Schadenfreude

Part of speech: Noun

Meaning: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

Derived from the German words: Schaden meaning "damage" and Freude meaning "joy"

This site optimizes it: http://www.fmylife.com

The Random Stuff I Find Online...Playboy edition

Today in my internet wandering I found this article on Playboy.com: http://www.playboy.com/sex/features/breasts/

As a female I must say it's interesting to read the very informative articles that boys are "reading" Playboy for when their girlfriends/wives catch them and they think they are in trouble.

Best quote: "A survey of 95 male students found that those who preferred small breasts were....more likely to be depressed."

Guess I'll never date a depressed guy...

Procrastinator?

I'm back from my blogging hiatus. Hope you missed me. :-)

So today I came across, http://procrastinus.com/ and took their procrasinator's quiz.

Below are my results, cliffnotes verison:

Your score is: 27 out of a possible 100

Rarely or Not A Procrastinator

You rank in the bottom 10% in terms of procrastination. That is, when it comes to putting things off, you do so only if it makes good sense. Likely, you are a very conscientious and self-disciplined person. You probably have few irrational or distracting impulses or are at least very knowledgeable about how to control them. Consequently, you likely perform better than others with a minimal amount of stress. Still, you may be procrastinating in one neglected area of your life, such as exercise or even socializing.


What type of procrasinator are you?

Score One for Sprint

Sprint's newest online widget is pretty freakin' cool....and pretty freakin' brillant.

In an age where advertisers are aware that we Americans are so focused on what's happening NOW and wanted "up to the minute" everything that they are often showing off there speed. (Examples: Those Bank of America commericals where that guy's bagel purchase showed up on his online account before he sat down at his table from purchasing said bagel and the every local weather stations "up to the minute weather doppler reporting system.)

Sprint has taken it a step further by not showing us how fast they are, but how informed they can make you with the latest information...even if it's about the most random stuff.

Go to the site and check it out: http://now.sprint.com/widget/

Consumer Observation of the Day: Purple Drank

So today I was at Harris Teeter, looking at the soda aisle and came to this realization:

White people must not drink grape soda.

Now as a market researcher, I'm in the business of stereotyping people's consumer behavior based on their lifestyle, race, income, etc so I tend to notice buying habits. Normally, I have data that backs up my hunches...but in this time this was not necessary.

My proof?

Diet soda is mostly targeted at white people. There is diet everything from Coke to Club Soda to Sunkist but there is NOOOO diet grape soda.

I rest my case.

Domestic Triumphs

Quote of the day from my favorite attorney...who was making cookies for her office.

I think this is one of my finest accomplishments:

1. law degree

2. passing the bar

3. baking chocolate chip cookies from scratch

Love it. Some us just aren't that domestic. :-)

I don't think I've ever made cookies from scratch...

Auto Bailout

Got this in an email from my manfriend today:

So sadly true, its actually funny....

Normality...

My P.I.C. has a good point about weird people and comparing them to ourselves.


"I think maybe weird people seemed more normal because our lives are not that that normal right now; so in comparison, they seem normal. Thats just my theory though. I mean, when weird people seem normal that makes me question my normality..."


Hmm...me too.


So is it that we're getting weirder or are they getting more normal...

Food for thought....

“In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sorority / Fraternity Life Lesson Used in the Real World

I saw this post on the Newly Corporate blog and thought of all my fellow Greeks.

Read it and rejoice in your Greek status or be jealous that you weren't (J/K...sorta....)

Either way enjoy!

http://newlycorporate.com/2008/04/01/what-sorority-life-taught-me-about-business/

The importance of Brothers/Sisters

Only certain people can be completely honest with you and when you really need to hear is straight, those are the people you need to turn to.

And that's why I have a certain attorney fraternity brother/sorority sister that gave me the following blunt advice:

"Quit being a doormat. People treat you how you let them treat you."

Short, simple, to the point.

And just what I needed to hear.

Random thought of the day

I'm glad my friends are as ADHD as me. Exhibit A...

So I was sitting around with Jessica and we are looking for a name for her kitten and this is how our conversation went:

Jessica: What should we name the cat? We could name her Jade if she had green eyes. We could name her Sapphire but I don't like that as much...

Me: If I had a strip club, I would make all my strippers have jew names. Like Jade, Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, Emerald...

Jessica: And the cheap skank one can be named Quartz.

Me: Yeah.

Jessica: Free lap dance with the purchase of a shot.

Me: That's an awesome idea.

Sounds like an awesome business plan to me...

Step One is realizing you have a problem...

So I've decided I have an addiction...to anxiety, guilt, and passive aggression.

Part one of this epiphany was in yesterday's blog. (Read it.) Anyway the best way to end an addiction is to have a plan and the most popular is a 12 step program. Here's what my research tells me:

The twelve step program works...according to AA:
Step 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable
Step 2 - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
Step 3 - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God
Step 4 - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
Step 5 - Admitted the exact nature of our wrongs
Step 6 - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
Step 7 - Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings
Step 8 - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all
Step 9 - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
Step 10 - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it
Step 11 - Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out
Step 12 - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs

I'm a little ADHD for 12 steps so I'm shortening it to 7.
Cause I feel like it... and I like the number 7.

Seven step program by Adrianne
Step One: Admitting your addiction, that your life has become unmanageable, and that you're over it.
Step Two: Admit we are not powerless, your happiness matters just as much as everyone else's, and that you have the power to restore your sanity.
Step Three: Decide to take your power back.
Step Four: Make a complete and fearless moral inventory.
Step Five: Admit your wrongs, and your rights. On a regualr and consistent basis.
Step Six: Realize that it will not always be easy...but you will be happy and that's what matters.
Step Seven: Be Happy :-)

So I did Step 1 yesterday and it felt AMAZING.

Working on Step Two...

And I'm copyrighting that shit so don't steal it. :-P

I had an epiphany...

...and I think it's gonna change my life.

So today I was talking to the Yankee and found myself apologizing for other people (something I do quite often for those of you who don't know me well...and for some of those that do ...)

Anyway after we ended our conversation and then I realized something. Something I should have figured out a LONG ASS time ago.

Here it is...

"The only person I am responsible for is me."

Period. Just Me. Not A-N-Y-O-N-E else. No matter how much I may want to help people in the end I can't make people be responsible, I can't make their lives run the way they should, I can't make them respect each other. Basically I can't make people do anything and therefore, I should not feel guilty/sad/disappointed/worthless/shitty when other people don't do what they are supposed to do. AND it is not my responsibility to babysit them and make sure they do what they were supposed to at the expense of my happiness, good time, and/or sanity. Once I take care of my part of things and pass the baton over things are no longer my problem.

That's the most liberating thing I've ever thought.

Craziness.

Who says gift cards have to be gifts

I'm becoming more domestic...

I can tell because I find this blog amazing: http://hyperhomemaker.blogspot.com/

Anyway she wrote a blog about finances and I'm going to have to pass on this awesome advice to people who are:

1) Trying to budget or just track their expenses
2) Trying to balance their checkbooks
3) Do a lot of small trips to places like Starbucks (aka Crackhouse, Inc.)


"If you are making the same purchase everyday, make it easier on yourself and get a gift card. I, for example, drive to get a coffee at Starbucks in the morning with my husband before we head off to work. I make this purchase every weekday. Now, admittedly, it is a pain in the rear to make a $1.97 entry every morning in the check register. So here's the solution. If I KNOW I'm going to be going to Starbucks every morning, I withdraw $50 and buy a gift card. That way I have $50 on the check register for "Starbucks - May" and then you just make your purchase every morning with that! So much easier."

Here's the link if you want to look at the whole entry: http://hyperhomemaker.blogspot.com/2008/05/starting-fresh.html

As Jasmin (my work partner-in-crime) pointed out that you could use this same theory for eating out at different resturants.

Here's my suggestion:
If you are a fast food addict or find yourself eating out to much at sit-down places you could buy a Visa Gift Card and then use that as your budget.
For example: You budget $50 a month for fast food (definition: any place with a drive-thru or a in which your food comes in a bag.) You buy a $50 Visa Gift Card and make all your fast food purchases with that. When it runs out, no more fast food for you. If there's some left over, you

1)reload the card with another $50 and you either get extra fast food
2) Only reload the card so that the balance will be $50 (like if you had $12 left over you just add $38, so the total's $50) and then you have extra money in your checking account for a nice dinner, a movie, or an extra 3 gallons of gas.

Either way it will help you see what you're spending and regulate it.

Hope this helps. Peace out people.

I love these stupid quizzes

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now? Some gym clothes, a screwdriver set, and a lot of white dog hair.

2. When was the last time you threw up? Probably 5 months ago and it was ridic

3. What's your favorite curse word? MOTHERF**KING C**T*SS B*TCH!! is the my newest fave combination

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today? Two of my co-workers and the dog (she acts like a person)

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Sleeping

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Eating lunch at Shrimpboat

7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now? I'll be on the way to Desgin class.

8. Have you ever been to a strip club? Yep…last time I went for my job…gotta love Budweiser

9. What is the last thing you said aloud? "No."

10. What is the best ice cream flavor? Goodberry’s Vanilla Oreo Carolina Concrete. PERIOD.

11. What was the last thing you had to drink? Water…and a lot of it

12. MISSING QUESTION…maybe I should have made on up…

13. What was the last thing you ate? Banana Pudding

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Yes as a matter of fact, two shirts and they are pretty...

15. When was the last time you ran? To the bathroom…about 4 hours ago…I told you a drank a lot of water.

16. What's the last sporting event you watched? Jets verse the Chargers

17. Maybe it and 12 are making out…

18. Who is the last person you emailed? My mommy

19. Ever go camping? Yes, twice, hated it, it’s dirty outside. All “camping” from here on out better include air conditioning, a king size bed, a turndown service, and someone who will bring me extra pillows at 3am…and maybe a beer from room service.

20. Do you have a tan? Hmm…I’m black…comes with the territory.

21.-23.: WHAT THE HELL…that’s 5 missing…in NC, one more and they can have an orgy.

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw? If I’m at a resturant

25. What did your last IM say? "Bye"

26. Are you someone's best friend? Yep, several. I’m a pretty rocking friend.

27. What are you doing tomorrow? Work then double dating with the Yankee, Neb, and Lil Lisa

28. Where is your mom right now? Working

29. Look to your left, what do you see? Crap, looked right first because I missed that day of kindergarten. Left…the one with the “L”…phone and the calendar that says when I'm off work again.

30. What color is your watch? Pink because my cell phone is my watch

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia? My boss's ringtone

32. Would you consider plastic surgery? Yeah because if I was rich I’d have lipo and eat all the fries and apple pies in the world

33. What is your birthstone? Aquamarine.

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? DRIVE THRU…if I wanted to go in…I’d go someplace nicer

35. How many kids do you want? Two…so they can entertain each other and leave more time for me to not cook, clean, or bake anything.

36. Do you have a dog? I have a step-dog.

37. Last person you talked to on the phone? Lil Lisa

38. Have you met anyone famous? Nope, don’t think so. Wait...I know Mario Williams, he slept on my couch once...after he was the number one draft pick...

39. Any plans today? Class. Clean. Sleep.

40. How many states have you lived in? Three: NY, NC, TX, NC

41. Ever go to college? Yep. GO PACK!!!

42. Where are you right now? Taking a work break.

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now? The Future...hmmm...

44. Last song listened to? Please Excuse My Hands

45. AND THE ORGY IS COMPLETED

46. Are you allergic to anything? Hot dogs, snack packs, Levaquin

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Rainbows

48. Are you jealous of anyone? Yeah…I’m going to have to say I’m going to hell if God doesn’t forgive that whole “envy” thing…

49. NOW THEY’RE JUST BEING GREEDY

50. Is anyone jealous of you? Yeah. And I know who you are.

51. What time is it? It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…like in the Mid Atlantic.

52. Do any of your friends have children? Yes I have a few girls who jumped in that pond earlier

53. Do you eat healthy? Apparently healthier than I thought and yet my ass isn’t shrinking…

54. What do you usually do during the day? Wake up. Kiss the manfriend before he goes to work. Sleep for another hour. Wake up cause the dog needs to pee. Shower. Get dressed. Go to work. Come home. Do the event of the day. Dinner. TV. Sleep.

55. Do you hate anyone right now? Don’t have the energy to hate someone…I do have the energy to get really annoyed by their presence on Earth though.

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily? Yeah.

57. HMMM…that’s 8 so it’s an orgy in Georgia now…

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 25

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags? Nope but I’ve been to all the Paramount Parks I think.

60. How did you get one of your scars? 7th grade. Maria and I were starring and a boy and not paying attention. Locker and arm collided. And when I look at that scar I think of all the thinks Miss. Germ taught me. LOL

I knew everyone loved Jon Stewart too :-)

Warning: The word "today" is used loosely, since I forgot to post this a month ago. Today=August 17, 2008

New York Times Article today title:

"Is Jon Stewart the Most Trusted Man in America?"
(Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/arts/television/17kaku.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin&oref=slogin )

Outtake:
"Though this spot is the program’s mocking sendup of itself and the news media’s mania for self-promotion, it inadvertently gets at one very real truth: the emergence of “The Daily Show” as a genuine cultural and political force. When Americans were asked in a 2007 poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press to name the journalist they most admired, Mr. Stewart, the fake news anchor, came in at No. 4, tied with the real news anchors Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw of NBC, Dan Rather of CBS and Anderson Cooper of CNN."


John Stewart for President.

and Chelsea Handler for VP...

C.A.R.Y. (Containment Area For Relocated Yankees) -Part 2

Two nights ago I discovered that Cary's Cook-Out is now open until 11pm Sunday-Thursday and 12am on Friday-Saturday. Score 1 for Cary.

This morning I was going to be bad and head to get my favorite fattening fast food breakfast (sausage biscuit with egg) on my way to the bank and discovered that my two most frequented Raleigh McDonald's are DEMOLISHED and no one told me. Score 0 for Raleigh.

But, it did keep me from eating crappy. Score 1 for Raleigh.

Cary-1, Raleigh-1.5

The New Princess Story

So this crossed into my inbox and I thought I'd share it: (Click on it and it will get bigger.)

Amen.

C.A.R.Y. (Containment Area For Relocated Yankees) -Part 1

It's almost 10 and I want some freakin' Bojangles. Saying as I just moved to Cary, I wasn't exactly sure where a Caryite would go to get Bo's. So I went to the Bojangles website and you want to know what the answer is?

RALEIGH.

That's right. There are Z-E-R-O (zip, zilch, nottadamnone) Bojangles in the Town o' Cary. None.
(Lisa's reaction: "WTF?")

Only a southern town full of yankees could get away with that.


So now I'm hungry...and our damn Cook-Out closes in 2 minutes (cause that's how Cary rolls) so I can't even get that.

But fear not, the Bo's on Western is open until midnight so me and the puppy are headed over there. Raleigh pulling through again.

Score: Cary-0, Raleigh-1