Facebook Account

I couldn't figure out why I suddenly had a Facebook account, but when Eric mentioned as an aside that he created an account for me, I shrugged, updated my profile, and moved on.

Then I noticed on the Wall or whatever that I was apparantly playing Mafia Wars - a game that I was entirely unfamiliar with, so I IMed Eric.

Marian says:
why does it show that marian played all this Mafia Wars crap?

Eric Willeke says:
Sorry about that

Eric Willeke says:
Because that's why I created your account *shamed*

Eric Willeke says:
I needed an extra person added to buy something in the game *more shame*

The desperations of a gamer. I thought that was pretty funny.

Introducing Habanero

World, meet Habanero, my new 2009 MiniCooper being driven out of the showroom! Normally I think buying brand new cars off the showroom floor is an insane waste of money given instant depreciation issues with cars anyway, but since the used MiniCoopers were only slightly less than brand new ones, I went ahead with all the service and warranty perks of a new one.

Snow and Work

I see a clear advantage and disadvantage to working from home when there's several inches of snow outside and plows haven't touched our streets - The disadvantage is that I have zero excuse to not go to work. It's a real struggle moving from the bed to a comfortable chair in front of the computer. The advantage is that I won't get behind in work since life doesn't stop for a few inches of snow! Meanwhile, I had some fun with Elle.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars



View all my reviews.

Hospitals are Evil

Regardless of the fact that I had a ruptured cyst that was enormously painful, I swear to God that I'll never darken the door of a hospital unless I'm dead. Or at least, not St. Vincent's. Dirty, rude, and inept. They had the poorest communication skills that I've encountered in the medical world, and that's saying a lot. Clarian North's hospital was fabulous when I had Elle, but I've heard that they are really only stellar for pregnancies and deliveries. So, back to just avoiding hospitals at all possible costs.

Boots!

As temps maintain sub zero weather here in Indianapolis and the general mid-west, I decided to examine my closet more closely. The snow, albeit not too much, influenced me to inventory my boots.

Riding boots
Dressy ankle boots
Nice high heeled mid-calf boots
Very nice Italian knee boots

The riding boots would probably be a better substitute for ice skates rather than snow boots, snow would get into the ankle boots, and I didn't want mess up the leather of the other two. Not that they'd keep feet warm and dry anyway.

It's somewhat tragic that, as a former snowbird from Michigan's northern snow belt, I have nothing suitable for feet in this weather.

I believe this is the perfect opportunity to go to extremes and buy some gorgeous furry snow boots!

Comfy Travelling

There is travelling, and then there is travelling. Sometimes people question why I would want to accompany Eric to his conferences, but if you saw the hotels that these conferences were in, you wouldn't question it.

This particular one, albeit a short one in Chicago, is well worth coming as my desk overlooks the river flowing underneath Michigan Avenue from 30 stories up in the Hyatt. Even better, when guest services saw Elle, they upgraded us to a business suite where she's now happily running too and fro without banging into walls.

It's not as cool to have to work when I go with Eric since I can't just drop my job during conferences, but the ambience make up for it! Agile2009 will be in the same hotel in August, so I look forward to that trip more now.

Holiday Snap Update

I can't believe how far behind I got with organising and updating my holiday snaps for 2008. Before I started the process this morning, the last holiday updated was North Carolina in May. Now I have Boston, West Virginia, Mexico and Cape Cod added.

I'm looking forward to another year of holiday adventures!

Boston

West Virginia

Mexico

Cape Cod

Industry Perk

The biggest perk of being involved in the educational industry, specifically universities, is that once a major holiday hits, i.e., Christmas and New Years, the work dies instantly. Nobody is in the office. No student is doing anything. No faculty or subcontractor want a myriad of different reviews. This results in literally no additional work that is picked up at the end of the holiday. Everything simply died and resurrected at the same point in time. Granted, being in the online side of things, that means that you have to actually bother checking your email occasionally, but I have discovered that it's only the few odd and end questions easily answered.

Living in a world that functions 24/7 and punishes the fool who actually tries to focus on things other than career at least once a year for a few days, I am perfectly thrilled to start fresh without extra stacks of works after Christmas/New Year combo holiday.


Speaking of which, I have to say that Christmas in Cape Cod was perfectly wonderful with the proper amount of reading in front of the fireplace and spending time with family taking place (see "Something Going to Plan?" and "Snuggling Through the Holidays" posts).

Following that up with a trip to Chicago with a few friends to enjoy an excellent dinner and a fabulous band at the B.L.U.E.S. was a great ending to 2008!