Fabulous Friends with Staying Power

On this past Sunday we had 3 of my best high school friends over for dinner. We had such a great time catching up, playing silly games, and even doing dishes together. I am so grateful for these girls and their continued friendship. We did everything together in high school, went to Venezuela together a few years ago, and it's nice to know that we still get along and enjoy each other's company.




Here's a picture of us:



From left to right: Me, Catharine Fairbairn (her boyfriend, John, also came for dinner), Katie Baratta, and Ellie Cowen.

I have been friends with these as far back as 8th grade when our family moved out here. Sheesh! That's a long time!

Why I hate modern news organizations, Part 1

I've often felt irked by the media's coverage of news, particularly politics, but rarely to the point where I considered it blog worthy. But as of this afternoon, I've had enough!

CNN, the LA Times, the NY Times, and plenty of other papers/blog/news organizations are all reporting headlines that riff on a "John McCain claims to have invented the BlackBerry" theme. And it is incredibly stupid.

First: McCain never said the quote in question
Second: The quote in question was NEVER about the BlackBerry
Third: It was never about invention of anything

The REAL story: (as found in the details of this blog )

The adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, was briefing reporters on Mr. McCain’s prescriptions for the meltdown on Wall Street, and citing his experience as the chairman of the commerce committee, when he was asked what Mr. McCain had done on the commerce committee that would show Americans that he understands financial markets.

“He didn’t have jurisdiction over financial markets, first and foremost,’’ Mr. Holtz-Eakin said, before wandering into more politically perilous ground.

“But he did this,’’ he said, holding up what looked like a BlackBerry. “The telecommunications of the United States, the premier innovation of the past 15 years, comes right through the commerce committee. So you’re looking at the miracle that John McCain helped create. And that’s what he did.’’

Have ALL the news outlets really become so obsessed with driving traffic and ratings that they have to twist the truth?

Only 7 More Days

After today.... eeek! Excitement.

Farewell Fair Deloitte

After a full year and a half at Deloitte (okay, so it'll be a year and a half on August 26), I am leaving Deloitte. No, I am not pregnant (and no, I did not get fired.)

Luke and I have come to the conclusion after a long and tiresome couple of months that it is just time for me to leave. The tentative plan at present is to get really good at making collages and see what becomes of it. Boy, am I glad that Luke is supportive of this idea 'cause I think that sounds like a lot of fun. My last day of work is Friday, September 12, 2008. I'll be leaving the Campus Recruiting Team in a bit of a bind as September and October are their busiest seasons. However, I still like to think that I'm doing them a favor by leaving. A new person in my role will make mistakes, but a grumpy veteran could (and probably would) sabatoge their efforts. So, really, they don't know how lucky they are to be losing me.

I've been trying to think if there is anything about Deloitte that I'll really miss. I think the answer is: not really. Well, maybe my really awesomely decorated cubicle and I guess all the free food was nice. Okay, okay, and some of the people. I'll really miss quite a few. All in all, I've had a good, educational experience and I'm ready to go.

Only 12 more days to go ('cause I'm on vacation next week)... but who's counting...

Never understimate the power of Baltic Avenue...

I managed to get my quarterly Monopoly fix this past week. The Batista family was kind enough to invite us over for dinner and FHE. Geo (above, second from right) learned of my love for Monopoly during June's stake youth conference (we were counselors), when I schooled a group of ESL teenagers (some said I had an unfair advantage... but one, I didn't try all that hard and two, they could communicate with each other much more fluently than I could communicate with them - so who really had the better edge in deal making?)

The after dinner game with Geo, (advised by his daughter above) and Zac started very badly for me. House rules (which I detest! but nevertheless honor) prevented the purchase of property during the first time around the board. It took me at least 10 turns, with two trips to Jail, to get there. By the time I did, I was (almost) hopelessly behind in the property race. Fast forward 45 minutes to a solemn Luke with three, yes a mere three properties (Pacific Ave, Meditteranean Ave and Vermont Ave) facing off against dual monopoly holding opponents (Geo with the oranges and light violets, Zac with the reds and yellows) and you'd never have guessed who would be walking away the victor.

Well, you'd never have guessed had you been there. But by virtue of the fact that you're reading about here, I've given it away. I pulled off one of the great Monopoly comebacks of my life. Credit, I suppose, must go primarily to the dice. But I'd like to think that my dogged insistence that Geo sell me Baltic to at least give me a chance with a monopoly was shrewed enough that I could walk away rightly claiming at least some credit for myself. He and Zac paid for it dearly. They probably landed on my cheapest of hotels eight times before the end.

Goes to show one should never underestimate the power of cheap, undesirable things. Or maybe just that I like Monopoly too much and am overcompetitive. You decide...

My New Favorite Healthy Snacks

1. A banana - but it has to be the right level of ripeness. I like them on the less green more brown side and I'm rather particular. One day's worth of ripening can make a difference. I've been eating these after work before my hour long commute. It holds me over until dinner at home and prevents hunger attacks. (A few weeks ago, I had a hunger attack on the way home and I seriously came very close to eating my own arm.)

2. Applesauce - I've loved applesauce since I was a kid and my love has only been re-kindled of late. Man, it's good stuff.

3. Hard boiled eggs - with some salt and pepper - yum! Though they smell and I feel I have to announce to anyone present, "I'm eating some eggs" lest they think the smell is from some other source.

4. Ants on a log - celery w/ peanut butter and raisins - a childhood classic. Even Beth will eat celery if it has peanut butter and raisins. The thing is, you have to have them together. Peanut butter and raisisns is pretty good, but it's almost too sweet and gooey; you need the crisp cruch of the celery to balance it out.

Happy eating!

Extra long, long, WHAT!?

I was looking for a white officiator's jacket on the Church's website yesterday. It was one of the last places on the internet where I expected to laugh, but I couldn't help myself when I read over the list of sizes...




I can't believe that "portly" was the best word available...