Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

Thumbs up: Reese's Limited Edition Marshmallow Peanut Butter Cups

All I can say is these are unbelievably delicious. I love chocolate, peanut butter and marshmallows, so this was like heaven to me.

Thumbs down: the movie RV, starring Robin Williams

We went to see this with Ariana this weekend, and it was the second worst movie I have ever seem in my entire life (Alexander being the worst of all). The only thing worse than the mishaps that followed the family on their trip was watching it happen. Horrible, horrible, horrible.


And that's what I think about that.

An Unexpected Friendship

I am an extremely task-oriented person. I love to chat, but if I am busy, it would always drive me crazy to have someone come and break my concentration.

Listening to someone ramble on would really irritate me as I saw new messages pop into my in-box. I had very important things to do.

Or so I thought.

There is a retired professor that lays on his death bed. I have had many conversations with him. Some were long, as we would chat in the hallway about D.C. or whatever else. Sometimes he would stop by when I was really busy, and I would be polite. However, I would feel that I needed to hurry up and get back to work.

For what?

One of the last times we spoke, I stopped paying attention to me and paid attention to him. He had some fantastic ideas that I thought sounded absolutely wonderful. I listened. I enjoyed his company and all the wisdom he was always ready to share.

I never knew our short friendship would end so soon.

I mailed him a card today. I told him that he had impacted my life more than he would ever know.

You see, there's a lady at work. She, too, often rambles. I would often be too busy to pay her enough attention, as I felt that I needed to work on a press release or the web site. We would chat briefly, and that was that.

She and the professor were very close friends. She is very sad now. Yesterday, I stopped by her office to talk to her. I know I will be the one to write the obituary. I will be the one whose words memorialize this man. However, it is she and others who truly knew him best. I wanted to hear what she had to say. I wanted to know what could be found beyond a C.V.

We talked, she cried, we hugged.

Today, she stopped back by to read me the letter she had written to her old friend. Her words were so beautiful that they brought tears to my eyes.

These two had talked for countless hours, pondering the mysteries of the universe.

She is about to lose one of her best friends. But I have made a vow to myself that I will be her friend from now on too.

This man being in the last days or weeks...or at best, months...of his life have made me realize that every person is important. I will be a better listener. I will turn away from my computer when someone stops by my office.

In the end, the work will be done. I can always finish up work another day. However, a conversation lost is not something that can be replaced.

Yesterday, someone thought she might have made a new friend. Today, when she came to my office, I made sure she knew that I cared.

And all the work I've done here just doesn't quite seem to compare to how I feel right now. Knowing that I helped someone else feel that they weren't alone is one of the best things I have ever done.

My New Ride

Happy Second Anniversary

Tired

I am so freaking sick and tired of terror plots.

I am exhausted fighting an uphill battle.

I am disgusted by those who think murdering the innocent is somehow OK.

The only light at the end of the tunnel is that a Muslim is responsible for the terrorists getting caught.

See, we're not all crazy.

I have lots of thoughts on the matter. But for now, I shall take a deep breath, go to Friday prayer and be around a large group of my brothers and sisters who are also disgusted.

I can't fix the world just this second. I shall not spend the rest of the day reading about all the atrocities of the world on the internet. People are being tortured and killed all over the world, and it is sad. The treatment of the Lebanese and Palestinian makes me want to cry. For that matter, the treatment of people all over the world makes me want to cry. I heard about a woman who punished her young son for talking back to her by heating a spoon on the stove and burning his little tongue with it.

What is wrong with people?

All I can do right this second is thank God for the life I have. For now, all is good in my little corner of the world. My biggest stress is a pesky zit above my upper lip that won't go away.

Bert bought me the 24-pack of ultra fine point Sharpies in a variety of colors, and I shall doodle and be happy to see my name in hot pink and turquoise. Because frankly, I just can't think about this any more.

Say It Ain't So

Whoa. Did anyone else love the show "Meet the Barkers?" I thought Travis and Shanna were the perfect couple, but according to People.com, the two are divorcing.

They were an odd-looking couple, but he seemed to absolutely adore her and her daughter with Oscar de la Hoya. They have two children together as well. Question mark on their daughter being named Alabama.

And while Shanna wasn't exactly a picture-perfect mom, I never thought they would get divorced! I guess you truly never know what goes on behind closed doors.

Sadness.

This and That

Hi, everyone! Just thought I'd check in with a random assortment of tidbits for your reading pleasure:

-I made an A in summer school. Woo hoo! The prof only made us go to class like 4 times the entire semester. Love.him. Fall semester starts next week.

-Had a wonderful visit with the parents this past weekend. We shopped, ate bad Indian food and had a great time.

-Matty is doing great. We love having a pet.

-Work has started to get crazy, and it's only going to get crazier.

-Did anyone else see the first episode of "Celebrity Fit Club 4?" Hello, Ant is fat now. The host needs to sign up for the show. I have to hurry up and lose weight so Erika Eleniak doesn't get skinnier than me.

-The "Young and the Restless," my favorite soap, is getting stupid and it's pissing me off. Enough with the Nazi storyline, Victor's seizures and visions, etc. They're starting to go all "Days of our Lives" on us.

-I really want to win Dave Matthews tickets.

-One week 'til our two year anniversary. It just keeps getting better. :)