Gotta love renewal time...
This year I'm in underwriting, with a full 2 hours of training....but I'm having fun. It's like shopping with my mom without the bad parts. You do know there are 3 prices to everything. There is the marked price, the sale price and the price they will give my mom. Underwriting is the same way. The skills that my mom taught me in negotiating prices really comes to the forefront. I do wish that I had more training to know what I'm doing but I seem to be doing a great job of faking it so far. And as I learned long ago when I started in workers' comp. Fake it long enough and pretty soon you do know what you're doing.
In the meantime, I'm also being sent out of town to educate people on their benefit program. It's the job of the client representative but until we get some more trained, I'm doing it. I was in Arizona yesterday, baking my tail off and racing from Tucson to Phoenix for meetings. I had the air conditioner on and all the natives kept asking me to turn it off because they were freezing. To each their own.
I was should be studying for my accounting final tonight. I'm trying to concentrate on it but all I can think about is how much driving I'll be doing next week. I fly into Sacramento - drive to Madera, then to Modesto and back to Sacramento. I wonder if there are any stitchers in the area? Of course, they're talking about having me take the monthly reports that I would be doing at the office with me so I may not have time to meet with people. I'm told that next year they will have someone else to do this, I hope so.
Relocating thoughts....
If I have to relocate to a new city, I want to take enough time to learn the layout and the feel before I make a permanent decision on where to live. I’ve seen the “Kenny’s Room” episode of Dharma and Greg enough times to know that what it looks like on the internet is not necessarily reality. If at all possible I would ask the opinion of people I already knew who lived in the area. After all, a selling point where I live now could be something entirely opposite in the new city. Take location for example. You would have to give me a house and pay me an annual stipend to live in “a luxurious Westside home.” I understand, however, in the San Francisco Bay area that the west side is a preferred property and I’m sure that’s how the luxury homes in Magna got sold. By the way, on the eastside you can drink the tap water but by the time the mountain spring water rolls through the mineral deposits crossing the valley the west side water is undrinkable.
“Conveniently located near I-15” is also not a good selling point. The I-15 corridor is reserved for retail and heavy industrial use. It’s only been a few years since the stockyard near the prison (also on the I-15 corridor) closed. Zoning decided years ago that the area close to the expressway should be used for businesses that the semis needed access too that way people wouldn’t need to be disturbed by big rigs going through neighborhoods. The heavy rail tracks are also near the freeway; this is so the trains won’t disturb people since people don’t live near the freeway.
I’m discovering that no matter where you go re-developed and trendy are not really things I want at my age. Maybe if I was younger and didn’t have kids, I would consider it. Take
these listings in Boston. I’m assured that if I’m white but not Italian and not connected to the Mafia or without the correct gang affiliation; I should not be looking at any of these areas. From just the internet connection, you would never be able to tell that much, well she’s a marketing major so that should tell you something. Never trust the realtor; they’re working for the seller not for you! They don’t get paid unless you buy something and if you hate it, well, they’re long gone and don’t give refunds. So, when relocating, try to know someone in the area but if you can’t do that, spend some time in different parts of the city. Sometimes, the thing that looks like home is just a sucker trap.
Now if I mentioned that I was looking for something in South Phoenix, I have a friend who would set me straight and send me looking on the North side. See, I wouldn’t look on the North side of SLC because of Rose Park and Glendale (funny, I’m warned against parts of Glendale in AZ too). I would love to have someone guide me in locations I’m not familiar with. And as an open invitation, I’m more than willing to take anyone moving out here on a tour of the city and point out the BS in a realtor’s banter.
Best Question I've heard this week...
So if you take a picture of yourself at Ground Zero in New York, do you smile?
I want Chrissie Hind's boots...
Several weeks ago the Wall Street Journal ran an article on a website that could help you find knockoffs of things celebrities wear. I thought it was silly, until earlier this week. See after the Pretenders/Who concert, I want Chrissie Hind’s boots. I know they can’t be leather because she wouldn’t trumpet her Vegan stands and wear leather on stage. It would be too much hypocrisy. But they looked like beautiful suede and I loved them and I want them. I just wish I could remember what site it was that would help you locate stuff like this.
My letter from the Wondering one.
I took the challenge from
Whizgidget's blog and I got the letter O.
So if you haven't had your letter of the alphabet yet, I'll be happy to give you one too...
Just leave a comment with your email.
When you get your letter list 10 words that start with it and what they mean to you.
1. Obvious - Yes, that describes me.
2. Obnoxious - yes, still describes me.
3. Organized - when I want to be
4. Orienteering - I have an uncanny knack for knowing what direction to take and being able to navigate crowds.
5. Oriental - I have a fascination with the culture
6. Only - as in the One and
7. Original - definitely a description of me
8. Overqualified – what I’m hearing from people who interview me
9. Obsessions – no, those are hobbies
10. Old - How my teenagers describe me....
Book shopping from home....
My sister is hosting a book party. It's mainly for pre-school and grade school kids but who can resist a title such as "The Revealing Story of Underwear"?You are invited to an Usborne Books eShow to explore the world of Usborne Books. A child's interest in reading and learning is stimulated by the lavish illustrations and informative content. There are over 1300 bright, colorful and fun titles covering activities, puzzles and a wide range of subjects for children of all ages.Usborne Books - the books kids love to read!
Hosted by: My sister Kat
Place:
www.ubah.com/HOS72492When: Today thru 11/11/2006 11:59:00 PM
I always knew that opals were a power stone...
Dancing Crane is one of my favorite shops. It's a bit eccentric and out there but that shouldn't surprise anyone that knows me. One of the employees is a little out there, she won't help anyone until she knows what stone aligns with their personality. She has a basket of stones for people to feel through and the stone they pick helps her to know what colors and styles to pick for them. She won't help me because none of the stones in her basket "speak to me." She loves my daughter who always finds the hematite wherever in the basket it is. None of the stones in her basket warm up to me. I think I've figure out why though. If The
Lore of the Opal article that a friend gave me is accurate the thought of Opals being an unlucky stone is fairly recent. Prior to Sir Walter Scott people thought of opals as a mystic, powerful stone. I have always loved opals, they like up when I touch them. I love the fire in their depths and I love the way I feel when they glow on me. So, the reason nothing in her basket likes me is because my power stone is opal. I think the favorite setting I have is on the sides of my amethyst ring. After all, my power stone should fit quite nicely next to my birthstone.
Why I have trouble Studying in school....
Conversation on MSN when I should have been studying.
Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
Shawn, would you like a glimpse of how my mind dysfunctions?Shawn says:
sure
Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
I'm reading about amortization and the only thing that pops into my mind is...Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
How does Disney amortizes Mickey Mouse?
Shawn says:
noShondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
Then I reach the section on intangibles have to have a finite life span to be amortized.Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
Which means they can't amortize Mickey, unless his copyright expires.Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
Which is why even though thy’re fighting the Milne family in court over the expiration of Winnie the Pooh, they are lobbying Congress to extend
Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
copyrights indefinitely and they don't see this as a double standard?
Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
I can't read the text through that conversation in my head.Shawn says:
you are right your mind thinks in strange ways like mine
Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
Just how exactly does Mickey fit on the balance sheet anyway? Did they know he would be around this long from the beginning? did they amortize some of the older characters that they don't use anymore like Horace Horsecollar or Clarabelle Cow?
Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
And I'm back to blog material and off to write instead of finishing the chapter.
Shawn says:
It all falls under good will you know how much happiness Mickey has given all of us
Shondratasha is doing accounting homework!! says:
Which means it can't be accounted for on their sheet unless they are acquired by someone else, since he's their creation, right?
Shawn says:
right.
A blog worth reprinting....
10.26.04 (9:14 pm)
It was that time of year again.... time to dust off the Victoria Secret card and head for that not fun shopping experience. I know it's time because I just paid off the last trip. Besides, they sent me a card for $5 off sale merchandise and a free sample size of Body perfume, who could turn that down?
Now you have to understand, bra shopping for me is a traumatic experience. I think it stems back to early childhood when I "bloomed" faster than everyone else. It didn't help that my name had a nice alliteration with "mountains." 4th grade was miserable socially.
I've since grown accustomed to being a natural size that many women pay good money to reach. And the surgical side is helping since there are now pretty bras in these sizes where growing up all there was were the "industrial strength" styles. As if anyone over a C cup didn’t' deserve something lacy and frilly.
Size isn't the only issue. Shopping with my mother is an experience best avoided. She can't walk into a store and just buy what she came for; it's an all day excursion. And when the department stores have nothing larger than a 36 or 38C; that means specialty shops. How could you spend all day in a specialty bra shop with an 11 year old? I'm still trying to remember all that my mom did but I usually get caught in the traumatic loop of the sales clerk reaching the tape measure under my shirt and then yelling the size out so that everyone in the store could hear it. Give me a moment; I'll be back typing when this cycle has run itself out....
Anyway Betty's Bra Barn was not exactly my favorite place and it wasn't until Victoria's Secret came to town that I even found a bra that fit right and was pretty and provided support. I think that the "pretty" does make a difference. I mean if you're used to wearing the pointy thing out of Psycho, then something with lace really perks you up; even if you're the only person who sees it. You would think that the old ladies at Betty's could have provided the "fit right" and "support" part. After all, they only carried bras, girdles, and support hose. They didn't even have normal panties, just the squeeze here and pad other parts type. But somehow, they always managed to fit me wrong. Maybe it was the way I cringed when they brought over the tape measure. I always ended up with a bra that had the underwire poking my armpit within 2 weeks. But it was easier to live with the pain than go back to the store.
But then I met Victoria's Secret....
This haven for shopping not only had people to measure me that didn't look as if they had thawed during the last ice age, they didn't make me take my clothes off when approaching with the tape measure. They didn't shout my measurements out loud to other patrons or employees; they just calmly went and brought over a drawer of different styles.
This was new... there were actually choices rather than "Here this is the only thing that comes in your size." accompanied by a look that added, "You little freak." And some of those were lacy, frilly, designed to turn a guy on stuff, and in colors other than white or beige.
One would think that after discovering a place that was so much nicer than Betty's that I would no longer be afraid of bra shopping. After all there were so many other things, like lingerie that was designed for women with real bodies. But no, it seems that whenever the thought of going to get a bra crosses my mind, I'm immediately 11 or 12 years old listening to Grandma Moses yell, "Edna, you got a 38DD over there?" to be followed by my mother scolding me, "Oh my, you're up another cup size, you're bigger than I am now and I'm still nursing." Yep, my fragile, teenage, self image really needed that. Nope, mention bra shopping and I just freeze up, find every excuse to avoid the mall, I'll even volunteer for carpool or skip lunches. The other day though, it all came to a peak (if you'll pardon the pun). I was down to one bra that hadn't worn out, and the strap broke. I put in a quilt basting pin and went to work, besides I had a gift card for a free bottle of perfume so that's the real reason I was going to Victoria's Secret. I can go perfume shopping, and if they just happen to be having a bra sale at the same time, well maybe I won't freeze up this time when the teeny bopper with the tape measure approaches me.
I did really well this year, I have 3 new bras and no one else in the store knows my size and they're pretty; although they were out of the leopard print.
A quiz from Whizgidget's blog
This works for me...
 |
You scored as Bebop (Cowboy Bebop). Hope you don't mind being anime. Your style just fits perfect with the crew of the Bebop. Life is tough and your crew knows it, but you will find a way to survive. You always do. Now if only Faye would quit gambling all your money away.
Bebop (Cowboy Bebop) | | 100% | Serenity (Firefly) | | 94% | Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) | | 81% | Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) | | 81% | Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica) | | 75% | SG-1 (Stargate) | | 75% | Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) | | 69% | FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files) | | 63% | Moya (Farscape) | | 63% | Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix) | | 56% | Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda) | | 50% | Enterprise D (Star Trek) | | 38% |
Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile II: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? (pics)
created with QuizFarm.com |
Sewing is the new in hobby!
It’s official according to the Wall Street Journal, the one piece of equipment on the trendy girl’s Christmas wish list is not an Ipod or a Blackberry, she has those already. It’s a Sewing Machine. That’s right, now that the big knitting comeback is well underway, those on the cutting edge of trend setting are looking at sewing; making their own clothes, making gifts for their trendy friends, and making home décor items. That’s right the Bernina is not for Grandma anymore, it’s now the purview of Britney, Amber, Courtney, and her friends.
So, since I took up sewing (mainly quilting) 6 years ago, does that mean I’m ahead of the curve?
