In the running for KFC's "Xtra Crispy"

All day long these BRILLIANT blogging ideas fill my head and I should really jot them down because one day I will sit here and have nothing to say. (Unlikely, but possible...) So now I sit here catching a tan at the window in Starbucks (yes, I've taken good care to switch sides so that I don't leave here looking like two-face) and listening to jazz and enjoying my own company. Sadly there are no interesting people to watch here right now so I guess I'll have to keep myself entertained by talking about my efforts to live GREEN (it is Earth Day afterall).

I recycle almost EVERYTHING. I remember a time when only #1 was recyclable in this city and I must say I'm so proud to say we've caught up and recycle everything except #4 and 7? Something like that, I just throw everything in the recycle bin - it all goes in one large heap (tin, plastic, paper etc...) to the sorting facility anyways. No more home sorting - WOOT WOOT

I do not compost but I do have a Garborator. I will NEVER live without one. It is vital to my existance and my sanity, one step below the coffee maker.

I drive a Jetta TDI which is hugely economical on fuel.

I have reduced my shower time from 30 min - 20 min (and on a good day 15)

I don't watch tv (so I never leave it running) and unless I forget, I always turn off my lights.

I eat organic when I can (unless it's 10x the price) and I'm all for using reusable cups at my favourite coffee houses.

I do alot of shamefully un-green things, print most of my work emails (mostly out of laziness) but I am getting better and I know I'm WAY better than most. So that helps me sleep at night. Speaking of which, I've been sitting here way too long and my posterior is getting numb. My frappuccino is empty and my work here is done. Time to call it a night!

Happy Earth Day and please throw your paper cups in the recycle and NOT out your window!!! THANK YOU :)

p.s. On a totally random note - if you haven't checked out KFC's new concoction I bid you to take a gander at the "Double Down" Bacon Sandwich on Fried Chicken "bread" and then go throw up. If that's not a cure to a hangover - I don't know what is....

Geries Say the Darndest Things

I had every intention of yammering on about the rediculous celebritization of Sarah Palin today (it drives me up the WALL!) However, in my attempt to look "busy" I got to cath up on some funny videos sent to me via email (apprently my coworkers are just as "busy" looking "busy").

What did we do before YouTube and other broadband media? There is literally a flurry of new stuff hitting the WWW every nanosecond and each one seems to be funnier/more rediculous than the next. I'm definitely not complaining, with 2 jobs, I rarely revel in the privilege of plunking myself in front of the tube unless it's to get my daily fix of Seamus O'Reagan with my morning bowl of Kashi! What better way to start the day than with random crazy people doing absurd things you couldn't even dream up, much less imagine ever doing?

My grandparents are all sadly passed away now but I appreciate spending time with other seniors as much now as ever. In my opinion their humour (intentional or not) is by far the funniest material out there. They call it like they see it (just like kids) only they have eons of life experience to throw in the mix. Even the grumpiest of old foggies (and I mean that with the utmost respect and admiration - I will be there one day too, hopefully) are HILLARIOUS when you spend a little time with them. So much can be learned in the most entertaining way imaginable. This video from the Ellen DeGeneres Show (see link) is absolutely worth the 6 or 7 minutes and I promise you will NOT be dissapointed.

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2007/ellen-gladys-hardy-p1.php?emf=1

My words of wise-dom for the day: start your day with a laugh and end it with a glass of pinot (name your colour) and all your day's woes will fade away (at least until you wake up in the morning and start all over again!)

Where's my ruler?

Ok, so I've officially broken the first cardinal rule of blogging. I got busy and completely forgot to blog in the first place. And this is only my second post - what does that about my reliability as a true blogger? OY!

So this brings me to the topic of accountability (which is ironic because my Manager just came over to my desk while I was in the process of typing this to discuss her plan for the 2010-2011 team planning retreat which will be centered on - you guessed it: team accountability). To say that accountability has been something I've struggled with over the years would be an understatement. Accountability seems to be everywhere I turn, and if not, it follows me like a 5 o'clock shadow. Throughout our lives we have parents, teachers, friends, family, jobs, clients/customers, bosses, teammates etc etc etc.. to whom we have to report back to. Being an Aries, I have issues reporting to people, both personally and professionally. I like to do my own thing, on my own terms and I really don't give a &*#% what anyone else thinks. That's just how I roll. Unfortunately for me, the rest of the world tells me to shove-it and report back whether I want to or not. Do I believe accountability is important - OF COURSE - nothing would ever get done otherwise. I am extremely LAZY and if it wasn't for self-accountability I would NEVER accomplish anything. The thought of letting someone you care about (even if it's yourself - wow that sounds egotistical now doesn't it?) down is usually enough to fuel the fire to get you through even the most painstakingly boring/unpleasant tasks.

There's a wooden ruler that sits in my desk drawer as a constant reminder that if I don't get my act together I will get metaphorically smacked on the hands/upside the head (like the good ol' days - yes I went to a school run by nuns and although I come from the generation where hitting students was forbidden - wooden rulers still have that connotation in my mind). Accountability cannot be escaped but if I have to choose who I have to be most accountable to - I say MOI! Everyone else can kiss my ass-et!

43 days and counting...

This is not my first attempt at blogging that's for sure, but this is my first REAL attempt at it. I am incredibly wordy and really need to learn how to "cut-it-down" to the essentials. One among many missions I have given myself to accomplish over the next several months. It won't be easy, at times it won't be fun but it WILL BE DONE!

Summer Dreams and Paris Nights will be my platform for anything from trip planning (I am venturing to France on my own for 2 whole months) to random rants about random things (i.e. Sarah Palin's rediculously overpaid public appearances) to excited ramblings about my favourite things *ahem ahem* SMALLVILLE and anything related to the Superman mythos (YES folks, I AM a comicbook geek and PROUD OF IT!) and anything in between. I have no set agenda or preconceived ideas about how this is going to flow - I'm just goin' with it. Wish me luck!

I fly out in 43 days...