It's official..I'm addicted

I know, some of you will scoff at what I'm about to admit. Knowing that I'm a "techy" girl its hard to believe...but its true...I've been accessing the internet with dial UP.....BUT NOT NO MORE!!!!!

This girl has high speed cable internet now...HOLY COW...this stuff is F-A-S-T!!!!! I'm sooo addicted to it now. I can click on a link and WHAMO a site. Instead of the days past where I'd click on link, go take a shower, make breakfast, kick the cat, do laundry, call mom (on the cell- der) eat lunch, kick the cat, clean, eat dinner, kick the cat...and Maybe...if I'm lucky the page will have loaded.

But all that is behind me. I'm High speeding it now.

The move is over. And as typical for Seattle, it rained THE ENTIRE time the movers were actually moving my furniture. When we were driving from Bellevue to Lynnwood it didn't rain. In the morning before they got there it didn't rain. And as soon as they were done, it stopped raining. The rain gods must have it in for me. And we're not talking little light drops or mist...we're talking TORRENTIAL down pour...ugh. I'm beginning to hate the rain.

The cat made the journey with only a few issues. He did not like being in the cat carrier...and he told me ALL about it on the trip up here (25 miles or so). But he's settled in well and seems to like his new domain. He won't have as much kitty TV as he had at the other apt ( kitty tv = looking out the windows at the wilderness that was my back yard). Somehow, I think he'll survive.

Now, for the commute. Stay tuned. First commute is tomorrow AM.

The Day before the Big Move

I'm only working a half of day today so I can go home and be ultra prepared for the move tomorrow. Weather report is saying some chance of rain, which means... because I'm moving, it'll rain when the move the bed and the couch since it'll soak up the water best.

The apt is in a total state of organized chaos. The master of the house, (aka Pookie) has been a bit, let's see how do I put his, cranky of late. In his 10 years of life he's been through 6 moves, you'd think he'd get it by now. But instead, he's in every box, sleeping near me or walking near me...hoping he doesn't get left behind. I packed his food last night while he was asleep and got the one-eyed-glare-of-concern. I can't wait to put him in the car so he can wail for 25 miles.

I have a couple of girlfriends coming over tomorrow to help "supervise" the movers. Secretly hoping they'll be cute movers so us girls have something more to gossip about...as if we need anything.

I think I'm set:

• Maps for helpers to the new apt - Check
• Maps of each room and what should go where - Check
• Coffee - CheckCheckCheck
• Donuts - Check
• All belongs neatly packed for optimal quick moving - Check
• All non-movers-moving articles in one location for us girls to move - Check
• Money - Check
• Tylenol - Check
• Enough energy to get through this move - Um - half a check.

Next update from Lynnwood, WA....stay tuned!

Thanks Mom & Dad

I know you know this person. The person who doesn't have table manners. The person who isn't afraid to "lick" their plate when they're done eating. The person who has no concept of polite-ness or anything with regards to being in a fancy restaurant. Well, thankfully I'm not that person ( and thankfully I don't really KNOW anyone like that...I've seen a few and have a few acquaintances I'd like to train, but otherwise, my friends get it).

Anyhow, last night I was fortunate enough to join my upper management (Director, General Mgmt, all Product mgrs etc) in our team for a very nice dinner with three customers we had visiting. Being that I'm the Customer Experience Manager, I basically "managed" their entire day and what not, all the way to planning dinner. Didn't realize I was going to dinner until I was "told" by my director that I should go.

Naturally, I got a bit nervous. But I was thankful that my mom and dad had taken the time to teach me manners. (its a loss art these days with kids I think). I wasn't worried at all about how to behave in a VERY nice restaurant with people who were important to me. Which got me to thinking on the way home about a few acquaintances I have and whether they could keep a professional and polite manner about them in such a situation.

I know it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn, but its really mom and dad who deserve the kudos here. So, thank you mom and dad. I actually did listen and learn something.

4-Way Stop Signs...what's not to get

So generally speaking people in the Seattle area don't get 4 way stop signs. Its quite possibly one of the most annoying things about the drivers here (I could go on and on about how they can't drive in the snow, sun or rain...but I'll stick to the basics).

And just when I thought I had seen it all as to how people deal with 4-way stop signs, I start working on the Microsoft campus. These people are nuts at the 4 way stop. If you don't pull out IMMEDIATELY then you lose your turn. It becomes a came of inch-check-inch-check-inch-HIT THE GAS-Pray. Its not at all what we learned in driving school. The right DOES NOT have the right away here. Its more who has the fastest, or biggest car...

I feel like a granny at the stop signs. I think I need therapy for this.

GO SEAHAWKS!!!!!

The Seahawks are going to the Superbowl. Yeah Baby!

Seattle: 34
Carolina: 14

Go Hawks!

Happy Saturday

I get to sign the paper work for the new apt tomorrow. 7 days and counting before the BIG move.

I am 100% completely packed. Shocked, aren't you all. All the boxes are numbered, labeled, and inventoried....okay well they aren't exactly inventoried (if that's even a word).

And I have a new crush. We'll see how many of you REALLY read this.

Finally, the movie of choice today. While slightly over done, and VERY predictable, it gave me goose bumps. See I'm a band geek at heart. Grew up in the auxiliary units of all the bands for the schools I attended that had bands. (Redmond High being the one exception because they didn't "allow" auxiliary units - whatever.)

Starting in Jr. High: 7th grade at Piute Jr. High. I was the Captain of the Tall Flags. Which really was nothing, but a big Teepee looking set of flags that spelled out Piute. We just carried them behind the band before the flag girls.

Then 8th grade, I "graduated" to Banner. Oh I certainly thought I was cool. I hated every single girl on the banner, but I loved the banner. It weighed a ton and flipped open to spell out Warriors (it spelled Piute when it was closed.)

Then came my freshman year at Antelope Valley High School. I started in banner, then decided to give the Rifle Corpse a try. I took to it like a moth to light. I loved it. As my family can contest, I practiced until I had blisters the size of Kansas on my hands, and bruises ALL over my body. But I got good. In fact, was the ONLY freshman to march in the parades or field shows.

Then the move to the other side of the city brought me to Quartz Hill High School. They were the rivals of AV, and I KNEW I could be Captain there. So I stuck my nose in, tried out with the band director and the current captain watching on...and lo' and behold, I became captain. Looking back now, I can't imagine how crappy the former captain felt with me coming in and taking over, but I didn't care then...I was on top. Loved everything about Rifles. Had a killer team and band. The band experience just sorta stuck with me. They were my family. My first love was in the band. Who? you ask...all together now...Michael Pomerleau. Man, I was over the moon for him. In fact, I got my first kiss from him, thanks to pal Laura Born who SHOWED Mike a letter I had written to her. See I was moving to Washington, and I told Laura the only thing I wanted was a kiss from Mike...SHE SHOWED HIM THE LETTER. The nerve! But I got that kiss. In a practice room in the back of the band room. Oh sweet memories.

But I digress...the movie tonight was DrumLine. Now for all intensive purposes, its lame. But -man- can those bands down south play. LOVED IT!

Go SeaHawks!

And the SEAHAWKS are gonna win.

So that's really not what this blog is to be about. Though it could be. I was going to write about rain again, but that's boring and so last week. But I will add, that the Seattle PI has a quote in it that sums up EVERY Seattleite's life in the winter:

More important to me is I'm moving next week. I have one week to get my current apt in packing order. I laughed at myself last night whilst looking around my apt. I'm probably one of the only people I know (Mike being the other possibly) that has my boxes all stacked in the same area, numbered, and end location printed on them. The boxes aren't scattered around the apt. They're all in the living room (I had to move some furniture to get this accomplished). My thought is two fold: 1) I get to see just how much CRAP I have. Though a one bedroom apt with less than 50 boxes I think is good for me. and 2) I think it'll be easier for the movers I hired.

Yes I hired movers. All my so called "friends" are busy. Which isn't surprising, because if any of you actually know me, you know I move often. I love moving. Most people groan at the idea, but I love it.

Why do I love it you ask? Simple. Its an opportunity for you to see what all the wonderful things you've collected in your life, and get rid of half of them. Moving is really a ritual in cleaning house. Most folks don't toss stuff they don't use unless they're moving ( the one exception being my parents - wait cancel that - dad who keeps everything). I have two "extra boxes". One box for things I KNOW I'm taking to goodwill. The second box are for things I'm just not quite sure I need anymore, but can't quite let them go. I mean you never know when you're going to need that "something" you didn't even remember you had.

For me, the monster of packing is the Kitchen. I love cooking. Thus I have cooking supplies, books, dishes, etc that could easily compete with Sur La Table for a store. Just my kitchen alone, which isn't complete packed yet, is 15 boxes. FIFTEEN boxes. My god...I need to purge.

I've not written about rain in a few days. Mostly because there's nothing new about the rain. Its still raining. According to my count (who care's about SeaTac airport and their "official" count.) we are on day 34 of rain. At least in Bellevue, which according to most Bellevue folks is the center of the universe.

The Seattle PI had an interesting commentary regarding rain. I think it depicts very much what every, single Seattle living person thinks:

"THE OTHER MORNING I saw a patch of blue. No, not the old 1960s Sidney Poitier movie about the blind girl, but a slight clearing in our proverbial gray Seattle sky. The change happened quickly, giving my brain just enough time to register the subtle brightening that caused me to glance from my book and out the window.

That's when I saw it, toward the Olympics -- an almost oval patch of crystal blue, surrounded by clouds in varying shapes and shades of gray. I turned off my reading lamp so I could watch the sky, thrilled and encouraged that this small patch might possibly be a sign signaling the coming of the end to our recent torrential downpours.

My euphoria didn't last long. In the time it took me to contemplate rousting my husband and grabbing our walking shoes, that little patch of blue got swept over by fast-moving, heavy black clouds pushed by a strong wind that seemingly came from nowhere.

Disappointed, I turned the lamp back on and resumed reading."

Capital Punishment...If you dare

I realize raising such touchy subjects on a blog can be detrimental to friendships, here it goes.

Disclaimer: We are all allowed an opinion. If you don't agree with mine, that's great. I appreciate and respect the differences of opinions. So, do not crucify me for mine. If you have a solid opinion and don't want to hear mine, then don't continue to read. Stop.

"I believe that in the circumstances he raises a significant question as to whether his execution would constitute cruel and unusual punishment."

How is this cruel and unusual? You're 76 years old. You've been convicted of a crime that you committed. You've been on death row for 23 years and are about to be executed. Your "plea" is that you're "too old and feeble" to be executed. Now, if we had actually executed him when he was convicted 23 years ago, he would not be too "old and feeble".

The article continues to say, "Over the years, some justices on the Supreme Court have expressed interest in deciding whether a long stay on death row can be unconstitutionally cruel."

So don't let them STAY long on DEATH row. Isn't the point behind capital punishment a death sentence? I've often wondered, and in all honesty, desired to understand the reasoning behind such extended stays on death row. Someone who knows the law can perhaps enlighten me on this, but is there a "structured amount of time" that a person has to be on death row before they are executed?

When we lived in Saudi Arabia, a country who actively supports and goes through with capital punishment, their crime rate was 3%. Three percent. Now granted, they didn't have the judicial system we have and people suspected of a crime "may not" get a fair trial, but still. They had a law and they utilized it.

I'm just sayin'....

Not sure why this got me so fiesty today....

More rain? Seattle says, "Bring It On!"

On my way to work this morning, I had a strange occurrence. I left my apartment and was greeted by this enormous, bright, round thing in the sky. At first I thought it was a UFO, then realized if I were a creature from out of space, I wouldn't visit Seattle. So I squint and walked to my car. Got in, shut the door, started it up in time to hear the radio DJ say the word. The word I couldn't think of, or recall, or remember, or have uttered in god knows how long...he said..."SUN". Its the sun. Der. I remember...oh wait. Where'd it go? Damn it!

While we didn't break our record set in 1953, it seems the rain gods have decided that Seattle hasn't had enough yet. That the year of the drought (2005) was a mistake and now they must fix that mistake (If only the rain gods could fix the taste of bell peppers while they're at it).

On the plus side, we won't have to "conserve" this summer. But if any of you know Seattle, it s a city FULL of conservationist, and activists, and tree huggers, etc. The mountains are getting SLAMMED with snow. My pal Mike told us that a local ski area he's teaching at has 70" already. SEVENTY INCHES...that's like ... um ... anyone got a calculator?... like 5.8333333 feet. AND its still snowing. The news last night said that Snoqualmie (for those NON Washington folk that Snow Qual Me) pass was to get another 7 inches last night. (Please keep in mind it was Jim Forman aka local news caster... aka Drama Queen)

Bummer no record...but How about those SEAHAWKS?

Well, we didn't break the record. According to the "way its done", we have to get recordable rain at SeaTac Airport. While it rained at my place yesterday, it didn't rain there so we aren't going to make our record. Which I guess, is good for those poor souls who are flooding, unless of course, it rained for them too. So we sit at 27 days of rain. And now we have about 10 more in a row coming.

But while it was raining on Saturday, it was a perfect opportunity to watch the Seattle Seahawks BEAT the Redskins. Now, normally, I'm not an NFL fan. I'd much prefer to watch college football. But since our local team is doing exceptionally well, I figured I'd jump on the bandwagon and root the boys on. They did end up winning despite their efforts to lose by fumbling a number of times, and losing our star player in the first quarter. Now its on to play Carolina Pansy's...I mean Panthers. Go Hawks!

Week one of the new job came and went with roaring speed. I can barely remember what I did. I do know I did a bunch of reading and learning on the Microsoft Speech Server. Which, BTW, is an amazing piece of technology. Speech Server is effective, voice recognition software for call centers, and other uses. But did you know, the grammar part of the software is sooo unique that it can be modified to recognize the difference in our pronunciation of words. For example, the way a southerner would pronounce a word, versus the way a New Yorker would. You can set the software up for your region recognition. FASCINATING! I must be a geek at heart. (no comments from the peanut gallery on that one).

The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly in Seattle

This just in: (I love our media up here)

" This is the 26th straight day of rain in Seattle, closing in on the record of 33 days set in 1953..."

Now many of you may not be familiar with this area, but there are two things you are GUARANTEED to see in Washington (a few friends would know this if they visited once in a while...Billie - Vicky you're off the hook because you just got married.) Greenery and Water. We have several lakes surround the Seattle area and NEVER in all my years here has Lake Sammamish every flooded. I was driving home last night along West Lake Sammamish Parkway, when I was "forced" into a detour. The lake is flooding and part of W. LK. Samm Parkway is in danger of being under water. Now keep in mind it isn't YET under water, but they good folks of Redmond want to make sure that no SUV gets stuck in the inch of water that "may" cover the road way. Oh that's the other thing you'll see a lot of up here...SUVs. Though none are really use their 4 wheel drive. If it snows here, people stay home.

Mom sent an email today announcing Tucson has had 88 days of sun. Grrr...clearly she's doing it to irk me...which she LoVeS to do.

My reply to her was that I was beginning the rain dance...I'll explain for those of you who aren't familiar with the rain dance (did I mention we have a bunch of native American's up here too). Say it with me...if we get a chorus going it may work:

Abracadabra! Shazammmm! Twinkle Twinkle (which is your nose twitching).

Now I'm not 100% convinced this is the rain dance. I get that dance mixed up with the pee pee dance all time. What the....gotta go gotta go.

Let the Games begin

You know I'm constantly amused at people in Seattle. As you are all aware of, we've been drenched in rain for several days in a row...25 to be exact. And here's what I've noticed.

Generally speaking, the first 2 weeks people were discouraged and a bit depressed due to all the rain. Now this I don't understand. Having spent most of my formative years in Seattle, rain is a part of life here. Nothing stops due to rain. If you wait for sun, you'll be waiting a long time. Especially in the winter months.

Now that we're on 25 days straight and the folks in the great Northwest are being riddled with media announcements that we have "just a few more days to hit the record." Which may seem odd to most of the world, but here in Seattle, I guess hitting a record like the most consecutive wet days is a big thing.

So here's the current state of mind: "LET'S BEAT THE RECORD." Yes. Its become a competition. The real competitive nature of the people here is out and brewing. (no pun intended with regards to Seattle also being the Java capital of the world).

I sit her mildly amused at the fact that people are now HOPING we beat this record. No lie. The news last night showed a graphic that showed the most days of rain and the year. We are now 3rd from the record. Tomorrow we'll be second from the record. The "record" being 33 straight days of rain.

And as is tradition for the Seattle media, ALL the big news is the rain. Well, and consequently the resulting floods. But none the less, the drama brought forth by the media is killing me.

I love Seattle!

And I shall build an Arc!

Day 24 of the nonstop rain fest here in Seattle. I almost wept last night watching the news. There appears to be NO relief in site. Our record is 33 days and they are anticipating we'll surpass that particular record. Why can't we beat the record for most consecutive sunny days?

Does anyone have any snorkel equipment I can use? At this rate, I'm going to have ocean front property.

23 Days of Rain and counting

Seattle is in a race to beat its record of 33 days of consecutive rain. Its been raining for 24 days straight now. The weather forecast is glum as they think we may make the record. Ugh. The hills are falling like the game Janga around us, standing water is the common thread on all the streets and my umbrella hasn't dried out for days. I love this place. Where else on earth could you get 24 days of rain?

The new job started yesterday. My first thought was, "What have I done?" But as the day progressed I started putting more and more unnecessary stress on myself to learn everything now. For those of you who don't know me, I like to get things done immediately. I hate waiting for things. I'm trying, not very successfully currently, to remind myself that they are expecting a few weeks ramp up.

The team is fantastic. All of them smart, creative people whom I am sure I can learn a lot from. Better start taking notes...oh wait, already did that. First day on the job and I have 6 pages front and back of notes about the people, the job, the goal, etc.

Flat Tires and last days

I just wrote an entire blog about my flat tire experience yesterday...and I lost the whole thing. Damn technology.

Yesterday I was greeted by a VERY Flat tire. The old Jenn might have cried a bit in frustration. But the new Jenn cussed...loudly. Instead, I thought "I'm a bight woman, surely I can change a tire." That thought was quickly replaced by "Where the f--- is the spare tire?" Then a little voice kicks in and says, "Look under the car." AHAH...the spare. DOH! But how to get it released from its prison so that I can change it. Then where's the jack. Oh for heaven's sake...call AAA and join. So $84 later, I now know where the spare is, how to release it, and how to change a tire. But a note to the wise out there, the spare on the car was flat too...thank god AAA had a nice air compressor. AAA said that 70% of the flat tires they change result in the spare being flat too...so go out there and check your spares.

Last day of work at Catalysis today. Its a bittersweet goodbye. On one hand I'm excited about my new job, but on the other, I'm sad to be leaving. I'll miss a lot of the people here.
I put together a list of things I've gone through here...

I've physically moved 7 times.
I was hired as employee 18 and now sit in position 6 in seniority.
I've had 3 different job titles, and 4 different bosses. And survived two major re-orgs.
I've answered well over 10,000 CC emails. Just with Office 2003 launch alone.
I've trained 9 CC reps (one was trained while I was in Sedona on vacation).
I've taken over 500 photos of Catalysis events.I lost count on how many coffees
I've purchased and/or drank.I've met the following dogs: Mabel, Spike, Girl, Punch, Sully, Emma, Puck, Jordi, Molly, Maggie, Spot, Nancy's dog, Echo, Betty, and of course Beau

So on to the next adventure of my life. Thanks for memories Catalysis.

Hauoli Makahiki Hou....

Final days in Hawaii. Final days of the cold. Now the big question....What to do for my new year's theme? I don't usually do resolutions, but I prefer to do themes. Any suggestions?

January will be a month of changes to me. New job and new apartment. So maybe I can do Celebrate Change.

Post your suggestions to me.

Happy New Year...

Well not yet here anyhow...but everywhere else.

Its been a couple of days since I last wrote. And boy has not a whole lot happened. Wednesday after the Volcano I came down with the world's WORST cold. (Its true. We asked The book of records to check it out and they agreed it was the worst). So Thursday I spent the ENTIRE day sleeping. Yes you read that correctly, sleeping. One wasted day of vacation down.

But yesterday I felt a bit better. So in between naps we went into Kona and went to a few markets. Between the heat and sickness all I wanted to do was sit in the car. We stopped for lunch at the Kona Inn, which we ate at last time I was on the Big Island. I couldn't even eat. The family knows that if I'm not eating, I'm definitely sick.

Today, New Years Eve, we drove north. There's a northwest wind that's "rare" on the islands that is causing enormous waves. So on our way north we stopped to see some amazing waves crashing to the sand. Further north we went to a town that I think time forgot. Hawi, Hawaii. The tour book said its a retro 60's town. I would disagree and say it was more retro 50's. It was old and broken down.

But today through it all, in the convertible, I got FRIED. Even with slathering up with sunscreen. I now am being called Jenn the Red Nose Wraspir.

Happy New Year everyone. I hope the year fills you with much joy, love and laughter.