Word of the Day: Anamnesis

an·am·ne·sis (nm-nss)
n. pl. an·am·ne·ses (-sz)

A recalling to memory; recollection.

I'm listening to my headphones at work and the theme song for Beetle Juice is playing. Oh how I used to love that movie. It's been years since I've seen it, but I used to watch it all the time and I knew just about every line in it, and the words to all the songs. It was really a brilliant movie. I do have to wonder what I would think of the movie if I watched it today. I do remember it being rather cheesy. Of course, it was released in 1988, so by the standards of that day for movies, plus the fact that I was only 11 years old, I can only assume it's actually a really stupid movie.

Other movies I watched often and loved as a child include Oh God, Part 2. Specifically Part 2. I'm not sure why. But my sister and I even tape recorded the dialogue of this film and listened to it over and over without the visual. We must have been really bored as children.

And the best of all... Ricky Ticky Tavy. We liked this movie so much that we even named our cat after the little mongoose in the show. We called her Tavy, because she used to stand up on her back legs a lot like Ricky Ticky Tavy did. Is it strange that I can't find any real reference to this on Google? I mean, it was a famous book written in the late 1800s. Shouldn't there be more evidence of its existence? I'm trying to find a photo.

UPDATE:

Thanks to the genius of Peggy, I was able to find this one photo of Ricki Ticki Tavy from Amazon.
(Amazon photo)
He looks like a chipmonk in this photo though.

And I thought of another film that if I was in my right mind yesterday I should never have forgotten to add to the list. Bed Knobs and Broomsticks! How many times did we rub the knobs on our beds hoping we could get the bed to fly like a magic carpet! Did anybody else do this?

Question of the Day: What were they thinking?

Today is TYDTWDay. What does that mean? It means Take Your Dog to Work Day. Do I need to repeat that, did you see that? Take your dog to work? What in the world was someone thinking when they created this insanity? I think it's bad enough that people are allowed to bring their cell phones to work, and wear annoying flip flops. But the day someone brings a freaking dog in here is the day that I lose my sanity and quit.

I heard about TYDTWD from my coworker who apparently owns numerous dogs. I don't know this because he's told me, but because his clothes have enough dog hair on them to create a whole new pet (no, not you CP). I just overheard him say that we should have all brought our pets to work today and that got me worked up enough to write a blog entry about it, so you can probably guess how fond I am of dogs (and pets in general). So I looked up the website for TYDTWD to see what possible good could come out of bringing your stupid, slobbery pet to work and here is what they claim: (WARNING: GROSS SENTIMENTALITY FOLLOWS)

This annual event, now in its eighth year, brings people and pets together in a special way on a special day. Dogs go to work. Hearts are touched.

Hearts are touched? Are you serious? What about "Dogs go to work. Eyes water" or "Dogs go to work. People sneeze." Hello. We don't all care about your ugly little dog. And don't even think about bringing your pet rat or snake. There are already enough fake, stuffed cats in my cube to keep me annoyed for years.

Word of the Day:

Yes, the word is blank (nothing). How many people contacted me this week regarding the fact that my blog was broadcasting white space for a full 5 days? Probably every person who reads my blog regularly, which is really only a handful of people. So to everyone who cares, I am alive and well. The blog police did not remove my blog due to some sordid scandal. And I have not decided to shut out the world and move to Belize. So everyone can rest easy now. And to all of you who didn't contact me to ask why my blog was no longer viewable online -- well you are all on the "list" now because clearly you don't care about me. ;)

Okay, more later, just wanted to clear that up.

Word of the Day: Indefatigable

in·de·fat·i·ga·ble
adj.
Incapable or seemingly incapable of being fatigued; tireless.

This weekend I managed to surprise even myself with how much I was capable of doing in two short days. Today I'm feeling a little like a ragdoll with sore feet, a little like Monday, not Saturday, is a day of rest, and a little like an energizer battery that doesn't really keep on going.

Saturday I managed to perform every last task I had for work because it was my turn at weekend duty (again!) and still pulled off the bridal tea of the century, complete with perfect little scones and tarts and strawberries. I did somewhat get accosted in primetime regarding my last name, but I'm trying to forget that embarrassing part of the event.

I am also happy to report that suburbia actually does have good mini-golf courses, and directly across the street was a local ice cream place with Oreo soft-serv and a line that practically extended into the highway. We trekked all the way out to Manassas (I'll spare you Kim's version of the city name -- which ends in "hole" if you care to venture a guess). Met some really nice people, made some new friends, and proved without a doubt that I am the worst mini-golfer in history.

Sunday, Kim and I hung out in a park in Pentagon City for a couple of hours before our BBQ to hold the table, thinking everyone would want to grill outside for Father's Day, but that didn't happen to be the case. In fact, no one was there due in part to the fact that it was nearly 95 degrees outside and what fools would subject themselves to that kind of heat unless absolutely necessary. However, about 18 people showed up and we stayed for 4.5 hours, so it was clearly a success.

Word of the Day: Tea

Today I'm hosting a bridal tea for my dear friend Rebecca. The tea is my version of a "shower" -- a word which I and many other women my age have come to despise because of the sheer number of them we've been invited to. Thus when, as the Maid of Honor, I was put in the position to host one, I went with the tea.

This isn't just an ordinary tea either. I never do anything halfway. If it can't be done properly, I'd rather not do it at all. I've made scones, strawberry cream puffs, blueberry cream tarts, and lamingtons (which are bite-sized pieces of cake covering in chocolate and coconut). Angela is bringing heart-shaped sugar cookies and cucumber sandwiches and Timoni is bringing salmon and crackers. The tea selection is equally as expansive. I have three kinds of hot tea and three kinds of iced tea, including the famous Prickly Pear tea I brought back from Arizona.

But, the best part about the tea is that I finally get to tell Rebecca a very funny story that I've been keeping from her for a few weeks. I had her fiancee meet me a few weeks ago at a shopping center by her house so I could video tape him for a game we'll be playing at the tea. He had to tell her a little white lie to get there without her knowing, which was that he was going to swing by the post office on the way home (they were in two cars and both headed home). If that was really what he was doing, it would take him approximately 5 minutes extra.

On my way to meet him, I nearly wrecked my car in to the median when a spider walked across the driver's side door right by my arm. My dad once warned me that if I didn't get over my fear of spiders I would one day wreck my car because of it. I didn't wreck, but I did freak out. I tried to kill it, but of course it fell to my feet instead. The rest of the drive I prayed "Please don't let it crawl on me, please don't let it crawl on me". When I arrived, Toss was standing there. I got out like a crazy woman flailing my arms and doing the Jerry MaGuire dance ("I'm not going to do what you all think I'm going to do, which is just FREAK OUT!"). Of course, I couldn't get back in the car until the spider was confirmed dead, so Toss chased the thing around the floorboard until it was dead.

Needless to say, we weren't done with the taping in five minutes. So we had to create a story to tell Rebecca that was believeable. We decided the best option was to tell her that some crazy woman was freaking out about a spider in her car and he had to be a gentleman and kill it for her. Not only did she believe the story, she actually told it to me a week later when we were having our dresses fitted. So now I'm especially excited to tell her that the crazy woman was actually me.

Word of the Day: Updates

So clearly it's been a while since I've updated. My only excuse is that I don't have anything to say. I know -- gasp -- a writer with nothing to say!! Well, face it, I'm only human.

Work is extra busy, I'm hosting two parties this weekend and my biggest complaint is that it appears the Counting Crows have stopped producing new material all together. They haven't had an album out since I last went to Klamath Falls for Thanksgiving, which was at least 4 years ago. Get with it, people!

I'm growing cucumbers and basil on my balcony. What good is a balcony if you can't grow plants in the summer? Last year I *attempted* to grow tomatoes and cucumbers. Steve graciously brought me a tomato plant all the way to work from the Takoma Park farmers market and then I went on vacation, neglecting the poor thing, and when I got back they were both scorched to death. That must be an unpleasant way to go -- wasting in the summer sun while your once loving owner ignores you. I did promise myself I would never subject a plant to my lack of responsibility again, so either I've grown up and think I can handle taking care of something other than myself, or I've lied to myself and the plants will suffer for it. So far, I'm happy to report that they are doing well. I even planted them from seed. The cucumbers are now almost 5 inches tall and the basil is soon going to garnish one of the best sandwiches ever made.

For anyone who's keeping track, the building next door is up to floor 11! Yikes. They are moving along with that project. I will start posting photos now of the progress, because it's pretty interesting. And soon the madness of them hammering at 7am will be a figment of my memory. Safely locked away.

Word of the Day: Mawkish

mawk·ish ( P ) Pronunciation Key (môksh)
adj.
Excessively and objectionably sentimental.
Sickening or insipid in taste.

I won't get all sentimental right now because it's still 3 months away, but my good and most worthy friend Todd Bullock, known to some of you as Tofu Todd, and still others as The Rancid Goat, has just today been posted with the foreign service to Afghanistan. He will leave in September and I will miss him dearly. I do hope that The Rancid Goat returns with Tales from Over There, or something similar. If you only knew the sort of messes the Rancid Goat gets himself into...

Just this weekend Todd and I found ourselves trapped in the most pretentious club in all of D.C. The place was crawling with metrosexuals, Euro-trash and way too many bums and boobs about to precariously unveil themselves. While waiting in line to get in, three nice looking gentlemen sidled up to a group of single women, just so they could get in. Apprently there were too many men inside. "This is my kinda place," I said to Todd. However, it took approximately three seconds to realize it was neither my kind of place nor my kind of people who were in there.

We hung around for exactly 45 excrutiatingly long minutes before bailing for the comforts of a less artificial environment. Clydes, with its regular drinks, calm atmosphere and sports playing on mute above the bar, suited us much better than the bizarre alter-world we'd stepped into earlier. Just where do these people come from? They aren't all that attractive (this isn't NYC, after all) and why does a bottle of Grey Goose cost $200??

Anyway, this story just illustrates why Todd is a good friend that I will miss greatly. I can, at the last minute, drag him to a place neither of us will like, and he will still stick around for Clyde's.

Todd. You rock.