Economic Contributions

It is now time for another addition of how AKH contributed to the economy today.

You see, you don't have to have a job in order to make a difference. So go out and buy stuff and make sure others keep their jobs. It's the most American thing I can do!

Blank video tapes (64 hour entertainment potential) and the 4th season of the Gilmore Girls (you gotta get it when it first comes out to take advantage of those big savings).
Best Buy $54.10

Dove body wash (2 for $7), shampoo, conditioner, and control mousse
Target $24.06
I just had to support this great ad campaign. Plus when you visit their website, you can sign up to get a free sample of deodorant. What more could you ask for?

44 ounce coke Slurpee
Come and Shop $2

So how have you contributed to the economy today?

New Madonna Commercial

I just put the new Madonna Commercial that aired last night up on the internet. You can click on the link at the top of this blog to see it.

I'm thinking that the music that is playing in the background of the commercial is from her new CD. I can't wait until November 15th when Confessions on a Dancefloor comes out.

Please let me know what you think of the commercial or if you have any technical difficulties. The link and video is working on my computer, but you just never know.

Desperate Housewives - The Season Premier

The season premier of Desperate Housewives has just aired and I LOVED IT! I can see that season 2 is going to be just as good, if not better, than season 1. Is Mike really Zach's dad? Is Carlos really the father? Will they find out that George is the one responsible for Rex's death? And who is that guy in the basement? Only time will tell.

To top it all off, around 20 minutes into the show, they aired a Motorola commercial with Madonna in it. OH MY GOD! How awesome is that? Luckily I was taping the show (just in case someone came in an interrupted my viewing) and also recorded the commercial. I will put it on my computer and post it on the web A.S.A.P.

What a perfect day! I had a great time visiting my cousin at I.S.U. and enjoyed their choir concert this afternoon. Unfortunately it was rainy today so I didn't get a chance to see much of the campus. However, I was able to get home in time to watch the last episode of Season 1 of Desperate Housewives (so I could catch myself up after the loooooooong break), then the season premier AND the Madonna commercial. I'm living in Utopia I tell you.

Tomorrow I have my volunteer information session with the Red Cross in Chicago. I hope I can find the place. I'll update everyone when I get home tomorrow.

Desperate Housewives

I'm going with my aunt to visit my cousin at college. She is singing in some kind of a concert so my aunt and I are driving down to see it.

I think I've only been to ISU once for a speech competition in high school so I'm looking forward to seeing the campus. I'm sure it won't compare to UW-Madison, but then again what could? Not that I'm a biased Alumni or something!

My aunt has promised me that we will be home in time for the Season Premier of Desperate Housewives tonight so I'll leave you today with the theme song for our song of the day.

P.S. Did anyone see James Denton take off his jeans for Ellen to auction off for charity?

That is what I will be thinking of as I'm off to bed tonight. I can't believe I said I would be at her house at 9:30AM.

Check Those Tires

Did you know that, "Keeping tires properly inflated is one of the easiest ways to improve mileage today by up to 3%."

I'm going to check the air in my tires tomorrow. With gasoline prices at a national average of $2.76, every little bit helps.

Confessions on a Dancefloor

Madonna's latest work of art, Confessions on a Dancefloor, will be released on November 15, 2005. I just checked on Amazon.com and the artwork is finally available.


You know I'm counting the days!

Halloween is in the air

Halloween is in the air in our household. My mom was busy last night decorating the house. I thought it was so funny when I saw it today that I've posted pictures on Flickr.

You know we joke when my mom changes out the towels and glassware as the seasons change, but we would miss it if she didn't.

Scooba, I Want One

I just read about this company, iRobot, in the September 5th issue of Business Week (hey, I said I was behind on my magazine reading.) The article was about the company and how it might be a good stock buy when/if the company goes public this fall, but what I found so interesting was their products. I'd seen the Roomba in a Gilmore Girls episode, but their latest invention Scooba, looks awesome.

I so want one. Not like I do THAT much housework, but this would really cut my workload in half. Plus it would be fun to watch it clean while watching TV.

Cut Off

I'm mourning the loss of my free Showtime. Those bums at DirectTV cut me off early. I thought I had until the 27th, but my dad just informed me they cut us off last night.

Somebody get me some chocolate!

I'm resisting the urge to order it, $12 a month might not seem like alot, but those dollars add up. I'm really going to be missing it on Monday when the new episode of Weeds airs. Luckily, I have my sources.

Need To Share

I don't know why I feel the need to share, but ...
Who has ever heard of getting a zit on your stomach? Am I some kind of a freak of nature or something?

I know it can't be from the box of Hot Tamales that I've consumed in the past 2 or 3 days.

But after looking at that photo, it's obvious that I need to start using that Ab Slide again.

After looking at this post, I'm sure we all can agree that I need those new Netflix movies to get here ASAP. I've got way too much time on my hands.

My Day

So you all don't think that I don't do anything all day ...

I can't remember if I've written about this before, but on Saturdays my mom takes a lady shopping. She started her cleaning business cleaning for the elderly and then this woman (an old neighbor) needed someone to take her shopping more than someone to clean her house and the rest is history.

Well when this woman (almost 100 and still ticking) needs something during the week and my mom is working, she normally asks me. She is a really nice lady so I don't mind, plus she pays well and takes me out to lunch. Well recently I've been taking her to the doctor somewhat regularly and our conversations are almost always entertaining.

Somehow we started talking about movie theatres and I asked her if she liked to go to the movies. She said that she used to go with her husband (who has been dead for 20 years), but she hasn't been in a while to say the least. I asked her what kind of movies she liked and she said Doctor Zhivago. That kind of threw me off, but I thought it was funny. Then she said how she loved all the old Cary Grant and James Stewart movies. She said her biggest problem is that she doesn't know any of the current actors and actresses and that's why she doesn't know what movies to see. She said to me, "I guess I just have to get with it." Maybe you had to be there, but I almost died when she said it. Then she went back to James Stewart and she said when she was younger, she used to tell her friends, "He could put my shoes under my bed any day." LOL

She always says what a great time she has when we go out together, but I don't think she believes me when I say I have a great time as well.

Of course after getting home, I had 2 Netflix movies waiting for me. Watched them both and dropped them in the mail, can't wait for the next 3.

Thanks

It's funny that everybody is saying "Just Do It" because one of the headhunters told me that Nike is located in Chicago and I should just go in there and ask to talk to the head of marketing and see if they have any job openings. Maybe this is a sign that I should join the Just Do It campaign at Nike.

I'm slowing working up to it.

What's Wrong With Me?

I found the perfect job, but I can't bring myself to apply for it. Am I just so afraid of failure that I'm not taking that first step? Or am I just such a perfectionist that I'm not willing to take that first step until I know I can do it flawlessly? Or am I just a procrastinator?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Priorities

Well I haven't done a whole lot this weekend for my employment situation. However, I did manage to take another trip to Six Flags Great America on Saturday. I also went last Sunday so this is becoming a bit of a regular occurence, but I want to get my money out of this season pass. So far, I've been 3 times this year and I plan on going 1 more time for Fright Fest. Unfortuantely the water park is already closed for the season so I didn't get a chance to ever check that out, but we rode some of the water rides in the regular park last Sunday (enough so to get to drive home soaking wet, I guess we didn't plan that out too well.)

I also got my first Netflix movies on Saturday so I watched those yesterday and returned them today. I got:
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Waking the Dead
Million Dollar Baby

I loved Million Dollar Baby, Diary of a Mad Black Woman cracked me up, but I didn't really care for Waking the Dead. I really didn't connect with the characters and I didn't think they connected with one another either. I can't wait to see when my next 3 get here. I'm trying to get the most out of my free month.

Now my next goal is to get through my stack of magazines. OH I mean get those resumes out there.

The Perfect Job

Wouldn't this be the perfect job?!

Entertainment Industry + Marketing = a happy AKH

I'm going to apply over the weekend after I write the perfect cover letter. Wish me luck! Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Posting Job Title Promotions Marketing Coordinator, Cartoon Network
TimeWarner Division Turner Broadcasting
Location United States - Illinois - Chicago
Requisition # 48517BR
Position Type Full Time
Posting Job Description
Qualifications: College degree, preferably in Marketing. Minimum 1 to 2 years in marketing, advertising, and promotions. Kids or young adults marketing experience a plus. Strong computer and research skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Solid organizational skills and attention to detail essential.

Duties: The Promotions Marketing Coordinator will support the Senior Director of Promotions Marketing and the Promotions Marketing Manager. Responsibilities include administrative tasks, research, sales presentations, and brand assurance or licensed promotions. The promotions coordinator will also work closely with the Chicago ad sales team.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers.

CONFIRMED

WooHoo! I just got my confirmation email from the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago for their volunteer information session. I can't wait to go and make a difference.

Confirmed.

-----Original Message-----
From: AKH
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2005 9:15 PM
To: Tipton, Juanita
Subject: Volunteer Information Session

I would like to attend your volunteer information session on

September 26, 2005
Monday
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Are there still openings available?

Thank you,
AKH

Yet Another Survey

Time started: 5:30 pm
Name: AKH
Nickname(s): None that I'm willing to admit.
Single or Taken: Single
Birthday: August 21, 1978
Siblings: One older brother
Eye color: Brown
Shoe size: 7 – 8 depending on the shoe
Height: 5’4”
What are u wearing now: Ooops, nothing. Well I have a towel wrapped around my head.
Where do you live: IL (suburb of Chicago)
Righty or lefty: Righty
Breakfast: sometimes fruit or a toasted bagel with butter.
Aftershave/Perfume: Not usually
Favorite cartoon character: Bart Simpson

HAVE YOU EVER
Given anyone a bath: Yes, little kids while I was babysitting
have you ever smoked: Cigarettes, never. I did smoke something else twice, but only twice.
Bungee Jumped: Maybe someday.
Parasailed: No
Made yourself throw-up: No, I try to avoid that as much as possible.
Gone skinny dipping: Nope
Been in the opposite sex's bathroom: Yes, but never sober.
Eaten a dog biscuit: YUCK, hell no!
Got your tongue stuck to a pole: No
Loved someone so much it made you cry? Not that I can recall. Don’t get mad, get even. Just kidding! :)
Played truth or dare: Yeah, its just my favorite movie of course I’ve played
Been in a physical fight: No
Been in a police car: No
Been in a sauna: No
Been in a hot tub: Oh Yeah
Swam in the ocean: Nope, I can’t swim and even if I could, I wouldn’t do it in the ocean. Are you kidding me, there are sharks in there!
Got stung by a jellyfish: Nope
Fallen asleep in school: Yup, never in high school but I had a political science class that caused me to snooze a couple of times.
Ran away?: Only once as a small child, but I only got as far as the front yard. Since my mom wouldn’t let me take anything because it was all hers since she bought it, I pretty much gave up on that idea before getting too far.
Broken someone's heart?: No
Cried when someone you love died: Yes
Flashed someone: No
Cried in school: No, but I have lost it at work before.
Fell off your chair: Yes, both sober and drunk
Sat by the phone all night waiting for a call: No
Saved MSN / YAHOO / AOL / AIM conversations: No, but I have saved chat logs. Don’t worry its only from celebrities.
Saved e-mails: Yeah, all the time.
Fallen for your best friend?: No
Been cheated on: Not that I know of

First thing that comes to mind
Red: Hair
Blue: Sky
Autumn: Leaves
Cows: Milk
Greenland: Cold
Cat: Itch
nickel: gold
Elbow: funny
arm: sleeve
Your good luck charm: I don’t have one. Who needs luck? Well actually I should think of getting one before I buy that winning lotto ticket today.
Whats your room like: It’s full and it hasn't changed much since we moved to this house when I was in 5th grade. I really need to get my own place so I can occupy more than 1 room.
Last thing you said: Bye (to my mom)
What is beside you: my TV and VCR remote control.
What kind of shampoo do you use? Pantene Shampoo and Pantene Conditioner
something that has happened to you this year: I went to Prague
Had Chicken pox: Yeah a long time ago.
Had a Sore Throat: Of course, its usually the first sign that I’ve gotten the flu.
Believe in love at first sight?: No, I believe in lust at first sight, but love takes a little more time.
Like picnics: sure, so long as there aren’t any ants crawling all over me.
Like school: Yeah school was fun.
What schools?: I liked them all but college was the most fulfilling. I want to go back someday and get that masters.

Would you......
Eat a live hamster: Hell no! Not only because of my allergies against all furry things, but that is just nasty.
Go to a hanson concert: No, but I do have their CD single to Hmmm Bop around here somewhere.
Kill someone you didn't know for 15 billion bucks: No, the money wouldn’t get rid of the guilt. Just because I didn’t know them, doesn’t mean that they don’t have family and friends that care about them and would miss them.
If you were stuck on an island, what people/person would you want with u? You should probably just give me a complete stranger because I wouldn’t just want my family, that’s no fun (wink, wink, if you know what I mean). And if I chose a friend, the family would get pissed. So give me a complete stranger (preferably a hot, intelligent, conversationalist). Either that or some celebrities. Hey, they couldn’t get off the island and they would be forced to talk with me. Hmmm who’s brain would I want to pick. Probably Oprah, Madonna, and whatever that actor’s name is who plays Ryan on The O.C.

Who Was the last person................
You yelled at: I can’t remember.
Who told you they loved you: Probably one of my parents.
Who is your loudest friend: Ericka

Do you/Are You.....
Do you like filling these out: they aren’t too bad, once you get started.
Do you wear contacts or glasses: Nope
Do you like yourself: Most of the time.
Do you get along with your family: Most of the time
Do you do drugs: No, I only tried marijuana twice in college.
Have piercing below the waist? Nope
Obsessive?: Sometimes
Depressed?: Sometimes
Suicidal?: Hell No.

Final questions
How many ppl are you sending this to: No one, I’m just putting it on my blog and we’ll see if anyone wants to fill it out too.
What are you listening to right now? Living Single on Oxygen (I’m waiting for Oprah After the Show)
Can you do a front or back flip?: Not that I know of, but I haven’t tried lately
what did you do today: Nothing significant. Left messages for more headhunters, watched TV, but I’m going to dinner with a friend tonight (the loud one).
What is your favorite band: I know she’s not a band, but Madonna is my favorite artist.
Hated someone in your family: Yeah, but he deserves it.
Got any awards: Yeah, but they were back in high school so I can’t really name them. OH I also got one the summer after high school for selling the most knives when I was a Cutco representative.
Have you ever gone streaking?: No
Want to get married: Yeah someday
What is your favorite video game?: The Sims 2
If you could change anything about yourself, what would you change: My lack of patience with my family
Have a lava lamp: I’ve got one somewhere around here. A woman at work gave me hers when she was cleaning out her office.
How many remote controls are in your house: In the house, who knows. But I have 5 in my room alone.
Are you double jointed: No
What do you dream about: I normally don’t remember.
Last time you showered: about 30 minutes ago (hence the clothing situation)
The last movie you saw at the theatre: I think it was Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Scary or happy movies: Both, but always a happy one right before bed.
Root beer or Dr. Pepper: Root beer
got any alcohol drinks??? Yeah, I used to work for an alcohol company so the bar in the basement is fully stocked
Silver or Gold: It used to be gold, but now I like a combination of the 2
Sunset or Sunrise: Sunset
Phone or in person: Depending on the person
Oldest, middle, youngest or only child: youngest
Do you want your friends to fill this out and send it back: only if they want to
time end: 5:57 pm

Nightlife

Who needs a nightlife of your own if your Sims have one. That's right folks! The new Sims 2 Expansion Pack Nightlife came out today and I got it. And let me tell you, it is AWESOME. I love it. Needless to say, I watched The O.C. and the Bush's little speech and have been playing it ever since.

If you don't think that is enough, my brother emailed me today a free month trial for Netflix. Apparently since he's already a member he could send it to friends so they could try it out. So I already added 35 movies to my queue. Something tells me I'm not going to be able to cancel after my free month. Don't you hate it the way they suck you in.

Needless to say, I don't know how much work I'm going to be getting done with my new Sims Nightlife and Netflix movies.

Getting the Ball Rolling

I emailed the Red Cross on Tuesday night to sign up for one of their Volunteer Information Sessions. I hope there is still space available. As of right now, their website still shows their September 26th session as open. I'll keep you updated.

In other news, ... I've only heard back from 2 out of the 5 headhunters that I email and left messages for on Friday. One of them only finds work in the alcohol industry so I told her thanks, but I would like to branch out and start working in other industries. The other headhunter told me that he will look in the alcohol industry and then talk to people in his network about jobs in other industries. I'm going to call the other 3 people tomorrow to follow up.

I'm starting to get excited at just the prospect of a new job. What they say really is true, it's the first step that is the hardest.

Bush Takes Responsibility for Blunders

Bush Takes Responsibility for Blunders


Am I the only one who sees a resemblance?

His Best Decision

Goodbye and Good Riddens!

Embattled FEMA Director Mike Brown Resigns

No Donation Too Small

According to the U.S. and World Clock website, the U.S. has a population of 297,127,884.

So if we say on average there are 4 people in a family, that means there are 74,281,971 families living in the U.S.

NPR reported today that FEMA says they need to find permanent housing for 450,000 families.

So if we take those families out of the total, we have 73,831,971 families that weren't affected by the hurricane.

If each of those families just gave $5, we could raise $369,159,855.

That would be $820.36 for each of those 450,000 families. Now what if we all pledged to give $5 a month until these people have rebuilt their communities and lives.

So don't think that your donation is too small. If we all just give a small donation, it will add up.

Come on, you know you want to. Click Here.

The Revolution Has Begun

FEMA Chief Relieved of Katrina Command

Margaret Cho's Revolution

I just watched Margaret Cho's Revolution on the Sundance Channel. I had actually scene the performance live when she was in Chicago. My brother had an extra ticket that he sold to me and we both had a great time. It was my first time seeing her and I thought she was hilarious. At the end of her act, she said the following (I think I have it word for word) and it really had a profound impact on me after hearing it again tonight. I think it is especially poignant in these times.

If all of the minorities, homosexuals, feminists (male and female), and well just all of us liberals would get together and "go there" and give "too much information", that would equal power, and that power would lead to change, and that change would cause, a REVOLUTION.

So let's all answer Ms Cho's call to arms and start a revolution!

Today's Mission Calendar Inspiration

I went on the Oprah website a couple of days ago and became a member of her online community. In doing so, I signed up for her daily mission calendar inspiration emails. Here is what I've gotten so far. If you want to sign up to get them along with some other cool updates, check out the Oprah Website.

8/31
Write your "10 things to do before I die" list. When you have a free hour a day--or week's vacation--you can check off an item.

Here goes nothing:
1. Learn how to swim. I have a fear of water (which by the way this hurricane hasn't helped any.)
2. Go skydiving
3. Meet the man of my dreams
4. Get married
5. Have children (And yes preferably in that order.)
6. Visit all 50 States in the U.S.
7. Visit all 7 Continents.
8. Have a career in marketing within the entertainment industry.
9. Become a massage therapist.
10. Be able to speak and write German flawlessly (or like a native).


9/1
The distance isn't important; it is only the first step that is difficult."--Marquise du Deffand

Isn't that the truth. I swear, I'm going to contact those headhunters tomorrow.

9/2
Have a dream but no idea how to get there? Think of someone who's done it and research the path she took for inspiration for how you might get started.

Does anybody know anyone who has worked in marketing in the entertainment industry? The only person that I can think of Rosie O'Donnell's wife, Kelli. I'll have to ask Rosie how she did it as soon as the comments get turned back on.

9/5
"My art and profession is to live."--Montaigne

Well I've been doing that for 27 years, but I guess it depends on what your definition is of live.

9/6
Discovering what's next is an adventure in itself. Give yourself time (and permission) to imagine scenarios, both reasonable and outlandish.

Does that mean that I don't have to contact that headhunter tomorrow? Isn't this just giving more permission to procrastinate?

Can You Feel the Love?

I was just sitting downstairs while my dad was watching TV and me and my mom were sitting at the kitchen table while I ate my dessert.

I heard them talking about the victims of Katrina on TV and I said:
"We should let some of those poor people live in our house."

My mother's response was:
"I already have enough freeloaders without any work or money, why would I want more."

I was like HEY, (I think she was referring to me) and then we both had a good laugh. I told her they could help cook and clean and that way I wouldn't have to do anything and could just play on my computer all day.

Then she asked where they could stay, I was like in the basement. It's big enough. But I guess she had a point, I'm sure there are people with actual spare bedrooms for these poor people. But at least I tried, it's the thought that counts, right!

Body Worlds Exhibit

As promised here is my recap of the Body Worlds Exhibit that we saw at 1am on Monday.

I was actually surprised to see that people were there with their little kids at 1am, but there were strollers and everything. I personally think they sold too many tickets to each of the time slots because there were tons of people surrounding all of the exhibits, but what can you do. As we were standing in line, they said that they had audio guides that you could get to go along with the exhibit. They offered 2 different kinds one novice and one expert I guess you could say. I asked around and my brother and our friend T said they didn't want any, but M said she was going to get an expert one. I said I would get one too and she suggested that I get the novice one. I was like whatever M, I did take a biology course in High School and a genetics course in college, I think I can handle the expert one. I told her if it was a chemistry exhibit or something, I would go with the novice but I know a thing or 2 about biology. Anyway as you can see I was a little annoyed at her implication (maybe the fact that it was 1 am also had a bit to do with it.) At any rate, when we finally made it through the winding line (like Disney World, I tell you) there was yet another line for the audio guides so M and I said screw it and just started with the exhibits.

You had to wait a little while just to get up to the first counter so my brother was the first to say screw this, I'm going to another part of the exhibit. Then after that first one we lost T as well. So it was just M and I to go through the exhibit. M has been in school for a loooooong time (33 and she should be done in a year, hopefully) and she has taken alot of microbiology, chemistry, etc ... courses so she was explaining some things to me. She tried to talk me into going to med school. I told her it would be interesting, but I can't look at them sticking a needle in someone on TV much less in person. Plus I don't like getting shots or getting my blood taken and I know that med students practice on one another (for IV's and stuff). So I said thanks, but no thanks. I do want to go to massage therapy school as soon as I get a full-time job to pay for it though.

Before going in the exhibit, we saw my brother's boss in the lobby and she told us it took her and her family an hour and a half to get through the exhibit so we thought that wouldn't be too bad. We should be out by 2:30am and home by 3.

So, I looked at my watch and it was around 2:30am when we got done with the room and then I saw that there was another room. I was like screw this, I'm not spending as much time on the second room as the first so I left M and looked at the second half on my own. In the beginning M and I read all of the signs next to each of the exhibits and checked everything out with the rest of the crowd, but that took forever. Not because it takes a long time to read everything, but because the people with the audio guides stay in from of each thing for a couple of minutes and the line doesn't seem to move. So for room 2, I saw everything, but only read the signs for the things that I found the most interesting.

My favorite part was this separate room that you went into that had the embryos, fetuses, and an 8-month pregnant woman and fetus. That was the only part in the exhibit that I saw security and my brother told me later that that was because someone stole one of the embryos earlier. They started out with the zygotes in test tubes. It was amazing to see how fast they develop. They had a test tube for the beginning of the 4th week, the middle of the 4th week, and the end of the 4th week of pregnancy and it really was amazing. Then they had fetuses from different stages of pregnancy. I always enjoy watching all of those Baby, Labor and Delivery shows on TLC so I found this to be the most interesting. Especially the 8-month pregnant woman. I was sad to see that a woman so far along died and so did her baby, but it was very cool to see the way the baby sits in there and you could see the path it takes on the way out and everything. Call me weird, but I thought it was really cool to see it in the flesh as opposed to diagrams in a book.

Another thing that I found really interesting was they had a slicing (yes, they actually slice the body in thin strips so you can see the different parts) of a 120-pound person and that of an obese person (over 300 pounds) lying side by side and it was amazing. Not only did you see all of the fat, but also the toll that it takes on your organs since they have to work harder.

There were other things that were very cool, but these are the 2 that had the biggest impact on me. I even bought the DVD.


I highly suggest that everyone sees it if it comes to your part of town.

I knew that I had passed up M so after I got through the entire exhibit I took a better look at some more things and continued looking for M. I didn’t want to leave the exhibit since they wouldn’t let you back in so I called my brother’s cell phone and didn’t get an answer. So after a couple of minutes, I left the exhibit and explored the gift shop. As I was paying for the DVD, my cell phone rang and T asked me where I was. I told her that I was paying and would be out in a second. The guy who was ringing up my DVD couldn’t believe that someone else was up at this hour, but I told him it was my friends waiting for me outside the exhibit.

I figured my brother and T would be out there and then we would have to wait for M. So you can imagine my surprise when all 3 were already outside. My brother was astonished because I normally hate museums and I’m always whining to leave while he is still into it. But I really didn’t enjoy myself. But we were all tired since it was now around 3:30am.

Then we got to the parking garage and the car parked next to us asked if I would jump his car since it wouldn’t start. I asked if he had jumper cables and he said yes so I said sure. My brother hooked them up to the car and after letting his battery charge for a couple of seconds it started. He was very grateful and ask if he could give us some money, but we told him no. Then he asked if he could at least pay for our parking, but I told him that wasn’t necessary just drive home safely.

Later in the car, I told my brother that I should have told him to just pay it forward. But I don’t think that fast on my feet at 3:30am. So we made it home by a quarter after 4. Poor M had to be at work for a 12-hour shift by 7am at the latest. I can’t believe she agreed to go with us, but she really wanted to see it.

After getting home, I started watching a movie and when I heard my mom getting ready for work at 6:30am, I decided to go to bed. It was pretty warm yesterday so I woke up around noon. That’s my excuse for not writing yesterday, but it was a lounging day.

Body Worlds

I just got home from the Body Worlds Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and I loved it. I even bought the DVD. I'll write more tomorrow after a couple of hours of sleep.

Labor Day Weekend

Well I'm off to a BBQ with the family. We are going to some friends of the family that I've known since my birth.

When my parents first got married and moved into their apartment, another couple moved in the same day right above them and that night, their daughter was born. And that is the story of the way we met. And that was some 33 years ago.

Then after the festivities draw to a close tonight my brother and I along with the 2 daughters are all going to the Body Worlds Exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. We have tickets for 1am. This is the last weekend the exhibit is open in Chicago so they are open 24 hours and we were happy to get 1am since all of the earlier times were already sold out. Granted they do have 6am showings, but we would all rather stay up late than get up early.

I'll let you know how it all went sometime tomorrow after we get home.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. Please remember to have a designated driver and please don't drink and drive.

A Concert for Hurricane Relief Recap

I'm sorry, but am I the only one that though this concert was pitiful? I thank all of the celebrities, NBC, and Capital One. BUT why is it that there was a 2 hour telethon with celebrities on both coasts answering the phones when the Tsunami hit and now we get a handful of celebrities in NY for an hour long concert with Capital One employees answering the phones.

I know it should be the thought that counts, but a lot of people call and donate during these things in order to talk to celebrities. The celebrities know this, we know this, and that’s how we raise so much money. Is it right? No, we should give for the cause, but it’s the way it is.

I know Kanye West was just trying to express his feelings, but I feel sorry for Mike Myers who had to stand next to him when he said "George Bush does not care about black people."

Then you have poor Chris Tucker trying to pick up the pieces.

Please give what you can. Red Cross

Red Cross

I just got back from dropping off my donation to the Red Cross at the post office. I probably should have gone about an hour ago because the normal 5 minute drive just took me over a half an hour because all the schools just got out, but I feel good knowing that I did something to help all those poor people.

I know some of us don't have much (read my blog description, neither do I), but if everybody who said I don't have that much gave ONLY $5, that would make a huge difference to the people who have lost EVERYTHING.

Instead of the song of the day, I am posting the latest podcast from NPR. Let me know what you prefer: the news or another song.

New Pics

I finally scanned all of the pictures that the rest of the family took in Germany. So there are some new pictures up on Flickr.