This is all about the big reveal. Don’t get too excited, I’m just talking about my nickname. But first things first.
The Back Story
humor
Why I’m Pulling for the Giants
I’m not a hard-core football fan. I’m not even soft-core. I’m more of what you would call a “Bowler.” The only televised football game I watch all season is the Super Bowl. Unless my one inherited team (Denver Broncos have been my dad’s favorite since before I can remember) makes it, I have no idea who to root for. Since I don’t watch any games leading to the big one, I have no investment in any other team. But I still like to watch the Super Bowl. At least, until halftime. Plus, with the Super Bowl comes Super Bowl food. I’m in.
So how do I decide who to pull for? Sometimes the game has to start first. I have this natural instinct to pull for the perceived underdog. Or, as my brother puts it, be the antagonist. But I like describing myself as the underdog cheerleader. The team nobody else is cheering for or the second one to score. This means I have cheered for a lot of losing teams (did I mention the Broncos are my inherited team? I’m used to it).
This year I already determined the underdog was the New England Patriots. The New York Giants are more of a machine than a team. Don’t argue with me. I realize all teams are more franchises and businesses than actual teams. But for some reason, the New York Giants sounded more corporate than the Pats. All I can say is that it makes sense in my head. I can’t really connect the dots for you. Sometimes you just have to nod and agree with me so that I’ll move on.
However, once I discovered who the quarterbacks are for the teams, I have switched alliances. For the second year in a row I am picking my Super Bowl team based on the off-field antics of the quarterbacks. It worked for me last year with Green Bay (thanks Aaron!).
The New York Giants’ quarterback is Eli Manning. I mainly know him from the cute commercials he does with his brother, Peyton. I’ve heard a lot about the Manning family. Everything I’ve heard has been centered on football. No scandals. No off field shenanigans. Strictly football. Since that’s his career, I like that. I appreciate the fact I haven’t read about him anywhere else. And, I’m so gonna sound like a girly girl, but I think he’s cute. But don’t tell my brother that’s how I pick my team – I’ll never hear the end of it.
The New England Patriots’ quarterback is Tom “KenDoll” Brady. It’s not that I have something against extremely beautiful people. Well, maybe I do. But it’s more the fact that I’ve read a lot about Brady in entertainment news and I’m sick of him. He’s become more celebrity than football player. I’ve read too much about him. I know too much about him and not what he should be known for. I just can’t bring myself to cheer for him.
On Sunday, while we are gathered to watch the Super Bowl, I will be the only Giants’ cheerleader in a room full of Pats. So, I guess I will be the underdog again. Go Giants!
Word of the Day: Presenteeism
I learned a big word yesterday.
“Presenteeism is defined as lost productivity that occurs when employees come to work but perform below par due to any kind of illness. While the costs associated with the absenteeism of employees has been long studied, the costs of presenteeism is newly being studied.” (Levin-Epstein, 2005)
“Presenteeism is a new term used by human resource professionals to describe circumstances in which employees come to work even though they are ill, posing potential problems of contagion and lower productivity” (CCH Incorporated, 2003). (Sloan Work and Family Research Network).
So, basically there is a big fancy word for coming to work sick. I learned this lesson years ago. When I worked for Attila the Hun a very difficult boss who made my life miserable. I didn’t dare take a day off because I didn’t want to make the call in the morning. The flu season hit and it knocked me for a loop that year. I went to work coughing, dripping, and feeling like a bus had run me over. Backed up. And run me over again.
This ‘n That
The Dilemma
The hallway in the office is long. It runs the length of the building. When I turned the corner I saw a coworker at the other end. She crossed the hall but before she disappeared around the corner, she paused, smiled and waved. We have said hello to each other in passing but the physical gesture seemed to jump to a whole new level. Were we ready to commit to more than a polite hello when in hearing distance?
It seemed odd to me. Then I realized. What if somebody is behind me? I have been known to assume someone is making contact with me when in reality – not so much. In fact, I kind of do it a lot. Surely somebody was behind me. Somebody who was on a waving basis with this co-worker. That would make sense. But how could I know without turning my head and looking? That would just look silly.
Hence, the dilemma.
So, do I wave and risk being mocked for intruding on somebody else’s wave or do I not do anything and be known as Ms. Snooty-Patooty? I waved. I also never looked behind me because I didn’t want to know if I was wrong. Better to be laughed at for over-friendliness than to be ostracized for being rude. Especially in an office filled with women.
The Update
I called the Ford store today to get help with my radio/clock situation. First of all, the person’s name who answered the phone was Corina. I’m sure it wasn’t spelled that way but I spell-checked it for her. That never happens to me. This must be what Jennifers feel like.
After I recovered from my shock, I asked her about my radio.
“What?” she responded.
“My battery went dead and I need to reset my radio/clock.” This was the third time and second person I explained it to.
“Huh,” she said, “I’ve never heard of that before. Let me find someone to ask.”
My confidence in this being a simple task faded fast.
She got back on the phone. “Is this a factory stock radio?”
“Yes,” I responded.
“That’s weird. That shouldn’t happen.”
I decided not to tell her that according to the owner’s manual, that’s exactly what it needs. Last night, I found a little blurb under the battery section but it didn’t give details. It just says to reset the radio after installing a battery. Installed battery? Check. Reset radio? That’s why I’m calling you.
So, Felix, the Ford Explorer, has an appointment at 2:00 on Friday. Too bad I’m not a betting person because then I’d start a pool of how much this is going to cost. I’d have to win though because I have a feeling I’m going to need help paying the bill.
I’m Naming Names
I have a certain list. It contains names of companies that have ticked me off and I boycott. I’m sure they are hurting because I choose not to patronize them any longer. Believe you me, they will rue the day they messed with CK (bonus points to anyone who thought of Real Genius after the trigger word rue).
It’s a rather short list because for the most part, I’m pretty easy going. It really takes a lot to get my goat. That last sentence caused quite the distraction. Where did that saying come from? And is it really the worst thing if somebody takes your goat? Wouldn’t your horse be more valuable? What if somebody plays keep-away with your winter hat? That would tick me off more than somebody stealing my goat. Especially since it’s winter and I need my hat. I don’t even own a goat.
But I digress.
photo courtesy the web
As I was saying, there are only a couple of companies that have ticked me off so much that I actually boycott them. I learned this from my dad. He’s a wholesale grocer salesman. One year, the mega-corp Kraft muscled in on dad’s business. This is a small community and there isn’t room for the little guy when the big guy comes to town. So there was quite a while when the Lee family refused to buy anything from Kraft. Have you ever noticed how many products are in the Kraft line? A lot. It took my mom forever to shop but she supported my dad. We’d still be Kraft-less but the CEO sent my dad a letter and apologized profusely. He begged us to come back to the Kraft side. Okay, that’s a lie. We just got tired of generic brands and I’m pretty sure my mom got tired of spending extra time at the store. But we were persistent for a couple of years. That’s how we roll. We are a loyal bunch.
In honor of my family’s proud tradition of boycotting companies that don’t even care, here’s my list.
photo courtesy the web
Dell. Dumb Dell. I say that as I’m typing on a Dell laptop, with a Dell computer sitting behind me, and one upstairs connected to a Dell printer. But no more! The last computer I bought I mailed my final payment two days late. I was charged interest because they received the payment late. Hello? Even the US Government allows a grace period. Not to play the sympathy card but I’m so going to. The reason the payment was late was because I took my sick mother to Salt Lake for her doctor’s appointment. True story. No more Dell…starting now.
The newest addition to this list is Ford. I drove a Ford Escort on my mission and didn’t care for it. When I went car shopping this last time, my heart was set on a Toyota Rav4. I even knew what color I wanted – the blue metallic. Oh yeah, that says CK. Instead, I was trying to be smart and keep my options open. Big mistake. I went to the Ford store and there nestled in between two big trucks was a seductive Explorer.
“Hey baby,” it said to me, “I got your SUV right here.”
photo courtesy the web
I drove it home that day. After, of course, signing my life away.
So far, I’ve had to get four new tires. The frame under the radiator was cracked (this is another sore spot. I took it to the Ford store and their sophisticated equipment couldn’t find anything wrong. But I was still charged for their labor – to find nothing wrong – when something was wrong). Two seatbelts in the middle section needed replaced (which I would have postponed fixing but because I drive other people’s kids, I thought I better see to it). The windshield needs replaced. The running board on the driver’s side is cracked. The battery died (on the day of my mom’s funeral. Not a way to win brownie points). And now the radio/clock doesn’t work. I was told it needed a fuse. Well, heck, I can replace a simple fuse. Except for the fact the fuse box is in such an awkward position I can’t even get to it.
Today somebody told me it’s an anti-theft device and all I need to do is enter a security code. Seriously? It’s a pre-owned vehicle so I have no idea where the security code is located. I’ve tried googling it but no surprise – the answer will cost $29. I’m going to have to break down and get the Ford store’s help.
So yes, I will continue to boycott these two companies. It’s their loss. I’m sure they will feel it.
What’s on your list?
Unfriended on Facebook
I joined the Facebook crowd just over a year ago. By chance, I happened to read an article on Facebook etiquette right before logging on for the first time. It mentioned the polite thing to do with friend requests. For example, if you really don’t want to be connected to a someone, first accept the request then a couple of days later, unfriend that person.
Forget It
How Many Times Can I Watch 2012 This Year?
Remember a long time ago, during the last year in the last millennium? The year was 1999 and there was some hoopla over something commonly referred to as Y2K. Life as we knew it was going to end – or at least drastically change – at the stroke of midnight January 1, 2000. The year even had its own anthem. The artist formally known as, or is currently again known as (I can never remember), Prince sung about the ultimate New Year’s Eve for our lifetime in the early eighties. When the year 1999 rolled around he was poised to receive some hefty royalties that should ensure a lofty retirement. Or to pay for some therapy to discover if he is in fact a Prince, a symbol, or just a creepy little man. The song was played ad nauseam that year. Genius little guy!
It’s 2012 and instead of an anthem, we have a very long movie. When the movie 2012 came out a few years ago, it was one of those blockbusters the critics panned. No surprise, isn’t that usually how it works? But the trailers sold me on the premise completely. I eagerly awaited its arrival in theaters. I can handle destruction and chaos – as long as it stays on a movie screen.
Sure, there have been comments about gaping plot holes in the movie. But it takes a lot to deter me from watching a movie. After all, I’ve sat through Hallmark Channel movies. It’s not as if it was mismarketed like other movies (looking at you any post Sixth Sense M. Night Shyamalan movie). The movie delivered pretty much what I wanted to see. Utter destruction of the world as we know it while I sit in the comfort and safety of a movie theater? Check.
It wasn’t the most memorable of movies. I forgot almost the whole storyline. Only certain keywords stuck out to me: 2012, modern day arks, and Yellowstone National Park (which oddly enough, this movie gave me the desire to revisit the park). This week it’s been on tv twice (and it’s only January). I’ve been able to catch a little bit of it and now I remember. I remember what I didn’t like about it.
First of all, it has a running time of 158 minutes. That’s 2.5 hours in the theatrical release. Now that commercials are being thrown in it probably takes a full evening. I have the attention span of a gnat. And really, after the first few buildings fall into the ocean, how much annihilation can I actually handle watching at once?
Second, I’m fine with California falling into the ocean. I’m okay with Yellowstone blowing up. I can handle the whole secretive ark building in China. Although, China? Really? I can accept the heads of nations hand picking the survivors. And I can even live with the fact the little hero family makes it all the way to China just in time to be saved. After all that, I’m willing to hang in there. And then – spoiler alert – Gordon dies. So, after sitting through a movie in which the entire world is destroyed and masses of people are killed, the with-it boyfriend dies and the slacker dad lives (he took his kids on a camping trip in a limo for crying out loud!). It gave the movie a forced happy ending to serve as a band aid for all the obliteration. A note to the movie writers: it’s kinda movie making 101 to make the boyfriend a heel before killing him off. I thought that was common knowledge. Guess not. Glad I can help.
It’s only January and I’ve already watched this movie more than I thought I would. It’s going to be a long year.
The Progression of the Picture
(sigh) I’m not a model. I know this; I’ve come to accept this. When I was in college, I took a photography class. Or at least, I started the class. I had to drop out because, as I found out on day 2, photography is an expensive habit. But the one thing I remember during my week of class is this: a photographer doesn’t take pictures, a photographer makes pictures. Okay, so can I blame all the photographers that have ever aimed a camera in my direction for me not having one good picture of myself? Didn’t think so.
My Rom-Com Goes like This
Today is a holiday. Ah, I love three day weekends and I endorse them. Bless the activists, the presidents, the religious ceremonies, the fallen, the war heroes, the historical memorials, the laborers, the explorers, and anyone else who is responsible for me getting a day off from work.
ck's days 