"Birthday Ramblings" written by Janelle on estrip.org

Category: life

12/06/07 08:47 - 20ºF - ID#42413

Birthday Ramblings

I overheard a great conversation last night at the vet, sitting next to an older man talking on a cell phone.

"What did I tell you to do? Huh? He does that to you again, you tell him, I'm gonna smash your face in. Then you do it. Bop him in the nose. Tell the teacher about this. Did you tell the teacher? And then the next time he does it, you bloody his nose good. Don't worry, he's not going to do anything back once you give him a good bloody nose. He's gotta learn his lesson."

It was hard to keep a straight face during that conversation.

On another note, today's my birthday. I'm turning 25. I've been turning 25 for a few years now. I wonder when I'm going to turn 30? So far, it looks like a nice birthday is ahead. My wonderful husband is making me birthday casserole and is going to watch my favorite musical, Oliver, with me. Just got it from my parents for my birthday. Good day, indeed.

ladycroft writes at 04:50:10 12/07/07 - Comment #28963: happy happy birthday!

drew writes at 07:07:51 12/06/07 - Comment #28954: metalpeter, I think the second idea sounds more fun.

jim writes at 06:45:24 12/06/07 - Comment #28952: Happy Birthday!

metalpeter writes at 06:39:14 12/06/07 - Comment #28951: I admit I have never heard of Oliver the musical sorry. But as long as you like it and have a good time that is all that matters.

(e:dre) I'm not sure if you should be classy and get a glass or just grab the entire Bottle and pretend you are Janis Joplin with a Bottle of Jack Daniels. Hope it winds up being a great time for you both.

drew writes at 01:29:01 12/06/07 - Comment #28943: I'll need the wine to get through Oliver :)

jason writes at 12:37:32 12/06/07 - Comment #28941: Well done! Have a glass of wine or three.

museumchick writes at 11:49:45 12/06/07 - Comment #28937: Happy (approximately) 25th birthday! I hope it's a great day for you.

james writes at 11:11:35 12/06/07 - Comment #28932: Pretend you are in prison and have Drew bake you a birthday cake with a file in it!

lauren writes at 10:40:49 12/06/07 - Comment #28930: Aww Happy birthday Janelle! You are only one year older than me! :)

And yay for Oliver..Food Glorious Food!

drew writes at 10:31:08 12/06/07 - Comment #28929: 25 was a long time ago for (e:janelle), too.

We are going to have a talk about lying tonight.

leetee writes at 10:29:06 12/06/07 - Comment #28928: Happy Birthday, Janelle

paul writes at 09:29:03 12/06/07 - Comment #28925: Happy birthday!

mrmike writes at 09:21:26 12/06/07 - Comment #28924: Ah, 25. I remember it, long damn time ago. Enjoy, hope you have the best day.

Permalink: Birthday_Ramblings.html
Words: 173
Location: Buffalo , NY

Category: bad cat

12/05/07 09:08 - 22ºF - ID#42401

Bad Cat

People always wonder how the cute, playful black cat Tatanka could be a bad cat......
It might have something to do with the fact that I spent hours making gingerbread cookies; cutting them out in heart shapes; swearing everytime they didn't turn out right; baking them; cooling them; icing them; and then carefully putting them away in the pantry until the night of my party only to discover that the black cat had opened the pantry, climbed inside and took big bites out of each separate cookie. The black cat later got sick from eating said cookies and had a yucky poop two inches from his litter box...because he apparently couldn't make those additional two inches to poop INSIDE the litterbox...

james writes at 03:24:12 12/05/07 - Comment #28891: be careful Drew. Brain is a gateway organ.

First you have a bit of brain and soon as you know it you are mainlining spleens. It gives whole new meaning to Naked Lunch.

drew writes at 03:00:49 12/05/07 - Comment #28889: We curse when we cook or do brain surgery, too.

And we eat the mistakes as well.

Eating a couple bites of brain now and then doesn't make you a zombie, right? I mean, we can quit any time.

james writes at 02:19:13 12/05/07 - Comment #28885: can you imagine if we kept boars as pets. Maimed gingerbread men would be the least of our problems.

This is the second time you or Drew wrote about your cursing while baking. Baking is a whole different science than cooking or brain surgery, and much more difficult. But, unlike brain surgery when you make a mistake you can still eat it!

janelle writes at 10:23:11 12/05/07 - Comment #28878: Yes, you describe that feeling well, (e:Carolinian). He is an amazingly intelligent cat and never ceases to make (e:Drew) and I laugh. My other favorite story...I was sitting in the living room and I heard *crunch, crunch, crunch* from the kitchen. I went in and found that he had knocked a cereal box off the shelf, forcefully pushed his paw into the box and was scooping out pieces of cereal to eat. So we had to move the cereal boxes to the top of the fridge. He also learned to press the button that opens the trash can. I thought it was a fluke so I closed the lid and hid and watched him do it again very purposefully. So then we had to move the trash can!
I'm convinced that some day he will figure out how to open the refrigerator and then we'll really be screwed!

carolinian writes at 10:12:09 12/05/07 - Comment #28876: I imagine you must be feeling the mixture of frustration and pride a parent must feel when their kid breaks something but does it in a precociously intelligent manner.

jason writes at 09:16:12 12/05/07 - Comment #28873: Haha. Pets are awesome.

Permalink: Bad_Cat.html
Words: 122
Location: Buffalo , NY

Category: buffalo

12/03/07 08:36 - 36ºF - ID#42376

Buffalo Symphony Orchestra

Drew and I had the awesome opportunity to see all 6 of the Brandenburg Concertos performed by the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra with some guest artists when an acquaintance couldn't use their subscription tickets.

It was our first visit to the symphony hall . We we were curious because everyone has told us it's a "must see" building, but from the outside it doesn't look particularly interesting. The inside does have a clean fresh look - bright and airy - and designed so that it will stand time. I don't think you can look at the symphony hall and say, oh, yes, this is so reminescent of the cheesy architecture from the such and such decade. We had terrific seats in the center of the bacony with nice leg room. I was pleased.

The music was good. It's not the PSO or CSO, but I'm still happy to live in a city with a quality orchestra that plays in a hall 5 minutes down the road from me. Now, is there a classical ballet troupe in town?

I am disappointed at the ticket prices at the BSO, but it turns out that I was spoiled by the PSO. They had this section called the Family Circle. They were basically nosebleed seats and the seats were big long wooden benches that you crowded into. But you could get a clear view of the symphony, the sound was fine and the tickets cost $15. BSO tickets cost $30 for the cheapest seats. Boo. But I like the symphony enough that I'll scrape up the money a few times a year to go see them.

janelle writes at 10:58:35 12/05/07 - Comment #28880: jbeatty, I think some symphonies have endowments or financial situations that allow them to have a small range of tickets at a subsidized price so to speak. Mrmike pointed out that the BPO had some financial problems, so the ticket prices make sense to me now. But like I said, it won't stop me from going to see the symphony. Like (e:Jason), Pictures at an Exhibition is one of my favorite pieces and I will definitey be paying to see that concert.

jbeatty writes at 10:27:11 12/05/07 - Comment #28879: I would love to go see them. $30 doesn't seem all that steep to me considering most of the musicians are probably living off of that as a major chunk of their income. I'm not sure about BFO but the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra starting salary is only $25,000 a year. I have paid more than $30 to see four guys play for the same amount of time and didn't get a seat for that. I would also guess that quite a few of them make more than $25,000.

metalpeter writes at 05:18:18 12/03/07 - Comment #28803: (e:jason) You want to make that trip even cooler I'll ad someting to it for you. After you cleveland trip take a little drive to Sandusky (not sure how far maybe it is quicker to go on the way) and go to the Football Hall of fame. I went many years ago and had a great time.

In terms of the BPO I don't think I ever seen them, even any of the cool stuff they did like the music of Pink Flyodd or any of that.

ladycroft writes at 04:38:42 12/03/07 - Comment #28794: awww. i had my first dance recital there. also, brandenburg concertos are my favorite to play on violin -specifically 2nd and 3rd. always reminds me of 'die hard' when i hear them too. ha! glad you had fun :)

jason writes at 10:56:52 12/03/07 - Comment #28781: You are also very close to Cleveland, and their orchestra has long been regarded as one of the best in the USA if not the best. Joshua I am sure can elaborate on that.

Actually, that would be a pretty cool trip - go to the Rock and Roll HOF, see a concert.

I agree that the prices are high - You would think it makes sense to have a lower priced area, for students and the like to enjoy. My decision to see a show depends far less on that than the programming, really.

I see that in April they have Wagner (although no link to see what they are playing), and also later on Pictures at an Exhibition. I love that piece.

mrmike writes at 09:48:33 12/03/07 - Comment #28778: The BPO is a good time depending on the programming. They were in danger for a long time and are finally on some solid financial footing.

Permalink: Buffalo_Symphony_Orchestra.html
Words: 266
Location: Buffalo , NY

Category: snow

12/01/07 09:37 - 20ºF - ID#42351

Slip n Slide in the truck

Yeah for Snow!

Yeah for trucks with rear wheel drive!

I love the slip n slide fun of a snowy wintery day in a rear wheel drive!

Time to get sandbags for the truck, grumble, grumble...

Permalink: Slip_n_Slide_in_the_truck.html
Words: 36
Location: Buffalo , NY

Category: cubicle life

11/30/07 10:37 - 32ºF - ID#42341

Life in the Cubicle

The woman in the cubicle behind me thinks she's the shit. She has to think she's the shit to have disgruntled phone conversations about work laced with my favorite 4-letter words openly on the phone. Loudly and with her door open. Basically, from her conversations it appears that everyone here is an idiot but her. After six months of working with her, I've learned that she offers you jovial smiles and jokes to your face but spits on your name and work behind your back. I have to work with her. I offer very little about myself to her. But I'm sure she's found something about me to spit on. She's tremendously good at what she does, but I find it difficult to respect her.

Permalink: Life_in_the_Cubicle.html
Words: 125
Location: Buffalo , NY

Category: work

11/27/07 03:35 - 43ºF - ID#42305

?

Supervisor can hardly look me in the eye today. Didn't say hello or greet me. That makes me nervous. Maybe I should think of a reason to go talk to him about the program so I can reassure myself that the program will be moving forward and I'll still have a job.

Permalink: _.html
Words: 52
Location: Buffalo , NY

Category: holidays

11/23/07 11:38 - 21ºF - ID#42266

Thanksgiving Highlights

A few fun highlights of the holiday...

1. Being at my family's home without (e:drew) so I can be as loud and obnoxious with my family as I want to be without offending or embarassing the husband.

2. Not having to do anything.

3. Great time with family on Thanksgiving Day and decorating the Xmas tree on the day after.

4. I sleep really well. It's so dark and quiet where my parents live...unlike where I live...where Ricky is always outside hollering during the hours through which most people sleep.

A few un-fun highlights of the holiday....

1. The silence that followed my statement of, " Next year at Thanksgiving..." Oh, yeah, there's won't be a next year.

2. The last year decorating the Xmas tree at my family's home. Next year, there won't be a childhood home anymore...

3. The sideways figure eight pattern the turbo prop made while it was in process of landing Good god, I thought we were going to crash! I think everyone on the plane thought we were going to crash. And I have to ride the same plane back to Detroit! Don't ride turbo prop planes...seriously, it's miserable. I don't know how I'm going to convince myself to get back on one to fly back to Detroit.

Reading the posts, it sounds like everyone had a great holiday! Cheers to all!

Permalink: Thanksgiving_Highlights.html
Words: 224
Location: Buffalo , NY

Category: eating out

11/17/07 12:20 - 37ºF - ID#42172

Happy Birthday

My mom will be in town for her birthday and I usually like to take her out for dinner...any suggestions for a moderately priced nice place to take a mom for a birthday dinner?!

lauren writes at 09:53:42 11/18/07 - Comment #28226: Hey Janelle...thanks so much for feeding our children while we were away!! Just wanted to let you know, if you don't mind, whenever you are in the neighborhood you can just drop the keys off... push them under the door if we aren't home...or we can come get them tomorrow...we just got back and are too tired to come get them right now...we don't really need them so there is no rush...and thanks again!

mrmike writes at 05:07:45 11/17/07 - Comment #28164: Sharing the Left Bank love. Marco's on Niagara fits that pricing too

jim writes at 03:56:30 11/17/07 - Comment #28163: Left Bank is around $15 - $20 for a dinner entrée, but the portions are huge. I always end up bringing left overs home and having an awesome lunch the next day, so that sort of balances things out a bit.

I guess that isn't moderately priced though. The menu is on the website so you can check and see if it's in the right ballpark.

imk2 writes at 03:37:05 11/17/07 - Comment #28161: but hutch's is my favorite restaurant. if i were going to treat someone to dinner, that is where i would take them. if you do go there, have the fruit cup for desert. it is the most delicious thing EVER!

imk2 writes at 03:35:37 11/17/07 - Comment #28160: although i wouldn't consider left bank moderately priced. it's more on my high end. pano's is moderately priced, and i must say, their food is not so bad, considering the price.

ladycroft writes at 12:55:55 11/17/07 - Comment #28158: i'll second left bank. it's fantastic. no worries about walking there.

drew writes at 12:36:43 11/17/07 - Comment #28157: and its in walking distance (although it would mean walking your family into the west side.

jim writes at 12:27:17 11/17/07 - Comment #28155: Left Bank, awesome French food (not fancy fancy french just really good french food) :::link:::

Permalink: Happy_Birthday.html
Words: 35
Location: Buffalo , NY

Category: work

11/16/07 12:24 - 35ºF - ID#42162

Life in cubicle land

It seems I've become a bit of a joke around the office. Everyone likes to make fun of my headphones that I wear at my desk so I can quietly listen to my music.

It makes me annoyed. I wouldn't feel compelled to wear my headphones constantly if they hadn't moved me from my office into a cubicle.

I listen to my music on headphones because....

I'm pretty sure that no one else wants to rock out with me to the christian praise music that I listen to (I do listen to more than that btw).
I don't want to listen to the music that the people play in the offices behind me....80s cheesemetal and some jazzy bluesy clarinet crap
I don't want to listen to one of the women in an office behind me cackle-laugh all day long.
I don't want to isten to the same woman bitch about her supervisor and co-workers loudly all day long to any one who will listen.
I don't want to listen to the guy in adjoined cubicle harangue and berate his fiancee like a child.
I also don't want to listen to the same guy talk about sports ad nauseum on the phone.

So say what you want...but I'm a lot happier with my head phones on.

drew writes at 05:04:07 11/16/07 - Comment #28126: If I listened to the music that Janelle listened to (and I don't) or I listened to "power ballads," (no again) I would for CERTAIN wear headphones, unless they interfered with the method of suicide that I was using, as a punishment for catching myself listening to said music.

And that, in my book, is part of the fun of talking about music--making fun of other's bad choices. It must, however, be done in fun. Call me an idiot for liking Pink, but don' call me an a-hole.

imk2 writes at 04:44:40 11/16/07 - Comment #28125: I'm not sure where all your hostility is coming from (e:scott)? there is no reason to be calling people assholes.

metalpeter writes at 04:07:55 11/16/07 - Comment #28124: First of all "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" is an awesome just because it was out around my 2nd year of high school doesn't mean it isn't good anymore. Yes the same guy who likes Metallica, Hatebreed, coldplay, The Shiela Divine (man I miss that band), Sevendust and lots of other forms of rock does like a good power ballad. That being said the earphones sound like a good way to drown out the office. But I don't know if that is a good idea really doesn't that just make an isolated cubicle more isolated. You can put the volume so only you can hear it. That James Blunt parody is good, i did hear another one that wasn't that, that I can't remember.

ladycroft writes at 03:32:32 11/16/07 - Comment #28120: i'm going to share something with you that (e:libertad) sent me when my 'office' was sharing a kitchenette with 2 other people.

may i suggest, just for this one song, you unplug the headphones ;)

:::link:::

james writes at 02:50:08 11/16/07 - Comment #28115: Now, I will not berate the man who enjoys listening to power ballads. Like that god damn 'every rose has its' frickin 'thorn' song. If they want to slow headbang at their desk all day to it, more power to them. But when they play it outloud for all to suffer to, that is a different story.

So, I really can't understand why your co workers are being horrendous butt holes when you have done them the courtesy of sparing them from music they may not like (if they are listening to cheesemetal and fake jazz clarinet, their taste is below consideration).

But, that is office life.

jbeatty writes at 02:25:34 11/16/07 - Comment #28113: Might I also add ignore assholes that put down your music choice.

scott writes at 01:41:39 11/16/07 - Comment #28112: No one wants a job in a cubicle. Those of us who work in them do so because we got a powerful need to eat food once in a while. Food costs money. To get money, we need these things called "jobs".

Unfortunately, most jobs that pay enough money to live on involve cubicles these days.

Thing is, a good set of earphones can make that cube life a bit more bearable. So, I say go on with your terrible Christian crap-music listening self!

Ignore your idiot co-workers, and ignore the comments of pretentious a-holes who put down your cubicle job, too!

jbeatty writes at 01:04:59 11/16/07 - Comment #28110: I could never work in a cubicle filled office. I would end up killing someone for sure. I used to work in a shop that was adjacent to an office like that. The people that worked there were the most miserable human beings I have ever known.

Permalink: Life_in_cubicle_land.html
Words: 217
Location: Buffalo , NY

Category: work

11/14/07 06:27 - 54ºF - ID#42122

Office Parties

(e:changeisgood)'s mention of office parties was an unpleasant walk down the memory lane of my previous job. My previous job was in and of itself stressfull. I oversaw a lot of staff and clients and I was on call 24-7. To add to the joy of working there, we had mandatory office parties.

When I was a mere program manager, I was simply mandated to attend the office parties and mandated to pressure, twist arm, and make threats of various natures to get my staff to attend. I had to tell my staff who worked two jobs, went to school and had spouses and children that they must attend the party. Management is throwing a party for the staff, and darn't,they will show up with gratitude and appreciate it!

When I became program director, it got even better. I was mandated to mandate my program managers to attend and to pressure/bully their staff in attending. I also had to cook for the events and buy gifts for the chinese auction. Ok, so I hate the name Chinese auction, that alone pissed me off. I tried to get people to call it a ticket auction, but it never caught on...and I have to cook? What?

I'm a great cook. I love to cook. But I get stressed out cooking for work events. You know that people are judging your food, judging you and no one wants to be left with a bowlful of whatever they brought as indication that their food sucked. For one event, I made my sticky caramel rolls...usually very yummy. In my haste, I did something wrong half way through. I stomped my feet, pouted and started over. Then when I was rolling out the dough, I couldn't get it to roll out right...Drew walked into the kitchen to find me pounding the ball of dough on the counter with tears streaming down my face in complete frustration. I did manage to finish them, but they turned out crappy and no one ate them. So from then on, I refused to cook for events.

jenks writes at 08:50:17 11/14/07 - Comment #27968: Did anyone see The Office last week? Jim decided that mandatory once-a-week birthday parties are ridiculous and tried to have a "birthday month" party- celebrate all the birthdays at once- and people mutinied.

Every time I watch that show I laugh, and cringe.

Our work christmas party is like the highlight of the year.

Which is ridiculous.

Because it's not that fun.

And it's from like 6 - 8 on a wednesday night.

But the girls wearing freaking strapless ball gowns and get all decked out.

metalpeter writes at 07:25:41 11/14/07 - Comment #27960: I think that what you are talking about is wrong cause it is a mandatory thing. What some companies don't get is that if you like your bosses and they are good and you get along with people then the parties can be good. But what those places don't understand is that they are idiots to make something like that manditory. Since they are that dumb then there are other problems that would make people not want to work with management. See if Management was good here is what they would do.
Send out a memo or posting or spread it by word of mouth that there will be a party and that anyone who wants to should sign up. Lets face it if Tina and Tammy hate each other then they should have the option of not going.

I think what your company needed was someone like a Jahovoa Witness to say. I don't do parties and if you don't like it to bad. Oh and by the way I all ready talked to my lawyer and if any thing at all looks like a tiny bit of fall out from not going to the party, you will be sued and I will be paid for staying home, so don't even think about it.

I have known a few people that called in sick on those days. But that wasn't mandatory. Where I have worked it has all ways been vouluntary and that is the way it should be.

jbeatty writes at 06:47:02 11/14/07 - Comment #27954: I recall one Christmas party we had at the managers favorite bar. It turned out to be a towny bar in the middle of nowhere. Anyway we were served lobster tails that were way past their prime, I assume he got a deal. People were skipping over the lobster and asking for seconds on potatoes. I almost burst out laughing when the owner came into the "dining room" to ask "aren't those lobster tails are as sweet as candy?"

mike writes at 06:38:50 11/14/07 - Comment #27951: i'm sorry you have had such office party drama, I hope you don't run into any office parties any time soon. At eckerd our work parties are a little different and a little crazier than the average I would guess. One ended in video footage of naked coworkers playing beer pong? Appropriate ? no? Hilarious? yes

james writes at 06:38:38 11/14/07 - Comment #27950: I am so sorry you had to go through that. I always hate office parties. Work is work I refuse to be compelled to enjoy any part of it when asked.

But being forced to muscle people in? To have to cook a ton of food for people? What a horrible thing to do.

I hope this job has less mandatory fun.

Permalink: Office_Parties.html
Words: 352
Location: Buffalo , NY