Archive for the 'Linkage' Category

Of Hippos and Bathrooms

Published
by
Girl Friday
on November 6, 2007
in Announcements, Linkage and Office Stories
. 5 Comments

Announcing a new look for Girl Friday! It’s autumn, so I’m going with a darker color palette. Thanks to my graphics guru.

Also, I just wanted to say thanks for your encouragement and support as I endeavor to do Nanowrimo. Right now I’m at 9,124 words, and that’s not including today’s work that I’m still trying to bust out.

In the midst of writing today I had to get some stuff out of my head, so without further ado, an office story just for you…

There is an office in the ladies room on the fourth floor. I wonder what kind of business goes on in there.

I assume that it’s the only office inside a bathroom, but I’ve never checked the other five floors of the building. I suppose there could be a whole slew of workers stashed away in bathroom offices.

I wonder what the architect and planners were thinking when they did this. Was it an after thought? Was it a mistake?

When people find out they’re going to be working in a bathroom do they hesitate taking the job?

For months I’ve passed this door and didn’t give it a second glance. I thought it was a storage closet. I never noticed that it was labeled with a number plate. I never noticed the vents on the door and I never saw any light coming from the cracks. Yet the other day I heard voices when I was in the bathroom. Not the voices of a woman in the other stall, but voices that were muffled. My first thought was of ghosts. Ghosts in the wall. Seriously. I thought ghosts haunting the bathroom like Moaning Myrtle was more likely than an office in a bathroom.

Now I wonder how that worker feels. I wonder if I’ve met her…I assume it’s a woman since her office is in the ladies restroom. I really hope so anyway. Does she feel sad that her office is in a bathroom? Even if her job keeps her out and about most of the day, how does she feel knowing her desk and her personal things are in an office inside a bathroom?

I can only wonder…

And lastly, this hippo is nicer than my cat.

That is all.

36 Bucks and My Affinity for Legwarmers

Published
by
Girl Friday
on April 2, 2007
in Life, Linkage, Listmaking, Movies, Music and TV
. 1 Comment

Last night I decided to be a good girl and actually cross something off my list. I wanted to do laundry, but my neighbors apparently had the same idea. So instead I rallied my spirits tolerably and did my taxes! I am getting a whole $36 back from the feds. WOOT! That is so much better than owing. It’s only enough to eat out at a moderately priced restaurant, and that’s only if I don’t spring for drinks or dessert, but still! And since I’m incapable of truly focusing, I simultaneously wrote a list of reasons I love the 80s, listened to Regina Spektor, and tried to decipher what she was saying in Russian. Well, I don’t technically speak Russian, but I did watch La Femme Nikita this weekend so I thought maybe I learned some through osmosis. Heh.

The 80s are awesome for a lot of reasons. Based on the Pink Fairy’s recent viewing of Pretty in Pink, I think at least she agrees too! Here are a few of my reasons for every year:

  • 1980: Fame, the movie musical, was released. I grew up dancing so how could I have accessorized properly without legwarmers?
  • 1981: The year of my birth and the same year all my totally rad friends were born.
  • 1982: Cheers popularized the neighborhood bar as a suitable place for a cast of characters to hangout.
  • 1983: Flashdance hit the screen and made all welding ballerinas feel like they had a place in the world. It was Hollywood’s answer to women doing a traditionally male job–Adrian Lyne had to make her a girlie dancer. Also, Michael Jackson’s Thriller was released. When I was a kid my parents had to buy two copies because I wore out their first tape.
  • 1984: Torvill and Dean won the gold medal at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games. My brother was also born this year, thus marking the beginning of our lifelong rivalry.
  • 1985: The Sure Thing and Desperately Seeking Susan came out. These are two of my all time favorite movies. The Sure Thing was filmed at my mom’s university and it was cool to take a little walking tour of it after seeing it. Desperately Seeking Susan, by Susan Seidelman, is notably one of the first female directed independent films. It’s a female buddy movie, and that’s still a seriously lacking genre.
  • 1986: New Kids on the Block hit the street…It was an embarrassing time for us all. Enough said.
  • 1987: My Two Dadswas on TV and influenced me to beg my mom for a transparent Guess phone with a hot pink neon triangle.
  • 1988: Roxette’s Look Sharp! came out. I remember seeing them on MTV and I got my little second-grade allowance and bought my very first tape.
  • 1989: Madonna’s Like a Prayer album hit the charts. The song and video, rife with religiosity, was probably the first time I could put the First Amendment in any sort of context.

Newton Had it Only Partially Right, Jewelry Gurus of the World Unite, and Birthday Wish for Latte Lady

Published
by
Girl Friday
on December 20, 2006
in Announcements, Homegirl, Life, Linkage, Listmaking, Ships and TV
. 5 Comments

To bring you up to speed on all things Girl Friday, I have written a massive three-parter. Enjoy!

  • Laws of Gravity:

Sir Isaac Newton forgot to mention that sometimes, “what goes down, must come up.” At least that’s the experience I’ve been having with our shower drain. Fifty years worth of shower to shower goodness is making it’s way back up into our drain and also in my neighbor’s sink. As if life isn’t already stressful enough, now I have to take a bath every morning. Bathing should be relaxing, but I’m perpetually late and bathing is not really time efficient. I would also much rather sit with my laptop than sit in the tub. I’ve had to forgo my morning ritual of blogs and e-mail for pink porcelain and pruned fingertips. Also, there is no reciprocal relationship with my bathtub. Since I have less time to read blogs and write e-mail, no one’s writing me back so I have nothing in my inbox. I woke up this morning and the little red light on my BlackBerry was not blinking and doing its happy dance. I didn’t even have a stupid ad from BevMo or Kate Spade!

I feel very behind in most things right now. I am not done Christmas shopping. Don’t even talk to me about wrapping. I managed to put together The Pink Fairy’s package only a day behind schedule. I had the bright idea of sending her candy, so I apologize in advance if the Rocky Road looks disgusting upon arrival. I swear it’s still edible, even if it is smooshed and melted. My kitchen table looks like a recycling bin. It has scraps of this and that all over it. I wish I could say it’s because I’m crafting, but alas no. Notorious M.A.G. will have to settle for a store bought gift this year. That’s right, you heard me. I don’t have time to make crappy crafts.

  • Pimping the Bling:

A few months ago I participated in a blogging contest. As participants we were encouraged to read some of the other entries and link to them if we found them interesting. I found Sarakastic’s Gilmore Girls Fanatic blog and was hooked–not just because I’m a TV addict, but also because I enjoyed her topics and tangents. She has quite the impressive list of credits, among them are Bling on a Shoestring Jewelry and Putting the Sara in Sarakastic. I check out her stuff periodically (but always on Wednesday to get her side of the story from Tuesday’s episode). When my coworker tasked me with finding jewelry for his girlfriend that looks similar to something he saw in the new James Bond movie, I immediately thought of Sarakastic. She likes bling, she likes to browse online (because shopping is a hazardous hobby), and offers up her services as a personal shopper for fee. So I dropped her a comment, not expecting much aside from a few links and helpful tips. I was pretty amazed when she wrote a whole post on Casino Royale Earrings.

My coworker was impressed by my internet connections, and I was just impressed that Sarakastic was just so…cool. Since I am not up to my full blogging strength, I thought if I can’t write on a regular basis, I should at least pimp someone who does!

Also, after everything was said and done with the great earring hunt of 2006, I thought of my friend Robyn over at Neckcessories. She makes all her jewelry in a wide variety of colors and styles–but everything is sparkly and affordable–which was key for my friend who is a broke college student. It turns out that pimping is really easy and it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!

  • 30 Going on 13:

Happy Birthday to Latte Lady! Another year down in the history books. Another year to embrace. I wish you the best of everything. May your coffee mug always be hot, may your fake engagement ring continue to ward off bozos at the gym, may your bank account increase and your worries cease. Rock on my sister-friend. In honor of you I will list my top five memories with you!

  1. Stapling, filing, alphabetizing are best enjoyed on a caffeine high and with snarky commentary.
  2. Pickles are for sharing, not off my plate, but as gag gifts!
  3. Long walks on the beach, candle lit dinners, sitting on the porch at sunset. Hmmm…this friendship sounds like a cheesy singles ad.
  4. “You’re fired.” “Frak!” “Your ass is ringing.” “It’s not so bad, being dead like me.” “I couldn’t help but wonder…” “Seven years ago I was recruited by a secret branch of the CIA…” “…she’s a marshmallow.” “Do you have any idea how frustrating it is being a lesbian ghost?” I’m sorry I have drawn you into my compulsive television watching world. It’s just so much fun to share my latest obsessions!
  5. Lady Latte, Laddy Late, or Latty Lade. Whatever way you spell it, you’ll always be Latte Lady to me. Thanks for being so encouraging. You were Girl Friday’s first office cohort and you’ve supported her through thick and thin. Thanks!
Happy Birthday!