Blog is me....

What is blogging? Where did it come from? How does "blog" even become a word? Does this mean that I can coin my own words too?

Thursday, July 28, 2005

U.S. Open of Competitive Eating

Starting this evening, the Alka-Seltzer U.S. Open of Competitive Eating will be broadcast live by ESPN. Yes, that's right! Competitive Eating! Apparently, this "sport" has grown in popularity in recent years as the little Japanese man known as Takeru Kobayashi has held the number one title for several years.

The eating contests range from buffalo wings to birthday cakes and of course, hot dogs. Takeru is known for eating the most hot dogs. He uses a special technique, known as Japanesing, where you dunk the hot dog bun in water to make it easier to consume.

Many may think that an eating contest is nowhere near being a sport. I beg to differ. There's training involved. There's a lot of hard work and sacrifices that must be made - to be a champion in the pie eating contest or the deep fried asparagus? Hey, ESPN thinks it's a sport so why shouldn't we?

I'm thinking of entering the buffalo wing eating contest. Anyone want to help me train??

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Supportive Shopping

Now, as many of you may already know, I am not the most "girly" of girls. I would rather watch football than get a pedicure. I would rather go backpacking for a couple days than go shopping. Every once in awhile though, I have to act like a girl and do "girly" things with my girlfriends. Apparently, girls like to shop. Duh. They like to shop and shop and shop. They like to look at shoes, clothes, earrings, bags, belts, and anything that might put a dent in their wallets. They like boutique stores and Neiman Marcus and Barneys. Personally, I'm like a kid in a candy store at REI (a much nicer sporting goods store than Sportmart or Sports Chalet).

Well, I spent a solid 3 hours shopping with my girlfriends on Sunday and the sociological aspect of it was fascinating! There seems to be a pecking order based on who has the most fashion sense.

Every group has the fashion diva to whom many inquire about their own fashion decisions. She is the one who knows how to pick out the "cutest things!" She will pull clothes off the rack and say things like "Hey RN! Have you seen this?? This will be totally great on you!" She has a quick eye and circles around the store several times.

Then, there is the rival fashion diva. She is just as fashionable as the other one, but shops for herself only. She works alone and moves quickly. She has no qualms about spending hundreds of dollars if she really likes something. She is very decisive with clear black and white boundaries as to what she likes.

Next, there is the objective friend. She will give objective advice. "Yes, that DOES make your thighs look bigger." "Uhhh....yeah...not so much...." She takes her time and doesn't waste it on sections that don't seem suitable. She is just practical and level-headed enough to be responsible, but not to the point of being boring.

Also, there is the observer. She is like a sponge and takes it all in. She knows what she likes but doesn't feel the need to voice her opinion too strongly. She is neutral to all parties.

And no group is complete without the frugal one. She doesn't want to spend the money on buying anything! She thinks everything is too expensive. She has to think everything through before making a purchase. She lacks spontaneity when shopping. This is where "supportive shopping" comes into play. It is a team effort to coerce this one that it is okay to buy something because in life, every purchase can be justified, especially if it can be worn for more than one season.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Crazy pilots?

Apparently, several commercial and airline transport pilots were indicted for fraud. They had failed to report physiological and psychological conditions that would have otherwise rendered them unfit to fly. They found pilots who were diagnosed with "schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, drug and alcohol addiction, disabling back pain and severe heart conditions."

That's always good to know, don't you think? There's nothing better than putting your life in someone else's hands, especially when they might confuse themselves as a dog. I love talking to my roommate after he's had a long day of work - he's a pilot. I always feel better about flying when he says things like "I was so tired, I was half asleep!" Granted, there is the whole auto-pilot, but that can only carry the plane so far....

It's like when you hear about doctors who are cocaine addicts. Yeah, I want a triple bypass performed by a surgeon who did an 8-ball last night....no, scratch that....who did an 8-ball this morning.

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Negligent blogger

I feel like I've been neglecting my blogging duties. It's been a week and I haven't blogged. Why? Because I've been busy. Mostly, because I couldn't think of anything to write within a quick 10 minutes. Who wants to take more than 10 minutes to write a quick blurb on insignificant events? Oh, wait.....some people actually get PAID to do things like that.

Our company golf tournament was on Thursday. I thought Mr. Spitzer had made our lives completely miserable so that we can't have any fun in the securities industry, but apparently, some things are still under the radar. Either way, there's nothing better than a free golf tournament and seeing all your colleagues drunk. The lesson learned from the day? "Yes, they are free golf balls, but you still have to retrieve them!"

Monday, July 11, 2005

Wedding Season

It is that time of year when weddings are plentiful and brides are frantically ironing out the last minute details, while engaging in some sort of hostile combat with their mothers. Luckily for me, I just attended my last wedding for this year. Yay!!! My wedding season started early in May and now I don't have to worry about weddings for probably another year....unless there's a sudden shotgun wedding. This year's litany of weddings required me to travel to Yucca Valley to Cabo to Anaheim.
Some people despise weddings. Personally, I think they are loads of fun! It's an excuse to get together with friends and take advantage of the open bar for several hours. It's an excuse to "get down" on the dance floor and do the Macarena. I thought that dance had died in the 90s, but apparently, it is able to rear its ugly head at weddings. The only thing we needed to top the night off would have been "Achy Breaky Heart" for the electric slide.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Google takes over the world

Google is literally taking over the world. Really. They have this new software program called Google Earth that allows you to "fly" all over the world and gain a bird's eye view of everything! It's truly a dynamic AND free software that blows most other satellite programs, for the layperson, out of the water! You can even chart a course from point A to point B and "play" the entire route so that you get a sense of how to drive that route! Neat, huh?

Ah yes, the techno-geeks of Northern California have done it again! Google is giving Microsoft a run for its money. California IS better than Washington! I must say that I am becoming more and more of a Google bitch; after all, my email, blog, search engine, internal website at work's search engine, and now my whole world is in their hands.

"Revenge of the nerds" has become more and more of a reality since the tech bubble of the late 90s! What will happen to the "cool" kids????

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

5th of July

My liver hates me. My liver wants to run away from my body. If liver abuse was a crime, I would be locked up for life. Why am I at work? Why did I drink so much? Why do we celebrate all holidays with weekend benders? Why are jello shots so popular on the 4th of July?

They say that college students engage in binge drinking. 20s somethings do the same thing, except we drink better alcohol instead of Keystone light and generic vodka. Bruingirl is going to detox now...