So today is my brother's birthday. We talked today, which was cool. And in the course of our conversation, I mentioned that I was looking for a particular song that Chris hadn't been able to get through iTunes. So, he asked what song it was. And I told him. The Promise by When in Rome. Anyone remember that song? I heard it last week on the XM 80s station.
Anyway, while we were talking on the phone, he found the song and e-mailed it me. Woohoo! If I can figure out how to post a link to the song, I'll do it.
Thanks and happy birthday to the Mp3 Detective Extraordinaire!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Lora and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Okay, so I know Monday was 2 days ago, but I had a humdinger of a day and still wanted to share it. So, here goes.
Even though I'm done with school, I have decided to stay on as a volunteer for Blackbird, VCU's online literary journal. There are editorial meetings every Monday at 11. So I went to the meeting and all the fall semester interns were there...it was their first meeting. So I sat through an hour and a half of info only to share what I needed to tell the senior editors. However, at one point during those 9o minutes (after most of the interns had left) I reminded them that I do Web work for a living and could help with fixing typos, etc. However, apparently they don't want me to have access to be able to edit the site. Whatever.
So, I leave the meeting to go home and finish work for the day. But Chris calls and tells me that his wallet is in my car and could I stop and get him a Ginseng tea and bring it to him at work. Okay, I say, but I'm in a hurry because my meeting ran long. So, I stop, like a good wife, and get his tea and head to the bookstore only to run into major traffic in Chester (if you can believe it) due to roadwork. Why are they always working on the roads?
I finally get there and give him his wallet and tea and head for home. Only now I'm behind roadwork vehicles going in the other direction. I can't win.
Driving down my road, I pass the caved in part of the road (really, it's caved in) that's been that way for almost a month now. All they've done is throw some gravel down to try to fill in the giant hole in our street. I toy with the idea of driving back out to the road work guys and making them come fix my street. But I don't.
So, I finish work for the day (that part is okay) and decide to go to Best Buy to return a phone I bought that doesn't work. But I need gas, so I stop at the new Texaco station on the way to Best Buy (see earlier post, Fool at the gas station.)
I get to Best Buy and they obviously don't trust me that the phone doesn't work because they have to have Geek Squad plug in the phone to test it and then see if all the pieces are there. Ugh.
So I finally get home and we have dinner (there's a brief scuffle [Today's Fayre Word] because I asked Chris to unload the dishwasher so I could load dirty dishes and make dinner but he didn't respond immediately [within 30 seconds] so I started it myself).
Then, we settle in to watch Prison Break, one of our very favorite shows. But, there's a problem with Fox and the picture keeps breaking up and the sound keeps going out. Of course it's the only channel that is having a problem. Figures. I called Comcast and they had gotten a call just before mine about the same thing (probably another Prison Break fan). They'll have someone work on it. It got a little better half way through but there were still issues.
I guess in the scheme of life it wasn't that bad of a day, but it sure felt that way at the time. Thanks for enduring my rant.
Even though I'm done with school, I have decided to stay on as a volunteer for Blackbird, VCU's online literary journal. There are editorial meetings every Monday at 11. So I went to the meeting and all the fall semester interns were there...it was their first meeting. So I sat through an hour and a half of info only to share what I needed to tell the senior editors. However, at one point during those 9o minutes (after most of the interns had left) I reminded them that I do Web work for a living and could help with fixing typos, etc. However, apparently they don't want me to have access to be able to edit the site. Whatever.
So, I leave the meeting to go home and finish work for the day. But Chris calls and tells me that his wallet is in my car and could I stop and get him a Ginseng tea and bring it to him at work. Okay, I say, but I'm in a hurry because my meeting ran long. So, I stop, like a good wife, and get his tea and head to the bookstore only to run into major traffic in Chester (if you can believe it) due to roadwork. Why are they always working on the roads?
I finally get there and give him his wallet and tea and head for home. Only now I'm behind roadwork vehicles going in the other direction. I can't win.
Driving down my road, I pass the caved in part of the road (really, it's caved in) that's been that way for almost a month now. All they've done is throw some gravel down to try to fill in the giant hole in our street. I toy with the idea of driving back out to the road work guys and making them come fix my street. But I don't.
So, I finish work for the day (that part is okay) and decide to go to Best Buy to return a phone I bought that doesn't work. But I need gas, so I stop at the new Texaco station on the way to Best Buy (see earlier post, Fool at the gas station.)
I get to Best Buy and they obviously don't trust me that the phone doesn't work because they have to have Geek Squad plug in the phone to test it and then see if all the pieces are there. Ugh.
So I finally get home and we have dinner (there's a brief scuffle [Today's Fayre Word] because I asked Chris to unload the dishwasher so I could load dirty dishes and make dinner but he didn't respond immediately [within 30 seconds] so I started it myself).
Then, we settle in to watch Prison Break, one of our very favorite shows. But, there's a problem with Fox and the picture keeps breaking up and the sound keeps going out. Of course it's the only channel that is having a problem. Figures. I called Comcast and they had gotten a call just before mine about the same thing (probably another Prison Break fan). They'll have someone work on it. It got a little better half way through but there were still issues.
I guess in the scheme of life it wasn't that bad of a day, but it sure felt that way at the time. Thanks for enduring my rant.
The Fayre Word for 8/30/06...
This is what I've named my new word of the day feature which will run at least until November 2 when I'm scheduled to take the GRE. I might have so much fun that I keep this feature!
Today's word is:
scuffle (verb)
To strive or struggle with a close grapple; to wrestle in a rough fashion
Today's word is:
scuffle (verb)
To strive or struggle with a close grapple; to wrestle in a rough fashion
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
I guess I've been tagged...
ONE BOOK THAT HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
ONE BOOK THAT YOU’VE READ MORE THAN ONCE
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
ONE BOOK THAT YOU’D WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND
Bible by God
I have to stick with this one, too.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH
Praise Habit by David Crowder
I read this in the mornings at the gym and actually found myself laughing out loud while on the elliptical machine.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY
still thinking on this one...
ONE BOOK THAT YOU WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN
still thinking on this one...
ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN
Can't think of anything on this one...books are awesome!
ONE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING
The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem (for my book club)
Cracking the GRE by Princeton Review (study material)
ONE BOOK YOU’VE BEEN MEANING TO READ
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This is the first time I've been tagged, but I've been told that I now HAVE to tag someone else. So, I guess you're it, Patricia.
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
ONE BOOK THAT YOU’VE READ MORE THAN ONCE
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
ONE BOOK THAT YOU’D WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND
Bible by God
I have to stick with this one, too.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH
Praise Habit by David Crowder
I read this in the mornings at the gym and actually found myself laughing out loud while on the elliptical machine.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY
still thinking on this one...
ONE BOOK THAT YOU WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN
still thinking on this one...
ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN
Can't think of anything on this one...books are awesome!
ONE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING
The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem (for my book club)
Cracking the GRE by Princeton Review (study material)
ONE BOOK YOU’VE BEEN MEANING TO READ
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This is the first time I've been tagged, but I've been told that I now HAVE to tag someone else. So, I guess you're it, Patricia.
Word of the day...
So I'm taking the GRE on November 2 at 8:00 a.m. I bought the Princeton Review prep book and am beginning to make my way through it. The good news is that there are 3 of us taking the test together so we are planning on studying together.
One of the main points in the prep book so far is that the vocabulary piece of the GRE has a very significant impact on your score. So they advise you to really study words.
So, I'm on a journey to increase my vocabulary and I'm taking you with me. Hence, my new word of the day feature.
Here's the first one:
jibe (verb)
To be in accord, to agree, to fit together conceptually.
I bet you can't wait until tomorrow!
One of the main points in the prep book so far is that the vocabulary piece of the GRE has a very significant impact on your score. So they advise you to really study words.
So, I'm on a journey to increase my vocabulary and I'm taking you with me. Hence, my new word of the day feature.
Here's the first one:
jibe (verb)
To be in accord, to agree, to fit together conceptually.
I bet you can't wait until tomorrow!
Monday, August 28, 2006
Fool at the gas station...
Who, might you ask, is the fool? Apparently everyone who was at the new Texaco station by my house this afternoon around 4:45 thought I was the fool. Here's the story. We've had a Texaco credit card for years. A while back (not sure exactly how long) Texaco merged with Shell and we were mailed new cards bearing the Shell logo. We use these cards at Texacos all the time.
So today I stopped at the new Texaco (previously Crown) station and tried to use my gas card, like I always do, but it wouldn't go through. So I went inside to see the cashier as the screen on the pump instructed me to do. She clicked something and then told me to try again. Of course I did and it didn't work again. So I went back inside and she asked me how much gas I wanted. I told her I wanted to fill it up. So she turned on the pump and told me to come back inside when I was done to pay. I filled my tank and headed back into the station (for the third time) to pay. The card still wasn't working...it kept returning a message that said the system was down.
She finally got someone on the phone and they were trying to figure out the problem. By this time there are 3 guys behind me in line waiting to pay. So, she finally asks to see my card and says, "Oh. This is a Shell card."
And I say, "Shell and Texaco are together now. I use this card at Texacos all the time."
And she says, "No, it's Texaco and Chevron."
And one of the guys behind me picks up a credit application, shows it to me and says, "Yeah, it says it right here. Texaco and Chevron."
"I use this card at Texacos all the time. And my bill says Shell/Texaco," I persist.
And she says, "Well, this is a Shell card and our system won't except it."
So I paid with my check card and I'm sure all those guys behind me were thinking along the "stupid woman driver" theme. "She doesn't even know what gas stations she's at. Ha, ha."
So I got home, found my bill and called customer service. Shell owns Texaco. So, ha! Who's the fool now?
So today I stopped at the new Texaco (previously Crown) station and tried to use my gas card, like I always do, but it wouldn't go through. So I went inside to see the cashier as the screen on the pump instructed me to do. She clicked something and then told me to try again. Of course I did and it didn't work again. So I went back inside and she asked me how much gas I wanted. I told her I wanted to fill it up. So she turned on the pump and told me to come back inside when I was done to pay. I filled my tank and headed back into the station (for the third time) to pay. The card still wasn't working...it kept returning a message that said the system was down.
She finally got someone on the phone and they were trying to figure out the problem. By this time there are 3 guys behind me in line waiting to pay. So, she finally asks to see my card and says, "Oh. This is a Shell card."
And I say, "Shell and Texaco are together now. I use this card at Texacos all the time."
And she says, "No, it's Texaco and Chevron."
And one of the guys behind me picks up a credit application, shows it to me and says, "Yeah, it says it right here. Texaco and Chevron."
"I use this card at Texacos all the time. And my bill says Shell/Texaco," I persist.
And she says, "Well, this is a Shell card and our system won't except it."
So I paid with my check card and I'm sure all those guys behind me were thinking along the "stupid woman driver" theme. "She doesn't even know what gas stations she's at. Ha, ha."
So I got home, found my bill and called customer service. Shell owns Texaco. So, ha! Who's the fool now?
NY Times Quote of the Day
You might get a kick out of this...
"I've heard of Alex Presley, but I wouldn't know his music."
SISTER MARY PIA, a cloistered Dominican nun, who became a novitiate in 1950, before Elvis got his start.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Give credit where credit is due
For the few of you who have been to my blog already, you might notice that I've changed the name (from "lorafayre" to "The Fayre Way"). I would love to say that it was my creative idea, but I have to give credit where it's due. Chris, my incredibly creative husband, thought of this name for me. I hope it reflects what I'm attempting to do, which is share a bit of myself, or my way, with all of you in the blogger community.
Book club a success!
Three of us (me, Christina and John) met yesterday to discuss our first book, The Sun Also Rises. While it was not an organized conversation, we discussed each character, Hemingway's dialogue and narration style, topics/themes of the novel and various tropes that appeared throughout, among other things. It was a great conversation. I gained some insight from the others that I might not have thought of on my own. That's what's so great about discussing books with other people.
After our book discussion we talked history for a while with John asking me and Christina presidential trivia questions. Do you know the 4 presidents who were assassinated? How about the only non-president to be printed on paper currency? Food for thought.
Our next book is The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem about a white boy named Dylan who grows up in downtown Brooklyn in the 1970s and his friendship with a black boy in his neighborhood. I started it last night (like 8 pages). It's quite long but I can't wait to read more. It should prove to be a great discussion book.
Oh, and by the way, we bought a laptop yesterday. It was a frustrating experience (what do you expect from Circuit City) but a deal that couldn't be passed up. A laptop that met all my specs for $449 PLUS a free printer, wireless router and antivirus software (and no interest until 2008). Can't really pass that up.
After our book discussion we talked history for a while with John asking me and Christina presidential trivia questions. Do you know the 4 presidents who were assassinated? How about the only non-president to be printed on paper currency? Food for thought.
Our next book is The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem about a white boy named Dylan who grows up in downtown Brooklyn in the 1970s and his friendship with a black boy in his neighborhood. I started it last night (like 8 pages). It's quite long but I can't wait to read more. It should prove to be a great discussion book.
Oh, and by the way, we bought a laptop yesterday. It was a frustrating experience (what do you expect from Circuit City) but a deal that couldn't be passed up. A laptop that met all my specs for $449 PLUS a free printer, wireless router and antivirus software (and no interest until 2008). Can't really pass that up.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Starting a book club
Today is the first meeting of a new book club which includes me and 4 other people from my summer writing class at VCU (although we'll see who really shows up). We're meeting at a Starbucks in Carytown to discuss The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. The book actually turned out to be good, so it should be an interesting discussion. More later to let you know how it goes.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Plans spoiled by 3 hour nap
I can't remember the last time I took a 3 hour nap, or a nap at all, for that matter. I've never been a napper...I always seem to feel worse after waking up from a nap than I did to begin with. But today I took a half day off from work after spending 3 very long days in Alexandria at my office (I normally work from my home in Richmond).
I needed to go out to Barnes and Noble and pick up a book they are holding for me, but I made the mistake of laying down on the couch around 12:15 and didn't wake up until after 3. Wow...I'm a little groggy and my contacts are dry, but I'm guessing my body needed some good, old fashioned rest.
I needed to go out to Barnes and Noble and pick up a book they are holding for me, but I made the mistake of laying down on the couch around 12:15 and didn't wake up until after 3. Wow...I'm a little groggy and my contacts are dry, but I'm guessing my body needed some good, old fashioned rest.
Pluto (the planet not the Disney character)
I just found out (in a NY Times article) that Pluto is no longer considered a major planet in our solar system, taking the number of planets in our system to eight. Wow...
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Anyone seen the Seinfeld speed dial episode?
If you've never seen this episode of Seinfeld, it's hilarious. The back and forth of adding and deleting people to speed dial is quite funny. I can relate to this today. First a little back story. I started this blog on May 22 and Chris added a link to my blog at the top of his list of links. But then I never posted again and he took me off. But today, when I decided to restart it, I'm back on the top of the list. It's like being speed dial #1.
Let's Get Serious
So, this is only my second post...almost 3 months to the day I started the blog. Obviously I haven't been diligent in maintaining my commitment to start this thing (although in part starting it was a joke because my husband wouldn't let up about me starting a blog).
Anyway, I'm going to try to do this, but often times the things I have to say are personal, so we'll see how comfortable I am sharing my innermost thoughts with tons of strangers. My other excuse is that I sit at a computer all day working. So, sitting at a computer when I'm not working doesn't seem that appealing. We'll see how it goes.
Today my frustration is this: Why do things always take longer and end up being more complicated than you expect them to be?
It's that way in work and personal scenarios. Anyone else have that experience?
Anyway, I'm going to try to do this, but often times the things I have to say are personal, so we'll see how comfortable I am sharing my innermost thoughts with tons of strangers. My other excuse is that I sit at a computer all day working. So, sitting at a computer when I'm not working doesn't seem that appealing. We'll see how it goes.
Today my frustration is this: Why do things always take longer and end up being more complicated than you expect them to be?
It's that way in work and personal scenarios. Anyone else have that experience?
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