Obama's Muffin Top is all That

1) Totally crushing on Obama even more (if that is possible) after this article from the New York Times. My favorite part:

Mr. Obama has also brought a more relaxed sensibility to his public appearances. David Gergen, an adviser to both Republican and Democratic presidents, said Mr. Obama seemed to exude an “Aloha Zen,” a kind of comfortable calm that, Mr. Gergen said, reflects a man who “seems easygoing, not so full of himself.”

2) I ate a banana muffin for breakfast this morning and all I could think was "my muffin top is all that, whole-grain, low fat. I know you want a piece of that, but I just want to dance". Which caused me to giggle uncontrollably at my muffin and computer screen. Luckily it was early and I was the first one at the office. And who cares what people think anyway? I'm independent lady... so do not try and play me.

Sorry if I am weirding you out.

Random Notes On Shopping

Here are some random shopping related observations:

Re Ala Moana:

-Note to kiosk owners, if you are selling a straightener and your kiosk smells like burning hair, I do not "want to try". This will likely not change so please stop asking.

-Is it just me, or is Abercrombie & Fitch a vapid wasteland of excess? Seriously, what is it with the inappropriately loud music, excessive perfume and shirtless sales people at the door. It's almost cartoonish. It would almost be cool or like an SNL skit if they had a hot dog vendor up front so all the senses could be covered.

Re Sam's Club:

-So I was at Sam's Club the other day and was near the prepared food section. They sell sushi there in assorted varieties. All of the little containers of sushi are clearly marked in bold black lettering. There was California Roll, Furikake and one that read Tuna of the Sea. I saw this and thought to myself, yeah, what other kind of tuna is there? Then I thought, oh well there is *that* kind. And finally I thought, Sam's Club, you are sooooo seventh grade.

-Also, Sam's Club, I received your letter re the product I recently purchased from you. Thank you for the notice of possible salmonella poisoning, and for validating my paranoia about basically everything.

And one last note, Starbuck's Apple Chai is the most fantastic thing to drink when your office feels like you are working in a meat locker and you begin to lose feeling in your hands. It's like winter in liquid form.

Laid Back

Seems as though many people had a bad day today. It's especially bad when your client calls you to vent about their co-workers. Yikes.

So, I thought I would share my surefire way to cheer yourself up. Heather tipped me off to this a while ago. The absolutely perfect way to start having a great day is to watch this video.

Snoop Dogg - New Music - More Music Videos

It's just too ridiculous for words. How can you take anything seriously after watching it?!? Snoop Dogg, you crack me up. You also make me want to have a name with 2 Gs in it. Sigh.

Cheer up people,
Sara(silent double gizzle)h

Week 2, Book 2

I am proud to say I am back on track with my reading project and finished book number 2 the other night (that's right new year's resolution, consider it brought!).

My second read of the year was Rock On, An Office Power Ballad by McSweeny's contributor Dan Kennedy. The jacket describes the book as a cross between This Is Spinal Tap and The Office, but really it's only like Spinal Tap in that the cover is a pastel black and the only similarity it seems to share with The Office is their setting. But it was a good read nonetheless.

Basically, the books chronicles Kennedy's experience working at a flailing record company, which is for the most part pretty humorous. I've noticed that for whatever reason people who tend to be really into music also tend to like lists. Rock On contains many lists. It also has some surprisingly insightful observations. Kennedy makes the point that Starbucks may eventually be the last venue for music in actual CD format, the reason being that people there are accustomed to paying too much for something they can get for a lot cheaper. I thought a lot about what a witty observation Kennedy made this morning, but then my grande iced nonfat caramel machiato was up and I had to get back to work...

Horse With No Name

This past year Heather and I received books about our Chinese zodiac sign and ways of cultivating our Feng Shui in 2009. I'm kind of dubious of the whole thing, but we've decided to go all out and Feng Shui the crap out of our lives for 2009. If despite our efforts 2009 proves to be unlucky, then we know to swear off the method forever.

If anyone is interested, the books tell you which zodiac sign is your mortal enemy (for us Horse people it is the Rat), and which zodiac signs are your allies. There is even something called your zodiac secret friend. Apparently, it's the equivalent to your zodiac BFF, but I just keep thinking about three pigtailed Margaret Farquhar from The Wonder Years. You know, Kevin Arnold's secret friend.

Anyway, aside from bejeweling ourselves with amulets, bracelets, golden deities and things, we must also pay close attention the the direction we face in most of our daily activities (note to self: purchase compass). When you think about it, Feng Shui kind of seems like an Amway scheme, doesn't it. Oh well, it's worth a try.

One last thing, according to the book Horse people should go by a nickname in 2009 to trick the bad spirits. So beginning on January 26th, Heather, Maggie and I will all be going by nicknames. I'm not going to give them away before then in case the bad spirits are reading this (in which case-wassup spirits, holla!). And I'm actually open to suggestions for a nickname so if you got some ideas, send em' my way (secretly of course, we don't want the spirits to get wind of it).

Crap!

Last night I realized that it was just about the end of the first week of 2009. Which also meant that if I wanted to keep up with the reading goal I had set for myself I should have had a book read. Crap! So I kind of cheated. I pulled one of the 33 1/3 books I had not read yet off my shelf and tore through it. I opted for the one covering Belle and Sebastian's If You're Feeling Sinister. It turned out to be one of the better reads in the series. My favorites (so far) being Joe Pernice's story inspired by The Smith's Meat is Murder and the volume covering Doolittle by The Pixies.

I was completely disappointed by Carl Wilson's Let's Talk About Love, A Journey to the Ends of Taste. It was actually kind of like the book of love, long and boring (but with music in it).

I've decided I should probably stock up on the 33 1/3 series for those weeks where I don't have much time to read. I feel kind of guilty though, the books in the series are all so short. It's like I read a brochure about an album and called it a day.

Say you want a resolution...

Generally, I don't like to make resolutions because I always feel like I'm setting myself up for disappointment. But this year, I've convinced myself to post a few resolutions here to keep me motivated to stick with them. The shame of not sticking with a goal that you've publicly set for yourself is a strong motivator. And besides, they aren't really anything life changing, just little things I think I can do to get myself closer to the kind of person I want to be.

So, here goes nothing. In 2009 I would like to:

1. Read 52 books. The bookswim gift certificate Heather got me for Christmas was fantastic and will be put to good use here;

2. Be the kind of person how talks to people in elevators. But not in the really annoying and creepy kind of way. More like the "wow, it was nice we did not completely ignore each other and pretend we were alone in the elevator" kind of way;

3. Smile at people who look like they need it;

4. After all of my bills are paid and I have a little extra cash, think about donating to charity rather than that new pair of jeans;

and finally

5. Live every week like it is shark week!

Happy New Year Erbody!!