Updating my website

I've been working on updating my Carol Burnett website for the past week. I'm doing it for several reasons that I won't bore you with right now.

Anyway, I've come up with a new design and hopefully in the next week or so, I'll go live. It's a cleaner design and technically more manageable.

After it's launched, let me know what you think about it.

Summertime

In Maryland, you really can't go a summer without having crabs at least once. Steamed crabs slathered in Old Bay are the best way to spend an afternoon along with some friends...

And don't forget the beer ;)

Annual Plan

Now's the time to write a check that hopefully I can cash by next June. That's right, it's time to do my annual plan. I always have the hardest time coming up with goals for the next year, especially since you never know what will come up that will keep me from reaching my goals.

*sigh*

My annual plan is due on Friday by COB. So, here goes.

Practicing Cubicle Etiquette

By Jill Bremer, AICI, CIP, Bremer Communications

Is your current workspace a cubicle? Is a move into a cubicle in your near future? Life in a cube presents certain challenges. And if you're being moved out of an office into a cube farm, the change can be emotional, as well. Working in a cubicle does have some upsides, such as developing an open and connected staff and creating a feeling of camaraderie. However, studies show that most workers are not thrilled with the idea of working in a cube because of the lack of privacy and the increased noise. Here, then, is a set of ground rules that will help cube dwellers remain both productive and neighborly.

Privacy

Never enter someone's cubicle without permission. Behave as though cubicles have doors. Do not enter before you have eye contact "permission" from the occupant.

Try not to sneak up behind someone in a cube. Announce yourself at their doorway or lightly knock on the wall.

Post a sign or flag at your cube entrance to signal when you can be interrupted. Avoid making eye contact with people if you don't want to be interrupted.

Don't "prairie-dog" over the tops of cubes or peek in as you walk past each one.

Don't loiter outside someone's cube while you wait for him or her to finish a phone call. Come back at another time.

Never read someone's computer screen or comment on conversations you overhear. Resist answering a question you overhear asked in the cube next to you!

Keep your hands off a cube dweller's desk. Just because there's no door doesn't mean you can help yourself to their paper clips.

Phones

Try to pick up your phone after one or two rings. Set the ringer volume at a low level.

Limit the use of speakerphones. If you must use one, keep the volume as low as possible. Use a meeting room for conference calls.

Watch your volume when talking on the phone. A headset can help keep your voice low.

When you leave your cubicle, turn your phone ringer off and let it go to voicemail or forward your phone number to your new location.

Never leave your cell phone behind in your cube without first turning it off or to vibrate.

With personal or sensitive calls, be aware that your neighbors can hear your end of the conversation.

Talking

Use your "library voice."

Don't talk through cube walls or congregate outside someone's cube. For impromptu meetings, go to a conference room or break room.

Don't bring clients to your cube to meet with them. Go to an office or conference room.

Don't yell across the "cube farm". Get up and move to the other person's location.

General Noise

Use e-mail or instant messaging to communicate silently with your coworkers.

Play radios at low volumes or use a headset.

Set your PC volume to a low level and turn off screensaver sound effects.

Set pagers to vibrate.

Work out an arrangement with your neighbors to take lunch breaks at different times. This will give each of you some quiet time in your cube.

Eat quietly. Avoid gum-popping, humming, slurping and pen tapping.

Smells

A good rule of thumb is to never eat hot food at your desk. Food odors can bother your hungry or nauseous neighbors.

Perfume and cologne should be avoided in a cubicle arrangement. Your neighbors may have allergies.

Keep an air freshener handy.

Keep your shoes on!

Jill Bremer, AICI, CIP, owner of Bremer Communications, helps organizations and individuals create the "look and sound of success". Her company offers group training, private coaching, and consulting in professional image development, communications, and presentation skills. She is the co-author of It's Your Move: Dealing Yourself the Best Cards in Life and Work (Financial Times Prentice Hall, 2004) and can be reached at 708-848-5945 or at jill@bremercommunications.com

Can You Be Fired for Blogging?

You'd better be careful what you say online...

Click the title of the blog to read the article.

Annoying credit card offers

I got the third mailing from Providian this week and I decided to call to see if they would take my name off their list. I found the address to write to opt out and I decided to send in a letter to ask them to leave me alone. I opened up the next credit card offer from Citibank and they had a phone number to get your name off of all the credit bureaus' lists.

http://www.optoutprescreen.com

Now, apparently, this doesn't take you off the creditor's list, so you still have to contact them individually to get your name off their list. But by adding your name to the opt out list, no new creditors can get your name.

State of Mind

As I sit here in front of the computer, desperately trying to think of something deep and meaningful to say in my blog, I find that nothing of any consequence comes to mind. I play a few songs in the hopes that they will give me inspiration.

I play Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart" and I instantly get sad, thinking of those who have betrayed me. The Backstreet Boys, "Incomplete" makes me long for the love that I don't have. Even the Corrs, who usually lift my spirits, do nothing but make me thinking of the wedding I've always dreamt of.

I think I need sleep... time for my brain to rest. I can't be the wise sage all the time for crying out loud!

I think I'm having vacation withdrawal... Is that a real thing?

:(

Listen to Clint Black's song State of Mind

Still Awake

I've been working on my website for hours and hours today. When I get in the groove, I find myself wide awake at the oddest and latest hours. I've watched about 3 hours of the Cosby Show while I've been working.

It's dark-thirty a.m. and I'm still awake.

Gotta go to bed.

Last day in Philly

So, if you're ever in University City in Philadelphia and just happen to be staying at the Sheraton University City, you'll be able to get around on the metro. Now, when you come out of the Sheraton University City Hotel, go across the street going towards Walnut Street. There is a SEPTA subway entrance on the corner next to the student art museum.

Now, while my brother, sister and I were out on the hunt for the subway, we stumbled onto the Drexel University campus. That subway entrance takes you to the green line, which has trolleys. I'd never taken a trolley before and wasn't sure what to expect. A trolley is a cross between a bus and a subway car. A strange site at first, but we got used to it.

We needed to get to the Liacouras Center which was clear across town, by Temple University. We found a map telling us that we could take the trolley to 15th Street, otherwise known as City Hall... I wish they had just said that. We arrive at City Hall, knowing that we have to transfer to the orange line, also known as the Broad Street Line, but do we go north or south?

I started thinking that we would've been better off driving. But I had to put on my game face and let the troops think that all was going well. My siblings haven't been in the city that often and didn't know what to expect. Their suburban snobiness was beginning to emerge, although they weren't as bad as they could've been. I think they were mostly grossed out.

We found a subway officer and he told us to take the local train northbound to Cecil B. Moore. We finally made it to Cecil B. Moore and emerged from the underground chasm, grateful for the humid, but fresh air.

We took the subway two days and it really did make travelling between the Liacouras Center and the hotel go fast. Then next time I go back to Philadelphia, I'd like to explore the city via subway a little more.

More pix from Philly

Click photos to for larger view


Someone help! My staple removers are fighting again!

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Dorms? Who knows...

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Institute of Art

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Tiffany goes to city hall

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Gumby doing Pilates

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African American History - Mural-style

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Rock Hall - Temple University

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The Liacouras Center - Temple University

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The Tracy Hotel

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The search for Walmart

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Whales!

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West Side Story... here in Amer-ri-ca!

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Don't go to close to the edge!

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You have to go downtown to go uptown. Round and Round City Hall to
grandmother's house we go!

Hello from Philly

We arrived in Philadelphia around 4:00 pm today and decided to take a small walking tour of the city. We only walked about 10 blocks before the heat just about killed us. We ended up back at the hotel where we piled into the car on the search for cheesesteak subs... I mean we are in Philly, right?
(All photos in thumbnail view. Click for larger photo)

So my friend Marie suggested this place in South Philly that has great cheesesteaks. Pat's King of Steaks is world famous because a ton of famous people have eaten there. They also have an interesting ordering philosophy.




Now, Pat's is located across the street from another famous cheesesteak shop, Geno's Steaks.

Geno's also boasts famous customers and has the pictures (like Pat's) to prove it. I first heard about Geno's while watching a video tape of Boyz II Men. They were showing the various places they hung out as young boys. Geno's was one of those places.

Geno's Steaks has the world's best cheese fries.

Across from Geno's is a Harley Davidson shop. It had cool miniatures and some actually hogs.

I'm not too keen on the confederate flag, but I'll let that pass.

So far, Philly has been interesting. If it weren't so hot, we could've explored more. Tomorrow, we're attempting the subway. We are going to the Liacourous Center for our District Convention for Jehovah's Witnesses.

It will be easier, as far as parking, to just take the subway to the Liacouras Center. There's a subway station across the street from our hotel. We're told that if we take the subway to City Hall and transfer to the orange line. We end up right at Temple University which is where the Liacouras Center is located.

More to come tomorrow :)

This is what I need

Packing

Getting ready for a trip is always stressful. Did I pack this, did I get that? I took two days off before my trip to get everything together and I still feel like I'm forgetting something.

Last night I printed directions to and from Philadelphia, specifically to the Sheraton University City. I still need directions to get around Philly, but I'll do that tonight.

This evening I'm going to actually start packing. Yesterday I washed all my dirty laundry, but for some reason, I lost the energy to fold up the clothes. They're still in a pile on the floor where I left them when I came back from the laundry room. Can someone come help me fold my clothes?

Wild for Reading? Maybe...

There are people whose appetite for books is as ferocious as a lion on the hunt for prey. They devour books whole, having no need for bookmarks or dog ears; no literary leftovers are left behind. These folks have a craving for far off places and distance lands; a desire to lose themselves in other worlds, never emerging from this world until the conquest is complete.

I am not one of those people.

Don't get me wrong, I like books. But I'm a buffet person; tasting samples from several plates at a time, never really finishing anything. My last few dishes were Don Quixote, Star Trek Voyager: Dark Matters - Ghost Dance, and On Mexican Time. I've nibbled on each, not really getting a hearty taste of any. My newest sample is Angela's Ashes.

We'll see how far I get.

Strength, Courage, and Wisdom

Inside my head there lives a dream that I want to see in the sun
Behind my eyes there lives a me that I've been hiding for much too long

'Cause I've been, too afraid to let it show
'Cause I'm scared of the judgment that may follow
Always putting off my living for tomorrow
It's time to step out on faith, I've gotta show my faith
It's been illusive for so long, but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith, It's time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found

[Chorus]
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

Behind my pride there lives a me, that knows humility
Inside my voice there is a soul, and in my soul there is a voice
But I've been, too afraid to make a choice
'Cause I'm scared of the things that I might be missing
Running too fast to stop and listen

It's time to step out on faith, I've gotta show my faith
It's been illusive for so long but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith it's time to show my faith
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found

[Chorus]
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

[Bridge]
I close my eyes and I think of all the things that I want to see
'Cause I know, now that I've opened up my heart I know that
Anything I want can be, so let it be, so let it be:.

[Chorus 2x]
Strength, courage, and wisdom
It's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, wisdom
It's been inside of me all along, everyday I'm praying for:


Vamp
I found it in me, I found it finally
I'm sure to keep it' cause I like it, I say thank you

-India.Arie

Hear a sample

Summer Reading

At the beginning of the summer, a friend and I decided to send each other a bible verse each day. The twist was that we would send the verse in english, french and spanish, which requires a little bit of research on both of our parts.

Here are some of the scriptures that we have shared:

John 11:35
Jesus wept.
Jesús lloró.
Jésus pleura.

Proverbs 13:12 "Expectation postponed is making the heart sick, but the thing desired is a tree of life when it does come. "
Proverbios 13:12 La esperanza frustrada aflige al *corazón; el deseo cumplido es un árbol de vida.
Proverbes 13:12 Un espoir différé rend le coeur malade, Mais un désiraccompli est un arbre de vie.

Matt 4:4
Us: Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”-
You: Jesús le respondió: --Escrito está: 'No sólo de pan vive el hombre, sino de toda palabra que sale de la boca de Dios.'
Me: Jésus répondit: Il est écrit: L'homme ne vivra pas de pain seulement, mais de toute parole qui sort de la bouche de Dieu.

Mathew 24:35
John: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Juan: El cielo y la tierra pasarán, pero mis palabras jamás pasarán.
Jean: Le ciel et la terre passeront, mais mes paroles ne passeront point.

Proverbs 14:34
Us:Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
You:La justicia enaltece a una nación, pero el pecado deshonra a todos los pueblos.
Moi:La justice élève une nation, Mais le péché est la honte des peuples.

Isaiah 12:4
Pour nous:In that day you will say: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Pour toi:En aquel día se dirá: Alaben al Señor, invoquen su *nombre; den a conocer entre los pueblos sus obras; proclamen la grandeza de su nombre.
Pour moi:Et vous direz en ce jour-là: Louez l'Éternel, invoquez son nom, Publiez ses oeuvres parmi les peuples, Rappelez la grandeur de son nom!

Zechariah 14:9
Ta Da!: The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.
Voila: L'Éternel sera roi de toute la terre; En ce jour-là, l'Éternel sera le seul Éternel, Et son nom sera le seul nom.
Veló (?): El Señor reinará sobre toda la tierra. En aquel día el Señor será el único Dios, y su *nombre será el único nombre.

(Psalm 35:18) I will laud you in the big congregation; Among a numerous people I shall praise you.
(Psaumes 35:18) Je te louerai dans la grande assemblée, Je te célébrerai au milieu d'un peuple nombreux.
(Salmos 35:18) Ciertamente te elogiaré en la congregación grande; entre un pueblo numeroso te alabaré

Psalm 138:8 - (just the first phrase, for easier memorization and to get right to the heart of the matter):
en anglais: The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me
en français: L'Éternel agira en ma faveur
en español: El Señor cumplirá en mí su propósito

Proverbs 19:11a " The insight of a man certainly slows down his anger..."
Proverbios 19:11a "Le perspicacia del hombre ciertamente retarda su coléra..."
Proverbes 19: 11a "La raison de l'homme lui fait retenir sa colère..."

Matthew 5:9
Por nos: Happy are the peaceable since they will be called 'sons of God'
Por ti: Bienheureux ceux qui procurent la paix, car c'est eux qui seront appelés fils de Dieu;
Por mi: Bienaventurados los pacificadores: porque ellos serán llamados hijos de Dios.

Genesis 1:1
Por ti: Au commencement Dieu créa les cieux et la terre. (francais)
Por mi: En [el] principio Dios creó los cielos y la tierra. (espanol)
Por nos: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (ingles)

Old Navy

I took my sisters to Old Navy today and as usual, I ended up spending too much money. Check out the outfits I bought.

The good news is that I can mix-and-match the pants.

Happy Friday

It'$ Friday and it'$ pay day. What more could you a$k for?

Here'$ $ome pay day $lang fo yo ear, homie!

• Hey, it'$ all about the benjamin$, baby!



• Get dat paper!



• Dolla Dolla bill$ y'all!

Hopeless Romantic

I was told that I'm a hopeless romantic today, so...


**In my best Dean Martin voice**

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore !!!

:)-

You think you know, but you have no idea

I made a Quiz for You on QuizYourFriends.com
CLICK on the link below or PASTE it into your browser.http://www.quizyourfriends.com/yourquiz.php?quizname=050714141858-806247

Email

-----Original Message-----

From: Julie Jones
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 9:30 AM
To: M.
Subject: My dream

Dear M.,
What does it mean when you dream that you get drunk at work on raspberry wine and the Human Resources folks come and get you out of the hallway so that the kids on campus kids don't see you?
Julie


****M's Reply****

From : M.
Sent : Wednesday, July 13, 2005 10:37 AM
To : "'Julie Jones'"
Subject : RE: My dream

A couple of possibilities:
1. It means you have to stop eating pepperoni pizza before going to sleep :)
2. It means you need a vacation baaaaad if you're mentally drinking on the job
3. It means part of you is taking Communion at work in an effort to keep "thou shalt not kill (S.L.) at the front of your thoughts
4. It means nothing :)

M.

A fine line

Yesterday, I took a huge chance. I shared a very private part of myself and my feelings were accepted.

So much has happened in the past year and it has made me doubt the decisions that I have made. It's clear to me that I exist in a dangerous place. Part of my world exits to fill my rice bowl. The other part exists to fill my spirit and encourage me. It's hard to find the safe intersection at times.

"No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other." - Matthew 6:24

This scripture stays with me all the time. In its practical application, it refers to not leading a double life. You can't lead a life and put on the air of living by godly principles when around one group of people and then act completely contrary in another crowd of people. However, the reason why I keep thinking of this scripture doesn't have anything to do with living a double life.

It's hard to have relationships with people on both sides of the battle field. I feel for Switzerland. I don't know how they maintain their neutrality. I can stay neutral in certain areas. I can keep 45% of my life over here and 45% over there. It's the other 10% that is hard to balance. And some days, it's just harder to take than other days.

So I continue to pray for peace...peace in the 10%.

*sigh*

The pool is closed until September...What am I going to do?

Celebrity Fit Club 2

Celebrity Fit Club is one of the only reality shows I can watch and not get totally disgusted. I'm going to watch this and really tried to pick up some tips on health and weight management.

I weighed myself today and wasn't happy at all. So I have to step it up a bit. I have a couple of dvds that I need to be doing everyday. So that's what I'm going to do.

My side hurts from laughing so hard

This was the funny thing I have seen in a long time.

What is the most awesomely bad break-up song ever? The one that makes you cringe when you hear it, but you just can't turn it off. What break-up song makes you shake your head, roll your eyes, laugh, gag, shed a tear, or just punch something because it's so horrendously great. that you love to hate it. Or is it vice versa? VH1 is counting down the 40 Most Awesomely Bad Break-Up Songs....Ever in a 2-hour special, that will cover the highest of the lows and the lowest of the highs over the history of awesomely bad break up songs - you know, the kind of songs that make breaking up even harder to do. The kind of songs that make you want to break a lot more than just an unwanted heart. The kind of songs that, well...you get the drift.

Join us as we count down and celebrate fantastically cheesy lyrics, the best and worst metaphors, awkward and confusing themes, and of course, those strange, misguided flukes from our favorite artists, while our team of experts help explain why we've deemed these songs so (un)worthy. We've been covering our ears, shutting off the radio, and running from the room screaming for too long. It's time to ban these songs to our awesomely bad Hall of F(Sh)ame!

You have to see this!

Hurricane Dennis

Tourists throughout the Florida Keys were ordered to evacuate, as were all mobile home residents — and all southernmost residents of the island chain. A hurricane warning was issued for the lower Keys.
Lines of cars were seen streaming out of the island chain Thursday. Airlines reported that nearly all flights out of Key West were full, and Greyhound added buses to help get residents out of the area.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8487520/page/3/

I have friends who were heading for the Florida Keys today. I can't say that I'm disappointed that the Keys were evacuated. They turned around and went to Fort Lauderdale. From the news reports, it looks like Hurricane Dennis is going to be pretty powerful; a category 4 hurricane.

It's good that the government officials learned from last year's hurricane season and have started appropriate evacuation procedures. It's interesting that among all the people they're evacuating, "There were no immediate plans to evacuate prisoners or troops from the U.S. detention center's Camp Delta at Guantanamo Bay, on Cuba's extreme southeast end, Gen. Jay Hood said in an interview." So basically, the prisoners don't really matter... oh well.

My personal best

Hello dears,
Today I hit a personal best. I made 71 web pages in 6 hours. I'm not sure how I did it, but when I left from work, I was extremely tired. I left at 4pm and was asleep by 4:15.

My Confession

Ok, I admit it.









I love watching Rachel Ray on Food TV. Her show, 30-minutes meals and $40 a day are so informative and they make you feel you can make great meals too. Every time I watch her show, I try to make whatever meal she's just made.

So if you want to get me a present, I would love any of Rachel's books. Believe me, I won't be too shy to accept those as gifts :)

Today's Rachel meal: Warm Corn and Tomato Salad.

I want to try: Devilish Chili-Cheese Dogs

My baby's clean

We washed my car today, inside and outside. I also did some laundry and took a nap.

Yeah, my day was pretty full.


Don't be jealous.

Luther Vandross (1951 - 2005)

Arguably, one of the best entertainers of the past century passed away today. I really loved Luther's music. It was always warm and romantic. It made me think that true love was possible.

In a time when booty calls and teenage angst rule the air waves, it's still nice to know that you can put on a Luther CD and get good old fashion love songs. Songs with a heart, sung by a man with an even bigger heart.

Luther made every woman feel like he was singing to her and every man wish he was as smooth.

We'll miss you Luther.