surprised, because I had never sent a resume or talked with him about a potential opportunity. I got the impression that he was targeting me specifically. I was flattered, excited, and relieved to think that my job situation might finally be stable before Christmas.
HeKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1070461110235540322003-12-03T06:14:00.000-08:002003-12-03T06:44:33.796-08:00The holiday greetings I find most intriguing:
Store-bought cards that come with just a signature - no photo, no personal news, not so much as a simple "Let's get together after the holidays!" scrawled at the bottom. Why bother?
Newsletters that begin with something about how quickly the year has flown by, and how they can't believe it's already Christmas. You half-expect them to throw in Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1070078912293721252003-11-28T20:07:00.000-08:002003-11-29T22:30:03.873-08:00I think pumpkin pie is mostly a really good excuse for eating a pile of whipped cream.
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1070031993953213422003-11-28T06:59:00.000-08:002003-11-28T07:09:23.326-08:00I have to work today, which I think I'd prefer to battling the crowds on the busiest shopping day of the year. Still, it feels a little like being a child who's forced to stay indoors while all the other kids are out playing.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1069802444600827312003-11-25T15:14:00.000-08:002003-11-25T15:40:01.106-08:00I've decided to avoid eating anything sweet for a couple of days to offset Thursday's inevitable indulgences. But I just remembered that a group I'm getting together with tonight usually has a dessert of some sort, so it will take an extra measure of will power to stick to my resolve. Oh, man, I just hope there isn't chocolate involved....
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1069638225810670452003-11-23T17:41:00.000-08:002003-11-23T17:50:18.746-08:00The actual words that appear in a card I found in the juvenile section of Hallmark's 99-cent card line:
It's, like, your birthday, so I'm, like, Happy Birthday!
Unbelievable.
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1068736608048387882003-11-13T07:14:00.000-08:002003-11-13T07:19:43.250-08:00With the holiday season prematurely in full swing, I can't shake a certain sense of dread: it's probably only a matter of days before I'll be subjected to "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree." Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1068527370197323172003-11-10T21:00:00.000-08:002003-11-10T21:10:15.866-08:00Some friends from my Sunday school class are putting together a party for the class this weekend. I was a little apprehensive, because they'd been talking about playing a form of "The Newlywed Game," and I figured I'd feel out of place as the lone single among couples. So I sent an e-mail asking if that was still the plan, and received this reassuring response: "We're going to have other games Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1068107834453033262003-11-06T00:35:00.000-08:002003-11-06T00:37:12.406-08:00Is it just me, or is holiday merchandise out earlier than ever this year? I can kind of understand people wanting to start shopping early, but does anyone really want eggnog ice cream in early November? (Or anytime at all, for that matter?)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1068051442215492992003-11-05T08:57:00.000-08:002003-11-05T08:57:19.973-08:00Congratulations, proud Dad David Letterman!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1067804770115941682003-11-02T12:23:00.000-08:002003-11-02T17:14:25.270-08:00A guy I’ve known for years, but never been involved with, surprised me by inviting me out to a restaurant we discovered we both liked. After he extended the invitation, I wondered, Is this a date or just getting together as friends? After all, I’d known him for nine years, which seemed like plenty of time for him to determine whether or not he had any romantic interest.
The evidence went back Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1067565902319827932003-10-30T18:04:00.000-08:002003-10-30T18:09:26.750-08:00People offer interesting ideas when they know your employment situation is less than stable.
One man, apparently knowing nothing about my line of work, mentioned a car dealership where three women have left recently. (Even if I weren't looking specifically in public relations, would I really want to go to work for a place that is experiencing a mass exodus of employees?) Someone else offered a Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3243895.post-1067565134520973832003-10-30T17:51:00.000-08:002003-10-30T18:11:23.310-08:00There's a Walgreens store at roughly every quarter-mile -- unless you're actually looking for one, in which case they're nowhere to be found.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11339592613696079563noreply@blogger.com