Laura Michael Jeffrey

If you know these names as a group then you've definitely been watching Pr0ject Runwaaaay.

I have to make some comments about last week's episode. The one where the designers created an outfit for the "everyday woman"?

Daniel's sister was a cutie and was an easy one to design for. Michael did a great job with putting more into the garment than he needed to. Making it reversible? Sheer genius. I was happy that Vincent finally won something. But Uli's Mom was a spark so she was another one who was easy to work with. I'm not sure what happened with Laura though. I thought she would have done some nice long loose pants with a tiny fitted shirt to keep with a 'cruise' feel. That high waisted pencil skirt didn't read 'cruise-wear' to me at all!

Angela's Mom was definitely creating drama. Could she just go with the flow and not complain? Granted, she wasn't enthused about the color choices that Jeffrey made but could she just keep that to herself? SEE what he was going to create for her? Jeffrey is opinionated. I'm not saying he isn't. And he can come off abrasive. But so can I. So I can tolerate him for the most part. It's not like Angela's Mom had to wear that outfit OUT in the real world. All she had to do was walk it down the runway. She didn't need to be COVERED and in the colors that SHE liked.

Jeffrey made that comment back to her at one point where she was disagreeing with him. Something like maybe other people could see something about her that's beautiful that she doesn't see. I didn't tape the show so I'm not sure of his exact wording there. But he was going to MAKE something for her and keep her preferences in mind. That's what a designer does.

The designers who made EXACTLY what their client wanted? Turned out to be the same old, same old of what those ladies normally wear. There was no DESIGNING involved really. So Jeffrey did go a little against the grain of what Angela's Mom wanted but it still wasn't what he wanted to create for her. So in this case, she wasn't happy and he wasn't happy.

I must say that she did DRIVE me BATTY! Moreso than Jeffrey's snippety behavior.

And I must say that Michael continues to create really awesome stuff. Last night's outfit? Seersucker? It was fabulous! He looked comfortable and unwrinkled when he landed. I think he's the best designer of the group. From what he's created for each week's challenges? Every style has been different.

All the other designers seem to put themselves into certain niches. Angela with her rosettes. Jeffrey has a rocker type look. Laura has the classic line, empire waisted look. Uli has the patterned fabric. Vincent.....oh Vincent. But don't you think so?

I'm really rooting for Michael. He's even keeled. He's professional. He doesn't have a bad attitude. He doesn't think he's "better" than the other designers. He's the Chloe of season 3!

Ernesto Hhitting Hard

That's the little blurb that's on The Weather Channel as they're showing a guy in Wrightsville Beach, NC trying to TELL people how hard the storm is hitting.

What's the funniest?

I'm getting a sense of how hard the storm is hitting by just watching him. Not listening to him. He's basically trying to stand INTO the wind. He's at a 75% angle to his right as his hood is whipping to his left. I can't believe the hood is staying on. And he's kind of stepping to the left as gusts hit him. THAT is how hard the wind is driving him. I'm sure the camera guy is behind a pillar or something because the camera is totally steady.

This POOR GUY!

There's his name! ED CRUMB -- you go dude!

What's even funnier is they're doing a split shot with the other weather guy he's talking to. This 2nd guy? He's got no wind. No rain. Standing straight up.

Jeez-louise!

Moments like these

that I like to watch tennis.

But this match tonight? Agassi versus Baghdatis? I've HAD to watch it.

And right now? It's the 5th set with a 4-4 score Deuce #8. I don't care if I've typed that correctly in tennis terms. Let's just say it's matches like this that make me LOVE this game.

This will be Andre Agassi's last tournament. He'll be leaving the sport after this tournament. I thought this might be his last match so that's why I started watching it.

Andre is 36 years old. Baghdatis is 21. And it's Baghdatis that's cramping up. Amazing.

Way back when Andre entered the professional circuit he was a flashy young guy. We ALL remember his hair. That LONG hair -- mullet...whatever.

Now? He's got a shaved head. He's married. He's got 2 children.

I like the way he's chosen to leave the sport. To announce in June that he was planning on retiring. This way people are prepared. So they can enjoy his game. To watch him and remember all the years he's played. And won. And lost. And won again. He's definitely the comeback kid.

Even though I'm not an avid watcher of tennis....it's been FABULOUS watching Mr. Agassi.

And now? We'll get to see him in at least ONE MORE MATCH! He won! He won!

Simple words to make me feel like a good mommy

Yesterday I had a nice conversation with a co-worker of mine, who I'll call Buddy.

[ring-ring-ring]

Me: Hello, X Company, this is Grace. [said in a sing-song voice while I'm typing away on my computer]

Buddy: Hey, it's Buddy.

Me: Oh hey! Long time no talk!"

Buddy: Yeah. Been busy. What's going on with you?

Me: Nothing much. Just picked the kiddos up from school. I'm trying to get caught up with emails now [said again in a sing-song manner]

Buddy: How do you do that?

Me: Do what?"

Buddy: You always sound like you've got everything under control. That nothing bothers you. You've got the kids and work and stuff....

That comment was followed by thunderous laughter on my end.

Me: You said it right. It SOUNDS like I've got things under control."

Buddy: "But it never sounds like things are bothering you. There's always work issues that crop up and then you're still able to do stuff with your kids."

Me: Well, if I can't control a problem then I just have to handle it and go with the flow, right?"

Buddy: You are such a good Mom!

So that last bit has stayed with me since yesterday afternoon. It makes me feel better. That I can still work and be a good Mom. That my struggle to balance work and my kids is worth it. Each early morning (even on the weekends) to gather data and get stuff done so that I can spend that next hour with the kids each morning as I get them ready for their day. Worth it. That even if I doubt myself....that someone else...an adult thinks I'm a good Mom.

I don't think that Buddy, who is a newlywed with no kids, will ever know HOW MUCH his comment means to me. That I'll keep that tucked away in my brain for those moments when I don't feel like a good Mom.

When has someone given you kudos for being a good Mom? Something that has stayed with you?

Leaving me hanging

There's something that irritates me during my workday. When people IM me with cryptic messages.

"There's a problem"

"I need help"

People. People! When you write this stuff I'm waiting for YOU to type in the issue so I can respond accordingly. Why must you wait for me to type back?

"What's wrong?"

If it's a lenghty issue then EMAIL me with all the details. If it's hard to describe then put a print screen in so I can "see" what you're talking about.

It's just so frustrating!

Even more frustrating is when people don't think through a situation before they contact me.

Here's an IM with a subordinate of mine.

The dates on the reports were JUL31-AUG27

data is correct

but problem with dates

shall i continue or wait for ur answer

HUH? First of all, this guy compiles a weekly report, which is always for Monday to Sunday. So how could the data be correct if the dates are totally wrong? And what is he talking about continuing to compile the data? He can't do that if the date range is wrong.

Uh-hummm....obviously wrong.

We can't update these reports ourselves. We grab these reports off a client site. The client is responsible for changing the dates. So, of course, I need to contact the client and request an update to the date range. Right?

S-P-E-L-L it out people! I get so aggrevated when workplace contacts don't provide enough information. ARGH!

Now are you one of those people who sned out little blurbs with no real info to co-workers?

The name game - Part 3

What have you and your siblings and/or your children named after? Names passed down from generation to generation? Names that have special meaning?

My parents named us whatever happened to come into their heads as a "good" sounding name. I think they gave us all SOLID names. Nothing frilly or trendy.

The only unusual thing that happened was that 3 of us got 2 first names, the my Mom's maiden name as our middle name, and then my Dad's last name. By 2 first names I mean something like Stacey Faye. But my second sister only go 1 first name, my Mom's maiden and then my Dad's last name. What makes it even more pronounced is that she had the shortest first name. Four simple letters. We always found that odd. But it turns out she was the only daughter that my Dad named. AHA!

My Mom's parents named their kids according to the alphabet. The first kid had an "A" name. The second kid (my Mom) got a "B" name. The third kid got a "C" and so on. They got up to the letter "G", so there are 7 kids in all. AND this method of naming makes it easy for us to remember in what order my Mom's siblings were born.

Of couse, we all know of those families that name their kids with the same name. The Duggar's and their 16 kids are the most well known right now. Can you believe they thought up all those "J" names? Whew!

My BIL (the husband of the sister with one first name) and his 3 siblings all have "A" names. What's interesting is that my BILs one set of cousins from his father's side (4 in all) also have "A" names. And they all grew up in the same neighborhood. So if you didn't know them, you'd think they were all from the same parents because of how their names were - "A" last name.

Then there's the weirdness of my husband's parents. My husband is the oldest - let's say his name is Peter Sam. His younger brother (who is second born) is Sam Jeff. If the third child was a boy, his name would have been Jeff something. No one else in my MIL or my FILs family does this. Has anyone heard of this? I knew my ILs were weird but seriously!

Now what's the deal in your family? How are you named?

Here's another first

I was in the den working this afternoon when I thought I heard a scream. I stopped. I listened. Then I heard crying. BAWLING really.

I ran to the family room. Stopped. Listened again. Was the sound from the upstairs loft where the Bear was? Or was it downstairs where the Princess was located?

Downstairs. The downstairs bathroom to be exact.

I walk into the half bath to find my daughter bawling in that cry of pain.

Me: Honey, what's wrong?

Princess: Mommy! There's something wrong with my poo-poo! It's not coming out!"

She said this through sobs and gasps of air.

I looked between her little legs towards the bottom of the toilet. I saw one piece of doody. And it looked "not so soft".

Me: When was the last time you went poo-poo?

Princess: Umm... [sniffle-sniffle]

Me: Yesterday or the day before?

Princess: The day before.

Me: Oh baby. This is what happens when you don't drink enough water every day.

I told her to relax and let the poo-poo come slowly. I leaned her forward so that she was hunched over her knees. I gave her a kiss on her head and gave her some privacy.

About 5 minutes later I heard more crying.

Me: Baby, what's going on?

Princess: Mommy! Mommy! It's stuck!

I look down between her stick thin legs and see that "yes indeed" it was stuck. I repositioned her forward over her knees and told her to relax.

Me: Take a deep breath now and push hard.

She actually listened and there was immediate relief. That HUGE BRICK came out and was followed by a smaller pebble. There was a definite change in the Prin's face.

Princess: Whew!

So what's the lesson here? That a kid's first bout of constipation can be traumatic. Scary. But it all works out in the end with a flush....

Don't see the big deal

Why is everyone making such a big deal about how they've organized $urvivor for this coming season?

By Race? NOT a huge deal. There have been shows that display race much more artificially. How about Black/White on FX? Now THAT was a controversial show. Why? Because they made these individuals up to "blend" with the other race. Granted, this show wasn't on one of the MAJOR 3 stations but FX is a big cable channel.

I just think separating people into these various teams is not a huge deal. It's only a huge deal if the teams talk smack about the other teams in an offensive manner.

So that's my opinion....I've got none.

Can you tell I'm out of ideas for today?