Monday, May 28, 2007

Cat and JessM...and Rwanda

You too! Happy Birthdays. Sorry I couldn't make it, I wanted to. I hope you had lots of fun and enjoyed some "vodka tonic" and "gin and tonic."

This happened the other day at Intelly:
customer: Hey, where is the Rwanda coffee from?
Caitlin: Umm... what do you mean?
customer: Well, where is it from?
Caitlin: Do you mean region or town or...? I mean it's from Rwanda... the country.
customer: Oh, Rwanda is a country? Wow, I guess you can really tell I am an American.
Caitlin: Hehe....

Later...

customer: Oh, I bet that movie Hotel Rwanda is about Rwanda, huh? I mean, I haven't seen it, isn't it some war movie?
Caitlin: (In some nice and gentle words Caitlin talks about the genocide in Rwanda).

Yikes. I was standing there and heard the whole thing unfold. I was so mad when he left... which is probably the wrong emotion to have. He was very open to being informed... but really how do you not know about Rwanda? By the way, he was probably like 26.

Happy Memorial Day.

If anyone wants to live in Chicago for 2 months starting like June 15, my friend will be going to Peru and needs to sublet... something to think about.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Happy Belated Mae

The days leading up to May 21st I kept thinking, I know Mae's birthday is coming I am sure she would love a call on her birthday. When the moment was there I failed to remember and now it may seem that I don't care about your birth. Your birth is actually pretty important to me... if you had not been born, who would have lived down stairs... or been my bible study leader... or been you? I am glad you were born Mae and I cannot wait to hear what is on your 26 list! By the way, do you mind if I copy that. I will credit you, but I think it is a great idea and would like a 24 list.

So... do you guys mind if I call and ask for your address and then send you a really obnoxious letter asking for money?

That also reminds me, Mae, did you reach your goal or are you short?

This morning (6:50am), some guy was in the parking lot (directly below the apartment complex), was beeping every 5 seconds (no exaggeration I was counting the seconds). The beeping lasted so long that I got up, got dressed, and was on my way down to tell him something (not sure what) when it finally stopped. I went to my window and there were two gentlemen speaking aggressively with each other and all I heard was "You have to pay to park here." I was annoyed. This man was beeping because someone with their flashers on (which means they will be back) was blocking his car and he couldn't get out. I want to have compassion for the man because he probably had to work and was going to be late for reasons that he could not control, but does this excuse him from waking an entire complex of peacefully sleeping people?

I didn't get the position that I interviewed for, which is almost good. I was given good reasons as why their choice was not me and also good feedback about how I will be given the chance to move up in the future.

I hate running.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

For Dignity and Respect

I would like to invite all of you to visit these two websites:

http://www.firstgiving.com/talyaruns

www.inspirationcorp.org

thanks

Friday, May 18, 2007

How can I be so in love with T.V.?

I went without it for, what, all of college (5 years). I always supplemented with going to the rec room to watch things like the O.C. and Arrested Development (interesting combo). I also could catch up when I would visit Chris in Hudson because of his familie's DVR. For hours I would make Chris watch the past 3 episodes of Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, The Closer, Alias... etc. In turn, Chris has had the chance to make me watch his favorites like Battlestar Galactica and Avatar. Now I have too many shows to watch and have to make weird evaluations like what's more important, going to Colin's going away party when it starts or watching the season finale of Grey's Anatomy and arriving late... I chose to go late.

I am pretty sure that this love of T.V. is pretty normal. However, my bad taste is also normal and not widely accepted by people that I think are "the kind of cool I want to be (squidzaus)."

Summer is almost here and my training is in full swing. If you want to know exactly what I ate today or what kind of exercise I managed, just ask me, I am recording it all. Coming Soon... my own website specifically for marathon stuff.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

How to be funny?

My funniest joke comes from Amy Popp, and when she tells it, people laugh. However, most people give me a giggle and roll their eyes. Maybe because it's interactive and they feel stupid... or maybe because Amy is cuter, or maybe my delivery is off. It's about a bird.

Hey! Hey! How about this one?!

What kind of bees make milk?

If you want the answer, you have to call me, because this joke is truly in the delivery.

Otherwise, people mostly think I am funny only when I am being loose and crazy and that doesn't happen often. Maybe I should say that that doesn't happen in front of most people.

That baby is crying again.

So we know that Mae and Lyndsey are funny, are you?

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Why is this all so hard to figure out?

I told on a co-worker tonight. I have no clue if this means that I am a horrible person without compassion or if I am a better person for not worrying about whether they will hate me if I stay true to my character/integrity and hold them up to these expectations that I hold everyone else? Will you tell me that I am better respecting them in this way? There was truly no harm done other than I am once again overthinking this moral standard thing. I don't know what it means to do the right thing, truly honor people, or be gentle while strong.

Do you ever feel like there are so many little things you need to do in your life that it becomes so overwhelming? Laundry can become a giant task when you can't find the time to relax... so do you relax or do your laundry? I mean laundry is not the only thing... it's cleaning the apartment and paying my bills and writing three letters and reading once in a while and returning the videos and buying shoes and groceries... and and and. Damn, and Lyndsey, you thought YOUR life was hard. Seriously, how will I ever be an adult if I can't figure out how to manage these things?

The good news is... I can't figure out any of this and so I am relieved of truly figuring it out. Props to the big man for being in control. Shit, I don't want to control any of this. I am just fine being the follower.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Dear Montrose Ladies,

This just in...

The flaxseed, as Mae informed us, is amazing, but has to be ground. Apparently, if it is in seed form, we don't actually get that amazing stuff from it. Hence, Colleen poops a lot when seeds are blended (crushed/diced) into her smoothie. So... Follow Mae's lead and get on the train but don't swallow the seed whole.

I sent The email. What email? The one that asks Angela Brown to add me to the Inspiration Marathon Team 2007!

Monday, May 07, 2007

Identity.

What are the things that make someone? Is it their religious/spiritual beliefs? Is it how they treat other people? Is it what they like? Is it what they are passionate about?

On this one episode of America's Next Top Model (did I just say that?) Tyra was ripping on this girl for not being an individual. She kept asking her who her favorite actor was, or role model, or favorite color... what? Are those really the things that define people? I guess if acting or music or painting is your passion, you may be able to answer those questions quickly and say yes, everyone should be able to answer that and it does show a little something of who you are. Most of the time the only thing that I can answer is my favorite color... which most of the time I can't pin down to just one answer. Is the fact that I am not really into music or films or anything that most people can relate to, weird?

Ok. Answer me. What makes you, you? Tell me the things that set you apart and mean something to you.

I keep saying that what I am passionate about is people. That kind of statement makes people really uncomfortable, but so does everything else I say. I am good at encouraging and loving what others do. I am good at being a friend sometimes. I think that those things mostly give a good indication of who I am. More importantly it all indicates who I want to be, which is sometimes a lot more important.

Your turn. Give it to me baby.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Dear Chris,

Since you are able to access my blog, do you think you could do me a huge favor? I want to link my friends on the side of my blog... if you love me you will do it for me... :)

Just kidding. Really I want you to teach me not just do it for me.

Sincerely,
Girlfriend

Jen!

You're here! You read my blog still? YAY!

So I haven't registered for the marathon yet... I am afraid. Also, after we used to run together, I stopped running for more than a year. So, this is a new start again and I am probably only at 4 miles on a good day. Training is not in full swing yet. Rewind. I stopped running in the first place because I was lazy and also because I felt like my weight while running was killing my knees. Soo... I started dieting and have completely changed my eating habits, and now I have reintroduced the running. I have confidence that this Marathon will actually happen... even without the amazing Amy Popp to inspire me to run daily.

I invited some friends over for dinner and beer the other night and about 4 out of 20 showed up... it was fun and I am not disappointed, but I wonder if I just don't give off the fun vibe. I mean who doesn't want free food and free beer?

Last night I did something really out of character and probably compromising of my integrity... I am too embarrassed to admit my fault here.

Congrats Lyndsey! Oh, and Congrats to Chris too who also was promoted.

I am applying for shift lead at Intelligentsia (coffee), which will probably not happen because I am too new, not bar certified, and everyone else who is interviewing for it has more seniority and is bar certified. We are also looking for a new Asst. Manager... which I am not bold enough to interview for just yet.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Running on the shore.

It was so nice today. The running path was not crowded at all, it was sunny and cool, that kid in the red zip up hoody was too cute, and the waves crashing up on me was really fun. Also, have you ever been working out and listening to your music and that song comes on with all of the swear words and you just start shouting them in your head and it's totally uplifting... awesome. (Am I allowed to have a sentence that long?)

Here I come Marathon!

Here.

If you were not there and would like to see...

http://flickr.com/photos/maddogmae

Sorry I still don't know how to link.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

The good news is...

I don't know who the bloody hand-prints belong to? I do know that they are not Al's! yay.

You all could come for the marathon in the fall of 2007.... how is that?

Who knew turkey burgers could be sooooo good!

Do you watch Heroes? It was good last night, huh?