Ways to Quit a Job

This week I had the opportunity to witness a coworker of mine quit his job via an email.  Although, with technology these days, do you think it's appropriate?  I think it's still customary to speak to the person face to face, but hey to each his own.  This person, whom shall remain nameless, sent an email to my boss on Friday on his way to the airport for a vacation to Europe for 2 weeks.  This person has been with the company for 12 years! Anyway, I just thought it was quite interesting and somewhat humorous.  It got me thinking about the ways people quit a job.

My personal favorite is when I was working in Provo at a crazy telemarketing firm and I had Cathy call in and quit for me.  [I had only worked there for a few days and it was really awful, so give me a break.]  When they asked her (pretending to be me) the reason for the resignation, she said, "Um, I just don't want to work there anymore."  Meanwhile I am in the background dying of laughter. 

My second favorite is when I was telling the story about my co-worker to a friend, she said that she quit via fax once.  Apparently there were "extenuating circumstances", but I still think that's a pretty funny way to quit a job.

My third and final story is when I was in middle school, I got a job as a "sweeper" at a nearby elementary school.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's basically a jr. janitor.  I had to vacuum the classrooms and clean the bathrooms.  It was torture, but it was the only job that I could do that was right near the school and would pay me minimum wage and only a few hours after school each day.  Well, one day I used the wrong cleaning agent on the toilets and I stained them brown!  So, I got real nervous and just never went back!

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Bradford and Shilpa's "Green" Party

I forgot to post these pictures. They are from a few weeks ago at a birthday party for two of my Parsons classmates. It was at this great restaurant with an outdoor patio, and the weather was perfect. I didn't stay very long, so here are the pictures when it was still really tame. (apparently things got a little out of hand later on...)

Bradford and Shilpa - and their matching eye liner

Bradford and Ben

Some of Bradford's friends

The ladies: Angela, Shilpa, Regine, me

Throwing Bradford in the mix

The Parsons gang

Post about "I"

Feel free to copy and past your own phrases, it's fun!

I am: always looking for the next challenge.
I want: to have my cake and eat it too.

I have: so many things to be grateful for.
I wish: for a happy, healthy life.
I hate: ingnorance.
I miss: hearing Devon talking and Nate babbling.
I hear: the sounds of the city from the 30th Floor.
I wonder: why there is so much injustice in the world.
I regret: not spending enough time with my family.
I am not: patient enough.
I dance: at random times, when I hear good music.
I sing: in the shower sometimes.
I cry: at things that touch my heart.
I am not always: the person that I want to become.
I make: the designs that are in my head come to life.
I write: in my blog about my life in New York City.
I confuse: my priorities sometimes.
I need: to remember that God is really in charge of my life and to let Him lead more often.
I should: work out more and eat less treats.
I start: more things that I can finish.
I finish: the things that really matter.

Random photos

I was cleaning up my work files and ran across these random photos, so I decided to just post them!

Here is a big wheel truck. I couldn't believe the tires were soo big! (In AZ)

Just in case you thought that I had lost my fun ways and didn't like to play dress up anymore - here is proof. This from a friend in my ward (church group)'s birthday party. She had a dress up box with a photo station (like in Napolean Dynamite)
[It was actually really hilarious.]

It's really hard to imagine that it was ever cold, because it's been so hot, but here is proof that it was. We went on a Free Carriage Ride around Central Park and then we went to brunch at Sarabeths which is amazing. Can't wait to go back. Glad it's no longer freezing cold.

What a fun weekend! On Friday night I went with my friends, Regine, Angela, Pepper, and Archie to the ballet. It was really nice. It was a small intimate venue and the dancers were really talented. (http://www.stankovicballet.com/)
On Saturday, I spent the majority of the day out and about, running errands and such - enjoying the beautiful weather.

On Sunday after church I went to see Gladys Knight perform at my church. All I can say is WOW! Seeing and hearing her live is truly amazing. (http://www.suvchoir.org/index.html) For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to hear her - buy this cd. It is truly inspiring!

Summer, summer, summertime...

I just got really excited for summer. Maybe it was a dose of the Arizona heat, but there are so many concerts/performances/etc in the city that are FREE! Obviously there are just as many if not more that are very expensive, but there are definitely ways to have fun and not be broke. Yesterday I put all of the fun summer events in my calendar and now it appears that I have an extremely busy/full summer ahead. I love Summer and I love Free. My plan is do as much as I can this summer on as small of a budget as I can. This is no task for the weary, but I am up for the challenge. Luckily for me, my friend Pepper isn't working yet and has volunteered to be the official event coordinator for the summer. It will probably be my last summer of somewhat freedom, so I want to live it up!

So, here’s to summer lovin’, sweaty concerts, ice cream in central park, and snow cones in new york city…

Arizona

What a weekend! I had some crazy travel experiences, but of course it was worth it to get to hang with my mom and Corban.

Quick recap: Left my house at 5am on Friday morning. My flight was supposed to take off at 6:50am, but there was some mechanical difficulties. After being shuffled to 3 different flights, I was finally re-booked on a flight through Atlanta that would put me into Phoenix at 2:15pm instead of 10:30am. 4 hours lost! But, it wasn’t horrible, just a really long morning.

When I arrived in Phoenix, of course my luggage didn’t arrive with me, so I filed a missing luggage report and it was supposed to be delivered by 7pm.
Since I didn't have any clothes, we decided to beat the heat and go straight from the airport to the movies.

[We saw Akeelah and the Bee. Such a cute movie, if you haven't seen it - put in on your must rent list.]

After the movie we went to go and see Corban hard at work and also shopping at Last Chance. He is working as a valet attendant and loves making tips, although he gets really hot and dehydrated being out in the sun.

After seeing my brother, we went to eat at this fabulous Mexican restaurant. The most delicious chimichangas....and chips and salsa...yum! I LOVE Mexican food and Arizona has some of the best that I know of. By this time, it was close to 10pm and still no word on the luggage. So, I was on the phone with Delta and wouldn’t let them get off the phone with me until they found my luggage and promised me a time. I was so tired and so frustrated, all I wanted was some clean clothes. A lot of good it did, because I didn’t get my luggage until 5pm on Saturday night! Don’t worry about the fact that I had to wear the same outfit 2 days in a row in 110 degree heat. Oh well.


Saturday morning, we met my Aunt Barbara for lunch at Rosita’s

(I had to make sure and get my fill of Mexican food) and then did some more shopping – had to get a swimming suit and some underwear…and then my mom and I got facials.
They were fantastic. It was at the Aveda Institute and so they are students but they use all Aveda products and it was like an hour and a half long. So great and so inexpensive. They have one in NY so you bet I will be there once a month :)

Here is when my bag arrived. I was clearly so excited.

Later that night, my cousins Emily & Mike, Shar, and Tiffani and my Aunt Karine and Uncle Gordon came over to my mom’s and we swam and ate dinner and Shar and Tiffany stayed and talked until midnight. It was fun. I realize how much I miss hanging out with family – reminiscing on our childhood. It was so fun to see you guys! Come to New York to visit soon!!

On Sunday, we ate delicious breakfast at the Pancake house and then went to church. After church my mom and I got pedicures and then we came home – barbequed some chicken and pineapple on the grill and played Boggle. After I schooled Corban and mom, I had to pack up and get ready to go. (Yes, I was the champ!)
I took the red-eye flight and got in just in time to go to work! Now, I am sooo tired and can't hardly wait to go home and go to sleep. I don't know why I do these types of things to myself!

But, it was a busy, fun weekend! I miss my mom and Corban already!!! Thanks again for everything!

Excuse my one curl in my forehead...

Saying goodbye!

Product Endorsement - Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

I must say this product is, well...magical! My mom told me about it a few weeks ago and I must say, Becky knows best in this instance.

Yesterday, I came home from work and decided to do some cleaning. So, I got out the magic eraser expecting to have to scrub and scrub. I truly have no idea what is in that little sponge, but it really works. Just wipe and the dirt is gone. I had some molding spots in the shower that I tried to get up with Clorox and it didn't work...until the magic eraser came along. It doesn't smell, doesn't ruin your nails, just erase and go. My only complaint was that it didn't last very long, but then again, I cleaned quite a few surfaces.

I secretly want to go home from work early so I can finish cleaning the rest of my crib.

It is amazing! If you don't want to belive me, see what others have to say: http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/24/Homes/A_hand_for_Mr_Clean.shtml

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/productreviews/gr/mrcleanmagicer.htm


You can request a free sample here: http://www.startsampling.com/sm/5161/captureAddress.iphtml

Happy Mr. Cleaning! The crowd seems to love this.

Bermuda

Aah...the blue skies, beautiful water, gorgeous beach...my friend Jenna gets to have it all at her doorstep. She is moving to Bermuda!!! I am so excited for her, but even more excited to come and visit. She is such a talented hair stylists and found a fabulous salon to work at.

Here are a few photos from the last time she was in Bermuda by way of New York City.


Meeting Luigi from Mario Brothers in Little Italy


Jenna me and Rachel - out on the town in NYC.


Me and Jenna acting crazy.

Jenna, I am so happy for you and can't wait to see you in Bermuda!!!

"If you choose to not wear deodorant, do not stand by me!"

I am thinking of making this saying into a t-shirt and wearing it every morning on the subway. For some reason, I have been cursed to have the smelliest rides this week.
I can attribute it to several factors:

• it is summertime, so there are a lot of extra tourists which in turn make the subways more crowded
• there is a lot of track work going on. I ride the 4/5 line and there are delays and again, extra crowding occurs
• it's getting hot outside, so people are sweating more

Am I a magnet for stinky men or bad-breathed women? I would venture to say that at LEAST 80% of the people that ride the subways in the morning are going to work - do these people not groom themselves? I can't imagine having to work all day with a stinky sir or ma'am.

Anyway, a bit of advice - please, if you are going to be in close proximity with other people, as in a crowded subway ride, just take a shower, put on deodorant, or do something to cover up the body odor that nobody wants to smell!

Cliches

Sara (aka S-thang) and her sisters (Melissa and Katie) started quoting cliches to one another and somehow Sara roped me into their sick little game and I in turn enlisted my sister, Kijuana. Where did cliches originate from? Who thought they were ok anyway? Well, somehow through the years, we all grew up saying them or hearing other people say them, so I thought I would do a post about it.

Here is the grand list of all the cliches that we sent back and forth to one another. Feel free to add your own and laugh (outloud) at some of them.

To know me is to love me
On top of the world
Bloom where you are planted
Life's a bowl of cherries
If worst comes to worst
Two peas in a pod
Toss your cookies
Old as dirt
Over the hill
To see eye to eye
Sounds like a plan
That's the ticket
it takes one to know one
Cool as a fan
Waste not, want not (you may enjoy that one)
Robbed blind
He's not wrapped too tight
Less is more
you're full of crap
life's a bitch
you're nuts
one bad apple spoils the bunch
too many Chiefs and not enough Indians
that pushes my buttons
sweet as pie
the heart wants what the heart wants
we go together like peas and carrotts
cute as a button pee like a race horse
sick as a dog
raining cats and dogs
love is blind
glass is always half empty
eye of the the tiger
keep your nose to the grindstone
happy as a clam
Fell of the wagon
No skin off my back
cool as a cucumber
kill two birds with one stone
there are more than 2 ways to skin a cat
Cold as ice
"tuff as nails"
"don't let the bed bugs bite"
"stick a fork in it"
"burning the midnight oil"
"acorn doesn't fall far from the tree"
"that's the way the cookie crumbles"
"we'll cross that bridge when we come to it"
"Fit as a fiddle"
"a strange duck"
"love pulls at the heart strings"
"burning the candle at both ends"
"rock hard abs"--not really one, but kinda
"Have your cake and eat it too"
"Smart as a whip"
"Rub salt in my wound"
"Cute as a button"
"off his rocker"
"he's light on his toes"
"Cat got your tongue"
"Quick as a whip"
"not for the faint of heart"
"Fly by the seat of your pants"
"Play it by ear"
"Eyeball the situation"

Rain, rain go away...

I can't believe I didn't post yesterday! What was I thinking???

Here is a quick story - yesterday all day it looked like it was going to rain. I had to run a few errands after work and by the time I started heading home, the clouds were looming darkly overhead. It was so humid, you chould just feel that it was about to pour! So, I started walking, then I started walking faster, then I decided to hop on a bus, when I got a few blocks away, I got off the bus and started jogging, then it started sprinkling, so I picked up the pace, but the last block I had to full on sprint (in my flip flops) because the drops were sooo huge. It was like clouds had been building up and building up and then this DOWNPOUR! Luckily I didn't get too wet, I narrowly escaped the worst of it. It then proceeded to thunder/lightning and rain for a good hour or two. I am always amazed at how little and significant we are when there are things so powerful as thunder, lightning, and rain.

This morning coming to work, it was still very humid and it's supposed to rain again...

Bring a Masseuse to Work Day

Apparently my boss thought we have been working so hard here that we got to have a masseuse come in today - she was amazing! I nearly fell asleep on the chair. It was sooo hard to work afterwards. I work in such a small office, and we had to hire her for 3 hours minimum, so we each got at least a 3o minute massage. Seriously, nothing better. If only it could happen everyday...aaahhh!

The Cagle Family

One of my favorite things about NY is seeing all of the people and how we are all so different. I also love that people are willing to share their talents (or lack of) with the world! In all the different subways you will see people performing or just begging for money. Some are actually really talented and some not so much. Some can make music out of a plastic tub, some bring their expensive instruments and equipment to the darkest depths of the subway. Some have mastered the art of selling themselves and some just humbly play the music or dance because they enjoy it so much. I once saw a midget-size Michael Jackson who could do the moonwalk like nobody's business.
My personal favorite are the parents who pimp out their kids.
Case in point: The Cagle Family (thecaglefamily.com)
I was reading TONY (Time Out New York for you non-new yorkers) and came across this article about "my family" and thought I should share.
This family has 10 kids (I wonder if they are mormon...haha) the mom is real tall and the dad is real short. The kids are actually pretty cute. The littlest one is the cutest and the poor son looks so miserable on the drums, but he keeps a steady beat. The older kids no longer sing with the family, but I guess at some point they did. It's just classic. The best part about it is that I see them EVERYWHERE! I had a running joke with my friend Regine who would text me with cagle spottings at various locations throughout the city. Maybe it's just coincidenct that I run into them so frequently...or is it?

More Pics from the Show

http://photofx.fotki.com/fashion_runways/aas_debut/
I know everybody is probably sick of seeing the same pictures, but oh well!

Memorial Weekend

Happy Memorial Day yesterday! We had the most glorious weather in NY over the weekend. On Saturday, Sara and I went to the Woodbury Commons Outlets in Central Valley New York.(http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=7) They were fantastic! It was great being out in the sun enjoying the shops with your friend. Nothing better. We got some great deals and found the most perfect wedge by Kenneth Cole. I got a pair in light tan, Sara in brown. Can't find the picture on line, so I will have to take one with my camera phone and post later.

Then on Saturday night, my phone broke. It was the craziest thing. Everything was working except I couldn't hear when people called nor could they hear me. So annoying. So I could only text message people. It was the worst! Then on Monday, I dropped it, it turned off and then when I turned it back on it was working again! Hooray - back in business, although I lost out on some good talking time over the weekend. I knew that I relied on my phone a lot, but I felt completely lost without it. I felt immobilized...especially since I don't have a home phone...
Ok, enough about it. I am just grateful to have it back.

Yesterday, I went shopping in Soho with my classmates and again, just enjoyed being in the sun. I am really happy to be in New York.

My Construction 2 Class

One of my classmates sent some pictures from the last day of class - here are 2 that I liked. The first one is my teacher, Sofia, with Seung. The bottom one is all of us together. Aren't we cute?? Hopefully I will be posting us with all of our work at some point.

Pictures from Loide's Graduation

Loide, her sister Melinda and her mother

The Graduate!


Singing at her own party!

Arriving to the party from the ceremony!

Me, Johann, Kenroy, and Jennifer

At American - after the looonnng ceremony!

Congratulations again Loide! I am so proud to know you!!!

Some Pictures

Here are some pictures from my weekend in VA. I love the picture of Devon and Nate on the couch - so precious!


The picture of Kijuana, Cameron and the kids shopping at BJ's is so funny to me because everytime I come to visit we go there and yet Kijuana still claims that they don't go very often...right!

The bottom pics are when me and Cameron have to say goodbye.

Lunch with Pepper

Me and Pepper had our own lunch group today. We got salads and went to the Library steps to eat. It was a nice humid day and it looked like it was about to rain, but we had fun regardless. It is so great reconnecting with old friends!