Pablo the Penguin and other Randomness

So I get to work today and the fist person I see is Jeff. Jeff is one of the guys that I work with and he's probably about my father's age. Jeff is also very into the Nick Jr. show The Backyardigans (and no, he isn't married and doesn't have any kids--that I know of). Now, Jeff's obsession with The Backyardigans is as well known as my obsession with penguins so one of the ladies at work (Liz) left him two stuffed characters from The Backyardigans on his desk as a Christmas present--one was Tyrone the moose and the other was Pablo the penguin. Because he says he has too much junk at home, I got to take Pablo home with me!!! Now, I need another stuffed peguin like I need a hole in my head, but oh well. You can never have too many penguins (which is a good thing or else my family and friends might not be able to find anything to give me).
In other news, almost no one is at work today but those who are seem to think that because no one is here, talking very loudly on their cell/regular phones is appropriate behavior. I just love Christmas, don't you?

Speaking of Christmas, I've just recently learned to knit (well, okay, really my sister taught me how to knit last Christmas, but I just recently decided to put this knowledge to good use) and I'm trying frantically to finish up a few last minute gifts for people (read scarves). I wish I had a digital camera so I could post some pics of the things I've made, but sadly, that will have to wait for another time. Still, I may never knit another scarf ever again!!! I did, however, find a very lovely pattern for a squid tampon cozy at http://www.craftster.org/forum/. Why would one need a squid tampon cozy you ask? My answer: Why not?

Oh yes, and still no Scopeman. I guess we will have to wait until the new year to find out what the heck is going on...

Worst Family Feud Answers Ever

This was posted by a friend of mine on Facebook and I laughed so hard that I'm pretty sure everyone at work now thinks I've lost my mind. Still....I wanted to share with you all.

Question: Name a former President that most people would say is honest. #1 Answer: Lincoln Worst Answer: Nixon

Question: Besides San Francisco, name a city that begins with the word San. #1 Answer: San Diego Worst Answer: Seattle

Question: Name a slang term used for important people. #1 Answer: V.I.P. Worst Answer: Buddy

Question: Name something pack rats have a hard time throwing out. #1 Answer: Photos Worst Answer: Corn

Question: Name something that might annoy a gardener. #1 Answer: Bugs Worst Answer: Not getting paid on time

Question: Name a reason a man might send his wife flowers. #1 Answer: Anniversary Worst Answer: Happy divorce

Question: Name a term used in football. #1 Answer: Touchdown Worst Answer: Fast break

Question: Name a special request people ask for when making a dinner reservation. #1 Answer: Non-smoking Worst Answer: A menu

Question: Name someone you wouldn't want to get a phone call from. #1 Answer: The police Worst Answer: Your son

Question: Name a classical music composer everyone knows. #1 Answer: Mozart Worst Answer: Julio Inglesias

Question: Tell me something specific you should drink a lot of when you're sick. #1 Answer: Water Worst Answer: Alcohol

Question: Name something you'd hate to find at the end of your nose. #1 Answer: Pimple Worst Answer: Lint

Question: Name the worst kind of shoe to run a marathon in. #1 Answer: High heels Worst Answer: Scuba flippers Louie Anderson's Response: If it's up there... I'll be surprised.

Question: Name something a person wouldn't want living in their house. #1 Answer: Relatives Worst Answer: Mold

Question: Name a musician who goes by one name. #1 Answer: Madonna Worst Answer: Reba McIntyre Louie Anderson's Response: Show me the strike.

Question: Name something you'd buy for more than a thousand dollars. #1 Answer: House Worst Answer: Pleasure equipment Louie Anderson's Response: I'm afraid to ask what that means.

Question: Name something you think would be difficult about being a waiter. #1 Answer: Taking orders Worst Answer: Falling down

Question: Name something a woman would find in her boyfriend's apartment that would make her think he was cheating. #1 Answer: Bra Worst Answer: Used condom

Question: Name something a teenage boy can do for hours at a time. #1 Answer: Video games Worst Answer: Masturbate Louie Anderson's Response: I knew somebody would say it.

Question: Name a unit of currency used in a country other than the US. #1 Answer: Peso Worst Answer: Ampere

Question: Name a reason why a woman might not want to kiss her boyfriend. #1 Answer: Bad breath Worst Answer: She doesn't love him that much

Question: Name something you do in front of your husband that you probably never did when you were dating. #1 Answer: Undress Worst Answer: Make out Louie Anderson's Response: With somebody else?

Question: Name a complaint you might have about the pizza that was just delivered. #1 Answer: It's cold Worst Answer: It went to the wrong address Louie Anderson's Response: And you just happened to be there.

Question: Name an animal many people are scared of. #1 Answer: Snake Worst Answer: Boar Louie Anderson's Response: It's terrifying.

Question: Name something you need to play Scrabble. #1 Answer: Letters Worst Answer: Dice Louie Anderson's Response: Where did you learn to play Scrabble?

Question: Name the age when a man might start to lose a lot of hair. #1 Answer: 30 Worst Answer: 14

Question: Name the best month to schedule a wedding. #1 Answer: June Worst Answer: Summer

Christmas Crankies

So, it's only one week until Christmas and I am so far from being in the Christmas Mood that it's not even funny. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that (a) it's been 60 degrees for the last week so it feels more like April than December and (b) I've had so much NON-Christmas stuff to do that I haven't had time to do any of the Christmas stuff.

This NON-Christmas stuff is of the Associate Pastor Search Committee Variety because someone (Kyle) thought it would be a good idea to put me on the committee and despite someone's (Woody) assurance that we would be done by Christmas (2005) we are still looking. We keep saying that we are "being deliberate" but I think what we really mean is "slow." We did have a candidate come in this weekend, however, so we are getting somewhere. Because of said candidate, however, I basically spent ALL weekend (read Friday, Saturday, Sunday) either at church or at some function that revolved around church. I now know things about the members of my committee and my minster that I never needed to know).

Last night Woody and one of the other ladies on the committee discovered that they both had sons the same age as me and wouldn't it be great if they could set me up with them because I was such a nice young lady but I was much more mature than either of these guys and the one's business wasn't going well but he was interviewing for other jobs and well wouldn't we just make a great couple. I had, at one point, three people asking me questions and I really have no idea how I answered any of them, so who knows, I may be engaged. I'll keep you posted on that.

As if seeing these people every single night this weekend wasn't enough, I get to see them again this afternoon. I think I'm going to need some serious fast food therapy to get through this one.

On a happier note, Dean the turtle has decided to start eating again after a self imposed diet that lasted four days. Now, for most pets, not eating for four days isn't such a big deal, but when you are the size of a silver dollar (maybe....I'm not sure I know how big one of those things are, but I know he's larger than a quarter) not eating for four days is like me going a month without food. YEA for food!!!

Oh, and still no sign of Scopeman. Can you get stood up by someone that you're not even sure you like?

Four Eyes

So I wore my glasses to work yesterday....this isn't something I do often, but my contacts have been bothering me so I decided to give my eyes the day off. Well, CrazyBoss commented three (count 'em three) times. The first two times it was a simple "I like your glasses" but the third time it was "I REALLY like your glasses, I do, I think they look really good" as if the first two times hadn't clued me into this fact.

I wonder about CrazyBoss sometimes. He wouldn't speak to me for about six months after I told him I was looking for another job (which I totally understand) but then, all of a sudden, it was like we were bestest friends (BFF, you know it). He felt the need to speak to me every. single. time. we would pass in the hallway (this is why, when you quit a job, you need to find another one far, far away--not just down the hall). He compliments me on everything now--my hair, my clothes, my glasses. Don't get me wrong, this is better than being mean and hateful to me, but I do sometimes wonder how much of this is just an act he puts on and how much is due to the fact that he's smoked sooooo much pot over the years that he can't remember what he ate for lunch today, much less what happened between me and him over a year ago (he is the posterboy for pot's effects on memory.) Don't do drugs kids, or this is what you'll turn into:

Also, still no Scopeman, although Jenny did spot him on Tuesday heading toward my building, so I know he has been on campus.

Bored but Beautiful

Still no sign of the Scopeman.....

But in other news, I have ABSOLUTLY NOTHING going on at work between now and the Holidays. While I like to have my work spread out a bit so that I don't have a million things to do all in one day, this is too much.

I spent today watching episodes of Ugly Betty online--quality work right there, people. Ugly Betty is one of those shows that I love, but I don't know why I love it. Sure, it's funny, but not that funny. Maybe it's because of the blatant telenovela quality about it--it's just so over-the-top sometimes that you can't help but love it. I guess it's also possible that I just like it because, for once, it's nice to see the main character of a show be someone who looks like they might actually EAT SOMETHING every once in awhile. In fact, two of the three female characters that we are supposed to like are normal sized women. Take that you skinny models!!! Also, the guy that plays Daniel, Betty's womanizing boss, is really hot. Who wouldn't like to work for a guy that looks like this:

Holiday Party Fun

Since this is my first post and because I've found that it is best to be upfront about things here is a list of things you REALLY need to know about me:

I live with a fish named Mojo and a very tiny turtle named Dean.

I work in science which basically means that I spend a good part of my time playing with Mice and the rest of it playing babysitter to the graduate students, postdocs, and scientists that I work with.

My best friend and my (only, younger) sister both have the same name (Jenny) which tends to confuse the heck out of people, but oh well...

I can't spell to save my life.

Mom died about 4 years ago from Ovarian Cancer and my Dad is engaged to a wonderful woman (Kathy). I can't be flip about this one and it's one of those things that is so totally awkward to bring up, but I've found it's much better to get it out of the way early and avoid weird questions.

Now that that's out of the way....

It's Christmas time which means it's time for that most wonderful of all holiday traditions--the Department Holiday (read Christmas) party. We can't call it the Christmas Party anymore because not everyone celebrates Christmas, but everyone knows that's what it is. Now, I have it on good authority that not all Work parties are as fun as mine, but this is usually one of the most entertaining events of the year. What can I say, Science Geeks like to party.

Before I launch into the fun filled events of this year's gathering, I need to make sure that everyone understands the background (ie what went on at last year's party). Last year, the husband of one of the girls that I work with decided he wanted to set me up with one of the microscope reps that gets invited to every event my department hosts. Scopeman and I had met at my last job (which I left because of Crazy Boss) and we didn't get along very well. I wanted to avoid Scopeman at all costs, but Husband thought that Scopeman and I would make a wonderful couple (this is why you should never go to a Holiday party without a date). After much pushing, poking, prodding and middle school-like going between, Husband managed to clear up a lot of the issues between Scopeman and me. When Scopeman cornered me at the bar and offered to buy me a drink, I said yes, and we had a nice (if somewhat drunk on his part) talk while I finished my drink. It all felt very weird, but it was Christmas and all...

After the party last year, Scopeman decided that we needed to play the "I don't know who you are" game, so I went along with it. About September, I heard that Scopeman's Dad had died, and I felt bad for him. I knew what it was like to lose a parent, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, so I decided that the next time I saw him, I would try to make things better between us. At the annual Pig Roast in October, I finally got the chance to talk to him. I told him I was sorry to hear about his Dad and we made small talk for a few minutes. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

Now, to this year's Party....

I knew Scopeman would be there, and even though I had spoken to him at the Pig Roast, I wanted to make sure that he knew I no longer blamed him for what had happened in the past. I didn't get a chance to talk to him until late in the evening. Almost everyone else had left, and he asked (again) if he could buy my a drink. (Again) I agreed, and we sat down to talk. Forever later, I looked at my phone and realized what time it was. He walked me to my car, and I finally got a chance to tell him what I had been wanting to--that what's in the past is past, and we needed to just start over. I gave him a hug, and if he lingered just a tad, I didn't object. He made it a point to say he'd see me at work sometime this week, and then I left (because it was freaking freezing and open toed shoes, as cute as they are, don't do well in the cold).

Now, I don't know what's going on between Scopeman and me. I don't have any idea what all that stuff Friday night mean, and I don't have any idea what I want it to mean. I wanted to make things right with him, which I did, so whatever else happens is just bonus. Part of me just wants to leave it at that, but then the part of my brain which watches sappy romantic movies kicks in with "But you haven't been on a date in two years, so maybe you should stop looking Gift Horses in the mouth." I have no idea, but so far Scopeman hasn't showed up at work. Still, I've gotten more action at the last two Holiday Parties that I have in the rest of both years combined, so maybe this work party thing is a good plan....

Oh yes, and the ugliest Christmas Wreath in the History of the World courtsey of my ex-neighbor. I particulary like the fuzzy antlers in the middle.