I'm supposed to do a lot of things today, such as go to the Gym, and go Christmas Shopping, but it's raining, and cold, and I've spent most of the day on the couch. Meh.
Anyway, I just watched a documentary on HBO called Smile Pinki about kids in India with cleft lips/pallets and a group that gives the children plastic surgeries for free. The charity that does this is called Smile Train and for $250 a child's surgery can be covered. Apparently there are over one million children with this problem. It was really a good film, and I encourage everyone to visit their website and check out the work they do (6,000 since 2004 and now 3,000 per year). It really is amazing:
You can also donate at the link.
-K.
I'm pretty sure the following is the funniest thing Work Dad has said in a long time:
I was surprised that I liked Michael. When you said he was from Europe, I figured he'd come in all, like in tapered pants with square shoes and looking down on us for being American... all smoking a cigarette like they do over there in Europe.... with their hand all flipped up and stuff, all like "oh, I am Michaaael. Americans are fat." Stop laughing. You know how they are over there... with their tight dress slacks and fancy shoes and all...
Ohhhh, Work Dad.
-K.
Soooo, we went to the Conan O'Brien taping yesterday. It was awesome! We saw Jaleel White (Steve Urkle) in the parking structure! Too cool!
Heather Locklear and Dr. Drew were the guests!
Conando made an appearance! Conando? CONANDO!
Mario Lopez had a cameo in an episode of Noches De Passion con Senior Obrien!* Shirtless Mario Lopez? Yes, por favor.
We sat in the FRONT ROW! I was about 5 feet from Conan! OMG! FIVE FEET FROM CONAN!
The band came out and one of my friends got to play the maraca like thingy that the band member handed her!
Conan sang at the end of the show!
CONAN WALKED RIGHT BY AND SMILED AND WAVED TO US!
AHHHHH! BEST DAY EVER!
Except on the way there Shaniqua's car was rear ended. We were in stop and go traffic. We stopped. The girl behind us stopped. The guy behind her did not stop. Sharon's car and the other girl's car weren't bad, but the Chevy that hit them, was... In the end it didn't take up too much time and we still got to sit up front anyway.
Oh, and by the way, I have to hand it to the Tonight Show people... there were signs everywhere, and it was really, really easy to find. The only thing I think they can do better is number the tickets when you get in so there's no confusion as far as who gets to go in first. Some people got all pissed off at us because we weren't in "line" but we'd gotten there BEFORE them. It was werid.
Anyway, we had a GREAT time! If you ever get the chance, I highly reccommend going to see a taping. It's super fun!
-K.
Today I celebrate my independence from the British...
Whilst tossing away pretty much everything I own (CDs and DVDs... you're next!) I found a box full of stuff pertaining to that Guy-Who-I-Hope-Chokes-on-an-English-Muffin. Pictures, gifts he'd given me (including a pair of shoes that were not my style), etc. I went through the pictures and laughed as I went along... he really was a goofy dude... but it was sort of surreal, because while I know I dated this guy, it was like looking at someone I never even knew. Even looking at me was weird, because I really don't recognize that person. I pulled out a few pictures that had some other friends in them and tossed the Brit into the trash bag. I found another stack of stuff from the Blood Seller and tossed most of that as well.
Shaniqua came in and said she never would be able to toss pictures. I told her that these people are in my past, and frankly I don't care or think about them any more, so why hold onto these things? To me, they're just taking up space.
Maybe that makes me cold hearted. I don't know. But I do know that hanging onto items from the past has never meant much to me. Whether good or bad, the experiences I had with these people have shaped who I have become now, and really, that's all the reminding I need.
So, goodbye to the Brit, and goodbye to the Bloodseller. You've been cleared out.
I do kind of wonder, though, wherever you are, do you somehow know you've been tossed?
I guess that's a question to which I will never know the answer.
-K.
Anyone who has ever been on the tube in London has to appreciate this song:
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/London_Underground/9095593
HA HA HA @ minding the gap...
Tonight was the Block Party at the university, a big festival where all the student groups go out and sell food to raise funds. My students sold nachos and drinks and KICKED ASS... I actually had to go back to the store several times to get more drinks and chips for the nachos.
At the end of the event they made about $350, and they were really excited.
Then, when I went to pack things up, I noticed someone had stolen our cart.
It was there when I came back the second time with drinks and then it was gone. We did a search of other student groups to see if we could find who hijacked it, but there was no luck.
Replacing the cart is about $100, which eats into our profits greatly.
I'm really disappointed for them. Maybe if I bring in a couple of students to one of the Alumni Association board members and have them look really sad, they'll donate to replace it.
Man, people are such bastards.
-K.
Okay, I just love our Chancellor. He is one of the most gracious, wonderful men in power that I've ever seen.
He really kind of "gets" what education is about, and is so great with students. For example, right before his first big speech on campus, he saw a student reading a book behind stage. He went up to the student, who stared at him, wide-eyed, and asked her what she was reading. When she responded, he made a few comments on the book, and then stuck his hand out and said "Hi, my name is Tim."
He's so gracious, too. He was at an event with alumni, wearing one of the school's ties. An alumnus commented on the tie, wondering where he could get one, and the Chancellor TOOK OFF HIS TIE and gave it to the alumnus!
One time when we were entering the building, he was coming in to have lunch at the restaurant downstairs. I saw him approaching from behind me (he was quite a few steps behind) so I held the door open until he got there. He took the door and refused to go in until I went in first.
The latest comes from last weekend. Our Chancellor was at move-in day, helping students and parents carry boxes and move into the dorms. What Chancellor does that? Most of the people he was helping had NO IDEA that he's the man who runs our university-- he was just some guy that was there to help people move.
Being in the department I am in, I have the pleasure of working at events he attends. I have to say, this guy is a rock star. He would give Obama a run for his money.
I'll tell you, it is leaders like him that really inspire you to work harder-- one who rules by graciousness rather than by the fist of fear.
Now, if all of our bosses could learn that lesson!
-K.
I've got three more work days to get through and then I'm off.
Days 29 &30: Circuit: Workout 3 Weight: +/-(.0) Soreness: Arms are a little fatigued Calories: 750
