Friday, September 26, 2008

The Secret Life of Bees

I just finished reading this and this is what I typed on my goodreads page about the book. Normal rambling....

This book has been on my to-read list for quite some time now and I am really glad that I finally got around/made time to read it. What took me so long was that I had heard so many good things about it - "It's a good book", "It's a great book", "You should really read this book", etc. I know, so why did it take so long for me to get to reading it could be a mystery, but for those who know me, they might know that I shy away from things that everyone else just loves to death. I think sometimes it's because I just can't believe all the hype and I have been disappointed in some of the other recommendations that come oh, so highly recommended. The other reason is that (unless I wasn't paying attention and that can happen, we all know) every time it was recommended, no one really told me what it was about or didn't give me insight to some of the background of the book, that to me would have piqued my interest.

I enjoy reading (hhhmmm, how to word this) books that have history or historical facts in them (that works - wanted to make sure people didn't think I enjoyed reading about oppression and conflicts of the sort addressed in the book- civil rights). Anyways, reading about the way that things were and knowing how things have changed in some regards and in others not so much really gets me thinking and I like that. I know that the underlying conflicts of civil rights was not the main point of the book but while reading about it it made me think about what I would have done or how I would have reacted in a number of the instances in the book. I feel as though I probably would have been beaten up myself because of the way I feel that that is, was wrong, but then I wonder, would I really have spoken up or would I have just thought about the injustice as a silent observer. See, inner reflection happening.

Ok, that's enough rambling for now, and can't really say it's a review of the book or anything, just my thoughts as I finished up reading the book. It was well written and I enjoyed it is what I can say about the book.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Just Another Weekend

Not much to report for this past weekend. Went out for a little while on Friday night. Went to a baby shower on Saturday for a girlfriend who is due the end of October. It was a good time. Watched the movie Sunshine on Saturday night - pretty interesting - it is directed by the guy (Danny Boyle) who directed 28 days later and 28 weeks later and had a little bit of the same feel - filmwise as they did or maybe it's because it's British, i don't know. I would say I liked it. On Sunday we watched the Redskins win and the Steelers lose so, some good and some bad. That's about it. Sorry to be boring, trying to get back into posting, we will see how it goes.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Friday and Other Thoughts

Today is Friday - Woo Hoo. The day we look forward to all week, or at least I definitely do. I was riding the metro and though this is something I do almost everyday and most Fridays, this morning I noticed just how many people were wearing jeans and it struck me as funny. Funny to see all the people you normally see in suits or at least khakis and dress slacks or skirts and dresses or pants depending on their sex wearing jeans. It goes to show you how many offices have a jeans day Friday and how we the people really do embrace it. In my office we get to wear jeans only on certain Fridays and that is in conjunction with some time of charity fundraiser. Today's good cause is for:

SNEAKERS@WORK DAY, launched in 2007, is a sweeping nationwide workplace-based awareness and fundraising event, which will bring major attention to the #2 cancer killer among men... prostate cancer. One hundred percent (100%) of every dollar raised through SNEAKERS@WORK DAY goes directly to American Prostate Cancer Initiative and its S@W DAY partners, Us Too International, The Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Prostate Cancer Mission/Florida, to support Prostate Cancer awareness, patient education, advocacy and research programs that might otherwise go unfunded.

All employees who contribute $5 (minimum) may wear sneakers AND appropriately fitting jeans on Friday. All employees who contribute $10 may wear sneakers AND appropriately fitting jeans, and will receive a pair of SNEAKERS@WORK DAY trademark blue shoelaces.

Have you ever noticed that if you walk down the street with a smile on your face and you actually aim it at someone, they may look surprised but the majority will return your smile and you can actually see it effect them by lightening up their mood and hopefully their day. I will warn it's a little easier with women then men or at least with me - for some reason I feel that some of the guys are thinking "What is she trying to pick me up or something?" - Must be my killer looks - lol - or maybe it's just my overactive imagination. Anyways, it's one of my favorite things to do to brighten up my day as well as hopefully other - go ahead try it I dare you.

How about elevators. In our office we have to swipe our key card to get access to the floors we need to go to - good security. The one thing I dislike though is the person who gets on the elevator first, swipes their card, selects there floor and then never moves away from the panel making it completely inconvenient for anyone else to get to it in order to select their floors - grrrrr.

Ok, enough for this morning, got to head up to our cafe where on Fridays, we are treated to donuts, bagels, muffins, fruit cups and yogurt on the firm - double Woo Hoo.