What a Nightmare!

What a Nightmare of a week!

No, not the typical type of nightmare week like having to interview people, do the jobs of 2 1/2 people, and having my intern finish up for the summer, although it could qualify. I'm used to that. The Nightmare to which I am referring is The Nightmare Before Christmas.

This past Tuesday, this twisted tale came out in a Collector's Edition on DVD. Then today after work, I headed over to the Hallmark at the Mall of America with Jason from work. We walked in and I sang, "Oh look! What's This?" (I really didn't, but Jack Skellington fans will know what I mean)

One of their displays towards the front had these ornaments on display:


As you can see, I had to pick them up even though I had a ton of Hallmark certificates at home. I had no idea they were coming out with these, and I'm a card-carrying platinum member of Hallmark Crown Rewards (Reason 105 why I need a life). I have to say I love the Halloweentown Trickers set.

Then as I was blogging this, I found out that I can watch the DVDs I just purchased on my iTouch! Very cool! This link shows you how you can do it in case you need to know:

http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/disneyfile/textonly.html

The Results Are In!

The results are in, and I am not an Olympian! Granted, I didn't start playing one of the games until half-way through, but still, looks like I didn't do well with matching or passing the baton.

My team, Herc's Olympians, had an over-all rank of 6,091, with a total point value of 452. They didn't say how many people played, but I know I was probably the last one to be picked for dodgeball.

For the "Pass the Baton" challenge, I was "Hopeful". They were being nice. My Minnesota team rank here was 75 out of 1,040. But my overall rank over the US was 2,414 out of 74,033. I would say a vast improvement there.

So tell me why I signed up for fantasy football again at work?

2008 Olympic Closing Ceremonies

Shhh! I'm watching the Closing Ceremonies now! See! And for any of my friends who always say that I put up bad pictures of them, look. I also put them up of me! This is the last time I can wear my 2008 Beijing Olympics shirt while it's still cool.


I went to "Disney"room in the condo so I could iron, post and watch TV on my Mickey TV. It was so much fun watching the Opening with my friends; I wish they could have been here for the Closing, but since I'll be heading to bed soon, I'll have to Tivo the rest. So this is a tribute to Dani, Sara, Chris and Garry.

But I just had to comment about the Closing Ceremonies. Great show, great memories, great performances.


We can all pick our favorite performances, but still I think the Gold winner in my book is that one class act that represented our country so well: Michael Phelps.

Congrats to all the athletes and volunteers for giving so much!

Beijing Webcam: I'll Miss It

In previous posts I've mentioned that I enjoyed reading Drill's and Perk's blogs, and having them on a webcam has been equally entertaining.

However, I know I wouldn't want to be in a fishbowl for the world to see me at work. For one thing, it would bore you to tears. The other thing is, and trust me I know how these guys feel, I would have to justify moments "caught on tape".

For example, here are some screenshots of moments I know I've experienced myself and the answers I'd have to give my superiors.

"But I am working!"

"I know this is important, but so is having to go potty...."

"I can eat and work at the same time without spilling on the key...oops!"

"This is a work-related phone call!"

"I'm thinking...really!"

"I'm just giving my eyes a rest for a moment."

Meeska! Mooska! Mickey Mouse!

I can't make this stuff up. As my bus was pulling into the Mall of America transportation center, there were two local contractors parking their company vans next to each other. I wish I had my camera, but these were the companies:

I know they are spelled a bit differently, but I still said the words and the clubhouse didn't appear. And for those of you who don't understand the reference, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ODPtsAJXgM

Hot dog!

Picnic By The Pool

Sadly, we have to admit that Summer's drawing to a close. This is Minnesota after all. So our usual lunch gang decided we should have a picnic by the pool today at the condo.

Tanya wasn't able to join us, but Julie, Jennifer Ryan and I had a nice time soaking up some rays...and you can see we had just a little bit of food as well.

Cowabunga, beach buddies!

But then Jennifer was notified by Owl Post that we had to get back to work. Glad it wasn't a Howler!

Star Wars Invades San Francisco

Is San Francisco really being invaded? Well, not really. My friend, Michelle, shared this link with me, and it's way too good to pass up.

So enjoy the clip. They really did a great job with this!

http://current.com/items/89204971_death_star_over_san_francisco

The Olympic Zones

I know it's hard to see here, so click on the picture and it's a little easier to see what I'm talking about. But these are the four Olympic websites I have going constantly at home (not at work...I promise!!!)

But the other morning for us while they were asleep in Beijing, someone forgot to turn off the webcam in the newsroom and give us lovely shots of Beijing. Instead, we had to keep looking at this. Perhaps Eric Perkins planned that. Those two are known for doing goofy things.

Like the other day, Perk kept showing the webcam a cracker he was eating, and then we watched Drill eat a banana.

I know I've said it before, but read their blogs. I love the ones about Drill and his laundry.

Out of Control

So today quite by accident, I discovered something on Facebook: Pass the Baton at the NBC Olympics.com site. It's a fun challenge where you pass the baton to others all over the US. You gain medals the more you pass your batons, and you can request batons from others. (I've passed the baton off on a few of you...get going!)

And then on NBC's Olympics.com site, you can play Olympic Quick Picks.

Yet more Olympic-related things to keep me from sleep!

(Go check it out for yourself on Facebook and Olympics.com!)

Addiction

Addiction.

Merriam-Webster's defines addiction as such: "compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal."

I think they need to add one more word in that description for not only me, but for many of us (and I don't mean the word 'Disney', but that certainly can fall into the category as well). The word I'm thinking of presently is 'Olympics'.

Yep, as usual, and as you can tell from my previous post, I can't get enough of the Olympics. I'm not even a big sports nut, but every time the Olympics come around, I can't help myself. I tell this story to people, but back in 1984 when the Olympics were in Los Angeles, my mother and I got hooked on pin trading. There was this huge inflatable Coke bottle near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and we went nuts. And then when Disney started with the pin trading, well, those of you who know me (and are equally addicted) know about that.

It didn't help that many of the events happened all over Southern California, but that addiction started back then. So now, thanks to Tivo, I'm able to watch Olympics when I get home from work, after dinner, when I get up in the morning before I go to work...you get the idea.

And to top things off, now I can also Beijing Cam, thanks to one of our local news stations. And let me tell you, anchor Eric Perkins (Perk) and photojournalist John Drilling (Drill) are hilarious to watch when they are at their desks. They will do all sorts of wacky stuff for the camera. See for yourself.

http://www.kare11.com/news/olympics/beijing/default.aspx?menuid=141

When they are away, you get nice views of Beijing. Thankfully, I'm too busy at work to spend time watching that all the time, but will sneak a peak at lunch. Check out their blog, too. Those boys are nuts. They went to the wrong airport here and almost missed their flight. But then, like me, when in Los Angeles, they had to eat at In-N-Out Burgers.

Okay, have to check out the scores and the medal count....

Ni Hau, Y'all!

It's time for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and I'm excited! In fact, I decided to throw an Olympic Opening Ceremony party for some friends. How sad is that?

Since I had a short time to plan, I didn't get to go all out, but we did have lots of Chinese food, personalized Chinese Zodiac place mats, Chinese and Greek trivia, and customized fortune cookies, all with Star Wars sayings. We even had our own drinking game based on what Garry would or wouldn't say.

With Hercules meeting Mulan, my Disney decorating theme was strong with my Disney friends. And I also have to thank Carl for sending a WDCC Olympics Goofy poster for my door and to Michelle for calling us to see if we were having a good time.

But the biggest thanks has to go to Sara, Dani, Chris and Garry, for putting up with my constant Chinese trivia ("You are now eating bao. 'Bao' means 'treasure' in Chinese."), my attempts are cooking some of the food, and for making them pose with these lanterns.

I'd be surprised if they ever came back for another party. But at least I didn't make them dress up in the Olympic colors and make them pose like the rings, like I told them I would make them.

They even posed for a picture (we were well into the drinking game at this point).

And here's the welcome sign I made for the party. I think my neighbors will steer clear of me after seeing the party theme.