This is the FINAL JOY of 2007

Here is some joy. It is random and multi tiered. I seem to have blinded myself by falling asleep in my contacts last night - to that end, please forgive me flagrant typos and grammatical errors - any more than usual at least.

Joy Part 1!
Go here. Watch this. I can't embed it, because I'm a needy incompetent woman.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2716-Zero-Punctuation-Guitar-Hero-III (thanks Pelki!)


Joy Part 2!



Feel free to mock me. That said - it's the BFFs Uncle Billy's Birthday today. he likes this too - so I feel like I'm DOUBLE allowed to qualify this as joy.

Joy Part 3!
Did I mention that today is the last day of 2007? I don't know about you but I am DONE with this year. I believe that 2007 kicked my ass. I am intending to take my ass kicking vengeance out on 2008.

Joy Part 4! (OH MY LORD THERE IS SO MUCH JOY!!)
Panda Cam!

Joy Part 5! The final frontier

Most of the time I write about myself on this blog, and I appreciate that you read it. As we depart 2007, here is a list of things that I am proud of, grateful for, happy about for this year that are all about you!

1.) There was a new baby! (cutest baby EVER! but I'm biased)Love you guys.

2.) Somebody I adore graduated from nursing school in true rockstar fashion and looked fabulous the whole time. Thank you. For everything - you are stellar and inspiring.

3.) Someone I know used a hazer and approximately two lighting instruments left over from 1972 to do a simply stunning show. See!

Nicely done sir. Thanks for the armwarmers :) You are remarkable.

4.) The work ladies. You know who you are. You all saved me this year. In more ways than I can articulate. Thanks to each and every one of you for being interesting, smart, kind, supportive, patient with me, and lovely as all hell. Both with my personal life, and with that beast we call work.

5.) This guy. You are awesome and I am proud of you.

6.) My DC friends, you also know who you are. Simply, thanks.

7.) This lady - who in unfailingly encouraging, supportive and fun, and whose happiness brings me great joy.


8.) Pelki and the man. Thanks for showing up and being snarky.

9.) Nougat. Who came through in the clutch on a really hard day. Thanks.

10.) A fabulous friend of mine got to quit her job and go on tour! I like you! Lobsters!

11.) This lady. Isn't she pretty?

12.) That lady's man - thanks for carrying my luggage upstairs when I needed it most.

13.) Vacation, the time to take it, and a good friend to take it with.

14.) Lewis at Perfect Laundry - who can always get me out of a jam.

I'm sure that there are more, but I'm stopping here but for this last one - thank YOU! yeah you. For checking in here every one in awhile, reading things, and occasionally having something to say. A very happy new year to you and yours.

Things I will never be naieve enough do again....

1.) Trust any alcoholic beverage that is a color that doesn't occur in nature.

2.) Take Communion

3.) Eat Oysters

4.) Fly with a layover when there is any other option.

5.) Give the kitten a dip in sulfuric solution while wearing short sleeves. Or anything less than kevlar.


Ow.

In Egg Shell Seas Day-o

I will take this moment to post a magical vegas photo and wish you all a very merry Christmas! A lovely holiday, of your choosing, to you and yours.

Wait - did you miss some JOY?!?

Yeah. I'm late. Sorry. you'll live. Merry impending holiday!

Are you a good witch or a bad witch?

We did personality testing at work the other week. Typically - I enjoy such exercises, and am rarely surprised by the results (for you Meyers-Briggs fans out there I'm an ENTJ - I believe that personality type boils down to, soulless, but can deliver.)

Last time out we did something different - DiSC Training, which stands for Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness.

I share with you now - my DiSC profile.
________________________________________
I have the "Inspirational Pattern"

Emotions: Accepts aggression, downplays need for affection.

Goal: Control of their environment or audience.

Judges others by: Projection of personal strength, character, and social power.

Influences others by: Charm, direction, intimidation, use of rewards.

Value to the organization: Acts as a "people mover," initiates, demands, compliments, disciplines.

Overuses: Attitude that "the ends justify the means."

Under Pressure: Becomes manipulative, quarrelsome, belligerent.

Fears: Weak behavior, loss of social status.

Would increase effectiveness through: Genuine sensitivity, willingness to help others to succeed in their own personal development.
______________________________________

I'm not going to get into the rest of the description now - it's three paragraphs long and is probably more than you want to know about me. Highlights include"astute at identifying and manipulating an individual's existing motives in order to direct that person's behavior toward a predetermined end" and "people often feel a conflicting sensation by feeling drawn to Inspirational people and yet being curiously distanced"

Granted - this is how your personality is at the office - not at home or in personal relationships where it can change** but I believe what I learned most from this excercise is that I missed my calling as a cult leader.

**those of you that know me personally - you have my permission to roll your eyes knowingly at this post. That said, I'm pretty sure I'm not as evil yet tasty at home as they say I am at work. If so - sorry if you feel curiously distanced from me :) - perhaps this explains my enduring singleness.

Need a lovely gift for those special people in your life?

Just for the hell of it

Olly olly oxen JOY!!!

Happy Monday. This is for you.

SPOON!

Lunchtime. Rambling. Tuesday.

So - I'm eating my lunch with a baby spoon today as our office does not keep utensils around and it was the only thing I can find. Sadly - chili does not lend itself to ladylike behavior when eaten with fingers.

It occurs to me that the maraschino cherry - a slightly hot topic of late - would fit quite well in a baby spoon...and in a manhattan...but I digress.

We started putting the tree up last night and it made me think of my mother who had great affection for all disgusting food products of the 70's.

To that end I bring you...

Horrifying "foods" and "beverages" of the 70's that are qualified as excellent by my befuddled parents.
Hey Brotherman - feel free to play along!

1.) Deviled Ham

2.) Port Wine Cheese Spread

3.) Raw Cauliflower (okay - probably not just 70's related, but I can't shake the association)

4.) Vienna Sausages

5.) Canned Asparagus (see "Raw Cauliflower")

6.) The Harvey Wallbanger

7.) Blue Nun

8.) Gherkins/ Pistachio Flavored Instant Pudding (tie)

9.) Rumaki

10.) Creme de Menthe

I can't that the universe for much, but I can thank it for making me a halfway decent cook given the history here. I've got that going for me, which is nice.

hey...look there in the sky...it's some JOY!

I think we should move easily into our joyous weeks. So - I'm gonna start you off nice and mellow. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm thrilled to welcome back to the stage, Mr. Martin Sexton!



If you're not feelin' Marty...
Well - here's a picture of a lady in a whole bunch of hat.

Yikes.

Feel some joy that that's not on YOUR head.