Tuesday picks & pans

ok kids, here are your weekly picks and pans. Yup, this is my time of week to let it all out, get on my soapbox, and basically just share my opinions on whatever I feel like opining on. It's kind of liberating! :)

And, just a note, right before I wrote this I realized that just about every blog I do starts with "ok". hmmm. Maybe that's because everything I say in real life also does-- i.e. "okay so like here's the thing!" hehehehe. anyway, back to the blog...

PICKS

hip hop classes-- some of you know I've been taking these at the gym, but I think very few of you understand how much I really like them! Now, I probably look really stupid, but I'm coordinated enough to pick the routines up really quickly, so then I just get to dance the whole time. All in all, it's an hour and a half every week that is definitely well spent!

holiday light shows-- we visited the Oceanfront's light show this past weekend, which was really fun! Now, there is probably nothing cheesier than putting Santa in all sorts of beach scenes (Santa windsurfing?!), but hey it's all in the festive name of Christmas. next stop: the show at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, which I imagine has to be amazing like the gardens themselves.

instant heat-- one of the new things I love about my car (and most of the new cars out there)-- within a minute of being on the road, even when my temp thing is still on cold, my butt and I are very toasty :) It makes me very very happy, especially since most of you know I HATE cold weather!

the Council Rock drum cadence-- I'm going to have to explain this one I know... Well, my brother told me about this site that has the cadence from our marching band years on it. Back in the day, CR's band was a force to be reckoned with, with 250 people and a long tradition of superiority in both marching and music. My brother and I each spent our high school lives in the band, with both of us getting our first European experiences through it as well as good years with great friends (and no I was not your typical band geek!) The cadence we marched to was kind of the epitome of the band-- while most bands were marching to classic rim taps, CR had this cadence as a tradition that had much more-- bells, real rhythm, and even the band yelling. When people heard it, they knew Council Rock was coming, and in the band we knew it was showtime and we automatically raised our heads with pride. And, while there are few things about high school I care about now, the idea that the cadence is no longer played bothered me more than I thought it would. When CR got split into North and South, the cadence faded away at both schools along with all of the traditions of the past-- everything we used to do is now called "old school". I saw a picture of the band (North's) yesterday: the band is half the size, they wear different uniforms, and they even call their flags "colorguard". I know it shouldn't really matter, but since it was such a big part of my high school experience, it just kinda makes me sad. So, here's to the cadence and all it stands for, and here's to remembering the past and celebrating tradition.

boats-- maybe it's the Beach in me that's finally starting to come out, but I've decided I really like being on the water! Even something simple like Friday's Spirit of Norfolk cruise was fun.

Harris Teeter-- by far my fave grocery store, and the only place I can get my fave wine: Fat Bastard Chardonnay. Now, you're probably wondering why a grocery store is on my blog list, but I just appreciate classy places with good service and fresh food. They make me happy :)

The Simpsons-- every now and then I remember how much I like the Simpsons, especially when I catch one of the more clever episodes. Today's interpretation of Homer and of Hamlet had me absolutely in stitches.

Harry Potter-- woohooooo! new book in July!


PANS

Cox Cable-- Some of you have heard about my famous moment at work, when I went down the stairs screaming "I HATE COX!" (yes, it would sound bad if you didn't realize I was talking about the cable company...) So what did they do this time? WELL, they've been advertising their new DVR service (like Tivo) for $4.99 a month, which I thought would be really fun to have. But, upon further investigation I found out there is NO WAY to get it without also renting their box for another $9.95 a month! So really it is IMPOSSIBLE to get it for $4.99, yet that's all they advertise! That should somehow be illegal. grrrrrrr.

cell phone #'s being released to telemarketers-- if your cell # isn't registered with Do Not Call, make sure you do it soon!!! It makes me SO mad that this is happening-- now I'm going to have to use my minutes for calls I don't want?! I registered and all, but there are still companies that qualify as being allowed to call you. If that happens, they are going to get a piece of my mind.

taxes-- yes I know they are a part of life and all, but I actually took the time to look at my paycheck last week when we were talking about profit sharing. It is there that I found out that $17,000 of my money has gone to taxes this year! $17,000!!!!!!!!!!! WTF?! And you know what else makes me mad? knowing how at least some of it is being spent, and who may or may not be getting it. That is my really freaking hard earned money. And that's all I have to say about that before I let all of my politics out and piss a bunch of you off.

the decline of grammar-- It is very sad to me that people do not know how to speak correctly. The worst part is, I think in many cases people are never even taught to speak correctly as if it isn't even important! There's a commercial that has the phrase "I can't feel my leg no more" and another one that has the most obviously incorrect subject verb agreement I have ever heard. Now, I know I am not always perfect either (hey you see the hell of the Internet informality that IS my blog), but if I ever have a doubt, that's what my Quick Access from college is for :) I just think the whole idea of losing language is a shame.

rude people-- many of you get road rage, well, I get rude people rage! People that are inconsiderate or just flat out rude really make me MAD-- for instance, the people in the back of the line that go to the newly opened check out that asks for the "next customer" or the people on their cell phones in public places (like RESTAURANTS) that act like you WANT to hear their whole conversations. ooooh. I know I shouldn't stay mad about stuff like this, but it really drives me nuts.

working too much-- I had a dream last week that there were 28 calls on hold, I couldn't figure out what gates people were in, service people I don't even know ransacked my apartment, and there were people on my shift waiting for me crying that I hadn't been there to help them! Yes, this is proof I work way too much.

T.O.-- gone for now but not forgotten! I STILL BELIEVE!!!!!! Todd Pinkston doesn't drop every pass that comes to him, really! :(

ok I am headed home in a few days so I will catch you all in a little while. Have a safe and happy holiday!!!