Dogs/Gators

Living in Atlanta has given us a chance to see how SEC fans view football. It's like ACC basketball I think. Well, maybe just UNC vs Duke basketball. It's a culture here different from any other place and, perhaps, conference. Everyone in Atlanta is either a UGA or Georgia Tech fan. We haven't really picked a side but we did see this really awesome video story on College Game Day about Matt Richt (headcoach for UGA) about his family and their adoption story. The heartstrings were pulled and I cheered for Georgia this weekend against LSU (sorry, Ryan).

This Saturday is a big day in Atlanta and probably everywhere else in the South with a vested interest in football. Saturday is Georgia v Florida. I thought this picture was priceless on the AJC this morning:



I only know two people that actually went to Florida and they don't look anything like this but Kevin and Faydra, I think you should dress up like this for Halloween or at least get your kids to dress up like this!

Human Resources

Although it took some persuading on Wes' part, I really love the show "The Office". It's is extremely hilarious and after watching a couple of episodes, you'll be hooked. I'm not quite sold on Holly, the new HR rep but I am starting to be since Michael actually made a good move with her in the last episode. I loved the Michael/Toby relationship and miss that. I think it's crazy funny how Michael felt about Toby and HR. Ironically enough, my boss hates HR too. My boss, Ian is British and really likes the British version of The Office but I'm not sure if they play off the same scenario with HR on those episodes. Ian doesn't like our HR guy and doesn't make it a secret either. The thing that Ian has up over Michael Scott...our HR guy is in Phoenix. They have a weekly conference call and Ian just hounds him for anything. This week: HR wants to change payroll policies and Ian is not happy about it. So, HR guy should expect a beating.
When I reminded Ian a little while ago that their call is today (actually right now). Ian just sighed and said in his British accent, "Oh, I hate HR."

Ahh, Michael Scott!

Company

We had guests this weekend! The Medlocks stayed with us Saturday night. Crazy how small the world is: Mark and Susanne are pretty much like my brother and sister and their kids like my niece and nephew. Mark grew up in Roswell (north of ATL) and now his family lives down in Hampton (south of ATL). They were here for a wedding down there and then he had a high school reunion up here so Saturday night worked out perfectly. Wes and I had so much fun with the kids, Mark and Susanne. I only have pics of the kids:

I feel deflated today

I get to plan all events, caterings, parties, etc. at work. It's always so exciting and lately people have been giving ideas for our end-of-year (aka Christmas) party this year. Today, however, we received an email from the President of the company that all end of year parties must be canceled. STUPID ECONOMY!! The one thing we have to lift spirits up here at work when everyday, people on the production floor think their jobs may be going to India. Now, I can't bring in BBQ the Friday before Christmas week. I know, this is only a drop in a bucket full of major problems in the world today and I'm being really petty. But this blows! Now I have nothing to plan for the next two months...maybe we can still get away with Secret Santa!

Lettuce in a bag

A couple of weekends ago, my Mom and sister came to visit and one night, we went to the grocery store to get some food for dinner. We bought a rotisserie chicken, some salad fixings and baking potatoes. Once we got home, we put everything in the fridge because it was too early to eat. Well, after some time, Mom and I started pulling things out to prepare our meal. I pulled out the bag of lettuce that we bought and staring at me in the face was this:


(Ironically enough sitting right on top of "no preservatives"...yea, ok!)

Anyway, of course I freaked and then we kinda laughed and I was just glad that I noticed it BEFORE we opened the bag. My sister brought it back to the grocery store to get our money back and apparently, the employee just said, "Oh...sorry". It makes me think they've seen this before...

Things that drives me bonkers - #1

Endless email forwards that have no value
Why is it that almost every time I open my email, I have at least one Forward of an email that contains one of the following:

* A dancing icon of an angel or domestic pet telling me to forward this to at least 13 people to have a "blessed" day or to show people you love them.
* A horror story about how you will get cancer from eating or drinking anything. New studies seem to show that we can get cancer a lot of ways now. I received one the other day about a girl that ate too much soy and that, combined with her birth control pills gave her cancer. (In the words of Amy and Seth on SNL Thursday last night, "REALLY? REALLY???"
* A petition for me to sign something to get a big company to stop selling something that has something in it that will kill us or bring danger to us or, once again, give us cancer.
* Political emails that provide false accusations of ANY candidate that you can always find on www.snopes.com: FALSE

From another blog

Well, last night it was made clear (I've only read it, not heard one of the candidates actually utter the words) that the McCain/Palin ticket will be taxing us on company provided health insurance. Wow! Now, I know that many people are Republicans because they are really wealthy or really conservative and that's all fine and dandy but aren't there conservatives who work 8 - 5 just like I do? My company pays about $150 a month for my health plan (I pay the difference), that's $1,860 a year that I've never been taxed on but would be should they win. When I worked at Dockside, they paid for ALL my insurance! There's no way I could have paid the taxes on that. $5,000 allowance will barely cover Wes and me, two healthy 20 somethings...let alone if we had children.

"The disturbing truth about John McCain's healthcare plan"
By Christopher Hass

Following the conclusion of tonight's debate, Obama-Biden Campaign Spokesman Bill Burton said the following:

Tonight, the American people heard the disturbing truth about John McCain’s healthcare plan: that while he would offer tax credits to help families pay for insurance, he would pay for them by taxing health care benefits for the first time in history. The McCain healthcare tax would come directly out of your pockets, but the tax credit would go directly to the insurance companies. It’s an old Washington bait and switch: he gives you a tax credit with one hand, but raises your taxes with the other. Barack Obama’s healthcare plan will cut costs, lower premiums for the average family by as much as $2,500, and provide affordable, accessible health insurance for every American.

Learn the three facts that everyone should know about John McCain's healthcare plan.

***

Now, I know that many of you are voting with the GOP candidate and you probably heard things last night that you can't understand from the Democratic ticket, but this is a biggie for me.

It's a whole new ball game

OK, so I know I am a bit behind the times. I don't have a fancy iphone (although I'm so jealous of those who do!), we don't have unlimited texting or anything like that. To top it off, I work for a company that blocks all social networking sites like Facebook. But, because T-Mobile is running a deal on unlimited web access through my free phone I got with a two year subscription...I can surf the web (pardon the 1999 cliche) as long as I have a bar of service!!! YES!!!

Be on the look out for updated status on Facebook, we now have driving directions from the phone, no more printing out Google maps! I'm like a kid in a candy store right now!

2008: I finally made it into the technology age!!