vote for...

For those of you who know me, you know that I'm not the type to spam my friends and family with chain letters, quizzes, etc... but you also know that I like to support a good cause. There's an organization in my hometown taking competing for $250,000 toward building a rec/education center for people with disabilities and the community and they are currently in 17th place (which is pretty good, I think - yesterday they were 21, I think).  I encourage you to take a look by clicking the image below and, if you think it's a great idea, give it a vote.  You can vote daily through Jan. 31.  




End of commercial. 

road rage

One time I saw a car almost hit a truck when the driver started to change lanes without looking - they realized and corrected back into their lane and no damage was done.  Crisis averted, right?  Apparently not, because when we stopped at the next light, guy in the car that was nearly hit got out of his vehicle, approached the person who nearly hit him, and began yelling and reaming them out.  It was pretty insane.  And to make matters worse, I missed the next light because of his little hissy. What a jerk. 

I'm pretty sure my road rage type qualifies under the Minnesota Nice category - "courteous, reserved, and mild mannered" - and sometimes "passive aggressive."  My version of screaming at people ends up in a low-medium level volume and is sometimes as aggressive as: Hey, guy, I'm right next to you or Hey, guy, thanks for cutting me off.  This is often accompanied by a hand gesture... not that hand gesture. 

I know... you wouldn't want to meet me in a dark alley.  I'm pretty scary. 

I was thinking about this on my way home tonight while stuck in traffic because two of the four lanes on the highway were closed because an accident ahead.  Since I was on my way home it wasn't a big deal and I patiently let people merge around me - we were going 5 - 10 miles/hour, tops. 

After the accident cleared on the highway and we were going a normal speed again, there was a guy whose car was closer than I would have liked to the bum of my car.  I consider giving them a brake check - imagine the scenario - and then let it go because it would probably not end in my favor (i.e. dented bumper or worse).  So, I let guy follow me snugly and close.  When things opened up, he passed me on the right before I even had a chance to get out of his way because clearly he was in more of a hurry than me.  So, I pull in behind him - because it was the lane I needed, not to be a jerk (see, courteous), and for a moment - just a brief moment - consider snuggling up behind him.  Then I think about brighting him.  I don't do that either.  And the whole time, I'm not even really angry.  Maybe a little spiteful, but not angry.

I'm the worse road rager, ever.

What kind of road-rager are you?

p.s. the use of guy in this can refer to men, women, teenagers, old people, etc... Ask Emily - when I'm on the road, everyone is known as "guy" or "hey, guy."  I am in no way inferring "guys" are bad drivers.  Well, maybe I am - depending if you use my definition or yours.

one year

A year ago yesterday I bought my new laptop and also started this blog - so thanks for following along and humoring me along the way.  I'm not sure what 2011 will bring here, but if you want to see something, let me know.  And the invitation for you to guest post is always open. 

I mentioned a couple of days ago that I had high intentions of being productive this weekend.  I got a little distracted, but got most of it done. 

Here's what I completed:

• pick up champagne and orange juice for brunch (mimosas!)
• have brunch with friend Kim and her family (yeah!)
• get my hair cut (it needs it desperately)
• hang out with other friends
• find a couple of sweaters
• pick up other necessities for which I currently have low/nonexistent inventory

And there's a few things I didn't do:

• get shoes
• get a new computer bag
• peruse fun things at the office supply store but I DID take a peek at Target's supply...

However, there were a number of things I did that weren't on the list:

• laundry
• take down and put away Christmas decorations
• fit Christmas tree back into its box
• make brownies - they were gross, but I did make them.  Tooooo much sugar. boo.  If you have a good brownie recipe, send it my way, please.
• make relatively complicated dinner on new years eve

New Years Eve was nice - and want to give a big shout out and thank you to Kim & Brian making me brunch and letting me hang out with their family that morning.  They totally rock and the kids are adorable!  I stayed home until about 9 p.m. that night to see if the weather would allow me to go out - and it did so I met up with Abby & Co. in Minneapolis. The place we were at gave us nice tierras to wear for the midnight countdown, too. 



Abby & Me



I'm not one for resolutions, so have nothing really to report on that front.  I'm just planning to keep doing what I have been doing and try to do a little better going forward. So here's what I want from you:  1)  What about you - any resolutions this year?  and 2)  Is there anything else you'd like to see from me this year?

Wishing you everything you want and more for 2011.