S: Not everything deserves to be honored with such a lasting memorial, but I definitely think a magical wizard couch makes the cut.

A: Now every time I hear about Soldotna I’m going to think about radio coverage…

Do you have any fun plans for the holiday weekend?
S: Well… I had plans that kind of went up in smoke.  But It can be salvaged.  We were going to go to Seward Friday after work and then go kayaking Saturday.  But Cohan is working Saturday, which somehow means we reschedule the whole thing.  I don’t know what we’re doing Saturday, but that night I’m going to a bonfire, and we might just drive down Monday morning and go kayaking then.

What about you?

S: They want to blend woods…. Who does that?

A: Blend woods?!?  That’s just strange.  What woods?

I have “Faithfully” stuck in my head.  There’s just something slightly nostalgic about Journey. 

S: Blonde on maple and natural cherry.  Weird.  If you have any suggestions I am open.

That is an exceptionally good song to have stuck in your head.  I just really really really love Journey…. That’s all.

A: No suggestions really.  I haven’t blended woods much in the past but that combo sounds good.

I can’t complain about Journey being stuck in my head.  Especially on a day like this.  

S: The combo itself isn’t bad at least.  I just can’t decide what to do as what.  She doesn’t have any overhead storage—which is what would make it 10x easier..

A: Yeah boo. What furniture line is it?

Attachment: Speaking of black labs…. :)

S: Ahhh!  The cutest!

EE6.

A: Ah nm I did blend wood for EE6 once with BB.  I think it was a similar combination.  I think I did the peds once color and the rest of the desk another but don’t remember.  It was for 20115031.00 if you want to look at the project.

Okay lunch time.  See you in an hour!

S: Do I look preppy enough today to eat at nu sagaya?

A: Yes, I think so.  The popped collar justifies it.

A: Why are all the Nordstrom shoes I like close to $200 on sale?  Freakin’ expensive taste is a curse when you make what I make.
S: I hear ya.

Just so you know—if you decide to order online, go through the delta sky miles store—you get 5 miles/dollar.

A: For Nordys sale??

S: Yep.  It’s one of their retailers.  You just go to skymilesshopping.com, and then look at the merchants and if you click the Nordstrom’s link it just takes you to the website.  But you have to buy during that session or it forgets you came from sky miles

A: Well in that case… $200 shoes here I come!

Ha, JK I wish.

S: I know right?  Maybe one day when I have a bajillion dollars and my dream closet.

Have I ever told you about my dream closet?  It’s pretty sweet.  And rather detailed.

A: I don’t believe you have!

S: Well, one day when we have time I’ll have to draw you a picture :)  I always thought it was funny, because when me and C would talk about our “dream whatevers” in the future, hers was a kitchen and mine was a closet… oh priorities.

A: That’s great.  If I had the money to back my expensive clothing taste I would opt for a closet too.  I like cooking as well but not as much as I like clothes.

I’m trying to find some comfy and cute shoes for Neocon since I’ll be on my feet all day.

S: Oooh.  Very wise.  And excellent excuse also :)

A: What are the comforatable shoe brands?  Like clarks, born, etc. but that are cute.  Borns are cute but limited.

S: Most of my comfortable shoes required breaking in.  But I can totally wear them all day.  I really like the BP flats.  Those have been some of my favorites.  My mother likes Clarks.  I’ve never been a number one fan, but they suit her.

A: Yeah Clarks are totally for moms but they are comfortable.

S: I don’t know why, but it really struck me as funny that EB is using Alaska for advertising.

A: Haha that is funny.  It’s almost like Abercrombie for adults.

S: I know right?  *sigh* I guess in Washington it kind of is… weird.

A: Did they start in Washington or do a lot of people just wear their stuff?

S: Both.  It’s kind of that “outdoorsy meets every-day” look that Washingtonians love.  And it started in Seattle.

A: Makes perfect sense.  I’d always get my parents clothing from their outlets at Christmas time. 

Oh how I’d give my left arm for outlet stores up here. 

Okay maybe not but I really want them! 
S: I know exactly how you feel.  When I go home, I a little bit live at mine.  But it’s kind of bad at the same time because it’s super easy to convince yourself to buy things.

S: DO you remember those?  Because you should.

A: Oh totally.  Considering I wasn’t even alive. 

S: I know right?  I’m pretty sure that he is a few years older than my parents. 

A: Haha I think he’s around the same age as my dad.  His mannerism is just like him sometimes.  Its uber scary.

S: Now that’s just right weird.

A: I did a little googling.  That is the Jewish Center across the street.  Didn’t get much on the day camp or what that mystery word is but that would explain the lack of blondes. :)

S: You racial profiler you…

A: It’s really just an observation that fits with a stereotype……………

S: :) that’s okay—because I mostly made the observation because I wondered if they were all Jewish….

Gah!  I have nothing to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is the worst.

A: Touché.

Me either! Blah.  Lets skip work and go to Nordstrom.

S: Oh man.  Now that you mention it, that sounds like a really good idea…..

A: Did you study much of other religions in school?  Do you know about Lubavitch Judaism anyway?  Just curious now.

S: I studied a few other religions.  I believe Lubavitch is the most common branch of orthodox Judaism.

A: Yeah that’s what I got out of Wikipedia but didn’t know if I was missing anything else.  I hope the kiddies come out soon so we can watch them again and have somewhat of an entertaining 15 minutes.

S: I know right?

Have you ever noticed how loud he is on the phone?

A: Yes. Everytime.

S: I was filling out my time card today and was dismayed to discover the number of office admin hours I have.

A: Yuck, I know.  It’s not cool. I had 7.25 yesterday.  Today I got in about 3 hours of billable time so that’s a little better.  At least I get to leave at 4 again today for the doctor.  Lucky you getting to work on a lock plan!

S: Do we get to bill time for a lock plan?  I know we can’t to review drawings.

A: BTW this email chain is getting close to 3 months old…

S: I think we should have a three-month-iversary party for our email.

A: That sounds perfect because its right before we go out of town.  It will be a double celebration of the email and not coming into the office for a few days!

S: Ah!  I love it!  I’m pretty sure one of my favorite past-times is to throw parties for obscure reasons.

A: Why not celebrate the little things in life?  I think we should bring food of some sort.

S: For Friday June 10?  I agree we should either bring food or go somewhere delicious…

A: I say we bring breakfast aaand go somewhere for lunch.  MT or BT or Sis’s or ???

S: Oh my heck, you missed out!

G called a radio station to find out if he could still listen to them while he was in Soldotna.  “I was calling to find out what the coverage was, I’m going out of town to Soldotna this weekend…”  Wow.  Really?

A: Blah, I’ve run out of things to do already.
S: :) I’m sorry
A: With no lunch break which makes the day that much longer. Boo hoo.
S: Yikes.  That is really not fun… at least you have a 4:00 to look forward to!

Can I ask what the gossip was going on as I came back from eating a snack?

A: We were talking about you.

Haha jk we were talking about lunch breaks and how we all like to take later ones but just that we need to coordinate with each other day to day and figure out who will go when. 

Was your snack delicious? 

S: I knew it J

Nah, that’s what I figured.  I guess as long as only one person has to be here it shouldn’t be too hard.

It was delicious!  I ate part of my lunch—Santa’s little helper. Yum.

A: Did you hear about the kid napping?

S: No!!  Tell me all about it!

A: He woke up.

:)

My favorite joke.

S: Hah!  That’s hilarious!

A: I had to lighten the mood of this dull afternoon.  Got any good jokes yourself?

S: Frankly?  No.  I have always been the worst at telling jokes.  But I find things entertaining, like, “compared to what?!?”

A: I’ve never been good at telling jokes myself.  But the kid napping one is so easy to remember and it makes me laugh everytime.  I also enjoy “Marcel The Shell With Shoes On” type humor.  It’s that kind of dry, not so obvious humor.

S: Keep using it, it’s a good one J

Probably my favorite funny book of all time is called, “1066 and all that; a memorable history of England”.  I would probably classify it under that kind of dry, not so obvious humor.

A: I’ll have to check that out.  I like British humor.

S: I recommend it to people who enjoy British humor, and who know a lot about England.  The more history you know, the funnier it is.  Because the book is kind of full of lies.

A: I wish I had G’s PTO hours…

S: Holy what the!  Yes.  Either his or D’s.  Think they would share?  Can you imagine having all that time stored up?  I am all about vacations.  It would never happen.

A: I wish they would.  I can’t imagine having all that time stored up either.  I live for vacations and the chance to travel.

S: Seriously!  I work hard so I can play, not for the work itself.

A: Must be a generational trait.  Me too, work is well… work.

S: Oh the generations.  How they continue to wreak havoc in our daily lives.

A: Should I dye my hair dark one day just to get a reaction out of G?

S: I know right?  I love how his brain works.  –A is blonde.  This actress is blonde.  This actress dyed her hair.  Has A dyed her hair?

Seriously?  What the random!

A: Haha love it.  I the thought process is spot on ol’ chap.

S: Wow.  We are really bored.

A: Reallllly board. I have .5 billable hours. 

Random question. Do you know any good business card sites that would have deer and bears?  My Mom is making their mountain cabin a B&B.
S: Yuck.  That is the worst.  That’s how my last week was :(
Have you tried just Googling it?

A: Monday, Monday…
S: Seriously.  I’m searching the ODS site to find a dentist, but it can’t seem to find one…
A: Hmm, are you signed into your account?  It should filter the dentists that are in network.  I go to Murphy Family Dental which is in network if you want to check out their website.  
S: Yeah, I’m signed in.  Mostly it’s just that the one I want to go apparently isn’t in our network.  So that’s lame.
A: Yeah I had recommendations from friends to dentists that weren’t in network but I’m happy with Murphy so far.  Nice doctors anyway.

S: Do you have a doctor recommendation?

A: I do not, I went to see a PA I think but not a doctor and I wasn’t a huge fan.  He took a lot of xrays when it just turned out to be arthritis and of course insurance didn’t cover much of that.  I just use my OBGYN doctor for yearly checkups.  I like her.

S: Yeah?  Maybe I’ll give her a call then.  I’m just being stubborn about the whole thing because I’m used to super personal care.  I think I might also start seeing a dietician.

A: You should see MS, she’s really great and uses natural approaches.

S: Okay… now I’m looking up your doctor and the search engine can’t find her.  Is she in network?

S: Meeting highlight:  J: “Oh, that’s cool”… walks away

A: What was he referencing?  I don’t recall, haha.

S: G going to his high school reunion.

A: Oh yes, very funny.

S: So, I’m realizing that I have got to replenish my snack foods.  I am just starving all the time!

A: I have a Clementine and 2 oranges if you’re interested in any of those.  I think I’ll going to have an orange myself for I am hungry too.

S: Wow.  You’re really going to have to twist my arm on this one.  I believe the correct answer is: yes!  Please and thank you very much!

A: I may have to break down and take an early lunch…

S: Hang in there!  We are sooooooo close!

A: I can wait until 12:30 I think.

S: Yeah!  That’s the spirit!

A: Good news: it’s getting close 5 and it’s still sunny out. :)

S: Hooray!  I am so excited for 5:30 :)

A: Happy favorite day of the week!
S: Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(count the exclamation points. that’s how excited I am)

S: Wow. He is just not a multi-tasker.  Must be a generational thing.

A: Wow I guess I haven’t been getting email notifications because I had like 5 emails I didn’t know about. 

Not a multi-tasker at all.  Also he calls a backpack and “knapsack”.

S: Yes!  Also he totally does the whole “Mondee” instead of Monday thing… and he says Warshington.. which just plain bothers me.
A: Oh he totally does say Mondee!  I just dismissed it in the past but it’s quite funny now that you bring it up.

Never liked people who add the “r” in words that do not have a “r” physically or phonetically.

S: I agrees.  I really just started to notice the other week.  My friends and I had been talking about how people in the baby boomer generation talk like that, so I’ve been listening for it, and now I can’t stop hearing it!  It’s everywhere!

A: What’s new with CET?

S: You get to go to Neocon!  That’s so exciting!  If I may ask, do you know how you were selected?  I’m just a naturally curious individual :)

A: I’ve been wanting to talk about it so bad!  But I wanted to wait for J to announce it.  I think I lucked out on this one because they are taking my roommate and she said she wouldn’t mind sharing a room with me which would save the cost of a plane ticket to bring someone from our design team.  I so wasn’t expecting it!  I will be in Seattle the day after you for the layover.

S: That’s so awesome!  I’m super excited for you—I expect to hear all about it!

A: Oh trust me you will!  I feel kind of awkward though because I’m feel like A and G are thinking why would they take me out of everyone.  I’m sure G will be the first to bring it up when he sees it.

S: Yeah… well……. He will probably do that.  Or he’ll just dwell on it for a super long time.  You deserve to go just as much as anyone else.  Not everything in life is about seniority.

A: That’s true and there is always next year hopefully and one of them will get to go.

Uh oh here he comes…

S: Speak of the…

A: Or you too if you’re still here of course!

S: Of course!  But frankly I don’t know if I will be.  I’m not too concerned :)

A: Yeah that’s why I didn’t mention it initially. :)

That wasn’t nearly as painful as I was expecting.  

S: It really wasn’t so bad.  And now you know all about the weather there.  Be prepared for more stories in the future.

A: I’ve only had .5 of billable hours today. :(

S: Counting today and yesterday, I have 0.  Holy yikes.

A: Let’s go harass K for the color board.  

My outlook has not been correcting as many things lately such as capitalizing names if I type too fast and miss the shift key.  I don’t like it.

S: Yes.  Let’s. 

S: I am completely out of things to do.  75% left.
A: No fun.  Perhaps you’ll have changes and updates trickle in.  I’ve been slow/busy all week.  About 50/50.
S: That’s true.  I feel like it’s never steady.  Either nothing, or insane.
A: I wish it was 1pm instead of 11am.  I’m ready for lunch.
S: I know right?  I wanted to eat my granola bar at 10, but made myself wait another hour.  I just devoured it in under a minute.
A: Yes, I suppose I could eat the banana I brought.  I don’t know, there’s something about healthy food at work that makes me not want to eat it as much.

How was your muffin yesterday?

S: Worth every calorie.  And then I didn’t want to come back.  I keep getting stuck in traffic on stupid Huffman.  Yesterday it took me an extra 20 minutes to get home after work because of all that silly construction.

A: Oh right.  No fun.  I hate construction traffic.  It’s going to be in full bloom all around the city soon.

S: Only another hour and a half until I take my lunch.

A: I CAN ONLY WAIT AN HOUR.  SORRY, DIDN’T WANT TO TAKE OFF CAPS LOCK.  I’M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND FROM OUR DISCUSSION YESTERDAY.

S: Actually, I’m incredibly offended.  I can’t believe you didn’t have the decency to turn off your caps lock to send me a one-liner through cyber-space.  It was terribly rude.  I just wanted you to know that.

A: IN THAT CASE I THINK I’LL THINK I’LL USE CAPS LOCK ALL THE TIME.  EVEN WHEN I DON’T HAVE IT ON.  I WILL TURN IT ON JUST TO OFFEND YOU.

S: OH, NOW ITS ON SISTER.  TWO CAN TOTALLY PLAY AT THIS GAME.

A: IT’S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG! :)

S: EXCELLENT REFERENCE!

A: I’m really not a fan of when he stands up and looks this way, probably out the window to adjust clothing, dust off clothes, take off jackets, etc.

S: Really?  I can’t imagine why not.  I should think that would be your favorite part of the day…. Okay, even I can’t hold a straight face on that one :)

A: You see, there’s pros and cons to facing front.  I know you want to change your desk around but think of all the opportunity that would open up for him to talk to you and share things with you. 
S: Are you telling me to count my blessings?  If so, the advice is duly noted.

S: 30 minutes!

A: Is it only Wednesday??? :(

You were in my snoozing dream this morning.  I think it pertained to you planning that big event you were talking about yesterday.

S: I’m sorry—but you must be joking me.  There is no way that today is only Wednesday… unless of course it’s Wednesday of next week.  Yikes.

A: Time seems to be on the “slow” button when you’re looking forward to vacation.

Holy sinus pressure today.  I never had this issue as a kid.  Boo to acquiring new aliments over the years. 

S: Holy yikes… seriously.

I took the color code test, trying really hard to answer as I would have as a kid.  Apparently I was a yellow.  But only 33%.  I guess I’ve changed a lot.

Also, I’m listening to Cher right now… thought you should known.

A: Interesting.  When did you first take that test?

Cher is always entertaining.  Matches your “yellow” personality.

S: Well, now I’m a blue, but as a kid I was a yellow.  I’m taken it a few times, two or three in College.  I was pretty consistently mostly blue.

Ps.  Don’t look out the window unless you want to be deeply depressed.

A: Of course it’s the first thing I do, look out the window.  I’m aware of the blue sky and growing green leaves and temperatures getting up to 60.  It’s like nature wants to torture us with beautiful weather during our time in this building.  Not cool nature, not cool.
S: I believe the pc term is cruel and unusual punishment.

S: This is one of the longest days of my life.
A: Yes, it has been a long one.

A: Good thing your vacation got approved!

S: I know right?!  My dad would have freaked.  I might have lost it. 

A: So once again if you look out the window you’ll become depressed.  Naturally the clouds roll in as we’re about to get off work and actually enjoy the outdoors.

A: I wish it was Friday and my projects weren’t all wrapped up.

S: I think wishing that every day was Friday is a sign of being ready for a vacation.

A: Yes.  Good thing Memorial Day is coming up because I just had my “vacation”.  You’ve got something to look forward to!

S: I just want vacation all the time!  Yikes.  I think I’m going crazy.

A: Me too!  Maybe I’ll start looking into that teaching degree so I can get more vacations…  I also wish we could work more flexible hours or work from home.
S: I would love so much to work from home.  It’s almost sad how much I would love that.

S: Do you love that he gets on the phone with people and just chats?

A: Hah, yes, always entertaining.  Occasionally distracting.

S: Occasionally… sometimes I feel like he’s the teacher in peanuts, all I really hear is “wha wha wha”.  It’s like white noise.

A: Yes, I’ve learned to tune it out most of the time, that’s what earphones are for.  When I remember to have music playing anyway.

S: I know right?  I swear I spend the majority of the day with headphones in and nothing playing.

A: I’m guilty of doing it right now…

S: Also, I love how we’re decorating his house right now.

A: It’s all conceptual.  Seems to never take action.

A: Guess what I wear for a hat…  “a lentil”.

That’s all.

S: Guess what I use for a beanbag…………………….. “a raisin”

A: Okay, we can do this; get through the second half of this ridiculously beautiful Friday…

S: THREE HOURS TO GO! (I accidently left my caps lock on… but I think I pulled it off… )

A: Favorite Disney movie? Go.

S: The Lion King.  Hands down.

You?

A: How strange.  That’s mine too!  I’m listening to Disney Pandora The Lion King…

S: It’s not strange… just more evidence that it clearly is the best.

That is a seriously good station.  Thumbs-up something for me!

A: Very true.  I’ve definitely thumbs-upped many songs on this station so that shouldn’t be a problem.
S: I’m pretty sure that reading the spec guide totally put me to sleep.

A: Umm yeah that’s pretty dry.  I’m surprised I didn’t hear your head hit the desk following by snoring.
S: I know, right?  Sometimes I wish I were a dolphin.  They can put only half of their brain to sleep at a time while the rest of them is functioning.   I think that’s pretty cool.
A: Did you know dolphins are the smartest animals………………….

That is a famous quote between me and my friends.  I said that sentence sitting in a pool with my friends and they were excepting me to follow with some other comment and I just didn’t and I think we laughed for about 10+ minutes straight.  Sounds silly but it was funny to this day.

S: That’s hilarious!  I love those stories.  And then you say them with other people and you just get weird looks.  It’s kind of sad.  At this point I’m so full of inside jokes that people are used to me just laughing to myself and don’t expect me to explain anymore.  Thank goodness.  Explaining just makes it worse.

A: You seem like you could appreciate a story like that.  Inside jokes are the best. 

I love how G is always bursting to give his opinion to you.

S: I know, right?  I hope one day he realizes that he doesn’t need to validate his existence by explaining things.  Because I totally feel like that sometimes.

A: Hey guess what.  It’s 3:30 that’s what.

S: AH! I freaking love that time!!!!!!

Do you want to hear a mildly entertaining story?

A: Yes, please.
S: So my phone is a weird text-er.  There are some words that as I type it assumes the next letters to finish the word (not very many of these—and they’re things like “hooray” and “Rexburg”  I don’t know why it chose those… but whatever).  But for the most part, as I type in keys it assumes which letter combination I’m actually putting in (hooray for 9-key![this is probably why hooray is one of my predictive words J]) and then at the end of the word I hit the ‘next’ button to scroll through the options it thinks are words………………….

It thinks really weird things are words, and words that are words aren’t.  For instance, whenever I type freaking, it comes out freakhog—I have to hit next to get the right one.  It’s really annoying.  You wouldn’t believe how often I use the word freaking and I hate hitting the next button.  So I’ve decided that freakhog should be a word.

I think I will use it all the time.

S: Hah!  Follow up!  I totally had to add the word ‘freakhog’ to my dictionary in order to send the email!

A: That was actually a pretty entertaining story.  I enjoyed it because that totally used to happen to me.  It’s been less than a year since I used the 9 digit key pad with the “predictive” text option.  Similar things have happened to me.  Did you ever get a chance to visit the “Damn You Autocorrect” website?  Freakhog awesome.

S: I totally spaced.. I’ll have to look it up!

A: Sometimes when I stretch, unexpected squeaks and noises come out of me.

S: I totally do the same thing.  Also, my phone thinks ‘mcsneakerton’ is a word.  I think I’ve corrupted it.

A: Nice, do you know any mcsneakerton type people?

S: ….. I may or may not have gone through a ‘mc’ phase.  Someone wasn’t sneaky, they were sneaky mcsneakerton.  Or spicy mcspicerton.  Apparently my phone speaks crazy.

A: I don’t know, some say “your phone is only as crazy as you are”.  And by some I mean me. :)

S: Oh yes.  I was assuming that my phone had learned Crazy from me.  The same way that people from India way back when ago had English accents—they all learned from people from England.

A: Wait I take that back I did have the correct your.  Wow, now I’m just going crazy.
S: You’re certifiable.  Although I don’t know who is going to certify it… heaven knows I’m clinically insane.

S: So the floor show is at 4:30?
A: Indeed it is.  You going?  I’m considering.
S: I think it’s a nice way to cap off the day assuming I’m done with everything.  Maybe we could carpool and leave when we want (read: early)?
A: Still interested in going to the trade show?
S: Yes!  Let me make sure I have everything done.  Can you still go?
A: Yes I just got finished up.
S: Sweet—let’s do it.

S: If you find yourself looking for something to do this morning—I have some color schemes that are killing me.
A: I could come take a look in a bit if you want an extra set of eyes. 

S: Also, this email has been running for two months.  That’s pretty dang awesome if you ask me.

A: Are you into fantasy stuff?

S: Yes.  All of it.  Every day.

My life is a fantasy.

A: Especially since we work here.
S: Yes. 

Also I prefer the term ‘reality-challenged’ to the more derogatory (but true) ‘delusional’.

S: Would you lend me a color opinion?

A: Sure thing.
S: Sweet—I don’t have all the samples—so it’s kind of a fun game, but come on over whenever you get a minute.

A: Some people say my head is too big for my body….  I say “compared to what?”
S: Yes!! That is even my favorite line!  This is why we are friends… Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.
A: Agreed.
A: I don’t know that I’ve seen him in short sleeves before…
S: I know right?  He was earlier this week as well.  Totally through me off.

A: Understandable, understandable.

S: Ps.  So glad you’re back that it’s not even funny.
A: Well it’s nice to be missed!  I’m sure I’ll feel the same way when you leave in June!
A: Oh and btw, my mom gave me a duvet, quilt, bed skirt and 2 sets of shams from Restoration Hardware.  I may have to call my bed “Elaine” now.
S: That’s hilarious!  You totally should!
A: So when you get home, Youtube Marcel the Shell.  I think you’ll enjoy.
S: Yes!  I’ve already seen it and I love it!  Excellent suggestion!